Fair Time

It is fair time in our neck of the woods.  I am sure it is in a lot of areas.  What an exciting busy time for kids. My kids were in 4-H for a while but lost interest.  Of course Alyssa and Ryan are to old now.  But we go to the parade, go to the fair grounds to look at all the animals, crafts and at least one day we enjoy the fattening, greasy fair food.  I love me some funnel cake.  There is a rodeo but we do not attend that.  We use to but one year we went a horse ran into the side of a fence they had up and died right there on the spot.  That was way to much for my little animal lover Courtney and she never wants to go there again.  We also have a car derby.  Ryan and his girl friend are taking Courtney Saturday night.  It is just a fun time.  Here are some pictures from the parade.

                                         Waiting for the parade to begin.

Ryan and Emily waiting in the hot sun.  It is so hot.

                                         Look at the loot (candy) they got.  Wow.

I hope you are able to attend your fair and look at all the talents kids have.  It is so fun to see all the hard work they put into their animals, crafts and foods.  My mouth is so watering for that fair food. 

Have a lovely weekend

Blessings

Crystal

College

My oldest daughter lives away at college.  She has a job there so she even stays in the summer.  Ugh.  Any way, she and her boyfriend found a church they really like in their college town. Yea.  She was telling me that a message touched her heart so that she started crying.  I reminded her it was not the preacher that touched her heart it was God.  She said the sermon just fit her life so well right now.  Don't you just love when that happens to you. I don't know if any of you know what college life is like for a young person these days but the stories she tells me.  Wow, they are unbelievable.  I am so proud of her for trying to stay on the right track when I know with all those bad influences around all the time it is not always easy.  Now I am getting ready to send my son off in just 3 1/2 weeks.  I hope and pray he is able to do the same as his sister.  I pray everyday for God to put his angels around them and direct them in the right direction.  Even at the ages of almost 21 and 18 you just want to put a bubble around them and protect them but I know that is not logical.  They have to learn to face the world and all that comes with it.  But I am one proud mama.

Blessings

Crystal

I Won

I actually won something.  I was so excited to find out I won some cookies.  I entered a giveaway here at The Homespun Heart. It is just one of my favorite blogs. She is just so inspirational.  Any way baking is just one of the things I love to do for my family.  I just thought the packaging was so cute and I knew the cookies had to be wonderful.  I was right.  I made the Double Dutch Chocolate last night. They were gone in no time.  I thought I had just won one roll of cookies but they sent me 3.  How generous is that.  You need to check out their cute website here at the Ice Box Bakery.  What a fun gift for a college student who needs little touches of home once in a while. They can take them out of the freezer and bake when ever they have the time.  Or for those days you want a treat but just do not have the time to bake from scratch.  I run into that a lot during the busy school year.  Thanks so much The Homespun Heart and Ice Box Bakery.  I so enjoy these types of little blessings.

Blessings

Crystal

Garden

I don't know why I did not take pictures.  I already put things on their shelves and I am to lazy to get them all out to take one sorry.  My garden is doing ok.  The tomatoes are starting to turn red.  Court and I ate one for lunch yesterday we just could not wait.  My mouth was watering when I picked it.  I have had 5 green peppers already and a lot more starting to grow.  I have made stir fry with a few and the others I diced and put in the freezer for winter. The jalapenos are doing great I have cut and canned them. I put up 3 jars so far.  We (me) love jalapenos on so many things.  I like things spicy.  My father in law was going out of town so he brought me tomatoes, jalapeno, sweet peppers, corn, and potatoes.  I made 2 batches of salsa. We have I am guessing about 35 or 40 bags of frozen corn.  The kids won't eat corn unless it comes from Grandpas garden. They say it is just not the same.  It is a lot of work but so worth it.  With the sweet pepper I cut them open and filled with cream cheese and bacon  oh my they are so good.  Some I cut and diced for stir fry and stuck in the freezer.  I just love summer gardens.  I really try to remember that when the heat index reaches 110 here on some days.  Just gotta love summer.  Now the peaces should be ready soon.  We only have one jar of peach jam left so we are in need.  Hope your garden and summer is going well.  We are gearing up for a garage sale now.  Ugh. 

