Outside my window. . .my favorite time of year, crisp autumn days.

I am thinking. . .I would like to get more time in service soon.

I am thankful for. . .A helpful husband.

I am remembering. . .how fun sewing is.

I am hoping. . .Belle's stomach bug subsides tomorrow.

I am creating. . .hoping a healthy baby boy.

On my mind. . .teaching our children to be servants of God.

Noticing that. . .that Belle and Lela are getting so big!

From the kitchen. . .home made pizza, and no bake cookies.

One of my favorite things. . .nursing a new baby.

What I am reading. . .LLL message board.

Picture for thought I am sharing. . . 

Grandma Oveela and Belle

Gown

I'm almost done with another flannel nursing night gown. But, when I got to the sleeves I didn't like the lace I had picked out for it, so hurried myself over to Needle Nook Fabrics, and bought some smaller lace. I also bought some sweater knit off the remnant table to try to make a ultimate mother cover. I thought I would make a turtle neck, but now I'm thinking I may go back to Anne after I trace out the pattern and ask her to help me make a shawl neck line instead cause she told me a while back she would help me do that. It's a really fluffy soft fabric, Anne really likes it and said it will make a really really comfortable and warm sweater and that I would like it a lot. I wish she had more fabric like it, it seems so cuddly. She also said it was easy to sew. My kind of fabric! haha I also meant to buy some local honey comb lotion from Anne, for a 5 dollar or less gift exchange I have coming up in a few months, but completely forgot! Uhg, I guess I will have to try to remember when I go back to have Anne help me with the shawl collar.

Then we went to Aldi's and bought some food stuff, and a pumpkin pie. I baked it and wish it would cool faster, I want a slice! haha I also got a ham, that should last us for several meals, I plan on making soup at least twice with it, and having some sandwiches as well. I also got more seasonal creamer at Walmart, the pumpkin pie spice and the peppermint. They were out of the pumpkin pie spice creamer at Aldi's but I want to try it since it's like half the price, same with the peppermint creamer. Oh well. I can't wait to have a yummy cup of my Dunkin Donut's coffee with the seasonal creamer and a slice of pumpkin pie!

After that Vince said he wanted to Chinese food, so we went to a buffet that is always on commercials here but we never go to. I went there years and years ago, way over a decade ago just not recently. But, they have a VERY funny commercial. It's red necks, and just hilarious considering it's a chinese buffet ran by Chinese people! Any way, getting to the point, I was so glad we went there. Ming's has been my family's favorite Mandarin restaurant since I was a baby. But, Grandma Ming died some years back, and sadly so did a lot of the recipes. I got used to the new chef's eggrolls, and rice, (which were pitiful compared to Grandma's!) but then when I moved back here and I went with my dad we were both VERY disappointed when they got yet another new chef that changed our very favorite main dish. It was called sweet and sour chicken.  However, it was much different then any other sweet and sour chicken from other "Chinese" restaurants, it was NOT the traditional red sauce, but rather a orange colored sauce with a citrus flavor and chunks of pineapple in it. It was not very sweet like the red sauce that is at most chinese restaurants, but more "fruity" then sugar sweet. Any way, so sad that the new chef at Ming's changed to that traditional red sauce you can get EVERY where! So I just hadn't gone back and had started just eating more Korean food from Ah-So. Even though she had stopped making my favorite dish as well, she said the lollipop chicken was getting too hard for her to make with her arthritis hands, but was so shocked I was old enough to have kids. lol Funny, her and Mike Ming always seem to remember me no matter how long it's been since I've been in. That's what I love about family restaurants. But, any way back to the point, the buffet had Grandma Ming's sweet and sour chicken! They called it "Orange" chicken though. I can't believe, I haven't ever found that "sauce" any where else, oh I've had a lot of sweet sauces at Chinese restaurants, sesame, general tso's etc etc. But, never have found Ming's sauce ever any where else. I was so shocked but so happy! They also had a lot of other good foods as well. So I guess it's our new place now. Plus it was cheaper then most the others around here by about 4 dollars a person, which is pretty big. So yup found our new place. Funny thing to be happy about I know. But, I limit myself to how often I have that kind of chicken, and I had been mourning the loss of grandma and all her recipes, and then the extra kick of her chicken being gone too. UHG. I still miss her eggrolls though, never have found any seasoned exactly like hers, hers were perfect. Awe well! I got my chicken back and am very happy! lol haha

Back to the machine. . .

I've started working on making more nursing night gowns, so far I'm pretty happy with how this one is coming along. I'm hoping to make a few more soon. Along with a few wrap carriers for RJ. Right now on the sewing table is two gowns though, and next I'm going to trace and give a shot at making a faux turtleneck. I have plenty of 20 cents a yard walmart knit to practice with! haha

Have my LLL meeting tonight, looking forward to getting out of the house a bit for that. I finally figured out how to make the no bake cookies with less sugar, just cook them a extra 30 seconds and I get the same texture as full sugar ones! Whoo hoo!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window. . .dreary and rainy.

