Princess Perky's Page

I am not a neat person, I have 'stuff' issues, and worst of all, I have a bad habit of not really putting things away quickly. You know the stapler right beside where I made the mini book, the pen beside my bed where I made my note.

To compound the problem DH is a pack rat, no two ways about it, he likes to keep his stuff. So we have stacks of 'stuff' around the house, stuff to sell (yeah sure) stuff to play (err and when do we have time for that?) stuff to sort, stuff to work on, stuff to do stuff to.

Since I like to entertain I keep hiding the 'stuff' and the stacks of things I forgot to put away in my room. No one should be in there anyway.

Well I tended to have a house with two clean kids rooms, an OK living room and OK kitchen, and a cave of a dump of a bedroom. I finally decided there is no sense me having a dump for a bedroom each night, I should have a relaxing place, I insist the kids rooms be rather neat and clean because I know they sleep better and behave better when it is clean....so I did it.

I stacked all of Dh's stuff up in the living room, yes thats right, my living room, so next time you come over, just remind yourself it is his stuff and I can too keep a clean house, just with stacks of his stuff in there.

I kicked out the toys, the games, the junk, the paper, the miscelaneous mini parts to who knows what, and I kicked out the computer parts...

My wonderful DH (really aside from the pack ratting, which could be worse he is wonderful) build me two shelves, and later this week he will build me two more. I put my books up there, reference books, pregnancy notes, and some books kids aught to be taller to read. plus some decoration, like my mothers old Ken doll and skipper. I even moved the gargantuan ugly book case out to the living room.

I now have a clean, almost empty, room with just stuff I like..ok and a few of DHs things I am a nice wife, the bedspread is black, no frilly girly stuff. the curtain is black and simple, the decorations are half his, Anyway, point is the place is relaxing, I a tually had to go get a chair to fil up a tiny bit of space, and it is the perfect spot to sit and relax.

My living room on the other hand...

(for the real chefs, real recipe. … or as real as I ever get is at the very bottom...really waaaaay down, honest)

Cornmeal crusted chicken

Step one: Read recipe from fancy swanky magazine for people with too much time on their hands.

Step two: decide there is no way I have time for 3 separate containers, one with egg, one with just flour and one with flour and cornmeal. Though pouring the flour cornmeal and egg sounds a bit messy, not workable, so one for flour/cornmeal, one for err...you know I am out of eggs again , so milk it is.

Step 3: Look for spices... contemplate using the ones listed in the recipe for about 4.6 seconds ... Then grab lemon herb, onion powder, and pepper instead.... reminisce about the pre kid days when I breaded lemon herb chicken and deep fried it....

step 4: Preheat oven to 425… Score one point for remembering to check for foreign objects in oven.

Step 5: Open pack of chicken one handed because UE is firmly ensconced in his place of honor on the other arm. Briefly consider the physics of cutting the chicken into strips (one handed) like I used to (and like this recipe says to do) Decide a trip to the emergency room would really delay dinner, and bread them as is.

Step 6: Remember that a meal consists of more than just chicken, decide pasta is relatively quick and take a break from chicken to put a pot of water on to boil.

Step 7: Bread chicken, while keeping a squirmy one year old from trying to help, but is unable to stay on the floor by himself. Place chicken in pan lined with foil, pat self on back for getting the foil in the pan one handed.

Step 8: Notice the water is boiling and try to figure out what sort of pasta. Finally decide on whole-wheat egg noodles will make up for the lack of egg on the chicken.

Step 9: Put the chicken in for 10 minutes like the recipe says, make mental note that there is no way it will be done in time since you didn’t cut the chicken, remember the cardinal rule of making chicken … it is never done!

Step 10: grab a vegetable and put it in a bowl in the microwave.

Step 11: decide all that spiced milk and flour shouldn’t be wasted and make a ‘roux’ err rue, err butter and flour gravy starter, melt butter in cast iron pot, add some flour, looks purty…then realize there is way too much flour for that kind of sauce ….. Add chicken bullion and a cup of warm water. Discover that a slotted spoon works well to remove lumps (and thank the one year old for stealing the usual spoon leaving only the slotted one available)

Step 12: Add milk to sauce like stuff, keep stiring like mad.

