College Prep

My daughter and I spent the day in upstate New York.  We went to visit University at Albany and Siena College - two great schools (and my daughter even liked them!).  So far we have visited Central CT State University, Albertus Magnus, Stonybrook, Seton Hall and then the two of these schools today.  Next month is University of Rhode Island.  She won't look at Uconn because both of her brothers went there!?

I love looking at schools as much now as when I was looking with my older two boys.  I just wish the prices of colleges weren't so crazy!

And what did I get out of the deal today?  I got to spend the day with my best friend who lives up in NY.  Her and her daughter met us for lunch at the Cheesecake Factory and came with us on the tour of Siena!  Thanks, Eva, for a fantastic, fun, warm day!  

Dog Day Afternoon

Here he is.........
Cyrus

 First time in the back yard.

 Entering the house for the first time.

 Cyrus with his new dad.

Dominic with the new pup.

 Seeing the chickens for the first time!

 Trying to figure out what a chicken is???

Laying down with dad. 


It was a good first day with him.  He is a great pup!  Half German Shepherd, half Australian Shepherd.  And he already herded the chickens right into the coop!

Recognition Dinner

Last night we attended a recognition dinner for my dad and four other individuals who have given of their time, talent, treasure and love to St. Mary-St. Michael School.  What a beautiful occasion!  142 people attended for our local grammar school - I am from the class of 77!  Hah! All my brothers and sisters attended.  And all three of my kids attended and most of my nieces and nephews.  Love that school!

 Sister with hubby and sister-in-law

 My parents with my brother and his wife

 Hubby with my brother in law and sister in law

 Daughter and nieces

 Five Recipients

 Getting their awards

 Recipients with priests from both parishes and the principal of the school.

 Dad with priests and principal.

 Dad with three of his granddaughters.

 My immediate familly

The outlaws with my dad (the inlaws!)

Finally...

....at 6:45 this morning, I saw my first spring robin.  I have been waiting patiently.   She (or he) was a sight for sore eyes and a cold body.  (It was only 22 degrees when I went outside this morning).

Photo courtesy: 10000birds.com

I have a busy day today - Zumba, meeting, babysitting for one of the trips (Cassidy), clean the house (maybe), bake cookies with Cassidy (definitely), visit SHU, and then a banquet dinner in honor of my dad at SHU (Sacred Heart University).  I'll blog more on that with pictures during the week.  

St. Joseph's Medal

In our Archdiocese, each parish chooses a member of the church to receive the St. Joseph Medal of Honor.  This is done once a year and the person (or a couple) chosen has helped the church in countless ways, selflessly and continually, sometimes anonymously. 

This year from our parish, my dad was chosen for the honor.  We all (21 of us) traveled to Hartford this past Sunday, to the Cathedral of St. Joseph.  I had never been to the Cathedral before - wow, it was beautiful.  The stained glass windows were just incredible.  It is a massive, gorgeous structure! 

There were approximately 200 recipients of the award and they all sat together.  There were about 150 priests from many of the parishes in solemn procession to start and end the ceremony.  The Archbishop conferred the award to all the men and women who received it.  It was a beautiful service with beautiful music.  The Cathedral was filled to capacity, standing room only.  We were lucky to get to sit in a side altar with a great view and were able to watch my dad accept the award. 

My dad has been a cook for both the church and the school dinners for so many years, I don't even remember when he didn't cook.  He has belonged to this parish for almost 50 years (with a two year hiatus, when we moved two towns away).  He has done bingos and summer festivals and gardening and cleaning out the rectory and the list goes on and on. 

We are all very proud of you, Dad!!!

Three Bean Chicken Chili

I made chili for the first time in my life last week.  I didn't grow up with it and it was never something that I really ate because of the meat...

But I found a recipe that I just love and the whole family loves it too.  As a matter of fact - the next time, I have to double the recipe.  As I have said before, I am not good with measurements.  I am a cook who "eyes" everything so I apologize in advance for not having all the proper measurements - but I do have the correct ingredients that I used!!

Olive Oil
2 onions, chopped

4 Tablespoons garlic, chopped
2 peppers, chopped - I used one red and one green

1 Can Black Beans, drained
1 Can Pinto Beans, drained
1 Can Kidney Beans, drained (or white beans or whatever you have)
2-3 cups of cooked chicken (I had cooked a whole organic chicken and picked it clean)
2-3 Tablespoons of tomato paste (or chunky tomatoes - use what you like or what you have)
Water
chili powder
garlic salt
red pepper flakes
hot sauce

Saute the onions and garlic in the olive oil until soft and the onions are almost translucent.  Add the chopped peppers and cook them for about five minutes.  Add the three cans of beans and the chicken.  Stir until combined and add water (maybe two cups) and the tomato paste.  Stir it up and cook on low to medium.  I usually keep stirring and add water if I think it is needed.  Cook for about 15 minutes adding water as needed.  The chicken breaks apart nicely (almost like a pulled pork).

