Hello one & all...part of having a BLOG is the ability to reach a large number of people with your ideas and opinions. That's what I have for you today...strong opinions.
My 7 year old son loves Transformers. Plays with them from waking till sleeping, off and on. I allowed him to watch the first movie this past fall after watching it once myself. There was some mild sexual inuendo...all of it above his understanding and therefore, over his head. Yes, some violence but so are video games, Spiderman videos and Saturday morning Pokemon cartoons. A few wild scenes, robot on robot. Nothing over the top. Flash ahead with me to Christmas 2009. Santa brought the second movie in the series. I sat down to watch it with both older kids night before last...unbelievable. The first scene is robots squashing people (cavemen but still people) like little ants. This should have been my cue to turn it off but felt compelled to keep watching. First scene of the girlfriend rivals a Playboy calender...overlooked yet another sign. Fight scene, fight scene, suggestive scene, several drug references that my 11 yo clearly got and the final straw...a lovely girl transforming into an evil robot complete with a tongue that reminded me of the exorcist. 7 yo boy completely freaked out and refusing to sleep alone follows the immediate shut off of the DVD. I watched the rest after the kids went to bed and found that the storyline was hard to follow when it is so overshadowed by the violent action sequences and change of location. (On Earth, off Earth...) What bothers me the most is the obvious marketing to 6-10 year old boys...toys and such. This is clearly NOT a child's movie (Iknow, I know...PG 13) that came on the heels of a mildly high-tech, robot warrior prequel that will probably cause a lot of parents to misjudge THIS volumes content. These two films are on opposite ends of the PG-13 spectrum. If you must watch it with children, be prepared with remote in hand to fast forward and, possibly, hit STOP.
On a drastically different note, hubby and I gave the children a set of brand-new to the market DVD's. A series of 5 movies based on the book series "The Sugarcreek Gang." I cannot say enough GREAT things about these movies. They are touted as family entertainment ...this generally means my preteen will have nothing to do with them. In this case, however, every member of the family has watched and enjoyed. We have been watching a video per evening at bedtime and they are equally loved by all. They are set in the 50's and are centered around a small group of boys and one girls that have formed their own club "The Sugarcreek Gang." Beautifully filmed, surprisingly believable characters that both the 7 yo and the 11 yo can relate to. Great, suspenseful plots and, best of all, no swearing, no sexual references and no drug references. Reminds me of the feel good movies from the "Old Yeller" era. Given how much we have enjoyed the videos, I cannot wait to get the first in the series of books from the local library to read aloud with the children.
Those are my thoughts...I'll even add in a frugal one. Visit your local library and take advantage of videos and books for free. Pavilion Public Library recenty purchased both the video series and the complete book series. Pay them a visit...or request through the NIOGA system. Blessings, Eve
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Ham and Vegetable Pot
Hello one & all...hope everyone had a truly wonderful Christmas! It was soooo busy around here but it was also magical for my children and lovey warm for us all...both parties were stress free and, hopefully, equally enjoyed by our guests. I was very much prepared for these events and it allowed me to sit back and bask in the glow of family and friends. (The 3 weeks before were certainly filled with hustle and bustle...good trade off, I think!) A few days of slow living and now on to New Years Eve and both my girls birthday parties. Yup...one on the 7th, one on the 11th. (Something about the month of April around here...Spring Fever, perhaps???) A small gathering for the soon-to-be 2 yo with her cousins (a monkey party complete with make your own banana splits...yum!) and a smallish slumber for the soon-to-be 12 yo. Typical make your own small pizza, nails and toes and all 3 High School Musical DVD's. I'm there!!!
If you had ham for Christmas I have an easy recipe for you...Ham and Vegetable Pot. It is in the vein of a boiled dinner and goes nicely with bread and butter. My MIL gave me the bone to use as they are headed to Florida for the winter..thanks so much. The children love this meal!