Step 13: check chicken since the timer dinged like forever ago sometime in the middle of the delumping process. Notice the chicken is well covered in dry flakes…drizzle some olive oil on top, run out of olive oil, make mental note to put it on the grocery list (yeah like that will happen!)

Step 14: wonder why the vegetables are not done yet …. Discover they were never started, put on for 3 minutes, stir noodles and wonder if they are done, Mutter under breath about how annoying whole wheat noodles are, they never look ‘done’ like regular, wonder if I will eventually develop a trained whole wheat ‘eye’ since I do recall the days before I knew noodles were done by looking …

Step 15: rescue sauce like stuff, taste test … Mmmmm lemon herb chicken, brings back memories.

Step 16: Put vegetables back in for 2 minutes, get strainer out to drain noodles, lock children out of the kitchen, leave strict orders to entertain one year old. Drain noodles, check chicken ... Turn chicken over and shake up olive oil to find more for the other side. Go rescue one year old and wait for Daddy to come home.

Step 17: Kiss Daddy ‘Hello’. Start getting into it then … yep that’s the timer for the chicken, just like old times.

K so that is the weird nightly thing going on here, last night it turned out very good, though I think I might try egg one day to see if it is crispy, I will prolly keep the rest pretty much he same, maybe more water in the sauce.


…………………………………………………………………

Baked Lemon herb Chicken

1-cup flour
1/3-cup corn meal (yellow)
2 tsp ish lemon herb
Sprinkle pepper
Sprinkle or two of onion powder

Mix them in a flattish pan to ‘dredge’ the chicken

Cup o milk (or a bit less)

Flour dish then milk, then flour again, pat seasoning in crevices and stuff.

Drizzle pan with olive oil, Put in chicken, drizzle tops with more olive oil
Bake 425 for umm. Till it is done! OK about 20 minutes, maybe 30.

For the ‘sauce’ I think cup of water, to one bullion, a pat of butter, mix another cup of water with flour in Tupperware shaker then add in, pour milk on tip stirring all the while.

When it comes with a gigantic insurance bill!

My wonderful husband had a contract for three years, it just ended. Instead of hiring him outright, or firing him, he was switched to a new contract company...with a raise.

Not to shabby of one eihter...Not tops, but should keep us in milk even with our newest drinking his share instead of nursing.

Then we got the information on insurance with the new company...almost 1 grand a month!!!!!

That is a month! 1,000 a month for insurance! We pay only 400 now, and that is killing us!

So my genious husband figured out the math, and went back to the recruiter...he got him to give us a real raise. One that will keep us in milk and insurance. I am soo proud of him, a raise you expect is good, one you ask for and get is even better!


We now have an actual raise...not only will it keep us in milk, it will keep us in donating to the church and socking away a 'real' amount of money (as in more >1% as opposed to

I looked up weed in the dictionary:
weed
–noun
1. a valueless plant growing wild, esp. one that grows on cultivated ground to the exclusion or injury of the desired crop.
2. any undesirable or troublesome plant, esp. one that grows profusely where it is not wanted: The vacant lot was covered with weeds.

so stuff you don't want..well I like everything that isn't hard baked clay..so I have no weeds, nothing is 'undesirable' hance the rediculous letter stating I had a yard full of weeds is wrong.

I also checked on wildflower:
wild·flow·er
n.

1. A flowering plant that grows in a natural, uncultivated state.

yep that describes my lawn, uncultivated..oh everyonce in awhile I go chop down some things so I can see the kiuds if they go out, ut for the most part I only chop down the ugly stuff..I keep the flowers and the trees.

Apparently I am not the first to hassle over the weed vs wildflower issue

backyard story

Unfortunatly the whole 'garden for wildlife' seems to be a lot of work..it might be easier and cheaper to get the chemicals and fertalizer and manicure my lawn...

backyard habitat rules

dunno if href works here...

This Scepter'd Isle
by Mercedes Lackey and Roberta Gellis

It happens to also have a CD rom of other stories, because and I quote:

"The publisher did not provide this out of the goodness of his heart...He figures you will start reading ....and discover you really don't want to continue reading on the computer ......you will buy the book"

Pretty tricky..if I hadn't read the disclaimer I prolly would have popped the CD in and gotten hooked for another night or 10.

I am hungover....and your tax dollars paid for me to get this way!

