For those of you who didn't previously enjoy our family newsletter, we ran a regular column about things you can do to squeeze more out of your money. We call it our Tightwad tidbit, and I'm including one below.
We've been quite comfortable with our Dave Ramsey cash budget for 2 years now. But, the Union at Royal's workplace is threatening his job. (He refuses to join the Union or sign anything agreeing to support the Union.) So, he has been threatened twice now that he will be fired- soon.
On that note, our tightwad tendencies came rushing back in, and our budget suddenly got a LOT more modest. We are saving all excess cash for the ominous unemployment on the horizon.
Just at the right moment, my Mom shared a recipe with me that we have found delicious and infinitely more palatable than oatmeal. (My girls love oatmeal sweetened with jam, but I would rather skip breakfast than eat it.) I hope this little blessing can come in handy for you, too. It really tastes good, inspite of being cheap and healthful. Go figure!
The TMM Tightwad TIdbit for 2007 #1
Cheap and delicious breakfast (actually pleases picky eater Mom, 1 yr old, 4 yr old, and Big Daddy)
1/2 cup *cracked wheat berries
Just under 1 Cup Water
2 Tbsp light brown sugar
1. Add water and wheat to bowl.
2. Microwave for 2-3 minutes. Watch, it will "grow" over the edge like oatmeal.
3. Stir and leave in microwave to thicken. Approx. 3 minutes, or enough time to do your daughter's hair and brush your teeth, or empty your dishwasher, or load your dishwasher, etc.
4. Stir in brown sugar, and feed to family when cool enough to eat. I usually find after the thickening period, that it is cool enough. This yields one serving. If I make four servings, I sometimes still don't get any after the girls are done eating. (My girls really have appetites.)
*Cracked wheat: how do you get it?
As a mormon, we buy wheat berries in 100 lb bags for dirt cheap from the local Bishop's storehouse (because we like to have food on hand for emergencies). I'm talking about $0.25/lb dirt cheap. If you are non-mormon, email me and I'll try to hook you up with a local "provider". You can buy wheat from health food stores, but it is usually at about %500 markup.
*Cracked wheat: how do you crack it?
Take wheat berries and put them through a hand mill (hand crank wheat grinder) at a very coarse setting. It is about half way between whole wheat berries and flour. The wheat berries should look like they are cut into thirds or so.
You can also put them in a blender and experiment with the amount of time.
I think some electric wheat grinders also have very coarse settings that would work.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Everyone is a Farmer
As we read the scripture Genesis 1:26-27 yesterday morning, Grace asked what dominion means. I told her, "It is being in charge of something." So, Adam had dominion from God over the "fish of the sea, and the fowl of the air, and the cattle, and every creeping thing which creepeth upon the earth."
Grace's face lit up. "So, Adam was a farmer!"
"Exactly!", I said, delighted. And added,"All men have dominion over these things, Grace. That means we're all farmers in a small way."
Grace's face lit up again. "Everyone is a farmer?"
"Right!"
"So, Daddy is a farmer, and Sienna is a little farmer!"
"Right!"
Then we sang the Primary song from Grace's Sunday school, "Follow the prophet" to the following words:
Adam was a Farmer,
First one that we know.
In a Place called Eden
he helped things to grow.
Adam served the Lord
by following his ways.
We are his descendants
in the latter days.
This morning, Grace caught me off guard when she said,"Sienna is a little farmer."
Until I remembered how we are all farmers, taking care of God's creation.
Grace's face lit up. "So, Adam was a farmer!"
"Exactly!", I said, delighted. And added,"All men have dominion over these things, Grace. That means we're all farmers in a small way."
Grace's face lit up again. "Everyone is a farmer?"
"Right!"
"So, Daddy is a farmer, and Sienna is a little farmer!"
"Right!"
Then we sang the Primary song from Grace's Sunday school, "Follow the prophet" to the following words:
Adam was a Farmer,
First one that we know.
In a Place called Eden
he helped things to grow.
Adam served the Lord
by following his ways.
We are his descendants
in the latter days.
This morning, Grace caught me off guard when she said,"Sienna is a little farmer."
Until I remembered how we are all farmers, taking care of God's creation.
Monday, April 16, 2007
For the Love of Binki
Well, twenty months old and hopelessly attached to that plug. What else can I tell you?