Ham and Vegetable Pot
1 ham bone
6-8 cups water
4 potatoes, diced
1 pound frozen green beans or corn (I use 1/2 and 1/2)
salt and pepper to taste
Bring the water to a boil. Add salt, pepper and ham bone. Reduce to a simmer and cook for several hours; till the ham falls off the bone. If necessary, add water during cooking. Remove the bone,; cut meat into smallish pieces and return meat to the pot. Add vegetables during the last 1/2 hour of cooking time. Scoop out meat and vegetables to serve. ***I use double the veggies and water to serve my brood. One ham bone is still fine...
Make and Enjoy! Blessings, Eve
If you had ham for Christmas I have an easy recipe for you...Ham and Vegetable Pot. It is in the vein of a boiled dinner and goes nicely with bread and butter. My MIL gave me the bone to use as they are headed to Florida for the winter..thanks so much. The children love this meal!
Ham and Vegetable Pot
1 ham bone
6-8 cups water
4 potatoes, diced
1 pound frozen green beans or corn (I use 1/2 and 1/2)
salt and pepper to taste
Bring the water to a boil. Add salt, pepper and ham bone. Reduce to a simmer and cook for several hours; till the ham falls off the bone. If necessary, add water during cooking. Remove the bone,; cut meat into smallish pieces and return meat to the pot. Add vegetables during the last 1/2 hour of cooking time. Scoop out meat and vegetables to serve. ***I use double the veggies and water to serve my brood. One ham bone is still fine...
Make and Enjoy! Blessings, Eve
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Make your ice!
Hello one & all...if you are hosting a get together next week NOW is the time to begin making ice. Make it in your trays and transfer to large freezer bags. Do this several time per day and by late next week you should be pretty well set. Also, if you are using coolers to keep beverages cold for the crowd, freeze cool whip containers full of water. Pop them out and add to the cooler. They take longer to melt and are less work to prepare. Busy, busy...gotta go! Blessings, Eve
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
$5 off $20 at Sav-a-lot
Hello one & all...busy this AM but thought I would share one frugal thought! Found this coupon for Sav-a-lot...sign up for their "shoppers club" and you are able to print the coupon. They will simply notify you of sales and specials. Blessings, Eve
Friday, December 11, 2009
Milk Jugs
Hello one & all...been completely absorbed in preparing for the upcoming holidays. Have two parties scheduled for my son...one for cousins and one for 15 1st grade boys. I know, I know - crazy but I keep doing it year after year anyway! Thought I would talk about something totally off topic of parties and Christmas because my brain needs a break from such things...
Closed our chickens in for the winter, They are toasty warm in their beautiful coop that the hubby built. 10 hens and "Doodle" our quickly maturing, very happy rooster. Needed a bowl for them that we could atttach to the wall and that would survivie the trials of 11 chicken beaks on a daily basis. So, I clipped away a large hole in the front of a gallon milk jug and my hubby attached it to the coop wall with a nail or two. They love it...perfect height and they cannot kick it around or "soil it" as it is up. Got me thinking about the many times over the years I have modified a milk jug for this project or that...
-chicken feeder (or other small animal!)
-pony/hairband/brush holder for the bathroom. Left the handle intact and cut the top off. Cut to fit in our cabinet.
-drawer organizers...cut to the right height and use to seperate socks/panties/tights...cover rough edges with duct tape if using for "snaggable" items.
-toss game for balls or beanbags...cut to make a scoop with handle still attached. My kids love when I make up a set of these.
-scoops for dogfood/ birdseed/rocksalt/etc... leave handle intact.
-canning funnel. Cut and use the spout area for "funnely" tasks. Used these for years till I found a "real" one for a quarter at a swap meet. Aslo fun for the bathtub!
-I have cut small sections for twirly windsocks, robot parts, and reinforcement for various craft projects.
Any other ideas? Please leave a comment and share! Blessings, Eve
Closed our chickens in for the winter, They are toasty warm in their beautiful coop that the hubby built. 10 hens and "Doodle" our quickly maturing, very happy rooster. Needed a bowl for them that we could atttach to the wall and that would survivie the trials of 11 chicken beaks on a daily basis. So, I clipped away a large hole in the front of a gallon milk jug and my hubby attached it to the coop wall with a nail or two. They love it...perfect height and they cannot kick it around or "soil it" as it is up. Got me thinking about the many times over the years I have modified a milk jug for this project or that...
