A Feel Good Challenge

Are you a quilter? Do you like to volunteer your time? If so, I *CHALLENGE* you to participate in a wonderful FEEL GOOD PROJECT! Downy Touch of Comfort is sponsoring a quilting project called "Quilts for Kids Challenge" and it is open to everyone who likes to quilt. When you finish your quilt, you simply package it up and return it to Downy. Then all of the quilts will be given to children in hospitals around the country, who are facing life threatening illnesses.

Here is how it works: Downy has made up a kit for each quilt. All you need to do is click HERE and request your kit. And the great part is the whole project is FREE to participate in. Downy will send you your kit, FREE. You will receive all the fabric needed to complete the quilt (this means you get everything for the Four Patch Blocks, the feature fabric, the borders, backing, binding, label, the pattern, AND all the fabric is already cut out for you. All you need to do is supply is a piece of batting, your labor and your love!

I have signed up for my kit already and hope you will too!

To find out more about "Quilts For Kids," please visit there website!

Tea Talk

Remember the tea kettle - it is always up to its neck in hot water, yet it still sings!
~Author Unknown~

Welcome to the Farm! Sit down for a minute with a cup of your favorite something and relax.......take a deep breath.......yeah, that's it. Now don't you feel better?

Tea Talk is "normally" on Thursdays, but you'll understand more why mine is late if you choose to read on further!

I am having Spiced Vanilla Chai with French Vanilla coffee creamer. That's right, coffee creamer. I love the kind that Dunkin' Donuts used to make but since we don't live near one anymore (my waist is thanking me), I had to come up with my own version. The smell is amazing in itself!

My cup is one I got this morning from 7-11 when I went with my sister to the doctors. Hey, this Frugal Female will try and get as much use from something as I possible can!

I'm feeling GREAT today. Right now I have my precious grand-fur baby, Bailey on my lap, keeping me warm. We are waiting for my daughter and son-in-law to come over for dinner tonight to celebrate Goose's birthday. She turned 23 on Wednesday!

On my mind are things that I need to get organized for my sanity. I have gotten a bit lax lately in my keeping up with things in our home and in our homeschooling. Things are not where they should be, etc, and that is making it difficult for me on so many levels. It is amazing how so many things actually are intertwined and when one is off.....well.....you know how it goes!

For more "Tea Talk" posts, please visit Ruth over at
"Celebrate Friendship!" I know she'd LOVE to see you!

Our Fur-Babies

Good morning, everyone! Over the years we have had some WONDERFUL fur babies. Some are still with us, some have passed on, and one has disappeared. But nonetheless, they will all be a part of our lives forever and will always have a special place in our hearts.

I would like you to meet our other precious children.........

Our Fur-Babies

This is my girl, Paws......she was the BEST doggone dog in the whole world!!! We had her for 10 years before she passed away this fall. She was a loving and loyal sweetheart who loved to lay outside under the trees in the shade, while the breeze blew gently on her face.

This is Grandma's girl, Bailey aka Boo Boos aka Miss B! She is soooo adorable!!!! Just look at that face! She is such a lover of people and loves to give and receive kisses, especially from Grandma!! She LOVES to get special treats whenever she comes over for a visit. Her favorites are carrots and apples. Can you believe that? When I am chopping something in the kitchen, she can tell the difference between me chopping vegetables and carrots. She hears that and she comes RUUUUUUNNING into the kitchen! LOL These are my boys; Mopey, who passed away this summer, Rascal, and Simba. We found them in our shed back in '05 shortly after they were born. Their mother left them so we took them in and bottle-fed them 24/7 until they were old enough to eat solid food. They are hysterically funny to watch. They ALL sleep somewhere on ME every night.

And then there is our other boy, Larry. Larry adopted US! My daughter's were on their way home one day and got to the corner here by our house where this white cat jumped out into the road. Goose thought she hit him and went back to check on him. When she opened the door to get out....he jumped in. He started purring and lovin' on both the girls. They brought him home to feed him and make sure he was ok. He took up residence at our home until one day, he just disappeared! And then there is my precious little Princess. Kitty (my reading, sleeping, dishwashing, cooking, laundry doing, shoulder sitting, sweet tea making, sewing buddy). Bean was at her friend's house two years ago for a swimming party. The boy hosting the party said they had found a bunch of abandoned kittens. Bean, coming from an animal loving home, couldn't resist. Poor thing....she was so malnourished and so tiny. (Kitty, that is, not Bean! ) lol Well, as you can see, she is still tiny, but she is happy, and along with her brothers-in-crime, are in a loving home. While we were trying to come up with the perfect name for her, we called her Kitty......It stuck! LOL!

