tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18333464653816816462012-01-30T01:17:38.252-05:00A baker's dozen is getting more than you expected, it's delightful, sometimes more than you can handle - and never, ever dull!Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.comBlogger1891100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-66382378520702520512011-10-23T19:28:00.002-04:002011-10-23T20:53:33.516-04:00

Well, let's get right to what you want to hear about, OK? Because there's no use pretending that you're all that interested in the good.  You'd rather hear about the bad and the ugly, admit it. Well you're getting 2 for 1 with the following pictures of my latest (perhaps last?) DIY project. They are indeed both BAD and most definitely UGLY. So ugly they are now in the trash. (No green comments,

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-52032175950727461312011-08-30T00:50:00.001-04:002011-08-30T14:09:23.257-04:00

The last two weeks have been crazy-full of preparing for the new homeschooling year, plus getting my older two (oldest 2 of the youngest 7? whatever..) ready to launch on their post-high school endeavors. Then last week was even worse - I was forced to actually start teaching. Everything was going so great until the students showed up :)  I've confessed before that the planning and organizing (

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-47859558429718289632011-08-16T10:58:00.000-04:002011-08-16T10:58:32.139-04:00

Today I am guest posting at Jonesville.  I was supposed to share some homeschooling wisdom. Go on over and see if you think it's wise. If not, keep it to yourself please. I'm the mother of 7 teens right now and my ego is fragile as I'm daily informed (sometimes, by them...) of how much I have to learn. I would tell you to leave a glowing comment to help my self-worth, but I don't want to sound

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-29977033791373536982011-08-15T15:03:00.000-04:002011-08-15T15:03:17.430-04:00

My friend Christina, from Jonesville (which I believe is the made-up name of a town, sort of like if I said I was from Pittmansburg...), is hosting her 3rd annual Homeschooling Blogging Conference.  I "met" Christina through my oldest daughter, Brite, and even though I'm most likely old enough to be the grand matriarch of her pretend blog city, she lets me hang out over there.  I'll be guest

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-56501991837011796012011-08-02T09:14:00.001-04:002011-08-03T10:33:59.524-04:00

(This post is linked to Kristin at Works for Me Wednesday but I'm too techno-dumb to figure out how to put her cool logo here, but you can go there and see it. It's a very nice logo.) Yep, it's me again. Posting, pretty much on the heels of my last post. No biggie. I'm just super consistent like that. Oh, and a big shout out to my new followers. I'm on my way to getting that blog re-do thanks

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-85083704837732522342011-07-21T21:56:00.009-04:002011-07-22T22:41:02.164-04:00

(Once again, I refuse to lower myself and demean my three remaining readers by offering inane excuses for not posting in... awhile. So how 'bout if we all just assume that I've been very productive, doing tons of blog-worthy things, improving myself, serving others, and honoring God. OK?)  Not that it's been such a ridiculously-long time since I last posted, but I did find it necessary to read

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-16479836388612983492011-03-14T07:37:00.000-04:002011-03-14T07:37:54.863-04:00

I wasn't going to blog today (shocker!), but I knew some of you might be having some serious laundry-post withdrawal so I put my selfish writer's block (aka laziness) aside to come over here and link to this. jewel. Of course, my motivation was higher since she said such nice things about me. (Please note the title she gives me. And use it when you speak of me in the future, please.) I love

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Some Moms Who Should Definitely Know are sharing about laundry systems, and I couldn't help but jump right into this 'agitating' discussion. This is one (and about the only) area of homemaking I have down to a sweet smelling, neatly folded science.   And I'm sure  now that I've proudly stated that fact, I'm bound to wake up tomorrow morning to a house full of wet bunkbeds (and it wouldn't be

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-31967166236085834532011-02-16T22:34:00.002-05:002011-02-24T09:29:47.656-05:00

(I have no idea why my pictures are grainy. Use your imagination to make them clearer. And if you're my older son, and you're reading this...Help! I just noticed I also have some kind of weird borders around a few pictures. What, I'm supposed to write, then do my own tech support, too?! Ridiculous.) Sixteen is definitely an age that causes rejoicing. Although it makes me a little sad. When

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-13551481931713750432011-02-12T23:30:00.003-05:002011-02-24T09:30:46.169-05:00

I've always loved that bumper sticker. But it doesn't really fit here because I want you to follow me. Even though I rarely blog.  I mean...Should a blogger really have to blog in order to have followers? Obviously not.  And I have four new followers since I last checked. In fact, they've been here more recently than I have. Which is pitiful, I know. But why would I keep coming here when I

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-17937973063319244592011-01-11T15:48:00.001-05:002011-02-24T09:31:31.348-05:00

Habit is habit, and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time.  ~Mark Twain I think Mr. Twain was referring to bad habits needing to be coaxed down the stairs, but if he had kids like mine, he might have been commiserating over the basic process of trying to help them decide on one cotton-pickin' habit to put down on their 100 Day form.   See my

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-28021141020708749692011-01-08T14:18:00.001-05:002011-02-24T09:32:03.047-05:00

I don't often write posts where my sole purpose is to send you to someone else's blog - but some days you wake to the shocking revelation that another blogger has written something better than you did. So, rather than keeping it to yourself (or sulking...), you must share. Today my dear friend Anne at Holy Experience .... OK...we're not actually friends.  But I bet we would be. She'd probably

