Post from: But First, We Have Coffee

Music, Lights, Action

Aunt Barbara’s Mexican Wedding Cakes. See recipe here.

These are light but taste similar to shortbread

Dipped Pretzel Sticks

These are easy for even the smallest child.

Super easy and super good, creamy fudge. See recipe here.

Anne

Anne

Peanut Butter Cookies With Kisses. See recipe here.

Peanut Butter Cookies With Kisses

We also made:

• Molasses Cookies (See recipe here)
• Peppermint Bark (See recipe here)
• Martha Washington’s Bon Bon’s (See recipe here)

All the cookies laid out for the neighbors

After the plates were wrapped, we drove around town caroling and handing out these lovelies to our dear friends and neighbors. We had a couple neighbors gone, so those will probably be distributed tonight.

Post from: But First, We Have Coffee

Baking Day!

It’s a beautiful, sunny, fall day and I decide to go apple picking from our King apple tree on a hillside by the pole barn. Normally, apples that fall, roll down the hill and whack the pole barn to stop themselves. About dusk, the deer come down from the woods and eat them.  This whole process goes on each day until they’re gone.

Well, today I grab a bucket and ladder to climb up the tree and shake it to get apples to fall down.  I start up the ladder and realized that the one bad hip isn’t going to support my weight when that leg is on the ladder step. So, I let the other leg be the one to get me up each step.  That works okay until I try to get up the tree. I find the other leg is necessary. So I come back down, then go get Dan’s good, long nylon rope & his pick-up to pick apples.   A big knot ball tied on the end helps weight the rope down while I throw it for about 10 minutes to try to get it over a big horizontal branch and then have the knotted end looped over it enough so I can reach it.   Then I can make a dumb-looking girl-knot that will hopefully keep the loop from pulling apart with tension.

I then bring enough rope down the hill and tie it around the hitch ball (or whatever you call it) on the pick up.  Now I take off with the pick up until it slides to a stop with my foot still on the gas. I back up and go forward in a rocking motion and think, “I must have emptied the whole tree of apples and the task has been accomplished.”  I go back to the tree and the leaves are moving a little and there’s about a bucket of apples on the ground.  By now, after hitting branches on the way down, stuff on the ground and the pole barn, half my work preparing them is done because they are already sliced, partly peeled or spongy and ready for sauce.  I’m picking up the pieces and putting them in my bucket and think I can hear an,  “OH CRUD!!!” coming from the direction of the woods. It’s almost dusk by now.   I look up into the tree and realize that Dan’s good nylon rope is tied around a large, unreachable branch.   OH CRUD!!!

Post from: But First, We Have Coffee

Picking Apples Using A Pick Up Truck

Q. Should I have a baby after 35?
A. No, 35 children is enough.

Q. I’m two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?
A. With any luck, right after he finishes college.

Q. How will I know if my vomiting is morning sickness or the flu?
A. If it’s the flu, you’ll get better.

Q. What is the most common pregnancy craving?
A.. For men to be the ones who get pregnant.

Q. What is the most reliable method to determine a baby’s sex?
A. Childbirth.

Q. My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she’s borderline irrational.
A. So what’s your question?

Q. How long is the average woman in labor?
A. Whatever she says divided by two.

Q. My childbirth instructor says it’s not pain I’ll feel during labor, but pressure. Is she right?
A. Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.

Q. When is the best time to get an epidural?
A. Right after you find out you’re pregnant.

Q. Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife is in labor?
A. Not unless the word “alimony” means anything to you.

Q. Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?
A. Yes, pregnancy.

Q. Does pregnancy cause headaches?
A. Pregnancy causes anything you want to blame it for.

Q. Do I have to have a baby shower?
A. Not if you change the baby’s diaper very quickly.

Q. Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again?

A. When the kids are in college.

Post from: But First, We Have Coffee

Child Bearing Q & A’s

If you get a chance, please swing by and place your vote. I haven’t had time to check out the other ones. I won’t ask you for my vote, although I would greatly appreciate it, but I will ask that you pick the one you find the best fit.

Here is the link: http://homeschoolblogawards.com/best-homeschool-mom-blog-2008/

You don’t have to be a home educator to vote. Enjoy surfing!

Yes, I am still away. I stopped in at a library to “check” stuff. I guess the internet hasn’t quit working yet, so things must be fine! Heh heh.

Post from: But First, We Have Coffee

Voting Isn’t Over

Horizon Wireless

Post from: But First, We Have Coffee

In Lieu of The Upcoming Hunting Season

Married for 60 years and daughter of John R. Rice (An evangelist and editor and author of many books.), Mrs. Handford’s has a burden for serving God.

Mrs. Handford and her husband have seven children (all adopted), eighteen grandchildren, and four great-grandchild.

For many years she edited the magazine for Christian Women, The Joyful Woman. She’s written a number of books and Bible studies especially for women and children, but probably best-known (and sometimes disliked!) for Me? Obey Him? (650,000 copies sold). She is currently writing Find-Out-for-Yourself Bible studies of women in the Bible. Eleven volumes are finished; with one more to go to cover every woman we’re told something about in the Bible.

PLUS, during chat, we will do some drawings for some great prizes!

(details to follow)

If you are not a member of cmomb’s forum,

consider making application and joining the fellowship.

Post from: But First, We Have Coffee

Cmomb’s 9th Anniversary Chat!

Post from: But First, We Have Coffee

The McLean Household’s Presidential Endorsement

Ice cream does have a warm place in my heart. I don’t know. Is that possible? Sounds obscure.

