Linda's Lunacy

Sunny Saturday

2011-07-01T20:00:00.002-04:00

Welcome to Linda's Lunacy Sunny Saturday!

Sunny Saturday is a fun way to find new friends and followers for your blog, Facebook page, Twitter, and Networked Blog.

Joining Sunny Saturday is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Follow me, Linda's Lunacy, your hostess.

2. Leave a comment, letting me know your a new follower, and I will follow you back.

3. Include the Sunny Saturday button in a post, and link that post in the linky below. Also link up your blog's Facebook page, Twitter and Networked Blog in the linkys below.

Have fun, and please help spread the word about Linda's Lunacy Sunny Saturday!

Read more »

Bible Memorization - Psalm 20:1

2011-07-01T09:00:00.001-04:00

It's time to pick a new Bible verse to memorize. Here's my 11th memory verse of 2011:

May ADONAI answer you in times of distress,
may the name of the God of Ya'akov protect you.

Psalm 20:1 Complete Jewish Bible

Freedom Giveaway Hop - $25. Amazon.com Giftcard

2011-06-30T21:21:00.002-04:00

I'm excited to participate in the Freedom Giveaway Hop hosted by Simply Stacie and I am a Reader, Not a Writer.

There are over 200 blogs participating, all with book related prizes. All the blogs are listed in the linky below, so after you enter my giveaway, click over to the other great blogs and enter their giveaways, too.

My Giveaway:

$25. Amazon.com gift card (emailed to the winner) to buy books

I know I could find some great books to buy with $25. Do you have an eReader? Buy books to download! I don't have one, but Amazon.com has an app you can download to read eBooks on your computer. I'm loving it! They have a numerous free books, and lots of books are only $2.99 each. That would certainly stretch $25 into lots of books!

Paper books or eBooks, the choice is yours! Here's how to enter:

Read more »

Once a Month Cleaning Update

2011-06-30T20:01:00.000-04:00

I mentioned back in May about being interested in once a month housecleaning. Well, I'm back with a report.

I started out going only two weeks between cleanings. By cleaning, I mean the list of weekly cleaning chores, such as mopping, dusting, wiping down cabinets, etc. Not the daily chores.

After doing bi-weekly cleaning a couple of times, I tried going the full month. I really love it!

The most obvious clue that I was going longer between cleanings was dust. Which, by the way, I use the crochet dust mitt I made. It works great!

So, like I was saying, it really wasn't that obvious that I was going longer between cleanings. Really, what makes or breaks a cleaning schedule is the daily work.

If I see that someone got something on the cabinet in the kitchen, I wipe it while I'm wiping the counters off. If I see that someone let the bathroom sink dirty, I rinse it out when I'm there. It's those sort of things that make a difference in your cleaning, regardless of your cleaning schedule.

Will I continue once a month cleaning? Yes! It frees up an hour or two every week that I can spend on other tasks. But yet, it doesn't take any longer to clean on cleaning day!

Although, I will vary the cleaning schedule according to our family happenings. We're having company at the end of this month, so it makes sense to wait and clean right before they get here. If it works out better for us and our schedule to do a 3 week schedule, I will be flexible.

So what do you think? Do you think a monthly cleaning schedule would work for your family?

Thursday's Giveaways

2011-06-29T20:13:00.001-04:00

I love entering giveaways, and have even won a few things. I really love hosting giveaways on Linda's Lunacy. It's so much fun to give stuff away! Now, with Thursday's Giveaways,
you can find lots of great giveaways to enter!

While your here, check out my current giveaways!

You Can Do a Graphic Novel Book and Hens and Chicks Handmade Soap

And I have another awesome giveaway going up Thursday night! Check back to find out what it is!

The posting of my button is not required, but help in spreading the word that Linda's Lunacy has a giveaway linky is greatly appreciated! So thank you!

Adding your giveaway to Linda's Lunacy Thursday's Giveaways is very easy! Just use this format, please.

Blog name - name of item being given away - ending date

See? Easy!

Please, only link family friendly giveaways. My kids read here, and anything not family friendly, will be promptly deleted. Sorry, but it's for my kids. :)

Have fun, and I hope you win something!

Fiber One Cereal Giveaway WINNER!

2011-06-29T12:23:00.000-04:00

I used Random.org to select the winner of the Fiber One Cereal Giveaway. The winner has responded to my email and My Blog Spark will be shipping the prize shortly.

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:136Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Congratulations sewmuchstuff!

Wordless Wednesday - No, I'm not!

2011-06-28T20:00:00.000-04:00

No, I'm not petting the dog!

For more pictures, visit Wordless Wednesday,
Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom ,
Say "Cheese" at It's a Blog Party
A Beautiful Mess,
Live and Love Outloud,
Mama to 4 Blessings
Wordy or Not So Wordy Wednesday
Frugality is Free
Dear Crissy
Baba's Farm Life
Mrs. Mama Hen

Hens and Chicks Soap Giveaway

2011-06-28T19:08:00.001-04:00

I love handmade soaps. To bad I'm too much of a chicken to make my own. lol I'm afraid of the lye. Maybe in a couple of years when my youngest is 13, and old enough to know to stay far away, I'll make some. In the mean time, I have to buy it from others who make handmade soap.

Hens and Chicks makes awesome handmade soap. For about a week now, I've been using their Oats and Honey bar soap. I love it! You can see and feel the oats in the bar. However when your washing your hands, it doesn't feel gritty. It has a great lather.

An actual picture of me washing my actual hands with the Oats and Honey soap

The Oats and Honey soap has great fragrance, you can smell both the oats and the honey, but it is not an overwhelming fragrance. That would make it a perfect soap for a man, too.

My skin is definitely softer than it was before I started using this soap. This would be an awesome soap for dried, cracked winter hands.

Do you like hand made soaps, too? How would you like to win a bar?

The Giveaway:

Enter to win ONE bar of Oats & Honey Soap from Hens & Chicks Soap

To Enter the Giveaway:

Do any (or all!) of the following:

1.Follow Linda's Lunacy with Google Friend Connect and leave a comment on this post saying your following. If your already a follower, just leave a comment saying so.
2. Subscribe to my blog by email, leave a comment and don't forget to confirm the subscription
3. Follow Linda's Lunacy on Twitter and tweet the giveaway. You can tweet once per day, just leave the link to your tweet every day.

Sample tweet:
Enter to win a bar of Hens and Chicks soap at Linda's Lunacy http://bit.ly/mIPz3R #giveaway

5. Like Linda's Lunacy on Facebook and leave a comment on this post.
6. Follow Linda's Lunacy on Networked Blogs and leave a comment on this post.
7. Like Hens and Chicks Soap on Facebook and leave a comment on this post.
8. Follow Hens and Chicks Soap's Blog with Google Friend Connect and leave a comment on this post.
9. Visit Hens and Chicks Soap's Blog and leave a comment here saying what other of their soaps you would like to try.

That's right, no mandatory entry. You choose how you want to enter!

*This giveaway ends on Tuesday, July 12th at 11:59 pm Open to US only. The winner will be selected by random.org. I will notify the winner by email. The winner must respond within 48 hours to claim their prize, or another winner will be chosen. I will verify entries.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. I received one bar of soap for me, and one bar of soap to giveaway. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Great Coupons From MyCoupons.com

2011-06-28T14:32:00.000-04:00

The challenge is on; find a way to save the most amounts on your purchase. Where do you start? Many sites have coupons, but what about double or even triple dipping on savings. Check out this idea! Go to MyCoupons.com. They have hundreds of online coupon codes and discounted gift cards. Here is what you can do! Click on the discounted gift cards tab. You will find gift cards for purchase at a price below face value. Here is a quick example. Need to send flowers or a gift? You can buy a 1800Flowers gift card with a $50 balance for $40. Instant savings of $10! Then grab 1800Flowers Coupons for 15% off your purchase. That will save you $7.50 off your purchase and add that to your instant savings with a gift card and now you saved 35% on your order. How great is that? Plus, if 1800Flowers is offering any type of online promotion, you might be able to get an additional bonus or further discounts. This is only one example of the savings at MyCoupons.com. They have tons of offers, so make sure to start your online shopping at their site. Pick up the coupon codes to use at all you favorite merchants and they even have exclusive savings like Drugstore.com Coupons and Harry & David Coupons. Have fun shopping and if you come across a great deal, let us know, we love to hear about the best ways to save money using coupons.

Monique Rowe is a guest writer for My Coupons.com and writes about being thrifty and doing product reviews at The One Income Dollar.

This is a sponsored post, but I do use coupons, and the picture is my actual coupon binder. :)

Making a Home

2011-06-27T20:00:00.001-04:00

This week has been a little rough, as I haven't been feeling well. It's hard trying to run a home while being sick. One of the hardest parts is keeping the kids on task. If I'm sitting around a lot because I don't feel good, they want to sit around a lot. If we're all just sitting around the house, not working, it makes for a very messy house.

So on bad days, I just concentrate on keeping the kids on task, meals and dishes. That doesn't mean I even accomplish that small list, but I try. And pray that I feel better soon. :)

There's a great article over at Raising Homemakers, Dispelling Myths About Homemaking. Go check it out.

While your here, don't forget to enter my latest giveaway a book, You Can Do a Graphic Novel. Great for kids and adults!

What did you do last week to make your house a home?

Where we share all aspects of Making a Home. Share your posts about homemaking ideas, recipes, crafts, decorating, cleaning tips, basically anything that has to do with caring for a home and family.

Making a home for my family is very important to me and I'm always looking for tips and ideas.

So, link up your posts, and let's all support each other in making our homes better for our families.

Please provide a link back to me. A text link is fine. Of course, family friendly posts only.

Yahweh

2011-06-26T08:00:00.001-04:00

Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is coming
In a manger, our Lord is coming
Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is coming
Born in Bethlehem, born in Bethlehem
Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is teaching
In the temple our Lord is teaching
Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is teaching
No one speaks like Him, no no one speaks like Him

Chorus
Hosanna He comes in the form of a man
Jehovah the great God of Abraham
He lived just to die for our sin, Yahweh, for we sing

Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is praying
In the garden, our Lord is praying

Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is praying
'Let this pass from me, let this pass from me'
Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is dying
On the cross there, our Lord is dying
Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is dying
Dying for our sin, dying for our sin
Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is buried
In a rich man's tomb, He is buried
Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is buried
But He will not stay, no He will not stay
Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is rising, our loed is rising
From the grave there our Lord is rising
Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is rising
Now He lives again, yes He lives again

Chorus 2
Hosanna He comes in the form of a man
Jehovah the great God of Abraham
He lived just to die for our sin
He rose from the grave, and He lives again

Tag:
He rose from the grave
He lives again
He arose, He arose
Hallelujah, hallelujah
He lives again
Our Lord lives again

Saturday On The Farm

2011-06-25T09:20:00.000-04:00

The Glads are blooming this week!

These are in the a/c garden. They are all across the back of the garden. That's the Iris's in the front, they only bloom once, unfortunately. That is an almost finished trellis made out of branches in front of the a/c.

Hannah planted Purple Hyacinth under the trellis. They are growing, and will soon grow up the trellis and hid the a/c. Of course, we must finish the trelllis first. lol

Purple Hyacinth

Our Mimosa tree had a run in with some visiting kids who thought the branches were nice for sitting and swinging. We're trying to prop them pack up in the hopes they will stay up and we won't have to cut them.

The tree is blooming. I just love the fluffy pink blossoms.

Below is part of the Mimosa tree. It's so big now, it won't all fit in the picture. The grapes are to the left of the tree, and you can see the Rose, the Passion Flower and a glimpse of the yellow Day Lily's in the Bible Garden on the right.

Speaking of grapes, we have a lot on the vine this year. And a trellis that really must be replaced in the fall when we prune the grapes.

See all the grapes? We are planning on making grape juice this year. That is, if the birds leave us some grapes. lol

And the Butterfly Bushes are getting ready to bloom! Always an exciting time around here. We just love these and all the butterflies they attract.

The Hostas in front of the house are blooming.