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-32398748951963094662010-12-31T12:31:00.001-05:002010-12-31T22:47:59.559-05:00

I'm not blog savvy enough to know whether the average reader can tell, but I happen to have a state-of-the-art, big-brother-ish site meter on my blog sidebar. Sitemeter tells me how many visitors I get, where they come from (Brazil and New Zealand...no kidding!) and even how long they stay. (Amazingly, some of my visitors are speed-readers!)   I love site meter.  I hate site meter.  I love

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-58887832622800108192010-10-03T17:28:00.001-04:002011-02-24T09:32:42.082-05:00

Sundays are for worship with fellow believers, delighting in God's care and provision, sweet tea with Sunday lunch (one way we set the day apart), and resting. With five boys sharing one room, they like to scope out a quieter Sunday spot, grab their pillows (and other snuggly paraphernalia) and head for a tranquil spot. The hammock and the trampoline are two coveted havens. And then

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-39572761278613089292010-09-19T22:23:00.000-04:002010-09-19T22:23:42.285-04:00

(Did you notice I changed my background color from Pepto Bismal  to mocha dots? Both go with the donut theme :) , but I like to change things up around here so you don't get bored during the long wait between posts.) Last time, I promised to tell you about Table Time. And I made some pretty hefty claims about what it would produce. Family unity....enrichment learning....higher IQ's.....better

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-88433434076588922472010-08-24T22:33:00.000-04:002010-08-24T22:33:50.286-04:00

(Should I apologize for the sorry title to this post? Nah. My creativity dissipated about noon, and refuses to make a comeback, even for a good cause like you!) Maybe it's my advanced age, added to the number of loads of laundry I do per day - then multiplied by the pairs of shoes in my mudroom, divided by the maturity level of household inhabitants - but most of my homeschooling tips don't have

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-83599616005189748092010-08-19T00:01:00.002-04:002011-02-24T09:33:20.888-05:00

Alrighty then, are you done implementing all the tips I gave you in the last post?    Of course you're not - and that leads right in to my next tip. By the way, I'd like some bonus points for this one because it's mine-all-mine (as far as I can remember.....) (6) As avant-garde home educators, with internet access, library cards, magazine subscriptions, cable (I wish!), amazon one-clicks,

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-19712930157036919362010-08-16T22:49:00.000-04:002010-08-16T22:50:42.410-04:00

In the spirit of full disclosure, those parentheses are in my title because some of these tips aren't "exactly" mine. But some of them are. And even with the ones that didn't "originate" with me, I should still get some credit for recognizing their value.I've been a home educator for 25 (long...very long) years so my school files are sagging with articles I've clipped, emails I've printed, and

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-60517018843099869262010-07-03T19:34:00.007-04:002011-02-24T09:36:26.413-05:00

dear mother, i am sorry for holding daniel under water. i did not realize it because i was in the middle of fighting justin when it happened. (and i did not actually have him in a leg lock, and I think he could have gotten out of it if he tried harder.) i will go apologize to lil' danny. will you forgive me? love, Alex Dear Alex, I most definitely forgive you for "trying to kill your brother

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-20366114732038522192010-06-28T14:22:00.010-04:002010-06-28T20:32:48.723-04:00

I'm not one to complain (cough:cough), so I haven't mentioned much on my blog about the various special needs of my children. Most of them have ADD (trust me, it's real), one has cerebral palsy, one guy has major OCD/Tourettes; mix in a little Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and add a mother with her own "issues" (mostly depravity) and you get a family that thrives on routine - and prayer.Actually, most

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-12125645827396420602010-06-24T23:36:00.009-04:002011-02-24T09:35:49.162-05:00

Dear Camera, I miss you. You know that saying about what absence does to the heart? It's totally true in our case. I think about you all the time. Fortunately, the time has gone quickly because life has been unbelievably full during our time apart - full of things that should have been photographed and chronicled. I could kick myself for being so negligent and leaving you on that table in NC in

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-37165238966520581972010-06-22T09:19:00.005-04:002010-06-22T10:31:14.073-04:00

That subject line is the title of a book I read recently on blogging.And she's probably right, not many people would care what I had for lunch (orzo salad from Costco on a bed of spring lettuce - and it was delicious, and I have had it 3 days in a row.....So, maybe someone WOULD care what I had for lunch! But those are the people who have no life, and do I want a bunch of readers like that? ....

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-23990757471205362732010-06-04T10:14:00.008-04:002010-06-13T21:29:08.157-04:00

"Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it." ~Russel Baker(I need to look into whether any of my kids are writing summer quotes under pseudonyms.)Just a slight warning. You might want to cover your ears. I'll be tooting my own horn (loudly) in the next few paragraphs. I've been away from my blog for way too long so I lured myself back with the thought of bragging about how

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-36302283751181607302010-04-11T16:22:00.002-04:002010-04-11T16:47:53.296-04:00

"There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands,there is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good. There is not even one.""Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving." "The poison of asps is under their lips"; "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness";"Their feet are swift

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-20369480867952426492010-03-23T09:48:00.014-04:002010-04-03T20:01:24.350-04:00

My youngest two children are a boy and a girl, born thirteen days apart. We used to get away with telling them they were twins - one of whom had emerged a little sooner than the other (from a very, very...long labor.) This charade was especially helpful around birthdays - one party, one cake, one special dinner. We never felt bad because they seemed to always enjoy it.Until recently.Maybe it's

