I Need a New......

My parents bought us our first microwave oven on our first Christmas together. If lasted 22 years!!!! It was a sad day when we put that microwave on the curb. It had been moved to six different homes. It saw the invention of microwave popcorn. I even stored my Pampered Chef stoneware on top of it. (Don't do this, it is not supposed to be good for your microwave)

But, it eventually died and we bought a new one with Christmas money two years ago. How long did it last? Not quite 2 years!!!!! I did not feel that we should go out right away and buy a new one. I just didn't feel right about it. Well, I feel right about it now. I have to remember to put out the frozen meat the night before. And, for a family that eats all leftovers, this has been an adjustment.

So, any advice on buying a new microwave oven for the family on a budget? I have tried Craig's List and E-bay unsuccessfully. I'm sure the perfect microwave is out there waiting for a family that has 4 boxes of popcorn ready to be eaten.

I have not been pleased with the fall centerpiece on my table this year. I've been to a number of craft fairs looking for one, not to mention Michaels, TJ Maxx, Macy's, etc..... Then I found these ideas on Tip Junkie. I have hope that I may come up with something before Christmas.

26 Is My Magic Number

Canning and freezing was pretty sparse for me this year. My garden was for immediate consumption only. I keep a mental number of putting up 26 quarts as a minimum for my family's eating. That would make a quart of corn, a quart of beans, a quart of applesauce, etc... for every 2 weeks in the year. Of course, the aim is above that for company and church dinners, but 26 is my mental minimum.

We have been able to can applesauce these past few days. I haven't made it to 26 quarts yet.

We also tried grape juice for the first time. When the jars were counted, there were 26 quarts!

She's Voting For the First Time Today

The 18-year-old is voting today (not the baby). My daughter and so many of her friends are voting for the first time. I have felt the need to apologize to them for over this past year. When I voted for the first time there was no question- Reagan! (For those of you who have been wondering how old I really am, that narrows it down within a eight year period since Reagan had two terms)

What will this new generation of voters be telling their grandchildren about the 2008 election? Our prayer is that they will be able to say that it was a time of wickedness, but God is His goodness changed the hearts of men.

PRAY!

Excerpt From a Devotional by Elizabeth Elliot

Emily, wife of America's first foreign missionary, Adoniram Judson, wrote home from Moulmein, Burma, in January 1847:
"This taking care of teething babies, and teaching natives to darn stockings and talking English back end foremost . . . in order to get an eatable dinner, is really a very odd sort of business for Fanny Forester [her pen name--she was a well-known New England writer before marrying Judson].... But I begin to get reconciled to my minute cares." She was ambitious for "higher and better things," but was enabled to learn that "the person who would do great things well must practice daily on little ones; and she who would have the assistance of the Almighty in important acts, must be daily and hourly accustomed to consult His will in the minor affairs of life."

6-12" of SNOW!!!!!

The first snow storm of the year hit Central NY. There was a lot of excitement as we anticipated a foot of snow in October. Here was my backyard this morning....

Yep. I'll take these kind of snow storms all winter long.

The Yearly Fall Leaf Picture