I recently had a breakthrough on my pie crusts, and thought I'd share. Don't know if I'm a genius for thinking of it, or an idiot for not thinking of it sooner.
I use the pie crust recipe my mother uses; it's called Fool-proof Pie crust, and it is delicious and flaky and tender. The recipe makes 5 single crusts, and we wrap each dough in plastic wrap (that's cling film for you Brit-type people) and freeze for later or chill for today. We've always then unwrapped the dough, place on a floured surface and roll out. Turns out okay, but then there's the mess on the counter. SO yesterday when I went to make my strawberry pie, I thought "Why not?" and straightened out the plastic wrap, put a little flour on it, and rolled the dough right on the plastic. Didn't stick at all; was a cinch to fold over for placing in the pie pan, and no mess to clean up! And it's not wasteful, because I was using the plastic wrap anyway.
Another little tip.
I'm in the process of transferring all my recipes to regular-size paper, so I can keep them in 3-ring binders. But in the meantime, I still have quite a few on 3x5 cards in a little box. I assume most people have something like it. As the box has been dumped out more than once, I recently got a better system. I put each category of recipe into a ziptop sandwich bag and wrote on the bag with a marker what its category is. So if I want chicken, I pull out the chicken bag and they are all there, instead of trying to hold my place in the box while I flip through cards. And if the box gets dumped again, all I have to do is put the baggies back in. :-)
Saturday, 11 July 2009
Thursday, 9 July 2009
People!
At the commissary today (yes, again!) we took our normal bathroom break. The big girls went in first, then I went in with Ella to check her diaper. There was a woman there , waiting for her son to come out of the stall. He looked about 8, and she was hovering, even turned on the tap for him (using a paper towel so as not to get any cooties). As she did so, she told him with complete disdain and amazement, "Those 2 girls that were in here didn't wash their hands!" Boy, I wanted to let her know what was what. Maybe those two girls didn't pee on their hands. Maybe it's none of her business. Maybe she needs to let go just a bit and send her son to the boys' room. As I went into the stall he'd come out of (it was the bigger of the two, and I had Ella with me) I noticed that "that boy" had peed on the seat, and put a paper towel in the toilet, AND hadn't flushed it! Did I make a speech to Ella about the delinquency of some people? No, I didn't. Oy. We aren't germ freaks, what can I say?
Then there was a lady with a newborn. Baby was strapped in its car seat, which is handy and I do that. But, baby cried the whole time we were in the store. Mother (I assume it was a mother and not a sitter, taking baby to the store) didn't speak to the baby, didn't touch it, didn't try to do anything for it. It was like a nurse in the newborn nursery ward. I nearly cried myself after a time, inwardly begging the woman to take the baby out of the seat; at least hold it in one arm and continue shopping, at best go sit down for a minute and feed it and check its diaper. But she just calmly and slowly kept on shopping. So sad. Sad because I've done it myself in the past. Nowadays, if it starts in the checkout line, the baby will have to deal for a minute, but if it's not even half-way down my list I will stop and take a break and get things fixed if possible.
But enough of the rant.
We went to the dump this morning, taking a broken bicycle, tricycle, chair, and coffee pot.
Then we went to the BXtra on Mildenhall, where I got a curtain rod for the upstairs bathroom, some Hobnobs, caulk to fill the ant hole outside our house, a new doll for the girls (still on half price), and a Tonka crane/flatbed truck for the boys. The truck wasn't on the list, but I saw the red price tag and looked closer - regular price $24, now on sale for $6. Even though it's not all steel like the old Tonkas, it still seemed like a good deal.
Then we went to the hospital to have Cedwryck and Ella get a finger prick for iron count. William doesn't like doctors, and started crying as I pulled into the parking lot. We had to wait just a few minutes, but not long. Everyone was friendly.
Then we had lunch at Burger King. About halfway through, my phone rang. One of Bob's spies had spied me there, and Bob wanted me to bring him some lunch. I cannot go anywhere on base without someone from Bob's work seeing me and telling him about it. I guess I'll just have to accept that I'm fascinating. :-P
So I got Bob a burger and took it up to him.
Then I went to the bank to get cash for tyres, tithes, and the trip.
THEN we went to the commissary.
All this and home by 1pm, so no excuses for not fixing a nice dinner. We're having chicken pot pie tonight.
Ah, the tyres. (Yes, I'm spelling it that way on purpose; it's British.) We want new tyres for the minibus. I called up the place on base, and was told they'd run about $200 each, plus for balancing, disposal, and warranty. So I looked online. Found one place for about 60BGP each. Then I found a mobile place that had them for about 60GBP, minus 15GBP when you get a full set, and that includes them bringing the tyres to my home and putting them on, all inclusive of weights, balancing, disposal, etc. So guess where we ordered from? I'll pay cash when the job is done, so no worries about scams. They'll come out Monday.
