Happy 4th everyone! Here is a jello dessert I made called Patriotic Layers. You can see the recipe here. Of course the one on the Jello website has PERFECTLY straight and even layers. Mine.. not so much….. but fun to make anyways. Have a great day!
July 2, 2009
Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth
Since I’ve been into all these non toxic and “green” products, I’ve been trying to find natural weed killers and natural pest control instead of using the toxic kind that might also harm my dogs or other pets. According to internet searches, Diatomaceous Earth is used to kill all kinds of insect pests ( ants, bedbugs, carpet beetles, centipedes, crickets, cockroaches, earwigs, fleas, grasshoppers, millipedes, slugs, silverfish, spiders) without harming pets, children and earthworms. Diotomaceous Earth is odorless and nontoxic and looks like white powder. It is composed of finely milled fossilized shells of minuscule organisms called diatoms. The microscopically fine, sharp edges desiccate the insects’ exoskeletons upon contact and the pests dehydrate and die within hours. The insects also die when they eat the dust.
My mom gave me some in a recycled parmesan cheese container to try in my garden and around my house. We have ants around the backyard and I have tried spraying vinegar on them… (read that somewhere online) but it didn’t keep them from coming back… it only annoyed the ones I sprayed. A few weeks ago I found the same trail of ants I once sprayed with vinegar still at work. I powdered the diatomaceous earth near the trail. I kept going back to see if anything happened but it looked the same to me. A day or so later, that entire ant trail was GONE! And I don’t have to worry about the DE harming my dogs who will eat and lick anything. (Although they have shown no interest in the DE yet anyhow…)
I just found another ant trail behind my garden box. A big one… so today I sprinkled some on the trail. You can see some lovely weeds there too… now that one I have not figured out yet. I also tried spraying vinegar on the weeds.. but without much success. If anyone knows of or has heard of a natural way to kill weeds besides trying to pull them all please let me know! I pull as many as I can but sometimes its just ridiculous .
Some ants are also invading my nectarine tree. I was trying to follow the ants to their hole. I think I saw a hole in the ground right next to the nectarine tree!!!!! It sure feels good knowing I can kill these ants without harming my nectarine tree and without adding chemicals or toxins to the nectarines that come off of this tree!
Oh and if you decide to use this at your house, my mom told me to be careful not to inhale the DE in your lungs while powdering it. I tried holding my breath while doing it but found a little mask much easier. Haha. Some websites also say that you can use this indoors. I haven’t done that yet. I don’t know if I want to see a white blob of powder in my house anyhow. I guess that’s better than seeing bugs in the house though.
What does this picture have to do with this post?? Absolutely nothing. Just another chance to see my cute dogs faces. One day we walked to a Dr. appt near our house. I sat with the dogs and waited outside while Kevin went in for his appointment. I took this picture of them while we were waiting. I think they look like they are waiting for a bus or something!! Anyways, happy bug hunting.
June 18, 2009
Frosty Paw treats
Since I’m on summer break from work, I decided it was time to try out a new homemade doggie treat! Last year I tried Bulldog Banana Bites and Homemade Milk Bone Dog Biscuits. This year I found a recipe for Homemade Frosty Paws on the Raise a Green Dog Blog.
1 32 ounce container of low fat, plain organic yogurt
1 banana, mashed
2 Tbsp of organic peanut butter
3 handfuls of organic blueberries (I didn’t have these so I left them out)
Mix the ingredients together and place in ice trays. Freeze for about 3 hours.
The only ice trays I have are the ones for making ice cubes that will fit into bottled water containers.. so that’s why the frosty paws look like string cheese. Hahah. I ran out of room in my 3 ice trays so I used a short cup to make the round one. The Raise a Green Dog post says to you can use cute dog bone shaped ice trays… that would be cute.
These were super easy to make and once frozen I just took them out of the trays and put them in a freezer bag in the freezer. The dogs love them!
Can you tell by the look on Kevin’s face that he wants me to hurry up and get a good picture so he doesn’t have to keep holding out the frosty paw without letting the dogs eat them for my action shots! Hahaha….