Blessings

Crystal

I had to change my blog.  The background I was using was getting ready to be deleted or something.  I am not sure about what I have done yet. I want to make the Happy Home and Heart a little more fancy but I am so computer ignorant I can not figure it out.  Every time I do something it says it is corrupted.  What! What does that mean?  I am just frustrated so decided to stop for now.  There are just so many choices for back grounds out there it is hard to decide   I am not at the stage where I want to pay someone to do it for me.  So if you know how I can get my title different please let me know. 

Blessings

Crystal

muffins

I finally made the muffins I was dying to make. I made blueberry, peaches and cream and chocolate zucchini.  My husband really liked the blueberry but I thought they turned out a little dry  The peaches and cream not so great.  I won't be making those again.  The chocolate zucchini muffins my youngest daughter and I loved.  I found the recipe on Lynns Kitchen Adventures here.  So I guess if any one has a great moist basic blueberry muffin recipe I would love to try it. 

Blessings

Crystal

It Is So Hot

It was in the high 90's with a heat index of 107.  That is so hot.  Alyssa is home for a few days and so her, Court and I went to the lake for a bit today.  It was pretty crowded. It was nice just to sit and talk to Alyssa and watch her and Court swim around and have some sister talk time.  There is a gap of 7 years between Court and Alyssa.  But Alyssa is such a good big sister to her.  It is just a blessing to watch. 

 I am dying to make some muffins.  I found a few great muffin recipes I want to try but I just can not stand turning on the oven when it is so hot.  I think I will get up extra early to make them.  That way Alyssa will be able to take some back to her house at school when she leaves tomorrow.  I will let you know if the recipes turn out.  Have a wonderful evening and try to stay cool.

Blessings

Crystal

Freezer Pickles

Have you ever heard of freezer pickles?  My Father-In-Law gave me a bunch of cucumbers so I decided to try one of my husbands wonderful aunts recipe.  They are so good.  I will make them again.  And yes you put them in the freezer.  Believe it or not when you thaw them they are still crunchy.  I just love canning and freezing fresh garden food.

Mix 7 cups cucumber sliced thin and 1 cup sliced and pulled apart onions 2Tbsp salt. Let set 2 hours.

Mix 2 C. Sugar, 2Tbsp Celery seed, 1 C. vinegar, 1Tbsp mustard seed.  Bring to a boil.  Drain cucumbers.  Pour sugar mixture over cucumbers and stir.  Weigh down with plate over night in refrigerator.

                    Then put in the freezer. If you like put in a little alum.  They really do stay crisp!
                                                    Something to do with all those cucumbers.

Blessings

Crystal

Drive In Movie

We have a wonderful piece of nostalgia in our community.  We have a Drive In Movie Theater.  I know isn't that so cool. Courtney asked if we could go this last weekend.  They were playing Toy Story 3 and Marmaduke.  So we went.  It was packed.  There was not a spot open by the time the movie started. We had a wonderful time.  The night was just perfect not to hot.  There are so many great things about an outdoor movie. 

1)You can take your own food.  Ryan asked if he could buy us pizza.  Wasn't that sweet! We enjoyed pizza while waiting for the movie to start.  We brought pop, water and homemade cookies for dessert. We did not have to sneak anything in.  Ha Ha.

2)  You can go early and eat and enjoy each others company. Alyssa was on a float trip so she was not there.  We missed her.   Talk to your neighbor parked next to you or enjoy watching them.  I love to watch people, we are so interesting.  

3)It is so much cheaper.  Our Drive In cost $7 per adult and children 3-11 are just $1.00.  And you get 2 movies for that.  You could never get that deal at an AMC Theater.  

4)It is just a great piece of history.  You should really try it with your family if you are lucky enough to have one near you.   

Here are a few pics from our wonderful family night.

Court taking a nap with our cat Miracle getting ready for the big night.

Sitting on her brothers car.  He was so nice to let her do that.

Emily and Ryan waiting for it to get dark and enjoy the movies.  You can see the screen in the back ground.

Mike and I.  We had so much fun.  

Hope you had a wonderful and relaxing weekend.  Time to get back at it. 

