For a Good Laugh!

If you are looking for a good laugh this winter check out this website http://www.weather.com/weather/local/58201?lswe=58201&lwsa=WeatherLocalUndeclared

it shows Grand Forks weather!! This morning it says -4, feels like -20. Yep, I agree!!

Yummy~!

Spaghetti Squash with Black Beans and Zucchini



1 spaghetti squash, about 2 lbs

2 zucchini, cut lengthwise into 1/4 inch thick slices

2 cups chopped fresh basil or 1 1/2 tbl dried

15 ounces black beans rinsed and drained

2 cups chopped seeded tomatoes

2 tbl olive oil

2 tbl red wine vinegar

1 large clove garlic, minced

1/2 tsp salt



1. cook squash , many ways to do it, I cut in half, scooped out seeds, placed face down on baking stone, baked at 375 for 35 min, when done shred with forks to look like spaghetti

2. grill or saute zucchini

3. mix tomatoes, beans, cooked zucchini, and basil in one bowl. In another bowl combine remaining ingredients and blend thoroughly. Mix all together and serve over squash.



Taken from "Good Carb, Better Carb Cookbook"



This meal is soooo good. The kids even really liked it and you know that is always a plus!

My North Dakota Garden

Elijah refers to this as our garden. I guess it will do for now. I love my David bust, I found it at a garage sale for just a quarter while in MT this past summer. My jade plant is from my wonderfully gifted soapmaking neighbor Heather. She has a jade tree at her house, I can't wait for mine to look like hers. I am sure this plant will be an issue for us when we finally move!

Wonderful Toys!!

These are some of our favorite toys. I have to say that these blocks have been some of our best investments. The kids love the pattern blocks and like to make up all sorts of games with them. The unpainted wooden ones that Sophia is playing with are from a set called "Handwriting Without Tears". You can use these forms to make all of the letters, as you can see we have found many other uses for them as well.

We have gotten rid of so many of their toys. I refuse to keep a bunch of plastic crap around that doesn't even get played with. The other day I just went through their room and scooped up a bag of junk, they haven't even noticed! We so appreciate open ended toys!! The things that truly get the most use in our house are; books, art supplies, dress up, trucks, animals, blocks, and Sophia's favorite 2nd hand store find, a little Barbie journal. She has played with it for days!! It has been her notepad to take orders when she is a waitress, she has been writing her "cursive" in it, and numbering all the pages. Every friend that has seen it wants to use it as much as she does! It cost 25 cents and after I see how much use it gets I think I would have been willing to pay $10 for such an item!!

Snowy Tuesday!

Here are a few of my favorite places around the house. My favorite blogger, http://soulemama.typepad.com/soulemama/ does a thing called corners of my home. This is my version. I will be adding more pictures in the next few days.

It is -11 right now before wind chill. The snow has finally come to ND. If it is going to be cold, I am glad for the snow, I just wish it would be a bit more gentle. When it snows here it snows hard and sideways! You can't open your eyes and you run from the car to the house trying to avoid the snow drifts! It is extremely hard to get an accurate reading of how much snow we have because of the blowing. Some places will have no snow, and then there will be a 6inch drift. I miss being able to play in the snow, not just avoiding it! Maybe I've just gotten too old!

Blessings to you all!! I have some good pictures of the kids for tomorrow!

Welcome

I had started a blog earlier, but it is a very specific blog. I am wanting to use this one for our family and more about my interests so here it is!!