-chicken feeder (or other small animal!)
-pony/hairband/brush holder for the bathroom. Left the handle intact and cut the top off. Cut to fit in our cabinet.
-drawer organizers...cut to the right height and use to seperate socks/panties/tights...cover rough edges with duct tape if using for "snaggable" items.
-toss game for balls or beanbags...cut to make a scoop with handle still attached. My kids love when I make up a set of these.
-scoops for dogfood/ birdseed/rocksalt/etc... leave handle intact.
-canning funnel. Cut and use the spout area for "funnely" tasks. Used these for years till I found a "real" one for a quarter at a swap meet. Aslo fun for the bathtub!
-I have cut small sections for twirly windsocks, robot parts, and reinforcement for various craft projects.
Any other ideas? Please leave a comment and share! Blessings, Eve
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Chuckwagon Chili
Hello one & all...loving having venison in the freezer again. Here's one we had for dinner last night. The original recipe came from $5 Dollar Dinners. I modified it to what I had on hand and to suit our taste.
Chuckwagon Chili
1 cup dried red kidney beans (or 1 can)
1 pound ground red meat (beef, venison)
1 onion, chopped (or 1 TBSP dried onion)
2 - 15 oz. cans of diced tomatoes (or 1 quart home canned)
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
1 TBSP garlic powder
2 TBSP chili powder
2 tsp salt
pepper to taste
4 cups "fun pasta", shells, wagon wheels, small bowties
shredded cheese, diced onion, sour cream...whatever sounds good to you for on top of individual bowls
Directions
Soak and cook dried beans (if using). Drain and rinse beans. In the same pot brown meat and onions till cooked through. Drain off any fat. Return to pot. Cook pasta in a seperate pot according to package directions. Combine the meat/onions, red beans, diced tomatoes (undrained), tomato paste plus 1-2 cans of water, garlic powder, chili powder, salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat for 15 minutes or so to blend flavors. Add pasta and heat through. Spoon into individual bowls and top with personal choice of items. We had "the works" and it got 2 thumbs up all the way around! I served it with homemade applesauce and multi colored pepper strips.
Make and enjoy! Blessings, Eve
Chuckwagon Chili
1 cup dried red kidney beans (or 1 can)
1 pound ground red meat (beef, venison)
1 onion, chopped (or 1 TBSP dried onion)
2 - 15 oz. cans of diced tomatoes (or 1 quart home canned)
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
1 TBSP garlic powder
2 TBSP chili powder
2 tsp salt
pepper to taste
4 cups "fun pasta", shells, wagon wheels, small bowties
shredded cheese, diced onion, sour cream...whatever sounds good to you for on top of individual bowls
Directions
Soak and cook dried beans (if using). Drain and rinse beans. In the same pot brown meat and onions till cooked through. Drain off any fat. Return to pot. Cook pasta in a seperate pot according to package directions. Combine the meat/onions, red beans, diced tomatoes (undrained), tomato paste plus 1-2 cans of water, garlic powder, chili powder, salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat for 15 minutes or so to blend flavors. Add pasta and heat through. Spoon into individual bowls and top with personal choice of items. We had "the works" and it got 2 thumbs up all the way around! I served it with homemade applesauce and multi colored pepper strips.
Make and enjoy! Blessings, Eve
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Couple Coupons
Hello one & all...I am not a coupon queen. Do most of my shopping at Aldi's. Around the holidays, however, I do tend to purchase more convenience and treat items.
Two things on sale this week at Tops...Stonyfield Farms Organic 6 oz. yogurt. $.50 each. Visit their website, register and recieve a coupon for $.50 off 3. Doubled = 3 for $.50! Farm Rich Cheesesticks...my kids LOVE these things. Nice appetizer for our Christmas Eve gathering. $4.99 for the big bag. Farm Rich website spits out $.75 off any item. Doubled = $3.50 for the bagged size. Don't forget to hit the back button to print this one twice!