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-12751770506635143662010-02-04T07:50:00.007-05:002010-02-04T09:02:27.237-05:00

Winston Knox Pittman is 18 today. Sometimes these hallmark birthdays make me melancholy as I think of how quickly the time has gone - but I've found a cure for that.I just close my eyes for a minute and envision myself getting older (actually, I could keep my eyes open for this part - and just look in the mirror), then I imagine my children gathered around my aging self.....But they aren't any

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-28221034785406639162010-01-09T13:58:00.013-05:002010-01-10T23:52:14.645-05:00

I'm not a big resolution maker. It's not that I'm anti-improvement. Lord knows- along with plenty of earthly witnesses- that I have plenty of areas that need improvement. In fact, that's why I don't make New Year's resolutions. I can't wait until the last day of any said year to work on my many weak areas.My life is a continual resolution.Each day I wake up, I resolve a bunch of things.Some are

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-91743247044990380852010-01-03T14:38:00.007-05:002010-01-04T11:19:32.026-05:00

Yes, I should totally be writing about my wonderful Christmas with my wonderful family who were all back in my crowded, toy-strewn nest for five wonderful days.I should be bragging ad nauseum about the rare leisurely hours spent lollygagging with my amazing Grandchildren. Oh, and I would be completely justified in using this space to give myself a big bloggy pat on the back for the way our family

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-88756132442622962252009-11-15T15:27:00.010-05:002009-11-16T18:25:38.505-05:00

(Here's Daniel setting the table for our romantic anniversary dinner for 8.) And we don't look very happy in this photo (my husband looks much more like Sean Connery in real life, and I'm actually about 30 lbs lighter than this photo makes me look - stupid camera), but at least the cake looks good. And it was. Yesterday was my 28th wedding anniversary.Unreal.Not in the fairy tale unreal way,

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-12397526803414598062009-11-07T15:14:00.004-05:002011-02-24T09:39:22.735-05:00

...but she certainly doesn't live in my house! Because in my house the computer is taken up by half-written upper school essays. And biology definitions, spelling websites, and states and capital matching games. School is defining us. However, I plan on rectifying our misaligned priorities. .....Right after we get finished with (way, way) overdue essays, mysteriously missing writing journals

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-91972789859274487432009-10-11T20:20:00.009-04:002009-10-11T21:51:06.297-04:00

In case there is any confusion as to where I stand on product reviews, my status is: Available: a·vail·a·ble; adj.> Present and ready for use; at hand; accessible:Capable of being gotten; obtainable: Qualified and willing to serve or assist. However, I totally prefer this 'archaic' (according to dictionary.com) definition, because it fits me to a T when it comes to reviewing (cool and free,

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-65571913985863584412009-10-05T10:49:00.003-04:002011-02-24T09:37:58.205-05:00

I have so many good blog ideas swirling around in my head. Never let it be said that I don't care about my blog. Or that I don't have the most creative, witty posts (half)written in my brain. Just because I don't spend much time actually blogging does not mean I don't spend plenty of time thinking of things to blog about. Isn't that comforting? One brilliant post, awaiting publication on Chic

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-86833240637407671912009-09-11T13:21:00.004-04:002011-02-24T09:44:11.755-05:00

I get a little glimpse of my immaturity when I hear my favorite man's truck pull up in my driveway. In fact, my heart starts to race the moment he pulls on to my street! Over the years the excitement has not waned even a tiny bit. If anything....it's gotten more intense. My love for him is hardly unconditional, though - since my first thoughts are always of what he might be bringing me. Like

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-14682858350715545032009-08-29T17:24:00.004-04:002009-08-29T17:31:32.798-04:00

.....when you can just read my two married daughter's great posts this week? Plus, they are showing me up, Big Time, in the creativity department. Go and see.http://redefining-normal.blogspot.com/2009/08/projects-of-week.htmlhttp://www.thedomesticationproject.com/Are you gone yet?It's worth the click(s), I promise.

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Beware of ideas you copy off other blogs (except mine...)This seemed like a great idea at first glance. So we had a pre-summer pow-wow with our kids and made one of these to boldly display on our kitchen door:The purpose of the poster was that, by the end of the summer, the children could look back and reminisce on what a fun-filled, active summer they had. And it was also supposed to keep the

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-36831411379166157292009-08-16T16:47:00.009-04:002009-08-17T01:04:34.094-04:00

"Work while you work, Play while you play; For this is the way to be happy all day." Author anonymous (and in this case, dead wrong)I feel like several apologies are due.One for not posting.And one FOR posting - at least for posting about the same subject ad

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-41994228407625048902009-07-26T19:24:00.011-04:002009-07-26T22:04:23.179-04:00

Hah! Gotcha! You thought maybe, with that new title, this wouldn't be yet another post about my Staycation, didn't you? I'm so sneaky. You must be new to my blog...Otherwise, you'd know better than to trust me.However, there are dogs in the post. And the pictures were taken this summer (during my staycation.) So the title is not a complete lie.This picture reminds me that we really should get one

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-57704148326360505682009-07-14T16:16:00.010-04:002009-07-26T19:48:49.237-04:00

Are we getting tired of hearing about the Staycation? Yes, we are.But will that stop me? Not when I have all these food pictures to share, it won't.So, let's just go ahead and get the most unflattering picture out of the way, just to prove that I have no pride (which would be a total and complete lie...).I asked my daughters to send me any Staycation photos they took that had to do with food..and

