Ballet Academy 2013

Bug after the ballet.

  We are home from the first performance of the new class of Ballet Academy.  Bug's dance teacher just started offering this class this year.  It is a class offered to K-12 that focuses simply on ballet.  Bug absolutely loved this class.  This class is above and beyond her normal tap/ballet/jazz class.  The academy presented "Peter and the Wolf."  The girls gave a wonderful performance.  My Bug had three roles actually.  She was part of the pond and part of the meadow, but most importantly she played Grandpa.  She did a fantastic job.  She even had to dance with a cane and a scuffle and was able to pull it off.  I was so impressed with all of the dancers, but especially my little Bug.  Thank you Miss Suzanne for dedicating so much time and hard work to these young ladies.   You deserve our eternal gratitude! 

"Grandpa" all ready to go on!

The entire cast of "Peter and the Wolf."

Miss Suzanne

The "Birds"

Bug as the "Pond"

Grandpa getting after Peter

Grandpa dragging Peter home.

 The Wolf

 The Wolf is captured.

The Wolf coughs up the duck.

 

 I wish you all could of seen this wonderful performance.  It was more than any of us expected.  I fully expect to see the young lady that played the wolf to be a star in a ballet company in New York some day.  She is that good.  She is going to college in the east this fall, majoring in dance.  Our little Bug says she wants to follow in her footsteps.  One never know!

 

 

Love to all,   Sara

Spring Dance Recital 2013

  Last Sunday, Bug had here Spring Dance Recital.  It was a fun filled day with a lot of wonderful young dancers showing off everything they had learned in the past year.  Bug loves her dance classes.  The recital is for her tap/ballet/jazz class.  She also takes a ballet class called Ballet Academy, but I will write a post on that later.  Bug's class danced 3 dances; a tap performance to Rhythm Tap, a jazz performance to Telephone, and a ballet to Oboe Concerto No3 Allegro.   They were all very good.  Of course, she is her own worst critic and had to tell me everything that was done wrong.  I reassured her that the audience couldn't tell the difference.  We didn't know if they were suppose to hold a pose for 5 counts or 7. She is a perfectionist!   She was all excited because her instructor told her next year she will be ready for Pointe class.  This means one more night of classes and one more night she will be gone.   I shouldn't complain.  She loves dance, it is good healthy exercise and with the studio next door I don't have to drive here anywhere.  I just say time to get ready and maybe help put her hair up in a bun.  The joys of living in a small town!!! 

My favorite part of the tap performance.

Precision footwork during tap.

A ballet turn

 

 The jazz dance

Bug was excited most about the bedazzled phones they had as props.

 

Thanks for letting me brag!!

 

Love to all,   Sara





My Goodness!

  I feel like I haven't been on here for years.  The last few weeks have been a whirlwind!  Between dance recitals (yes, that is plural), end of the school year, graduations, piano recitals, trying to get the garden in and yard work done to just keeping up with the everyday stuff, I am not finding enough hours in the day.  This past weekend, our school had its graduation.  We had a number of parties to go to all weekend long, starting with Friday night, Saturday afternoon and night and then Sunday after the graduation ceremony.  It was a wonderful weekend.  Many of the kids that graduated, I have know since birth.  It is crazy that they are now high school graduates.  I was feeling really old by Sunday. 
  I have a lot of events to post about and I promise to get to all of them in just a little bit.  Please bare with me.  All I can say is "Thank God it is finally summer, so maybe time will slow down just a little bit,"  Have a wonderful day.

Love to all,  Sara

Working In the Garden

  Who all has been working in their garden/yard?  It has finally turned warm here, so we have been busy working outside.  The only problem is; it seems like the to do list keeps getting longer and the done list is not following suit.  This is what was on my initial to do list:

• Clean flower bed by fence
• Clean flower bed by garage
• Clean flower bed in the corner
• Clean flower bed on north side of house
• Clean out strawberry patch
• Replant strawberry patch
• Thatch backyard
• Remove bark and carve out log in front yard
• Plant flowers in log
• Work raised garden beds
• Move log scraps behind fence
• Plant sedums from Tracy
• Pick up tomato cages
• Put landscaping fabric under deck stairs
• Put rock under stairs
• Plant green peppers
• Plant pots on patio 3
• Plant pots on deck 2
• Work on washtub project
• Remove fence
• Till fence
• Mow front yard
• Mow backyard
• Plant tomatoes
• Construct cucumber trellis
• Plant cucumbers
• Plant zucchini
• Put in plant supports
• Clean patio
• Clean brick under patio
• Finish laying brick under patio
• Put extra wood behind fence
• Treat weeds behind fence
• Put up pool (Hubby)
• Finish taking up rock in front yard
• Build wall by berm
• Finish bringing up dirt
• Lay pavers properly
• Treat weeds by pavers
• Plant berm with wildflowers
• Mulch berm
• Set up fountains
• Pick up more plant food

Not much to do really.  Ha, who am I kidding!!!  I don't think it will ever get done!  This is just the things that need to get done before we just start on the maintenance portion of it.  The hubby just looks at me every spring and wonders "Why?".  I just tell him, he always wanted to live on a farm so just think of this as a mini farm. 