The apples are getting big, and weighing down some of the branches. Can't wait to cook with these! Applesauce, Apple Pie. And I really want to try my hand at Apple Cider, saving some to make my own Apple Cider Vinegar.

Hope you enjoyed my little tour this week. How are your gardens growing?

Here are some links I found interesting and helpful:

Introducing Herbs to Your Kids
How to Make Lemongrass Oil
Video - How to Prune Grapes
How to Make a Mini Rain Barrel
Harvesting and Cooking Garlic Scapes
Useful Weeds
Organic Gardening Tips
Amish Pest Control for "All Bugs"
Passion Flower

Grab The Saturday on the Farm Button!

Saturday on the Farm is a blog carnival that lets us share links to our blog post. It's fun to visit each others farms.

To participate in Saturday on the Farm:

Write a post about your homestead, farm, farmette, or the tomato plant on your deck. Your cows, goats, chicken, or your favorite kitty cat.
Add the link to your post (not your main page) below.
Please link back to me so others can join the fun, too.

For more Farm & Garden posts, please visit:
Homestead Barn Hop
Bloomin' Tuesday
Frugal Gardening 101
Fertilizer Friday/ Flaunt Your Flowers

Sunny Saturday

2011-06-24T20:00:00.000-04:00

Our Homeschool Week in Review

2011-06-24T16:44:00.000-04:00

The kids are starting to finish a lot of subjects now that we're getting close to the end of our school year. Those taking a summer break start that break on July 1st. Hannah 15, has opted to not take a break. I'm sure she will take days off during the month of July. Especially when we have relatives visiting from out of state.

All the kids have math left. And all the kids have finished history and science. Hannah learned how to cut her brothers hair this week. Exciting for her, a little nerve racking for her brother. lol

So they are mostly finishing up math. I have one doing an intensive spelling unit, using the Natural Speller. In this case, intensive means 20 words a day, a pre-test in the morning and a re-test of the words missed in the afternoon. So far, they have gotten all the words right by the end of the day. I told this child that if they didn't get them all right, they would get homework over the weekend. Another kid asked, "Don't we always have homework?" lol

They recently found a tree frog and a turtle.

This coming week will find all the kids anxious to be on break, I'm sure. I don't normally like taking a summer break, but I'm looking forward to this one. I really need to sort through all the books in the school room and downsize.

Here are some links I found helpful:

Torah Homeschool Links
Handbook of Nature Study: First Day of Summer Activity Page
Large Family Homeschool Form
How to Regrow Store Bought Celery - looks like a good summer project!
Want to learn more about edible wild plants & mushrooms? Visit Wildman Steve Brill
Quizlet - has flashcards and quizzes on a variety of subjects. I'm looking specifically at the Hebrew flashcards, they are even printable. And the quiz looks hard! lol

Please visit:
Weekly Wrap Up at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers.
Wrapping Up The Week
Weekly Homeschool Highlights

This Weeks Favorites

2011-06-24T12:00:00.003-04:00

I found lots of new favorites this week.

Ever Feel Like a Referee?
Why a Salad Costs More Than a Big Mac
How to Read and Understand Food Labels

Homemade Natural Bug Repellant
Homemade Herbal Salve

How to Make a Couch Slip-cover
How to Make Your Own Rose Water
How to Make a Tire Track Shirt

Homemade Ho-Ho's
Homemade Cold Breakfast Cereal - Grain Free
Eskimo Cookies - no-bakes!
Machine Free Dairy Free Ice Cream
Gluten Free Whole Grain Olive Bread
Chicken Parmesan in the Slow Cooker - I made a version of this, just the chicken and the sauce, no coating on the chicken. I served it over pasta (quinoa for me) with Parmesan cheese. We all loved it.

My Favorite Summer Recipes from Gluten Free Goddess - lots and lots of great gluten free recipes

Hope you find some new favorites, too!

These Hearts - Music Review

2011-06-23T22:30:00.000-04:00

These Hearts

"Forever Ended Yesterday"

Release Date: 6/21/11

About These Hearts

In a time when an infinite amount of genres seem to be concocted daily, it takes quite a bit of creativity to blur the lines across so many. These Hearts understand that it takes that dash of ingenuity paired with an innate desire to put forth the hard work that comes along with being a band in this day and age.

Among a sea of like-sounding music, These Hearts have raised the bar and then some by bringing a fresh, upbeat rock sound to ears everywhere in strong conjunction with a meaningful, church-based upbringing that has everything to do with the quintet’s musical and writing process. The band’s unquestionable commitment to their faith in Christ is present in all aspects of their musical journey. With an urgency to declare to fans, friends and family that “they are loved, and there is hope,” These Hearts demonstrate the ever-present effect that faith plays in the group’s life.

While it’s understood that hardships are an unavoidable bump in the road, These Hearts note that they solely rely on their faith for guidance. “Whether it's the loss of a loved one, a previous band member leaving, or even being in financial trouble, friendship and having Jesus in our lives has played a pivotal role in getting us through these tough times,” says guitarist Daryl Van Been.

The group has certainly put their own blood, sweat, and tears into creating and sharing their music with the masses. “Being in a band is about the most unstable job you can have but we want to glorify God with the gifts that he has blessed us with,” says Van Been. Impressively touring across the US while unsigned, they performed with notable acts such as MXPX, Bouncing Souls, The Devil Wears Prada, Silverstein, and Four Letter Lie, and selling over 3,000 copies of their self-produced EP Mistakes and Second Takes on their own gives some insight into the band’s dedication to their craft.

These Hearts was formed in August of 2007 by way of Fargo, ND. Consisting of Ryan Saunders on vocals, Isaiah Folk on drums, Kyle Colby and Daryl Van Beek on guitars, and Tyler Rice on bass, the band began playing shows in October and quickly began establishing a name for themselves in the upper Midwest.

The Christian, post-hardcore group has no intention of slowing down any time soon; recently signing to the legendary Victory Records, These Hearts will release their debut album Forever Ended Yesterday, produced by Craig Owens (Chiodos), on June 21st. These Hearts have graced the stages at festivals like Cornerstone, Agape, Ichthus, and Sonshine, and it will be hard to miss the band out spreading their positivity and faith-based values to the world in the coming year, as they intend to continue touring and playing music for fans new and old.

MY REVIEW:

Up until now, I have mostly listened to Christian rock when my kids play it for me. Some I like, Some I don't like. I can say I haven't listened to any screamo before. Well, ok, I guess I have listened to it for the 2 seconds it takes me to turn it off.

These Hearts are classified as Christian Rock/Screamo. If you've never heard the term Screamo before, it just means they scream a lot. lol

I have to say I did enjoy some of these songs. There is a range to them. They are not all loud screaming. I am not a musician. Well, unless you count clarinet in the 5th grade. lol I, however, thought the guitar work in some of these songs was amazing. The drums were pretty cool, too.

Do I wish they screamed less? Yes, but that's just my style. Their style is rock and screamo. Nothing wrong with different styles. And it's good for us to expand our horizons sometimes, and listen to music that we don't normally listen to. Plus, I can now talk about it with my teenage and young adult children.

Here are a few links:

These Hearts on Facebook
These Hearts on Myspace
These Hearts on Amazon (not my affiliate link)

There are These Hearts videos on YouTube. I, however, can not link to them as some of the comments are really bad. So, if you do look them up, please, don't read the comments!

If you, or your teens, like Christian Rock and/or Screamo, I suggest listening to These Hearts. You just might find some new favorite songs.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. I received one CD w/ paper case for review purposes. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Thursday's Giveaways

2011-06-22T20:00:00.001-04:00

I love entering giveaways, and have even won a few things. I really love hosting giveaways on Linda's Lunacy. It's so much fun to give stuff away!

So I thought I'd start a giveaway linky to make it easier to find lots of giveaways.

While your here, check out my current giveaways!

Fiber One Cereal Giftpack and You Can Do a Graphic Novel Book

The posting of my button is not required, but help in spreading the word that Linda's Lunacy has a giveaway linky is greatly appreciated! So thank you!

Adding your giveaway to Linda's Lunacy Thursday's Giveaways is very easy! Just use this format, please.

Blog name - name of item being given away - ending date

See? Easy!

Please, only link family friendly giveaways. My kids read here, and anything not family friendly, will be promptly deleted. Sorry, but it's for my kids. :)

Have fun, and I hope you win something!

Cutting The Guys Hair

2011-06-22T19:18:00.001-04:00

I've been cutting my sons hair for over 15 years. I don't remember exactly when I started but it was at least that long ago. A couple of years ago, my husband had me start cutting his hair, too.

The nicer clippers that I had broke over a year ago. We didn't have the extra money at the time to spend on nice clippers, so we bought a cheap set for about $10.

I knew they were bad, but I didn't realize how bad until I bought a new set. I bought these Wahl Hair Clippers (affiliate link) from Amazon recently. Oh my, what a difference good tools makes!

My daughter has expressed an interest in cutting hair, so when we cut all the guys hair the other day, I let her help. Here she is doing her older brothers hair. This was her first haircut. Do you think he looks scared? lol

She ended up cutting her Dad's hair, too. I only had to do the one! I just might turn over the guys hair cutting to her!

You Can Do a Graphic Novel - Review & Giveaway

2011-06-22T16:13:00.004-04:00

Graphic novels, a variation of comic books, are slowly but surely gaining popularity with tweens and teens. Thousands who just went to see Thor are eagerly waiting for the opening night of Captain America, Green Lantern and The Avengers. The movies that are expected to generate millions in the box office will also refresh curiosity in graphic novels.

Creating a graphic novel combines writing and illustrating with great creativity. It can be educational, exciting and fun. For young graphic novel enthusiasts the process of creating a graphic novel can be a great adventure that exercises their inner artists and makes a great project for long summer days.

Barbara Slate, graphic novelist and author of You Can Do a Graphic Novel guides readers through the same process she learned in her early days working for Marvel and DC Comics-a process she has simplified for the classes she teaches and for the syndicated column she writes.

The book teaches readers how to:

· Be creative in a way that works for you.

· Find your own artistic style!

· Create characters that get people's attention ... and hold it!

· Develop a great plotline and write believable dialogue.

· Lay out pages to keep the story moving forward.

· Keep those creative juices flowing when you get stuck.

About the Author:

Barbara Slate has done it all. Her first character, Ms. Liz, appeared on millions of greeting cards, in a regular comic strip for Cosmopolitan magazine, as a spokesperson for Dupont's Lycra and as the star in a series of animated segments on NBC's Today Show. Her big break in comics came when she created Angel Love for DC Comics. From there, she created, wrote and drew Yuppies from Hell, and Sweet XVI for Marvel and put her own spin on the Disney classics Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas, Archie's Betty and Veronica, and Mattel's Barbie. Barbara's art has been exhibited in many galleries and reviewed by The New York Times.She is profiled in the seminal work A Century of Women Cartoonists. Stan Lee, Chairman, POW! Entertainment and Chairman Emeritus, Marvel Entertainment, calls Barbara "titanically talented." She is currently busy being a mom, doing a graphic novel titled, I Got Married and Other Mistakes, and teaching. Her website is barbaraslate.com.

You Can Do a Graphic Novel

ISBN: 9781592579556

Alpha Books, $19.95

MY REVIEW:

I really loved You Can Do a Graphic Novel. This book is great for kids and adults alike. It's bright, colorful and full of drawings. With chapters such as Your Story, The Creative Process, Creating Characters, Writing, Layout, and more, this book as everything you need to get started writing a graphic novel. There is even a glossary in the back to help you understand the terms used in the book.

You Can Do a Graphic Novel would make a great, fun way to get your kids writing. And drawing. This would make a great unit for the homeschooler for the middle school and high school. It is possible for younger ages to this book also. As long as your child can read, write, and draw, they will learn a lot from this book, regardless of grade level.

This would also make a great summer project. Keep the kids engaged with their reading and writing while having fun. My 12 year daughter wants to use the book. I think this would make a great family project also. Have the writer in the family write the story. The artist draw the pictures. Even the younger kids could help by giving ideas for the story, and what the characters should look like. How awesome would it be to give books for Christmas (or other holiday) presents that your family has made together?