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-41355356804328891382009-07-07T18:53:00.007-04:002009-07-08T00:11:55.110-04:00

Call it a denial tactic, but I've been too busy to think about the fact that my house is empty (except for the six remaining children- Molly went home with her older sister for a few weeks- my husband, and my grandchild-deprived self.)So viewing pictures of all the fun and chaos was not a good idea until I was ready to face the fact that my grown children and grandchildren live hours and hours

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-66320341189531163102009-07-03T23:54:00.012-04:002009-07-04T01:46:12.575-04:00

Yes, I'm still posting pictures from Day One of Staycation (even though the staycation officially ends tomorrow - and Yes, this is probably my way of prolonging the inevitable post-grandchild visit blues.) I would've posted them before now - but Blogger Hates Me...and apparently my offspring, and the children of my offspring.Two nights in a row I have carefully selected pictures to share with you

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-75081636464160967812009-07-01T23:34:00.004-04:002009-07-02T00:20:43.441-04:00

I "wasted" my blog time tonight by holding Elijah for several hours while his parents were out. I definitely made the right choice :) You'll have to add your own witty text to the pictures below since I don't have time.If you'd like to get some details on the Staycation goings-on, check out my daughter's blog (who has text, but no pictures and is sending people over here. We're all about passing

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-11039601848720096522009-06-30T23:07:00.010-04:002011-02-24T09:47:44.295-05:00

The staycation is going splendidly. Chronological pictures forthcoming. Truth is, fun is time-consuming and it keeps one (or nineteen..as the case may be) quite busy. I have taken hundreds of pictures in the last three days, but these two are classic illustrations of family life. Here's what you see: And here's what you don't see happening just moments before: These are not staged- and I

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-10244992862778162612009-06-27T23:22:00.006-04:002011-02-24T09:48:52.585-05:00

Here is a very bad picture of a pretty good book. Crocodile on the Sandbank, by Elizabeth Peters. My book club met at the beach this month, so fittingly we read a book set in the arid climate of Egypt. And the title had sand in it. Literally. I hate to brag (cough:cough), but my book club is the best book club ever. We read the best books. We have the best discussions. And we eat the best

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-66820412893894025822009-06-21T21:50:00.004-04:002011-02-24T09:49:36.684-05:00

What do you give a man who already has his quiver (very) full, and who doesn't want you to spend any (of his hard-earned) money to buy him a gift? If you guessed paninis, you would be right! (and weird) Here's the Fortunate Father and his lunch, which just happened to be made by me, Mary-Faith, and Hunter. And yes, it did take 3 of us to make paninis for 10 - but for smaller families you may

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-10937326266006593772009-06-15T22:24:00.003-04:002009-06-15T22:37:11.788-04:00

If you keep up with my sidebar (and I know you don't...so don't even try to pretend...), then you know that my oldest daughter has a blog (a blog with a new layout, I might add) - and if that wasn't enough rip-roaring excitement for one sidebar, now my next oldest daughter has a brand new blog, complete with Adorable Pictures of the Amazing Eli, my fourth and newest grandbaby (who will be here,

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-35150270271616875562009-06-05T23:39:00.006-04:002009-06-07T10:22:15.285-04:00

I saw a list like this on another blog so I figured I'd steal it. But I'm a benevolent thief, with a conscience, so I won't actually steal her 6 Things...Just her title, and her idea.Although I really liked her title, I have to confess I've been a tad apathetic this week (thus the dearth of blog posts) so it would've been a ton easier for me to think of 6 Uninteresting Things that make me

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-37543790821241679522009-05-31T22:59:00.007-04:002009-06-01T01:12:31.036-04:00

Another one of my babies has graduated....sort of.Did they always have 8th grade graduations, or is this just something the cap and gown industry has advanced? Having been homeschoolers for the past couple of decades, we're still new to all this Real School stuff. But I figured Justin deserved a little celebration since he (and I) did read Dante this year - as well as many other old, dead guys.

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-49948879921703781152009-05-25T21:33:00.007-04:002011-02-24T09:51:34.450-05:00

Memorial Day weekend has come and gone....and I'm a bigger person because of it. About 5 lbs bigger is my unofficial guess. (And it will stay unofficial since I'm not getting near any scales until I have several days of exercise under my ever-expanding belt.) My husband outdid himself with the barbecuing this year - ribs, chicken, corn on the cob - plus, pasta salad, baked beans, garlic bread (

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-2149199963282588612009-05-20T21:03:00.005-04:002009-05-20T22:56:51.652-04:00

(Thanks to all of you who called, wrote, and picketed my house to encourage me to return to my blog. You can all pretend you're the reason I came back.)I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy my last week without the Blog Pressure. But I'd also be lying if I said I hadn't thought of a gazillion things I need to tell you.Here's a big one -My daughter won the "Rower of the Year" award at her Crew

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-16743437436699402022009-05-12T11:06:00.003-04:002011-02-24T09:52:51.704-05:00

When you do something because it's delightful and fun and enriching, and you're fairly good at it, - and then you notice one day (when you're sleep-deprived and over-scheduled and trying to break your Coke-A-Day habit) that it's the opposite of delightful, feels like a chore, non-enriching, and you don't even care if you're good at it, then it might be time for some rethinking. No, I'm not

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-55784803481295573072009-05-12T00:01:00.003-04:002009-05-12T00:25:22.036-04:00