Think of it, for free they hand over this drug to anyone who signs their name! And you can do it over and over again!

Rediculous!

I had been doing so good, been dry for almost 3 weeks, then this hits.

It started as a perfectly normal day, but after dinner we headed out together as a family. GMC found a dozen he wanted, JC found another half dozen, I grabbed a couple 'for the kids' and UE got a couple So far so good, none for me.

Then it happened..I peeked over the nearest shelf... the other side was Sci-fi, so close......right there, only one small shelf of scifi, but oh what a shelf!

Of course you know I succombed and grabbed a book. And of course you know I gave in and read the book all night.....and of course I am paying for it today.....

I try so hard to be good and stay on the wagon, but oh what a pleasure to sink into the world of elves, and faries, and mystery, and adventure!

The worst part is this particualar book uses hystory! now I HAVE to go find out if Henry the VIII had a son Harry, and just how he died....Sadly my memory of history is failing, I do know Anne Bolyn was beheaded..I think for adultry, but Cathrines ties to Rome are iffy, plus the Spanish threat..wonder if he had a son and if said son had a couple threats on his life recorded......

Honestly I know more of history from fiction than from the history I was supposed to memorize!

GRR! I have to go do something useful..not search out English history!

In general I avoid it, I like to touch and feel what I buy, but in reality, I don't have time to go to all the stores and play. So yesterday I started peeking at toys, and found a better price for UE,

animals rock

plus a doll family for DD,

Note the red hair , though it is on the girl not mom....

Plus a dino thing for DS...

glow in the dark!

and yeah some drool worthy doll stuff

Its a computer!!!!I so want that! But DD is more into baby stuff, which we have.

While looking for the exact toy for UE (he'll be one, loves pulling things,

the one we'd get 'cept for the price!
like drums, bags, thought we would get him something designed to be dragged along)

I thought I would peek at things for JC, she is a true girly girl, in love with dolls, babys, and pink. For christmas Pappap is restoring my old tin dollhouse, and I would like to get her some furnishings and dolls. I did have dolls but they had wires poking out, not sure the laws on what the wires were made of, but I decided to ditch mine before UE chewed them and got sick...

so while hunting online I found Adorable doll stuff! I want it. All of it!
from the baby in pink


to the shiny white mattress!


I have seriously green eyes! check out more adorable doll stuff

This is the question I am pondering, generally I run in one of two modes, 'you can't spend a dime, cause you don't have it' or 'go ahead we got it'

Now go ahead is reserved for groceries, and dont got it is the rest of hte time, but somedays I have to spend outside of the grocery store, like birthdays..I am getting him a present, maybe two. I know what I want, I just have to find the right price and not buy anything else while I am at it.

How can you write a tutorial about making a button but leave out the imporant fact that buttons must be enabled in order to test them!!!!

I think I finally learned how to make one! I have been at this way to long though, but at least the sample one will go jump to frame 15. It is a start!

I sent an update regardig the website, I was stuck on sending a mass email, I set up the group, added the members requesting updates, and then..nothing I couldn't find a button to email them all..and each night I said I would ask my husband who has used the php thing before, and each night I forgot (gonna blame it on my lousy sleeper UE)

Finally tonight I remembered to ask, it is a big blatant button on the main admin page, DUH!

I wonder if I had just kept looking would I have found it last week myself? Instead of waiting for someone else to fix it for me.....

I was looking for a picture and I came accross this interesting post about

the tv police


Fortunatly not america, but it makes you wonder just what all countries will do for money, you forbid one method, so they chose another......when will it end? (and how long till the TV police come here? we already pay a tax on owning 'stuff' and land, and cars, and err, oh yeah everything.

I recieved an email from someone interested in stories regarding how children learn to read.

link to full email

After seeing my two daughters learn to read in dramatically different ways, I have been intrigued by the question of how homeschooling children learn to read. I am feeling led to research how other homeschooling children are learning to read by non-traditional means. I am not sure exactly where my research will lead. At this time, I am just collecting stories from homeschooling parents. .........


Lessee, I know contrary1 did some, and luxliving, not sure of the names of who else though, so rather than miss anyone, I figured I would just post it here.

So my dishwasher is on the fritz again, this happens, a lot. And I go back to hand washing, but as I discovered over the last week...I don't like my dishwasher. I wont run it without a full load, and while I generally get one a day, I also have 'leftovers'.....

