Swine Flu ( H1N1 ) in Texas

As a homeschooler, I do not concern myself much with what is happening in the local public schools. But with the Swine flu confirmed in Texas and public schools closing their doors for at least a week, I have had no choice but notice - it is all over the news. They have canceled UIL competitions and athletic competitions. So, are these kids staying home and not being around other kids? Not from what I have seen. They are at the mall, at the grocery store, at the park, in stores. So what was the point of closing the schools? Is this being blown out of proportion? Send them anywhere except to a government facility so it ain't the government's fault if they catch it? ....I don't know....

The Texas Health Services Department says there is 61 cases of confirmed Swine Flu in Texas. The CDC says about 36,000 people die every year around the USA from the regular seasonal flu. Government conspiracy websites seem to be having a field day with this! What is the government not telling us?? :) One day Fox news is talking about precautions and how to stay well and making it seem dire. The next day they are pointing out that you are more likely to **** (can't remember all they said maybe get in a car accident, hit by lightning, or something like that) than get the Swine Flu. So, which is it?

I get the flu, or should I say it gets me (and gets me bad), two to three times a year. I catch every cold out there it seems. I should own stock in Purell! ((I have an autoimmune disease)) I don't how worried I should be about the Swine Flu....I worry about getting the regular flu...

Texas Frito Pie

I'm not much of a cook! No surprise there to anyone who knows me! Usually, when my hubby gets home from work (around noon) he just says he will make him a quick something, no need for me to go to any trouble (isn't he a sweetie!). I don't know what happened today, but I thought I would make my hubby lunch.

We have been trying to use our stockpile. Hmmm, we have chili, Velveeta, and Fritos....oh yeah Frito Pie! I don't like Fritos but he does. We even have a few cans of hot Rotel! Perfect.

Frito Pie
- 1 pound of Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 1 can (10oz) Rotel (I used Extra Hot!)
- 1 bag (10oz) regular Fritos (or the chili cheese flavor)
- 2 cans chili (with or without beans) or 5 cups homemade chili
- 7 oz cheddar cheese, shredded (I had white cheddar)

Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Spray a medium-sized baking dish with non-stick spray. Combine Velveeta cheese and Rotel in a saucepan (or microwave bowl - directions below) and heat slowly until cheese melts. Heat the chili in another saucepan (or in microwave).

Place half the bag of Fritos in the baking dish. Spoon half of the chili over the Fritos. Cover with all of the Velveeta/Rotel sauce. Scatter the remaining Fritos over the cheese sauce. Cover with the rest of the chili and sprinkle with the shredded cheddar cheese. Bake uncovered about 30 minutes.

(four servings...or in my families case just enough for my hubby and son!)

Microwave: To microwave the cheese sauce, place cubed Velveeta cheese in a bowl. Microwave until mostly melted (about 1 minute depending on your microwave). Mix in all of the Rotel. Microwave 30 seconds, stir, then 30 more seconds. Do not over cook.

Pretty easy...even for someone like me.

And the final masterpiece....

Nancy Drew

Remember Nancy Drew? I read her books when I was a kid. Maybe that is where I got my passion for investigation, forensics, and law! LOL Spent ten years in the legal field before we started homeschooling. Now it is CSI, NCIS, Law & Order, Fringe, The Mentalist, The Closer, etc.

About two years ago, my daughter got the first of the Nancy Drew PC games and she has loved them ever since. Here is a link to the Amazon page that shows all 20 games that are out - Nancy Drew PC Games

They are fun! My daughter preordered (Jan) the one that comes out in a few days. She can't wait!!

How to sell photos?

My daughter is a photographer... :) She aspires to do it professionally. Her photos are great! She has looked into microstock sites to sell her photos, but so far we have gotten the response "Great pictures but not for stock photos."

Anyone know how to go about selling photos?

They are really good!

Six Flags

Well, it's official....we are going to go to Six Flags in two weeks for Homeschool Day. Talked with the kids and we compromised - it was either conference or Six Flags but not both. Six Flags won out!