I am thinking. . .dinner was really good tonight.

I am thankful for. . .all my friends, and especially the support I get at LLL meetings.

I am remembering. . .my sister in law and brother and can't wait for them to have their first baby.

I am hoping. . .that Vince gets a better paying job some day soon.

I am creating. . .another nursing night gown, I also want to make some turtle necks too soon though.

On my mind. . .cleaning my sewing area, so I can get to work.

Noticing that. . .my energy is back up to almost normal. This next year will be fun!

From the kitchen. . .home made potato soup. mmmm it was delicious! I need to take a photo.

One of my favorite things. . .my cutco knives. boy did they make, making dinner so much easier and faster. LOVE them!

What I am reading. . .LLL message boards.

Picture for thought I am sharing. . . 

Little Lela-Newburge Assembly Hall

EARTHQUAKE! ! !

The other night I felt a the earth move, under my bed! I thought I must of drink too much coffee. Since I haven't had coffee since being pregnant with Raphael. But, the grocery store had pumpkin spice creamer out in the dairy, and I just had to try it. It was awesome! I drink a ton of coffee that day feeding my pumpkin spice addiction. So I thought oh my goodness, I'm having a stroke! I better lay off the coffee. Then a few minutes later two of my friends posted on facebook that we had just had a earthquake. It was supposedly a 5.2. WOW. Then again tonight we had another small one, but I was bathing Raphael and trying to feed him at the same time and didn't notice it. However Caleb did, and yelled to ask me if I felt it. Nope......not this time. UHG!

Lela also knocked my laptop off the table that day on accident. Ever since it has not been working right. I can't get my email at all. And most of my programs no longer work. I'm barely able to even get online. Hoping we can get a new desk top for Vince and then I may inherit his laptop. I don't know yet though, we'll see. To be quite honest I'm shocked with all the kids around us all the time that this is the first pc to bite the dust due to one of them.

Been trying to get caught up on laundry, almost there for what's in the house........then there is bags in the barn that really need to get gone through and done too. *sigh* It seems to never end.

I'm trying to save some money and make soup at least once a week. Last week we had chicken noodle soup, the week before that we had chili. This week we are having steak house potato soup, and next week white bean, ham and cabbage soup is on the menu. One of my friends though just today posted a picture of chicken enchilada soup, that is for sure going on the menu! If I don't get the ham in time next week, that may be exactly what we will be having since I have every thing for it in the house already! His pictures of his food look amazing too! I can't believe how great they look. I wish I could photograph my food as well as he does. grrr.

Well as you may or may not of noticed, I have added Ad Sense to my blog. I hope it is not too bothersome to any one, but I really need a little extra dough. This could maybe help me get some fabric money for clothes and sewing and such. Hopefully it will work out for me. Sorry if any one gets upset about it. We'll just try it out and see how it goes, if it is too annoying I will probably end up removing it. But, hopefully it won't be too bad and I will actually get some money out of the deal, who knows.

Chilly weather has came. . .

I've been making no bake peanut butter cookies a lot lately trying to figure out how little sugar I can use and still make them. I tried to quarter the amount and while it was sweet enough the texture wasn't right. So tonight I am trying it with half.......still isn't really as firm as I would like I don't think....hmmm will see how they are by morning.

Poor Vince keeps hurting himself, burned his arm the other night, and then last night he broke a toe by dropping a drawer on it, and tonight he burned his arm again! UHG!

Made Chicken Noodle soup and brown and serve rolls tonight, mmmm it was good. We had a cold front come in so it was extra good on a chilly evening. Plus Lela has been begging for chicken noodle soup forever now. Next week I am going to try to make steak house potato soup, I've made it before but not for as many people as I will next week.

It's so chilly I think I'm going to buy some fleece next week and make a really really warm moby wrap for RJ. Will probably make a second one for my niece or nephew that is due in May. I'm thinking charcoal fleece with a asian brocade pocket. hmmmm. . .

Oh and Quick Trip got their pumpkin cappuccino in, mmm it was really good half pumpkin and half toffee flavored.

We also have a new Yoder Meats that was supposed to open today, but I forgot to go and check it out. Hoping to go there soon. We are hoping that they are selling the haulless Amish popcorn, we really really like it.

A Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window. . .crisp autumn weather.

I am thinking. . .So happy that RJ is so healthy!

I am thankful for. . .having a loving, happy, healthy family.

I am remembering. . .all the things I need to get caught up on around here.

I am hoping. . .to get the laundry caught up with soon.