  Of the above list of chores, this is what we (Hubby and I) have gotten done.

1. Clean flower bed by fence
2. Clean flower bed by garage
3. Clean flower bed by garage
4. Plant sedum
5. Thatch backyard
6. Debark and carve out log
7. Plant log
8. Work raised beds
9. Clean out strawberry patch
10. Replant strawberry patch
11. Move log scraps behind fence
12. Pick up more plant food

Not a very good start, but at least it is a start.  I am hoping tomorrow I will get the tomatoes planted and the last bed cleaned and hopefully the deck and patio cleaned.  When it is all done, I will be posting pictures. 

Love to all,   Sara

Mama's Shepherds Pie

Mama's Shepherds Pie

   This is Bug's absolute favorite comfort food in the world!  If she has had a bad day, all she wants for supper is this dish.  I got this recipe from my mom, but changed it up a little bit for our own tastes.  I have also used a can of corn and a can of green beans just for something different or if I am out of frozen corn.  I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does!

 

MAMA'S SHEPHERDS PIE



Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can creamed corn
1 16 oz bag frozen corn
6 servings of instant mashed potatoes or leftover mashed potatoes

Directions

1. Brown ground beef until no longer pink.  Drain any fat.
2. In a casserole dish combine the soup, creamed corn, frozen corn and beef.  If you want more gravy use 2 cans of soup, less gravy one can.  Add salt and pepper to taste.
3. Top with the mashed potatoes.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes.  You want your potatoes to have some crisps spots on them. 

The beef, corn & soup mixture

 

                Before going in the oven

             

The final product

   Let me know it you like it or not.  This is a dish you can add or subtract anything to.  I have even substituted leftover stuffing for the mashed potatoes.  Enjoy!

Love to all,   Sara

30 Hour Famine

  I want to tell you about a group of amazing kids.  In fact most of this post will be from a bulletin insert from Church last Sunday.  I think our Pastor was able to tell about the kids adventure far better then I ever could, mainly because he lived it with them.  I want to THANK Pastor Justin Fenger for showing such dedication to our area youth and also showing them the way to be closer to GOD!

Just some of the kids.

 

  The famine involved 28 area youth, all 7th - 9th graders.  They were asked not to eat for 30 hours, except for water and juice, and to sleep outside in cardboard boxes.  It still astounds me what our "pampered" youth will do when asked. 

  Here is what Pastor Fenger wrote for our bulletin insert.  "April 26th 27th, youth from our parish and other congregations within the community stepped up to participate in the national 30 hour famine mission: fighting for hunger and homelessness.  These youth where committed to combat homelessness and hunger on a global, local and state scale.  The commitment meant raising money from family and friends, giving up 30 hours of their lives to experiencing hunger, as they slept outside in cardboard boxes in the midst of a cold spring.  Their dedication to the mission and purpose is an example of just what your youth can accomplish just on a small scale (30 hours of their time).  A special thanks to congregations and the community, as our youth shouted out on the street corners on Main Street holding signs asking for your support to fight hunger and homeless.  We thank you for your donations, for your time and for you commitment to this community, state and around the globe.  Our youth raised over $1700.  The funds raised will go to World Vision, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and fighting hunger globally, a percent will go the local food pantry to combat hunger here and a portion of it will go to fighting homelessness in the city of Fargo, ND.  Why, do this?  because we are God's people called into God's mission and this is our response.  Thank you,  Pastor Justin " 

  This sums it all up.  Everyone in our church couldn't be prouder.  I ask myself, "Could I do it?"  I wonder.......

  What follows are some pictures of the youth's 30 hours.

 

Still having fun!

It was a cold night!

On main street asking for donations

Honk Honk 

Some hungry kids

 

Breaking of the famine!

One young lady did the famine on her birthday, that is dedication!  Her parents showed up at midnight (at the end of the famine) with cake for everyone!



 

These are a series of panels that show how many children die every second from hunger, how much money we spend on food, etc.  The totals keep increasing. 

 

Really makes a person think!

 

Love to all,   Sara 

Girl Scout Cookie Names

 
   I don't know about you, but I have discovered that in different parts of the country, Girl Scout cookies go by different names.  This has driven me crazy.  I will find a recipe with cookies in it, but am not exactly sure if I am using the right cookie or not.  I thought I would give you a list of the cookies with all of their alternative names.  I hope you find it helpful.

Cookies with More than One Name

• Dip-Si-Dos also known as Peanut Butter Sandwiches
• Samoas also known as Carmel deLites 
• Tagalongs also known as Peanut Butter Patties
• Trefoils also known as Shortbread
• Thanks-a-Lot used to be known as Animal Treasures and All Abouts

Cookies with Only One Name but Not Necessarily Sold Everywhere

• Dulce de Leche
• Lemonades
• Mango Cremes
• Savannah Smiles
• Shout Outs! (not sure if these are even made anymore)
• Thank U Berry Much
• Thin Mints - the most famous and popular cookie (in my opinion)

I hope this helps you decipher some of the recipes you find.  I know there are a ton on the internet.  I have come up with a few of my own.  I will probably post some in the future. 

