Thursday, 19 November 2009
-
Books, books, books!
My recent bout with the flu was, of course, unpleasant. However, I was able to spend a lot of time reading and that really did make it seem a lot less worse. Okay, maybe not, but I did enjoy being able to put my feet up, cozy up with warm blankets and read. I finished quite a few books, and started a few more. Had it not been for the flu, it would have been bliss! What follows is just a brief recap of what I've read. If you'd like more information about any of these titles, feel free to email me (copperswifeATsoftcomDOTnet) and I'll be happy to give you more details.
Back to Basics: Rediscovering the Richness of the Reformed Faith, by Douglas Wilson, Douglas Jones, David Hagopian, Roger Wagner. Copper and Aaron read this book a couple of years ago as part of a book study with a group from our church. The book does a pretty good job of outlining the basic principles of reformed doctrine, though I found a couple of the contributing authors a bit harder to read than the others.
What to Do on Thursday: A Layman's Guide to the Practical Use of the Scriptures, by Jay E. Adams. This book is outstanding. The basic premise is this. While we might have the ability to read a Scripture and apply it to our lives, what we lack is the ability to go to the Bible in time of need to find the Scriptures we need to help us with the problems we face in our daily walk. To really put this book to its best use, it would need to be read through once to get a grasp of what is being taught. Then, a more thorough study (the author outlines a year long study) would enable the reader to put all of the book's content to good use. Be advised, though, that the author advises the purchase of multiple suggested resources to assist in this study. While these additional resources would be a terrific investment, they are also very expensive.
Teach Them Diligently: How To Use The Scriptures In Child Training, by Louis Paul Priolo. Excellent!!! We parents tend to think we need to attend child training seminars and read book after book about raising our children. While these may be helpful, God has already given us everything we need in His Word! Lou Priolo does an excellent job of explaining how every parent can use the Scriptures in training their children.
The Wine-Dark Sea (Aubrey/Maturin Series), by Patrick O'Brian. The is volume 16 in this wonderful series set in the time of Nelson's Royal Navy. This is historical fiction at its best! (This is not historical fiction suitable for children, and sensitive readers will want to avoid it, too.) Personally, I find the main characters very likable and the story lines captivating.
Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God, by Francis Chan. I'd had this book on my "to be read" queue for quite awhile. When I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Georgene in real life, she had so many wonderful things to say about this book, I immediately downloaded it in audiobook format. The audiobook is read by the author, which I very much like. However, this book has a lot to say and it was too easy for me to let Mr. Chan's voice go in one ear and out the other. I ordered a copy of the book and read it through, with the added benefit of being able to "hear" Mr. Chan's voice as I read. Crazy Love will be on Aaron's reading list this spring, and I'm hoping to read it again myself before then. The book gave me a lot to ponder and consider, and that's a very good thing!
The Commodore (Aubrey/Maturin Series #17), by Patrick O'Brian. Mr. O'Brian died before finishing this epic series. The series ends, really, with book 20. There is a #21, but it is an unfinished manuscript. I am almost dreading that there are only three "real" books left in the series. I've enjoyed it that much! (Be sure to read my caution about the series above.)
Please remember that I think it is vitally important that your are reading!! The Bible first and foremost, and that daily; but do not underestimate the importance of reading other books. Please read this post for more information and to understand why I think it is so very important that you have a good book or two to read at all times. Read!
The books I am currently reading, as well as the books that I have already completed this year, can be found on the side bar.God bless you as you look well to the ways of your household!
Proverbs 31:27
Disclosure: All of the books reviewed are books that I have chosen and purchased with my own money, or books that I have received as gifts from friends. I do not receive free books from authors or publishers, nor do I receive any sort of compensation for the reviews I write. I do maintain an affiliate relationship with Amazon.com. This arrangement allows me to receive a very small percentage (pennies on the dollar) of any purchases made when readers click through to Amazon from my blog. Though I see a list of what has been purchased, Amazon never discloses their customer’s names or other personal information. For those of you that make Amazon purchases through my blog, thank you. Your doing so is a tremendous blessing to my family. I use the credit I receive through Amazon in three ways: To help offset the cost of maintaining this blog, to purchase books for our home Heritage Library, and occasionally to purchase prizes for drawings offered to readers of this blog.
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
-
And Finally.........After!
