Wednesday, February 29, 2012

It's Raining, So....

It's a rainy day today, so I'm baking up a storm.  So far, I've made zucchini chocolate cake, oatmeal raisin cookies, & some more of that yummy home-made granola.  I plan to make some Molasses Wheat bread yet and possibly some peanut butter fudge.


This should make my family happy.  P.S. - I'm not sure what the deal is with the lantern battery.  My husband placed it there several days ago, & it hasn't gone away yet.  It probably won't unless I make it go away.

All this baking has another purpose too, aside from giving me something to do on a rainy day.  I'm trying to stock up on some homemade snacks so that my family have things to take to school & work and I'm not as tempted to buy the processed stuff at the store.  


The mess waiting for me when I'm done writing this post.  :(


Actually, I should clarify that I don't buy a ton of processed snacks (i.e. - cookies, cakes, etc.) because I know home-made tastes better anyway!  But, on occassion there's such a good deal (and I shop at a discount store already, so the deals are sometimes awesome!) that I can't pass it up.  In an effort to continue to be more conscious about what we eat...and to hopefully save some money at the grocery store, I need to get back into the swing of making my own.


The rain also makes me think about what my kiddos will do with themselves when they get home.  Would you like to see what has been keeping them occupied over the last couple weeks?



There used to be one hole in a corner of our backyard for digging.  After this particular day there were 3 holes.  And, my boys had started carrying buckets of water down to create mud pits.  By the time I realized what they were up to they were already covered in mud.  So, I figured I should at least document the moment with pictures.



By the way, he wasn't wearing boots here.  These are his school shoes completely encrusted in mud.




I wanted him to turn around so I could get a picture of how muddy his bottom was.  This was how he thought he should pose.





So, after that particular day (and that huge mess of clothes & shoes I had to clean), mud making is off limits.  But, they've still been digging in the dirt.  


No go today since it's raining.




On another note, rainy days make me think about reading.  And, I'm craving a good book.  I've been getting Christian fiction from the library lately.  But, can I be honest?  I am really frustrated with Christian fiction.  The writing just usually isn't as good.  Many times the characters are annoying and the storylines unappealing.  I hate to sound harsh.  It's just how I've been feeling.


So, can you help me out?  I need some book recommendations.  I'm open to both Christian and secular suggestions....as long as I'll come away from the story uplifted and encouraged in some way.


Hope you have a great day!  And, enjoy your weather, what ever it may be.

17 comments:

  1. Hi! I just have to say there is nothing more fun than playing in the mud! :-) Such great pictures and memories to last a lifetime! :-)

    Have you ever read redeeming Love by Francine Rivers? That is one of my favorite books! The Help is also a wonderful read. I love to read and often do reviews on my site.

    Not sure if you are on Facebook or not? If you'd like to connect with me there I have a "like" page here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/blessings-of-a-stay-at-home-mom/290493937679981
    If you have a page let me know and I'll "like" you back :-)

    Have a great day!

    blessings,
    Jill

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    1. Jill, I have read Redeeming Love. It's a wonderful book. And, Francine Rivers is one of my favorite Christian authors.

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  2. Hi Karen,
    It's sunny here...but I wish SOMEONE was baking in my house right now....I am craving sweets big time!:)
    And that mud...girl...what a mess. Fun yes, impossible to clean yes! Mom of the year I tell ya!!:)
    have a happy day

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    1. Well, I'm not sure about mom of the year. :) There was still a good bit of frustration on my part. Sometimes I can roll with what these boys do, but this definitely pushed my limits.

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  3. Have your read "The Alchemist" by Coelho (I think that's the author). It's one of my very favorites, uplifting, and extremely well-written. Hope you like it.

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    1. I haven't read that book. Thanks for the suggestion! I was just at the library, so I'll have to write this down to remember for my next trip there. Thanks Jen!

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  4. What a great way to spend your extra day! Smart girl....and that mud...yikes.fun!

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    1. Yeah, that mud was definitely a 'yikes' moment for me. :) But, they did have fun.

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  5. Yea! for you and all that baking...now if we weren't having such wonderful sunshine I might be tempted to do the same.

    Oh the pictures of the boys...well you know I love those. Ben even has a shirt that says, "I Love Mud"...and it still is his favorite toy (mud)! Enjoy, enjoy...besides this is why I have those words on the front of my washer!!

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    1. Oh Janette! I know you know about the ways of boys! I think I've relaxed as a mom when it comes to 'things boys do'. But, there are still times that I'm just amazed at just how dirty they can get.

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  6. Oh my gosh!! Look at that mud and those school shoes!! Thanks for making me smile :)
    You are a very patient woman cleaning this up lol, although the fun they were having far outweighs anything doesn't it! I bet your boys are all such good friends, always getting up to mischief together? Fun times!
    I'm your newest follower, thought I'd say hello, cute post :)
    Yummy baking, and I agree with Jill, I have heard (still yet to read!) that The Help is a wonderful read :)
    Have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. very informative blog i really like your article thanks for sharing it.....

      boats in uae

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    2. Hi Kerry! Thanks for your lovely comment! Well, I'm not sure how patient I am sometimes. Actually, quite often I find myself completely frustrated. But they really did have so much fun together. And, that's a good thing, because often they are fighting. When they are outside & getting dirty though, they can get along. Go figure!

      Thanks for becoming a follower. I'll be checking out your blog too!

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  7. That mud looks all too familiar...I have five boys and they, too, LOVE mud. I take a hose to them outside when they get covered--the last time, it was probably 50-60°F outside! Then, we swish the clothes in a tub or bucket of water outside--I try to make the boys do that--until most of the mud is off. After living on a "sand dune" for 10 years, the clay we have here is a whole different challenge!

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    1. Oh Emma. It sounds like you can relate quite well. 5 boys! I feel like I have my hands full with my 4. But, I have really come to enjoy being a mom to boys. The funny thing is I always imagined I'd have girls. But, that doesn't seem to be part of God's plan for our family. I will say that having boys has actually helped me understand my husband better (I only grew up with sisters, no brothers).

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  8. Karen, I read Night by Elie Wiesel and although it was a difficult read (content) it was good. He was a teen when his family (Jews) were taken from their home in 1944. He writes from the perspective of the naive Jews. Also the book Veiled Freedom by J.M.Windle, a journalist who lived in Afghanistan. Her detailed research leads to writing so realistic that it prompted the gov. agencies to question her to determine if she has received classified inf. She lives in Lancaster, Pa.

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    1. Lois, thank you so much for the book suggestions. I admit I have a hard time reading stories about atrocities committed against the Jews. But, the name Elie Wiesel sounds really familiar. I wonder if I read something else by that author? I'll have to check out the other book you recommended too.

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