The first day of school came and went here... after 13 years of first day(ers)... the kids know that they have to pose and say "cheese".... It's bittersweet to know that I will never take my daughters 1st day of school picture again... College to me isn't school.. but the pathway to adulthood... It just won't be the same. I think for the next 8 or so months you might here me "weep" about .. "the last this.. and the last that"... Life seemed calmer when we sat and watched the Little Mermaid 4 times in a row.. or when Little Bear would sing "Blow the man down.. Blow the man down..."... sighhh...

These pictures were taken at different times.. so one looks brighter than the other.. cause of the sun... sophomore-Senior get to go into school late....


And this is my son.. doesn't he look like he's up to something.. every picture looked like that.. crazy kid!! He's the big "man" on campus.. he's an 8th grader this year...



Before school started a few ladies and I decided we would have a scrapbooking night.. we are trying to do it once a month to give us some away time... and time where we didn't spend $$ ( you know me..the less $$ I spend the better I feel.. tee hee..).. so I decided to use up some of those yummy blueberry's that I picked... I made a blueberry coffee cake. I got the recipe from AllRecipes.com.. so click on the link and it will bring you right to the recipe I used... I read all the reviews and alter to what some say.. I did use 2 eggs instead of one.. but I kept all the topping as you can see... Ü I love me some topping!. So after I made this.. I decided I wasn't hungry for it.. so I took one bite.. it was super moist and really good... but just wasn't into eating a huge slice.. So my gracious friend took home over half.. and the other half.. disappeared immediately.. so I'm guessing it was a HIT!! I could see this being frozen and good for morning breakfasts too!!

BLOG GIVE AWAY!

This is my 250th POST!! YEE HAA!! So to celebrate that I'm going to be giving away something "Frugal"... It's back to school here.. and when I think back to school I see $$ signs drain my bank account... and it drives me insane.. so I try to be more frugal and get what the kids NEED....

I hit a thrift store in my area after work one day last week and I stumbled upon this book. It amazes me how many people have never read it or know who Amy Dacyczyn is ( that's pronounced decision). This is her first edition of three books of The Tightwad Gazette.

This book is gently used.. ( hey.. I got it cheap!! lol lol) and was published in 1992 so you need to convert today's prices.. ( I mean oil was .79 a gallon in this book and she was upset.. wonder what she thinks now???) But there are still good recipes and ideas in here..

So if you would like a chance to win this book.. here's what you need to do.. Share with me your most FRUGAL tip.. I don't care if I've heard it 30 times or more.. I want to know what works for you!! No tip is worthless!! Leave a post.. and link my blog back on yours. No Blog? That's ok.. just drop me an e-mail... I'd also like to keep this in the US.. due to shipping costs.. since the book cost me pennies.. I don't want to spend a mint shipping.. sorry...

Ok.. so dish.. tell me your best tip.. recipes are welcomed too.. Ü DEADLINE IS FRIDAY NIGHT at 8PM... 8/29/08... so hurry!!

I was tagged by the wonderful and AMAZING MERE!! The rules.. answer these questions with ONE word... YIKES.. ok.. here I go..

1. Where is your cell phone? non-existent
2. Where is your significant other? sleeping
3. Your hair color? Blonde
4. Your mother? lost
5. Your father? lost
6. Your favorite thing? kids
7. Your dream last night? motorhome
8. Your dream/goal? success
9. The room you're in? computer
10. Your hobby? cooking
11. Your fear? loneliness
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? nursing
13. Where were you last night? home
14. What you're not? perfect
15. One of your wish-list items? windows
16. Where you grew up? Windham
17. The last thing you did? drank
18. What are you wearing? owls
19. Your TV? gaming
20. Your pet? whining
21. Your computer? crammed
22. Your mood? peeved
23. Missing someone? always
24. Your car? blue!
25. Something you're not wearing? socks
26. Favorite store? thrift
27. Your summer? kids
28. Love someone? always
29. Your favorite color? green
30. When is the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? questionable
32. Who do you want to tag? EVERYONE!!
Play along!!

I Did something that I have never done before... I went Blueberry Picking!! I always thought picking blueberries would be boring and take FOREVER.......... so I always decided against it.. well.. I'm glad I didn't this year. I packed up the kids and jumped into the car and headed over to VT to pick blueberries where we normally pick apples. This was the last little mini trip I got to take with my Fresh Air Son..

He Did NOT want to go home.. but that's always him at the end of his visit..He loves to be able to just open the door and walk outside.. and sit.. where it's peaceful and quiet.. He doesn't get that at home.


Here's the group picking for me.. I'm not sure how many pounds we ended up with.. but I know probably a pound was eaten just on the ride home!

These were so big and sweet! and most of them just fell right off!! YUM!

We filled 6 of these.. and I froze about 3lbs worth.. the rest.. I made into blueberry pie filling! I made 6 jars.. and used two already to make a pie... The rest I hope to use during thanksgiving or Christmas...while the frozen blueberries will probably find their way into muffins, pancakes, coffecakes, and waffles!!

I took this picture upside down so you could see the color and berries inside!! mmm...

I haven't shared for a few weeks.. but here are a couple books I read this week...

