Yesterday afternoon, a rather large spider showed up on the wall in my kitchen. I don't like spiders! At all!! I didn't have any bug spray on hand, and so I ran to the cabinet and pulled out my vinegar spray. (It is just vinegar and water at a 70:30 ratio) I didn't know if it would work, but I thought maybe the smell would stun it long enough for me to kill it with my tennis shoe. I sprayed it once, it kept on going. I sprayed it again. It jumped/fell off the wall and onto the floor. I sprayed it twice more and it finally started acting like the vinegar was having an effect. I waited a few minutes, watching from a safe distance. It started to shrivel up! Woo hoo!! I was thrilled!
I decided to show it to Jason, but I didn't want it in my house, so I swept it into the dustpan and set it on the back porch. A while later I decided to sweep the kitchen floor and needed the dustpan to pick up the dirt. I went to transfer my prize to a sheet of paper. When I bumped the dustpan, the spider took off and disappeared under the porch! I guess the vinegar just stunned it pretty good. At least it was out of my house and in the great outdoors where it belongs!
Does anyone have any tips on killing spiders? Or any natural, homemade, effective bug sprays? I would love to hear about them!
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Memorial Day Weekend
Thank you so much to all our armed service members for their protection and sacrifices so that my family and I can live in peace!
This past weekend to celebrate the long weekend, we spent time relaxing with family. Starting Friday night, we went galivanting, just to get out of the house. Saturday, Jason and his dad worked on a new front deck at the parents' house. They measured, cut and stabilized the frame. Then, they layed the decking. Sunday after church, they finished the other half of the frame and layed more decking, to make a 16-20' long deck. It looks good and is solid!
While Jason was helping Dad on Saturday and Sunday, and then fishing on Monday, I spent some time relaxing with Mom. It was so nice to have an adult to talk with face to face!
On Sunday, Jianna had a bow in her hair. She kept taking it out, then giving it to me. I would fix it, then she would take it out again. After church, she told me she wanted to drop it in the parking lot. I told her no, that it would get dirty. I kept walking, and she turned to me and said, "Mommy, I drop my bow." I looked, and sure enough, she had. That is the most complete sentence she has said, to date! Who knows what she will say next!
Happy Memorial Day!
This past weekend to celebrate the long weekend, we spent time relaxing with family. Starting Friday night, we went galivanting, just to get out of the house. Saturday, Jason and his dad worked on a new front deck at the parents' house. They measured, cut and stabilized the frame. Then, they layed the decking. Sunday after church, they finished the other half of the frame and layed more decking, to make a 16-20' long deck. It looks good and is solid!
While Jason was helping Dad on Saturday and Sunday, and then fishing on Monday, I spent some time relaxing with Mom. It was so nice to have an adult to talk with face to face!
On Sunday, Jianna had a bow in her hair. She kept taking it out, then giving it to me. I would fix it, then she would take it out again. After church, she told me she wanted to drop it in the parking lot. I told her no, that it would get dirty. I kept walking, and she turned to me and said, "Mommy, I drop my bow." I looked, and sure enough, she had. That is the most complete sentence she has said, to date! Who knows what she will say next!
Happy Memorial Day!
Friday, May 24, 2013
Hello again everyone!
We decided that since our situation changed, it was time to move and change the blog around. This will be our personal family blog and I will try to share updates at least once a month on what we're doing.
Jianna is now two! How the time has flown!! She is learning more and more every day. She loves to climb on the jungle gym at the playground. She loves to swing and go for runs or rides in her stroller. She points out birds and animals and makes their sounds. She is slowly changing (or too quickly, depending on the day) into a young girl, instead of a toddler. She is continuing to learn to enunciate more and more clearly.
Just yesterday, I was in the kitchen and was fiddling around with some things and when I looked up, she was on her stool at the stove. She had 3 pots out, several spoons and ladles and was moving beans from one pot to another on the stove. When I asked her what she was doing, she said, "I cook!" She was so proud of her accomplishment!!
Jason is working. He is working long hours, but he is able to provide what we need so that I can stay at home. I am very grateful for his dedication. He is also a youth pastor now, at a new church in our area. He seems to be hitting his stride with that and enjoying it.
