Loaded Zucchini Cookies

If you are trying to use up the abundance of zucchini coming from the garden right now, then here is a recipe to try.

I tweeked the original a bit. I rarely bake anything exactly as the recipe is.

There is nothing better than filling your home with the smell of some fresh baked cookies. YUM!!


LOADED ZUCCHINI COOKIES
1/2 cup butter, soft
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cup flour (can use half whole wheat flour)
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup flaked coconut
6 oz chocolate chips
1/2 cup nuts (I use pecans, chopped)
1 cup shredded zucchini
Optional: raisins
Cream the butter and sugar. Add egg and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and oatmeal; mix until smooth. Add coconut, chocolate chips, nuts, and zucchini. Mix well. Drop by spoonfuls on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes. Until brown around the edges.
ENJOY!!

At the Bay Front

Hi, this is Kaycie.

And I am going to tell you about a trip to the bay front.

We saw sea lions at the docks. And we saw 2 jellyfishes. And we walked lots around the bay front.

We smelled rotten fish at the bay front. Ryan was about to throw up. ha ha giggle

Except I didn't really mind. And the sea lions were singing really loud.

They kind of sounded like a dog barking silly.

I felt wind and hot sun while we are walking along the bay front.

I saw water and ducks and geese.

We saw a fishing boat and a sail boat.

We saw these big, humongous ships!

Season's Change

This morning I was able to sneak out for a walk by myself!! (This very rarely happens, thus the excitement). I grabbed my camera and headed out to find evidence of the changing seasons. The beauty of this time of year always awes me. The temperature is perfect today, about 70. I wish I could share with you the way it smells and sounds in this lovely little valley we live in. I guess I will try to bring you here by using words.

The air is so fresh and clean. A sort of earthy sweetness floats around as the breeze rustles the leaves gently. I can almost smell the ripe blackberries hanging on the bushes nearby.

At first I began thinking how quiet it is to take a walk by myself, but then I realized it's not quiet at all. The crickets are singing away in the tall grass of the pasture. The river seems to giggle as it flows over the rocks. And in the background I can hear my chickens, clucking away, content just to peck at the dirt and lay eggs. An apple tree catches my attention as some apples fall to the ground making a "thump" on the ground.

As for the visual beauty, you are lucky. I get to share this with you and hopefully you'll enjoy the walk with me.

A tree in the front yard.

Leaves changing near the river.

The railroad tracks even look pretty today!

Looking back through the pasture at the house.

The last sweet berries of summer.

A Viney Maple along the riverbank.

Apples hanging on the tree.

Just something cute about a dandelion all by itself.

My devotion from yesterday comes to mind:

Psalm 104:24

"O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions-"

Ryan's Photo Shoot

On occasion I will hand the camera over to one of the kids. Since I am the main photo-taker, I do not show up very often in pictures. Which is not all that bad, but I do realize that some day my kids will look at the family albums and notice that Mom was not in the pictures.

So especially if we are on some family outing, I will pass it off for awhile. It is interesting to discover what they found worthy of "shooting" at the end of the day.

This day Ryan asked me if he could use the camera just around the house. I said, "Sure."

A few days later, I loaded them onto the computer. Wow! He got some great pics of his baby sister, Lindsey. I guess she was the model for this shoot.

Good Job , Ryan!

Lucky & Crystal

Well, we have done it! Added to our animal family again!

Lucky and Crystal are two young Holland Lop Rabbits. Ryan and Kyle have decided to raise them for their 4H projects.

We have never had rabbits so this will be a learning experience but a fun one. They are so adorable. Soft and cuddly!

Kyle named his Lucky. I don't know why but that's what he wanted.

Ryan actually let Kaycie pick the name for his and she is now Crystal.

After some initial lessons on picking the rabbits up without them squirming and jumping from their arms, the boys are feeling much more comfortable with them.

So, the rabbit adventure begins!

I'll keep you posted on how the 4H projects go. I look forward to fair time next summer when the boys will be showing them and trying to get ribbons.

My Lists

I am a list-maker. I have multiple lists going on at the same time.

There is the shopping list that is an ongoing task. Writing down things needed as I realize it. But the thing with the shopping list is that it never goes away. I go the the store, get what is on the list, come home and find something that should have been on the list but never made it there.

Then there is the household chore list. This is where I keep track of projects, chores, extra things that need done. This list may include entries such as: replace windshield wipers, clean out fridge, make dentist appts., change bulb in bathroom, organize the baby's grow-into clothes, get goat and chicken food at feed store, etc...