I know I should hand wash the leftovers, but I find my brain is either one or the other.
I am on 'wash the old fashioned way' or on 'wait for the full load modern convenience' way. Somehow it seems my 'convenience' is causing me more stress than relief!

Today while trying to find room for 'stuff' I briefly fantasized about shelves. What I could do with shelves instead of the dishwasher. I could fit the ice-cream maker, the kitchen aid, the waffle maker (which I love, thanks again) and the toaster, and the popcorn maker, and the ricer! (I know plenty of convenience stuff there!)

That’s the thing, we choose what is a convenience to us, and what is a hassle, and right now a half working dishwasher is a hassle, unfortunately If I ever want to sell this house I have to have a dishwasher, no self respecting home buyer pays much for a house without one!

'course thats cause I am a lousy writer...ever notice I am also always down on myself?

Anyway very interesting post from a wonderful writer (she knits too .)

"I am angry. The government has just intruded itself upon my notice again, with threats of taking more of my family’s hard-earned living, of taking away even more private property rights, and sucking into its vortex hours and hours of my precious time as it does so.....................................
Decades have gone by, the same tunes are being played now as always. The average citizen on the street knows, instinctively, that it’s bad to give a junkie more of the drug he craves. Why, then, don’t the adults far older than I (and that bear more sway in the system than I) seem to have the least idea that continuing to pour money into the school system is a lousy idea?".............

read more of her thoughts

here

I haven't read 'teach your own' but I have read other John Holt books, I highly recomend his work.

Unfortunalty the 'mall' was rained out, so poor GMC still didn't get to see the monuments!

But we did get to the zoo, and we got to see the smithsonian for a little while and we made it to the science center, plus mount vernon.

Plus I got to see my cousins newest. Absolutly adorable 7 week old .

I havn't totalled up everything, tbut my initail WAG is underbudget by a lot, which means after I find the suprises I should be underbudget by a bit .

We ate all the convenience food we brought and ran out of fruit by the last day, but had more water than we needed. Oh yeah and we fogot some essential stuff so we had to buy lunch out every day...not so cool, but we will live.

Managed to get souveniers, without breaking the bank, found a store that was going out of buisness, gotta love stuff at 40% off, makes the DC prices downright reasonable. We also found stickers on sale at the smithsonian store, and a reasonably priced book.

And I discovered something, my kids didn't knwo they could spend money! I had to mention it to them or they would have come home without anything! which is sorta a good thing, I don't want them asking for things all the time, but also I was so busy looking at the cool stuff I forgot to go near a store till the last day!

Thank you to all who gave advice, support and ideas, they started to fade last night around 10, and this morning when I peeked at him they seem to be all gone (well he is still sleeping, so from what I can see anyway)

We still have a best guess of the apple yogurt, he used to get a rash from applesauce and juice, so maybe this form is not good..or maybe we are completly off base!

I found the home remedy link helpfulll, next time we will have more ideas on how to ease the discomfort anyway. Well actually we hope there is no next time! But just in case we are packing the benadryl to take to DC!

My kid had a ton on his upper leg when he got undressed for a shower (odd day it was like 2:30...)

then after the shower I put some baking soda and they faded a bit (I didn't know what they were at the time) then after dinner they were worse, and now a couple hours and some baking soda later they are even worse,All up and down both legs, the kid is definatly uncomfortable, though he says they don't itch, he is 'squirming' My son is a bouncer not a squirmer.

I put him in the tub with some baking soda, I don't know if the water will help or not, but I am hoping.....I also sent poor DH for some benadryl.

Normally when we go out I pack food, we eat alot and even if we think we will be back, we wont if I fail to pack, so elaving my house requires food and beverage packed.

Well the other day I got ready and said: "Hey I could just take a bottle of juices, One of water, and a thing of the applesaue for UE"

Err wait, like my cuboard doesn't have plastic cups waiting for juice? I can't put the applesauce in a plastic dish with lid?

Just because the convenience was there I was thinking of using it..now I could pack a jar of sauce for DC..but washing dishes in a hotel sounds like way more work than washing them here in my house.....so I refrained while home, but I am glad I splurged for DC (or rather I will be in DC!)