Add seasoning to taste.  I only add a little because I don't like spicy chili and the kids add in more on their plates when they eat.  Cook in the flavors for about 5-10 more minutes and dinner is served.  It only takes about 40 minutes or so.

Freebies Last week

Here is what I got last week free from some of the sites that I visit:

Emergen-C flavored drink mix
6 feminine pads
Post it notes
Head & Shoulders Shampoo and Conditioner -trial sizes
2 diapers (for the trips!)

The "full time" week

I haven't posted much this week, but I am still alive and well.  Just an extremely busy week (8 days). 

From Sunday to Sunday, I have attended Mass four times, worked my full time job, worked the Condo Association, worked at the church, worked for the attorney, worked for the elderly lady that I bookkeep for, taught zumba six times, taught CCD, played bingo at the casino (HA!), babysat for Nonni twice, had dinner with my family of 24 twice and have decided we are getting a dog. 

It has NEVER been this crazy before, but the stars aligned and the moon was full and it had to be done!  The good news is that this week will be so much calmer and easier (at least work-wise!).  But seriously, I am done being that crazy - that was the last time!  I am slowly giving up my part time jobs.......

Everything else is status quo and I'm heading to work this morning.  I really wanted to sleep in, but the ladies (hens) were having NO part of that :)

I will talk about one of the Masses (church service, actually) in a separate post this week.


Have a great calm week.......
(and we have snow showers today!)

CCD Today

We will finish with Lent today in preparation for Easter in the coming weeks.  Reconcilliation and forgiveness will be two of the priorities.

We need to work on Corporal Works of Mercy (especially this time of year) and I really need to focus on some commandments today.

Only two more classes this year after this one!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

No, I am not Irish, but my last name was Bailey for 21 years,  and my kids are half-Irish, so I guess I will have to celebrate!

Cheerleading is over.....

....Thank Goodness!

It was a very long season (two seasons, actually) for my daughter!  They had a lot of girls get hurt and a horrible accident on the mat at one competition, so the season didn't end on a high note, but today is picture day and we are done until August!  Looking forward to her senior year and hopefully, I can help out with the squad this coming year.

Spring

I follow a lot of blogs and many of them have giveaways.  Last week, I entered the giveaway of one of my favorite blogs 4 Bushel Farm Gal.  She hand made a Welcome Spring Banner and I won!  (I never win anything!)

So I have it displayed on my Hoosier Cabinet.  The banner is made from ladies aprons from the 50's and 60's and anyone who knows me, knows how much I LOVE aprons.  I think it is the family joke actually!!!

I'll do a separate post on the Hoosier Cabinet another day.  For today, I'm just enjoying my gift and the lovely weather we are having!!

Have a beautiful day!

Chicken Coop

As I mentioned a few days ago, we got a flyer in the mail last week from our local Agway and they were having a chicken coop sale.  My coop at home is four years old and was handmade by my sons when they were in high school/college.  It served it's purpose but was far from efficient or insulated or predator safe.  And there were no roosting poles in it.

We only have four hens and this winter, because it was so cold and so snowy, we had to bring them in to the house/shed multiple times. (More times than I care to remember).

Hubby and I had discussed getting one and I had just started to save some money for spring so this sale came at a perfect time and I bought one!  It is a four square chicken coop.

I think the hens and I will be much happier in this beauty.

Friends who live close, feel free to stop by and visit my new toy! 

God Bless Japan and its people

I'm praying for Japan.  They have been hit devastatingly hard.  The pictures are incredible, the videos are horrific.  It looks like another bomb has gone off. 

I hope you will say a prayer for them too.  Also keep Hawaii and the West Coast in your thoughts....I know there has been some damage there, too. 

One of my favorite times of the year...

Girl Scout Cookie Time!

I was a brownie/girl scout/cadette for more years than you can imagine!  I sold tons of boxes as a kid and when I get the opportunity to buy cookies, I do.  Seven boxes, this year.  And if I see the little girls selling in front of the local grocery/dept. store, I will probably buy more! 

I love traditions (and Thin Mints!).

Freebies

I forgot to mention what I got free last week:

1. Nature Made Vitamin D chewable vitamins
2. Foundation Makeup (Fit Me) a bunch of different skin shades
Baby Food: 
3. 2 jars of Beechnut Baby Food,
4. 1 Box of Beechnut Cereal and
5. 1 Package of Stage 4 Toddler Treats (I will give the baby stuff to my sister for the trips)
6. 1 John Frieda hair spray - travel size

Not too shabby, for (literally) 2 minutes of my time!