Oh and how lovely that you can see my green grocery bags on that chair behind Kevin… and Kevin’s lunch box on the shelf…. and my cute green cordless vacuum that I just got at Lowe’s to help keep up with the dog fur and dirt that they bring in every day!
Oh.. and I did make rice krispie treats for the boys in case anyone was feeling sorry for them…. hahaha
June 15, 2009
What I learned about camping..
This weekend we went camping at Golden Pines RV Resort in Arnold CA with a group from our church! This is the 2nd church campout we’ve attended. Before that neither Kevin nor I have camped since we were kids! So even being called amateur campers would be a compliment!!!
Here’s what I learned…..
Boys and husbands like to find creepy bugs to scare their moms and wives with…. 
Having a separate “boys” tent is a MUST….
Not placing it FAR ENOUGH away from your own tent is a lesson learned when its 10:30 at night and you’re trying to fall asleep and your boys are talking so loud if feels like they are in YOUR tent.
Teens and pre-teens are obsessed with fire and their “help” keeping the fire going should be kept to a minimum when at all possible. We were really nice and let the kids have their own fire in the next pit over after we got tired of being smoked out and tired of dodging flying ashes and waving sticks of fire….
Camping may make brothers closer……..
Sons and dads may bond……..
Camping is always better with a friend……
After you get past packing up your whole house and forgetting many things anyhow….. then unpacking all that stuff to set up camp…. if and when you take the time to look around at your surroundings…. you are reminded of how beautiful all of God’s creation is and how lucky you are to be in the midst of it.
And.. when you get back home, your love and appreciation for your home, your shower, your toilet and your bed sky rockets to pure love and adoration.
I also learned by watching other campers (Lisa, if you’re reading this…I’m talking about you!) that next time I will pack my stuff in rubbermaid type containers to help keep everything more organized and easier to pack up in the car…..
That more blankets or comforters are a must…
That you should make sure your air bed has enough air in it if you don’t want to sink into the middle ….
That leaving your ice in the bag that it came in really does make it last longer in the ice chest…..
Bring a beanie to sleep with or even though your body will be warm under your blankets your head will freeze when sleeping…..
That non toxic natural herbal bug spray really works….
and that….. I think camping is okay.. and may even try it again!!!
June 9, 2009
Summer Break is here!
I’m off for the summer! Yay! The kids are off for June and July and so am I! I love the summer break because I have so much more time to do things. During the school year its always rush rush rush… wake up, take kids to school, go to work, go home, put my stuff away, get dinner ready, feed the pets, eat dinner, put dinner away, make lunch for work, get clothes ready for work, make sure the kids are settled, get ready for bed, try to unwind before bed… go to sleep and start all over again the next day! With 2 months off… I get the chance to unwind, take care of things I’ve put off all year… and just enjoy a slower paced life!!! Thank you Jesus!!!!!
Walking Baby Love (April) at Lodi Lake
More time for BBQ’s and dog walking!
My hibiscus is growing!
More time for swimming and enjoying the back yard!
My cucumbers are in cages this year.
And my garden is growing…. this year I planted only tomatoes and cucumbers. There are 8 cucumber plants (4 lemon cucumber and 4 slicing cucumbers) and 7 tomato plants (1 yellow pear tomato, 2 sunsugar, 2 beefsteak and 2 lemon boy tomatoes.) I’ve been working on all my backyard sprinklers and timers and adjustments. (Thanks mom and Winny for all your help by the way.)
Plants for the front yard
We’ve now started working on the front yard. Here’s all my flowers lined up waiting to be planted!
and best of all…. More time for family and loved ones……
Joey and his buddy Tyler at the JACL picnicKevin and Austin eating and playing bingo
Kevin and Austin eating and playing bingo
Echo Love
May 31, 2009
Pho anyone?
Saturday after Kevin took all the boys to see a movie, he and I went to Elk Grove just to get out since the boys were spending the night at Grandmas that night! We didn’t have anything in particular in mind other than checking out a grocery store called The Nugget (a co worker told me it was a little bit like Whole Foods Market and Kev and I love Whole Foods…) I’m glad we went but Whole Foods is still my favorite. The Nugget had mostly regular groceries whereas Whole Foods has all that organic and natural stuff that I’m into.