So I went to the store, I sniffed and smelled till I found the one scent I KNEW you would like, I wrapped it up, got the kids to make a card and we gave it to you.

You oohed and awwed, You sniffed and sighed at the perfect scent I found (ok fine, my husband found) and then what did you do? You put it on a shelf and turned it into a dust catcher! What was the point of me finding the right scent if you were just going to leave it on the shelf!

If I screwed up and it stinks to you, give it away, someone will like it, and I don't have to be reminded of the dustcatcher I found!

On the other hand if I did good, take it out, dust it off, and USE IT!

Thank you.

I have single serve applesauce, single serve fruit, single serve juice, single serve bottled water, single serve oatmeal, and single serve drink mix. If I shopped like this normally I wouldn't be able to fit a weeks worth of food in my pantry!

Fortunatly I only have to pack it up...but how to fit it all in the car?

I made a bird! I got the idea that an online flash 'how to draw' would be cool. I have some paper versions that the kids love to follow and I thought a computer would make it real simple....I thought wrong!

Here is what I made after well, really not to terribly long:



But the trouble is..it isn't worth copying! Who would want to learn to draw that! Ah well. I think I have an idea how to break it down into steps, but I need an actual artist to draw the bird..not me!

And yes, all that was me avoiding buttons, I still can't get them to work, so I keep assuaging (is that the word?) my ego by learning something else.

The worst part of PTing a kid (regardless of method, or least between traditional for oldest and EC for middle and current) is the phase where they pee on demand, yet will pee agian 5 minutes later! and of course will also follow that up by refusing to pee when asked or not at all for hours on end!

GRRRRRR! that is where Ue is. He will wake up at night mad because he has to pee, but yet if you take him he may not pee, if he does he will go back to sleep for awhile thankfully, if he doesn't I am in for a bad night till he decides to (in a potty or a diaper).

And during the day he will pester me, fussing, I run thru the list,'nurse?, potty? Diaper? Sometimes he nurses regardless (and yes I am trying to stop that!) sometimes he heads to the potty. when he does I think way cool and figure I am off the hook for a bit, but like 10 minutes later he will come up with a wet diaper! grrrrrrr!

On another note, he can take off the cloth diapers..which is a bit risky seeing as he is still learning..Though he is nicer about laying down for a a diaper..
We bought some 'pull ups' huggies brand..not what we used on my DD, the very first one ripped as we put it on him! not what I need in a diaper!

I tried a fuzzy cover, to see if it would hold the pee (not really), the diaper doesn't stay inside unless you pin it and he plays with the pins, grrrr. I was debating on trying to stich a diaper into a rough underware state, and use it under the cover..tried just a diaper before he started messsing with the pins, doesn't contain enough pee to save my carpet.

And I was debating on going the easy route and getting 'training pants' (thick underware) and using the fuzzy cover over that....but that would be money spent.

Oh and I remembered what else I think I need for DC..shoes for UE..he will be doing more outside walking htere, and I don't want his feet cut up by the rough concrete....kid has been walking for two months almost and I still haven't gotten him shoes!

I actually used coupons today! We bought all the stuff for the trip and stull managed to stay under budget, due to flashes coupons.

One for diapers, one for wipes, one for oatmeal (which also happened to be on sale) one for detergent and one for err..ok several other things...oh chicken! I never buy canned chicken, but it sounds like the perfect thing to take to a hotel for lunch!

Speaking of lunch and breakfast and the hotel, I have access to a microwave! and a coffee pot, and a mini fridge! that totally makes my life easier! I still went with lots of convenience, this is what convenience is invented for IMO!

In other words, I and many others should stop reading into comments, and or compliments.

I know a girl (ok lots of girls) who is (are) upset because someone told her "you look really nice today"

Now common, how about your wedding day, when everyone said 'wow' did you take that as an insult on your daily wear? of course not, and no way you should spend every day in a wedding dress, or the equvalent. you look nice today means nothing less than you look nice.

How about

They said: "I have too high of standards for homeschooling"
you think " so my standards are not high enough?

They actually prolly meant they do not feel confident enough to meet their own standards....maybe they also think you do a lousy job, but I doubt it...anyway who are you teaching for, them or your kids?

They said "that dress is nice, is it new?"
you think, what all the old stuff is bad? or I never wear anything new?

What they meant was "nice new, dress...."