Sounds great, right? How would you like to win your own book?

The Giveaway:

Enter to win a copy of You Can Do a Graphic Novel.

To Enter the Giveaway:

Do any (or all!) of the following:

1.Follow Linda's Lunacy with Google Friend Connect and leave a comment on this post saying your following. If your already a follower, just leave a comment saying so.
2. Subscribe to my blog by email, leave a comment and don't forget to confirm the subscription
3. Follow Linda's Lunacy on Twitter and tweet the giveaway. You can tweet once per day, just leave the link to your tweet every day.

Sample tweet:
Enter to win the book You Can Do a Graphic Novel at Linda's Lunacy http://bit.ly/kWaPtj #giveaway

5. Like Linda's Lunacy on Facebook and leave a comment on this post.
6. Follow Linda's Lunacy on Networked Blogs and leave a comment on this post.
7. Leave a comment - Do you or your kids like to draw? Has anyone in your family ever tried to do a graphic novel?

That's right, no mandatory entry. You choose how you want to enter!

*This giveaway ends on Monday, July 6th at 11:59 pm Open to US only. The winner will be selected by random.org. I will notify the winner by email. The winner must respond within 48 hours to claim their prize, or another winner will be chosen. I will verify entries.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. I received one book for review purposes. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Read the Bible in 90 Days

2011-06-22T12:06:00.000-04:00

Mom's Tool Box is starting a new session of Read The Bible in 90 Days.

I participated in The Bible in 90 Days reading challenge last summer, and completed it in October 2010.

I found the challenge very rewarding. It is quite the challenge, though. Every days reading is 12 pages long. Which may not sound too bad and most days it isn't. Reading the genealogies was the hardest part for me.

Reading the Bible in 90 Days is very doable!

A new session is starting on July 11th. I highly recommend the challenge for everyone. Visit Mom's Toolbox to sign up.

Wordless Wednesday - Barn Buddies

2011-06-21T20:27:00.000-04:00

Making a Home

2011-06-20T20:12:00.001-04:00

There are so many things I want to do, but I don't have time! So many things I want to crochet, knit, sew, craft, cook and bake.

I guess I'll just keep doing a little here and a little there, besides the cooking. lol There'll be time for more crafting when the kids are older. I did find the time and energy to try two new recipes last week. Check out the gluten free banana bread recipe linked below. It's awesome!

Last week, we worked most of the evenings getting everything ready for a clothes giveaway at church. We fill our church's fellowship hall with donated clothes, shoes, linens and other household items, and toys for the community to come and get for free. We had 51 people come in 2 hours time on Saturday morning. Not our best showing, but a decent turn out considering it was pouring the rain and storming the whole time.

While your here, don't forget to enter my latest giveaway a Fiber One Cereal Giftpack!

What did you do last week to make your house a home?

Making a home for my family is very important to me and I'm always looking for tips and ideas.

So, link up your posts, and let's all support each other in making our homes better for our families.

Please provide a link back to me. A text link is fine. Of course, family friendly posts only.

Gluten Free Banana Bread

2011-06-20T15:37:00.000-04:00

I was excited to try this recipe for gluten free banana bread. Since going gluten free, I've tried lots of recipes, and this one is definitely a keeper. Moist, delicious, crispy crust. Awesome warm from the oven, and toasted with butter for breakfast.

I found this recipe for Gluten Free Banana Bread at Budget Savvy Diva but I see she found it at All Recipes. You can go to those links to see the original recipe. I added cinnamon and nutmeg to the recipe, as I like these in banana bread. I've also changed the cooking time. It took about an hour to bake, and comments on All Recipes say others have had to bake it for an hour, too. So I changed the time in the recipe.

Gluten Free Banana Bread

2 cups gluten-free all purpose baking flour

1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons maple syrup
6 ripe bananas, mashed

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F . Lightly grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Stir in eggs, maple syrup and mashed bananas until well blended. Add the banana mixture to the flour mixture; mix until batter is just moist. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean.

I ate some, set aside a couple of slices to eat and put the rest in the freezer. I froze these with 2 layers of waxed paper between each slice. That way, I can pull out one slice at a time. This was so good, I'm sure I would have eaten it all very quickly if I didn't put it in the freezer!

Check out Budget Savvy Diva's Gluten Free Sunday for more GF recipes.

For more tips and recipes, visit:

Making a Home

Garden and Kitchen Call Monday

Homemaker Monday

Unwasted Homemaking

Reasons to Skip Housework

Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays,

Tasty Tuesday

Tuesdays at the Table

Delicious Dishes

Domestically Divine Homemaking Link-up

Made From Scratch

What's on the Menu Wednesday

What's Cooking Wednesday

Homemaking Link Up

The Ultimate Recipe Swap at Life as Mom

What's on Your Plate?

Cooking Thursday

Thrilling Thursday

Frugal Food Thursday

Friday Food

Sweets For a Saturday

It's Shoutin' Time in Heaven

2011-06-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

I will arise and go to Jesus
He will embrace me in his arms,
In the arms of Christ my Savior,
Oh there are then thousand charms

Chorus)
Its shouting time in heaven
A sinner once lost is found
Its shouting time in heaven
Salvation has been brought down,
No wonder the angels rejoice to know
My sins have been covered by the crimson flow
And now I’m feeling fine
I’m walking on the highway with my Lord
My name is written down in courts above
Its shouting time in heaven,
Oh yes, its shouting time.

Come ye weary, heavy laden
Lost and ruined by the fall
If you tarry till your better,
You will never come battle

Saturday On The Farm

2011-06-17T22:00:00.000-04:00

It's been a great week here in Kentucky. The temps have been a little cooler and we've had some rain. So the gardens are all doing great!

I love the little daisy like flowers on the Feverfew in the herb garden. So pretty and dainty.

The Echinacea is starting to bloom. I love to take pictures of the beautiful flowers.

We transplanted two Mullein plants from beside the road to the herb garden. The other one suffered more chock than this one. But it's making a comeback.

And they are starting to bloom!

In the vegetable garden, the cucumbers are growing well. Yes, those are catalogs and magazines as mulch. I ran out of cardboard and newspapers. Have to keep the weeds down somehow. lol

The green beans are doing great. I don't know for sure what kind of green beans these are. I got them from my kids piano teacher about 6 years ago. They are the only beans she's ever grown, the only beans her mother ever grew, and the only beans her grandmother ever grew. She said they're like a half runner, but they're not half runners. So I don't know what they are, other than good! They freeze great, too.

The tomatoes are doing well, also. This is taller than it looks, the cardboard is not lying flat on the ground.

Something keeps eating my raspberries before I can pick them! I think it's the chickens. Rotten chickens. Lucky for them, they give me eggs. But they better lay off my raspberries!

These are the black raspberries. A few are starting to ripen. yum.....

That's a few highlights from my garden this week. How are your gardens doing?

Here are a few links I found interesting and helpful:

Homemade Gardeners Hand Scrub
Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden
How to Make Natural Mosquito Spray
Natural De-Skunking - Good to know!
Organic Gardening and Homesteading

Grab The Saturday on the Farm Button!

Saturday on the Farm is a blog carnival that lets us share links to our blog post. It's fun to visit each others farms.

To participate in Saturday on the Farm:

Write a post about your homestead, farm, farmette, or the tomato plant on your deck. Your cows, goats, chicken, or your favorite kitty cat.
Add the link to your post (not your main page) below.
Please link back to me so others can join the fun, too.

For more Farm & Garden posts, please visit:
Homestead Barn Hop
Bloomin' Tuesday
Frugal Gardening 101
Fertilizer Friday/ Flaunt Your Flowers

Sunny Saturday

2011-06-17T21:38:00.000-04:00

This Weeks Favorites

2011-06-17T12:00:00.000-04:00

I found lots of new favorites this week!

I Can Borrow A Copy of That, Right?
Are there nitrites in your food labeled nitrite/nitrate free?
Non Toxic Pest Control

Crocheted Wedding Ring Afghan - I think this will be my winter project!
Homemade Photo Flip Book

Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips
Overnight Breakfast Bakes
Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread
Honeysuckle Jelly

How to Make Natural Mosquito Spray

Hope you find some new favorites, too!

Indelible by Kristen Heitzmann

2011-06-17T08:00:00.008-04:00

Indelible by Kristen Heitzmann (Tour Date: June 17th) i

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Kristen Heitzmann

and the book:

Indelible

WaterBrook Press (May 3, 2011)

***Special thanks to Lynette Kittle, Senior Publicist, WaterBrook Multnomah, a Division of Random House for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kristen Heitzmann’s gift of crafting stories has ranked her as the award-winning and best-selling author of two historical series and twelve contemporary, psychological and romantic suspense novels including Indivisible. As an artist and musician, Kristen lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with her husband and a continuous stream of extended family, various pets, and wildlife.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Award-wining and best-selling author Kristen Heitzmann brings another suspense story to life in Indelible (WaterBrook, May 3, 2011).

Follow Trevor MacDaniel, a high country outfitter, as he rescues a toddler from the jaws of a mountain lion. Discover how he can’t foresee the far-reaching consequences of his action, how it will entwine his life with gifted sculptor, Natalie Reeve—and attract a grim admirer.

Find out how Trevor’s need to guard and protect is born of tragedy, prompting his decision to become a search and rescue volunteer. And how Natalie’s gift of sculpting comes from an unusual disability that seeks release through her creative hands.

See how in each other they learn strength and courage as they face an incomprehensible foe…a twisted soul, who is drawn by the heroic story of the child’s rescue. One who sees Trevor as archangel and adversary, and threatens their peaceful mountain community—testing Trevor’s limits by targeting their most helpless and innocent.

Product Details:

List Price: $13.99
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (May 3, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1400073103
ISBN-13: 978-1400073108

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

A veined bolt of lightning sliced the ozone-scented sky as Trevor plunged down the craggy slope, dodging evergreen spires like slalom poles. Rocks and gravel spewed from his boots and caromed off the vertical pitch.

“Trevor.” Whit skidded behind him. “We’re not prepared for this.”

No. But he hurled himself after the tawny streak. He was not losing that kid.

“He’s suffocated,” Whit shouted. “His neck’s broken.”

Trevor leaped past a man—probably the dad—gripping his snapped shinbone. Whit could help there. Digging his heels into the shifting pine needles, Trevor gave chase, outmatched and unwavering. His heart pumped hard as he neared the base of the gulch, jumping from a lichen-crusted stone to a fallen trunk. The cougar jumped the creek, lost its grip, and dropped the toddler. Yes.

He splashed into the icy flow, dispersing scattered leaves like startled goldfish. After driving his hand into the water, he gripped a stone and raised it. Not heavy, not nearly heavy enough.

Lowering its head over the helpless prey, the mountain lion snarled a spine-chilling warning. There was no contest, but the cat, an immature male, might not realize its advantage, might not know its fear of man was mere illusion. Thunder crackled. Trevor tasted blood where he’d bitten his tongue.

Advancing, he engaged the cat’s eyes, taunting it to charge or run. The cat backed up, hissing. A yearling cub, able to snatch a tot from the trail, but unprepared for this fearless challenge. Too much adrenaline for fear. Too much blood on the ground.

With a shout, he heaved the rock. As the cat streaked up the mountainside, he charged across the creek to the victim. He’d steeled himself for carnage, but even so, the nearly severed arm, the battered, bloody feet… His nose filled with the musky lion scent, the rusty smell of blood. He reached out. No pulse.

He dropped to his knees as Whit joined him from behind, on guard. He returned the boy’s arm to the socket, and holding it there with one trembling hand, Trevor began CPR with his other. On a victim so small, it took hardly any force, his fingers alone performing the compressions. The lion had failed to trap the victim’s face in its mouth. By grabbing the back of the head, neck, and shoulder, it had actually protected those vulnerable parts. But blood streamed over the toddler’s face from a deep cut high on the scalp, and he still wasn’t breathing.