One cool thing about the Nugget though was how they displayed their produce! It was so beautiful I had to take pictures of it!
They had a separate section for organic produce which I thought was equally beautiful… Cute little pot like containers…. I didn’t even buy any of it.. I just liked looking at it all!!! Haha
For dinner, we decided to try something different. We went to Pho Lotus and ate some pho! I hadn’t had pho in years. It was really yummy.
We also had an appetizer which
Kevin really enjoyed..
May 30, 2009
Happy Graduation!
Last night Little Kevin graduated from Tokay High! We were so proud of him as he has come a long way in his education and he never gave up. He’s not sure what he wants to do yet but he plans on going to Delta College and on getting a job. Here he is with his proud dad!
When they handed out the graduation program, there was a part of the senior picture on the front of it. Kevin’s face is in the picture! See if you can find him… its like Where’s Waldo!
Here’s one more pic of Kev with me…. I’m so proud of you Little Kev!
And yes… all of his brothers were there too.. but every picture taken of them makes it seem like they were being punished by having to take a picture.. so I’ll spare you of those…. hahahah
April 6, 2009
Happy Early Easter
When I was a kid, I thought Easter was about the Easter bunny, Easter
baskets and hunting for eggs! I have great memories of those times in my
life. But it wasn’t until I became a believer in Jesus as my Savior that
the true meaning of Easter came into understanding for me. What an
awesome gift. This song from Chris Tomlin’s album "Hello Love" is one
of my favorites. When I saw him in concert he said this was his
favorite song on the album and I can see why! Just thinking about the
day that Jesus will call my name!!!!! Wow!!!
Following are the lyrics. If you get a chance to listen to it somewhere
online, please do. Its beautiful!
I Will Rise
Chris Tomlin
There’s a peace I’ve come to know
though my heart and flesh may fail
There’s an anchor for my soul.
I can say it is well.
Jesus has overcome
and the grave is overwhelmed.
Victory is won.
He is risen from the dead.
And I will rise when He calls my name.
No more sorrow, no more pain.
I will rise, on eagles wings before my God fall on my knees
and rise. I will rise.
There’s a day that’s drawing near.
When this darkness breaks to light.
And the shadows disappear
and my faith shall be my eyes.
Jesus has overcome
and the grave is overwhelmed.
Victory is won.
He is risen from the dead.
And I will rise when He calls my name.
No more sorrow, no more pain.
I will rise, on eagles wings before my God fall on my knees
and rise. I will rise.
And I hear the voice of many angels sing
Worthy is the Lamb!
And I hear the cry of every longing heart
Worthy is the Lamb!
And I hear the voice of many angels sing
Worthy is the Lamb!
And I hear the cry of every longing heart.
You are worthy, You are worthy
Worthy is the Lamb.
I will rise, when He calls my name.
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise, on eagles wings
before my God fall on my knees
and rise. I will rise.
I will rise.
March 21, 2009
Card Night… I finally won!
About once a month since November I have been playing games and cards with some ladies from church! Marianne who usually hosts it at her house teaches us how to play different card games… but the one we play the most is called “Louisiana Rummy” or “May I.” Its a fun game in which the goal is to get the LEAST amount of points at the end of the game…. I usually get the MOST or close to the most points.. but last night.. I WON! I told the ladies they had to pose for a picture with my cell phone camera so I could blog about my victory. Hahaha.. Also, we had a WONDERFUL dinner made by Ruth Ann. It was called Cincinnati Chili. It was delicious and I had never had it before. If she gives out the recipe I will post it. It was one I would definitely like to make! I should have taken a picture of it but I was too busy eating it!
Oh… here is a picture of baby William and mommy Nancy. Sherri and I went to visit her yesterday too. William is 3 months old now! Aren’t they cute in their matching green outfits!
March 21, 2009
The New Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides!
The 2009 edition of the shopper’s guide to pesticides is out! I posted this once before I think, but they have updated the list. Even if you don’t buy many things organic, this can give you an idea of the “dirtiest” foods that you may want to consider buying organic! They have a wallet size print out that you can carry in your wallet! Check it out at FoodNews.org
Make sure you take your reusable shopping bags when you go too! =)
