Prairie Girl Wanna Be

Oh, my goodness!  I have had the best time at church yesterday. 

I have not been able to go in quite awhile except thru television or our church has it live on the internet so sometimes I watch that.  I don’t mind at all.  I believe God has given me a peace about this. 

For awhile, I missed getting out and I would try to get Mother up and it was too hard for her.  Or she would get up, I’d help her get dressed and then she’d be exhausted and couldn’t do it.  We are in a different season now and she is sleeping a lot so I have learned to just go with that.  I am much less stressed and I know she has got to be happier that her daughter isn’t pushing her so hard. 

Now I get up on Sunday mornings and when everybody leaves I get my shower and get in a comfy chair and I read my bible and watch church on t.v.  I enjoy this time.  I like the quietness of the house.  I can concentrate on what I’m learning.  I am amazed at how God will replace things in your life when you give something up.

ANYway, back to yesterday.  We have had family month the month of January.  Each sermon has been centered on couples.  Usually our pastor does a sermon on the men, then one on the women, then one on the children, then on the family as a whole.  This year he said it was time to center in on couples.  Divorce is rampant  ~ even in church ~ and we have got to get to work! 

Soo this month he has really hit it hard with us as man and wife.  I kept up with it each week so David and I could discuss it.  Then yesterday was the culmination of these sermons with a vow renewal service.  Lots of the ladies dressed up (me included) to look nice for our grooms and after our pastor and his wife renewed their vows those who wanted went down front and renewed ours.  It was awesome!  Very meaningful.  

At the part where you are to exchange rings ~ he had us hold our mate’s hand and touch the ring and repeat vows about the ring and it’s significance.  Of course, I had to blubber thru half of it like I did at our wedding service seven years ago.  But when  you look into the eyes of this man who you really, truly love and he is looking into yours.  And  you know he really loves you, it’s just overwhelming.  I am still amazed that this man knows me and likes me!  It’s an awesome thing.

Talk to ya later:)

For those who haven’t heard, let me fill you in on “Rick & Bubba”.  They are a team of two quite large men (they boast as being the two sexiest fat men alive) who have a radio show based out of Birmingham, Alabama.  (100.3 the River)

If you can listen to this show without laughing then you may need to be checked by a physician.  They are hilarious.  I don’t always agree with everything they say but overall our family enjoys them when we have a chance to listen.  They have a new c.d. every year and I always buy it for my hubby.  I have also bought several of their books which are also funny. 

This year I wanted to take David to see them in Birmingham.  You can go watch their show IF you can get tickets.  They are free but getting them is something else.  I began three months ahead and still couldn’t get them.  Then two weeks after his birthday, my cousin’s hubby called and offered us four tickets to the Golden Seats at the Rick and Bubba Show!!  We were so excited!  

You’ve never seen such scrambling to get ready.  I had to get  someone to stay with Mother, the guys had to work their work schedule out to be off and I began making bread.  These guys love to eat and I was not about to go empty handed.  Since baking bread seems to be my “thing”, I got to work.  We left in the dark on a Friday morning with a car full of bread, snacks, pillows and blankets!  I was excited because we don’t do things with my two boys anymore.  Todd is basically on his own so he doesn’t go places with us.  This was great! 

These guys are everything the following pictures will portray.  Friendly, fun, very hospitable.  They came over to where we sat at almost every break and talked with us.  Then afterwards they let us take tons of pictures.  This is very laid back ~ I would encourage any wife to take her husband ~ he will love her forever!  It’s such a guy thing!

 Here I am taking in my bread.  I made five loaves.  I wrapped and labeled four for the four main guys of the show ~ Rick, Bubba, Speedy and Greg.  Then I sliced and wrapped one for them to share in the room where they put all the food that’s brought in.  This is an early show.  It’s from 6:00 - 10:00 each morning so we were there very early.

Here’s where we sat ~ we were on one end of the studio and they were on the other.

Here’s Bubba during a break talking to the folks.  You can see behind him where they sit and do the show.  The windows to the left are double windows and bullet proof:)

They did a segment on bullriding and asked Trent to come outside with them.  He had helped Speedy put on the chaps.  Horseback riding is Trent’s favorite thing to do and he wears chaps a lot so he knew what to do.  He really enjoyed this part:)

Here’s another shot of them outside.  You can see we were right outside the studio. 

This was the fun part.  They call themselves good ole boys and they really were.  They were people you would love to bring home for supper.

David wanted to get a picture beside the microphones.  They did even better than that.  They had him get in Rick’s seat, put on the headphones and really act the part ~ then Rick got behind him for this pose!

 This is Greg Burgess, Rick’s brother.  I love his comments on the show and since he is mine and Daisy Debbie’s favorite I had to have my picture made with him to show her.

I want to go back with the  Daisies!   Our idea of a fun day would be go see the show then go thrift store shopping afterwards:)

Talk to you later!

We love baking ahead in this family.  My  mother was a master at this.  When we would know that company was coming, Mother would prepare as much as possible ahead so she could enjoy visiting. 

One thing I remember her making is Twice Baked Potatoes.  She would bake potatoes, cut them in half and scoop out the insides putting them into her mixing bowl.  She would then cream it very smooth with milk and butter and spoon this back into the potato “shells” topping them with grated cheese.   Mother liked to freeze things and the major rule in doing this is sealing.  The finished potatoes were placed on a cookie sheet and wrapped tightly with foil.  (Foil tip ~ Remember to use the shiny side out when freezing and the shiny side in when baking.)  You can’t always count on it not getting freezer burn if you place it in a plastic container.  I put a piece of foil or plastic wrap directly on the food, then place the plastic lid on when freezing this way. 

We do some of our shopping at Costco and they always have butter in four packs so I buy that and freeze it along with large blocks of cheese that we buy there.  The cheese tends to be a little crumbly after freezing but if I’m using it in cooking I don’t mind.  

Bekah freezes soup in freezer bags.  She lays them flat and after they freeze they can be stacked and not take up so much room in your freezer.  This past month I cooked up a lot of hamburger and froze it the same way.  That is such a help when cooking, to be able to grab your meat and just add to it. 

All this to say, my daughter is carrying on this tradition of baking ahead and freezing.  Her hubby bought her a freezer and she is baking lots of muffins and main dishes to help her days flow a little more smoothly.  She likes to come cook at our house because of the counter space and I love it!  Last cooking day, she made 70 muffins, homemade graham crackers and a cheese cracker recipe that had the whole house smelling wonderful!   She freezes them and her husband takes them directly out of the freezer on his way to work.  Here’s a recipe for a breakfast muffin she makes that you serve with syrup.

Pancake Sasuage Muffins

2 cups whole wheat flour (you can use regular if you prefer)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups milk or buttermilk

2 eggs

1/3 cup melted butter

 1/2 pound cooked sausage

Mix dry ingredients.  Add milk, eggs and melted butter.  Stir in browned sausage.  Pour batter into 18 buttered muffin tins.  If you use papers be sure and spray them because this will stick.  Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.  Drizzle with maple syrup.  Be sure and make them ahead and freeze them so you can just pull them out and serve with syrup when you need a quick breakfast.  This recipe is from www.heavenlyhomemakers.com.  She has tons of great recipes for breakfast that are good and good for you.

Here’s the batter.

Here she is spooning the batter into the muffin cups.  I did not get a picture of the finished products…I’m sorry…I was busy……

THIS is what I was working on!!

Three months ~ 18 pounds!

I’m telling you this nana thing is the bomb!!