Sunday, January 31, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
What's New / What's Cooking Wednesday
One of Mean Ol' Mama's college students sent home a yummy coconut dessert. She's originally from the Philippines, and Mean Ol' Mama lived there as a child, so this gift was "especially special". Branch seems to like it, too!
Mean Ol' Mama made fresh wheat bread and the yummiest "made-up" cookie recipe yet, which she named Brownie Mint Oatmeal Bites. Mmmmm...Mean Ol' Mama....mmmm....Why are there laundry baskets in the kitchen? Oh, they're for the potatoes (from the boys' gardens when available; from the store when not in season) and sweet potatoes, lovingly gleaned by Teresa, Levi, and Stennes from a near-by farm. We love sweet potatoes; they're high in nutrients, deliciously sweet, and come with a hard-to-beat price: FREE for the gleaning!
Lunch was also a concoction of "made-up". When we are alone as a family, we try to follow a Third World food mentality: high nutrient value, low price, and thrift/availability. Our goal is to remain under $5.00 per meal for our family of 8. We choose not to eat meat during the noon meal for two basic reasons: (1) the Third World food system doesn't often include meat, and (2) some of the kids really like meat and don't prefer the Third World foods system. Yep, that's a good enough reason to keep denying ourselves the meat. Self-denial is always a good thing...
Mean Ol' Mama made fresh wheat bread and the yummiest "made-up" cookie recipe yet, which she named Brownie Mint Oatmeal Bites. Mmmmm...Mean Ol' Mama....mmmm....Why are there laundry baskets in the kitchen? Oh, they're for the potatoes (from the boys' gardens when available; from the store when not in season) and sweet potatoes, lovingly gleaned by Teresa, Levi, and Stennes from a near-by farm. We love sweet potatoes; they're high in nutrients, deliciously sweet, and come with a hard-to-beat price: FREE for the gleaning!
Lunch was also a concoction of "made-up". When we are alone as a family, we try to follow a Third World food mentality: high nutrient value, low price, and thrift/availability. Our goal is to remain under $5.00 per meal for our family of 8. We choose not to eat meat during the noon meal for two basic reasons: (1) the Third World food system doesn't often include meat, and (2) some of the kids really like meat and don't prefer the Third World foods system. Yep, that's a good enough reason to keep denying ourselves the meat. Self-denial is always a good thing...Are we suffering? Nope. Just look at this beautiful "make-do miracle" we enjoyed for lunch (in the photo below). Leftover, almost stale tortillas, layered with leftover refried beans, leftover rice to stretch the beans, 3 chopped up sausage patties that were hiding in the fridge, all flavored with delicious spices and fried onions, then doused with a good tomato sauce. Cheese slices were also hidden here and there amidst the leftovers. This was baked until bubbly and enjoyed until it was all gone. The kids were scraping their plates! Truly, thrift and sensible eating is so under-rated. Those 3 sausage patties really encouraged the meat eaters...
As a special treat with lunch, Mean Ol' Mama made really good Sweet Potato Crisp Muffins, using leftover sweet potatoes that were hiding in the fridge (with the rice, beans, and old tortillas). And let's not forget the 3 sausage patties, folks !! There's a method to our eating madness, and Mean Ol' Mama highly recommends it: Give thanks for what you have and be mindful of those who don't have. 
Okay, kids, you each get one Brownie Mint Oatmeal Bite. Ready, set, GO!
Nos gustan tanto, Mami!! We really, really like them!!
And for supper tonight when everyone comes over? Ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cabbage, lima beans, and a tray full of whole wheat buns, freshly baked. Plenty of desserts, too. We think we'll survive...
As a special treat with lunch, Mean Ol' Mama made really good Sweet Potato Crisp Muffins, using leftover sweet potatoes that were hiding in the fridge (with the rice, beans, and old tortillas). And let's not forget the 3 sausage patties, folks !! There's a method to our eating madness, and Mean Ol' Mama highly recommends it: Give thanks for what you have and be mindful of those who don't have. 
Okay, kids, you each get one Brownie Mint Oatmeal Bite. Ready, set, GO!
Nos gustan tanto, Mami!! We really, really like them!!
And for supper tonight when everyone comes over? Ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cabbage, lima beans, and a tray full of whole wheat buns, freshly baked. Plenty of desserts, too. We think we'll survive... 
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Tuesday Tour and Tip
Here's a quick picture of a corner of the schoolroom upstairs. This area receives a whole lot of activity. The blue chest of drawers under the chalk boards holds ChubChub's "school" stuff such as puzzles, a shopping basket (on top) with fake money, and other sundry fun items. His books are on his desk on the other side of the room. Eh? What's that? What's your Tuesday Tip? Read what's written under the photo...