Trevor bent to puff air into the tiny lungs, compressed again with his fingers, and puffed as lightly as he would to put out a match. Come on. He puffed and compressed while Whit watched for the cat’s return. Predators fought for their kills—even startled ones.

A whine escaped the child’s mouth. He jerked his legs, emitting a highpitched moan. Trevor shucked his jacket and tugged his T-shirt off over his head. He tied the sleeves around the toddler’s arm and shoulder, pulled the rest around, and swaddled the damaged feet—shoes and socks long gone. Thunder reverberated. The first hard drops smacked his skin. Tenderly, he pulled the child into his chest and draped the jacket over as a different rumble chopped the air. They had started up the mountain to find two elderly hikers who’d been separated from their party. Whit must have radioed the helicopter. He looked up. This baby might live because two old guys had gotten lost.

In the melee at the trailhead, Natalie clutched her sister-in-law’s hands, the horror of the ordeal still rocking them. As Aaron and little Cody were airlifted from the mountain, she breathed, “They’re going to be all right.”

“You don’t know that.” Face splotched and pale, Paige swung her head. Though her hair hung in wet blond strands, her makeup was weatherproof, her cologne still detectable. Even dazed, her brother’s wife looked and smelled expensive.

“The lion’s grip protected Cody’s head and neck,” one of the paramedics had told them. “It could have been so much worse.”

Paige started to sob. “His poor arm. What if he loses his arm?”

“Don’t go there.” What good was there in thinking it?

“How will he do the stuff boys do? I thought he’d be like Aaron, the best kid on the team.”

“He’ll be the best kid no matter what.”

“In the Special Olympics?”

Natalie recoiled at the droplets of spit that punctuated the bitter words.

“He’s alive, Paige. What were the odds those men from search and rescue would be right there with a helicopter already on standby?”

“We shouldn’t have needed it.” Paige clenched her teeth. “Aaron’s supposed to be recovering. He would have been if you weren’t such a freak.”

“What?” She’d endured Paige’s unsubtle resentment, but “ freak” ?

“Let me go.” Paige jerked away, careening toward the SUV.

Natalie heard the engine roar, the gravel flung by the spinning tires, but all she saw was the hate in Paige’s eyes, the pain twisting her brother’s face as he held his fractured leg, little Cody in the lion’s maw, the man leaping after…

She needed to clear the images, but it wouldn’t happen here. Around her, press vans and emergency vehicles drained from the lot, leaving the scent of exhaust and tire scars in the rusty mud. Paige had stranded her.

“Freak.” Heart aching, she took a shaky step toward the road. It hadn’t been that long a drive from the studio. A few miles. Maybe five. She hadn’t really watched—because Aaron was watching for her. Off the roster for a pulled oblique, he had seen an opportunity to finalize her venture and help her move, help her settle in, and see if she could do it. She’d been so thankful. How could any of them have known it would come to this? Trevor’s spent muscles shook with dumped adrenaline. He breathed the moist air in through his nose, willing his nerves to relax. Having gotten all they were going to get from him, most of the media had left the trailhead, following the story to the hospital. Unfortunately, Jaz remained.

She said, “You live for this, don’t you?” Pulling her fiery red hair into a messy ponytail didn’t disguise her incendiary nature or the smoldering coals reserved for him. He accepted the towel Whit handed him and wiped the rain from his head and neck, hoping she wouldn’t see the shakes. The late-summer storm had lowered the temperature enough she might think he was shivering.

“Whose idea was it to chase?”

“It’s not like you think about it. You just act.” Typing into her BlackBerry, she said, “Acted without thinking.”

“Come on, Jaz.” She couldn’t still be on his case.

“Interesting your being in place for the dramatic rescue of a pro athlete’s kid. Not enough limelight lately?”

“We were on another search.” She cocked her eyebrow. “You had no idea the victim’s dad plays center field for the Rockies?”

“Yeah, I got his autograph on the way down.” He squinted at the nearly empty parking lot. “Aren’t you following the story?”

“What do you think this is?”

“You got the same as everyone. That’s all I have to say.”

“You told us what happened. I want the guts. How did it feel? What were you thinking?” She planted a hand on her hip. “Buy me a drink?” He’d rather go claw to claw with another mountain lion. But considering the ways she could distort this, he relented. “The Summit?”

“I’d love to.” She pocketed her BlackBerry and headed for her car. Whit raised his brows at her retreat. “Still feeling reckless?”

“Sometimes it’s better to take her head on.”

“Like the cat?” Whit braced his hips.

“The cat was young, inexperienced.”

“You didn’t know that.”

“There was a chance the child wasn’t dead.”

“What if it hadn’t run?”

“If it attacked, you’d have been free to grab the kid.”

“Nice for you, getting mauled.”

“If it got ugly, I’d have shot it.”

“Shot?”

He showed him the Magnum holstered against the small of his back.

Whit stared at him, stone-faced. “You had your gun and you used a rock?”

“I was pretty sure it would run.”

“Pretty sure,” Whit said. “So, what? It wouldn’t be fair to use your weapon?”

It had been the cat against him on some primal level the gun hadn’t entered into. He said, “I could have hit the boy, or the cat could have dropped him down the gulch. When it did let go, I realized its inexperience and knew we had a chance to scare it off. Department of Wildlife can decide its fate. I was after the child.”

“Okay, fine.” With a hard exhale, Whit rubbed his face. “This was bad.”

Trevor nodded. Until today, the worst he’d seen over four years of rescues was a hiker welded to a tree by lightning and an ice climber’s impalement on a jagged rock spear. There’d been no death today, but Whit looked sick. “You’re a new dad. Seeing that little guy had to hit you right in the gut.” Whit canted his head.

“I’m just saying.” Trevor stuffed his shaking hands into his jacket pockets. The storm passed, though the air still smelled of wet earth and rain. He drove Whit back, then went home to shower before meeting Jazmyn Dufoe at the Summit. Maybe he’d just start drinking now. Arms aching, Natalie drove her hands into the clay. On the huge, square Corian table, two busts looked back at her: Aaron in pain, and Paige, her fairy-tale life rent by a primal terror that sprang without warning. She had pushed and drawn and formed the images locked in her mind, even though her hands burned with the strain.

No word had come from the Children’s Hospital in Denver, where the police chief said they’d taken Cody, or from the hospital that had Aaron. Waiting to hear anything at all made a hollow in her stomach. She heaved a new block of clay to the table, wedged and added it to the mound already softened. Just as she started to climb the stepstool, her phone rang. She plunged her hands into the water bucket and swabbed
them with a towel, silently begging for good news. “Aaron?”

Not her brother, but a nurse calling. “Mr. Reeve asked me to let you know he came through surgery just fine. He’s stable, and the prognosis is optimistic. He doesn’t want you to worry.”

Natalie pressed her palm to her chest with relief. “Did he say anything about Cody? Is there any news?”

“No, he didn’t say. I’m sure he’ll let you know as soon as he hears something.”

“Of course. Thank you so much for calling.”

Natalie climbed back onto the stool, weary but unable to stop. Normally, the face was enough, but this required more. She molded clay over stiff wire-mesh, drawing it up, up, proportionately taller than an average man, shoulders that bore the weight of other people’s fear, one arm wielding a stone, the other enfolding the little one. The rescuer hadn’t held both at once, but she combined the actions to release both images.

She had stared hard at his face for only a moment before he plunged over the ridge, yet retained every line and plane of it. Determination and fortitude in the cut of his mouth, selfless courage in the eyes. There’d been fear for Cody. And himself ? Not of the situation, but something…

It came through her hands in the twist of his brow. A heroic face, aware of the danger, capable of failing, unwilling to hold back. Using fingers and tools, she moved the powerful images trapped by her eidetic memory through her hands to the clay, creating an exterior storage that freed her mind, and immortalizing him—whoever he was. The Summit bar was packed and buzzing, the rescue already playing on televisions visible from every corner. With the whole crowd toasting and congratulating him, Jaz played nice—until he accepted her ride home and infuriated her all over again by not inviting her in.

He’d believed that dating women whose self-esteem reached egotistical meant parting ways wouldn’t faze them. Jaz destroyed that theory. She was not only embittered but vindictive. After turning on the jets, Trevor sank into his spa, letting the water beat his lower- and mid-lumbar muscles.

He pressed the remote to open the horizontal blinds and to look out through the loft windows.

Wincing, he reached in and rubbed the side of his knee. That plunge down the slope had cost him, but, given the outcome, he didn’t consider it a judgment error. That honor went to putting himself once more at the top of Jaz’s hate list. He maneuvered his knee into the pressure of a jet. When he got out, he’d ice it. If he got out.

He closed his eyes and pictured the battered toddler. The crowd’s attention had kept the thoughts at bay, easy to talk about the cat, how mountain lions rarely attacked people, how he and Whit had scared it off, how DOW would euthanize if they caught it, how his only priority had been to get the child. He had segued into the business he and Whit had opened the previous spring, rock and ice climbing, land and water excursions, cross-country ski and snowshoe when the season turned.

That was his business, but rescuing was in his blood, had been since his dad made him the man of the house by not coming home one night or any thereafter. At first, the nightmares had been bad—all the things that could go wrong: fire, snakes, tarantulas, tornadoes. They had populated his dreams until he woke drenched in sweat, cursing his father for trusting him to do what a grown man couldn’t.

The phone rang. He sloshed his arm up, dried his hand on the towel lying beside it, and answered. “Hey, Whit.”

“You doing okay?”

“Knee hurts. You?”

“Oh sure. You know—”

“Hold on. There’s someone at the door.”

“Yeah. Me and Sara.”

Trevor said, “Cute. Where’s your key?”

“Forgot it.”

Gingerly, he climbed over the side, then wrapped a towel around his hips, and let them in.

“You mind?” Whit frowned at the towel, although Sara hadn’t batted an eye.

She came in and made herself at home. Whit carried their twomonth- old asleep in his car seat to a resting place. Trevor threw on Under Armour shorts and a clean T-shirt, then rejoined them. “So what’s up?”

“Nice try, Trevor.” Sara fixed him with a look. “I especially like the practiced nonchalance.”

He grinned. “Hey, I’ve got it down.”

“With Jaz, maybe. No claw marks?”

“Too public.”

Whit rubbed his wife’s shoulder. “We knew you’d worry this thing, so Sara brought the remedy.”

She drew the Monopoly box out of her oversize bag with a grin that said she intended to win and would, wearing them down with her wheeling and dealing. “I’ll take that silly railroad off your hands. It’s no good to you when I have the other three.”

He rubbed his hands, looking into her bold blue eyes. “Bring it.”

The mindless activity and their chatter lightened his mood as Sara had intended. She knew him as well as Whit, maybe better. Each time he caught the concern, he reassured her with a smile. He’d be fine.

Whit played his get-out-of-jail card and freed his cannon. “Hear what’s going in next door to us?”

“No.”

“An art gallery.”

“Yeah?” Trevor adjusted the ice pack on his knee.

“Place called Nature Waits.”

“Waits for what?”

Whit shrugged. “Have to ask the lady sculptor.”

“Won’t exactly draw for our kind of customer.”

“At least it won’t compete.” Sara rolled the dice and moved her pewter shoe. “Another outfitter could have gone in. I’ll buy Park Place.”

Both men mouthed, “I’ll buy Park Place.”

She shot them a smile.

Two hours later, she had bankrupted them with her thoughtful loans and exorbitant use of hotels on prime properties. He closed the door behind them, and it hit. He raised the toilet seat and threw up, then pressed his back to the wall and rested his head, breathing deeply. The shaking returned, and this time he couldn’t blame adrenaline. He had literally puffed the life back into that tiny body. If that child had died in his arms…

Midst came their mighty Paramount, and seemed
Alone th’ antagonist of Heaven, nor less
Than Hell’s dread Emperor, with pomp supreme,
And god-like imitated state.

