Simple Woman's Daybook

For today Monday, April 19, 2010

Outside my window ... Sunny! Lovely day.

I am thinking... why do I always burn the garlic bread.

I am thankful for... a clean house.

From the learning rooms ... about goats!

From the kitchen... lassagna

I am wearing...tee shirt, sweat pants. I am feeling lazy.

I am creating... food, soap, yarn!

I am going... to eat soon.

I am reading... Urban Homesteading

I am hoping... to find a full time job soon.

I am hearing... as little as possible. I like it quiet.

Around the house... small amounts of laundry. vacuuming. I plan on spinning and knitting this evening.

One of my favorite things... doggies sleeping on my feet.

A few plans for the rest of the week: work mostly.

A video of last week:



I worked a few extra days last week. I wanted to make up for the pay that I lost during spring break. There are 5 weeks left of school, and while I am looking forward to summer, I need to think about having a full time job next year. Part time just doesn't work for me. Sadly, there have been so many budget cuts around here, there are many people looking for work now.

*sigh*

Happy knitting!

Crock Pot Ham and Beans

I took a photo, but I can't find the darn camera now. Look for an update as soon as I find the camera.

This post is dedicated to my friend Mandy who is new to crock pot cooking. I know she will love this recipe. I learned to make this when I was about 10 years old. I used to make this from time to time for my family growing up.

A few facts about this meal

1. Depending on how you source the meat, it is possible to feed your family for less than $2. That is for the whole meal, not per-person. I often make this with a couple of large pieces of left over ham, especially the fatty parts. I freeze the left over bits every time I make a ham to use for this soup. Even when buying the meat for this soup, it is super cheap to feed the whole family.

2. You do not have to soak the beans overnight when using a crock pot to cook beans.

3. Crock pots use way less energy than the stove.

4. The meat is not the center piece of this soup, the beans are. Since the meat is flavoring, you can feed your whole family with a very small amount. You can also leave the meat out.

1 lb. bag of dried beans -- cook's choice. I prefer great northern or black beans, but any dried bean is fine. Lentils and split peas are nice too.

Small amount meat of choice (a few oz of left over ham (esp. fatty parts), 5 or 6 strips of bacon, or a ham hock are all good choices)

2 - 3 carrots diced

1 stalk celery with leaves diced

1 small onion diced

1 bay leaf

water to cover beans in pot, about 2 quarts.

Salt and pepper to taste.

Put all ingredients into slow cooker except salt and pepper (the pork cuts used can be salty, so it is best to wait until soup is nearly done and taste test seasonings). Set cooker on HIGH for 4 - 6 hours or LOW for 8 - 10.

Serve in bowls with Molly's Country Corn Bread.

Simple, cheap, and totally yummy!

Enjoy.

Daybook

For today Monday, April 4, 2010

Outside my window ... Sunny! Lovely day.

I am thinking... about the rest of the work I need to do in the garden.

I am thankful for... spring break.

From the learning rooms ... re-learning Windows Movie Maker.

From the kitchen... something with hamburger in it.

I am wearing... still in my PJs, but not for long.

I am creating... a garden.

I am going... work more on my garden.

I am reading... The Everything Soap Making Book

I am hoping... my garden does well.

I am hearing... Pooper's tummy growl. I wish he would go eat already.

One of my favorite things... a wonderful hubby who works hard to build my raised bed.

A few plans for the rest of the week: tons more yard work, but it is spring break. No regular work.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

No picture, I finally got my Youtube account for this blog. All my pics are in the video.

Video I want to share:



Video blogging will now be a regular part of this blog. I will be starting slow, but I have serious plans for the Youtube account that goes with the blog.

This entry marks more blog entries than I did all last year. It was a hectic year with student teaching and looking for work, but I am looking forward to doing so much more with my blog in the up coming months.

Happy Knitting!

Earth Hour

On March 27, 2010 at 8:30 p.m. I’ll be turning out the lights to show I care about our planet and our future. Join me by signing up for Earth Hour at www.EarthHour.org.

This will be my third year participating in the event. Hope you all join me for an hour of knitting by candlelight. I am going to try out a couple of solar lamps I have too.

Happy Knitting! (in the dark)

That Daybook thingie

For today Monday, March 22, 2010

Outside my window ... Sunny! Lovely day.
I am thinking... major plans for this blog. Maybe Wed? Defiantly by spring break.

I am thankful for... a relatively clean house.

From the learning rooms ... lots of things, but it is all related to my future plans for the blog. I won't tell you!

From the kitchen... granola

I am wearing...Purdue sweatshirt and cut off shorts.
I am creating... I know that I want to make this soon!

I am going... work on lots of changes for this blog.

I am reading... Casting On. (actually, the book got set aside for a while)

I am hoping... it will finally stay warm.