I am creating. . .hopefully some healthy meals soon.

On my mind. . .trying some new whole foods recipes.

Noticing that. . .my kids are growing so fast.

From the kitchen. . .spaghetti.

One of my favorite things. . .friends.

What I am reading. . .LLL magazines-New Beginnings.

Picture for thought I am sharing. . . 

Fall Craft Party. . .

The girls had a great day today. The sisters in our congregation organized a arts and crafts party at a local recreation center. They had a ton of fun. The made flower pot creations, butterflies, caterpillars, memory boards, boxes, alligator things, trucks, sun catchers, puppets, tons and tons and tons of things. Lela didn't want it to end!

The invite didn't say to bring snacks, but glad I did. As at the end a lot of people had brought snacks and snacks were served. I made no bake peanut butter cookies, and muddy buddies. Every one really loved the cookies, but I came home with a lot of muddy buddies cause another sister had brought them too! lol haha Vince said I should of brought deviled eggs, and yup I should of as there was only a few savory snacks, but I just didn't think of it. Oh well, maybe the next gathering I will bring them. I hadn't made the no bake peanut butter cookies in decades though, and forgot how EASY they were to make. I will for sure make them more often they are soooooo easy. Plus almost all the ingredients are CHEAP! And with exception of the sugar, they are healthy too! I think I may play around with the recipe and see just how low I can get the sugar in them and still come out with a good outcome.

Lela keeps wanting to know when the next "party" is. I guess I better find out how much it cost to rent that recreation center, and try to help organize something else soon! lol Or clean my own house and invite some kids over. lol hmmm, I think I would rather rent! haha

Second Pediatric Appointment. . .

Raphael had his second pediatrician visit today. He's gained some weight, he's now 7 lbs 13 oz. He's doing well. Doctor said to also have him do tummy time for 30 minutes 4 times a day, seems really young for such, plus he doesn't really like laying down by himself but we're trying.

It was still early after his appointment so we joined my mom and Eldon at Kimmy's. It was a greasy spoon for sure. Full of smoke, grease, and the older generation along with several police officers. The food was good and cheap, and reminded me of my childhood, just the kind of place my grandparents liked to go. But, it really wasn't as clean as I like places to be........so I don't think we will be going back. I'll stick with Braum's I think. Or Panera bread, I never have gotten there in time for breakfast but always want to! UHG!

Vince gets tomorrow off, so I think we'll have a big breakfast at home. I'm thinking some kind of egg casserole, sausage gravy, pancakes or biscuits, but with being so tired that will probably turn into what would be easier which is whole wheat toast! lol But, the eggs and gravy is still easy enough to do. However, man Target is selling all kinds of pancake mixes I would LOVE to try! Like the cinnamon roll ones, that come with cream cheese icing, and the red velvet cake pancake mix! mmmm love both of those so I can imagine them in pancake form would be fabulous.

LLL is offering some cookbooks for a special price and coming out with a new one. I have a ton of cookbooks but I like the idea of them being whole foods, and fast and easy. For sure something I need! So I may get them, I just wish I could try a few of the recipes first to see if they are something we would like. But, I would still like to support our local group so may get them any way.

Every one's home safe and sound. . .

Vince's parents made it home safe and sound Monday afternoon. Saturday their last day with us, they helped build the girls bunk beds so now we can hopefully get Belle to start sleeping in the bottom bunk soon! And then we went to Yoder and ate at Carriage Crossing. I went to the gift shop and meat store across the street and bought some Amish hulless popcorn I have been very anxious to try it. Tomorrow I'm going to the store and getting some butter first though. haha I've tried other brands and they didn't taste very good, but I have been hoping the Amish one tastes better as I hate the hulls stuck in my teeth, gums and roof of my mouth. Then we went to dinner. They loved the food! Especially the mashed potatoes and gravy. Mmm it was so good. Vince's mom kept saying it tasted like home made, and she really really liked it. We hadn't been there in so long that Vince said when we left he forgot how much he liked the food there. On the way out, Vince's mom bought Lela and Belle a pie making toy from Melissa and Doug. They played with it as soon as we got home. They love that thing. Just this morning Lela brought me a piece of  "pie".

Sunday morning my mom called early and said she was going to Golden Coral for breakfast, so we decided to meet her there. They added a chocolate fountain. Oh my! It was soooooo good, now I want to go just for the chocolate dipped strawberries alone! haha.

Vince has been working nights this week. So tonight is his last night to work, he gets a four day weekend now. I am so glad....that means I may be able to get a little more sleep with him home for four days! I hope at least.

Thankfully I've been feeling a lot better, and been able to get the house cleaned up here and there much better then it had gotten. Hopefully in a few weeks it will look how I would like it to! Rather then the disaster it got into.