Ever Heard of the Big Kahuna?

How about the BIG BANANA? Kyle was a banana for Halloween and wore his costume to work. He goes to work on a motorcycle! What a hoot.

The Intimidator

Last year for my birthday my sweet husband bought me this 23 quart pressure canner. I was thrilled...I couldn't wait to begin using it...now 11 months later it has still gone unused. Not because I didn't like it...or didn't have the desire to use it...or even thought it was too difficult to master...NO it is because I am a scaredy cat! I have been afraid of the dang thing. So this past weekend after much preparation and much mustering of all that I have in me, I can safely say I will be intimidated no more!

My first project was to can 14 pints of hamburger. The prep was so easy (but is there anything grosser than handling hamburger?) I started the canner and after some anxious moments when I thought the pressure guage didn't work, it started to do what the instructions said it would do.
(Those dead bananas are going to be banana bread tonight though they do look gross)
AND.......

Here is the finished project. Canned hamburger just doesn't seem to have the eye pleasing affect that say...peaches do. Just the same I thrilled each time I heard each can seal.

I overbought the hamburger I thought and then discovered I needed to pack the jars a little tighter. I did have a bunch left over to freeze in individual baggies and place in a larger zip lock to freeze. So now I have 14 pints of canned hamburger and about 9 bags of frozen hamburger waiting to be used.

I am quite proud of overcoming my fear (I thought it would blow up...I'm sure my mother instilled this in my head somehow) I am now on to canning pinto beans; they are in the pressure canner right now so in a couple of hours we will also have 7 quarts of jalepeno pinto beans. YEA FOR ME!

Preparedness

Of late PREPAREDNESS has been THE subject that has occupied my thoughts most of all. I have always been aware and a practitioner of preparedness and food storage but lately.....it has seemed to move to the top of my priority list. I have taken care of my 3 month food storage, thought about a 72 hour kit, (thinking does lead to completing) and am making sure my inventories for the long haul are addressed. I have a long way to go but I have found a couple of blogs that keep me moving in the right direction. One is this one displayed above. (I have linked 2 sights at right) Another sight is Building My Ark found at buildingmyark.blogspot.com. Great sights, check them out and get a little inspiration of your own.

Reanna

Here are a few pictures of our recent visit with Reanna. Taking a bath with Peter and Levi helping....or supervising?????I noticed this sweet scene and was lucky enough to get a decent shot of Levi being so sweet and tender with his new baby sister.

Ben and Reanna...the oldest and the youngest.

Sam, Ben and Reanna bonded.

Levi, Sam, Caprina and Ben get acquainted with Reanna.

At peace in her carseat.

Not at peace in her carseat. All in all she is a mellow, patient little girl who loves her beauty rest and enjoys grunting. We are thrilled she is doing so well.

A new man

The other day I came home from work and found this scene on the back porch. I never knew Richard knew how to cut hair! Little did I know this was his first attempt EVER!
I think Kyle is BRAVE.......but now he says he has found a new hairstylist.
GO DAD !

He looks so handsome with this new doo.

No Longer a Teenager!

Kyle is no longer a stinkin teenager; now he is the big 20!!!!! We celebrated with dinner, cake and a few gifts. He enjoyed the company of his family and his friend Samantha for the festivities. Here he shows off the "sweet" candle Tyler gave him.
He requested a special dinner with ham, funeral potatoes and yummy fresh pineapple. Here he is blowing out the candles on his Tres Leches cake.

Jimmy, Kaila and little Jordan

Tyler and Matt

Kyle and Samantha

Samantha, Kyle, Me and Richard. Somehow we missed getting his Mom and Aaron in the few pictures we took.

Finally, the big cover up is accomplished!

Today is a day that has been years in the making! Literally! After having NO window coverings in the family room for more years than we have been married (almost 3 for those who are counting), we now have custom fitted 2" plantation blinds. Richard installed them today and I couldn't be happier. We did the back 2 windows and covered 1/2 of the horrible arcadia door. I love the look and the room finally feels finished. Now.....to put pictures in those frames that have been hung but have people I don't know in them.

This is the instructional part of the install. See....you pull this one to open and the other to close!!!!!!!!!!