We've decided this next weekend, we will break the addiction... except for sleeping times. We've been warming her up to the idea. But, right now Sienna is refusing to go without a binki. She is exercising her whining muscles in preparation for the battle.
Our war plan follows: put up all the plugs except one, which will be literally tied to Crib slats. Wait for several days until constant toddler irritation recedes.
Any other helpful ideas?
You HAVE to go see Meet the Robinsons 3d
Well, we got to see Meet the Robinsons last Friday. It was 3d, and it was cool. Definitely 4 thumbs up from us. Almost as cool as the free polarized shades. Well, judge for yourself.
And, Royal's a lot taller than me.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Maxims to Live By
You might call this post "Mantras to Live By" instead, as I repeat some of these sayings to myself when I'm facing a hard decision. But that's getting ahead of the story.
One of my grandfathers, whom I'm partly named after, died Tuesday before last. I saw my brother Roy at the funeral. We talked a lot and I told him how one time I was running from a punishment at home and he ran after me and essentially said, "If you run, it only makes it worse." Now this phrase, recycled, has become a mantra of mine, "You can't run from your problems. It only makes them worse." I used to recite it when I felt like chickening out. That saying helped make a man of me, so thank you, Roy. I'll always remember that moment; it changed my life for the better.
There have been other words spoken to me that seemed to have the ring of truth in them, and that I've remembered (or forgotten) in various forms. Here's a list of things I've recited at difficult moments, sayings I heard and liked, and one or two just silly things:
Talent is nice, but it's the ones that stick with it that succeed. - John Jennings, my junior high art teacher. I turned it into, "If I never give up, I'll eventually succeed at art."
You will never regret doing the right thing. (In the long term, at least. On the short term sometimes I'm not so sure.)
In the end, you will be exactly who you choose to be and you will receive exactly what you really wanted.
There's always kinks in the hose. (I came up with this metaphor. It's a euphemism for another common phrase I've heard.)
If aliens invaded right now, wielding only a giant magnet, they would win.
I don't have to wait for someone to ask for my help. I can just go and help.
First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win. - Ghandi
The way we treat everyone around us is very important. The most important thing, in fact.
No matter what you do, sometimes you will hurt people. (I realized this after dating a girl just to be nice, only to find she thought I wanted to marry her. So I stopped dating her. Seems no matter what I'd have done, I would have ended up hurting her. Which leads to another mantra . . . )
Never, ever date someone just to be nice.
Sometimes, even if it's not your fault or you didn't mean to, you just have to say, "Sorry". - From an Ensign or New Era article
That's like nailing jello to the wall.
If you don't forgive, you can't be happy.
I must exercise.
No matter how complicated or difficult a thing is, if you practice it enough, you can do it. (one of the few useful things I learned playing video games.)
With great power comes great responsibility. - Stan Lee, creator of Spiderman via my stepdad.
Doing the right thing for the wrong reason is good, because at least you are doing your duty. And eventually, your heart may change and then you'll be doing the right things for the right reasons.
We're all brothers and sisters. Every last one of us.
Everyone, everyone, EVERY ONE experiences terrible pain in life. (From my mission after speaking to thousands and thousands of people.)
It's not where you are that matters, but in which direction you're heading. -A youth sunday school lesson. I cannot remember who taught it to me. Far better to be in the pit of despair climbing out than on top of great hieghts falling down.
Well, that's about all I can dig up from the root-filled corners of my mental garden. But I believe all these sayings and live by them. (Watch out for giant magnets!)
-Royal
One of my grandfathers, whom I'm partly named after, died Tuesday before last. I saw my brother Roy at the funeral. We talked a lot and I told him how one time I was running from a punishment at home and he ran after me and essentially said, "If you run, it only makes it worse." Now this phrase, recycled, has become a mantra of mine, "You can't run from your problems. It only makes them worse." I used to recite it when I felt like chickening out. That saying helped make a man of me, so thank you, Roy. I'll always remember that moment; it changed my life for the better.
There have been other words spoken to me that seemed to have the ring of truth in them, and that I've remembered (or forgotten) in various forms. Here's a list of things I've recited at difficult moments, sayings I heard and liked, and one or two just silly things:
Talent is nice, but it's the ones that stick with it that succeed. - John Jennings, my junior high art teacher. I turned it into, "If I never give up, I'll eventually succeed at art."
You will never regret doing the right thing. (In the long term, at least. On the short term sometimes I'm not so sure.)