Tuesday Tip: Don't buy your sons loud instruments unless you're really, really serious about their talent. Yep.
Seriously, though, Mean Ol' Mama is pretty pleased with their progress. Anders plays guitar, trumpet, and mandolin. Josiah plays guitar, really-rockin' bass, saxophone, and cello. He just started tuba and is coming along nicely.
Tuesday Tip: Don't buy your sons loud instruments unless you're really, really serious about their talent. Yep.Seriously, though, Mean Ol' Mama is pretty pleased with their progress. Anders plays guitar, trumpet, and mandolin. Josiah plays guitar, really-rockin' bass, saxophone, and cello. He just started tuba and is coming along nicely.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Monday Muses
THE WAILING WALL
For every mean, rude, unkind, smartmouth, backbiting, disrespectful, false, provoking
For every mean, rude, unkind, smartmouth, backbiting, disrespectful, false, provoking or un-Christlike comment/behavior, you will miss one meal and do
HARD LABOR. Try it.
This system works pretty well in our "always hungry" family. ChubChub tries to sweeten the message by drawing flowers underneath. Hmmm...
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Saturday Sashay
We went to Shell Point Beach with our friends. ChubChub enjoyed meeting a very large dog, but neither the dog nor the boy was quite certain of the other.
A fisherman called the kids over to see his catch of the day. Tasty, eh?
The kids enjoyed building sand castles. Actually, shell castles is probably more of an accurate description.
The Girl and her friend built a very unique castle out of shells, complete with moat.
And now that we have conquered the beach and established settlements, how about an oozy, slippery, messy mud fight?
Dirty enough, Branch?
ChubChub proudly wore The Muddy Badge of Being on the Losing Side.
After a change of clothes, the ladies decided to take a brief respite and warm up a bit in the sunshine. A snack of potato chips would be fine, too, wouldn't it?
Uh-oh, someone else heard a rumor that the ladies had the snacks. Scoot over, gals!
They were even kind enough to share this treasure with all of us!
Poppins spent some time "fishing for men"; one of these two was a previous acquaintance, and it was good to see him again. He and his brother could use your prayers. Please remember Nathan and Mike...
We were surrounded by Grackles and Brown-headed Cowbirds just waiting patiently for a crumb to fall.
Anders and our friend Peter spent time with the cast net, trying to bring in some bait fish.
Run, run! The playground's a-waiting!
And now for a "God cares about my details" Moment: The woman in the following photo stopped to ask if she could photograph a collection of shells that the kids had piled on the table. We began talking and she finally took a seat to answer Mean Ol' Mama's burning questions about the verbal system/grammatical layout of Arabic. Turns out she speaks French, Hebrew, and Arabic. She understood exactly what was being asked and was able to respond very succinctly and comprehensively. These were thoughts and quandries that Mean Ol' Mama had pondered for quite a few months. On the beach, folks. Now tell me that God doesn't care about the details...
God even cares enough to send one final touch of grace to an extraordinarly special day with friends.
The kids enjoyed building sand castles. Actually, shell castles is probably more of an accurate description.
The Girl and her friend built a very unique castle out of shells, complete with moat.
And now that we have conquered the beach and established settlements, how about an oozy, slippery, messy mud fight?
Dirty enough, Branch?
ChubChub proudly wore The Muddy Badge of Being on the Losing Side.
After a change of clothes, the ladies decided to take a brief respite and warm up a bit in the sunshine. A snack of potato chips would be fine, too, wouldn't it?
Uh-oh, someone else heard a rumor that the ladies had the snacks. Scoot over, gals!
They were even kind enough to share this treasure with all of us!
Poppins spent some time "fishing for men"; one of these two was a previous acquaintance, and it was good to see him again. He and his brother could use your prayers. Please remember Nathan and Mike...
We were surrounded by Grackles and Brown-headed Cowbirds just waiting patiently for a crumb to fall.
Anders and our friend Peter spent time with the cast net, trying to bring in some bait fish.
Run, run! The playground's a-waiting!
And now for a "God cares about my details" Moment: The woman in the following photo stopped to ask if she could photograph a collection of shells that the kids had piled on the table. We began talking and she finally took a seat to answer Mean Ol' Mama's burning questions about the verbal system/grammatical layout of Arabic. Turns out she speaks French, Hebrew, and Arabic. She understood exactly what was being asked and was able to respond very succinctly and comprehensively. These were thoughts and quandries that Mean Ol' Mama had pondered for quite a few months. On the beach, folks. Now tell me that God doesn't care about the details...