They said "are you losing weight?"
you think "should I be?"

what they meant "you look thiner" no offense, no implied need to do so..just fact...

They said: "MMM this is good, this you should cook again!"

you think..so my normal food you do not want me to cook?

What they meant.."This is good, I would like it more....."

They say "I would never pay that much for that!"
you think, so I am an idiot for paying?

What they meant "I am not into that, not my splurge area"

They say "I could never afford to live there"
you think "what so you think I am rich? I gotta prove you wrong!"

What they meant "I do not think I could live there on what I make (regardless of how it compares to yours)

Now there are exceptions, and people who are really rude..but not as many as we make up!

Trying on winter clothes...

Normally winter kind of creeps in, One morning you need a sweat shirt So you dig it up, but by lunch you are glad of shorts. Another night you think, warmer PJS are in order...So you grab a pair, but the next night you need cool barely there stuff.

Anyway, by the end of october you might have all the winter stuff, and to make life easier ont he kids I get rid of the shorts (nothing like being asked every morning..is it warm enough for shorts? when it is 65 degrees, but you know it will be 75 by bed....

Well, next week we are going to DC, and then on to PA..I hear they need coats in PA lately..I don't havea friend in DC to check with, but I am guessing shorts are not in season!

So this morning I dug up all the 'will grow into' that was wintery (but not to fridged) and tried it on, ok J and G tried it on, U I kinda guessed..hope I am right. I found a few gaps in style, but I am not buying stuff for one vacation, G will just have to suffer with no PJ pants....J has no warm 'dressy' long skirts, or tights, but for one day (sunday will be church in PA) I think she will live..I'll hold her in a blanket from the car to the church if I ahve to (though we will need tights eventually here in NC)

Hmm phooey, there was one other reason I was thinking of going to a store besides the tights...if I can't remember it, I guess I don't have to go and spend money

Anyone know of one?

For breakfast we normally eat english muffins or oatmeal. Niether of which work well in a hotel.

I do not want to buy one (both due to cost and time) but I also do not want to have to do cheereos, which don't fill you up for long (all carbs, and no matter what they say not enough complex ones at that)

I have been racking my brain for weeks now and nothing is comming up except pb sandwhiches..and if we use them for breakfast what will we pack for lunch?

Sigh, travel had better be worth it!

1. Pack food, lots of it
2. Take out garbage the DAY BEFORE! (yeah like I will remember that!)
3. Take garbage to garage the day of...
4. Pack clothes..cold weather ones..it is colder up north!
5. Pack phone numbers of friends in PA!
6. plan an itinerary,so we can actually see some of said friends in PA
7. plan itinerary for DC as well.
8. have fun.....Yes I have ot plan this, otherwise I might forget and get all worked up about everything that will go wrong!

I went to a picnic at a church friends house last night, it was Nice, very nice, all decorated, big screen, all the fancy stuff dreams are made of (the grass was even greener .)The company was nice too

My house on the other hand, has a crib in the middle of the living room......and writing on the primered walls, still.

I would like to have some church friends over, but do I dare let them see my house, or should I go on a decorating/rearanging spree first?

Oddly enough, at least to me, I do not feel the need to go on that decorating spree, sure I would like to paint, but it isn't in the budget now, and I am not putting my life on hold waiting for it, and no amount of money will turn me from an occasional mower to a lawn pro!

And that writing stays on the wall to remind this over-demanding mother that he is only 4 (was 2 at the time)......and 4 year olds do NOT know everything. For example he does not know how to stop his one year old sister from finding a pencil and writing on the wall.....(I was only around the corner for a minute!)

When I debated about what to do with my kid information, I debated doing a blog, after all I do teach everyday..but I hate blogger, and I have no idea how to do myown, so I thought about putting it here, but..this is a finance site, about finances, whihc is cool I need htat to help keep me motivated.

And as far as teaching goes, it is a whole lot of NOT spending! I can't remember the last time I spent a single dime on teaching....Oh sure we go places (local science center) but we went there for fun, not my fault they learned stuff!

So while I have a topic here for frugal home ducation, it is rather full of notes, and err brags ...cause the money spent is nil, and I like it that way. I don't even think of it as in 'I saved X by doing it my way' it is automatic. I hope someday I will find cooking a bit more automatically frugal, and maybe even more of my entertainment.