Okay, enough drivel for now. :-)
Then there was a lady with a newborn. Baby was strapped in its car seat, which is handy and I do that. But, baby cried the whole time we were in the store. Mother (I assume it was a mother and not a sitter, taking baby to the store) didn't speak to the baby, didn't touch it, didn't try to do anything for it. It was like a nurse in the newborn nursery ward. I nearly cried myself after a time, inwardly begging the woman to take the baby out of the seat; at least hold it in one arm and continue shopping, at best go sit down for a minute and feed it and check its diaper. But she just calmly and slowly kept on shopping. So sad. Sad because I've done it myself in the past. Nowadays, if it starts in the checkout line, the baby will have to deal for a minute, but if it's not even half-way down my list I will stop and take a break and get things fixed if possible.
But enough of the rant.
We went to the dump this morning, taking a broken bicycle, tricycle, chair, and coffee pot.
Then we went to the BXtra on Mildenhall, where I got a curtain rod for the upstairs bathroom, some Hobnobs, caulk to fill the ant hole outside our house, a new doll for the girls (still on half price), and a Tonka crane/flatbed truck for the boys. The truck wasn't on the list, but I saw the red price tag and looked closer - regular price $24, now on sale for $6. Even though it's not all steel like the old Tonkas, it still seemed like a good deal.
Then we went to the hospital to have Cedwryck and Ella get a finger prick for iron count. William doesn't like doctors, and started crying as I pulled into the parking lot. We had to wait just a few minutes, but not long. Everyone was friendly.
Then we had lunch at Burger King. About halfway through, my phone rang. One of Bob's spies had spied me there, and Bob wanted me to bring him some lunch. I cannot go anywhere on base without someone from Bob's work seeing me and telling him about it. I guess I'll just have to accept that I'm fascinating. :-P
So I got Bob a burger and took it up to him.
Then I went to the bank to get cash for tyres, tithes, and the trip.
THEN we went to the commissary.
All this and home by 1pm, so no excuses for not fixing a nice dinner. We're having chicken pot pie tonight.
Ah, the tyres. (Yes, I'm spelling it that way on purpose; it's British.) We want new tyres for the minibus. I called up the place on base, and was told they'd run about $200 each, plus for balancing, disposal, and warranty. So I looked online. Found one place for about 60BGP each. Then I found a mobile place that had them for about 60GBP, minus 15GBP when you get a full set, and that includes them bringing the tyres to my home and putting them on, all inclusive of weights, balancing, disposal, etc. So guess where we ordered from? I'll pay cash when the job is done, so no worries about scams. They'll come out Monday.
Okay, enough drivel for now. :-)
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
the children
Those who know me on Facebook will have noticed that we spent 2 hours in the grocery store on Monday. How?? WHY?? I'm not sure why it took that long. We got there bright and early (8:30), and I had a list and some coupons. The place was nearly empty, which was nice. How is a little more complicated. I got the big cart, with William in the traditional basket seat, and Ella and Cedwryck in the big plastic seats. Taryn started off calm enough, but Naysha and Riah took turns giving each other piggy-back rides. We made it half-way through the store before the inevitable bathroom break. After that things got shaky. Everyone was in a good mood, just really wound up. They started a game. Ella would say "Hi" to fellow shoppers (there were more of them now), and when they responded all the children would laugh until they nearly fell out of the cart. In between other shoppers, William would stand up in his seat and proudly say, "TaDa!" But I got everything I needed, and saved 17% with my coupons.
William is talking quite a bit now. He finally learned "yes" instead of just saying "no" with varying degrees of intensity. This morning when I went to get him out of bed, he looked past me and said, "Daddy?" I told him Daddy was at work, and he sat down in his crib and stuck his lip out. It took a few minutes to convince him to let me pick him up. All the way down the stairs he pouted, "Daddy, work." (Daddy feels the same way most days.)
I know I had more when I wrote this in my head earlier, but that's all I've got now.
Talk to you soon.
William is talking quite a bit now. He finally learned "yes" instead of just saying "no" with varying degrees of intensity. This morning when I went to get him out of bed, he looked past me and said, "Daddy?" I told him Daddy was at work, and he sat down in his crib and stuck his lip out. It took a few minutes to convince him to let me pick him up. All the way down the stairs he pouted, "Daddy, work." (Daddy feels the same way most days.)
I know I had more when I wrote this in my head earlier, but that's all I've got now.
Talk to you soon.
Sunday, 5 July 2009
Dancing
Just some random thoughts.