Child snatched from lion’s jaws. Two-year-old spared in deadly attack. Rescuer Trevor MacDaniel, champion of innocents, protector of life. Cameras rolling, flashes flashing, earnest newscasters recounted the tale. “On this mountain, a miracle. What could have been a tragedy became a triumph through the courage of this man who challenged a mountain lion to save a toddler attacked while hiking with his father, center-fielder…”

He consumed the story in drunken drafts. Eyes swimming, he gazed upon the noble face, the commanding figure on the TV screen. In that chest beat valiance. In those hands lay salvation. His heart made a slow drum in his ears. A spark ignited, purpose quickening.

Years he’d waited. He spread his own marred hands, instruments of instruction, of destruction. With slow deliberation, he closed them into fists. What use was darkness if not to try the light?

Departures - A Book Review

2011-06-16T19:02:00.000-04:00

Christy Miller and Sierra Jensen cross paths on their way to summer vacations that reveal what a gift it is to have a true Forever Friend.

Now Boarding at Gate 10
After her high school graduation, still aching from Todd’s departure, Christy joins her family on a trip to Wisconsin to visit relatives. While there, she reunites with Matthew, an old friend from junior high. When Matthew starts to show a romantic interest in Christy, she realizes this summer vacation could change everything she thought her future would be.

In the Event of a Water Landing
Fifteen-year-old Sierra Jensen can’t wait to spend her summer vacation with her friend Jana at a pristine lake in Montana. But when they arrive, it becomes clear that Jana’s only interest is acquiring a boyfriend. Sierra just wants to hang out with the guys as friends, but Jana turns every encounter into a possible romantic relationship. As their friendship begins to suffer, Sierra wonders if it’s possible to find a Forever Friend who will listen to you, laugh with you, and keep your confidences.

About the Author

ROBIN JONES GUNN is the best-selling and award-winning author of more than seventy books, with over 4 million copies of her titles sold worldwide. Best known among them are the Christy Miller, Sierra Jensen, and Christy and Todd: College Years teen series. A Christy Award winner and a two-time finalist for excellence in fiction, Robin has also been a Gold Medallion finalist. She and her husband have a grown son and daughter and live in Hawaii.

MY REVIEW:

I have read other books by Robin Jones Gunn. Before Departures, I hadn't read any of the Christy Miller Series. My daughters have though, and liked them.

Departures is two books in one. In Now Boarding at Gate 10 , Christy is a recent high school graduate. Her boyfriend has moved and she's left wondering what she's going to do next. During the summer, she travels with her family. A lot transpires over the course of her summer vacation. "Was it possible to do the right thing, make the right decision, and say the right words yet still feel sad about if afterward?" from pages 95-95

In the Event of a Water Landing follows Sierra as she travels with a friend for summer vacation. Their trip turns into an adventure. Sierra is also surprised by her friend Jana once they reach their destination. She realizes that she doesn't want to grow up to fast.

Departures is billed as Two Rediscovered Stories as Robin Jones Gunn discovered these stories on her computer when she moved. I enjoyed reading Departures. The intended audience is teenagers, and 15 year old really liked the book, too. If you have teenage daughters, or you have read the Christy Miller series in the past, I recommended this book. It's a good easy read. Just the thing your daughter might like for summer reading.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Blogging for Books book review bloggers program. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Bible Memorization - Psalm 63:7

2011-06-15T21:24:00.000-04:00

It's time to pick a new Bible verse to memorize. Here's my 11th memory verse of 2011:

For you have been my help; in the shadow of your wings I rejoice

Psalm 63:7 Complete Jewish Bible

Thursday's Giveaways

2011-06-15T20:00:00.000-04:00

I love entering giveaways, and have even won a few things. I really love hosting giveaways on Linda's Lunacy. It's so much fun to give stuff away!

So I thought I'd start a giveaway linky to make it easier to find lots of giveaways.

The posting of my button is not required, but help in spreading the word that Linda's Lunacy has a giveaway linky is greatly appreciated! So thank you!

Adding your giveaway to Linda's Lunacy Thursday's Giveaways is very easy! Just use this format, please.

Blog name - name of item being given away - ending date

See? Easy!

Please, only link family friendly giveaways. My kids read here, and anything not family friendly, will be promptly deleted. Sorry, but it's for my kids. :)

Have fun, and I hope you win something!

A Reluctant Queen by Joan Wolf

2011-06-15T08:00:00.001-04:00

To celebrate Joan Wolf’s debut Christian Fiction title, A Reluctant Queen, Joan and her publisher, Thomas Nelson, have teamed up to give away A Reluctant Queen prize package worth over $150!

One grand prize winner will receive:

* A brand new Latest Generation KINDLE with Wi-Fi and Pearl Screen

* A Reluctant Queen by Joan Wolf (for KINDLE)

To enter, just click one of the icons below. But, hurry, the contest ends on June 20th. Winner will be announced on June 21st during Joan’s A Reluctant Queen Book Club Party on Facebook (details below)! Hope to see you there – bring your friends!

Join the fun on June 21st!

Joan will be wrapping up the blog tour and Kindle giveaway promotion during her A Reluctant Queen FACEBOOK party on her FB author page. During the party she'll announce the winner of the Kindle, host a book chat discussion, test your trivia skills (Is Esther's story in A Reluctant Queen fact or fiction?), and more. Don't miss this chance to meet the author and make some new friends!

About the book: A Reluctant Queen

An inspiring re-imagining of the tale of Esther, a young Jewish woman thrust from a life of obscurity into a life of power, wealth, intrigue . . . and tender love.

See the story of Esther in an entirely new way-with all the political intrigue and tension you remember, but told as a passionate and tender love story between a young man and woman. Misunderstood by many, King Xerxes was a powerful but lonely man. Esther's beauty caught the eye of the young king, but it was her spirit that captured his heart.

Imagine anew the story of Esther, one of our faith's great heroines, destined to play a key role in the history of Christianity. More here.

About Joan: Joan Wolf was born in New York City but has lived most of her adult life with her husband in Connecticut, where she raised two children and countless numbers of assorted animals. Joan is the author of numerous historical novels including The Road to Avalon which Publishers Weekly lauded as “historical fiction at its finest.”
For more about Joan and her other books, please visit www.joanwolf.com.

My Review:

I have always loved the book of Esther in the Bible. The account of God saving his chosen people, the Jews, from destruction.

In A Reluctant Queen - The Love story of Esther, Joan Wolf tells the story of Esther from a different angle.

From the back cover:

You've read it as a Biblical tale of courage. Experience it anew as a heart-stirring love story.
She was a simple girl faced with an impossible choice.
He was a magnificent king with a lonely heart.
Their love was the divine surprise that changed the course of history.
The beloved story of Esther springs to fresh life in this inspired novel that vibrates with mystery, intrigue and romance.

The book does not follow the Biblical account. There are lots of details left out. This novel is full of "what ifs". Since the Bible does not tell us everything about Esther or her life, we are left to wonder "what if". A Reluctant Queen answers the question of what if, with a very believable storyline.

I truly did not want to put this book down while I was reading it. The story starts at Mordecai's home, where we discover how close niece and uncle are. With Esther's great home life with Mordecai, you understand how much she really didn't want to go to the castle.

We see love blossom between Esther and Ahasuerus. How much Esther grew to love him. Even though they loved each other, protocol dictated that anyone, including the Queen, who went before the King unbidden would die. The courage of Esther is unequaled. Would you have the courage to go before the King, knowing full well that it might cost you your life, if it saved the lives of others? Would I?

A Reluctant Queen has it all: a love story, a villain, and a hero. It's a great book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Litfuse Publicity Group. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Wordless Wednesday - Going to the Big City

2011-06-14T20:00:00.000-04:00

We went to Cincinnati for a family birthday the other day. I took this picture on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River heading into Cincinnati.

For more pictures, visit Wordless Wednesday,
Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom ,
Say "Cheese" at It's a Blog Party
A Beautiful Mess,
Live and Love Outloud,
Mama to 4 Blessings
Wordy or Not So Wordy Wednesday
Frugality is Free
Dear Crissy
Baba's Farm Life
Mrs. Mama Hen

Fiber One Cereal Giveaway

2011-06-14T15:49:00.004-04:00

Winner is posted here!

I have never tried Fiber One cereals before. I don't have a reason why, just never had. So when I saw that Blog Spark had a "spark" for Fiber One, I thought this would be a good opportunity to try it and introduce Fiber One to my family.

We don't eat that much cereal anymore. Too much sugar and other additives. I wasn't sure how they were going to react to "healthier" cereal, but my family really loved the Fiber One cereals. And I really love them eating a healthier cereal.

I received 5 boxes of Fiber One to try. Original, Honey Clusters, Raisin Bran Clusters, Caramel Delight and Shredded Wheat. We tried the Caramel Delight first. It is so good! All the kids loved it, too.

In fact, they were disappointed when it was gone! I am not disappointed with the fact that they are eating healthy cereal and liking it. Even my husband, who is not a cereal eater, ate it and liked it!

We have finished the Raisin Clusters, also. Another family favorite. I do believe Fiber One cereals are going to be making a regular appearance on our breakfast table.

If you're trying to get your family to eat healthier and to eat more fiber, you should really try Fiber One cereals. You just might be surprised at how much your family loves this cereal, like I was.

You can visit Fiber One online for great information on healthy living and ways to incorporate more fiber in your diet. You can also visit Fiber One on Facebook.

You can Print a coupon for $.75 off one box of Fiber One Cereal to help you introduce it to your family. Saving money while getting your family to eat healthier? How great is that? :)

Want more cereal? How would you like to win 5 boxes of Fiber One cereal?

The Giveaway:

Enter to win a Fiber One Cereal Gift Pack from General Mills through My Blog Spark. One box each of Original, Honey Clusters, Raisin Bran Clusters, Caramel Delight and Shredded Wheat.

To Enter the Giveaway:

Do any (or all!) of the following:

1.Follow Linda's Lunacy with Google Friend Connect and leave a comment on this post saying your following. If your already a follower, just leave a comment saying so.
2. Subscribe to my blog by email, leave a comment and don't forget to confirm the subscription
3. Follow Linda's Lunacy on Twitter and tweet the giveaway. You can tweet once per day, just leave the link to your tweet every day.

Sample tweet:
Enter to win a Fiber One Cereal gift pack at Linda's Lunacy http://bit.ly/kFwBLM #giveaway #myblogspark

5. Like Linda's Lunacy on Facebook and leave a comment on this post.
6. Follow Linda's Lunacy on Networked Blogs and leave a comment on this post.
7. Like Fiber One on Facebook
8. Leave a comment - Do you think you get enough fiber? What are you doing to increase your fiber intake?

That's right, no mandatory entry. You choose how you want to enter!

*This giveaway ends on Monday, June 27th at 11:59 pm Open to US only. The winner will be selected by random.org. I will notify the winner by email. The winner must respond within 48 hours to claim their prize, or another winner will be chosen. I will verify entries.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. I received 5 boxes of Fiber One Cereal from General Mills through MyBlogSpark. One winner will also receive 5 boxes of cereal from General Mills through MyBlogSpark. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Making a Home

2011-06-13T21:33:00.001-04:00

We stopped at an antique store recently and found this awesome food mill set. We didn't get it that day as we were fresh out of cash. :) So my husband stopped Saturday and picked it up. We paid $30. for the set.

4 piece set

That may seem like a lot. However, before we purchased it, I checked prices online. A new one, with only one of the one of the cone inserts was about $30. Some places charged even more. Have you noticed that metal items purchased recently are not as strong as metal pieces made years ago? The metal items, such as colanders, seem flimsier now. And since this one came with 2 cones, I feel we got a good deal.

Small cone

I can't wait for our tomatoes to be ready for harvest so I can make some awesome tomato sauce. :)

Making a home for my family is very important to me and I'm always looking for tips and ideas.

So, link up your posts, and let's all support each other in making our homes better for our families.

Please provide a link back to me. A text link is fine. Of course, family friendly posts only.

What's For Dinner?

