"Real and lasting inspiration comes

by overcoming your doubts and fears,

one step at a time. With each step forward,

it becomes more difficult not to be an athlete."

~from "No Need for Speed - A Beginner's Guide to the Joy of Running" by John Bingham

I am just loving this running book. It seems like it was written just for me! :-) I had to laugh when I started Chapter 2 a few days ago and read this quote at the beginning. When I first started boot camp I remember how the trainer liked to often say, "Come on! Work harder - BE AN ATHLETE!" And in my head a little voice would respond, "But I don't WANT to be an athlete!" ;-) Well, now, seven short weeks later, when I hear his famous line the little voice sounds more like, "Yeah, let's work harder! I CAN be an athlete!" ;-)

Make Your Own Pizza Night!

I've always wanted to try these Boboli pizza crusts.

I usually prepare our pizza crust dough in the bread maker,

but today, after spending a long afternoon at the pool,

I hadn't left myself enough time.

How quick and easy these were!

I just sat out my family's favorite toppings,

and some individual sized Boboli crusts.

Everyone got to make their pizza just the way they wanted to!

I popped them in the oven for 10 minutes
and they were done!
For a super last minute, quick meal - they were perfect!
We all really enjoyed them. I liked how crispy they were. :-)

And you can go ahead and set the table nicely,
but if you have a cousin over to spend the night,
a thunder storm going on,
and a tornado warning in effect
everyone will probably just take their plate
and go eat on tv trays together in the family room...

...and that's okay, too! ;-)

Healthy Blueberry Muffins

Healthy Blueberry Muffins

1 dozen

3/4 cups low fat milk
1/2 cup natural applesauce
1/4 cup healthy egg substitute

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup oat bran

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup fresh blueberries

Combine milk, applesauce, and egg; set aside. Combine flour, oat bran, rolled oats, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Stir wet ingredients into dry, just until combined. Gently fold in blueberries. Pour batter into greased muffin tin. Sprinkle muffins with a bit of cinnamon/sugar if desired. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy!

Supper Menus
July 20th-25th

Monday
make your own pizza, caesar salad
Tuesday
mexican frito salad
Wednesday
pizza leftovers
Thursday
hamburgers, coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans
Friday
out for supper
Saturday
out for supper

Take Me Out to the Ballgame! :-)

A quick trip down the road

to the peaceful little town of Brenham,

to see a cousin play some summertime baseball.

Little cousins always love to see the big cousins. :-)

And the roadside scenery going home in the late evening summer sun...

...was beautiful. As always. :-)

I love my Texas!

"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations.

I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty,

believe in them, and try to follow where they lead."

~ Louisa Mae Alcott
illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com
"Sunny Daisies" by Sarah Horsfall

Supper Menus
July 13th-18th

Monday
chicken tenders, tator tots, shells and cheese, green beans
Tuesday
soft tacos, refried beans, spanish rice
Wednesday
left overs
Thursday
spaghetti, tossed salad
Friday
out for supper
Saturday
hamburgers, baked beans, french fries

Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies
2 1/2 dozen

½ cup butter
½ cup peanut butter
½ cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 ¼ cups flour
¼ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon baking soda

Combine butters, sugars, and egg. Combine dry ingredients; add and mix well. Roll dough into balls. Place balls on cookie sheets and press fork marks onto cookies. Bake at 375° for 10 minutes. Cool for 3 minutes on cookie sheets and then transfer to wire rack to finish cooling. Serve with cold milk and enjoy!

Kind hearts are the gardens

Kind thoughts are the roots,

Kind words are the flowers,

Kind deeds are the fruits.

Take care of the gardens,

And keep them from the weeds.

Fill, fill them with flowers,

Kind words and kind deeds.

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"Summer Garden" by Anne Pratt

The Water Horse

First "crop" of okra from the garden! :-)

A Sense of Peace

When passing through the heat and fire,

Three things sustain my mind and heart;

Though still I may not understand,

A sense of peace they do impart.