My Every Day (except the weekends) in May blogging Extravaganza wasn't quite so extravagant last Friday. I left for Tennessee that morning to watch my daughter, Mary-Faith, compete in a regatta with her crew team. Between the long car ride up, the lack of communication between the 'guest blogger' I thought I had lined up and myself, and my inability to find the hotel internet access code....I

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-29976922300742074302009-05-07T23:10:00.008-04:002009-05-08T00:55:15.212-04:00

Come Home To Comfort is the byline for Country Living magazine - my magazine pick of the day.And I might as well fess up right from the start, I had very little time to read the actual magazine.But Wait! Before you go penalizing me for slacking off on my Every Day (but the weekends) in May commitment - hear me out. The reason for my lack of quality mag reading time was because I went to the

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-41380795779142005412009-05-06T22:43:00.002-04:002009-05-07T00:14:31.642-04:00

It kind of goes against my bloggy grain to do a review on a magazine that is SO Not Me. (Of course, Cooks Illustrated wasn't really ME either, it was more a WANNABE.)There oughta be a law against sending people magazines in the mail that are inappropriate, not-requested, irrelevant, and totally-unappreciated. Such has been the case with AARP: The Magazine (not to be confused with AARP: The Card

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-22234156768500759272009-05-05T22:35:00.004-04:002009-05-05T23:41:33.724-04:00

You may have heard the Blog Buzz that I'm blogging Every Day (except the weekends) in May about magazines. I'm on a quest to see if magazine reading is a worthwhile pursuit for an educated, savvy, middle-age (if I live to be 106) modern woman like myself. And of course, I want to share my findings with you. Because I'm just selfless like that.After much thought, and two comments, I've decided not

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-74776722577889126492009-05-04T23:13:00.004-04:002009-05-05T00:23:56.534-04:00

The day you've been waiting for is finally here! How did you ever make it through the weekend while waiting for me to reveal my Every Day (except the weekends) in May theme?Your patience is truly inspirational!For the month of May I am going to do a little consumer reporting. I am a big fan of magazines. I love the way you can pick one up, read for a few minutes, look at the pretty pictures, be

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-21383737419153693022009-05-01T22:41:00.003-04:002009-05-01T23:49:15.383-04:00

Happy Birthday, Jacqueline!My second-born daughter, previously named Betsy....by me - when I gave birth to her, after 4 months of daily throwing up, followed by about 160 days of indigestion - topped off by 8 weeks of swollen feet, hands, and indefatigable fatigue - all while caring for her 1 yr old brother (and by 'caring for' I mean wheeling the umbrella stroller -aka his 2nd home - to the TV

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-20341026374792022602009-04-30T12:03:00.002-04:002009-04-30T12:07:18.210-04:00

not me, but blogger. I think they are secretly trying to get rid of me.Anyway, if you came to read about how to get your weeding done for free (and have a clean room to boot), you'll have to scroll down a couple of posts. Blogger has my posts out of order. Either that or the Vaseline people want to keep that post up on top.And while I have your attention, if you want to see a picture of The

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-55217178778370709392009-04-29T08:40:00.004-04:002009-04-29T09:08:17.648-04:00

Over at Chic Critique today you'll find everything you ever wanted to know about Vaseline.And if that wasn't exciting enough, it's written by me.Although apparently that's not such a Big Whoop-de-Doo for you anymore. My readership has plummeted in the last month or so. A friend mentioned that perhaps this phenomena is due to the fact that I hardly blog anymore.Such fair weather loyalty!People

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-41336345722463237912009-04-28T22:12:00.006-04:002009-04-30T12:09:27.196-04:00

What? You didn't know this was a gardening blog? Well, sisters (and from the latest stats...about two brothers, both birthed by me), there are plenty of things you don't know about me and my multifarious abilities.However, the weeding advice I have to offer has little to do with botany and more to do with progeny.You see this picture below?These are the items left out in my boys room yesterday

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-47319795189488292442009-04-26T21:23:00.002-04:002009-04-26T22:12:56.949-04:00

I'm no expert on this subject - in fact, after reading the following passages from a book during my Sabbath reading time today, I feel like an absolute beginner. The thought of this kind of prayer reminds me of the publican and the Pharisee in Mathew, where Jesus praises the attitude of the publican as evidenced by his inability to even raise his head. His thoughts were obviously more on God's

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-52868276491040970302009-04-20T11:04:00.002-04:002009-04-20T12:14:34.987-04:00

I am logging back in here, weak as I am, just to apologize for all the times I have told people I had the flu when in reality I had something much less lethal.I know this to be true because for the past 6 days, 10 hours, and 13 minutes (or so) i have had the Real Flu.I am surviving on tea and the 'Quil's, with an occasional Ricola thrown in for solid food.The worst thing about the Real Flu, apart

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-51623527516133978242009-04-13T23:19:00.002-04:002009-04-13T23:23:07.903-04:00

I'm over at Chic Critique today. Come visit me for a beauty tip that spans the ages.