I thought I’d share with you something my husband, Dennis, wrote for me when I turned 40. Since that was such a lonnnng time ago, and since it was only posted on my forum, not on my blog, I thought I’d share it with you here today.

A Paean to Honor Ruth on Her 40th Birthday

Proverbs 31:10a
An excellent wife, who can find?

I have! Her name is Ruth.

Proverbs 31:10b-12

For Ruth’s worth is far above jewels. My heart trusts in her, And I have no lack. She does me good and not evil All the days of her life.

1Timothy 2:9-10
Ruth adorns herself in proper clothing, modestly and discreetly. Her intimacies are reserved for me. While there are many women who stand around pretty naked, her fashion statement is to adorn herself with good works as all women of Godliness do; and with these, she is well covered.

Genesis 2:14-15, 3:6
My beloved has eschewed the way of Eve and has taken the path of righteousness founded by God. She hotly pursues His plans for her and her family so that she appears to the world and to the worldly as strange and different, even weird. Culture is rushing to destruction with its pleasures and entertainments, it’s acceptances and peer pressures, it’s self importance and self plans; with this she has no identification. In fact she has cast those aside as the used, objects of disgust they are! Her identification is with God and our Lord Jesus Christ! Her desire is pleasing Him. She serves her family and friends because she loves to please Jesus.

Titus 2:3-5
Today is Ruth’s 40th birthday. As she has matured she has become more beautiful because her outward beauty is a product of her inward radiant character. Many women have endeavored to perpetuate and prop up their fading youth… and it’s foolishness’. Ruth, far beyond her years, has abandoned the foolishness of youth and has embraced wisdom and righteousness and sanctified herself to God and has become the older woman to those who are senior to her in years. Daughters, I implore you, listen to her and learn from her. She will point you to the Savior. She will talk about and demonstrate what pleases Him. My testimony is true. I am a witness.

1Corinthians 7:3-5
My wife, my beloved, my Ruth, cares for all of my needs, with liberality. She don’t ask for nor does she hint at concessions. She does not act as a sacrifice or a noble Joan of Arch, rather, Ruth acts in selfless love because it is her pleasure to give me pleasure. I smile to myself when I hear the men at work complain about their wives… I have nothing to complain about, but I have much to brag about. (not unseemly topics, I just keep that wide grin private!)

Philippians 3:17
Be imitators of Ruth as she is of Christ! She wants nothing more than for Him to be glorified in her and in you. She glorifies Him in what pleases Him; obedience to His commands. When she gave up identification with the world and with the worldly she looked to, and still looks, to the Lord God for her value and for the things He values because the world does not understand what is truly valuable.

(They choose filth and say truth is relative!)

2Timothy 3:12, 1John 2:29-3:1
Ruth has taken up her cross to follow in His steps, so the world and the worldly despise her. What the world does not understand is what they despise in Ruth is Jesus. For her part, she loves and ministers to her enemies because Jesus loves her enemies. She encourages and strengthens the weak because Jesus loves the weak. She stands with and encourages the strong, because Jesus is the inspiration and strength of the strong. Truth is always on her lips, because Jesus is truth! AMEN!

A 40 year old woman, today in my bed I’ve found,
Wisdom and righteousness have been perpetually her crown.

Wisdom before youth is much to be preferred,
She is your example, you can, and should, all be as her.

As she ages her beauty becomes ever greater,
Even though her skin may shrivel, just like an old tomater.

Joking aside, men of the earth would be grateful,
If their wives were like her, if even just a cupful.

Sarah’s daughter is Ruth, Abraham and I are both wealthy,
Of this she’s been accused, charged and praise God, righteously guilty.

A Venus I have in Ruth, for she sets the pace,
When most the women ’round, haven’t even started the race!

Made for my side, She is my helpmeet,
The two become one, and now we are complete.

Proverbs 31:25-29
Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and bless her; and I Her husband also praise her, saying: “Many daughters have done nobly, But you, Ruth, excel them all.” Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Song of Solomon 2:2
“Like a lily among the thorns, So is my Ruth among the maidens.”

Happy Birthday Ruth
Thank you for being a woman beyond all compare.
With all my Love,
Dennis

My favorite line is, “As she ages her beauty becomes ever greater, Even though her skin may shrivel, just like an old tomater.” Thanks for letting me share!

Have a great day as you serve your family!

Post from: But First, We Have Coffee

It’s My Party And I’ll Blog If I Want To

This coming Monday, September 29, homeschool parents will be able to pick up a complimentary tall size (12 fl. oz.) cup of Pike Place Roast from Starbucks.

This promotion is part of Starbucks “Great Start for Great Teachers” promotion, and is now open to all teachers.

HSLDA continues to state their appreciation that homeschoolers may participate and give the below evidence to be presented when taking advantage of this special:

Any one item on the following list should be accepted by Starbucks:

• Home School Legal Defense Association membership card.
• Membership card from a state homeschooling organization.
• Notification from a school district or state government recognizing compliance with compulsory attendance.
• Paperwork submitted showing intent to establish a homeschool program.
• Paperwork showing the establishment of a private school.

If you don’t have one of the items on this list be creative and try to provide other proof of homeschooling.

Please note: the final decision about whether to accept proof of homeschooling resides with Starbucks.

They also remind members to go print copies of their membership cards at their site. (See link above)

Enjoy your coffee while serving your family today!

Post from: But First, We Have Coffee

Starbucks Coffee For Home Educators