Just a quick reminder of what the bathroom looked like before:
AFTER:
Dani and I will be keeping our eyes open for some pretty artwork for the bare walls over the commode and towel hooks. I'm not sure what I want, but I'll know it when I see it!
This color on the cabinet and the brushed nickel hardware makes me almost giddy. I'll pick up a pretty container for our plant next shopping trip.
We are very happy with our bathroom! My husband did a great job. The project has been almost a year in the making, but that long wait has given us a much higher appreciation for what it took to make it happen.
I plan to keep earning Home Depot gift cards through My Points. It's one small way that I can contribute towards our home's economy and look well to the ways of my household at the same time.
In the meantime, I need to decide whether or not the next project should be the back (Aaron's) bathroom or the hallway/entryway. Decisions, decisions!God bless you as you look well to the ways of your household!
Proverbs 31:27
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
-
A Very Long During...............
Home improvement projects have always been done here on a limited basis. The projects have usually been funded outside of our normal household budget, which means they were funded through monetary gifts received at Christmas or on birthdays, or, more often, through my husband's gracious willingness to work overtime. However, overtime work was discontinued at my husband's work site months ago as the county made serious cutbacks to the sheriff's department. We are thankful that my husband's job is safe and that he is able to continue in his same position.
We started work on our main bathroom ten months ago. Over the course of several months, we had saved money from other budget areas, accumulated enough My Points (*) gift cards, and a bit of money received over the holidays to start the bathroom. My husband removed the old sink, counter and light fixture. A new sink was installed, along with beautiful new faucets. The light fixture was also installed, but there were no globes for the bulbs.
The yucky old fake leather formica counter was replaced with beautiful, new tile. Seriously, I do not know who would ever put a textured formica surface in a bathroom or kitchen. I still have it in two of my bathrooms as well as my kitchen. The hard water from our well water stains the stuff horribly and we have to use Comet and bleach to get it anywhere near clean. Yucko!
My husband did an excellent job on the tile! Our funds ran out just as the sink and counter were completed. However, I just kept on earning with My Points (*).
(*) My Points is an incredible program. My Points has enabled us to purchase multiple Home Depot gift cards simply by spending a few minutes a day reading emails, and occasionally 10 - 15 minutes filling out an online survey. We've earned further points by making online purchases with merchants through the My Points system. I've purchased on sale dress pants for my boys from Old Navy, shoes for myself through Payless, printer ink through e-bay, and gift items for others. These are purchases I would have made anyway so why not score a few points in the process? I almost always redeem my My Points points for Home Depot gift cards, but there are oodles of other merchants and restaurants that you might redeem your points with. Right now, this is the only way that any home improvement work can be done here.
If you think that My Points might be something you'd like to try out, I'd be pleased for you to allow me to send you an invitation. You can join directly through My Points, of course, but if I may send you the email invitation, I earn a few points, too. If you'd like to give My Points a try, email me at copperswifeATsoftcomDOTnet (replace the words in caps with the appropriate symbols, please). Thanks!!
Since February, the bathroom has remained unchanged. I've continued earning Home Depot gift cards and making purchases with them for the bathroom as I could. Paint for the walls and cabinet. Globes for the light fixture. Hardware for the cabinet. New baseboard material to match what we've done in other parts of the house. New towel hooks. Dani chipped in with some gift cards of her own toward the project. We kept our purchases stashed away until we had everything we needed.
A couple of weeks ago, Copper began painting the bathroom cabinet. That first stroke of Cathedral on the bathroom cabinet was so beautiful! The cabinet was finished and the new hardware was installed.
The walls were painted with a gorgeous shade of aqua blue called Ocean Kiss. (Both paints are Behr paint colors.)
We priced out replacement hinges for the cabinet and bathroom doors, as well as a new door knob for the bathroom. The old "antique brass" hardware was horrid with the new brushed nickel finishes, but replacements were pricey. Dani suggested we try spray paint. We had a couple of false starts with paint that was too silver or too sparkley, but Copper found a paint for us at Jo-Ann that was perfect. Two cans purchased with two separate 40% off coupons, saved us a bundle. We used the spray paint on the bathroom door hinges and door knob, the cabinet door hinges, the brass hook on the back of the bathroom door, and the spring door stop.