2011-06-13T08:00:00.001-04:00

Saturday - Sabbath- Make ahead meals- Baked Chicken, rice, veggies

Sunday - soup & sandwich day - Dinner at extended families house

Monday - beef - Steak, oven baked fries, corn, salad

Tuesday - pizza - Homemade pizza with homemade sausage. carrots sticks, salad

Wednesday - super simple - leftovers, salad

Thursday - chicken - Chicken and noodles, corn, salad

Friday - Friday Night Fire/Beef - Roast in the crockpot with potatoes & carrots, challah bread

For more Menu Plan Monday ideas, visit I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Please Let Me Sing in the Choir

2011-06-12T08:00:00.001-04:00

Please let me sing in the choir, in the choir,
please let me sing in the choir.
One old man can't be all that bad,
won't you please let me sing in the choir.

I guess you'd say he's a fixture,
around town they all knew his name.
And every time the church bells rang,
Uncle Jesse, he up and came.
He always sat in the very same pew
humming in a voice loud and rough.
When it came to the Antioch Church house choir
Uncle Jesse never heard enough.

He always wanted to sing in the choir
but he couldn't sing a lick don't you know
Why, he tried out for the Antioch Choir,
34 years in a row

He always get to the try-outs early
he wanted to try out first,
but instead of his singing getting any better
every year it just got a little worse.

He said:
Please let me sing in the choir, in the choir
please let me sing in the choir
one old man can't be all that bad,
won't you please let me sing in the choir.

One cloudy Sunday morning,
I remember it was raining some
The church bells rang and everybody came
except Jesse, He didn't come.
And everybody started getting worried,
but they figured they'd start anyhow.
Just as they did Jesse's voice came
booming down from Heaven,
and I don't know how.

He said;
I've found me a choir that'll let me sing,
now I'm singing in the choir
and I can raise my voice just as high as yours.
Maybe just a little higher.
Well I've found me a choir that'll let me sing
now I'm singing in the choir.
You folks down there can't hold me a light
'cause I'm singing in the heavenly choir.

Oh, I've found me a choir that'll let me sing,
now I'm singing in the choir,
and I can lift my voice just as high as yours.
Maybe just a little higher.
Oh, I've found me a choir that'll let me sing;
now I'm singing in the choir.
You folks down there can't hold me a light
'cause I'm singing in the heavenly choir.

Please let me sing in the choir, in the choir,
please let me sing in the choir.
One old man can't be all that bad,
won't you please let me sing in the choir...

Saturday On The Farm

2011-06-11T08:00:00.004-04:00

Last week, when I told you about putting in a new herb garden, I said we put netting on top to keep the chickens out. Turns out, we really need it to keep the little kittens out.

Even with all the animal traffic, the herbs are starting to grow. So I'm happy about that. Now I just need to figure out a fence or something to keep the animals out when the plants get too tall for the netting.

We've done a lot of work in the vegetable garden this week. We got most of the tomato seedlings in the ground. This is my husband and two of the kids cutting holes in the cardboard to plant the seedlings.

It got dark while we were out there working, and the moon paid us a visit.

The grass and weeds are getting tall along the fence. Here's Zach, my youngest cutting them down with scissors. Hey, it works, and keeps him busy. :)

We have raspberries almost ready! Actually, one was ready. It had an ant on it, and when I brushed the ant off, the perfectly ripe raspberry fell to the ground, and I couldn't find it. I was sorry to not be able to eat it. I'm looking forward to these being ready.

These are Black Raspberries that are growing wild in our yard. These are really yummy, too.

The girls got a lot of flowers planted this week. Plants as well as seeds. They spent the night with their older, married sister, who took them plant shopping. They came home with some flowers and had fun deciding where to plant them.

Hannah planting some Celosia seeds around the plant that I already had.

These are more Wild Roses growing in front of the house.

How are your gardens doing this week?

Here are some links I found interesting and helpful:

Keys to Redneck Gardening
Best Plants to Use on a Retaining Wall
Canning Jar Cloches to Protect Young Plants
Companion Planting
How to Harvest, Dry and Store Herbs

Grab The Saturday on the Farm Button!

Saturday on the Farm is a blog carnival that lets us share links to our blog post. It's fun to visit each others farms.

To participate in Saturday on the Farm:

Write a post about your homestead, farm, farmette, or the tomato plant on your deck. Your cows, goats, chicken, or your favorite kitty cat.
Add the link to your post (not your main page) below.
Please link back to me so others can join the fun, too.

For more Farm & Garden posts, please visit:
Homestead Barn Hop
Bloomin' Tuesday
The Little Round Table
Frugal Gardening 101
Fertilizer Friday/ Flaunt Your Flowers

Sunny Saturday

2011-06-10T20:00:00.001-04:00

Our Homeschool Week in Review

2011-06-10T15:29:00.000-04:00

The kids have been working in the garden in the mornings while its cooler. Schoolwork has been waiting until the afternoon. Most of the kids prefer to get their schoolwork done in the morning so they can have the afternoon free. However, it has been so hot in Kentucky this week. So hot that they haven't even been wanting to play outside in the afternoon. If there is no church at night, or other family activity, we all go back outside and get a little more work done in the "cool" of the evening.

Today, Zach caught a cricket and followed the directions in his science book to make a terrarium for it.

See his little friend inside it's new home?

We also reviewed Shavuot this week. And enjoyed a nice family meal together on the first night of Shavuot, complete with everyone's favorite dairy foods. We had homemade macaroni and cheese and yellow squash casserole. I made the yellow squash casserole with home canned squash from our garden last year, covered with Ranch dressing and mozzarella cheese, then baked. My family loves this! We also had homemade vanilla pudding and chocolate pudding made by the girls for dessert.

It was the first time the girls had made homemade pudding themselves. They did great, except for Abby burning her finger on the pan. The pudding was awesome! I have no pictures to share as we ate it all. :)

The kids also started reading for a summer reading program this week over at Homeschool Buyers Co-op. The kids will have chances to win prizes. My kids are reading a lot to try and win the Ipad2.

Here are some links I found interesting and helpful this week:

Gee Whiz Quiz - A Math Scavenger Hunt Game
American Sign Language University at Lifeprint.com - includes dictionary, free lessons and more!
Why Did 17 Million Students Go to College?
What is a College Education Really Worth?
Little House on the Prairie - This post has a lot of links for a study of these books

Please visit:
Weekly Wrap Up at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers.
Wrapping Up The Week
Weekly Homeschool Highlights

This Weeks Favorites

2011-06-10T12:00:00.000-04:00

I found a lot of new favorites this week!

The Trusting Husband of Proverbs 31 - We never hear about the husband of the Proverbs 31 Woman, it's about time!
Dealing With Quarrels
Should a Christian Practice Food Storage?

10 Minute Car Organizer - This would make a great Father's Day gift!

Inspired Living - Cool as a Cucumber - This sounds like a nice cool drink
Make Your Own Taco Sauce - I will definitely be making this. My kids love taco sauce, I don't like paying the price. Now we'll all be happy!
Easy Black Bean Salsa

Hope you find some new favorites, too!

Please visit:

Saturday's Stumbles

Share Your Faves.

Family Movie Night - Field of Vision - Review

2011-06-09T16:27:00.000-04:00

It's time for another awesome Family Movie Night!

Field of Vision is the new movie that premieres Saturday, June 11th at 8 pm est on NBC.

In Field of Vision, a young girl is given an old video camera. This video camera has a mind of it's own, and only works when it wants to. It also has the ability to let others see events that it didn't actually tape. This is important to the story line it two ways.

First, the camera helps the girl's older brother see what's really going on on his football team. Bullying.

Second, the camera helps the girl see some important information to help Corey, the bullying victim.

Armed with the information he learned from the camera, Tyler (played by Tony Oller) confronts his fellow football teammates about the bullying. Tyler, and all those watching this movie, learn that you have to do the right thing, even though it's very, very hard. Doing the right thing is not popular, as other don't like to deal with the consequences of their actions. But as this Tyler shows us, even though it's hard, doing the right thing is worth it.

Armed with the information she learned from the camera, Lucy, (played by Alyssa Jordan Shaffer) learns some very important information to help Corey, the bullying victim played by Joseph Adler. As we learn in the movie, Corey is in foster care after his mother died. With Lucy's help, Corey gets his life back.

Field of Vision also stars Faith Ford, Phillip Casnoff and L. Warren Young.
Here's the official Field of Vision trailer:

I got to see the whole movie so I could tell you about. I really liked this movie, and can't wait to share it with my kids. Field of Vision teaches some important life lessons without being preachy. Field of Vision has a very heart-warming ending, and is suitable for the whole family. Field of Vision has earned the Dove Foundation Family Approved Seal. Read the Dove Foundation Review.

For more information, visit the Field of Vision Website, Family Movie Night on Facebook and Mom's for Family TV.

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. I got to watch the movie online before it aired on TV. I did not receive a DVD or any other product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Elemental Journal

2011-06-09T11:44:00.001-04:00

Create Expressive Books from Salvaged Treasures

Rusty doorknobs, cardboard containers and plastic packaging may seem like trash to some, but through the creative mind, they are transformed into beautiful expressions - equally parts artful book and assemblage. The Elemental Journal will show you how to craft a wide variety of journals to hold your secrets or express your inner thoughts, and discover new ways to use wood, paper, fabric, plastic and metal in your art.

Peek inside The Elemental Journal and you will find...

15 stepped-out journal projects made from unusual materials and found objects, from tree bark to dismantled photo albums to tin boxes.
Tips for seeking out materials for your journals in flea markets, garage sales, and in your own attic or trash can.
Inspiring gallery projects from 9 contributing artists, including Susan Tuttle, Jen Osborn and Jill Berry.

One artist's trash is another's treasure. Discover yours with The Elemental Journal.

My Review:

The Elemental Journal contains material lists and instructions, with pictures, for making journals from wood, plastic, paper, fabric and metal. There are also pictures of other journals to inspire you to be creative to make more.

You don't have to be super crafty to make these journals, either. They're are easy ones that even kids would be able to make.

These journals will be loved by all who keep a diary. I can't wait to make some of these for Christmas gifts. I think these would be a great place to keep your to-do list, also. I know I would be inspired to pick one of these gorgeous and creative journals up to look at it. Some are small enough to carry with you, some are more suited to keeping on a desk or table. All are very decorative.

I have not made one yet, but I have read the directions, and looked at the pictures. All the directions are easy to follow, with pictures showing each step. A lot of them use items that would others consider to be trash. What a great, useful way to re-use something that others throw away. There are even projects using old toys!

The Elemental Journal is a great instructional book for making journals for yourself or as gifts.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through BookSneeze. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Thursday's Giveaways

2011-06-08T20:00:00.002-04:00

I love entering giveaways, and have even won a few things. I really love hosting giveaways on Linda's Lunacy. It's so much fun to give stuff away!

So I thought I'd start a giveaway linky to make it easier to find lots of giveaways.

The posting of my button is not required, but help in spreading the word that Linda's Lunacy has a giveaway linky is greatly appreciated! So thank you!

Adding your giveaway to Linda's Lunacy Thursday's Giveaways is very easy! Just use this format, please.

Blog name - name of item being given away - ending date

See? Easy!

Please, only link family friendly giveaways. My kids read here, and anything not family friendly, will be promptly deleted. Sorry, but it's for my kids. :)

Have fun, and I hope you win something!

Wordless Wednesday - Why'd You Wake Me Up?

2011-06-07T21:52:00.001-04:00

The silly kitten decided to take a nap in an empty flower basket hanging on the back porch. It's about 8 feet above the ground. The string you see in the picture is the top of my clothesline.

Why'd you wake me up?!

For more pictures, visit Wordless Wednesday,
Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom ,
Say "Cheese" at It's a Blog Party
A Beautiful Mess,
Live and Love Outloud,
Shibley Smiles
Angelica's Awesome Adventures
The Florida Hogans
The Life of Rylie & Bryce, too
Mama to 4 Blessings
Wordy or Not So Wordy Wednesday
Frugality is Free
Dear Crissy
Baba's Farm Life
Resourceful Mommy
Mrs. Mama Hen

Shavuot

2011-06-07T14:07:00.001-04:00

Image via Wikipedia

Shavuot, The Feast of Weeks, is the day when the Jewish People received the Torah on Mt. Sinai. This year, Shavuot starts tonight, June 7th, at sundown and lasts until June 9th at sundown. The Torah, however, does not give us a set date for Shavuot. Instead, we are instructed to count 49 days from Passover, this is called The Counting of the Omer. On the 50th day, we celebrate Shavuot.

