Mooches of Pooches

Some of you may not know that our family has expanded! 
That's right, we have adopted.

A dog.
Ha, ha, I fooled you!

This is Jinx.

She is a Yellow Lab with a huge floppy tongue and a massive appetite for fresh baked goods. 

No, really.

She has eaten to date: 16 banana muffins, 1 1/4 loaves of zucchini bread and a grilled PB & J sandwich. 

Other than that, she is sweet, playful, fairly intelligent and trainable. She also seems pretty loyal, and most of all, she likes me. 

She was found at camp hunkered down underneath a truck, looking exhausted.

One of the families at camp coaxed her out from under that ol' truck and gave her some fresh water and food. She bounced back to her enthusiastic self.

Without a collar or a micro chip, her original owner couldn't be found.

We decided to take her in.

We thought Annie might like a friend.

Well, turns out, Annie could care less.

At least most of the time.

I mean, another dog just means less attention and less treats for her, right?

Plus, she's an old dog.

A little stuck in her ways.

Not used to sharing all her boys.

Or her bed.

Besides, Jinx is one of those annoying dogs that likes to play and retrieve balls.

Annie doesn't have time for that.

In the long run though, I think the girls will get along just fine.

And maybe some of Annie's good behavior will rub off on Jinx. 

So that baked goods are once again safe being left out on the counter.

But that kind of discipline may take Jinx awhile to master.

Until then, we will enjoy having two dogs that are sweet and loving companions for our rowdy boys. One that cuddles and one that plays. 

But two that love being loved on.

It's a perfect relationship.

It's Canning Season!

Yes, it's that time of year again.
The time of year when you are hauling in the abundance from the garden or the Farmer's Market and wondering what in the world you are going to do with it all.
If you are anything like me, you are also wondering how you will possibly get it all done before it spoils. Meanwhile continuing to take care of all of the other every day tasks that are calling for your attention.
You know, minor details like - the kids?
Or in our house, home schooling those kids?
Nothing major.
It's just their educational future at stake.

Anyway, a couple years ago I finally invested in a hot water canning pot and all the accessories.  Which all together probably came to less than $40. I'm pretty sure it has paid for itself already in the money I have saved in the food I was able to put up (that's preserving lingo).
Which results in not having to buy it at the store! Cha-ching!
Honestly, I was completely intimidated by the idea of canning.
I thought you had to do everything with a pressure cooker.
That piece of kitchen equipment scares me.  Too much steam and rattling and opportunity to blow up the kitchen.
Then I found out that there are many things you could preserve simply by putting them in a hot water bath.
I have already proven my kitchen prowess in boiling water, so I thought that I could handle this type of canning.
Turns out I was right.
All you need is a good recipe and the right supplies and hot water bath canning is easy-peasy!

Our family happens to love salsa, like many families do.  Did you know it's the 2nd most popular condiment in America?
Don't quote me on that or anything, I think I read it on face book.

I found this recipe on pancake-ninja.blogspot.com (follow the link to find the recipe)
It had all the necessary salsa ingredients with no weird add-ins.
It looked perfect.
Here is the process in pictures.
Because I like visuals.
And because I'm just nice like that.
You're welcome.

Dice your tomatoes and let them drain for a few hours or overnight

Next comes the peppers.  This year I used Anaheim peppers  because I got them for free from our friends garden. 

And because they taste good.  

They are sweet, not spicy.

I got smart and used my Pampered Chef food chopper to do all the hard work.  

Because we all know it doesn't matter what the salsa looks like, it's what it tastes like.

Dump those bad boys on top of the tomatoes.  

Next comes the onions.  

These were also free from my friends garden. 

Unfortunately, I was also crying my eyes out, even with using the food chopper. I haven't cried that hard since watching Tarzan. 

And yes, I mean the cartoon version. 

Next comes the garlic.  

I used my garlic press from IKEA to help me out.  If you wanted to, you could use the pre-minced garlic that comes in a jar.  

But I like it fresh. Mmmm.

Next, add a little sugar...

And a little salt.

I have never understood why you sugar something and then salt it.

It's perplexing.

Add a bit of cumin. 

Which just happens to be one of my favorite spices.

Then cilantro.

I always add a little extra.  

You can never have too much cilantro.

Never.

Finally, you have to add the jalapenos. 

I learned a good lesson last year. 