I really wanted a small lamp for the counter in the bathroom, but thought we'd have to wait until we found one we could afford. Then it dawned on me that I had a lamp that was just the right size on the little desk in the school room. It's mate is in the master bathroom, and I use that lamp every evening. The one in the school room was rarely used. The lamps are gold with cream shades. We'd had such great success with the spray paint, I figured it was worth a try. It turned out great! A bit of white spray paint applied to the shade and the lamp is perfect! Even better - this pair of lamps was a free gift with a purchase from a year or two ago!
The shower curtain and bathmat, which were the inspiration for our color scheme, were purchased over a year ago at Target. I've been saving up nickels and dimes for the last several weeks and last Friday, during our regular mega-shop, Dani I were able to purchase new towels, a few odds and ends for the counter, and a pretty little plant.
My husband is installing the baseboard today, and then the bathroom will be done. Pictures tomorrow.God bless you as you look well to the ways of your household!
Proverbs 31:27
Sunday, 15 November 2009
-
Before......
Our main bathroom. Before.
What you can't see: A large, chipped area in the sink, rusted almost through. Oak cabinets with their finish badly damaged. Formica countertops.....textured in a sort of fake, wrinkled leather surface. In the bathroom. Ahem. Yuck.
Yep. This was our main bathroom at its best. Before.
Saturday, 14 November 2009
-
Our Home
We moved into our home in March, 1998. We were blessed beyond belief that the Lord provided this home and these 5 1/2 acres for us when He did. We were blessed even more when we heard from neighbors and other folks in the community and learned how His providence played out in our ability to purchase this place.
I am blessed to call this home still.
One thing, though, that I did not anticipate was the amount of work this home would take to maintain and improve. Though the home was custom built for a local pastor, he never lived in it. Instead, he took advantage of California's booming real estate market of the early 1990's, and flipped the house as soon as it was completed. I'm not sure at what point in time he made that decision, but the craftsmanship that went into the completion of the house was pretty poor.
We have fought battles with dry rot and peeling paint our entire time here because of the poor construction used. Most of our home improvement money, not to mention my husband's time, have been spent preserving the exterior of our home and doing what we could to improve its function. Roofs that don't leak. Replacing rotting porches. Installing windows that actually keep the wind out when they are closed. An HVAC system that works. That sort of thing. Practical. Necessary. Expensive!
Don't get me wrong, I still LOVE this house and I thank the Lord often for His provision.
Still, God created women with a desire for beautifying our homes as one way we tend and care for our families. So, as we've done what we can to keep, literally, a roof over our heads, we've learned to overlook the interior walls that need paint, the sinks that are chipped and peeling and the carpets that will no longer yield their stains to the steam cleaner. Landscaping? Forget about it. Country grass (aka the common weed) has its own charm, anyway.
I still dream, though, and plan how I will decorate or make over a room when the funds become available. I just don't hold the time table for the completion of those plans tightly. We still have folks over, and hope they overlook the imperfections. We hope they overlook *our* imperfections, too!
This home has done much for teaching me patience and appreciation for what I have. It's also given me a whole new heart of thankfulness for when a redecorating project is brought to completion.
Who says a house is just a house?God bless you as you look well to the ways of your household!
Proverbs 31:27
Thursday, 05 November 2009
-
Enjoying
I'm enjoying some down time. I slept until 9:30 and then had a two hour nap. I've caught up on all of my blog reading. Aaron and Will have brewed, sweetened and served cup after cup of tea to me, without my having to move a muscle. Dani has done a lot of cooking, making lots of homey, comfort foods. I've curled up on the couch and on my bed with stacks of books. The vaporizer is running all day, positioned on the hearth, with an aromatic, healing blend of essential oilsto keep congestion at a minimum. The kids are all feeling better, even Dani who was the sickest of the three still at home. It's my turn now to enjoy some down time, courtesy of the flu.
Back soon with those Thanksgiving books I promised."Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!"
Phil. 4:4 NASBGod bless you as you look well to the ways of your household!
Proverbs 31:27
Tuesday, 03 November 2009
-
What Copperswife Has Been Pondering
I mentioned recently that I've been pondering and praying over quite a few things. The Lord has been so faithful in leading me in several areas by lovingly and tenderly shepherding. I'm so thankful for His tenderness and kindness to me, all the more because they are so undeserved.
