Little Cabin In The Woods

Peasant Dresses....

I looked at the date of my last post and couldn't believe it has been so long..... Willow does keep me busy! 

We have been taking morning walks, cleaning up ~ after Willow, straightening up our yard, making bread, making Amish friendship bread~ which everyone in our small town is passing around, been sick,  taking Sage to piano, shooting photos, editing photos, recording an audio book,  cleaning up after Willow, having teeth fixed,  finished  re-adopting Willow ( paperwork paperwork paperwork), schooling ( or Willow who is anti schooling - heh), visiting, reading, cleaning up after Willow, doing laundry and sewing on my new (used) serger which I absolutely love! I feel so professional now.... lol.   I found the most adorable easy peasy pattern created by a homeschool mom.  You can visit her at  The Handmade Dress.  She offers dress patterns for children & crochet patterns available.  The peasant dress I made is quick and simple.  You can make it with or without the apron.  The first one took about 2 hours while the other two were sewn in 30 minutes each.  These little dresses are simple and lovely. 

Summer is coming to a close and autumn is on it's way a bit early up here in the mountains.  Leaves are already showing their colors and the apples have fallen from the trees in abundance.   I do believe it is going to be a coooold winter.   This morning we woke to the mist moving across the mountain we live on.  I love living in the clouds.... it is so peaceful.  May the joy of our Lord bring you to a place of peace in your life today.

My three treasures

These dresses are good for getting dirty...

And carrying rocks...which our mountain has an abundance of

Everyone helped... whew

Almost everyone...

a...hem...

well, my feet are still pretty clean

 Open the gate!  I have work to do!

"Give me a smooch and I'll open the gate"... says daddy as she pushes him away

Daddy: "Give me a smooooooch"  ~~ Willow: "Open the gaaate"

Free at last

Daddy's little treasure

Now.  I've got work to do

 

Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti

My first attempt at freezing meals.  I figured Mountain Man would appreciate it while I am gone. :o)  After I finished this first easy delicious, high calorie, high cholesterol,  meal I thought "hmmm , that was quick and simple and he can just take it out and pop it in the oven -- I should do this more"  So here is the recipe for Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti!  I got this recipe from Once a Month cooking.

4 to 5 boneless chicken breast ( or thighs, as I used).  Boil them until fully cooked.  Cut them up into bite size pieces.  Set aside.

1 onion and 1 bell pepper.  Cut it up into small pieces and sauté' it in a bit of butter with the bell pepper.  (The house is smelling pretty good right now)

1-7 oz. jar of pimentos ( which I didn't have or use because I don't like them which is why I didn't have them - of course you can use them :)

1-8 oz. can of water chestnuts.  Cut them up and add them tot he mixture.  ( I really like water chestnuts as they add texture and snap to a dish ;)

Add 1 can cream of mushroom soup... very fattening...

Take a 16 oz. block of fake Velveeta cheese and chop it up into small pieces...very , very fattening

Add this to the mixture until it is melted.

Take 1 1/2 cups of fattening sour cream...

Add the fattening sour cream to the mixture... my cholesterol is going up just smelling this but boy does it smell good...

Mix in chicken.  Take off heat and allow to cool.

Put into Glad freeze and bake dish. I know it kind of looks like gruel but it really is good.

Write label with instructions for Mountain Man.  On serving day pop chicken mixture in to a pan and defrost.  Cook 1 box of spaghetti.  Line the bottom of dish with spaghetti.  Pour the chicken mixture over it.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  Bon Apetite!

I am going to freeze meatloaf tomorrow. ;) 

Oh, Still no TA and China is raising her orphanage donation fees from 3,000 to 5,000.  I hope we can get there before these new fees are implemented.