Book Review- Still More Stories!

Grandma’s Attic Books 3-4

I was so glad to discover that the Grandma Attic series continues with 2 more books.

These books are fun to read either aloud to your children as short bedtime stories or read alones. Since these books are actually a collection of short stories, they are perfect for narration. Arleta Richardson has a warm story telling style that is as cozy as grandma's lap.

These books follow some more fun adventures of Mabel as a little girl, her adventures become lessons in honesty, patience and manners.

A favorite story is about the “slop-tot” Mabel. This story teaches the need to be aware of what one is doing while eating in order to avoid embarrassment.

I really love these books, great books to share with your children and pass down to grandchildren.

Thank you B & B Media for the review copies in exchange for my honest reveiw.

Penmanship?

It seems like with the age of keyboards handwriting doesn't seem necessary. But like scissor cutting, it helps coordinate/organize the brain, and helps with overall small muscle development. Because it is a much more physical way to get information on paper, that information is more readily/easily stored and recalled.

Also not always, but I have found messy handwriting can be a discipline issue in other areas as well. Sloppy work, messy rooms, not focusing on task at hand, rushing to get done, chores not done completely or properly, you get the picture.

Another note of interest a couple years ago a friend stated about need to be able to read/write cursive so one would have the ability to read historical original documents for self rather than have to take the word of some "educated" persons for what is says. I had never thought of that before.

Do I have children with great penmanship? No, not at all. I wish I had spent more time with the skill/discipline of handwriting.

Missing Link?

I was asked the question recently about having more fun in the day. Here is what I shared with my friend.

"I'll share what I see in my kids and see if maybe it might be your missing link.

My girls have a lot of "head knowledge" as far as Bible, but we are lacking in the outward doing. We have because "fat on the Word" as Joyce Meyer says, lots of hearing but not a lot of doing. So we are going to take some steps of faith, smalls one cause my girls are so timid, to do things for the Lord. Last week we ( Emilie, Olivia, and me) took a quiz to find out spiritual gifting and areas of ministry. Emilie scored super high in Encourager. Olivia was high in Proclaimer. I was high in teacher.

Emilie wants to have friendships, she enjoys encouraging others but, lacks the boldness to talk in Sunday School and Youth Group. ( you could prayer for them in this area if you feel lead) So I'm having her start a "card ministry". Each week she is to pick a girl she knows, write them a notecard and pray for them. She has just started with her first card this week. I'm praying the girls she reaches out too are blessed and accepting of her outreach. I know this sounds so tiny that it seems unimportant, but it is a big thing for Emilie to put her faith out there to be accepted. She has been "burned" several times by "Christian" girls in the area of friendship. It makes me cry.

Olivia likes and is talented in doing things on the computer. I plan on having her make inspirational "slide shows"( aka powerpoint) for church.

Our church is doing a new thing during quarterly Business meetings, the kids are sharing their talents with the church for the glory of the Lord. Last time there was singing, piano playing, and scripture reading & memorization. Olivia did a slide show with music with the pictures of Jr Camp and High School camp. We just posted those on FB, I think they will be shown at the next business meeting. I'd like her to do more with this as well, like some Psalms. Emilie enjoys writing poetry so I'm thinking they might work together on something like this.

Often our church lets the young people play the offertory music. Bella will be doing that.

I'm the leader of the girls ministry at church called Faithgirls. I'm teaching homemaking skills and trying to find ways to use them to minster to others. So this fall we are learning to crochet. We are collecting plastic shopping bags and will be crocheting them into sleeping mats for women in Uganda, and I hope we get enough for do some for the local homeless too.

The book Start Here, Doing Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris (former homeschoolers ) and their first book Do Hard Things, which I don't have yet, has really inspired me in this area. I'm praying that soon the girls will think of their own "hard things" to do for the Lord.

Doing hard things/ministry doesn't mean no fun. Sometimes if might be scary at first as the comfort zone gets stretched. But then the once hard thing becomes an easy thing, and then you can stretch your tent a little bigger. Is 54:2 "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes."

So I guess I'm writing all this for you to ask yourself is it really "fun" you think your missing, but practical ministry opportunities to do together with the knowledge, talents/gifts you and your family has. You might be surprised what ideas they dream up."

Dealing with leftovers

I like to find creative ways to deal with leftovers rather than just reheating them.

I bought 4 whole chickens on sale. I cooked and deboned 2 of them, divided all the meat into 4 ziplock bags for later use. I also divided and froze the chicken broth. I roasted one chicken and froze the other for roasting later.