And finally, we have the newest member of our family...Mugsey, aka Mug Bug aka
THE MUGSINATOR! He is so stinkin' adorable! He LOVES to sleep with his daddy, rather I should say, he LOVES to sleep ON his daddy's.......head! Mug Bug is a nut when it comes to playing with his toys. Even the ones that are "indestructible" can be pulled apart by this precious thing! lol

Do you have any fur-babies that you would like for us to meet? If you do, please come back and leave a link so we can meet your precious ones!

Happy Birthday, Goose

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth!"
3 John 1:4

I am sending out lots of ♥ and ((((HUGS)))) today to my beautiful daughter, Goose, as she celebrates her 23rd birthday. Today, and every day, I THANK GOD for bestowing such a precious gift upon us..........YOU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEETIE!
I LOVE YOU WITH
ALL MY ♥!

You're A Blessing
Before you were born
I’d never have guessed
Such a wonderful daughter
That I would be blessed

When you were little
I’d watch you play
You’d smile at me
In your own cute way

My heart would fill
With my love for you
Without you I’d wonder
What would I do

And as you grew up
I watched you with pride
Happy was I
With you at my side

To me a blessing
You will always be
So much I love you
I hope this you see

Crock Pot Recipes

I just got this from a friend of mine and thought it was just too good not to share with everyone I know that may own a crock pot of two......Just click on the name for the recipe!

I have only found two or three so far that did not work but the rest of them have opened up very quickly!

BEEF

All Day Crock Pot Beef	Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry	Beef and Pasta Casserole	Beef Diablo
Beef Fajitas	Yankee Pot Roast and Vegetables	Beef Tips	Beer Braised Beef in Crock Pot
Burritos Crock Pot Style	California Tamale Pie	Cattleman's Beef and Beans	Cheeseburger Sandwiches
Cheesy Meat Loaf	Chili Beer Brisket of Beef	Classic Swiss Steak	Complete Crock Pot Dinner
Corned Beef and Cabbage	Country Swiss Steak	Cowboy Casserole	Cranberry Pork Roast
Crock Pot Beef Burgundy	Crock Pot Beef 'n Peppers	Crock Pot Beef with Mushrooms	Crock Pot Beef Roast
Crock Pot Cabbage Rolls	Crock Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage	Crock Pot Creole Steak Strips	Crock Pot Delight
Crock Pot Easy Swiss Steak	Crock Pot Enchiladas	Crock Pot Fajitas	Crock Pot Fajitas II
Crock Pot Italian Beef	Crock Pot Meatballs	Crock Pot Rump Roast	Crock Pot Sauerbraten
Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce	Crock Pot Swiss Steak	Crock Pot Taco Casserole	Fiesta Tamale Pie
Glazed Corned Beef	Glazed Corned Beef #2	Harvest Dinner	Harvest Pot Roast with Tomato-Wine Sauce
Hot-and-Spicy Sloppy Joes	Lean Crock Pot Beans	Nina's Beef and Beans	Pot Roast Dinner
Old Time Beef Stew	Pot Roast with Noodles	Ranch Style Beef	Reuben Casserole
Roast Cooked with Coke	Roast with Veggies	Sage Pot Roast	Salsa Swiss Steak
Savory Pepper Steak	Savory Stewed Beef	Slow-Cooked Beef Stifado	Slow Cooked Pepper Steak
Slow Cooked Steak Rolls	Slow Cooked Swiss Steak Supper	Slow Cooker Italian Spaghetti Sauce	Slow Cooker Lasagna
Slow Cooker Swiss Steak	Slowly Deviled Beef	Smothered Steak Strips	Spaghetti Sauce Italiano
Spicy Wine Pot Roast	Stuffed Cabbage Casserole	Stuffed Pasta Shells	Swiss Bliss
Swiss Steak	Teriyaki Steak	Three Pepper Steak	Three-Way Beef

