Sunday Ramblings

Today is the Baptism of the Lord and this painting depicts this wonderfully.

Father Brian spoke about how Christ actually underwent three baptisms. Water, Blood and Holy Spirit. This makes so much sense now.

Christs first baptism was with water when John the Baptist baptized him. The Gospels say the skies opened and a dove appeared above him. During His time on earth Christ often talked about his second baptism and how he needed to prepare for it. The apostles did not understand until the Crucifixion and the curtain in the Temple was ripped in half from bottom to top. This second baptism, Father Brian explained was the one that opened up the Holy of Holies to end the separation between mankind and God. The third Baptism was one we all took part in, the descent of the Holy Spirit on all those who believe.  

Father Brian ended his homily today with the question "What does your baptism mean to you?" In thinking about this, my baptism means the first step in growing into community. It means that I am a member of God's family here on earth. It means that as a baptized person I need to be Christ's hands, his feet, and his eyes for my time here. I need to be what God is calling me to be.

While I may fail at this at times, I need to dust myself off and continue to do the best that I possibly can and to be the best me it is possible to be.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Interrupting My Regular Post

It was our 38th Wedding Anniversary today and Harvey surprised me.

He bought me these lovely flowers.

And then because they were not the usual roses he buys me, he bought me this to go along with them.

A bright pink succulent. This from a man who does not like plants inside the house!!!! Such a sweetie.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Frugal Friday

Frugal wise I am doing pretty well this week.

Between using items up, and finding recipes to make new and exciting meals I feel like I have done my best.

Blinds and drapes have been opened during the day to take advantage of the sun's heat and light. It is truly amazing how the south facing windows heat the whole house when the sun shines. The furnace hardly turns on at all during the day. As soon as the sun goes down the blinds and insulating drapes are closed to keep in all the lovely heat.

My meals have been planned around leftovers and what I have in my freezer, cupboards and fridge. Today, I went shopping and stuck to my list. This is the first time I have bought any real amount of groceries in two weeks. Even then my bill was not too high.

I have been using sample sized and hotel freebies for creme rinse.

Rinsed out bottles to get the last little bit of things like ketchup, dish soap, conditioner, and bath gel. In some cases there is enough left for two or three more usages.

I am wearing an apron when cooking to keep my clothing clean longer. I am finding if I do this I can wear my trousers for three days.

However I think I could use a full body apron or a couple more of these half aprons.

Lights are being turned off in rooms not in use.

I am also using up those bits and bobs of yarn knitting mittens and neck warmers (pictures hopefully tomorrow).

We want to paint our walls in the living room and dining room so purchased a pint of paint in one colour we are considering. Paid for that via a gift card so no money out of pocket!!

This is the colour I really like (don't know what that white dot is perhaps glare???). One pint gave this small wall two coats, so I am really hoping that Harvey likes it.... He does say it is growing on him, he would prefer a lighter colour.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thursday Tid Bits

Today has been a rather blustery day here on the prairies.

This was taken by someone on the way to Regina. Visibility was almost nil when the wind gusts would happen.

A perfect day to stay safe inside and get some work done.

I decided that today I would clean out the china cabinet. After 3 hours washing everything, drying everything it was done. I also got a lovely boxful of items to recycle to those who can use them.

Notice even more wicker baskets..... Where on earth do I get all of them from? There are another 25 items in here and hopefully they will be joined by even more when I clean the curio cabinet.

Supper was very simple tonight. Hamburgers and french fries according to what Harvey wanted.

My Christmas gift from Harvey got another work out. I love this appliance. It is an ActiFry by TFal and only uses a spoonful of oil to get lovely crispy fries. The hardest part of the whole thing is drying all the potatoes after cutting and washing them. Best of all because you use so little oil, they aren't as bad health wise as making them in the oven, much crispier as well. Frugal as well as the appliance plugs into an outlet!!!

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Recipe Wednesday

Today I am going to share a couple of the recipes that I have made this week. One is new and used up the last package of frozen leftover pork in my freezer. The other is an old stand by for using up leftover ham.