Another list I usually have is my "to read" list. Having a 16 month old makes a trip to library a hectic occasion. She loves to get her own books to read. In other words, a handful of books usually ends up spread out on the floor when she gets the idea to "read". I'm sure the librarian cringes when she sees us coming. I do try to replace books in their proper place but as fast as I'm reshelving, my child is finding books to "read". So the list consists of books I would like to rent from the library. I take my little paper with the list in and as quickly as possible find and check out. Now when I have the older kids with me, this is not as easy as I would like it to be. All 3 of them like to wander and browse. Don't get me wrong, I think this is great!! But sometimes I wish they would speed the process up a bit!

And yet, another list I usually have in process is my mealtime planning list. This is a wonderful help to me if I keep on top of it. I will grab a couple cookbooks and write down complete meals on a notepad. This comes in handy for my grocery list also. I can add the items needed for the meals that are not already in the cupboards. Once the shopping is done (well kinda done), all I need to do in the morning is decide which meal I'll make that evening. Take the meat out to thaw or get it going in the crock pot.

On occasion, I will have a list going in preparation of a trip. This summer we took a couple of mini vacations. And for each one, I had my list on the counter. Ready to add and mark off. What food to take and prepare, items to not forget, and any specialty things that need packed for that specific trip.

Please don't get the idea that I'm Mrs. Organization. I am not! Repeat, I am not! I try to keep my ongoing lists to make things easier and quicker for me. This doesn't always pan out how I've planned. But you can't blame me for not trying, right?

I love lists!!

I LOVE FALL!!

This is my favorite time of year. I love the leaves changing colors, the cool, crisp mornings, the warm sunny days, and just the feel of the air.

I always am amazed at how God has designed the seasons.

The other day, I got my fall decorations out of the storage room and put them around the house. It's always fun when the kids get home from school and notice changes that I've made.

Happy Fall, y'all!

Creationism vs Evolution

My 6th grader has been faced with some lies in his history class. The "Evolution of Man". After speaking with his teacher about what we believe (see the first few chapters of Genesis) she has agreed to allow him to leave the classroom during evolution lessons. He will be going to the computer lab to do research on evidence of creation. I appreciate her listening to me and acknowledging the fact that he should not have to listen to what he does not believe.

If any of you face this with your kids, we have found some helpful sites and info:

www.answersingenesis.org

www.creationtruthministries.org

www.dinosaursandhumans.org

www.kindell.nwcreation.net

These are just a few sites. There are so many more available out there.

The creation truth ministries website has a ton of links to sites on this topic.

Family Favorite Recipes

I like to share and receive new recipes.
Here are a few of our favorites:

When you have bananas that need used up- Banana Oatmeal Muffins
1/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 beaten egg
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup flour (can use half whole wheat flour)
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp allspice
2 med. bananas, mashed
Cream together butter and brown sugar. Mix in egg and buttermilk. Mix together oats, flour, baking powder, salt and allspice. Add to the creamed mixture.
Stir in bananas.
Spoon into greased or lined muffin pan. Bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
Makes 1 dozen.


My husband does not like rhubarb but the rest of us LOVE this cobbler. YUM!!
Amazing Rhubarb Cobbler
3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup sugar
3 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup milk
3 cups of chopped rhubarb, in small pieces
1 1/2 cup HOT water
1 1/2 cup sugar
cinnamon
Melt butter in a 9x13 glass baking pan. Add to melted butter, the flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder, and milk. Mix until it forms a batter. Sprinkle the rhubarb over the batter. Stir 1 1/2 cup sugar into the hot water and stir until dissolved. Pour over rhubarb. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake at 350 for about 40-45 minutes until it browns around the edges and gets bubbly. Enjoy it warm.

Apple Spice Waffles

2 cups bisquick
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup milk
6 tbsp melted butter
1 cup chopped, peeled apple

Mix all together. Cook on heated waffle iron until golden brown.

A New Look At Gideon

I read an online devotion the other day. It was from Judges 6:11-18. It's the story of Gideon.
As I read, I didn't see a connection for my life. But I read anyway.
That afternoon, I had a mother-son battle with my 10 year old. After tears and time alone in the bedroom, I felt God telling me to read Gideon's story again.
Here is what he showed me:

v 12- The Lord tells Gideon ,"I am with you" and then calls him a "mighty warrior". He calls me a mighty warrior.. this must mean that I'm fighting a battle... but He is with me!

v 13- I question,"Why do my son and I struggle so much? If I'm raising him right, why is it not easier?"

v14- God says," have I not sent you?" He made me a mom for a reason.. He has a perfect plan!

v15- Gideon says,"my clan is the weakest.. I am the least..." I am not a perfect mom.. I'm not supermom!

v16- God says,"Surely, I will be with you" God is with me, helping and guiding! I'm not alone.

v18- God says, "I will wait. I will not leave..." What a wonderful promise to me as a mommy!

I saw Gideon's perspective and felt his fear of failure.
But God showed me in a difficult moment that He is there helping me fight the battle and raise my children in a Godly manner.

I think that Gideon has now become my favorite Bible story. I keep reading it for encouragement.