My Little Working Man

Troubles helped his momma clean the carpets today. I love his hard-working side!

Zombie Abe

My sweet little Missy surprised me with this beautiful rendition of Honest Abe during the Zombie Apocalypse. I think she's got him pegged, don't you?

Pickles!

I made up a batch of Kosher Dills today. This is one of my very favorite recipes ever! Three days on the counter and it's dill pickle heaven...

Kosher Dill Pickles

• 1 gallon cucumber
• 1/3 cup instant minced onion
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 tablespoon mustard seeds
• 6 heads fresh dill (or 6 tbsp dill seeds)
• 2 quarts water
• 1 1/2 cups cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup canning salt

1. Slice cucumbers lengthwise into quarters, or slice into rounds, and add to jars along with the dill.
2. Boil liquids and seasonings to dissolve the salt then cool. Pour over pickles and let sit on counter for three days turning them occasionally, then refrigerate for up to a year.
   
3. Please do not try to use the regular grocery store cucumbers, they have wax on them and they will not turn out. You can use grocery store pickling cucumbers as they are not waxed.

Sonlight Books

We had our annual used curriculum sale today. I need very little for next year, but I did go, looking specifically for Mystery of History Vol. II, III, and IV, any Sequential Spelling 2-7, and Sonlight books. I also picked up MUS Algebra I from a local homeschooler who passes the TM and DVD along to me when she is done with them. I did end up with SS 2 and lots of Sonlight books. My stacks of SL are getting bigger and bigger!

One of this summer's projects is to get all of the books in the library cataloged (realistically, it's not likely to happen). A smaller sub-project is to get Sonlight books separated out and shelved together. Having the SL list change once again this year doesn't help matter, but this part may get done this summer regardless.

Love the Colors!

The colors and variety of farm fresh eggs are so beautiful! I love the flavor, too, of course. It's one of the things I miss most in the winter, since eggs are scarce then. For now, I will enjoy them in their abundance!

Yep...

...we start 'em early round these parts, but only on the good stuff.

A Girl and Her Gun

We toured the B-17 "Sentimental Journey" today. We also got to see the B-25 "Maid in the Shade" close up and even see it take off. It was so loud! One of these days I hope to have the $400 it takes to take a ride in her. This is our third year supporting the Arizona Wing of the CAF. If they come to an airport near you, don't miss them!