I am hearing... the soft hum of my computer, the whir of the space heater, and Trooper grunting!
Around the house... small amounts of laundry. vacuuming. I plan on spinning and knitting this evening.

One of my favorite things... my spinning wheel.

A few plans for the rest of the week: shopping of the JH swap.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Demon dogs!

The little guy is Trooper, aka "Pooper." He is new here, but getting along fine.

Link I want to share: Crochet instructions (opens as a pdf)

Video I want to share:



This makes me want to learn Russian!

Happy Knitting!

Crock Pot Kool Aid Dying

I experimented with the crock pot method of kool aid dying. I am please with the results (not so much with the picture). I used Lamb's Pride worsted. I wanted something spring-like, a meadow in bloom-ish?

I think I will use this to make a couple of pairs of my Toasty Fingerless Mitts pattern.

Happy Knitting!

Beware the Ides of March!

I didn't have any students today (teacher record day), so I didn't get to give a quiz or anything for them to beware of.

I missed Pi Day yesterday.

Yummy fruit and nut breakfast bread

I love hearty breads with fruit, nuts, and whole grains. This is a bread machine recipe, but it would make a very nice loaf using traditional bread baking methods.

1/3 cup hot tap water
1 teaspoon white flour
2 teaspoons yeast
couple drops of honey

Place these ingredients in the bottom of your bread machine. This is my bread machine version of proofing the yeast. Let sit for about 5 minutes.

1 cup milk, room temp
1 egg
1 tablespoon oil (I use canola)
1 tablespoon honey
2 cups unbleached white flour (I use King Aurthur)
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 rolled oats
1/2 coriander
1/4 nutmeg
1 teaspoon sea salt

put these ingredients in your machine in this order. I use the basic setting on my machine. My machine as a delay buzzer for adding nuts and fruits. I wait for that before I add:

zest from 1 lemon
1/2 cup dried mixed berries (I get these on the snake aisle at Walmart. Look for something that has no added sugar)
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 crushed pecans

Let the machine do its magic.

This is a very hearty, comforting bread that is great as morning toast. Enjoy!

If you make any of my recipes, please leave a comment and let me know how it turned out.

I am wasting time on Youtube

This is what I want!



I love the Garden Girl!

Daybook

For today Monday, March 8, 2010

Outside my window ... little gray. Still snow on the ground. It should be warm enough to melt today.

I am thinking... major plans for this blog. I am giving any hints, but the plans are in the works for a new an improved Molly Knits Sweaters.

I am thankful for... Mondays off.

From the learning rooms ... lots of things, but it is all related to my future plans for the blog. I won't tell you!

From the kitchen... something vegetarian

I am wearing... still in pink PJs.

I am creating... yarn. Finishing a Lady February sweater for my DD whose birthday was in February.

I am going... work on lots of changes for this blog.

I am reading... Casting On.

I am hoping... that state testing will run smoothly this weak.

I am hearing... Mitters desperately meowing at Sly to pet her with his foot. I know, right?

Around the house... small amounts of laundry. vacuuming.

One of my favorite things... Trooper sitting on my feet to keep them warm.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Shhhh, super secret changes. Look for them in about 2 weeks.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

I am sharing a link to a cool tutorial I found for kool aid dying in a crock pot.

Happy Knitting!

Stale Bread Crumb Cookies

This is a very versatile recipe for a basic coco cookie using stale bread crumbs. It has been a while since I have made it (my kids are grown), but thinking about it now, I think I will make some tonight to use the lefter ends of the bread I have. BTW, I only eat whole wheat bread, so I know that works really well. I am sure white is fine, but I have never used it. I did sneak a few stale cake doughnuts in these once. That was really good.

1 1/4 cups unbleached white flour
1 1/4 cups sugar (these are really nice with a combination of white and brown sugar)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup cocoa
1/2 cup milk (you can use water or another liquid)
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup melted shortening (for a lower fat version that is tasty, try apple sauce. Peanut butter works too and is YUM OH)
2 cup bread crumbs (I use the food processor to make these really fine)

1. Sift together dry ingredients
2. Combine wet ingredients and add to the dry mixture
3. Add melted shortening (or apple sauce or melted peanut butter) and bread crumbs
3. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a baking sheet lined with paper or silicon liner.
4. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until done.

Don't tell the kids about the lefter ends from the loaf of bread.

Daybook

For today Monday, March 1, 2010

Outside my window ... little gray, but the sun is trying to shine. Still snow on the ground.

I am thinking... about what it will feel like to not be sick.

I am thankful for... that I actually feel human today. Still sick, but better.

From the learning rooms ... to sick to think.