For Messianic Believers and Christians, Shavuot is also when God sent the Holy Spirit to dwell with us. You will most likely know it as Pentacost.

Here's a video with an overview of Shavuot:

Larry Huch TV programs on Pentacost - You can watch online the 5 programs that aired on tv

There are no commandments in the Bible for how to celebrate Shavuot, but there are a few customs.

Eat dairy meals
Decorate the Synagogue with flowers and greenery
Stay up all night studying the Torah
Read the Book of Ruth

In our celebration of Shavuot, we will start with a dairy dinner at sundown tonight. I picked some of my families favorite foods to serve. We're having macaroni & cheese, yellow squash casserole (made with Ranch Dressing & mozzarella cheese), and vanilla & chocolate pudding for dessert.

We will also be going over the 10 Commandments. We have memorized these as a family, but we will still review them, and say them aloud together from memory. We will also read aloud the Book of Ruth.

Today, I will also be reading aloud the Shavuot section from Jewish Holidays and Festivals, this is a great book that tells in simple language the stories, significance, practices, ceremonies and prayers of the Jewish Holidays. There are also questions at the end of every section. I love this book, it was the first book I purchased on the Jewish Holidays, and the first book I go to when preparing for each holiday.

Shavuot / Pentecost from Torah Class on Vimeo.

Here are some websites to help you learn more about Shavuot:

Shavuot Prep 101 Web Series
Shavuot The Feast of Weeks
Shavuot at Chabad.org
Shavuot Inspiration by Diane
Green Cheesecake at Midnight?
Shavuot on Jewish Virtual Library

Shavuot at Judaism 101

Shavuot 101 at My Jewish Learning

Video - The Giving of the Torah

Shavuot - Pentacost The Basics and Beyond
Shavuot at Light of Mashiach
Shavuot Placed In The Middle
Shavuot at United with Israel
Shavuot at Restoring the Way Ministries - Nice overview, includes Bible verses and a nice little study

Shavuot for Kids

Torah Tots Shavuot
Shavuot for Children
How to Make Shavuot Special for Children
Shavuot Crafts
Free Shavuos Lap-book & more!

Chag Sameach! Happy Holiday!

Making a Home

2011-06-06T20:00:00.000-04:00

Making a home for my family is very important to me and I'm always looking for tips and ideas.

So, link up your posts, and let's all support each other in making our homes better for our families.

Please provide a link back to me. A text link is fine. Of course, family friendly posts only.

What's For Dinner?

2011-06-06T08:00:00.001-04:00

Saturday - Sabbath- Make ahead meals- Lunch at my family reunion, Chicken Salad for supper

Sunday - soup & sandwich day - Egg Salad sandwiches, carrots

Monday - beef - Steak, oven baked fries, corn, salad

Tuesday - pizza - Shavout - Dairy meal- Macaroni and Cheese, Baked Yellow Squash with Ranch dressing & Mozzarella cheese, Vanilla and Chocolate pudding for dessert

Wednesday - super simple - leftovers, salad

Thursday - chicken - Baked Chicken, rice, corn, salad

Friday - Friday Night Fire/Beef - Roast in the crockpot with potatoes & carrots, challah bread

For more Menu Plan Monday ideas, visit I'm an Organizing Junkie.

It's Not So Hard to Praise Him After All

2011-06-05T08:00:00.003-04:00

I can't find the original song. It's hard to hear the words in spots. But I really love this song.

It's NOT so hard to praise Him after all!!!

Saturday On The Farm

2011-06-04T15:05:00.001-04:00

In addition to my usual tour, I thought I'd share the view from my rocking chair on the front porch. :)

Looking straight ahead, I see the white Butterfly bush with the new planter under it, and the front bulb garden with the butterfly house. Behind all those trees and rose bushes, is the road. Eventually, the area between the Butterfly Bush and the porch will be all garden.

Looking to the left, I can see the front garden, with the glads, hostas, and the small cedar tree. Not seen in the picture are the Sedum and Celosia. The first bush you come to out in the yard is a small Butterfly Bush, this one purple, the next two smaller plants are Hardy Hibicus. One is pink, the other white. These bushes were planted out there a few years ago as part of our long term plan. There will be a long ramp going off this side of the porch, all the way out to the end of the house, then a sidewalk around the corner of the house to the driveway. Both sides of the ramp will be gardens, up to, and including these bushes.

Looking off to the right, you can see the other half of the front garden. Containing Hostas, glads, a small cedar tree, and a Holly tree on the end, were the garden wraps around the house to become the a/c garden (the garden around the air conditioner, lol ) There is a metal wash tub you can see by the Holly tree, with nothing planted in it yet! The blue you can see in the picture is the pool that isn't set up yet. The two houses you can see are where our parents live, my in-laws live in the brown house, and my mother in the tan one across the street. Even though there doesn't look like a road is there, it is. We have our own little compound here. :) To the left of the ramp, will eventually be a garden that wraps around the front up to the Butterfly Bush.

So, that's the view from my rocking chair. :)

This is my husband getting ready to plant the tree that Abby, 12, started from an acorn. She is very protective of her little tree, and did not want it to go outside.

The Daylilies in the Bible Garden are blooming. I love them!

The Rose is right next to the Daylilies. It's huge!

You can see how big it is.

The grapes are doing well. So far, the birdies are leaving them alone. Hope they continue to do so!

In the herb garden behind the house, the Echinaea is starting to bloom. I look forward to these flowers every year. This year, I hope to learn how to harvest the roots to save for medicinal purposes.

A pile of clippings got left by the back stairs for too long, and the grass died. So, what else is one to do, but put in a new garden?! Abby, 12, help me get it ready and plant. We planted Lavendar,Cilantro, Basil, Oregano, and Parsley. We also planted Marigold around the outside of the garden on three sides. We used plant markers that I had cut from a plastic milk jug. My goal this year is to grow enough of the herbs that I use most often to last until next summer. :)

Here you can see the whole thing. The bush behind the garden, next to the stairs are Lilacs, we transplanted last spring. They didn't bloom this year, but I'm hopeful for next year. :) The stairs lead up to our back porch, and then right into my kitchen with my herbs. That makes this cook very happy. :)

We covered the garden with netting to keep the chickens out. They just love fresh dirt! The herb garden with the Echinacea is on the other side of the gravel sidewalk you can see at the bottom of the stairs. I'll have to get a picture of both gardens together next week.

This is our main vegetable garden. Which we are still in the process of planting. That's Hannah, 15, working hard while I'm taking pictures. I'm standing on the road at the end of our driveway taking this picture.

The green beans are planted on both sides of these fences. And 3 hills of cucumbers are planted amongst the cardboard. Yellow Squash and Zucchini are coming to the right of the cucumbers.

Hannah is busy planting Broccoli, her favorite vegetable. The creek is where the weeds are tall. And our Comfrey and Asparagus are on the other side of the creek. We are going to plant corn over there, too, very soon.

The Lambs Ear in the Bible Garden is starting to bloom!

Hope you enjoyed my little tour this week. See ya next week!

Here are some links I found helpful this week:

Build a PVC Cucumber Trellis - I really want to build one of these!
Garden Tips
Mullein & Herbal Learning Tips
How to Make a Pallet Garden - I really want to make one of these!

Grab The Saturday on the Farm Button!

Saturday on the Farm is a blog carnival that lets us share links to our blog post. It's fun to visit each others farms.

To participate in Saturday on the Farm:

Write a post about your homestead, farm, farmette, or the tomato plant on your deck. Your cows, goats, chicken, or your favorite kitty cat.
Add the link to your post (not your main page) below.
Please link back to me so others can join the fun, too.

For more Farm & Garden posts, please visit:
Homestead Barn Hop
Bloomin' Tuesday
Square Foot Gardening at $5 Dinner Mom
Frugal Gardening 101
Fertilizer Friday/ Flaunt Your Flowers

Sunny Saturday

2011-06-03T20:00:00.001-04:00

Our Homeschool Week in Review

2011-06-03T12:00:00.040-04:00

Today, I had the kids fill out a Who am I? sheet. I didn't get too many surprises. It didn't even surprise me when one of them tried to answer every question with "IDK". lol I'm going to have them fill one out at the end of every school year. If I remember. lol I think it will be fun to look back every year and see how much they have changed.

As I've mentioned before, we don't take a long summer break. This is a nice article, Summer Help or Hindrance. I find a long summer vacation more of a hindrance.

Are you a member of the Homeschool Buyers Co-op? They are offering a summer reading program where the grand prize is an Ipad2! They are also giving aways lots of other prizes. This is open to all ages. Also check your local library, most offer a summer reading program.

Here are some links:

Mason Jar Terrariums - great project for kids to make, great gift, also
Organizing Kids School Papers
Painted Pencils - great project, and gift items
Factory Tours USA - find factories that give tours listed by state
Clothespin Button Racers - great fun for a rainy or snowy day
Online Storybook - Charlie the Ranch Dog by Ree Drummond
Homemade Sprinkler - great way to keep the kids entertained on a hot day
The Case for Once a Month Cleaning - Sounds great for homeschooling families!
American Sign Language - View signs online, create quizzes, this looks great!
Good Books for Boys
How to Make Free Watercolors

Please visit:
Weekly Wrap Up at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers.
Wrapping Up The Week
Weekly Homeschool Highlights

This Weeks Favorites

2011-06-03T10:00:00.003-04:00

I found lots of new favorites this week!

Marshmallow Shooters - We just throw the marshmallows at each other, but these would be fun, too!
Homemade Vapor Rub
Homemade Deodorant

Easy Knit Produce Bags - Made from t-shirts!
Homemade Twill Tape Labels

The Perfect Potato Salad
Burrito Pizza
Frugal, Healthy Homemade Salad dressings
Healthy Homemade Ketchup
Chili Dog Pizza
Whole Wheat Vanilla Wafers
Raw Pickles
Homemade Vegetable Broth Mix
Squash & Hamburger Casserole
Bacon Cheddar Dip
Summer Pasta Salad
Creamy Chicken, Spinach & Rice Skillet
Easy Homemade Salad Dressings
More Homemade Salad Dressings - including an Asian dressing
Herb Syrups for Summer Drinks & Beyond

I hope you find some new favorites, too!

Please visit:

Saturday's Stumbles

Share Your Faves.

Vintage Remedies New YouTube Channel

2011-06-02T21:56:00.001-04:00

Vintage Remedies has a new YouTube Channel!

They have several videos posted so far.

Here's one for making a freshening powder for furniture, carpet, etc.

Check out all their videos!

Thursday's Giveaways

2011-06-01T20:00:00.002-04:00

I love entering giveaways, and have even won a few things. I really love hosting giveaways on Linda's Lunacy. It's so much fun to give stuff away!

So I thought I'd start a giveaway linky to make it easier to find lots of giveaways.

The posting of my button is not required, but help in spreading the word that Linda's Lunacy has a giveaway linky is greatly appreciated! So thank you!

Adding your giveaway to Linda's Lunacy Thursday's Giveaways is very easy! Just use this format, please.

Blog name - name of item being given away - ending date

See? Easy!

Please, only link family friendly giveaways. My kids read here, and anything not family friendly, will be promptly deleted. Sorry, but it's for my kids. :)

Have fun, and I hope you win something!

Bible Memorization - Romans 8:37

2011-06-01T19:53:00.000-04:00

It's time to pick a new Bible verse to memorize. Here's my 10th memory verse of 2011:

No, in all these things we are superconquerors, through the one who has loved us.

Romans 8:37 Complete Jewish Bible

Wordless Wednesday - Marshmallow Fight

2011-05-31T20:22:00.000-04:00

Can you see the marshmallows flying?