One thing that has been in the forefront of my pondering is the idea of "engaging the culture" and how the Lord would have me respond in this season of my life. Close friends know the history from an experience within my extended family that began this adventure for me a couple of years ago. It's been so amazing seeing how the Lord has orchestrated events in my life as I've chewed on this issue. Circumstances of everyday life. Conversations. Blog posts from folks I know and respect. Stories like this one (Hat Tip to Fletch for the link)
So how do I respond? Do I follow the lead of the gal in the story? How far do I go in reaching out to those around me? I live in California, so the sky is rather the limit when it comes to how far a gal might go in reaching out, in love, to those around her. Tattoos and piercings of all sorts are the norm here.
No, I didn't really have my nose pierced! The kids and grandbabies were working on a craft the other day and I glued a pretty jewel onto my nose just for the fun of it. However, this idea of trying to reach out to a world that I'm in, though not of, is a serious pursuit.
Tim Challies is a blogger that I follow regularly. I love his insight, am inspired by the incredible number of books he reads, and am appreciative of his many book reviews. I was so pleased this week to see that he is starting a second blog.
Mr. Challies plans to read every non-fiction, hard cover book that reaches the New York Times best seller list during the year 2010. He's actually already begun! His purpose in this undertaking is what caught my interest. He realizes that by reading the books from this list, he will be given "a snapshot of the people, of what they are thinking about, of what they are learning, of whom they are learning it from." Culture. Worldview. Understanding!
I'm realistic enough to know that I will never be able to keep up with Mr. Challies incredible reading lists, but I will be following along as he reviews each of these books at 10 Million Words; and I'll certainly be picking up titles to read myself from time to time, too.
My friend Kendra often mentions "tomato staking" her younger ones, keeping them close by during times of intense child training. I used to call this shortening the reins, but the principle is the same. While this is a great principle for younger children, and one I heartily endorse, I've been thinking lately about the application with older kids, too.
Think about it more in terms of young trees. We stake our newly planted trees, giving their roots an opportunity to sink in deep and protecting them from the strong winds that might blow them over before their root system is well established. However, once the roots are deep enough, keeping that tree staked might cause it to become weak, relying too much on the stake for its support. But.....you knew there would be a "but", didn't you? Of course!
Sometimes a young tree becomes weakened and needs a little help to recover. Maybe that tree has undergone a season of phenomenal growth above ground, but its root system has not quite kept up, and it is in danger of being damaged by high winds. Are you following me here?
In those situations, giving that tree......not quite a sapling, but not yet a mature oak......a bit of extra support by staking it for a season is the very best thing you can do as you continue to nurture, prune and otherwise encourage it to full maturity. My tall, growing oak and I are enjoying spending a lot of time together every day staked at the dining room table. He with his school work, and me with whatever is at hand. Areas of weakness are being strengthened. Roots are being encouraged to grow and deepen. Bad fruit and ill-placed shoots can be nipped before they have the chance to grow and drain the tree of too much energy. It's hard work, but it's rewarding!
A few of you have asked for recommendations for Thanksgiving books. I posted this list a couple of years ago. I may have a book or two to add to that list, in the next day or two; but I wanted to give you the link to the old list now so that you could order them from your public library or purchase them, if you are so inclined, in time for Thanksgiving.
It's a busy time here as I continue homeschooling my two youngest, keeping my home and enjoying time with Corin and the grandbabies as often as we can. Busy yes, but blessedly so!
Oh! Just one more thing. Mentioning the grandbabies made me think of it! We were quite a sight as both sets of grandparents joined Rob and Corin and the grandbabies at the pumpkin farm a couple of weeks ago. The picture is all five of my grandbabies, with Grandma Pam (my dear friend and my grandbabies' other grandma) holding the two year old. There were fifteen of us making our way from attraction to attraction - wee little ones; children, big and small; young adults, and four "old" folks. We were three families, and yet one, having the time of our lives! We always have such a grand time together!
God bless you as you look well to the ways of your household!
Proverbs 31:27
Thursday, 15 October 2009
-
Slow, Plodding and Pondering
I've not been around much, either here in my own little online home, nor visiting with many of you. My days are blessedly full. Brim full. Spilling over full. It's not a hurried, busy-work kind of thing, either; but rather it's a slow, plodding pace. It's a pace that might have once frustrated me, but it doesn't now. At least not as much as it once would. There is a benefit to growing older. It's easier to not sweat the small stuff. It's also easier to realize just how much of life really is the small stuff!