In the end, you will be exactly who you choose to be and you will receive exactly what you really wanted.
There's always kinks in the hose. (I came up with this metaphor. It's a euphemism for another common phrase I've heard.)
If aliens invaded right now, wielding only a giant magnet, they would win.
I don't have to wait for someone to ask for my help. I can just go and help.
First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win. - Ghandi
The way we treat everyone around us is very important. The most important thing, in fact.
No matter what you do, sometimes you will hurt people. (I realized this after dating a girl just to be nice, only to find she thought I wanted to marry her. So I stopped dating her. Seems no matter what I'd have done, I would have ended up hurting her. Which leads to another mantra . . . )
Never, ever date someone just to be nice.
Sometimes, even if it's not your fault or you didn't mean to, you just have to say, "Sorry". - From an Ensign or New Era article
That's like nailing jello to the wall.
If you don't forgive, you can't be happy.
I must exercise.
No matter how complicated or difficult a thing is, if you practice it enough, you can do it. (one of the few useful things I learned playing video games.)
With great power comes great responsibility. - Stan Lee, creator of Spiderman via my stepdad.
Doing the right thing for the wrong reason is good, because at least you are doing your duty. And eventually, your heart may change and then you'll be doing the right things for the right reasons.
We're all brothers and sisters. Every last one of us.
Everyone, everyone, EVERY ONE experiences terrible pain in life. (From my mission after speaking to thousands and thousands of people.)
It's not where you are that matters, but in which direction you're heading. -A youth sunday school lesson. I cannot remember who taught it to me. Far better to be in the pit of despair climbing out than on top of great hieghts falling down.
Well, that's about all I can dig up from the root-filled corners of my mental garden. But I believe all these sayings and live by them. (Watch out for giant magnets!)
-Royal
Friday, March 30, 2007
Shiny = Fancy
I get the privilege to see my Mom today in Warner Robbins. She's usually in Lexington, KY, but currently visiting my brother's home.
He's got 3 cute kids, and the toys to prove it. My two girls couldn't imagine a more engaging play place. So, I'm enjoying a rare respite from toddler boredom. (Its a disease that comes at intervals. The main symptoms are a toddler climbing on and/or destroying more that one valued family heirloom every five minutes or so. The other main symptom is a mother wrapping up a day at home with the kids by going to bed at 7PM on drugs and crying herself to sleep.) Yeah, we've been suffering from an acute case of toddler boredom and teething this past week.
And now, my blogging is occasionally interrupted with Grace's joyful voice,
"Look, Mom, its a mixer!"
"Isn't this pipe fancy?"
"Ooooh, isn't this fancy?"
I'll take it!
He's got 3 cute kids, and the toys to prove it. My two girls couldn't imagine a more engaging play place. So, I'm enjoying a rare respite from toddler boredom. (Its a disease that comes at intervals. The main symptoms are a toddler climbing on and/or destroying more that one valued family heirloom every five minutes or so. The other main symptom is a mother wrapping up a day at home with the kids by going to bed at 7PM on drugs and crying herself to sleep.) Yeah, we've been suffering from an acute case of toddler boredom and teething this past week.
And now, my blogging is occasionally interrupted with Grace's joyful voice,
"Look, Mom, its a mixer!"
"Isn't this pipe fancy?"
"Ooooh, isn't this fancy?"
I'll take it!
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Royal's new blog away from this blog
Royal has been a little industrious lately... here's the link to his personal compilation of instructables.... or in other words, detailed how-tos.
http://www.instructables.com/member/royalestel/
http://www.instructables.com/member/royalestel/
The Flying Scrooge
Or, in other words, Royal's latest building project....
The Ornithopter
The Orni what-er?
Its the flying home-made gadget resembling a dragonfly that Royal constructed from office supplies. Then, of course, he posted detail by detail how to do it yourself on instructables.com!
You have got to see this! Here's a sneak peek...
http://www.instructables.com/id/E6HII1H1JREZIXCMII?ALLSTEPS
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
What's in a Word?
Grace has always been a talented speaker. And, when she wants for a word, she invents descriptions that are creative and clever.
So, see if you can guess what the following definitions refer to:
1. Pinching scissors
2. the Loop stick hanger
3. Nuts shaped like little hot dogs
4. Baby chewing suckers
Give up?
1. cooking tongs
2.Wire Hanger with a paper tube on the long side
3. Cashews
4. pacifiers.