I am working from home 3-4 days a week. I babysit a one-year-old little boy. He has just learned to walk and is exploring like there is no tomorrow. By the time he is ready for a nap, so is Jianna. It works out well, usually.
Well, that is what is new with us right now. If you get a chance, let me know what is new with you!
We decided that since our situation changed, it was time to move and change the blog around. This will be our personal family blog and I will try to share updates at least once a month on what we're doing.
Jianna is now two! How the time has flown!! She is learning more and more every day. She loves to climb on the jungle gym at the playground. She loves to swing and go for runs or rides in her stroller. She points out birds and animals and makes their sounds. She is slowly changing (or too quickly, depending on the day) into a young girl, instead of a toddler. She is continuing to learn to enunciate more and more clearly.
Just yesterday, I was in the kitchen and was fiddling around with some things and when I looked up, she was on her stool at the stove. She had 3 pots out, several spoons and ladles and was moving beans from one pot to another on the stove. When I asked her what she was doing, she said, "I cook!" She was so proud of her accomplishment!!
Jason is working. He is working long hours, but he is able to provide what we need so that I can stay at home. I am very grateful for his dedication. He is also a youth pastor now, at a new church in our area. He seems to be hitting his stride with that and enjoying it.
I am working from home 3-4 days a week. I babysit a one-year-old little boy. He has just learned to walk and is exploring like there is no tomorrow. By the time he is ready for a nap, so is Jianna. It works out well, usually.
Well, that is what is new with us right now. If you get a chance, let me know what is new with you!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
The tastiest recipe yet!
This recipe actually originated in Italy, but is made by Romanians, as well! It is soooo easy! It looks like you spent hours slaving, when, in less than 1 hour (first time ever trying it) it was ready to put in the oven! Awesome recipe!
It is called, "Pollo Italiano" (Italian chicken, I think is the way it translates)
You will need-
Chicken:
2 lbs. Chicken breast (de-boned and no skin)
1-1 1/2 c. mushrooms
1 1/2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 c. soy sauce
pepper and any other spices you want to use (I used oregano, dill and parsley), all to taste
1 c. water
1. Cut the chicken in 1/4 - 1/2 inch slices, horizontally, across the largest part of the breast. You almost want to filet the chicken.
2. Put it in a container to marinate it in the soy sauce while you are preparing the filling.
3. Chop up the mushrooms.
4. Add the cheese and spices and mix well.
5. Spread out foil, and place the chicken pieces on it, one right after the other. This will look like you have one super long piece of chicken. (You might need to use two foot-long sections of foil... that's OK. It makes it easier to handle)
6. Spread the filling evenly down the center of the pieces of chicken.
7. Fold the edges of the chicken up over the filling.
8. Pull the edges of the foil up and fold them together over the chicken, snugly (you don't want the chicken flopping around, but neither do you want to break the foil).
9. Put the rolls of foil-wrapped chicken in a 9x13 pan.
10. Add about 1 cup of water to the pan.
11. Bake at about 350*F for 30 minutes.
12. Serve hot, with sauce (if you like it) spread over it.
Sauce:
1/4-1/2 c. sourcream
1/4-1/2 c. mayonaise
2 pieces of garlic, crushed
salt and pepper, to taste
1. mix everything together well.
2. When the chicken is ready, spread some over each piece of chicken.
This goes great with:
potatoes-mashed, boiled, baked, etc.
salad
corn, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, cooked spinach, etc!
Try it! And Pofta Buna! :D
It is called, "Pollo Italiano" (Italian chicken, I think is the way it translates)
You will need-
Chicken:
2 lbs. Chicken breast (de-boned and no skin)
1-1 1/2 c. mushrooms
1 1/2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 c. soy sauce
pepper and any other spices you want to use (I used oregano, dill and parsley), all to taste
1 c. water
1. Cut the chicken in 1/4 - 1/2 inch slices, horizontally, across the largest part of the breast. You almost want to filet the chicken.