1. I was raised in a more-or-less pentecostal church. We believe the gifts are for today. We sing choruses, we don't follow a liturgy, we clap. We sing about dancing, but seldom do it. As a young person, I'd occasionally lift my feet off the floor, and a few others would, too. But I never saw the "old" people get excited. Other than a fiery preacher, I never saw an 'old' person get terribly emotional about the whole thing. (Using "never" loosely here, I'm sure it must have happened once or twice.)
2. I had a friend who did "liturgical dancing" as a special in church. She believed that dancing ought to be done skillfully and orderly.
3. I've been to churches that have a dance team, with streamers or banners, and choreographed movements. It always seems strange and distracting to me.
4. In our current church, the young people get excited but don't approach dancing. My age group will maybe bounce up and down a little. But there are 2-4 "old" people - mid 60's to 70's - who actually get out in the isle. It blesses my socks off.
5. Talked to Bob about it after church, and he said it was the old people who danced in his childhood church. I wonder if that was part of the problem at my childhood church.
Anyone have thoughts to share on dancing?
1. I was raised in a more-or-less pentecostal church. We believe the gifts are for today. We sing choruses, we don't follow a liturgy, we clap. We sing about dancing, but seldom do it. As a young person, I'd occasionally lift my feet off the floor, and a few others would, too. But I never saw the "old" people get excited. Other than a fiery preacher, I never saw an 'old' person get terribly emotional about the whole thing. (Using "never" loosely here, I'm sure it must have happened once or twice.)
2. I had a friend who did "liturgical dancing" as a special in church. She believed that dancing ought to be done skillfully and orderly.
3. I've been to churches that have a dance team, with streamers or banners, and choreographed movements. It always seems strange and distracting to me.
4. In our current church, the young people get excited but don't approach dancing. My age group will maybe bounce up and down a little. But there are 2-4 "old" people - mid 60's to 70's - who actually get out in the isle. It blesses my socks off.
5. Talked to Bob about it after church, and he said it was the old people who danced in his childhood church. I wonder if that was part of the problem at my childhood church.
Anyone have thoughts to share on dancing?
Saturday, 4 July 2009
Going and doing
Yesterday Bob got the day off for Independence Day, so we high-tailed it out of the area. We'd thought about spending the night out, but decided we had some work to do at home. So we went to Castle Acre, to the castle and priory. The Priory was the first English Heritage property we visited, soon after we got to England, and we hadn't been back yet. On our first visit we skipped the castle because it was cold and we were tired.
Well, I can't think, but we had a good time. There was a nice rain shower while we were at the Priory, and we found refuge in the abbot's house. It was nice to not be so scorching hot. We had a picnic lunch under a tree - the children ate IN the tree.
This morning we got to work, cleaning the walls and floors and hanging pictures. I cut up some fruit we'd got delivered Thursday. Tesco gets some really good cantaloupe! The pineapple wasn't bad, and the peaches were a nice change.
We'd talked about going to a beach this afternoon, but the children kept bugging us about it, so I think we won't.
Anyway, a Happy Independence Day to you all. And just to give you something to think about, here's a quote from the Declaration.
Well, I can't think, but we had a good time. There was a nice rain shower while we were at the Priory, and we found refuge in the abbot's house. It was nice to not be so scorching hot. We had a picnic lunch under a tree - the children ate IN the tree.
This morning we got to work, cleaning the walls and floors and hanging pictures. I cut up some fruit we'd got delivered Thursday. Tesco gets some really good cantaloupe! The pineapple wasn't bad, and the peaches were a nice change.
We'd talked about going to a beach this afternoon, but the children kept bugging us about it, so I think we won't.
Anyway, a Happy Independence Day to you all. And just to give you something to think about, here's a quote from the Declaration.
Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
so I don't have time to wax poetical
I have/had 2 lovely, flowy, flowery posts floating in my head, but it just ain't gonna happen.
So on with my normal rambling style, I guess.
Sunday we were privileged to receive hospitality from a lady at church. We followed them home after church. The husband grilled meat while the wife got the other things together with the girls' help. Their 16 yr old son played with our boys, and the little ones had a box of toys to dig through (and a dog to run away from). We stayed all afternoon, talking, playing Wii, admiring the garden, etc. The food was great and nothing too weird. It was the first time we'd been invited over for a meal (other than relatives and a birthday party) since Riah was a baby, 5 years ago.
Also Sunday in meeting I had a lovely thought about God as lover. No offense, but when people love each other it's always "in spite of" some character flaw. When we are brave enough to give ourselves completely to another person, there is bound to be some hurt or disappointment along the way. But God is not disappointing. He's perfect in everything so we don't have to hold back for fear of being hurt. And not only that, but if you are redeemed, God isn't disappointed in you, either. He doesn't look at us and see all these things that He loves us "in spite of." His love is unconditional, not in that He loves us anyway, but that there is no "anyway."