From the kitchen... don't feel like cooking. Sick

I am wearing... nasty sweat pants, tee shirt, old ratty sweater.

I am creating... lots of snot.

I am going... to go crazy if I don't get better soon.

I am reading... Teacher Man by Frank McCourt.

I am hoping... that I will be well enough for work tomorrow.

I am hearing... Trooper grunting.

Around the house... I don't even want to think about it.

One of my favorite things... Vick's Vapor Rub.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Not being sick.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

I have no pictures at the moment. Sorry. At least I am blogging regularly.

Happy Knitting!

Daybook

For today Monday, February 22, 2010

Outside my window ... Snow, again! Looks sort of pretty right now, but it is big, heavy, wet snow.

I am thinking... very little actually.

I am thankful for... peace and quiet. Tony stayed at his sister's last night.

From the learning rooms ... still learning about gardening. I think I may have worked out how to start my seeds indoors (I don't get much natural light in my house)

From the kitchen... I think chicken soup. Sly is sick.

I am wearing... jeans and a sweatshirt.

I am creating... socks

I am going... have to go back out in the yucky to pick the dog up from the vet. He is having his 21 toe removed.

I am reading... a knitting mystery. Julius Caesar for work.

I am hoping... for nothing actually.

I am hearing... snow falling.

Around the house... the never ending laundry and dishes

One of my favorite things... Winter Olympics.

A few plans for the rest of the week: watching the Olympics and knitting socks.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

I haven't taken any pictures. I need to find the old camera.

EDIT

I had to add this video as soon as I saw it.



Happy knitting (and cooking)!

Daybook

For today Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Outside my window ... Snow

I am thinking... about dinner, I will be posting more recipes this week.

I am thankful for... a hubby who washes dishes.

From the learning rooms ... to budget my time.

From the kitchen... Pork chops and cabbage (recipe tomorrow), Whole Wheat Buttermilk Bread, Apple Cake (recipe soon).

I am wearing... jeans and a grey sweatshirt.

I am creating... socks

I am going... continue cooking.

I am reading... a new knitting mystery. Nothing special, but fun.

I am hoping... tomorrow at work will be as good as yesterday at work.

I am hearing... NPR.

Around the house... the never ending laundry

One of my favorite things... Winter Olympics.

A few plans for the rest of the week: watching the Olympics and knitting socks.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

I haven't taken any pictures. When dinner is done, I plan to have pictures to go with the recipes.

Happy knitting (and cooking)!

Whole Wheat Buttermilk Bread

This is a bread machine recipe, but it would also make a yummy single loaf bread using traditional bread baking methods.

1/3 cup warm tap water
1 T honey
1 T white flour
2 t yeast

Place these ingredients into the bottom of bread machine and let them sit for about 5 minutes. This is my bread machine adaptation of "proofing" the yeast to get it ready to make bread. Basically, this process wakes the yeast up (warm water), feeds it (honey), and gives it something to do (flour).

1 cup buttermilk (room temp)
1 T oil (I use either canola or olive)
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cup white flour
1 additional T honey
1 t salt
1 egg

In the order listed, add remaining ingredients to the bread machine. I use the basic bread setting for my machine. Let the machine do its magic.

Daybook

For today Monday, February 8, 2010

Outside my window ... Bright and sunny, but don't be fooled. There's a storm brewing!

I am thinking... that I really don't want to drive to work tomorrow.

I am thankful for... a healthy dog. Bud gave us a scare last week. He was urinating blood. He went back to the vet this morning, and he is doing well. He likes that mommy is giving him lots of treats to hide his meds.

From the learning rooms ... square foot gardening.

From the kitchen... I used the left over veggies from the super bowl veggie tray (about a cup of broccoli, cherry tomatoes --cut in half, a half a cup baby carrots, and maybe a stalk or two of celery), left over salsa (about 1/4 a cup), a bag of lentils, roughly 4 cloves of garlic, 4 cups of water, and salt, pepper, and cumin (lots). I am going to stick something in the bread machine to go with this amazing, cheap soup.

I am wearing... jeans and a light blue sweatshirt.

I am creating... socks

I am going... grade test, spin a little.

I am reading... a knitting mystery. Nothing special, but fun.

I am hoping... that my drive won't be too bad. I know they won't cancel school.

I am hearing... not much.

Around the house... a few dishes and laundry

One of my favorite things... a truck with 4 wheel drive.

A few plans for the rest of the week: trying to stay out of the snow.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...



This is why we all want to work at Knitpicks!

Happy knitting!

That Daybook thingie

Simple Daybook

For today Wednesday January 20, 2010

Outside my window ... Melting snow, but there is still a whole lot.

I am thinking... about my plans for the Knitting Olympics.

I am thankful for... space heaters

From the learning rooms ... that working part time doesn't necessarily give me extra time to do things I want to do.