2. Put it in a container to marinate it in the soy sauce while you are preparing the filling.
3. Chop up the mushrooms.
4. Add the cheese and spices and mix well.
5. Spread out foil, and place the chicken pieces on it, one right after the other. This will look like you have one super long piece of chicken. (You might need to use two foot-long sections of foil... that's OK. It makes it easier to handle)
6. Spread the filling evenly down the center of the pieces of chicken.
7. Fold the edges of the chicken up over the filling.
8. Pull the edges of the foil up and fold them together over the chicken, snugly (you don't want the chicken flopping around, but neither do you want to break the foil).
9. Put the rolls of foil-wrapped chicken in a 9x13 pan.
10. Add about 1 cup of water to the pan.
11. Bake at about 350*F for 30 minutes.
12. Serve hot, with sauce (if you like it) spread over it.
Sauce:
1/4-1/2 c. sourcream
1/4-1/2 c. mayonaise
2 pieces of garlic, crushed
salt and pepper, to taste
1. mix everything together well.
2. When the chicken is ready, spread some over each piece of chicken.
This goes great with:
potatoes-mashed, boiled, baked, etc.
salad
corn, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, cooked spinach, etc!
Try it! And Pofta Buna! :D
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Romanian Gulash
Hey everyone!
Here is the newest recipe that I have tried out! It is super easy! It would probably also work well in a crock-pot. Since we don't have one, we use the stove-top and that works just fine.
This dish is very similar to beef tips, just Romanian style! :D
Ingredients:
1 med. sized can of tomatoes (I used diced, but you can use whichever kind you have already, or prefer)
1 Tbsp. paprika
1 tsp. ground chili peppers
1 tsp. vinegar
1 tsp. flour (I used plain flour, not self-rising)
2 Tbsp. sourcream
salt and pepper to taste
1. Cut the beef in 1 inch cubes, approximately
2. In a 3 liter pot, pour in the oil and slightly sautee the onion and garlic.
3. Add the meat to the pot and cook for 5 minutes.
4. After 5 minutes, add the paprika, salt, vinegar and tomatoes (in their juice).
5. Cover the meat with water. Stir.
6. Put a lid on the pot and let this simmer over low heat for about 2 hours.
7. When the meatis well boiled, mix the flour and sourcream together.
8. Add this mix to the pot. Stir well.
9. Let it simmer just a few more minutes, to let the sauce thicken.
10. Add a bit more salt and pepper to taste.
** This dish traditionally has a pleasantly spicy taste to it. But you can spice it to fit your personal tastes**
This is served over polenta (I'll find a recipe for that and post it sometime), noodles (bowtie, twisty-looking ones, etc.), and even rice. Pofta buna! :D
Here is the newest recipe that I have tried out! It is super easy! It would probably also work well in a crock-pot. Since we don't have one, we use the stove-top and that works just fine.
This dish is very similar to beef tips, just Romanian style! :D
Ingredients:
2-3 onions, diced
2 pieces of garlic, crushed
4-5 Tbsp. oil
1 lb. beef (not ground)1 med. sized can of tomatoes (I used diced, but you can use whichever kind you have already, or prefer)
1 Tbsp. paprika
1 tsp. ground chili peppers
1 tsp. vinegar
1 tsp. flour (I used plain flour, not self-rising)
2 Tbsp. sourcream
salt and pepper to taste
1. Cut the beef in 1 inch cubes, approximately
2. In a 3 liter pot, pour in the oil and slightly sautee the onion and garlic.
3. Add the meat to the pot and cook for 5 minutes.
4. After 5 minutes, add the paprika, salt, vinegar and tomatoes (in their juice).
5. Cover the meat with water. Stir.
6. Put a lid on the pot and let this simmer over low heat for about 2 hours.
7. When the meatis well boiled, mix the flour and sourcream together.
8. Add this mix to the pot. Stir well.
9. Let it simmer just a few more minutes, to let the sauce thicken.
10. Add a bit more salt and pepper to taste.
** This dish traditionally has a pleasantly spicy taste to it. But you can spice it to fit your personal tastes**
This is served over polenta (I'll find a recipe for that and post it sometime), noodles (bowtie, twisty-looking ones, etc.), and even rice. Pofta buna! :D
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