Okay, back to dirt. It has been pretty warm lately, with official temps just over 80*. No A/C, no shade trees around the house, and windows that don't open properly make for some long afternoons. But I can still joke about it because I'm from Oklahoma and Texas, where it's been over 100* for a week or two now. So an 80* day in context of 'home' would be nice and refreshing. Right now (at 7:30 am) it's 66*. Nice.
Yesterday I forced the children into hard labor. hehe. I poured hot soapy water on the kitchen floor and they put on socks and skated around for 15 minutes or so. They had a blast, and the floor is clean now. Thanks to a blogger (In a Shoe, on my side bar) for the idea.
Yesterday I tried to make some Jello with fruit in it (Jello being the brand name of packaged gelatin mix), but it didn't gel. So after an hour of wondering what to do with it, I figured out to make it into popsicles (I have Tupperware molds). Today we will see what the children think of them.
Oh, the Wii. Bob has been sort of wanting a Nintendo Wii since they came out, however many years ago (2 or 3). Every time the BX gets a shipment in, he'll look at them and check the prices and talk about it. Then Sunday Taryn got to play one at the people's house, and that was the decision maker. Monday after work Bob stopped and bought one. We have Sports (came with the console), with tennis, bowling, boxing, golf, and baseball. He also bought Fit, but we haven't tried that yet, and an extra controller that came with Play (basically training exercises for using the remote, but it's fun, like target practice and ping-pong). Last night we connected to the internet with it so we can get updates and watch the news. So far it has proved a great incentive. "Can I play the Wii?" "First you have to put your clothes away." Taryn says it is easier to work when you are working towards something.
And I think that's all for now.
So on with my normal rambling style, I guess.
Sunday we were privileged to receive hospitality from a lady at church. We followed them home after church. The husband grilled meat while the wife got the other things together with the girls' help. Their 16 yr old son played with our boys, and the little ones had a box of toys to dig through (and a dog to run away from). We stayed all afternoon, talking, playing Wii, admiring the garden, etc. The food was great and nothing too weird. It was the first time we'd been invited over for a meal (other than relatives and a birthday party) since Riah was a baby, 5 years ago.
Also Sunday in meeting I had a lovely thought about God as lover. No offense, but when people love each other it's always "in spite of" some character flaw. When we are brave enough to give ourselves completely to another person, there is bound to be some hurt or disappointment along the way. But God is not disappointing. He's perfect in everything so we don't have to hold back for fear of being hurt. And not only that, but if you are redeemed, God isn't disappointed in you, either. He doesn't look at us and see all these things that He loves us "in spite of." His love is unconditional, not in that He loves us anyway, but that there is no "anyway."
Okay, back to dirt. It has been pretty warm lately, with official temps just over 80*. No A/C, no shade trees around the house, and windows that don't open properly make for some long afternoons. But I can still joke about it because I'm from Oklahoma and Texas, where it's been over 100* for a week or two now. So an 80* day in context of 'home' would be nice and refreshing. Right now (at 7:30 am) it's 66*. Nice.
Yesterday I forced the children into hard labor. hehe. I poured hot soapy water on the kitchen floor and they put on socks and skated around for 15 minutes or so. They had a blast, and the floor is clean now. Thanks to a blogger (In a Shoe, on my side bar) for the idea.
Yesterday I tried to make some Jello with fruit in it (Jello being the brand name of packaged gelatin mix), but it didn't gel. So after an hour of wondering what to do with it, I figured out to make it into popsicles (I have Tupperware molds). Today we will see what the children think of them.
Oh, the Wii. Bob has been sort of wanting a Nintendo Wii since they came out, however many years ago (2 or 3). Every time the BX gets a shipment in, he'll look at them and check the prices and talk about it. Then Sunday Taryn got to play one at the people's house, and that was the decision maker. Monday after work Bob stopped and bought one. We have Sports (came with the console), with tennis, bowling, boxing, golf, and baseball. He also bought Fit, but we haven't tried that yet, and an extra controller that came with Play (basically training exercises for using the remote, but it's fun, like target practice and ping-pong). Last night we connected to the internet with it so we can get updates and watch the news. So far it has proved a great incentive. "Can I play the Wii?" "First you have to put your clothes away." Taryn says it is easier to work when you are working towards something.
And I think that's all for now.
Another award
Ganieda really likes me. :-} She gave me this cool award and didn't make any rules or instructions or anything. So, thank you, friend. I wear it with pride (as soon as I figure out how).
Oh, this is the reason:
"Those who receive this award are of the sweetest nature. They are kind, friendly, funny, loving, eager to share their love for Jesus with others, and brave in their efforts to reflect Him to this darkened world. They are the kind of folks you're blessed to know, even if it's only in the bloggy-sphere."
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