From the kitchen... left over ham and beans. Very yummy ham and beans, if I do say so myself.

I am wearing... gray sweats

I am creating... socks

I am going... eat popcorn, knit, watch TV. I am not very ambitious today.

I am reading... Julius Cesar, I start teaching it tomorrow.

I am hoping... that my career path settles down soon.

I am hearing... Sly eating. Can you tell I don't listen to the radio or watch TV much? I love a quiet house.

Around the house... a few dishes and laundry, and one very scary dirty bathroom

One of my favorite things... ham and bean soup even with all the farting.

A few plans for the rest of the week: if the snow melts, riding the Harley.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...




My plans for the Knitting Olympics.

Happy Knitting!

Simple Woman's Daybook

Simple Daybook

For today Monday January 11, 2010

Outside my window ... Snow, and more falling. We have had a lot of snow this past week. There are several feet on the ground right now. It has been cold, but it was colder last year.

I am thinking... not much really. Today is a slow day. A little house work, a little grading for tomorrow.

I am thankful for... automatic washers

From the learning rooms... Still spinning

From the kitchen... Sly has requested Corn Chowder

I am wearing... long underwear -- my winter PJs

I am creating... a clean house

I am going... to take my Christmas tree down, finally.

I am reading... One of the knitting mysteries. I started it at work Friday during SSR (silent sustained reading)

I am hoping... I am too content right now for hope.

I am hearing... nothing.

Around the house... hung new draft blocker curtains, need to vacuum

One of my favorite things... oatmeal

A few plans for the rest of the week: mostly work -- maybe go out with Sly on Wed (we are both off).

Here is picture for thought I am sharing... it has been a while since I posted a picture of Buddy.

Happy Knitting!

Simple Woman's Daybook

Simple Daybook

For Today

January 6, 2010

Outside my window ... snow, but a clear, sunny day. We had a lot of lake effect, so the ground is buried under a couple of feet. At least another foot will be here by Saturday.

I am thinking... my mom's birthday, today.

I am thankful for... my mom

From the learning rooms... lesson plans are on going....................

From the kitchen... chili, corn bread, hot things

I am wearing... long underwear, tee shirt, sweater, wool socks. These are my winter PJs

I am creating... ply some yarn, and make soap!

I am going... to remember my first day at Bendix for the rest of my life!

I am reading... The Knitter's Almanac. Thinking I might spend the year knitting with EZ.

I am hoping... that my second day at Bendix will be better than my first.

I am hearing... nothing.

Around the house... laundry.

One of my favorite things... a nice cup of tea.

A few plans for the rest of the week: work, avoiding driving in the snow too much, knitting, spinning, reading, and making soap.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing... the front of my house.

Happy Knitting!

A New Years update

I really don't want to do a list of resolutions. In a week, I feel guilty for breaking one of them, and forget the rest of the year that I made them. I do, however, want to just recap what I have done this past year.

Actually, I have to say, that the past two years have been like one really long year. Starting in 2008, I began the Transition to Teaching program at Indiana University South Bend. The idea behind "T2T" is to help people who already have a Bachelor's degree to change careers and become teachers. It was an extremely intensive program that took up a great deal of my energy. Last year at this time, I had just finished a semester of working full time at Boston Middle School during the day as a Remediation Assistant while taking 10 credit hours at night. I was also getting ready to student teach.

Student teaching was an interesting experience, and I have already blogged about it, so I won't go into all that again. After earning my teaching license, I began my job search. Looking for work was challenging, but I was able to find a temporary position at Griffith Middle School. I am thankful for the chance to work with the students, and I am very sad that I will not get to spend the rest of the year with them.

In December, I started looking for work again, which is a difficult time for a teacher to look for work. I applied for several jobs, and I had lots of interviews, but none of those worked out for me. Then, out of the blue, I got a call from South Bend Community Schools. I had put in an application over the summer without getting a call. The interview went very well, and I was excited about working in the school, so I was thrilled when I was offered the job!

So, starting this year, I will be teaching high school English (several grade levels and classes) at the Bendix School in South Bend. I am pleased to be working in a district closer to home (GMS was an hour commute). I am hopeful that I will continue to work in South Bend.

What are my other plans for the New Year? Well, knitting has been put on hold for the past two years. I would really like to finish some projects that are bigger than hats. I got a new spinning wheel for Christmas, and I am already addicted to making my own yarns! A couple of years ago, I had a small garden, and I would like to have a garden again this year. Even though we sold the RV, I still have tons of camping equipment, and I hope to take several trips this year. DH got a Harely, and I hope the bike will feature in our summer plans.

Above all, I want to be safe, happy, and healthy. I wish the same for all of you.

Happy Knitting!