Blessings, Eve
Two things on sale this week at Tops...Stonyfield Farms Organic 6 oz. yogurt. $.50 each. Visit their website, register and recieve a coupon for $.50 off 3. Doubled = 3 for $.50! Farm Rich Cheesesticks...my kids LOVE these things. Nice appetizer for our Christmas Eve gathering. $4.99 for the big bag. Farm Rich website spits out $.75 off any item. Doubled = $3.50 for the bagged size. Don't forget to hit the back button to print this one twice!
Blessings, Eve
Venison Tenderloin Sandwiches
Hello one & all...don't know what happened there. Life took over and time got away from me...could be the fact that we just signed on to host my husband's family Christmas this year. 20+ guests...also host my family on Christmas Eve. Only 12 people there. I think the panic took over.
I'm back now and able to breath steadily as I have a plan. Spent the last week making lists. Lists of what household things need taken care of. From wiping down cabinets to which rooms to decorate. Every single thing. Now I can do one or two 10-20 minute jobs per day and it keeps the panic at bay. Put in wrapping sessions. Shopping sessions. Cooking sessions (will divy those up as the day grows nearer.) I remember the year I spent 3 hours wrapping gifts 2 days before Christmas! I DO NOT want anything like that to happen again...a friend shared with me that her husband dubbed her the "Christmas Witch" one year because she was too overwhelmed to enjoy the holiday and was making everyone else miserable as well! I DO NOT want to be that person...ever again. So, take a breath and join me in a stress free December! Make a list...
Vension season is upon us (Hip, hip, hooray!) and I thought I would share a few favorites over the next couple of posts. Nothing relieves stress like knowing what to have for dinner well in advance!
Venison Tenderloin Sandwiches
2 large onions, sliced
2 cans (4 oz) sliced mushrooms, drained
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup worcestershire sauce
8 venison tenderloin steaks, about 3/4 inch thick
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp salt, optional
4 hard rolls, split
In a skillet, saute onions and mushrooms in butter and worcestershire sauce until onions are tender. Flatten steaks to 1/2 inch thick; add to skillet. Cook over medium heat until meat is done as desired. (Do not cook to well done as they will continue cooking after removing from pan...medium is perfect.) 3 minutes is about right in a hot pan. Sprinkle with garlic powder, pepper and salt. Place two steaks on each roll and top with onion mixture. 4 servings.
Make and enjoy! Blessings, Eve
I'm back now and able to breath steadily as I have a plan. Spent the last week making lists. Lists of what household things need taken care of. From wiping down cabinets to which rooms to decorate. Every single thing. Now I can do one or two 10-20 minute jobs per day and it keeps the panic at bay. Put in wrapping sessions. Shopping sessions. Cooking sessions (will divy those up as the day grows nearer.) I remember the year I spent 3 hours wrapping gifts 2 days before Christmas! I DO NOT want anything like that to happen again...a friend shared with me that her husband dubbed her the "Christmas Witch" one year because she was too overwhelmed to enjoy the holiday and was making everyone else miserable as well! I DO NOT want to be that person...ever again. So, take a breath and join me in a stress free December! Make a list...
Vension season is upon us (Hip, hip, hooray!) and I thought I would share a few favorites over the next couple of posts. Nothing relieves stress like knowing what to have for dinner well in advance!
Venison Tenderloin Sandwiches
2 large onions, sliced
2 cans (4 oz) sliced mushrooms, drained
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup worcestershire sauce
8 venison tenderloin steaks, about 3/4 inch thick
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp salt, optional
4 hard rolls, split
In a skillet, saute onions and mushrooms in butter and worcestershire sauce until onions are tender. Flatten steaks to 1/2 inch thick; add to skillet. Cook over medium heat until meat is done as desired. (Do not cook to well done as they will continue cooking after removing from pan...medium is perfect.) 3 minutes is about right in a hot pan. Sprinkle with garlic powder, pepper and salt. Place two steaks on each roll and top with onion mixture. 4 servings.
Make and enjoy! Blessings, Eve
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