Homemade Prego Spaghetti Sauce

Excellent result with this recipe and it tastes just like my favorite Prego!

4 T. olive oil
2 large minced garlic cloves
1 onion, very finely chopped
2 tsp. dried basil
2 tsp. dried parsley
1 tsp. ground black pepper
1 tsp. dried oregano
2 tsp. salt
7 cups chopped fresh from the garden tomatoes  (or 56 oz. canned crushed toms)
1 (28 oz.) can tomato paste
1 (28 oz.) can tomato sauce
1/4 cup granulated sugar

Heat oil over medium low heat. Add garlic. Stir and cook until golden brown. Be careful not to burn garlic. Add onion and cook until soft and golden, stirring frequently. Add seasonings and tomatoes. Slowly bring to a boil on medium high heat. Let boil for 10 minutes, covered. Reduce to lowest heat. Cover and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally.


Yield: 12 cups or 3 quarts canned

Canning: Fill hot sauce in hot jars and process in pressure canner for 25 minutes.

Note: I simmered my fresh tomatoes for 20 minutes but I'm not sure it would matter especially if you are canning the sauce as well.

What a day!

Yesterday was, um, interesting. I had gone to bed the night before, struggling to fall asleep, and I created a wonderful list of all that I would accomplish the next day. Finally, I fell asleep and awoke the next morning ready to have a productive day.

We all ate a good breakfast and the kids headed outside to play in the pool while I picked butter beans. I'd almost had a gallon picked when while checking a plant saw, to my horror, a cow pie!!! This of course could only mean one thing. THERE WAS A COW OUT!

That morning I had noticed the gate had been left open last night when I had moved the chickens. Yes, you got that I had left the gate open! But, I had figure that since it had happened late that night and I was outside canning that evening (more about that later) that they hadn't gone anywhere. Well obviously I was mistaken.

I quickly texted Jonathan and he quickly stopped me from hyperventaling....he's good for me that way. He called his cousin (who owns the cows) to get  a head count. 6 cows and 4 calves. So I loaded up the kids on the golf cart (more about that later too) and took off into the pasture.

I knew where they liked to hang around this time of day and there they were.... 4 calves and 4 COWS! Oh, no! We took off to the other side of the pasture and started to walk down to the creek. Learning moment: do not go bare footed or with flip flops into the pasture!!! So now we all have thorns in our feet.

After failing to find the two rouge heifers we headed to the pasture next door...nothing. I brought the hot kids back to cool of in the pool. But, after a series of events I realized Thomas had, um, well an accident in the pool. No swimming!

I ran the whole pasture route again during nap time with no luck again. I started some of the laundry I had hoped to finish (but didn't) and went out for another look see after nap time. I had walked into the woods (with correct foot wear) and in every creek access I could find.

During nap time I had prayed we would find them. I hated the idea that we had troubled Jonathan's cousin. He had been out of town for a while fighting some forest fires and had just returned home. It wasn't the welcome home I had intended for him. So we headed out into the pasture for another head count. I was hoping to track them down before the cousin got off work. We headed back to their favorite shady spot and saw the 4 calves laying down, 4 cows eating grass and 2 COWS HIDING IN THE WOODS!!

The kids and I were so excited!! I texted Jonathan and he mentioned something about Lauren teaching me how to count to six. Yeah, he's good for me like that too.

The big finale was a trip to the mexican restaurant and milkshakes at Chick-fil-a. Oh, and Jonathan made it home in time for our night time stories. The day was rough, I learned a lot, and ended wonderfully.

Jubees, cannote and a hair cut

There is one little boy that just melts my heart.

He loves tractors, trucks, especially trucks with trailors, trains, cars....yes, anything with a motor. He will say anything you want him to say, in his own special way.

He love jubees (blueberries) and cannote (cantalope) and that sweet little boy just had his first hair cut!

He is sweet hearted, affectionate, passionate, smelly and violent. I think those first things soften the blow of the later. In short, he's a boy.

A constant blaze of motion. When I think about the first men to follow Jesus I have to believe they contained these same attributes.

I look forward to seeing what God has planned for that little man. And I am thankful for the man of God that he has for a father.









PS - Here's to hopin his father doesn't see the picture I posted of him on here.

Whatever

One thing I've learned from my kids is that they have incredible imaginations. And one way we like to use that is through "making whatever" or getting rid of a lot of my useless junk! I walk around the house (which doesn't take long) and find odds and ends from other craft projects to a toilet paper roll salvaged from the trash...yes, I dumpster dive in my own home. If I can find a good place to put it I may just make a basket for collecting said junk.


And here are what the girls come up with:

Emily created a mask of some kind.

Lauren created dinosaurs and her initials.

Not to be left out, Thomas has fun with his "box". I know really creative name but the "box" contains a little bit of whatever too. I pull it out whenever the girls are working at the table. It helps to keep him out of his sisters business.

Shade Tree

Psalm 121

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.  