Now roller coasters are NOT my thing. Guess what ~ two out of three Weasley kids love to ride roller coasters! How did this happen!!

I must have been taken over by aliens yesterday too because...gulp...I agreed to go on ONE roller coaster. Yep, I have set myself up for a heart attack!

Do they want to see their mother grasp her heart in utter horror?? Do they wish to see their mother turn white with fright? Do they want to see their mother cry and scream? Well, actually yes they do!! And they plan on laughing, laughing, laughing! Can you see that person crying, screaming, trying not to throw up? That will be me!!

One step forward - Two steps back

"How to be frugal" sites are popping up everywhere, Dave Ramsey and Mary Hunt are probably making millions more right now. Google hits - "frugal" = almost 10 million, "save money" = 120 million! Seems to be the popular topic right now.

We have been working on getting out of debt for a few years now. January 2006 was our wake up and geturdone month. We stopped using credit cards. We had accrued quite a bit of debt ~ our own spending and just stupid mistakes. I started coupon shopping. Taking our groceries from almost $1,000 a month (7 people) to between $200-$400 a month today. So here we are, three years later. We did pay off one car and three debts. We still are not using credit cards...debt coming down. But still basically in the same boat. Living paycheck to paycheck. Saving when I can.

But, it seems like every time we get a step ahead of the game, something happens, and we are two steps back....

My hubby works at a local hospital and it is being taken over by yet another company. But this one is making major changes. What does that mean to us? Well, possible layoff, possible massive hours cut...we really do not know yet...but it does not look good. My hubby has worked there for 20 years! I have heard of companies firing long time employees to hire right out of college employees at half the salary. So I am trying to think now about how to adjust our budget to put back everything we can. But the hospital has already started cutting back on call. Pulling call is a big deal to his paychecks. We need a certain amount from each check to make our bills for the month, and in the past four months he has consistently made around $600 less than that per check! Argh!

We actually had a nice little savings at the end of last year (one step forward) but then in December of last year things started breaking and needing fixed. Bye bye savings (two steps back). Now we started putting more back in and his call is cut ~ no extra money to put back and not enough to pay the bills. We have cut subscriptions, turned off the heater/AC, stopped driving as much....doing what we can.

I have been looking for ways to save money and make some extra cash (See the google ads?). Every work at home program I found turns out to be a scam. I still have two homeschoolers at home so getting a job outside of the home is not feasible right now. Plus I have been out of the job market for NINE years. It is hard enough to find a job right regular people!

What is your best frugal idea? I am open to ideas!!

Llama Beans

No, not lima beans! Llama beans...llama poo! Ready to be picked up to be added to my not-yet-formed beds! A friend of mine has llamas and is offering me their poo....isn't that awesome! LOL

Llama beans (manure) are a great natural fertilizer and soil amendment. They are lower in organic matter content than manures of most other barnyard livestock (like cows, horses and sheep)--but it still has plenty to improve soil texture and water-holding capacity. This lower organic content allows llama manure to be spread directly onto plants without fear of 'burning' them. Llama "beans", as they are often called, break down slowly, releasing their nutrients into your plants.

Advantages include:
• almost no smell (ideal for indoor plants)
• extremely rich in Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium, compared to other barnyard animals
• will not "burn" your plants

The manure can be spread directly on the plants, worked into the soil, or create a ‘tea’ for watering your plants. In potting soil, use 1 part llama manure to 4 parts potting soil. Whole beans for a longer lasting breakdown, or ground up for faster soil nutrition. As a compost tea, use 2 cups of llama “beans” to 1 gallon of water. Let it sit for a day or so, until it becomes a nice brown color, then water your plants as usual with the tea. Keep reusing the tea until it no longer turns brown, then pour the remnants on your plants and start over.

When thinking of manure, which trying to be a gardener - I do a lot, think "outside the box" LOL! Is there a llama farm near you? You may be surprised!

LOL
~Words I never thought I'd say~


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My friend.....

On February 19, 2009, one of my friends passed away. Right now I can't think of the perfect words to say...

I will miss her.....

She will always be in my heart....