Love to all,   Sara

Sweetheart - the Cat

  I would like you all to meet Sweetheart, our cat.  Or as my husband likes to call him "the money burner".  It seems like we are taking him to the vet at least once a month, but more on that later.  First a little history on Sweetheart. 

  I truly believe we were meant to have Sweetheart.  He showed up at my husband's shop one day about 7 years ago in the fall.  We think he was just barely able to leave his mother.  My hubby thinks that someone dropped kittens off along the highway, were my hubby's shop and other businesses are located.  He called me at worked and teased me that he had gotten a surprise for our daughter, so I had to go see what it was.  When I saw him; I instantly feel in love, but Hubby said no cats.  (You see I made him get rid of two cats when I we got married.  In my defense, the cats hated me.  They would bite and claw me all the time.  I think they were jealous of me.)  Well we honestly tried to find the owners.  We put up posters, asked around.  Bug and I couldn't even bring him home.  He stayed at the shop.  After about 3 weeks and a little more convincing, Sweetheart became ours.  :)

 

                    Begging for Pets!                                 No Mama I am not looking a you!

 

Hubby has to give the dog and Sweetheart pets.  Sweetheart was getting jealous.

 

  So our journey with him for the first few years was really good.  Didn't go the vet except for his shots.  But then he stared to go outside more, that's when things started to go downhill for him.  Let's

just say he like to go places he shouldn't and pick fights with animals that are a lot bigger than he is.  I have seen him do it.  At first, we would notice scratches etc. on him, but didn't think nothing of it.  Next, he came home limping, but his leg wasn't puffy or warm and within two days he was walking on it, so all it good.  But when he came home and jumped on the daughter's bed and there was blood everywhere, off to the vet we went.  He had cut his stomach on barbed wire or something like that, from one side to the other.  It took him about two weeks to heal from that.  After that he calmed down for awhile.  Now you have to realize that this is a neutered and declawed animal, but he doesn't seem to know that.  At one time, he even had one of his front paws wrapped in gauze and tape to try and keep it immobilized.  He had cracked a bone somehow.  Our vet just laughs at us and asks what now.  I am beginning to think our graceful cat is a klutz!  Now on to the latest adventure.  You may notice in the pictures on the left (sorry for the quality, were taken with my cell phone) that he is holding up his back leg, the result of an animal bite.  Unfortunately, this time it became infected.  It has been a little over a week and he still isn't putting any weight on it.  We have another weeks worth of antibiotics to give him, if he still isn't better; off to the vet we go again.  Heaven help us with this cat!  At least he isn't crawling in our ceilings anymore.  Oh that is another story for another time. 

 

Love to all,   Sara      



Pinterest Hits and Misses (Part 1)

   I thought today I would share with you some of the ideas I have found on Pinterset that have been HITS and maybe a few that are MISSES.

 

HITS

 



 Tomato cages wrapped with garland and lights!

 

  I really loved how this turned out.  My only regret is that the only lights I found had white cords instead of green.  I think this summer I am going to redo them and stick the lights through the garland so you don't see the cords.  They will be on the inside of the cages. 

 

 

Jar for travel size amenities

 

 

  This is a large jar I picked up at Walmart that I picked up for under $10.00.  I put all of the travel size beauty products I have gotten free in the mail or I might have picked up in hotels.  It is a cute place to put them (better than the plastic tube they were in) and when guests come, they can choose what they want.

 

 

St. Ives Moisturizer

 

 

  I love this moisturizer!  It is the best facial moisturizer I have found in a looooong time.  It is also inexpensive; under $10.00.  I have very odd skin on my face.  Depending on the day, it could be very dry or very oily or a combination of both.  I just never know what I will wake up with.  I do know that the apples of my cheeks will always be dry and this product has really helped out a lot.  I thought I would have to pay a whole lot more to find something that would work on my skin.  Thank you Pinterest for bringing this one to my attention.  I will be forever grateful!

Sorry there are no MISSES this time.  Everything I have tried lately has worked out the way I have wanted.  I am very happy about it!!!

Love to all,    Sara





 



Cleaning at Red Willow Bible Camp

  Saturday, Bug, the hubby and I went to Red Willow Bible Camp to clean the cabin that our church sponsors.  We were hoping for a larger crew to come, but OH WELL.  We got it done, and had a good time doing it.  We meet the wonderful director, Becky, and the great grounds keeper, Denny.  They served a fantastic lunch of Chicken Wild Rice Soup, Cold Meat Sandwiches and the softest Chocolate Chip cookies ever.  We had our cabin sparkling by the time we left.  We even had time to rake up around the cabin and to take a small walk down by the lake.  It was wonderful.  Bug even got along with her father, no eye rolls or nothing.  They even laughed together.  Lately that has been a rarity.  Got to love a thirteen year old. 

The cabin our church sponsors.

Taking out the old mattresses.  We raised enough money for all new ones!!!

The happy rakers!

They figured out a way to pick up leaves without bending over!

 

Making the windows sparkle.

 

Hubby getting the cobwebs down.

A little break down by the lake.

 

Message we should all pay attentions to!

 

 

Love to all,   Sara