Frugality

Several years ago I was talking with two friends, who I will call Friend A and Friend B. Friend A and her husband were both very careful with money and we were discussing how crafty they both were. Friend B told Friend A that she was  frugal. Friend A didn't know if she should be insulted or not because she didn't know the meaning of the word. We explain to Friend A that it was not an insult and she was not cheap but a good steward with their money. After we explained it to Friend A she felt much better and received the compliment graciously.

So with respect to my friends I am going to share a web-site. They email you each day with free samples you can receive. You simply click on the web-site, decide if you want any of the samples, and fill out the information needed. It is only a sample, but  you can tell if it is something you would want to buy and usually you receive a coupon.
http://www.shop4freebies.com/

Happy clicking,
Rhonda

Homeschooling

We began homeschooling over 16 years ago. We started with one daughter in sixth grade, another daughter in 3rd and a newborn. Both daughters graduated high school with a homeschool group and went on to receive bachelor degrees. Our son is now 16 and plans to graduate in two years and go to college. It has been a rewarding and challenging experience.

To celebrate the Homeschooling journey and using my initials "RFC".




I plan once a month to have " R is for Reading". One event I have enjoyed is having a Book Club with other homeschool students. Every month a book was read and we would get together discuss the book, watch the movie and have games, food etc. based from the book.  I will have activities that can be done with a group or one child.

Once a month  will be "F is for Fun", sharing crafts and activities for boys and girls of all ages.

Also there will be "C is for Cooking".  I believe that boys and girls both need to learn how to cook. I will share easy tried and true recipes.

Hope you join me,

RFC

Breakfast Frittata

3 tablespoons butter

2 cups frozen potatoes with onion and peppers

1/2 pound cooked bulk sausage (optional)

6 large eggs

2 tablespoons milk

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese

Melt butter in 10 inch skillet over medium heat, add frozen potatoes and sausage, cook until browned.

Whisk together  eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Pour over potatoes.

As eggs start to cook lift up potatoes and tilt pan so uncooked eggs goes under potatoes. You may also need to turn mixture over with a spatula. 

Put cheese on top and cover with aluminum foil for 5-10 minutes or until cheese melts.



Serve with Picante Sauce.  4-6 Servings

This recipe is linked to This Week's Cravings!

Ceiling Medallion

My daughter and I bought a ceiling medallion similar to this one for very little at a garage sale.
Not knowing what we would do with them we each bought one.
I am posting this on Thrifty Thursday

This is what I decided to do with mine. Using Apple Barrel paints, I painted it red, then used a brown watered down I  did a wash over it all. I then came back with gold and painted all the circles. I bought a round mirror at Hobby Lobby (using the 40% off coupon from the newspaper) and hot glued it on.




I have only $2-$3 in it total. I have it on our piano and really like how it turned out.
If  I get tired of the color I can simply repaint it.
I plan on using it with my Christmas decorations this year on our mantel.

Baked Spaghetti Casserole

Baked Spaghetti Casserole

 

            This is a very easy and tasty casserole. It can be made ahead of time or can be frozen.

It is great  served with a salad and French bread

Ingredients:

 1 1/2 lbs ground beef

1 tsp chopped garlic

1/2 medium small onion chopped

14.5 Italian style diced tomatoes,  mostly drained

1   8oz tomato sauce

1  8oz sliced mushrooms, drained

1 tsp oregano 

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp garlic powder

8 oz mozzarella cheese

10.5 oz can cream mushroom soup

1/2 cup milk

1/2 box 16 oz angel hair spaghetti, cooked and drained

Brown ground beef, garlic and onion. Drain.

Add tomatoes, tomato sauce and mushrooms. 

Add oregano, salt and garlic powder. Simmer and cook out most of liquid.

Layer meat, spaghetti and 1 cup cheese, repeat.





Mix soup and milk, pour over top. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes.
Take off foil and bake for another 20 minutes or until heat through.

Spring Time

Hopefully this is a sign that spring is coming.

I didn't plant these crocus but they come up every year.





This is the beginning of one of my hyacinth bulbs.

I love to plant bulbs they are low maintenance, come back year after year
and some mulitiply.

Kitchen Remodel Chapter one

We decided several months ago to start remodeling our kitchen. Our home is close to 50 years old and the kitchen needed a facelift . I started by taking down the wall paper above the cabinets. I replaced it with a paintable wallpaper. I painted the wallpaper and the walls the same sage green.

I then started painting the cabinets doors. This was a time consuming project. My husband and son took the cabinet doors down in stages only 5 or 6 at a time. I didn't want handles on the top any more so using dowel rods, glue and putty, I filled them in.  I sanded, puttied, and sanded again. I cleaned the doors first using mineral spirits then an ammonia and water solution and last just water. I then primed each side with an oil base primer. I chose a cream color for the final coat and used an oil base paint for this as well. 

 Below you can see some of the finished doors.  More to come.....

Getting Started

Hello,

 This blog is for everyone, but it comes from someone that has been married for several decades, learned how to type on a manual typewriter, high tech was something I saw on the TV show Lost in Space (and not from a rerun), when you wouldn't be caught dead going to church in anything but a dress and pantyhose and when letters where written by hand and mailed. I remember party lines for telephones, three TV channels maybe four if the weather was good, and when someone pumped your gas for you and cleaned your windshield.

My husband and I have raised two great daughters that are now married and we have a 16 year old son still home. I have lived thru pregnancy, labor, breast feeding, weaning, first days of everything, seeing your children become independent, leave home, marry and expect their own children. I have live thru losing a parent. The one thing I have learned is that life is always changing.   I would like to share any wisdom I have and learn from others. 

So with all that said I would like to  post recipes that are suited for busy wives and mothers. Using ingredients that you may already have are can be easily purchased. I am not ashamed to bake something using my bread machine, microwave or a cake mix. I will also try recipes that will be a challenge. I will show my gardening tips and failures. Crafting ideas that use things around the house, you buy at a yard sale  or you need an excuse to visit Hobby Lobby. I  enjoy photography and will show it at it's simplest.

Ecclesiastes  Chapter 3 is wonderful  chapter in the Bible,  life is full of seasons.  I hope you join me for this season of my life.

Our Treasured Home
Rhonda