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-19881290866000358102009-04-07T22:41:00.005-04:002009-04-07T23:26:44.022-04:00

That's what the ##/@*# blogger.com has been telling me for OVER two weeks now. It wouldn't let me post to my own doggone blog. Day after day I come here full of amazing things to share - but NOOOOOOO... Mr. Big Shot Blogger.Com is pretending like I'm a complete stranger. I'm tired of hearing, "You are not an author on this blog. Would you like to start a blog? Click here." NO I DON'T WANT TO

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-44277329862914691702009-03-17T10:07:00.004-04:002009-03-17T12:42:44.174-04:00

I'm posting over here today. My chicness (and my critique-ness) has finally been discovered by someone outside my family. Chic Critique is all about make-up and fashion and since that's what I'm all about (cough:cough), I was an obvious choice as a bi-weekly contributor. (Actually, that is a Total Lie but you'll have to go over and read my post to find out the real reason I was picked.)P.S. If

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-38348973675973026232009-03-16T18:37:00.004-04:002009-03-16T19:17:27.138-04:00

you may have noticed a lack of activity on this blog lately...this is due to the fact that i (hunter, son #2) was fixing up some things that my mom wanted changed on the blog and discovered a bug in the blogger system. apparently i'm not the only one having this problem, but everything should be back to normal soon.if you like this blog, just remember that i created the layout, fix all the

Cheaper by the Baker's Dozenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961259527193294736noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-65000868061954637142009-03-04T09:35:00.012-05:002009-03-12T19:53:47.090-04:00

Blogging numbs your inhibitions. Big. Time. A person can almost forget that, even though they are typing alone .... late at night....in his/her pajamas, someone(s) might actually SEE what they've written.And then the giddy-after-midnight blogger might even regret the decision to divulge her innermost secrets.Last time, it was underwear I was flaunting (not mine...I'm not THAT uninhibited!), and

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-36818865772525790202009-02-27T21:48:00.006-05:002009-02-28T13:32:23.249-05:00

This is the 3rd post in the Never-Ending Story of how I conquered the laundry monster. I mentioned earlier that getting control of this beast was truly the hardest part of having 11 children. Even if you don't have a mega-family, tuck this information away to wow your friends and neighbors. They might even start calling you Heloise.The last 2-3 posts explain the system and the regularity (nothing

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-39770445493957294982009-02-25T14:10:00.003-05:002009-02-25T14:29:12.399-05:00

....and he's not even real!So, I figure if he can do three movies in a row, then you can put up with three posts about laundry. (Can you tell I'm Shrekked Out?)But lucky for you, mine won't be in a row. If by some chance you've missed the golden opportunity to see my ideas for laundry room decor' and organization (mostly organization - but dontcha just love the way decor' rolls off the tongue?

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-89111875675131531242009-02-17T23:05:00.014-05:002009-02-19T09:15:48.228-05:00

(It's hard to choose when you have two titles you really like. So I didn't even try.) As previously noted, my husband is frugal (for lack of a more truthful, yet respectful term). But boy do I have a love/hate relationship with that particular character quality. I love it when he's being frugal with things I don't care about or want, But the rest of the time (which is quite a bit), it's a

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-35642244182350075842009-02-13T09:35:00.007-05:002009-02-13T19:17:51.005-05:00

I left a comment here (click on that to get to Pretty Organizer's site) a few days ago, promising to post how I tamed my laundry monster. I suppose I should have titled this post "MY PERSONAL Laundry Cure", but I like to think what's good for me is good for everyone. It makes me feel like I'm in charge of the world, ...or at least their washing.When our family exploded...er, I mean expanded 8

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-77702682988108076432009-02-10T22:57:00.006-05:002009-02-11T08:30:46.415-05:00

A 'Man-boy' is what my oldest daughter and I always called boys who were starting to look like (but rarely act like...) men. Their voices change, they grow taller, they get a (very) little hair on their faces. They start to stink - either from a body that has developed into a need for multiple-daily applications of deodorant, or from trying to cover it up with some 'cologne' from Walgreens.Moms,

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-34582954997369118442009-02-08T19:51:00.003-05:002009-02-08T20:23:36.250-05:00

from the one book I would want with me, besides my Bible, if I was on a deserted island:(which btw, I wouldn't need for long because, being the total wimp and non-survivalist I am I would be in Heaven very, very soon after being deserted and I could just talk to God face-to-face...) These prayers are amazingly applicable even though they were written long ago.Not that I want to tell you what to

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-36814875459285912932009-02-04T16:12:00.014-05:002009-02-04T21:06:50.902-05:00

According to my newfound Blog Expert, Moriah at Please Pass the Salt, the party I referred to yesterday is called a Carnival. And it's today!Except apparently a few of you thought the Carnival started at 6 am, (Lea.) I'm more of a late afternoon Carnival-Goer myself. That way I'm at my mental best, dressed appropriately,(and I've had time to clean my house for the pictures you're about to see.)

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-1130957475592281152009-02-03T10:29:00.002-05:002009-02-03T10:45:56.671-05:00

Tomorrow I am participating in a special blog day (what are these things called....Some expert blogger needs to help this novice out!) sponsored byThe Shabby Nest (who has some to-die-for kid's rooms posted on her blog today), and also by The Pretty Organizer (who commented on my blog TWICE and made Lea very, very envious...Which I love thinking about.... more than I should....)I have some good

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-4796050576815783942009-01-29T09:03:00.004-05:002009-01-29T09:46:27.408-05:00

Sometimes it catches me off guard. I'm speaking of the changes that come in one's emotional state once one passes a certain age. I'm 53 and I still have 7 children at home. My oldest two are 16 and my youngest two are 10. So, I live with 7 children all born within a 6 year time span. No twins. (I guess God thought that would make it too easy.)Seven children to feed. Seven children to clothe (