I'm slowly, slowly, slowly recapturing some order in my home, though as I type this from the couch of our school room, it does not look like there is much order at all. I sort of like my school room to be cluttered with books and projects and nature finds. The big desk, however, is another thing.
It's also been a season of pondering. The Lord is gently, tenderly, lovingly leading me in several different areas and the slowness of these days has been good for pondering and praying and thinking through all of that.
It's been good for William, too, I think, to have a mama who is not too busy with other things. I've had time to help him slow, and quiet and obtain some self control, and that's a hard thing for him in October every year.
Oh, my, my, my, my.........his compulsion to spin anything that will spin - my school supplies caddy, the desk chair, a pencil lying on the table, HIMSELF. His NEED to repeat movements that make noise - tapping his fingers on the table, tapping his toes on the computer desk, squeaking the desk chair, and pounding the eraser end of his pencil on the table. His vocal tic that is really nothing more than a really loud roar....watching him trying valliantly to suppress the tic, or to at least make it not quite so loud.... but that's really not working for him too well....and then the LOUD roar is out and he smiles with the relief (and I want to cry for loving him so much).
I keep telling myself he's our boy...precious in the sight of the Lord, and made in His image.
Instead, I emailed Corin and asked her if she wanted to swap ticing, compelled, loud boys for the day. She just laughed. So did I!
If I owe you an email or have failed to respond to a private message, please forgive me. You've not been forgotten! I am catching up there, too, albeit at the slow, plodding pace I mentioned earlier. The Lord has been so very faithful in this season, and I'm pleased to walk the slow, plodding pace set before me.God bless you as you look well to the ways of your household!
Proverbs 31:27
Wednesday, 07 October 2009
-
The Truth of the Matter
The truth of the matter is that it is October, and I am very much enjoying our finally-here Autumn weather. The high temperatures this week will struggle into the low 80's. Our mornings and evenings are crisp and cool, and our days are sunny and warm.
October also means that homeschooling is back in full swing. We took several weeks off this last summer, which is out of the norm for us. The truth of the matter is that we have struggled to build a new routine for the year after our lengthy break. I've made changes here and tweaked things there, but I'm not certain that our routine/schedule is quite right yet. I'm watching carefully, day by day, and sometimes hour by hour, for ways to shift things just a bit to make them work for us. It's slow going.
The change of season is always hard for my William, too. I'm not sure if it's the shortened days, the change in the weather or what, but I can count on his having a very hard time every year in early - mid October. Most years it catches me by surprise. This year, however, when he began struggling, I realized that this was part of his seasonal pattern and began helping him work through the various frustrations and issues that make his life so difficult. The truth of the matter is that it is a hard thing to deal with, but the Lord strengthens, encourages and enables me to keep pressing forward, even when I feel I'm at the end of my rope.
In fact, He especially strengthens, encourages and enables me when I've come to the end of myself and have nothing left to give! I should know better than to try to do things on my own strength and wisdom. The truth of the matter is that I'm slow to learn these lessons of life, even though my ever-patient Teacher is always before me showing me His better way.
Copper and I have spent several days in doctors' offices and procedure rooms these last couple of weeks. I'd love to share all of the details, but it would require far too much time. Suffice it to say, the Lord went before us and opened up an appointment time for a diagnostic procedure before our very eyes. Just as the nurse was telling us that the next available date was months out, a cancellation appeared on her screen for the very next day! We were so thankful for that. So, last Wednesday, my husband was sedated and underwent an Endoscopy. Some abnormalities were discovered, and the doctor biopsied some tissue. My husband has been diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitis, and he has been prescribed two medications that he will have to take for the rest of his life. The truth of the matter is that we're still in the research and fact-gathering stage in trying to understand this disease and its implications. A good deal of my time has been spent this week on line, looking at web sites, researching his medications, etc.
