I wasn’t born yesterday….

….said the old nosy neighbor lady to the two tweeners trying to break in to the house across the street.

Okay, I didn’t SAY that to them, but I did break up their litte fun fest and now I have a story to share with you:

The house across the street was recently purchased. It had been foreclosed, so it was vacent for a few months before the couple bought the home. They are working on it before they move in, so sometimes they are there,  sometimes they are not. Today I didn’t see them at all, so I found it odd when I saw two young girls run up on the porch and start playing around, pulling the screen door and trying to open the front window. I watched for a moment, then went on about my business, only to discover they were attempting to open the screen door with a stick.

At that point, I walked outside with C, under the pretence of showing her some roses blooming. I checked the situation out a bit more and realized that they were still trying to get in to the house, so I took C back in the house and told J what was going on. I went back outside to tell the girls to knock it off only to hear “Get off that porch” boom from the house next door. Okay, parents, albiet not to with it, are on the ball. (sort of).
After about another 3 or4 minutes of this, I finally had enough, as they were still trying to get the door open with a stick. They had gotten the screen door open and were moving on to the storm door. I went, first to the house that had issued the “get off that porch” command just moments ago. I very politly told the woman and the man that I don’t know who is who in the neighborhood, but that there were two girls on the front porch trying to break in to the house. After asking me if it was “so and so and such and such”, I said “I don’t know names…” Then I headed over to the house myself to tell the girls to hit the road.

The girls told me that it was thier cousins house. That it was okay that they do this. Uh, sure, I believe you….not.

The man from the house next door came over to see what was going on and said “Oh, it isn’t my daughter, it isn’t a big deal”.

The girls eventually left, but I think I should have called the cops.

But I do know now not to leave ANY doors or first floor windows unlocked. I actually locked the screen door today on the front porch, then the lock on the storm door then I deadbolted the lock for the main door to the house.

I  thought this was one of the nicer neighborhoods in this town. I never felt this unsafe living in Lafayette on 10th Street with the Steve Perry Methlab clone guy living on the opposite corner from me.

Filed under: General Stuff

…land of the free and home of the brave….

The final words to our national anthem.  I was struck by them this weekend as we sang them at the MH graduation.
I thought “How can we be the “land of the free and the home of the brave” when we allow abortion?

Babies are not free to grow and to live. Woman are not free from being coerced in to having an abortion. Men are not free to keep that child if the mother decides on abortion.

Brave? How can we be brave if our society thinks abortion is an option? Brave? Bravery would be facing a difficult choice and picking the harder road. The harder road would be single parenthood, postponed dreams or giving your child up for adoption. Abortion is a temporary fix for a “problem” that could very well be the best “problem” born.

Filed under: General Stuff

For the Foodies – Chicken Fried Steak

Chicken Fried Steak

I was given a Fannie Farmer Cookbook for Christmas of 1990 from my Grandma Kress. It has seen it’s time and was a wonderful help for me learning to cook when I was first married. It started to show its age a few years ago, so I put it in “storage”. A few weeks back, while at Goodwill, I found a copy like mine and picked it up, so now I am back to using my favorite cookbook. Here is a recipe I found and used last night:

Chicken Fried Steak

1 lbs top round steak (I used cubbed steak)

1 C plus 3 T flour

Salt and freshly ground pepper

3 T vegetable shortening

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

1- C milk

Cut the steak into 4 to 6 serving pieces. Pound 1/4 C flour into the steaks using a meat pounder or the rim of a sturdy plate. Pound in as much flour as you can until the steaks are saturated and quite thin. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.

Heat the shortening in a large skillet over high heat. Cook the steaks very quickly, about 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden brown. Remove to a platter and keep warm.

Remove all but 2 T of fat. Add the onion and saute, over medium heat, for about 2 minutes, or until soft. Stir the remaining flour into the onion, continuing to stir, and let it cook for 2 or 3 minutes. Slowly add the milk, constantly stirring, and cook until the gravy is thickened. Serve with mashed potatoes.

This recipe served our little family of 4.

Filed under: Food

For the Foodies – Bread

Oatmeal Bread

In trying to be frugal in our home, I have started making bread again. I had gotten away from it because my bread never cut well enough for sandwiches. This recipe is awesome, though and makes for great sandwiches. (And it is great with Nutella on it, for those who might have a special affection for Nutella!)

Oatmeal Sandwich and Toasting Bread

3 cups King Arthur Unbleached Bread Flour (I used both bread flour and unbleached store brand flour and they work just the same)
1 cup rolled oats (old-fashioned oats)
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons brown sugar or honey (I used honey)
2 teaspoons instant yeast OR 1 packet active dry yeast*
1 1/4 cups lukewarm milk
3/4 cup raisins or currants (optional)
(I also added 4 tsp of Vital Gluten, available in the baking aisle of your grocery store)

*If you use active dry yeast, dissolve it in the warm milk before combining with the remaining ingredients.

Manual Method: In a large mixing bowl, or in the bowl of an electric mixer, combine all of the ingredients, mixing to form a shaggy dough. Knead dough, by hand (10 minutes) or by machine (5 minutes) till it’s smooth. Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover and allow it to rest for 1 hour; it’ll become quite puffy, though it may not double in bulk. Shape as directed below.

Bread Machine Method: Place all of the ingredients (except the fruit) into the pan of your machine, program machine for manual or dough, and press Start. About 10 minutes before the end of the second kneading cycle, check dough and adjust its consistency as necessary with additional flour or water; finished dough should be soft and supple. Add the raisins or currants about 3 minutes before the end of the final kneading cycle. Shape as directed below.

Shaping: Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled surface, and shape it into a log. Place the log in a lightly greased 9 x 5-inch loaf pan, cover the pan (with an acrylic proof cover, or with lightly greased plastic wrap), and allow the dough to rise for 45 minutes to 1 hour, till it’s crested 1 to 2 inches over the rim of the pan.

Baking: Bake the bread in a preheated 350°F oven for 35 to 40 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers 190°F. If the bread appears to be browning too quickly, tent it with aluminum foil for the final 10 minutes of baking. Yield: 1 loaf

Also, I make mine in the stand mixer, just dump all the ingredients and mix away. I found that I have to add another cup of flour to bring it all together. When it is done kneading in the mixer, I transfer to a greased bowl and place in a warmed oven for two hours.

Filed under: Food

Freedom of Speech no longer allowed!

Seriously, I just read an article that Miss California dared to say, when she was asked, what she thought of “gay marriage”. She said it was between a man and a woman. Great answer. Now she is the scourge of the earth. Society is in the crapper.

Filed under: General Stuff

Uncle Update….

Thank you so much for those of you remembering my uncle in your prayers. He has started on chemo and radiation and will continue to do so for the next month and a half. My aunt says the chemo is rough on him, but he is trooping through.

Please continue to pray for him and his recovery!

Filed under: General Stuff

God is Good

all the time!

Of course we already knew that but, just in case we needed reminding….

Our friends, the Logues have a little boy. I will let you follow the link to the story. (And even if you don’t know them, it is a great read!)

CONGRATS to Brian and Andrea! 🙂

Filed under: General Stuff