Now I always wear gloves when cutting up these hot peppers.

Jalapeno oils will leave your fingers burning for hours! 

Did I mention that you are going to need a big bowl?

You will need a big bowl.

My friend also had these cute little peppers growing outside her door.  I have no idea what they are, but I know they are hot because Hunky Hubby bit one and said it was hot.  H.H. never thinks it's hot. 

Which means these are actually small balls of inferno disguised as peppers. So I chopped all of these up and added them too a few jars of salsa to make Smokin' Hot Salsa!

 Just for Hunky Hubby.

Add a 12 oz can of tomato paste,

and stir it all together. 

Yum.

You will need some lemon juice.  Actually, a lot of lemon juice.

You can use fresh lemons if you are up for a lot of squeezing.  

I'm not. So the bottled stuff it is.

Add a few table spoons of lemon juice to the bottom of your jars,

Get out your handy-dandy canning funnel, 

and fill those bad boys up with that good stuff you just mixed up.

Make sure you get all the air pockets out of the jar.  You could use a butter knife for this, but this handy tool came with the canning kit I bought so I might as well use it.

Wipe the rims off with a damp towel. 

This is an important step so don't forget it like I sometimes do.

Put your presoaked lids on, 

add the rings, only tightening them finger tip tight. 

They need to be able to breathe a little bit.

Now you add them to your big ol' pot of boiling water.

After about 30 minutes you remove them and set them on a towel to cool down.  You should begin to hear some popping lids in a little bit. 

And there you have it! 

All the steps to canning your own salsa that is delicious and nutritious.

That wasn't so hard, was it? 

Enjoy!

 FRESH SALSA   

makes about 8 pints, (or can be done the easy refrigerator way)

ingredients:

• 3 quarts tomatoes, chopped and left to drain in a colander several hours or overnight in a cool place;  the strained  juice can be poured off into a jar and seasoned --- tomato juice!
• 3 large bell peppers, seeded and chopped
• 4 large onions, chopped
• 6 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/4 cup sugar or honey
• 3 Tablespoons sea salt
• 1/2 to 1 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 4 to 6 jalapenos, chopped, with seeds for added heat
•   a 12 oz can of tomato paste

• 6 to 7 lemons, juiced;  and more bottled lemon juice if you run out of juice; this is not  mixed into the other ingredients, but put into the jars before filling

         

          Mix well in a large bowl

          Prepare jars and lids

       
       
          1.for raw pack:

         measure 3 Tablespoons of lemon juice into prepared jars, then fill with mixture, leaving  1/2" headspace, wipe rims and cover with prepared lids and bands
          process in hot water bath for 30 to 40 minutes

Happy Independence Day!

I just wanted to take a minute from our day and wish you all a very happy Independence Day!

I hope you have a safe and fun holiday celebration. 

I also hope you take a moment and give thanks to God for the freedom you enjoy living here in the United States of America. Without God, this nation would not exist as it does today.

This country is a result  of our forefathers seeking religious freedom.  That is what drove them to leave their home country and make the dangerous journey to this strange new land.  It was for the express purpose of being able to worship God in the way they chose, that they fought to be a free nation. 

I am thankful for the tenacity and 

commitment of those brave people.

It is because of them that I can wake up each day and read my Bible.  I can attend church freely every week.  I can discuss God with a stranger that I encounter at the park, I can meet together with others in my home and have a Bible study. I can openly and freely teach my children about God.  All without being persecuted.   

It is something to be extremely thankful for.  

This independence that we often take for granted. 

So celebrate it loud and proud, and do your part to make sure that in 20, 30, 60, 80 years, we will still be able to freely proclaim the name of Jesus Christ in this country.

Happy Birthday To Me!

For my birthday this year I really only wanted one thing. 

So, Hunky Hubby spoiled me and gave me exactly what I asked for. 

A new patio table. 

He built it himself. 

Young ladies, listen up, marry a handy man.  

You will be glad you did. 

Anyhow. . . 

We had really outgrown the patio set that I received as a birthday gift from my parents 10 years ago.

Which is why I really wanted a new table.  

But, they are really expensive an the store.

So, I showed H.H. a plan off of Pinterest, and he made a few alterations and built me the table of my dreams.

He brought it home to me in the raw.  

So, we had a very romantic time picking out the perfect stain color together.