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-66741166745545404182009-01-27T08:44:00.006-05:002009-01-29T09:47:09.231-05:00

I recently started seeing someone I had a crush on years ago (more like infatuation, to be honest). We used to spend A LOT of time together. Think. Daily.I thought I was over the whole thing. It was something I did as a young woman and I wrongly thought it was no longer a temptation now that I had some years on me. It was all part of my young, sordid past.What a waste of time, I thought. So many

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-20479326763963521002009-01-22T20:48:00.005-05:002009-01-22T21:10:02.845-05:00

Lose a body part, that's how! Not only do you get to stay up late (why do these things always happen at midnight?!), but you also get that coveted alone time with a parent (I guess the ER counts as being alone since hardly anyone there spoke English, and even the staff seemed to ignore the fact that we were there....in pain...without makeup on...and no blowdryer packed.) Here's the patient sans

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-60246272860871799582009-01-21T20:05:00.004-05:002009-01-21T21:22:35.741-05:00

Being a 'woman of her word' can be such a drag sometimes. And humiliating to boot. But I'm thinkin' it would be even more humiliating to do this in February or March.. So, here is the Christmas Tree picture I promised to show you. Remember? This is the Huge Asymmetrical Christmas Tree, the Perfect Huge Tree that we found for our First Christmas in our ginormous living room. Unfortunately, it

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-18561570115126103302009-01-18T22:23:00.004-05:002009-01-19T22:54:40.190-05:00

I love my church.Have I mentioned that before? I'm pretty sure I have.But recently I have started to realize that I love THE church. The church universal. The manifestation of Christ in our fallen world. Today, the realization that as I worshipped and sang and prayed in my little corner of the world, there were many, many other groups of believers, of all denominations, races, and nationalities,

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-1876738984979193462009-01-14T12:20:00.006-05:002009-01-14T21:49:16.593-05:00

OK, I lied.There will be words. But don't try and tell me I'm just biased because this adorable baby is my newest grandson. You know he's cute! I can hear you ooohing and aahhhing. I bet you're saving this picture as your new wallpaper. It's OK. I give you permission :)This was Eli's first Sunday at church. And I must point out, that Jacqueline looks pretty good herself for having a 6 day old

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-26782000465964672162009-01-12T13:50:00.005-05:002009-01-14T12:20:29.996-05:00

Yesterday in Sunday School we watched the next video in the Shepherding Your Child's Heart series by Tedd Tripp. As I've mentioned before, the book by that name is my all-time favorite, #1 must read for parents. Unfortunately, Scriptural parenting must be second nature for Dr. Tripp because the book is a little short on application. And of course most parents would like to skip the foundation and

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-29525626801629948372009-01-06T17:42:00.010-05:002009-01-07T00:30:10.830-05:00

For those of you who do not have your Old Testament memorized, that subject line is from 1 Kings 18:14 - And it's referring (loosely) to the pictures below. Check it out yourself in the NAGV**.This is my second-born daughter, Jacqueline with her husband Nathan (deployed until 2 days before the birth!), and the absolutely gorgeous, amazingly cute Elijah Nathan. They look especially good if you

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-38352691769563616672009-01-03T14:58:00.006-05:002009-01-19T20:20:53.608-05:00

Hi! Welcome Back. Oh wait! That's what you're supposed to say to me. Cuz I'm the one that took Yet Another Blog Vacation. But it was Christmas, after all. I mean it's not like I just disappeared without warning, ....into thin air, for no apparent reason (....like the last couple of times.)Anyway- Let's not spoil our reunion by reliving past failures. I do plenty of that without you.I had a great

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-43709881125695767572008-12-16T21:54:00.005-05:002009-01-20T10:21:37.526-05:00

A couple of days ago my daughter posted her family photo fiasco - but the "subject" who kept ruining her photos was too young to even sit up straight.That's totally understandable - and even endearing - when you're 4 weeks old and as cute as my Grandson.But mine are without excuse as you can see in this first photo where my 16 yo "baby" decided to spontaneously give the A-OK sign to the

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-75306829108709336702008-12-14T22:01:00.004-05:002009-01-20T10:23:43.516-05:00

I'm just checking back in to my blog to remind my girls that I can still type - and to make sure they're not letting their double digit comments go to their Bloggy Daughter heads.They've done a superb job, haven't they?! Now you know where I get my wit and talent. Or is it the other way around?Anyhow, I did get several (if several is more than one, but less than three) personal emails from

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-66438298357270707642008-12-13T11:36:00.008-05:002009-01-20T10:25:50.716-05:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year...family photo time! The experience that can either be rewarding or a weird way to torture those you love the most. After I told one of my relatives I'd found the perfect solution for us this year- take a picture of JUST the kids- she commented that she was always disappointed to receive a photo of just the children vs. the entire family. I guess she

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-44660572640665537462008-12-11T13:26:00.006-05:002009-01-20T10:25:04.057-05:00

So if you are like some relatives of mine (no names) who claim that cooking is really "too hard" and "not fun" (those quotes are for you WSPIV) this is THE recipe for you. You can make it in five minutes- good for those with short attention spans or an inability to delay gratification- and it always turns out. You can not mess this up. Not even you. (You know who you are.) And you will wow your

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-88188401518547797582008-12-11T08:17:00.004-05:002008-12-11T08:21:42.884-05:00

Using the random number generator, Laura is the winner of the gift tags and the ribbon. Congratulations! Email me at scenicstampers@gmail.com and I will put your package in the mail!

