Summer days...

Wow. August 26th already!
Monday, we started homeschooling. Addie is in 1st grade and Autumn is in K-4. I am enjoying it thoroughly. I like the challenge and the joy of homeschooling. Today, we have a day off. Addie has a dentist appt. at 11am...grocery shopping...then a treat at KFC (with our free grilled chicken meal coupons).
Monday and Tuesday, we had our Fall Revival at our church. Bro. Bob Gray Sr. and Bro. Bob Gray Jr. came from Longview, TX to be our speakers. I was able to hear one sermon each night in between singing for the specials and working in the nursery. We enjoy having these men of God come every year.
Our weather is heating back up in the 90's again. A touch more summer before fall hits us.
We are also planning a family camping trip for Labor Day weekend. We are looking forward to a couple days together.
I hope you are enjoying your last days of summer! Remember God loves you!

Good neighbors...

We have wonderful neighbors! Recently, they brought over homemade vegetable beef soup and then the next week...homemade pizza. They are also sharing their bounty from their garden as well. This is the squash, zucchini and cucumbers that they brought over a few days ago. Wow!
Are you a good neighbor? I believe we can all work on being a good neighbor. Our neighbors should be important as our church family. We should know their names. We should say hello when we see them.
Let's all do one good thing for our neighbors this week!

School Helps...At the Dollar Tree!

This week, I am finishing preparations for the start of home schooling. I love home schooling! We will be starting school next Monday, August 24.

We have purchased our school supplies...pencils, glue, crayons, scissors, etc... along with new plastic organizers. We color coded...Autumn has pink and Addie has purple. We have new school folders...ready to go for the year. At the end of each week, I refill their school folders with the corresponding papers for each day. Red folder...Monday's work, green folder...Tuesday's work...etc. When we begin each day, all the papers that need to be finished for that day are right at our fingertips. Each girl has their own set of folders.

I also came across a gold mine of school helps. At the Dollar Tree! They have really begun to stock up great school supplies and teaching aids. Last year, I bought a few teaching helps at the Teacher Store but it adds up and can be rather expensive!
I included a few pictures of some of the posters I bought at the Dollar Tree...2 posters for $1!
They also have many sets of bulletin board borders along with matching banners and small decorations. The border I am beginning the year with is "Classroom News". The bulletin board has a matching border. I have the bulletin board ready to post A+ papers, art projects, schedules, etc.
I still have seven posters I purchased that I am not putting up yet. I have my fall bulletin board set purchased as well as two other bulletin board sets to use this year. I bought all these school teaching helps for less than $18.00!

If you are a teacher or mom, take time to check out the Dollar Tree. I think you will be pleased. Oh..by the way...they also had VBS and Sunday School materials as well.

Have a great week and happy planning!

Recipe: County Fair Funnel Cakes

My sister mentioned that they went to their county fair this past week. They all shared a funnel cake. Here is a recipe to enjoy your own funnel cakes any time of the year!

County Fair Funnel Cakes

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1-1/2 cups milk
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Oil for deep-fat frying
• Confectioners' sugar

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine the eggs, milk and brown sugar. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; beat into egg mixture until smooth.
In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°. Cover the bottom of a funnel spout with your finger; ladle 1/2 cup batter into funnel. Holding the funnel several inches above the skillet release finger and move the funnel in a spiral motion until all of the batter is released (scraping funnel with a rubber spatula if needed).
Fry for 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining batter. Dust with confectioners' sugar; serve warm. Yield: 6 servings. Editor's Note: The batter can be poured from a liquid measuring cup instead of a funnel.

Memories and Smell...

This summer, many "smells" have brought back many memories for me from my childhood.
Yesterday, I bought fresh, sweet peaches. Mmm. Peaches are one of my favorite fruits. As a child, my parents used to buy an entire bushel of fresh peaches from a local orchard. We would eat some - just to enjoy their sweetness. Mom would sometimes make a homemade peach pie...to die for! And then we would can the rest. During the other seasons, we often enjoyed homemade canned peaches.

Corn on the cob...I get a taste for it every summer. My Grandma Holt used to grow corn in her garden and would have us grandkids over for a corn feast.
She called them...roastin' ears. :)

Cantaloupe...the other day I enjoyed some warm, sweet and juicy cantaloupe. My Grandma McCurdy used to have the sweetest cantaloupe every summer. Just smelling it reminded me of her house. :) We just called them "melons".

It is truly amazing how the sense of smell can trigger fond and enjoyable memories. Campfires...cookies in the oven...the smell of rain in the air...a certain perfume...

What "smell" memories do you have from summers in your childhood?

Weekend Update...

Weekend Update...
Busy days this summer, for sure! I am thankful for the cooler temperatures and the rain we have received the past week. I am also excited about my first cherry tomatoes out of my garden!
Saturday night, we had birthday cake at our house with Papa Tastet. I finished getting all my preparations ready for Sunday School, the nursery, the Men's Retreat. I went and babysat from 11pm - 7am.
Got ready for church. Crossroads class...nursery...nursery meeting after church. Home for a quick lunch of French Dip Roast Beef Sandwiches and Ranch Pasta Salad. Made cupcakes. Did the dishes. Back to church for Xtreme Teens Meeting at 4pm. Choir practice at 5:30pm. Church at 6:30pm. Home for a quick bite and put kids to bed. I love being busy at church and on Sundays!
Back to babysitting 11pm - 7am.
Picked up a couple pies on my way home. Attending Memorial Service at our church at 11am. Luncheon after the service. Birthday party for a church friend at 3pm. Leave again for babysitting at 6pm. Babysit 6:30pm - 7am.
Tomorrow is my husband's 29th birthday! I love you! No time to be bored! LOL!

Have a great 1st week in August!