Author Archives: ~~Rhonda

Living in a small town, I share my life with my husband Russell (married in 1977), five children (one still at home), and six cats (one indoors, the others outside).

I teach an online class called “The Christmas Notebook” which is about all things holiday prep. The many facets of celebrating Christmas comprises one of my favorite hobbies. Other favorite things include gardening, reading, cooking, and scrapbooking.

ham and beans

October 9, 2013 – 8:54 pm

I wish I had my mom’s own recipe for ham and beans, but I think this comes close. Ham and Beans 1 pound dry beans, soaked overnight (I use Great Northern beans. My mom always used navy beans.) 1 T dry onion (or as much fresh onion as you care to add) 3 bay leaves […]

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my favorite cornbread

October 9, 2013 – 4:06 pm

Corn Bread Grease a 9×13 pan. Preheat oven to 400*. Stir together: 2 c. flour 1 c. sugar (less is fine, if it’s too sweet for you) 1 c. yellow corn meal 2 T. baking powder 1 tsp. salt Stir together with a fork until egg is beaten: 2 c. milk 1/4 c. vegetable oil […]

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menu plan monday ~ october 7, 2013

October 7, 2013 – 5:06 pm

I am finding it hard to believe that the first week of October has come and gone. Time is flying by. We have started on the Christmas trees. Several are up and ready to decorate. Pictures to come soon. Yes, it’s early, but that how we do things here. We’re working toward that December 1 […]

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menu plan monday ~ september 23, 2013

September 23, 2013 – 10:32 am

My cat Zak had surgery to remove two injured toes last Wednesday. He came home Thursday and has spent the rest of the week sleeping in a box in the craft/scrapbook room. He still can’t quite figure out what that big blue thing is on his leg. It causes him all kinds of trouble when […]

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menu plan monday ~ september 16, 2013

September 17, 2013 – 4:32 pm

The twins were here Saturday and they found a pumpkin in the garden. Pa let them pick it, of course. 🙂 They drew faces all over it. Snow White said she taught Rose Red how to make a face. “Oval, oval. Triangle. Line, line. Tooth, tooth.” That about covers it. When the twins aren’t here, […]

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menu plan monday ~ september 9, 2013

September 9, 2013 – 10:14 pm

This weekend, I had the help of our middle daughter and my sister in reorganizing the scrapbook room. It needed it badly. Things have piled up and the cabinets no longer store the things I need where I need them. So we took everything off the counters and everything out of the cabinets on the […]

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menu plan monday ~ september 2, 2013

September 2, 2013 – 10:10 pm

The garden is beginning to make the move to autumn. The Sunday bouquet was made of Jerusalem Artichoke, hydrangeas, and ‘Becky’ daisies. We had a nice weekend and enjoyed the extra day to relax. Our son and his family came for lunch today. DH grilled, I made peach/blueberry cobbler, and DH made peach ice cream. […]

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happy birthday, mom

August 31, 2013 – 12:47 pm

My mother was born August 31, 1933. Today would have been her 80th birthday. Back row: my maternal grandparents, Harold and Nellie, and Dale. Front row: Jane, Pete, Tim, and my mother Georgia. High school picture Mom and Dad’s wedding day Our family in 1957 Alan and Georgia with Genny, Paula, Mary, Margaret and Rhonda […]

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eager to start

August 27, 2013 – 7:57 pm

I have a hard time believing it is Christmas prep time at our house. The summer passed so quickly! September is almost here and we will be readying the rooms for Christmas trees soon. Looking at pictures from previous years is putting me in the Christmas frame of mind! The prep is always fun. This […]

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menu plan monday ~ august 26, 2013

August 26, 2013 – 4:50 pm

This past week, we welcomed our oldest daughter home from New York where she worked at a summer camp. It was great to see her again. Seemed she had been gone a long time. Her cat Cedar was very happy to see her again, too! When she went outside to run an errand, Cedar sat […]

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