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-24696494787430853722008-12-09T21:59:00.013-05:002009-01-20T10:24:32.178-05:00

Hi everyone, it's Jacqueline -- the really huge daughter Debbie posted a picture of awhile back. I've been asked to post a recipe on Mom's blog, Pioneer Woman style. I'm not doing a lot of real cooking these days, with the huz out of town, but my baking hasn't slowed down much. Typically I bake whatever I'm craving, and then go in search of neighbors/church office workers/unsuspecting friends to

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-80619727948216174592008-12-08T10:10:00.007-05:002008-12-08T10:45:41.404-05:00

We are having a low budget Christmas this year (I know that is true for many people) but there are still a lots of fun inexpensive ways to make the season festive. Our favorite things include:Christmas milk (a great nickname for eggnog)$9.99 Ribbon from Sam's...for 50 YARDS (!) and hand stamped gift tags. I've used this ribbon on my garland, on presents, and around vases of flowers. It's 2 1/2"

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-71544335071870590042008-12-07T18:23:00.004-05:002008-12-07T18:43:19.166-05:00

Sundays are feast days here at our house; we look forward with anticipation to the great celebration we will have with Christ in heaven and we whoop it up here on earth as a picture of that great day. This mostly plays out in the food department, but we want our children to grow up looking forward to the Sabbath so we include all kinds of special treats to set the day apart. It's the only day

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-49575591929695801232008-12-06T16:22:00.003-05:002008-12-06T16:31:32.395-05:00

Well, today is my little man's 3 week birthday. I realized this morning that in the last 3 weeks I've been out 1 time, not counting the hospital (where we spent 3 days when T was a week old) or our trips to visit my family at their guest house. I know that's a lot of qualifications, but all in all it equals a LOT of time at home with the munchkins. Not a bad thing, but today my husband let me

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-1213636796144882232008-12-05T20:37:00.005-05:002009-01-20T10:26:40.696-05:00

This is Little T at just under 3 weeks. All my kids have had a ton of hair, but he wins the prize!

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-69918730212670495962008-12-05T20:31:00.003-05:002008-12-05T20:45:12.863-05:00

Since all 5 of you have been wondering where my mother is (she has a very full life apart from this blog, fyi) I thought I would post a few things and take part in a blog challenge where I post a picture a day from my quiet little life. I am now part of that crazy group of people who have 3 children three and under, so most of my social interaction comes through this laptop anyway. And since I

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-76335232201654071852008-12-05T00:10:00.009-05:002009-01-20T10:28:40.396-05:00

What? You mean you don't know who Eva is?Eva is my Blog Stalker Extraordinaire, faithful reader, occasional commenter, and the go-to person for what's happening in our family. Just how in the Sam Hill she finds out what's happening before the rest of us, the ones actually in the family, is her little secret -but yesterday she left a comment pleading with me to post again.I'm SO into people

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-28792706651955830022008-11-22T22:07:00.008-05:002009-01-20T10:29:48.443-05:00

How's that for a to-the-point subject line? No need for you to wonder what's included. No need for me to use my limited creative-title brain cells. Win-Win.A couple of weeks ago, during a brief bout of Uber-Optimism, I checked out as many decorating books as I could carry. Most decorating books are oversized and heavy. They look great stacked in a pile on your living room floor... or casually

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-43800474164938187802008-11-18T17:39:00.011-05:002009-01-20T10:30:35.270-05:00

My newest grandson, Thomas - relaxing after his sweet, gentle 25 hr. home birth!Her other two are very blond, like their Mom - but this one looks like he may favorhis dark-headed Dad. A brownie and two blondies. Perfect :) Big brother, Cooper, holding his hours old baby brother. Doesn't he look happy...and proud? (As if he hadanything to do with it...)My daughter, the Mom, with Cooper, Adeline,

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-58526716008684572252008-11-14T23:41:00.004-05:002009-01-20T10:32:15.614-05:00

My two married daughters are both pregnant right now, and since they each live about 5-7 hours from me - I'm not seeing them nearly as much as I'd like to (even after many, many, serious, Scripture-laden, meant-to-be-guilt-producing, lectures about the ungodliness and unnaturalness and impracticality and down-right-unfriendlinessof living so far from a loving mother.)I started this post last

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-35607485072324344842008-11-10T09:09:00.003-05:002009-01-20T10:32:56.463-05:00

I'm not sure how I would survive without Sundays. Could that be part of the reason God invented it? :)Not only do I appreciate the rest from everyday work and consumerism (we try hard not to shop or eat out on this one day a week)- but I love being surrounded by other believers, worshipping with the doctrine-filled, God-centered hymns, and hearing the Word of God preached by my faithful Pastor.

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833346465381681646.post-47216637118208747272008-11-05T10:27:00.004-05:002008-11-05T10:53:14.878-05:00

Don't worry, I'm not going to talk about the election. God knows there's plenty of that on the web - and every other inch of society - today. (And just for the record, God also knew ahead of time who would win...and why. In fact....And I know this sounds blasphemous to some...He was in charge of the whole thing and planned the outcome.)I have to admit to being a little gloomy this morning when I

Debbie @ Cheaper by the Bakers Dozennoreply@blogger.com11