Question and Answer Thursday: Advent Traditions

December 1st is tomorrow! Time for me to rush around the city looking for pink and purple candles for our Advent wreath (why do I always wait for the last minute?).
Every Sunday up until Christmas we light our Advent wreath and read the corresponding Scriptures. Each child gets to take turns lighting the [...]

Twice-Baked Pizza Potatoes

Sometimes a celiac gets a little desperate for the wonderful flavor of pizza but doesn’t want to go through the work of making her own crust.  I made this recipe up tonight and everyone, especially the kids, loved it.  The amounts I used were based on 8 medium potatoes.  This is actually my estimate, I [...]

Toddling along with my Daughter

I just tucked my ten y/o daughter into bed.   She was begging me from down the hall to tell her a bedtime story.  A few minutes later she emerged, again pleading for a story.  I walked my little girl back to bed, like so many nights before.  As I lifted her pink and green quilt [...]

You know you’re loved when…

…your mom makes you a gluten-free pumpkin pie and a gluten-free pecan pie for Thanksgiving. This was in addition to a regular pumpkin, pecan, and apple pie for everyone else. Thanks Mom. I love you, too.

“Are you done yet?”

UPDATE: I won the coveted GOLDEN KEYBOARD award! Thanks, Owlhaven!
This answer is in response to Owlhaven’s Opinion Saturday regarding family size and how do you know when “you’re done.” Of course, that phrase always makes me think of being a turkey, but, anyway,…here goes:
I wonder how many times I have heard the question, [...]

Pride, Socks, and My Thanksgiving Menu

I have invited some family members from out of town to come and share Thanksgiving with us.  One of the side benefits of getting ready for guests is that I am forced to do some deep cleaning and organizing.
By now, surely you have realized that this is something I struggle with, but I am beginning [...]

More kitchen makeover pics

Yes! Thanks, Carole, for the photographs. Here are two more views of my kitchen.
This is looking through to the dining room.
And this is looking through the dining room arch into the breakfast nook. There used to be window looking into the backyard before previous owners added a bedroom in the 70s. [...]

Real People Really Do Win Contests

I have written a little about my old house and it’s need for some extra money renovation. Lovers of old houses know that somewhere deep in there, through the layers of paint, vinyl, and wallpaper, a really beautiful home exists. I knew this was especially true in my kitchen.
After we [...]

Fall Blessings

We live in the middle of an old pecan orchard. This is pretty remarkable considering the rest of the region looks like a desert. Years ago, the orchard owners eventually turned my whole part of town into streets and residences. This happened very slowly, so the beauty (some people don’t see it [...]

Question and Answer Thursday: The Quick Tidy-Up

So many times, people don’t want your advice. If you’re like me, you also tend to freely give it. Now is your chance. Every Thursday, I will be begging for you to give me your advice. I can’t wait to see everyone’s answers.
With Thanksgiving around the corner, I have quite a [...]