I'm beginning to catch up, just a bit, on things around my home. Fall is always such a "nesting" time for many of us. The cooler weather and shorter days draw us inside more and more, and our hearts turn from gardening and outdoor activities to homemaking, baking and sprucing things up. The truth of the matter is that harvest is in full swing all around my home. Field corn is being cut and transported down the road. Hay is being cut, baled and transported down the road. Harvested fields are being plowed in preparation for replanting, and the dust clouds can be quite spectacular as they blow across the roads. There are hundreds of acres of wine grapes grown in vineyards all around us, and the grape harvesting equipment can be heard running all night long as the grapes are shaken from the vines. The truth of the matter that all of that harvesting, cutting, mowing, plowing, transporting and vine shaking covers absolutely everything in dirt. Our cars look horrible, and so does the inside and outside of my home. Within hours, a freshly dusted surface will be dusty again! It's a sign of the season to be sure.
The truth of the matter is that life is just very, very full right now. It's full of struggles and difficulties, but growth comes from trial, and I long for that growth! There is nothing more important for me to do right now than to continue to do what I always do - look well to the ways of my household by:- Working out homeschool and daily routines for my family.
- Helping Will as he struggles through yet another difficult time.
- Researching my husband's illness and educating myself on the disease and its treatments.
- Doing my best to keep the inside of our home as clean and dust free as possible.
- Nesting and baking and sprucing things up in my home as we all begin to spend more time indoors.
- Thanking God for the precious gift and incredible blessing of being able to be the one here, every single day, to take care of all of the above!
God bless you as you look well to the ways of your household!
Proverbs 31:27 - Working out homeschool and daily routines for my family.
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
-
Freezer Guacamole
Dani processed the first bunch of avocados into Guacamole, smooshed it into freezer bags and we knew we'd found a way to have yummy guacamole through the winter months without breaking the bank account.
When one of our favorite markets advertised avocados for $.39/each last week, Dani and I knew we had to buy a bunch. We bought a dozen or so on our shopping day, and Copper went back on one of his days off and bought 18 more. We love avocados, and we love guacamole!
Making guacamole for the freezer is just as easy as making a fresh batch. I started this afternoon with those 18 avocados my husband purchased last week. They were all quite hard when he bought them, but today they were just about perfect.
The first step is to peel and pit all of the avocados. I almost always reach for my mom's old "butcher" knife. Truth be told, I own several knives that are much better. My mom worked in a butcher shop for decades and she bought me top quality knives through the butcher supply salesmen when I got married. When she passed away I brought her old, old knife home and it's become my favorite. I love the smooth feel of the handle, and the way the handle's edges have rounded from the handling of two generations of women. The blade still holds its edge well and it sharpens easily.
Next, I grabbed my handy potato masher and got to work smooshing the avocados. If you're having a bad day this part might be quite therapeutic. I've had a great day, though, so the mashing was just good exercise. I like to have a few, small chunks of avocado in my Guacamole so I didn't over labor the mashing. It's a messy job, though. Of course, Dani, who has been away for a week now, called just as I was in the midst of this process. That's okay. She talked to her Dad while I worked and I called her later. I love cell phones and free long distance. 
If you stumble across a great sale on avocados, feel free to use your own Guacamole recipe for the freezer. We all like it a bit differently. Some folks add lemon juice to their Guacamole to keep it from turning brown, but I never do. It never lasts long enough around here to turn brown!! For the freezer, though, you'll want to add a bit of Fruit Fresh. That's the secret ingredient that will allow you to make Freezer Guacamole now and enjoy it in December. I added about a teaspoon per cup of Guacamole. I didn't measure the mashed avocados. I guessed that two of my avocados, which were medium-sized, would be about a cup. Eighteen avocados = 9 teaspoons of Fruit Fresh
I added a splash of salsa to the bowl. I like salsa in my Guacamole. If you don't like it that way, don't add it. I think it gives it a nice kick and I like the bits of onion and peppers in my Guacamole.
I generally prefer Guacamole without sour cream. However, if you use sour cream in your Guacamole, do NOT add it before freezing. Sour cream does not always freeze well. If you prefer sour cream in the Guacamole, I'd suggest you make up your recipe but omit the sour cream. You can add it after you thaw the avocado mixture and just before serving. That should work nicely.
Taste the Guacamole and adjust the seasonings. Taste testing is my favorite part of making Guacamole.
Mark several freezer quality plastic bags with the name of your recipe and the date. I used quart sized bags because that's the smallest I have. Pints would have been better.