For more pictures, visit Wordless Wednesday,
Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom ,
Say "Cheese" at It's a Blog Party
A Beautiful Mess,
Live and Love Outloud,
Shibley Smiles
Angelica's Awesome Adventures
The Florida Hogans
The Life of Rylie & Bryce, too
Mama to 4 Blessings
Wordy or Not So Wordy Wednesday
Frugality is Free
Dear Crissy
Baba's Farm Life
Resourceful Mommy
Mrs. Mama Hen

Black Bean Brownies

2011-05-31T09:47:00.002-04:00

This brownie recipe was the first recipe I tried with beans after going gluten free. They are so delicious! At first, I was just making them for me. I let the kids try them once, and they all like them. In fact, last week, my 12 year old told me she likes these brownies better than regular brownies. So much for having my "special brownies" all to my self. lol Since these brownies are healthier than regular brownies, I don't really mind. :)

These brownies don't taste exactly like regular brownies, but you can't really taste the beans. They are so fudgey. And yummy! The recipe calls for sprinkling the chocolate chips on top before baking. One time, I remembered that was I was pulling the brownies out of the oven. So I sprinkled them on then, and once they melted, I spread the chocolate around. It made a candy like coating on top of the brownies. They're good both ways!

Tammy's Recipes Black Bean Brownies

2 cups cooked black beans (or 1 can, rinsed and drained)
3 eggs
1/3 cup butter
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup sugar or 1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts (optional)

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor bowl or blender, combine the black beans, eggs, melted butter, cocoa powder, vanilla, and sugar. Pulse or blend until smooth (or as smooth as possible).

Grease an 8x8-inch glass baking dish. Pour the batter into the greased dish. Sprinkle chocolate chips and nuts (if using) over the top and use a spatula to push them down into the batter just a little (but not too much; they will sink some while the brownies bake).

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes, until brownies are set in the middle. Watch the edges for excess browning if you're not sure they're done. (Mine seem to take a full 50 minutes, and are still chewy but not gooey.)

Cool and then chill before serving! Store in fridge.

*I have frozen them, too. They defrost great.

You should go check out all of Tammy's GREAT recipes. We use her Challah Bread recipe all the time, too. Also visit Tammy's Recipes Kitchen Tip Tuesday, where you can link up your kitchen tips, and check out others great tips.

For more tips and recipes, visit:

Making a Home

Garden and Kitchen Call Monday

Homemaker Monday

Market Yourself Monday

Reasons to Skip Housework

Mommy D's Kitchen

Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays,

Tasty Tuesday

Tuesdays at the Table

Domestically Divine Homemaking Link-up

Made From Scratch

What's on the Menu Wednesday

What's Cooking Wednesday

Whatever Goes Wednesday

What's Cooking Wednesday

Homemaking Link Up

Works For Me Wednesday

Whassup Wednesday

Deals and Dishes

The Ultimate Recipe Swap at Life as Mom

What's on Your Plate?

Cooking Thursday

Thrilling Thursday

Frugal Food Thursday

Friday Food

Sweets For a Saturday

Spotlight Yourself

Just Something I Whipped Up

Making a Home

2011-05-30T20:00:00.001-04:00

Making a home for my family is very important to me and I'm always looking for tips and ideas.

So, link up your posts, and let's all support each other in making our homes better for our families.

Please provide a link back to me. A text link is fine. Of course, family friendly posts only.

What's For Dinner?

2011-05-30T08:00:00.001-04:00

Saturday - Sabbath- Make ahead meals- Macaroni Salad, Potato Salad, Baked Beans, Hot Dogs, Left over hamburgers

Sunday - soup & sandwich day - Egg Salad sandwiches, carrots

Monday - beef - Memorial Day Cook-out Hot dogs, Hamburgers, Macaroni Salad, Homemade Baked Beans, Potato Salad, Watermelon, S'mores

Tuesday - pizza - Homemade Pizza, carrot sticks,

Wednesday - super simple - leftovers, salad

Thursday - chicken - Baked Chicken, rice, corn, salad

Friday - Friday Night Fire/Beef - Steak, broccoli, challah bread

Having a cook-out for Memorial Day? Need help? Let me help you prepare for a large cook-out!

For more Menu Plan Monday ideas, visit I'm an Organizing Junkie.

God's Promised Land

2011-05-29T08:00:00.001-04:00

Saturday On The Farm

2011-05-28T18:10:00.000-04:00

It's been such a rainy week that we didn't get much done outside. During a rare moment of sunshine, the rooster decided he liked my rocking chair on the front porch.

The other night, everything outside looked pink. Living in our little valley, we don't get to see the sun set. Here is my view of the red sunset over the top of the house.

The Daylily's started blooming. I was only able to get a night shot of the first one because of the rain.

Here's a planter that my husband assembled. He and the kids planted it with flower seeds. It's sitting under the big butterfly bush in our front yard.

Last weeks flower that I asked about was a Celosia. Thanks everyone for your help! It is an annual, so I will definitely be saving the seeds.

Here are a couple of garden tips:

1. Using cardboard for mulch in your garden is very helpful. Not only does it keep the weeds out, but it breaks down into a protein that attracts worms. I heard this on a garden show. I called my extension office to verify, but he didn't know about the protein part. He did say that placing cardboard in the garden does attract worms. So less weeds and more worms sounds like a win - win situation to me!

2. On tomato plants, every where little "hair" on the stem will grow into a root. So when you plant your tomato plants, plant them deep.

Here are a few links I found helpful this week:

Home Remedies for House Leeks
How to Dehydrate Chives
Making Violet Salve
Planting a Tea Garden
Growing and Using Mullein
White Muscle Disease
Homemade Organic Weed Killers

Grab The Saturday on the Farm Button!

Saturday on the Farm is a blog carnival that lets us share links to our blog post. It's fun to visit each others farms.

To participate in Saturday on the Farm:

Write a post about your homestead, farm, farmette, or the tomato plant on your deck. Your cows, goats, chicken, or your favorite kitty cat.
Add the link to your post (not your main page) below.
Please link back to me so others can join the fun, too.

For more Farm & Garden posts, please visit:
Homestead Barn Hop
Bloomin' Tuesday
Frugal Gardening 101
Fertilizer Friday/ Flaunt Your Flowers

Sunny Saturday

2011-05-27T20:00:00.000-04:00

This Weeks Favorites

2011-05-27T12:00:00.007-04:00

I found lots of new favorites this week!

This is a great video and even greater story! Never Give Up

How to Convert a Tripod into a Lamp
A Useful Tip for Re-Using Plastic Bottle Caps
Picnic Placemat Tote Tutorial

5 Ways High Fructose Corn Syrup Will Kill You
Preparedness - Homegrown Medicinals
Wildcrafting 101 - wildcrafting is collecting your herbs from the wild, not your garden. Lots of great info!
Elderberry - Benefits & Information
Alternatives for Those on Restrictive Diets
Slippery Elm Bark for Stomach/Colon/Sore Throats and More

50+ Friends Cookbook- Misc. Section- Food, household items, and scroll down for lots of recipes to try with the kids!
50+ Friends Cookbook - Cooking for a Crown- Basic Cream Soup- with lots of variations

Carmel Sauce
Make Your Own Baking Powder
How to Buy Chips in Bulk and Keep Them Fresh
Corn Cob Jelly
Violet Tea

Lemonade Party Cake
Canning Jam without Pectin
Tuna Egg Salad
How to Make Refrigerator Tea
Grilled Red Potato Salad
Killer Chicken Salad Sandwiches

I hope you find some new favorites, too!

Please visit:

Saturday's Stumbles

Share Your Faves.

Preparing For a Large Cook-out

2011-05-26T14:34:00.011-04:00

Image by eddiecoyote via Flickr

Ah...it's Memorial Day weekend. The official start of summer! It seems as if the whole country is cooking out on Memorial Day. And we are, too! Actually, we are having 2 cook-outs this weekend.

We are also having the Bible Drill kids and teachers from our church over for a cook-out Friday night. This is our 3rd Annual Bible Drill Cook-out! It's a reward for all the kids for their hard work, and a thank you for all the teachers. We have a lot of fun, including a marshmallow fight!

Now, on to the planning and cooking!

1. Plan the Menu:

The fun part! If your having a lot of people over, it's better to stick with tried and true recipes, instead of trying lots of new recipes. To keep things simple, I'm using the same menu for both cook-outs. My family doesn't care, and the guest list is different for the cook-outs, so the guests won't know. :)

We're having: Hamburgers w/ lettuce, tomatoes, onions, Hot Dogs, Brats, Potato Salad, Macaroni Salad, Baked Beans, Carrot Sticks, Watermelon, S'mores. Drinks: Water, Lemonade, Ice Tea.

A pretty simple, but crowd pleasing menu.

2. Gather Supplies

Now it's time to check your supplies. Are you using real or paper plates, cups, silverware, etc.? Do you have enough? What about napkins, serving trays and the like? Start counting and add needed items to your grocery list.

3. Make a Grocery List

Check your menu against your pantry. This way, you won't over buy. It will help you keep the cost of your cook-out down, if you shop your pantry first. Make sure you check your condiments, too. You don't want to run out of ketchup or mustard.

4. Cook as Much as Possible Ahead of Time

I am a huge plan ahead and make ahead fan. Potato salad and macaroni salad actually taste better made the day before. The flavors have plenty of time to mingle. Once you figure out what you want to make ahead, it's time to make a detailed cooking lists.

5. Make a Detail Cooking List

Here's mine:

Thursday night - Start beans in crock pot
Friday morning -
Turn off crock pot
Boil eggs
Boil macaroni
Peel, dice & boil potatoes
Grate carrots, peel and "stick" others
Peel eggs, dice
Assemble Macaroni Salad
Assemble Potato Salad
Make sauce for baked beans
Assemble baked beans
Slice tomatoes
Prepare lettuce
Slice onions
Make lemonade
Make tea

6. Make a Set-up List

Making this list ahead of time will help save you time. It will also save you headaches from trying to think of everything and forget nothing right before the guests arrive. Here's mine:

Move tables, cover with tablecloths
Move chairs
Build the fire, don't start it yet, just get it ready. Start at appropriate time
Place non-food items on tables: plates, cups, napkins, utensils, BBQ forks, tongs, spatula, plates for cooked meat, knife & tray for watermelon
Place non-refrigerated food items on tables: buns, chips, marshmallows, graham crackers, etc.
Bring out meats and start cooking
Bring out refrigerated food, do this right before you eat, so you don't have to worry about anything going bad. Refrigerate leftovers promptly.

7. Enjoy Your Cook-out!

If you take the time to plan ahead and make these lists, your cook-out will go smoothly.

Enjoy your guests, and the great food you prepared!

While your having a great time with your guests, please remember the real reason for Memorial Day.

To honor those that bravely fought for this great country of ours. And please remember all those currently serving to protect our country.

For more tips and ideas, please visit:

Making a Home
Market Yourself Monday
Tackle it Tuesday
Thrilling Thursday
Food on Fridays
Finer Things Friday
Show & Tell Friday
Frugal Friday
Foodie Friday

Thursday's Giveaways

2011-05-25T20:00:00.001-04:00

I love entering giveaways, and have even won a few things. I really love hosting giveaways on Linda's Lunacy. It's so much fun to give stuff away!

So I thought I'd start a giveaway linky to make it easier to find lots of giveaways.

The posting of my button is not required, but help in spreading the word that Linda's Lunacy has a giveaway linky is greatly appreciated! So thank you!

Adding your giveaway to Linda's Lunacy Thursday's Giveaways is very easy! Just use this format, please.

Blog name - name of item being given away - ending date

See? Easy!

Please, only link family friendly giveaways. My kids read here, and anything not family friendly, will be promptly deleted. Sorry, but it's for my kids. :)

Have fun, and I hope you win something!

Wordless Wednesday - Got Anything Good to Eat?

2011-05-24T22:15:00.000-04:00

The animals love to look in the front door at us. The chickens even "knock"!