Beyond all else, I must believe

That what my Father up above

Allows to come into my life

Is based on His unchanging love.

Then this, too, I must remember,

That nothing e'er escapes God's eye.

He is aware of everything.

He even knows before I cry.

And then this, too, I must believe

Down deep within my troubled soul,

That nothings in this universe

Is ever out of God's control.

~Eugene L. Clark

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"The Peaceful Village" by Henry John Yeend King

Testing 1, 2, 3 :-)

Since we began home schooling,

I have administered standardized tests

to the children after each school year.

After the first year, we tested in May. But, in years since, we have tested mid-summer ~ and, found it to be much nicer that way. In May, the children and teacher are a little weary. Taking a good, long month of "summer" first, seems to make everyone a little more fresher and ready for a week of testing. :-)

I have used the Iowa Test of Basic Skills for the past four years. I had to register to be a test administer and then I just simply order the testing materials each year. I use Bob Jones University Press for testing supplies.

After the testing is complete, I mail all of the materials back to Bob Jones where the tests are scored and ranked against students across the country. The results that are returned to me show the children's strengths and weaknesses and also how they are comparing nationally to other students.

It usually takes about 2 to 2 1/2 hours each day over 3 to 4 days to complete the testing.

And when we are all done, it's fun to do something special at the end of the week! :-)

Supper Menus
July 6th-11th

Monday
steaks and peppers on the grill, baked potatoes, lettuce and tomato salad, french bread
Tuesday
tacos, refried beans, spanish rice, ice cream sundaes
Wednesday
crispy chicken tenders and gravy, french fries, fried okra, baked beans, big daddy biscuits
Thursday
out for supper
Friday
hamburgers, baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad
Saturday
breakfast for supper - bacon, potatoes o'brian, pancakes, juice

Happy 4th of July!

My country,' tis of thee,

sweet land of liberty,

of thee I sing;

land where my fathers died,

land of the pilgrims' pride,

from every mountainside

let freedom ring!

My native country, thee,

land of the noble free,

thy name I love;

I love thy rocks and rills,

thy woods and templed hills;

my heart with rapture thrills,

like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,

and ring from all the trees

sweet freedom's song;

let mortal tongues awake;

let all that breathe partake;

let rocks their silence break,

the sound prolong.

Our fathers' God, to thee,

author of liberty,

to thee we sing;

long may our land be bright

with freedom's holy light;

protect us by thy might,

great God, our King.

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"The Glorious 4th"

I've Been Jammin'

Strawberry jammin' that is!

Three pounds of strawberries

and an hour and a half later...

Twelve jars of strawberry jam!

So good on toast and ice cream! :-)

You can find the Sure-Jell recipe here.

Linked to Gooseberry Patch Recipe Roundup.

Welcome July!

The summer is flying by!

I can't believe it's already time

to say goodbye to June,

and hello to July!

What are you doing to enjoy summertime?! :-)

"In summer, the song sings itself."

~William Carlos Williams

Kelli at There Is No Place Like Home

gave me a great idea for a

simple summertime salad.

Taking Kelli's lead, I plated some salad greens and tomatoes.

I cooked up some chicken

and seasoned it

with McCormick's Caribbean Jerk seasoning

and lots and lots of freshly ground black pepper.

I added some freshly grated parmesan cheese and topped the salads with one of our family's favorite dressings ~ Ken's Steak House Sweet Vidalia Onion.

The sweet dressing was just perfect with the spicy chicken.

The family really enjoyed it. :-)
Thanks Kelli!

"Don't hurry, don't worry.

You're only here for a short visit.

So be sure to stop and smell the flowers."

~Walter C. Hagen

Supper Menus
June 29th - July 4th

Monday
spaghetti, garlic bread sticks
Tuesday
caribbean jerk chicken salad, sour dough bread, chocolate cake
Wednesday
kung pao chicken, white rice
Thursday
out for supper
Friday
invited to bbq supper with family, taking sugar cookies
Saturday
invited to 4th of July bbq supper with family, taking baked beans and apple pie