Be sure to use the freezer quality bags so that the Guacamole doesn't freezer burn. You'll also want to be sure the bags seal well. Filling the bags with the Guacamole can be a messy undertaking, and I do not own one of those fancy bag fillers that holds the bag open and protects the seal. Instead, I just folded the top part of the bag over to keep the seal clean. That saves the messy job of trying to wipe those little grooves and edges clean later.
Spoon the Guacamole into the bags. Lay each bag flat and carefully begin pressing the air out of the bag. I generally seal the bag leaving just an inch or so open to release the air. The more air you can remove from the bag, the less freezer burn and ice crystals you will end up with.
The flat bags take up much less space in your freezer, too. Scatter them about in the freezer, if you have the room, until they are frozen, and then stack them. They'll freeze faster that way, and the bags won't stick together either.
Call your favorite fifteen year old into the kitchen and allow him to use his fingers to scrape up the last bits of Guacamole to enjoy! Ignore his protests when he discovers that ALL of the Guacamole is headed for the freezer.
When you're ready to enjoy your Freezer Guacamole, thaw the bags in the fridge and use your hands to smoosh the bags from time to time to hasten the thawing and to remix anything that separates a bit in the defrosting process.
Today's yield was six bags of Freezer Guacamole. Prep time, start to finish, including hand washing the bowl, cutting board and utensils I used, was about 30 - 40 minutes.
God bless you as you look well to the ways of your household!
Proverbs 31:27Please note: All original written material, photographs, recipes and tutorials on this blog are the sole property of the author and may not be copied, in whole or in part, or re-printed elsewhere, without the express written permission of the author. Recipes, of course, may be copied for your own personal in-home use!
True
Premium
If you use any other feed reader, please use the following rss feed:
www.copperswife.xanga.com/rss Please let me know if there are difficulties.
In the WORD
These are the books and tools that are in my basket for my personal Bible study time in 2009:
The Holy Bible
Reading most days in the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs.
The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions
Listening on my Zune
AUDIO BOOKS:
Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
PODCASTS:
On Trial - A study of 1 & 2 Peter
MUSIC: The albums I'm listening to most often these days:
In the Hands of God (Newsboys)
Something to Say (Matthew West)
While the Trees Sleep (David Nevue)
Valley of Vision - Songs for Worship Inspired By the Classic Book of Puritan Prayers
Shopping at Amazon?
Marvelous Monday - Homeschool Review Posts
This Year's Reading Basket
Books marked with ** are currently being read. Books will disappear from this list as I finish them, and will reappear on the Books Completed list in the box just below. I will, generally, post a very brief review of each book as I finish it.
Please remember that I think it is vitally important that your are reading!! The Bible first and foremost, and that daily; but do not underestimate the importance of reading other books.
Please read this post for more information and to understand why I think it is so very important that you have a good book or two to read at all times.
**Already Gone: Why your kids will quit church and what you can do to stop it
Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist
**Beacon Lights Of History, Volume I
The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy and "Women's Work"
**Passionate Housewives Desperate for God
Training Children In Godliness
Treasuring God in Our Traditions
How To Get Your Man and Hold Him
Father to Nobody's Children: The Life of Thomas J. Barnardo
A Mother's Heart: A Look at Values, Vision, and Character for the Christian Mother
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
True Spirituality, How to Live for Jesus Moment by Moment
**We Had Everything But Money: Priceless Memories of the Great Depression
Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be: A 90-Day Guide to Living the Proverbs 31 Life
Standing on the Promises: A Handbook of Biblical Childrearing
Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had
Books Completed in 2009
4. The Mission of Motherhood: Touching Your Child's Heart for Eternity
5. A Time to Play: Reflections on Childhood and Creativity
6. The Art of Romantic Living: Simple Touches to Enhance Everyday Life
7. The Truelove
8. The Private World of Tasha Tudor
9. Family Driven Faith: Doing What It Takes to Raise Sons and Daughters Who Walk with God
10. Animal Farm
11. The Apron Book: Making, Wearing, and Sharing a Bit of Cloth and Comfort
12. Daniel Deronda
13. (Audio Book) The Mystery of Edwin Drood
14. (Audio Book) Ten P's in a Pod : A Million-Mile Journal of the Arnold Pent Family
15. The Coming Economic Earthquake
16. Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross: Experiencing the Passion and Power of Easter
17. Atlas Shrugged
18. Don't Think About Monkeys. Extraordinary Stories Written by People with Tourette Syndrome
19. Living a Beautiful Life: 500 Ways to Add Elegance, Order, Beauty and Joy to Every Day of Your Life
20. An Excellent Mystery: The Eleventh Chronicle of Brother Cadfael
21. (audio book)Infidel
22. Confessions of a Happily Organized Family
23. French General: Home Sewn: 30 Projects for Every Room in the House
24. The Wine-Dark Sea, #16 (Aubrey/Maturin Series)
25. What to Do on Thursday: A Layman's Guide to the Practical Use of the Scriptures
26. Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
27. Back to Basics: Rediscovering the Richness of the Reformed Faith
28. Teach Them Diligently: How To Use The Scriptures In Child Training
29. The Commodore (Aubrey/Maturin Series #17)
30. Sanctuary: Creating a Blessed Place to Live and Love
For a brief review of each of these books click here.