So, see if you can guess what the following definitions refer to:
1. Pinching scissors
2. the Loop stick hanger
3. Nuts shaped like little hot dogs
4. Baby chewing suckers
Give up?
1. cooking tongs
2.Wire Hanger with a paper tube on the long side
3. Cashews
4. pacifiers.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Smiter Bad Guy
We have a new superhero around these days. He goes by the name, "Smiter Bad Guy."
Grace thought of this name. The term "Smiter" originates from "smite" as found in the Book of Mormon. She is frequently inspired by vocabulary we find in the scriptures. Infact, most of our daily family scripture time involves explaining definitions for all the new words in the one verse we get through. Smite was a particularly applicable word to Grace's life, and she has remembered and used it since we first came across it.
So, Smiter Bad Guy is a character, disguised as a little girl, that carries a large weapon disguised as an oversized leaf rake (don't be fooled by its innocent appearance!). He depends on local Good Guys to deliver enemies to him. The enemies are usually disguised as Lawn and Garden implements.
Then, he takes the enemy to an unoccupied part of the yard, lays him down...
and smites him once with the weapon.
That destroys any enemy we've found so far. Thanks, Smiter Bad Guy, for keeping the yard a safe place to live!
Grace thought of this name. The term "Smiter" originates from "smite" as found in the Book of Mormon. She is frequently inspired by vocabulary we find in the scriptures. Infact, most of our daily family scripture time involves explaining definitions for all the new words in the one verse we get through. Smite was a particularly applicable word to Grace's life, and she has remembered and used it since we first came across it.
So, Smiter Bad Guy is a character, disguised as a little girl, that carries a large weapon disguised as an oversized leaf rake (don't be fooled by its innocent appearance!). He depends on local Good Guys to deliver enemies to him. The enemies are usually disguised as Lawn and Garden implements.
Then, he takes the enemy to an unoccupied part of the yard, lays him down...
and smites him once with the weapon.
That destroys any enemy we've found so far. Thanks, Smiter Bad Guy, for keeping the yard a safe place to live!
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Daily Early Morning Seminary
I'm teaching Early Morning Seminary these days.
Its... real early.
So, think of me around 6:15 AM.
What's that, you say? You're still in b... NO! Say its not true!
I'm not listening... Nananana nanaaaaa.... I can't hear you....
I have to go to bed now. See ya.
Its... real early.
So, think of me around 6:15 AM.
What's that, you say? You're still in b... NO! Say its not true!
I'm not listening... Nananana nanaaaaa.... I can't hear you....
I have to go to bed now. See ya.
Running on Chalk Fumes
Well, I dicovered an ususual source of fuel for Sienna's car. . .
Sidewalk chalk! I'm not sure who first tried it, Grace, or Sienna. But, at any rate, one stick'll last over a week of driving! Who knew?
And the other power driving that thing would be Baby power. It's about 1/5 one horsepower unit. Just adorable!
Giving Blood
Some talented Red Cross salesman called me the other day.
He told me about how special and rare my blood is. (I've given here before, so they should know!) He explained the very unusual quality it has, which allows it to be administered to infants and cancer patients. And he finally explained the shortage of this special blood in our area right now.
What could I say? I was flattered into making an appointment.
So, this morning, I marched into the Red Cross office full of self-importance and generosity.
And a pint or so lighter, I went on with my slightly light-headed day.
If you've got clean blood, Just Give!
I'm contemplating posting a pic of my wound. It looks really bad this time, but I'll spare you all.
He told me about how special and rare my blood is. (I've given here before, so they should know!) He explained the very unusual quality it has, which allows it to be administered to infants and cancer patients. And he finally explained the shortage of this special blood in our area right now.
What could I say? I was flattered into making an appointment.
So, this morning, I marched into the Red Cross office full of self-importance and generosity.
And a pint or so lighter, I went on with my slightly light-headed day.
If you've got clean blood, Just Give!
I'm contemplating posting a pic of my wound. It looks really bad this time, but I'll spare you all.
Adventures in Gardening
I have been trying to grow a "successful" garden for a few years. My main motivation is the appeal of self-sufficiency. My secondary motivation is saving a few bucks.
Last year (2006), we were in a rental home during planting season, and put a few herbs in pots.
In May 2006, we got back home and put in some Zinnia seed. They grew for Grace! I'll try to post some wonderful pics. They bloomed through December 1st! (far left pic)
The Year before that (2005) we were in 2 different rental homes during planting season. We didn't plant.
