Blogging Lite

Now, I know I've been a little light on the content lately. Just so much jostling for my attention right now that coming up with original thoughts and pondering have been difficult...

and this is no exception! LOL

Flicka's drawing abilities are expanding exponentially lately. And, this morning was no different. She was watching this Buzz Lightyear VHS while I paid bills. In the midst of deposits and check writing, she hands me this:
It took a second but it occurred to me what she was drawing. Do the little green guys in this picture look familiar? LOLOh, and if you are wondering...that yellow sun lookin' thing? That's the "uni-mind"! LOL

Bloggy Giveaway winner!

Here are your random numbers:

16 

Timestamp: 2008-10-31 11:22:28 UTC

According to Random.org, the winner of the little blue pie bird is:

CrystalGB at Conversing With Crystal.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by! It was nice to "meet" you all!

Bloggy Giveaway

(Comments have been closed at this point. A winner has been chosen. But, feel free to look around!)

If this is your first time here, welcome to the Vikings' Hus!

I'm Beth and this is where I try to find some sanity (or show off our insanity) before the bloggy world. I'm a 40-year-old Christian SAHM trying out homeschooling for the first time with my 4 year old "Flicka" with my 2 year old "Pojke" tagging along.

I'm married to DaHubby (who is a proud Yooper) and we now live in SW Michigan. Prior to this family life, I lived all over SE Michigan and the Thumb area working in one of my three careers: video/TV production, law enforcement (don't ask! LOL), and teaching.

For now, we're all about homeschooling, frugal living, Dave Ramsey, church, and helping DaHubby through a full-time college program to start a new career while he continues to workhis current full-time job which supports this household.

With the introductions out of the way, let's get to the good stuff:

My giveaway is a small one. The last few years, I've been learning all sorts of new stuff about cooking. While I can now whip up several good-tastin' frugal meals, I've never really improved my baking skills much. LOL I just don't find it as rewarding plus we really don't need the extra sweets around here! *wink*

So, while I loved receiving this gift, I just haven't used it. But, for one of you who might be a proficient pie baker, it could be a wonderful thing. I'm giving away a brand-new, in-box pie bird.
For a history of a pie bird, check here. And, if you are interested in winning this cute little gadget, just leave your name and contact info in the comments. US addresses only please.

And, head back to Bloggy Giveaways for more free stuff!

Homemade With Love 2008

Well, GiBee is at it again...today is the start of her Homemade With Love 2008 carnival. She is asking folks to do the following...

1. Think up your best idea for a homemade gift...could be for the holidays, a welcome gift, a gift for a neighbor.

2. Make a sample and take a picture.

3. Post that pic with well thought out and complete instructions in a blog post.

4. Then, go to GiBee's bloggy home and sign in with a Mr. Linky.

5. Finally, begin browsing everyone else's ideas and start getting your Christmas list items crossed off! LOL

As for me, my idea doesn't *quite* fit her description but it IS what the Vikings and I did last year for a couple gifts for Christmas. Plus, this week is the PERFECT time to do it because...well, you'll see what I mean in a minute.

We have been using this book for the last few Christmases to try to bring a homemade feel back to our holiday season. I've made her ice cream topping recipe and used her idea of buying/making EVERYONE on your list the same type of thing - last year we did Christmas ornaments. But, here's one more of her ideas: "forcing" narcissus/paperwhite bulbs!

And, since they take about 8 weeks to bloom, this week is the perfect time to start!

You can plant them in nearly anything: a fancy teacup, a regular clay pot, an oversized coffee mug, a ceramic container, a brass container, etc. (With those last two, double line the container with plastic or bubble wrap.)

And, they can be planted in a variety of things: pebbles, gravel, potting soil, sand, just about any supportive material.

Plant the bulbs so they are anchored but the top of the bulb is peeking out.

Keep it wet, not soaking, just wet.

Place in the dark until there's about 3 inches of growth.

Then, bring it out! They do best in bright, indirect light when blooming.

As it begins to grow to its full height, it may begin to lean over. Carlson suggests tying a couple lengths of raffia (or something similar) into a bow around the middle of the plant.

One word of warning: don't try to substitute another bulb for the paperwhite if you are unable to find them. I bought other bulbs and (being a "flower rookie") didn't think about them having a different "blooming" time. The bulbs I initially bought will not bloom until nearly Valentines Day! LOL)

Finally, due to the nature of this gift, I have no personal pictures to show you but I have found several links online to give you a visual. Check these pages out here and here.

So, jump up, dust off your crafty brain cells, come up with an idea, and stop in at GiBee's today...you never know what you'll find!

When playdoh goes wrong

"Mom, this playdoh is too sticky."
So, Mom adds a little flour (mistake #1 - this was the "clue phone" ringing that this would be a mess. LOL)

"Mom, (Pojke) is in your flour!"
(mistake #2 - left it on the table and walked away and now 2+C of it were on the table)


"Mom, we're done!"
And, Mom says "off to the bath witchu all!" LOL

Funny from DaHubby

A good Wordless Wednesday? *wink*

Two new recipes

In the interest of DaHubby's veggy diet
as well as trying to eat more seasonal veggies
plus cook with more "unfamiliar" veggies
and (finally) due to an overabundance of MONSTER-SIZED carrots in the garden,
I whipped up a new recipe this week:
carrot soup!

Not as strange as it sounds and it was a WONDERFUL fall-feeling soup!

I normally make a new recipe as it is written at least the first time. I don't usually experiment until the 2nd or 3rd try. But, I jumped right in with this one.

Instead of water and bouillon, I boiled up a small batch of broth from veggies and the leftovers of two bone-in chicken breasts from earlier in the week.

I used DaHubby's beloved olive oil instead of unsalted butter.

And, defying the recipe again LOL, I tossed in half of a leftover sweet potato as well as two leftover small potatoes baked earlier in the week instead of the requested one large potato.

What resulted had to be the best smelling soup I have ever made - and I've been making some good soups in the last year - as well as the best tasting!

Carrot soup along with Crystal's (of MoneySavingMom.com fame) recipe for frugal homemade breadsticks and DaHubby and I were well-filled, happy, and warm!