Read Alouds
Here are the books that we are currently reading aloud in our home:
Our September Morning Time Together Reads:
Labor Day ( A Crowell Holiday Book)
The Christian Almanac: A Book Of Days Celebrating History's Most Significant People & Events
Mid-afternoon with Mom (and a cup of tea!) :
100 Cupboards
Recipes
Not to worry, all of the recipe links are safe and sound, but I cannot simply copy and paste them into this new system. Please be patient as I work on importing them to the new format. Thanks!
RECIPES FOR THE HOME
2. Favorite Fall Simmering Potpourri
3. Winter Citrus Simmering Potpourri
OUR TYPICAL SUNDAY MORNING FARE
(Coffee Cakes, Sweet Rolls and the Like)
8. Whole Wheat Apple Cinnamon Rolls
9. Apple Upside Down Coffee Cake
10. South of the Border Coffee Cake
BREADS, MUFFINS & BREAKFAST DISHES
5. Copper's Wife's Health Nut Muffins
BREAD MACHINE RECIPES
1. Whole Wheat Cinnamon Raisin Bread
2. Copperswife's Everyday Whole Wheat Bread
HOMEMADE BUTTERMILK BAKING MIX RECIPES
1. Homemade Buttermilk Baking Mix
APPETIZERS & SNACKS
2. William's Peanut Butter Balls
MAIN DISHES
(including soups, stews, sandwiches & pizza)
3. New Year's Day Bean & Ham Stew
4. Focaccia
6. Double Decker Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
10. Chicken and Dressing Casserole
13. Mexican Corn Bread Casserole
14. Chicken Waldorf Salad Sandwiches
17. Cowboy Casserole
21. Mexican Chicken Corn Chowder
22. Lisa's Stuffed Loaf (Sandwich)
23. Cranberry Glazed Meat Loaf
24. Coke Steak
25. Hamburger Patties with Mushroom Gravy
26. Quick Chicken & Noodle Stew
28. MooBockOink (Rolled Chicken Breasts)
SALADS AND SIDE DISHES
6. My Mom's Scalloped Potatoes
DESSERTS
2. Grandmother's Applesauce Cake
3. Chocolate Crazy Cake (No Eggs)
10. Reverse Chocolate Chip Cookies
11. Thelma's Berry (or any fruit) Cobbler
Special Note
PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE: All original written material, photographs, recipes and tutorials on this blog are the sole property of the author and may not be copied, in whole or in part, or re-printed elsewhere, without the express written permission of the author. If you see something you’d like to share, just ask!
Contact Me
You can reach me by e-mail at: copperswifeATsoftcomDOTnet
(Be sure to replace the words in CAPS with the appropriate symbols)
OR
You can send me a private message, using your Xanga account, by clicking "send me a message" in the "Connect" box below
I would be delighted for you to visit my website, too!
Please know that I read each and every comment, e-mail or message that is sent my way. If you've asked a question, or raised an issue, it is quite likely that I will be able to answer or address your issue in an upcoming blog post. However, in order for me to honestly live the life that I share with you on my Copper's Wife's blog, I must spend my days looking well to the ways of my own household. My days are very full with the things the Lord has so richly blessed me with! Therefore, I may not be able to answer or respond to you personally. Thank you for your understanding.