I'll try to fill you in on what I'm getting weekly.  I did re-sign in with FB to get some of the newest freebies.  Lately, (and unfortunately) you have to sign up for FB to get anything.....

Thank Goodness that is over!

Some pictures that I found on my camera from early January....Just two months ago.

I could barely see the two houses next door from my driveway....

The snow on this wall is about 4 feet high.

This is the opposite side of the driveway looking at the other neighbors house.  That wall of snow is about 5 feet high.

From the driveway again looking up towards the house.  This was the first storm.  

From the front door looking towards the road.  This is still the first storm.  There was more to come .

The driveway after the plow came and helped us out.  Those Walls of snow are about four to five feet high.

Taken from right in front of the garage.  

And now the snow is leaving us....Thank the Good Lord above....I have had enough....

Here is the front of my house where one of my flower beds is.  I took this one today.  The snow is melting!

And in this flower bed is the first sign of spring.

Daffodil buds.....about an inch or two high!

AHHHHHHH

Monsoon rains to come this week.  I prefer the rain over the snow, but I think it is going to be bad for those who have already been flooded.  Stay safe!

We interrupt this regularly scheduled program.....

....to bring you my great news!  I got a new chicken coop today.  Big Sale at the local Agway.  Now I won't have to bring my ladies in to the shed or the house when it is cold outside in winter. 

My son has to put it together but it seems easy enough. 

I was supposed to do banking on my lunch hour today...oh well...I'll save that for tomorrow.  Getting the coop was definitely more important!!! and fun!!!!

Foursquare

We will now resume our regularly scheduled program......

Game Dinner

My husband and assorted friends and family went to a game dinner this past weekend and hubby was very good to me and brought me lots of stuff that I'll eat:

Bear Shepherd's Pie
Venison Stir Fry (Awesome)
Venison Meatballs (a little too peppery for me)
Macaroni with Venison Sauce (My daughter ate all of this!)
Quail

There was also bear and deer sausage at the game dinner, but that all went at the dinner so I didn't get to taste it.

I have enough food to last all week!

Last of the CSA

This week we used the last of our CSA that we had in the cold room.

I used two butternut squash for roasted squash (I make them like roasted potatoes with olive oil, salt, pepper and rosemary).

And with this big baby pictured here, I made mashed squash.  (Just like mashed potatoes).

I took a picture of it next to 1/2 gallon of OJ for reference.  It was pretty big and fed all five of us.

I still have four quarts of cooked pumpkin/squash in the freezer to make muffins or cookies.  Plus other assorted veggies that I froze, but this was the last of the fresh veggies.  New CSA starts in a few months.  I've already signed up....and I just ordered my first 1/6 of beef.  I'll take lots of pictures when that comes in!!!!

CCD Today

Lent starts this week.  I have to prepare the kids in my CCD class for that!  It is sad, but they are in fourth grade and some of them don't realize that Lent comes before Easter.   Then, we need to discuss the subject of prayer...how to pray and types of prayer.

Going to throw in a little of St. Joseph's Day too (March 19th).  Most Italians know what they are talking about when it comes to FAITH, FAMILY, FATHERS and FOOD!



Have a beautiful day and if you can make it to church today, go!

Corned Beef Rueben Dip

For those of you who love a Corned Beef (or Pastrami) Rueben, this is a nice dip that tastes exactly like the sandwich - because it contains the exact same ingredients.

Ingredients:

Double Batch (9 x 13 pan)

2 small bags of sauerkraut (0r two cans)
1 lb. of corned beef from the deli (chopped finely) You may not need it all, depends on what you like.
1 bottle of russian dressing
1 cup mayo
2 bags of shredded swiss cheese
Scoops or Wheat Crackers

I use a 9 x 13 pyrex dish.  However, these pictures show 1/2 batch in an 8 x 8 dish.  You can do either one 9 x 13 or two 8 x 8 dishes.

Spread 1 bag or 1 can sauerkraut on bottom of dish or both cans in a 9 x13 pan.  Chop finely, if not already choppped.

Mix the dressing and mayo together and spread over the top of sauerkraut.

Spread the chopped corned beef on top of dressing mixture.

Top with Swiss cheese.

Bake in oven at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes or so until light brown.

Serve with Scoops or wheat crackers.

Delicious!

March means Spring

I don't know about you, but I am so thankful that March is finally here!

I haven't seen a robin yet, but I know it must be almost time for the first one to find it's way to my home. 

I've been fairly busy with work and life which is why I am not blogging everyday.  I am whittling down my activities, so that I have more time to spend with family, friends (and blogs!).  I see the light at the end of the tunnel for some much needed and deserved time for my family and self! 

Wishing you a Happy March!