Blessings

Crystal

Just hanging out

A Cloudy Rainy Day

  We went to the store to pick up the sale items.  Went to Wal-mart to pick up a few things.  Then to the Dollar store to pick up kitty liter since our Wal-mart does not carry it anymore and we found this great little shop called the Little Red Hen.  It is a quilt shop and beyond.  It is so wonderful. They have beautiful quilts hanging in there and just tons and tons of fabric, yarn and pretty things.  We are going to try to take a beginners quilting class in October.   We came home and since it s raining again we decided to work on our crocheting.  I have wanted to learn forever and so has Court.  So a few weeks back when I did my sister swap with Danielle she was so sweet and sent me yarn, instructions and all to make a dish cloth.  I started right away.  I am hooked.  My first one was funny.  I am now on my 3rd one and they are getting better.  I will show you another time.  So now I am trying to teach Court.  It is so fun to be cozy on the couch with my littlest baby (not really a baby any more but you know what I mean).  She is starting to get it down.  She is definitely my domestic one.  She loves to bake, cook, clean and now crochet.  I just love how different God made each of my kids. They each have such wonderful talents. 

(Wish you were here Alyssa. I miss you)

Blessings

Crystal  

Being a friendly neighbor

Leveiticus 19:18 Thou shall not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self: I am the Lord.

I have been trying for weeks to take something to my neighbor who moved in not long ago.  I made some bread it did not turn out and went right in the trash.  That was so unusual for me that never happens.  I am usually a pretty good baker if I do say so myself.  My kitchen window faces their house and the things I have seen are not good.  Fighting, crying the man of the house kissing different women in the drive way.  I know it seems like I am spying but really I am not.  I just spend a lot of time in my kitchen.  Like yesterday I was watching a movie with my husband and I got up to get a drink or something and saw the man having to go in through the window because they had locked him out.  Oh my, do I still make something and take over or is it best to stay away.  I so want to be a good neighbor but I also don't want to be a bother.  What do you think? It is really on my heart.  If you think I should go what should I take.  I usually do cookies or something but I am open to some great ideas. 

 Blessings

Crystal

Happy 4th Of July 2010

Happy 4th Of July!!

Blessings

Crystal

New Home

As you know Alyssa lives away at school. She has a job and she is living in a house with 3 other girls.  For the last two years she has not had cable.  It was something we did not think was totally necessary and would not pay for it.  Being a college girl she was not willing to foot the bill for that when there were other things she would rather spend her money on.  She has always had Internet.  That is pretty much a must when you are in college.  Today she called and the girls decided to all get cable.  They had it installed and she is so excited.  Living with 3 other girls has allowed her to keep costs down so she can afford this little extra.  We do help her with her rent during the school months but not during the summer months.  We feel it is her choice to live there in the summer and have decided, that is fine, but she has to pay all her rent.  We will help her again starting in September.  In my younger days my parents did not help me with anything.  It was pretty much you are 18 and on your own.  Today I think parents do it a little different.  I hope we are doing what is right.  She is very responsible pays for pretty much  every thing else her self.  Of course when she is home daddy can't resist slipping her some money when he can & buying her some gas.  And we of course always send her home with a food. She likes to cook for her and her room mates.  Soon we will be doing this for 2 of them.  We are big believers in being fair.  Boy you think they are expensive and take a lot of time when they are little just wait.  But I would not have it any other way.  

Broke &Happy

Crystal

Ryans Summer Job

This is my son after a hard day on the job.  He has a wonderful summer job.  He makes good money but it is not an easy job.  He drills oil wells, does geo loops heating and cooling, water wells and gas wells.  There have been boys quit because they can not take it.  They work out in the heat all day.  He usually goes in at 4 or 5 in the morning and gets home any where from 6 to 8:30 at night.  When Ryan started this summer job 3 years ago we wondered if he could take it.  This was really going to tell us something about his personality.  Three years later he is the one that all the full time guys want to work with because he is not lazy.  It makes me so proud.  He will be the man of the house one day and I am so happy to know that he is a hard worker.  Just one of many qualities I feel a husband and dad need to have.  Do you require your teenagers to work?  If not what do they do all summer?  I feel we are teaching him responsibility.  What are your thoughts?  Are we mean parents?

Blessings

Crystal