I went away this weekend... so I didn't get a chance to blog..
But I will have pictures to share.. no exciting stories.. but.. pictures non the less...

my picture wasn't chose for the contest.. and I am SO ok with that.. but thank you for saying you loved it.. go over and peek at the finalists... forgive me.. I can't remember her name... but I voted for the wonderful picture full of bubbles.. it's so sweet.. soooooooo if you want to support me.. go on over and vote for that wonderful gal.. ( I'll link her blog tomorrow.. )...

Tomorrow... my world changes.. and I am NO longer a mom to any children under the age of a TEEN!!! Oh my.. I'm only 35.. WHY TWO TEENS.. lol lol.. actually I wouldn't change it for the world!!

Until tomorrow!!!
Happy Sunday!

Well.. this photo makes me giggle every time I look at it.. and giggling is a BIG part of summer.. as well as kicking back and relaxing.. just like this cute bunny!! I couldn't resist taking this picture at how willing the bunny was to hold the dandelion in his mouth!!!
So I decided that I would enter this picture in the Summer Fun Photo Contest at 5MinutesForMom... ( something I haven't had all summer.... but loving it)...

help a girl out please
I've had a few requests to put a "subscribe" button on my blog to let people know when I update. Well I've searched and I haven't been satisfied with what I've come up with.. Do you have one? Do you like it? Can you share with me??
Thanks so much!!

I've gotten myself into another pickle... well a good pickle I suppose...
Last night the kids and I ( not even my own kids I might add.. lol lol) made pickles..
Sweet Dill Pickles this time

This pickle is less involved.. but with kids..well.. you know how that can go .. especially for someone who is obsessed with her kitchen. Dirty dishes in the sink drives me insane... so I wash as I go.

This recipe is kind of "vague" so I will try and help you with what I did. This is a Amish Recipe and doesn't tell you how many pints you will end up with in the end...

Here's what the jar looks like packed as tight as I possibly can get everything...
And this is the final product... no matter how tight you pack these... the "brine" starts shrinking those "chips" and leaves all that room... ( at least for me).

Sweet Dills

Cucumbers, sliced
Fresh Dill heads
Garlic Cloves

Fill jars with sliced cucumbers, adding 2 bunches of dill and 3 or 4 garlic cloves to each quart. Pour brine over cucumbers.

Brine

1 quart weakened vinegar ( 1/2 water maybe be used)
2 cups water
1/4 cup salt
4 cups of sugar

Bring all brine ingredients to a boil. Immediately fill jars and put on lids. Process jars in hot water bath for about 10 minutes.

I doubled this recipe and I got 18 pint jars.. so I bet the recipe in truth calls for 7 pint jars ( I tend to get a couple extra out of most recipes). I cut up enough cukes to fill that amount of jars and for the weakened vinegar it said to use 1/2 water... so that's what I did.. I used 1/2 of a quart and then the rest water.. I haven't TASTED these baby's yet... but I'll let you know when I do...

Wanted to let you know.. I haven't stopped reading at all this summer.. I'm just not reading as much due to the kids here all day long and keeping up with things.. so when night time comes.. I treasure those couple of hours of reading!! Ü

I had to share this recipe with you all... I made it for dinner tonight... and I cut a piece so I could take a picture and share with you.. well.. I HAD to taste it as well.. and oh my.. It's AMAZING!!!
It's a bit chilly here in NH.. so tonight we're having a "comfort meal" of Homemade Chicken Pot Pie and this AMAZING Pumpkin Sheet Cake...

.

1 (16ounce) can pumpkin
2 cups sugar
1 cup of vegetable oil
4 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350. I n mixing bowl, beat pumpkin, sugar, and oil. Add eggs and mix well. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Add to pumpkin mixture and beat until well blended. Pour into greased 10x15-inch baking pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until cake tests done. When cool, frost with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting
5 TBSP butter, softened
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 tsp vanilla
1-3/4 cup powdered sugar
3-4 tsp milk
chopped nuts if desired

Beat butter, cream cheese, and vanilla in mixing bowl until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar. Mix well. Add mil until frosting reaches desired spreading consistency. Frost cake and sprinkle with nuts if desired.

I think I'm overtired... cause I found this video to be HILARIOUS!!!!
Listen to the Lyrics.....

"HELLO TO THE HOUSE INSIDE"

A greeting that I heard today while visiting one of NH's historical attractions. In a tiny little town called "Charlestown" lies a Fort! A real Fort that was built in or around 1740's.. The Fort at No.4. This year marks the 25oth anniversary of the French and Indian War. Now although the re-enactment can never portray the real deal... many actors came together today to show us what they had! It was really amazing! I had never been to one here... and it was really cool to see the buildings and so many people around who knew the history of the Fort.

You know me.. I love history.. and I love it even more when I can TOUCH history. The smells, the sights, the colors, the people were amazing! So we packed up our Fresh Air son and took him with us! ( my kids were gone on prior commitments).. He LOVED it!! He was afraid to ask the people questions.. but we finally got him to open up and ask!

So... I'm going to share a few of the pictures with you.. I might not be able to explain them all.. because the poor little man with the mic... well.. we just couldn't hear him! As soon as we took our places to watch the battle.. the sky opened up and POURED! UGH! But I still think the pics came out pretty good considering!





I loved these socks that the men wore.. !!!
I had to take this picture because I loved the drummer boy.. it is amazing how many children took part during the actual battles!


And the POOR FATE of the little drummer boy !!...


I took about 200 pictures today... so I wanted to share some of the battle with you... and tomorrow I'll come back and show you some of the Fort itself and the jobs that many settlers had!