The year before that (2004, I suppose... how time does fly!) we built 2 small raised garden beds. The only picture I have is the strings marking the squares. You may wisely note that each bed is completely shaded. Hmmm... why didn't that ever occur to me?
Grace helped me plant carrots seeds, and something else that also didn't grow. This was my poor attempt at Square foot gardening.
So, this year! 2007! No time like the present, eh!
This winter, I read the excellent book, "How to Grow More Vegetables" by John Jeavons. It is a "biointensive" method of gardening, which translates to 1. you plant "tightly", similarly to the square foot method, and 2. you carefully "grow" your soil so that your garden can always be self-sustainable, without fertilizers and other things being trucked in from someone else's land.
Jeavon's perspective of sustainability has really drawn me in and changed the way I look at the soil, the earth, and the things I consume. This may sound weird, but I now feel closer to understanding the earth and how all we have comes from it. Jeavon's doesn't do any preaching in his book, but I've grown so much from reading it! I recommend it highly, and please do yourself a favor and get it free from the library! It has been around at least 30 years.
Back to my garden in 2007, So, we picked a sunnier spot for this year's garden. Royal helped me prepare the soil. Along with our 6 tomatoes, 6 peppers, and one strawberry plant (thought Grace would love that), we splurged and bought 3 blueberry bushes! (I've wanted to put in some kind of fruit for about 5 years.)
Today, Royal put in some okra seed, and I tossed in a few basil and Nasturtium (flowers that repel bugs in theory) seeds.
In our remaining shady raised garden, Grace put in Cosmos Flower seeds several weeks ago, and today she put in Zinnia's from 2 years ago. Maybe they'll grow. I've kept them in the freezer carefully.
So, Wish us luck! If we live here through August, maybe we will get something. As we pray for a harvest, nourish our plants with great care, and keep the Sabbath day holy, we are very hopeful for some food blessings.
Last year (2006), we were in a rental home during planting season, and put a few herbs in pots.
In May 2006, we got back home and put in some Zinnia seed. They grew for Grace! I'll try to post some wonderful pics. They bloomed through December 1st! (far left pic)
The Year before that (2005) we were in 2 different rental homes during planting season. We didn't plant.
The year before that (2004, I suppose... how time does fly!) we built 2 small raised garden beds. The only picture I have is the strings marking the squares. You may wisely note that each bed is completely shaded. Hmmm... why didn't that ever occur to me?
Grace helped me plant carrots seeds, and something else that also didn't grow. This was my poor attempt at Square foot gardening.
So, this year! 2007! No time like the present, eh!
This winter, I read the excellent book, "How to Grow More Vegetables" by John Jeavons. It is a "biointensive" method of gardening, which translates to 1. you plant "tightly", similarly to the square foot method, and 2. you carefully "grow" your soil so that your garden can always be self-sustainable, without fertilizers and other things being trucked in from someone else's land.
Jeavon's perspective of sustainability has really drawn me in and changed the way I look at the soil, the earth, and the things I consume. This may sound weird, but I now feel closer to understanding the earth and how all we have comes from it. Jeavon's doesn't do any preaching in his book, but I've grown so much from reading it! I recommend it highly, and please do yourself a favor and get it free from the library! It has been around at least 30 years.
Back to my garden in 2007, So, we picked a sunnier spot for this year's garden. Royal helped me prepare the soil. Along with our 6 tomatoes, 6 peppers, and one strawberry plant (thought Grace would love that), we splurged and bought 3 blueberry bushes! (I've wanted to put in some kind of fruit for about 5 years.)
Today, Royal put in some okra seed, and I tossed in a few basil and Nasturtium (flowers that repel bugs in theory) seeds.
In our remaining shady raised garden, Grace put in Cosmos Flower seeds several weeks ago, and today she put in Zinnia's from 2 years ago. Maybe they'll grow. I've kept them in the freezer carefully.
So, Wish us luck! If we live here through August, maybe we will get something. As we pray for a harvest, nourish our plants with great care, and keep the Sabbath day holy, we are very hopeful for some food blessings.
Friday, March 2, 2007
Pretty Pretty Princess
This is the toy referenced in the next post. 
Here is Grace's new game, with Mom playing along. (It's actually pretty fun.) This is a dress-up board game.
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