PORK

Casserole in the Cooker	Chicken Lickin Good Crock Pot Pork Chops	Chinese Style Country Ribs	Country Pork with Mushrooms
Cranberry Pork Roast	Crockpot Apricot Pulled Pork for Sandwiches	Crock Pot Festival Sausage	Crock Pot Hawaiian Pork
Crock Pot Pork Chops Supreme	Crock Pot Sausage & Potatoes	Crock Pot Sausage and Egg Casserole	Crocked Cherry Pork Chops
Polish Kraut and Apples	Pork Chop Delight	Pork Chops and Mustard Sau ce Potatoes	Pork Chops with Corn Stuffing
Pork Stew with Vegetables	Rosemary Potato Pork Chops	Sauerkraut Supper	Slow Cooking Pork Chops
Soy-Glazed Spareribs	Super Easy Pork Chops	Sweet and Spicy Kielbasa or Polish Sausage	Sweet 'n' Sour Ribs
Sweet 'N' Sour Sausage

POULTRY

90s Style Crockpot Coq Au Vin	Bacon Wrapped Chicken	Baked Cajun Chicken	Baked Chicken Breasts in Crock Pot
Basil Chicken	Broccoli Rice & Chicken	Caf?? Chicken	Cantonese Sweet & Sour Chicken
Caribbean Chicken	Cheesy Crock Pot Chicken	Chicken & Cherries Jubilee	Chicken a la King
Chicken and Cherries Jubilee C/P	Chicken & Rice Casserole	Chicken and Artichoke Casserole	Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken Breasts Supreme	Chicken Creole	Chicken Crock Pie	Chicken Curry
Chicken Curry #2	Chicken Curry Hurry

I have found some really amazing sounding ones on here I just HAVE to try! If you use any of these, please let us know how they came out!

What Do You Do All Day?

A man came home from work and found his three
children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in
the mud, with empty food boxes and 20 wrappers
strewn all around the front yard.

The door of his wife's car was open, and so the
front door to the house and there was no sign of the
dog. Proceeding into the entry, he found an even
bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the
throw rug was wadded against one wall.

In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a
cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with
toys and various items of clothing.

In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast
food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was
open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor a
broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile
of sand was spread by the back door.

He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys
and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He
was worried she might be ill, or that
something serious had happened.

He was met with a small trickle of water as it made
its way out the bathroom door.

As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap
and more toys strewn over the floor.

Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste
had been smeared over the mirror and walls.
As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still
curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a
novel.

She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day
went.

He looked at her bewildered and asked, 'What
happened here today?'

She again smiled and answered, 'You know every day
when you come home from work and you ask me what in
the world I do all day?'

'Yes,' was his incredulous reply.

She answered, 'Well, today I didn't do it.'

I LOVE IT!

Our Day Out

Saturday morning, we slept in, ate breakfast, lazied around a bit, and then we headed out to parts unknown. Well, at least unknown to Kiddo and I at that moment.

Skippy took Kiddo and I out of town for a little fun and relaxation. Funny, he's he one who works all those long hours each week, yet he is the one taking US out for some relaxation. What a sweetheart!

Mmmm.....look at all those preserves!

Would you believe this hand carved rooster cost $230.00?

I love wood stoves!

This is an old school house that is on the property of the Mauzy Shops

Look at the electrical wiring back then....AMAZING!

There was also a jail...Ye Ole' Lockup Shop

Isn't that amazing? This was once a real jai
Ice would be stored on this end of the building......

and when it melted, it would come into this room filling the troughs,
keeping everything in it cold

Then it was off to the "Burg!" This is the courthouse

Then we had "chili dawgs" for lunch at Jess'

Then it was on to the Farmer's Markets

~This is The Cheese Place~
This is where I get a lot of my baking supplies, especially my yeast

I'm like a kid in a candy store when I go here! I LOVE IT!
And the people are just so wonderful!

Well, I hope you enjoyed Our Day Out. I wish you could all come with us next time. Now THAT, would be a LOT OF FUN!