God even cares enough to send one final touch of grace to an extraordinarly special day with friends.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
What's New / What's Cooking Wednesday
Anders is cooking Mean Ol' Mama's Sweet Secret Meat Sauce for supper tonight. We're also having broccoli, corn, pumpkin bread, and desserts. We usually serve 14 people on Wednesdays, but sometimes more show up. That's okay. Just throw another 'possum in the pot...
Click on this link for a nice article about Stennes, Josiah, Anders, and some homeschool friends. This was published in our local paper this morning.
Click on this link for a nice article about Stennes, Josiah, Anders, and some homeschool friends. This was published in our local paper this morning.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Tuesday Tour
This lovely shelf was made by 12-year-old Josiah for the Georgia National Fair. Yes, it's a bit overloaded. Yes, it's a bit too "busy". Yes, it's disorganized. But Mean Ol' Mama loves it. She sure loves the boy who made it, too...
Monday, January 18, 2010
Monday Muses
"Men Exercising on Tables"
"Delighted Children Creating Goodies"
"Quiet Times"
"Making Suet and Memories"
We have another busy week ahead. Mean Ol' Mama has big hopes for the kids' checklists in school this week, Bluegrass class in Tallahassee on Monday, teaching at the College and Strings practice Tuesday, Band in Tallahassee and teaching on Thursday, friends on Friday. School? What school? [...sigh...] Gotta work a miracle again, ya know...
"Delighted Children Creating Goodies"
"Quiet Times"
"Making Suet and Memories"
We have another busy week ahead. Mean Ol' Mama has big hopes for the kids' checklists in school this week, Bluegrass class in Tallahassee on Monday, teaching at the College and Strings practice Tuesday, Band in Tallahassee and teaching on Thursday, friends on Friday. School? What school? [...sigh...] Gotta work a miracle again, ya know...
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
AAAHHHH!!!
We have been very, very busy this past week. Mean Ol' Mama has major amounts of paperwork and computer stuff to do for the 2 classes she teaches at the College, so she's trying to do it all: College work, homeschooling, and home life. Hmmm...
Caleb and Levi demonstrated how to lift up a stiff-limbed person. We have had cold weather down here, so Teresa was bundled up on the couch for the demonstration.
Anders read a book, Oceanos y Mares, to ChubChub. What's on his lap? Oh, that's Scout, the latest member of our family.
We had a spur-of-the-moment cookout around the bonfire. It was fun to keep warm by the flames and just enjoy friends and family.
Stennes and Poppins tinkered with one of the go-carts and got it running. The kids really enjoy riding it around and scaring the chickens and dogs.
We're starting back in our memory box, working especially on songs in English/Spanish/Creole for the camps this coming summer. The kids work hard at memorizing many different things.
The Girl and Branch fnished Book #3 in Greek. They enjoyed ripping off the pages for the recycling bin.
Isn't this a sweet picture? Bible time with Daddy is as sweet as it gets...
And a final picture for What's Cooking? What's New? Wednesday : Anders single-handedly cooked a huge, gorgeous meatloaf, Old Bay roasted potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, mixed vegetables, green beans, and strawberry Jello. This was a large meal for 14 people. Mean Ol' Mama was quite impressed and gratified, knowing that faithfulness in training eventually pays off. Where was she while he was cooking alone? Oh, on the couch desperately trying to finish College paperwork for tomorrow's first class.
Caleb and Levi demonstrated how to lift up a stiff-limbed person. We have had cold weather down here, so Teresa was bundled up on the couch for the demonstration.
Anders read a book, Oceanos y Mares, to ChubChub. What's on his lap? Oh, that's Scout, the latest member of our family.
We had a spur-of-the-moment cookout around the bonfire. It was fun to keep warm by the flames and just enjoy friends and family.
Stennes and Poppins tinkered with one of the go-carts and got it running. The kids really enjoy riding it around and scaring the chickens and dogs.
We're starting back in our memory box, working especially on songs in English/Spanish/Creole for the camps this coming summer. The kids work hard at memorizing many different things.
The Girl and Branch fnished Book #3 in Greek. They enjoyed ripping off the pages for the recycling bin.
Isn't this a sweet picture? Bible time with Daddy is as sweet as it gets...
And a final picture for What's Cooking? What's New? Wednesday : Anders single-handedly cooked a huge, gorgeous meatloaf, Old Bay roasted potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, mixed vegetables, green beans, and strawberry Jello. This was a large meal for 14 people. Mean Ol' Mama was quite impressed and gratified, knowing that faithfulness in training eventually pays off. Where was she while he was cooking alone? Oh, on the couch desperately trying to finish College paperwork for tomorrow's first class.
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