So dealing with leftovers....
I had 2 different containers of leftover mac and cheese. I made a chicken sauce, with 2 cups broth, thickened with 4 TB flour. I added the leftover mac and cheese and a package of the deboned chicken, & frozen peas. Topped with buttered cornflakes. Baked at 350 for 20 minutes.

Other add ins could be chopped pimentos, mushrooms, mixed vegs, extra cheese.

Ask yourself

Before posting, messaging, or emailing ask yourself-

"Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it encouraging? Is it building? Is it something I would want sent to me? Is it something I would be ashamed of and need/want to hide? Is it something Jesus would write or read?"

I have this posted on each of our computers to remind us that even online we represent Christ.

Coupon Organization

I've gone from binder to box, back to binder and now I'm back in a box.

The binder is very time consuming to maintain, so I when to a box, but the kind I had the top wouldn't always be secure so it flipped over twice in parking lots. So I went back to a binder, but then I got 3 weeks behind in clipping coupons and knew I sure didn't want to have to fill that binder.

So I read *this* about how one gal organized her coupons in a Caboodle makeup case.

I bought my Caboodle today and have all my coupons transfered. I like that it zips shut, has little pockets for a calculator, pens, and scissors, and clips and room for my wallet. I can just stick it in and take it in any store and not feel so stupid lugging a binder. The box fits nicely in the cart too.

Here is Crystal from Money Saving Mom, showing her coupon box.

Here is another coupon box.

Menu June 20-24

Chicken tacos- chicken in crockpot with Pace sauce, and extra spices.

Hamburgers, chips, apple sauce, some sort of veg.

Grilled Smoked Sausage, potato salad, baked beans, fruit

Roasted Chicken, rice and veg

Pizza

Taco Seasoning Mix

6 tsp chili powder

4 1/2 tsp cumin

5 tsp. paprika

3 tsp onion powder

2 1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp ground cayenne pepper

Mix all the ingredients and store in an airtight container. I just use an empty spice shaker bottle. This is pretty strong in flavor, use wisdom when using this substitute in place of prepackaged seasoning mix.

Transform Leftovers

Mac & Cheese leftovers stay leftovers in my house. No one wants to eat it, I don't really blame them, leftover boxed Mac & Cheese needs a lot of help.

I make Macaroni Salad with my leftovers.

Just add Miracle Whip/Mayo

chopped onion and green/red peppers

I've been known to make this macaroni salad fresh when I'm in a pinch and need to take something to a summer potluck or picnic.

Summer Movie Clubhouse

All 10 movies can be purchased in advance for $5.00, or can be purchased separately at the box office for $1.00 per show. $5 Series punch cards are limited and are now available only at the theatre box office while supplies last. Admission with a series punch card is limited to one person per card per movie, and valid only at the theatre where purchased.

All films that have been selected are rated either G or PG.

Click HERE for details.

Gramma's Ice Cream

3/4 cup sugar

2 TB flour

1/4 tsp. salt

2 cups milk

cook over low heat until thicken

Temper 2 beaten eggs, then add to the above "pudding"

cool then add 2 cups heavy cream 1 1/2 tsp vanilla.

ready for your ice cream maker.

For a "carmel" flavor ice cream, use brown sugar instead of white.

My Provider

I practice stockpile moderation. For *me* the desire to have more, more, more, becomes overwhelming at times. Envy and even jealousy can rear their ugly heads. For me it has become a spiritual discipline to not spend/get something just because I *can* if I already have plenty. Do I really need another body wash when I have 15 already? Do I know someone who needs it? Will I even actually give it away, or will it just be stockpiled with good intentions? These are questions I have to ask myself. Sometimes I do get anxious about skipping good deals, "what if I can't get it again? what if I will have to actually go without for while?" But *I* have to remind myself that the Lord has always provided for my family in the past, we have never gone hungry, had dirty clothes, or had body odor. :) He is/and does continue to provide for us, I don't need to get worried, if I miss the good deal or choose to skip a good deal. Yes, using coupons is being wise, stockpiling is also being wise, but *I* have to remind myself that it is always the Lord who is ultimately providing.

Image from lanitaslegacy.blogspot.com/2010/09/jehovah-jireh.html

Money Saving Meal

Tonight we had chicken tacos/fajitas

chicken .77¢ pound

green bell pepper .50¢

taco shells .60¢

cheese .99¢

salsa free

torillias free

sour cream free

onion forgot price

Leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

Menu planning

By shopping sales *and* combining/using coupons I have a small stockpile started. My menus are based around what I have in my stockpile and what is on sale.

