Big Seats and Flat Feet

Early settlers and Native Americans preserved their meats by hanging it over a smoky fire until dry.  This allowed them to carry the meat for long distances without spoiling.  THIS is NOT my recipe, it's one I found in Venison Cookery Cookbook . Some of you may already have it... but if you don't... here it is! CAJUN JERKY Marinade: 4 cups cold water 2-3 tablespoons cajun seasoning ( Papa Scotts Cajun Products ) 2 tablespoons Morton's Tenderquick Mix 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 to 2 teaspoons paprika 2 lbs. boneless venison round steak or roast, cut into 4 x 1 x 1/4-inch strips 1-1/2 to 3 cups hickory wood chips Directions: Meat is easier to slice if slightly frozen.  Use a special jerky slicing board, and a VERY sharp knife to ensure even thickness of strips. Combine marinade in a nonmetallic bowl and stir to dissolve salt cure.  Add meat strips, cover w/ plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours, occasionally stirring.  In a large bowl, c...

Entering the woods  Squirrel has to be my son's favorite critter to hunt.  I'm so thankful his daddy takes this time to bond, and teach my son about about hunting and loving the outdoors.  Unfortunately, my daughters don't feel the same as my son does about hunting squirrel, or we'd go hunting along side them, more often. My son with his 1st Squirrel of the Season Sweet little five year old... A couple weeks back, before the season ended, we all made our way into the woods to hunt squirrel.  I stood back a ways and watched as my husband and son were out maneuvered by a grey squirrel.  As they passed a tree going in one direction, the squirrel circled around the tree in another.  I snickered to myself, knowing that yelling out, "There's one, right there!" would not be wise. Not so happy eleven year old We made our way to a tree, and my husband and son went some distance ahead.  My daughters and I were merely spectators, and thi...

Boy is this refreshing!  I like to serve this with the  Kielbasa Cabbage  meal, as a side! ENJOY! QUICK and EASY Broccoli Noodle Supreme 1 Med. box of Wheat, or Regular Spiral Noodles 1 large bunch of FRESH broccoli 1 Peeled and chopped fresh onion (Vidalia or White) 1 Small can of pitted, drained black olives 1/2 cup of Italian Dressing 8-9 RIPE, RIPE FRESH Cherry tomatoes cut in halves After cooking the noodles until tender (not overly cooked, you don't want them falling to pieces or breaking apart), drain noodles and combine them, along with the rest of the ingredients in a bowl.  Add salt and pepper to taste, serve cold.  We also add fresh cucumber... which makes it crispier and yummy for hot summer days!

Dry Erase Workbook for Homeschooling   My printer is now a heaping pile of junk. YES.  Although it is time to get another, the budget says otherwise.  So, to be creative, and to provide fun educational worksheets for both my preschool and kindergarten children, I decided to put all the worksheets in sheet protectors and place them in a notebook.  Yes, a notebook.  Sheet protectors are far less expensive than buying ink, paper and of course a new printer, and you can get dry erase markers (4 of them) for $1.00 at the Dollar Tree.  The children enjoy using the dry erase markers in the workbooks that are full of preschool and kindergarten reading, math, and writing worksheets. PLUS, I can use the worksheets over and over again with other children.   Easy and FUN to Use! I wish I had thought of this sooner, and I am almost certain I'm not the only person that has done this.  As a matter of fact, while at the Dollar Tree I picked up two ...

Sometimes you don't realize how thoroughly blessed you are until you've either come across difficult times, or walked a mile in the shoes of someone who has.  I think back in my life, and I've always been grateful for everything I've ever had.  To many, it may not have been much, but to me, it was everything.     I make bracelets, because it's something I really enjoy.  I took several to church on Wednesday to show my dear friend Carolyn.  While looking at them, another lady (Marcel) chimed in about how beautiful they were, and how she'd like to have one.  My heart is generous, so it was nothing for me to give her the bracelet she admired.  She paid me!  I wasn't expecting that at all.  I don't like to sell things at church, but ended up taking her money because she refused to take it back. Beautiful Bracelet Created for my dear friend Marcel     Feeling bad, I came home that evening a...

YUM!  The kids, especially my son, love this dish!  It's a hit with me, and the other moms! Quick and EASY Stir Fry for Kids 1 LARGE FROZEN Pkg. of Vegetable Medley (carrots, broccoli, cauliflower) thawed 1/2  to 1 cup Soy Sauce  1 to 2 tbls. oil Get oil HOT!  Slowly add thawed vegetables to oil (use common sense, don't splatter oil!).  After vegetables begin to slightly soften, add Soy sauce.  While stirring, allow vegetables to blacken slightly (not all over, just in areas).  Cook until tender, NOT OVER COOKED!  I also use this method of cooking with fresh cut or whole green beans (FRESH, NOT frozen!).  My kids love the green beans a little parched, and the Soy Sauce makes it extra YUMMY! God bless

What a weekend!  First we got snow, then we had the opportunity to go to our local Wildlife Management Area to look for sheds, rubs, tracks, scat, skeletal remains... or anything else we could find out there in the woods.  My husband and I enjoy getting the kids outdoors so they can experience nature first hand.  Our initial intent was to look for sheds.  Although we didn't find any sheds, we enjoyed what we did find, and the time we spent together, as a family.   Just as we entered the woods, I told my children to watch for dogs.  People are constantly dropping dogs off in these woods.  They toss pups they've killed, and often times dump them in nearby streams and watersheds.  I've even discovered whole litters of starving pups with an empty bag of torn open dog feed that had been left with them.  It's really sad.  It's also dangerous to people entering the WMA because the dogs are starving, wild, and afraid. Dog remains...

I must say, God has really blessed me through the years.  When I look at my husband and children, I consider the unexpected blessings I have had since they each came into my life.  Not looking for love, I found my husband, and after giving up on the idea of becoming a mother, I'm now a proud parent of three wonderful children.  It hasn't always been easy... trials, financial losses, heartache, deaths of family and friends... but one thing is clear... we each became stronger because of it. Dusting of snow on my camellia My husband, thankfully is a praying man... he's diligent in his faith; continually reading the Bible, praying and guiding us as a family.  He's the leader of our house.  Because he took on the role as head with such a fierceness... we've been able to thrive and survive through the roughest of times.  I'm so thankful, and blessed he decided to be THE MAN in our lives by setting the proper example for my son and daughters. ...