 We chose a semi-solid stain from Cabot, largely because it was on sale and because H.H. said it was a good quality stain.

After much deliberation we chose the color Spanish Moss.  We were trying to find something that currently coordinates with our siding, but would match the door we put in a couple years ago, and would look good if we changed the stain color on the house siding, etc . . . So we had a lot of factors that were influencing us.  

We also thought that we will probably eventually repaint the deck the color we chose for the table.  So even though we were choosing a color with only our stellar memories of what the colors of the deck/house/door are -  we actually really lucked out and picked a a great color.  It actually matches the door almost perfectly. Which I think is good. 

I had a helper who wanted to stain the table with me. Just remember that it is very important, if you are like me, to wear gloves during this process. 

Or you will have Spanish Moss colored hands. 

That can look a little creepy.

I am happy with how it turned out. I am also so excited that we can now entertain more people on our lovely back porch. 

Sitting at the same table together. 

Instead of separated by miles.

 

It's going to be a happy place.

Come join me for a cup of Chai anytime.  I'd love to sit a spell and chat with you.  

Book Review: Firsthand

The latest book on my review list is 'Firsthand' 

by brothers Ryan and Josh Shook

 

It is written to inspire people who have grown up in the church or in Christian homes and have yet to make the faith they have grown up with, their own or personal. 

There comes a time in each persons life where they need to know what they believe and why.  They need to take the faith they have grown up with and personalize it. Live it out loud in their own lives. The Shooks encourage each person to question their doubts, fill the emptiness in their lives with the only One who can and will fill them.  They also remind us that "our weaknesses can become our greatest assets because they draw us closer to the Lord". They encourage stepping out in 'faith risks', stepping out in reckless abandon to obey God.  It is a book that challenges each person to individually examine their faith and gives encouraging steps to become filled with a genuine faith that belongs to them alone.  

I think that the book is well written, the intent behind the book is true and they have done their best to lay a clear path based on personal experience.  

In thinking back to my own personal history, which would have been exactly the target audience this book was aimed at, I questioned whether this book would have been helpful to me?  

The first question that came to mind is, if someone is living their faith secondhand through their parents/church, would they be willing to read a book on this topic?  The answer I have come to is: maybe.  If the person has awakened to their need for more - then yes, I think this book could be very beneficial.  It will definitely lead them in the right direction.

Maybe you are looking for more in your faith, or you know someone else who is.  This book is for you.

You can find it here at Amazon or on CBD.  

Thanks to Multnoma's blogging for books program for this copy of 'Firsthand'

Dish Soap Stand {a tutorial}

                       I found this fun idea on Pinterest.  

I loved it and wanted to rush right out and buy all the pieces to make it that minute. But I live 1 1/2 hours from the nearest Target/TJ Maxx/ or any other cool store. So in an effort to be thrifty, I spent the next year looking for the perfect candle stick.  I had found one last summer, but alas, it came as a set and I liked them too much to tear them apart.  So, patiently waiting and keeping my eyes open, I finally found one at a rummage sale with my mom and sister this past weekend.  It did come in a set of three, but I convinced my mom that she only needed two candle sticks to be happy.  She wasn't sure she believed me but I convinced her that I needed that single, solitary candle stick to make my life complete.  
The best part though?  The original owner of those candle sticks was selling the whole 3 piece set for 1.00!  I actually had to look twice at the sticker, I couldn't believe it! 
That's what I call a super score!
I got my super cute plate from TJ Maxx of course. 

Here is all you need: 
1-candle stick
1-cute plate
1-hot glue gun

Just make sure that the top of your candle stick is smaller than the bottom of your plate of course! 

Heat up your hot glue gun and slap some hot glue on that candle stick.

Turn your cute plate upside down and stick the candle stick in the center of it. Make sure you work quickly so that the glue doesn't cool down and harden before you get it on the plate. 

And voile! You have a beautiful stand to add style and beauty to your kitchen sink.  Which frankly could use a little pick-me-up, at least in my house. 

All you need to do is add your dish soap and hand soap to your lovely new stand.  I put my dish soap in a glass decanter that I picked up from TJ Maxx for $4.00. That way it looks even prettier.  I may have to find a pretty bottle for the hand soap next.

 

I hope this inspires you to make your space a little less ordinary.  Beauty and creativity don't have to be 

expensive or difficult! 

Enjoy!

Jana