*Beef Lo Mein- sale $3.00

*Chopped chicken BBQ sandwiches-chicken .77¢ pound, KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce .78¢

*Homemade pizza

*Hamburgers-extra lean ground beef sale $2.88 pound + it was marked down an additional $3.00 per package since it was 9pm.

*Buffalo Chicken Lasagna-Bella's birthday supper-chicken .77¢ pound, Franks Hot Wing sauce used 1/.55¢ got it for $2.33. ( Not a super good price, but it is for Bella's birthday supper.) Spaghetti sauce from my stockpile.

Mother's Day!

My husband cooked breakfast for me, and then my family made dinner. Bella gave me a pedicure and Emilie brushed my hair. Very nice to be pampered. I'm so blessed with a wonderful family!

Taco Rice

This is an excellent way to stretch ground meat for tacos, burritos, nachos or taco salad.

1 pound ground meat ( beef, *chicken or turkey)

1 cup diced onion

1 package taco seasoning

16 oz canned tomatoes

2 cups cooked rice, brown or white

Brown meat and drain. Combine meat, onion, seasoning, rice and tomatoes in saucepan, simmer until thick, about 30 minutes.

Use anywhere you would use taco meat.

*I've also made this with cooked shredded chicken too.

Yearly grocery sales cycles

January- diet foods, super bowl snack foods, oatmeal, chili, soups, soda

February- canned food, hot foods such as waffles and oatmeal, dog food, chocolate, Chinese food

March-frozen food: dinners, waffles, ice cream, veggies, etc. Easter items go on sale too depending on when the holiday falls such as eggs ham, etc.

April- other years you’ll get your Easter items here: eggs, ham, candy, sugar, cookies, Jewish foods, also Earth Day promotions for organic foods.

May- Summer kickoff begins: BBQ items, hot dogs, hamburger, condiments, produce, grilling items such as charcoal, outdoor items such as sunscreen & allergy meds.

June- National Dairy Month: milk eggs, cheese, butter, yogurt, ice cream, etc. Father’s Day promotions including BBQ items, grilling meats

July- even better BBQ sales: grilling meats condiments, chips, bread products, produce, ice cream, baked beans etc.

August- Back to School: breakfast bars, cereals, Kellogg’s promotions, Lunchables, juice boxes, snack items, peanut butter, jelly, and school supplies, many years ago (like 24) I worked at Walmart and feminine hygiene products seemed to be a back to school item, double packs. Along with make-up & deodorant, and shampoo

September- back to school continues: pasta, pasta sauce, tomatoes, and baby items such as diapers, creams, feeding products, etc.

October- Candy chocolate, pumpkins, and fall baking items.

November- Thanksgiving items: turkeys, stuffing, sweet potatoes, pies, and marshmallows, canned vegs, hot cocoa, oatmeal, soups, baking

December- Holiday baking and dinner items; frozen rolls, green beans, potatoes, cream soups, ham, butter, flour, bread, pie crusts, turkeys


information gathered from The Power of Coupons by Sarah Roe.
Excellent book, highly recommend it.

weekly Menu plan

Roasted Chicken

Beef Roll Ups

Chicken Divan*

Tacos

Pizza

* Chicken Divan

5 cooked Chicken Breasts ( I usually don't cook the chicken before hand, I throw it in frozen)

2 pkgs chopped broccoli

Sauce: 4 TB milk, 4TB chicken broth, 2 tsp. lemonjuice, 1/2 cup mayonnaise ( I have used Miracle Whip no problems), 2 cans of cream of chicken soup ( or 1 chicken soup and 1 cream of celery soup)

Place broccoli in 9x13 pan chicken on top, cover with sauce and parmessan cheese, bake at 350 for 1 hour.

Freebie

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Book Review

The Grandma's Attic Series, by Arleta Richardson is a wonderful set of short stories as told by Grandma Mabel to her granddaughter, Arleta. These funny and heartwarming stories are about Mabel's adventures growing up on a farm in Michigan. These stories also present Biblical truths is a very engaging way making it easy for children to grasp and making them excellent stories to practice "narration."

These books are part of the Sonlight homeschooling curriculum Core K, Core B&C, & Core C

These stories have been a favorite of my daughters over the years.

Thank you B & B Communications for these review copies in exchange for my honest review.