Pork Jambalaya

2 - 3 cups chopped leftover pork roast
32 oz chicken broth
1 cup water
2 cups sliced celery
14 oz diced tomatoes
1 tsp salt
dash hot sauce
1 1/4 cup rice
3/4 cup chopped onion
2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 tsp thyme
2 tsp garlic
1/2 tsp pepper
2 bay leaves

Combine all ingredients in a dutch oven. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to simmer. Simmer 45 minutes or until rice is cooked. Remove bay leaves before serving.

This made a lovely large batch. Harvey and I each had a serving and the remainder (shown here) was packaged and put in the freezer for another meal later on.

Scalloped Potatoes and Ham (sorry no picture, I forgot)

4 large potatoes
1/2 large onion sliced
2 cups diced leftover cooked ham
1/4 cup butter or margarine
4 heaping spoonfuls of flour
2 cups milk (perhaps a tiny bit more)
1/2 tsp pepper

Cook potatoes in microwave for 5 minutes. Cool, peel and slice. Place a layer of potatoes on bottom of casserole. Layer sliced onions on top. Place diced ham on top of onions and cover with a layer of potatoes.

Melt butter or margarine in microwave safe measuring cup. Add flour to make a thick paste. Mix in pepper and milk. Put measuring cup into microwave and heat for three and a half minutes stirring three times.

Pour this thickened mixture over the layers in the casserole. Cover. Place casserole in microwave and cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

You can have this meal on the table in less than 30 minutes.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidy Up

Once again it is bitterly cold with that darn wind chill. It is at times like this that I would love to move to a warmer climate. Then I remember that I probably would not get to see snow, and that would be a waste of something God gave us to enjoy!!! It's just that he could turn the thermostat up just a tad.

Today Harvey and I have spent cleaning the storage room in the basement, and I have cleaned the microwave cupboard and the shelving unit the television sits on in the living room.

Some items were tossed as they were no earthly good for anyone (makes me wonder why we were saving them) and others were put in boxes to be taken to the Salvation Army tomorrow.

Three small boxes full of items, and the bigger items are downstairs waiting to be brought up tomorrow. Once these are out of the house I will have donated or gotten rid of 50 items. That's right, 50 and I have only been decluttering for 3 days. Still loads to go through and some that we put aside today will be gone through later.

I even found a new blanket for our bed (the other was getting very thread bare). I knew I had another I just did not know where I had put it!!!

Later in the afternoon I pulled out this book.

Just for another look through. It has been awhile and I really only skimmed through it the first time.

Wow, I knew vinegar was great, but I did not realize it could be used for so many things. I do use it to damp mop all my floors between regular scrubbing, use it to clean my coffee pots and iron, to polish my taps, as well as for cooking. This book however lists many more uses.

In reading the section on vinegar I found out that putting some on a cotton ball and holding it against a bruise will help heal it faster (I am always bruising myself so I am definitely trying this one) and it can be used to clean the keys on the computer keyboard. Hmmm, I think that I got a brain wave at this point.

You really can't see it but this remote is really dirty. I poured some vinegar in a small bowl, got the Q-tips out and went to work.

It was dirty work, and it isn't as clean as I would like it, but I decided to do the Surround Sound remote as well.

Much cleaner and I think with one more going over tomorrow they will be perfect, and I will feel much better about using them.

There are a couple more uses for vinegar I am going to try and then if they work I will share them with you. Heck I may try all 173 uses. If even half of them work I will be saving money and leaving a much greener footprint.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

The first full week of the year and amazingly I have my menu all planned out.... Well, kinda, sorta.

Monday

Leftover Pork Roast. I will be hunting through some cookbooks looking for something new, or something I have only tried once.

Tuesday

Clean out the fridge night. We will be using up the Taco Bake I made. I also plan on making Kris a TV dinner out of it. There is lots!!

Wednesday

Leftover Ham. Once again I will be on the hunt for something new to try.

Thursday

Hamburgers, and french fries. Kind of a fast food night without all the grease and bad for you food.

Friday

I am going to use up the trout fillet in the freezer (or at least half as it is rather large). I will be making Maple Glazed Salmon and serving it with rice and peas or carrots.

Saturday

This is our anniversary (we will have been married 39 years) and providing the weather is not bad perhaps we will go out and dine. If not Sausage is on the menu.

Sunday

A roasted Ham sounds pretty darn good. Not sure what veggies I will make with this, but I am hoping that brussel sprouts is one of them.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.