   I look up to the mountains—
      does my help come from there?
   My help comes from the Lord,
      who made heaven and earth!
   He will not let you stumble;
      the one who watches over you will not slumber.
   Indeed, he who watches over Israel
      never slumbers or sleeps.
   The Lord himself watches over you!
      The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
   The sun will not harm you by day,
      nor the moon at night.
   The Lord keeps you from all harm
      and watches over your life.
   The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
      both now and forever.

Garden, Puzzles

I believe I mentioned how hot things are right now. So, although we are doing school during the summer things can get a little, well, boring! So the girls and I had a puzzle-a-thon yesterday (during nap time). I think that is the most puzzles we have done at one sitting but they love them. I can't wait until we can work on the really big ones. They were extremely proud of their accomplishment.

Now, I believe I mentioned how hot things are. Well our garden doesn't seem to know the conditions in which I prefer to harvest (NOT HOT!). There are many things that I sit back and ponder that my grandmothers did with little ones running afoot. It is a challenge for me too but I quickly remember the A/C I get to run back into that they did not. Or the running water that I have, indoor plumbing, dishwasher, washing machine, this list is long and...well, maybe it's not so challenging for me after all.

Back to the garden. We have around 25 tomato plants this year that I am anxiously waiting to harvest. Apparently the infrequent rain and staggering heat have slowed the harvest time this year.

Butter beans have begun to come in and are delicious. Looks like this may be the last harvest for the green beans but we've canned what we were wanting.

And Jonathan and the girls are doing great making relish and pickles with the abundant cucumbers. Hopefully the bugs will stay away and the tomatoes will come raining in!

I'm Not Going Outside!!

IT'S HOT!! And there is nothing better to quench the whining in my house than making a batch of fruit pops. Today's were made from some fresh South Carolina peaches!! Of course sampling of the fruit pop mix or smoothies must be had while waiting on them to freeze.

I started making these last summer and they are now a staple in the fridge, well freezer. The recipe is listed under our "Things we love" via one of my favorite bloggers.

I can get the kids to do anything for these!! Now if I could just get the heat to go away...if something happens I'll post that recipe for sure!

Star Fort - Ninety Six, South Carolina

1 mile "hike" and the kids did great

A beautiful day for a field trip last Saturday. High in the low 80's and just wonderful.We have been wanting to come here for a long time. The visitor's center was great. They have too many good books for sale but we were good and only walked away with one.

They have a small museum and a small video room. The movie lasted about 20 minutes and I think I told Lauren "it's just pretend" about 20 times. She's developing a tender heart and did not care for the battle footage. It was good but there were so many other stories to tell about the Star Fort.

This was one of the historical tidbits that I learn on our field trip. I had no idea that the first to die in South Carolina during the Revolution was in Ninety Six! Of course, Jonathan new this but my American history knowledge is embarrassingly limited. For some reason I thought world history was more interesting in college....boooo. Oh well, life is a learning experience.

When going to the Star Fort itself, which is just hills and trenches, I could only imagine the continual fear and unsettled feeling that those who lived here must have felt. They worked hard and never expected anything to be given to them. They new more about what it takes to live than we could ever imagine. This is one aspect of history we would be wise to regain.

Daddy's smile is as big as Thomas's.

The kids enjoyed the toys that the reinactors brought. The girls favorite game were the marbles but our boy was smitten with this wooden pistol. It won't be long until he joins his sisters in their marksmanship lessons.

One thing I am always quickly reminded of when I look at history is how grateful I am. How quickly things change on this earth and how hopefully this will not be a part of history that we will relive. I enjoy my trip to the beach via car but not by horse or on foot.

Historic roads to major areas in SC.

The last mission

It was so sad to see the final shuttle launch. I wanted to somehow capture this moment that I know they will not remember. It is the end of an era.

Oconee State Park Historical Site/Station Cove Falls

Trading post circa 1792

Our first field trip of the year!! Such fun...and such a beautiful little secret on the side of the road. This historic site dates back to 1792. A place of trade with the indians and a way to keep an eye on them too.

The rein-actors were really nice and were just there for the 4th. They were nice enough to wait until we left before shooting their muskets again...that was one part that the kids did not care for.





They were patient guys that also explained the wampum, or beads, that they used for money. You can see some around the man's leg on the left. Later we read a book that talked about wampum. The girls remembered what the men had told them.

Home and trading post of William Richards, circa 1805

The second part of our adventure was to Station Cove Falls. Here we got up close and personal with a sun bathing copperhead. We all agreed to stay in our corners. It was a beautiful half mile hike full of God's wondrous creation.

God Bless America!

The girls have been learning songs this year and our first is "God Bless America". They belt it out proudly every time. It's been fun starting school during this time because there are so many American markers to celebrate...and the girls LOVE to celebrate anything!

We enjoyed a beautiful fireworks show from the parking lot of Blooms grocery store. New Spring Church puts on quite the show. We came here last year as well. This year though we were excited to see extra family tailgating with us.

Uncle Kenneth and his kids and grandkids showed up and made the event even more special. The girls loved playing with their cousins!









It was a wonderful evening. Bill and Carol were with us this year again. The kids enjoyed playing in Papa's truck. Thomas enjoyed the fireworks even though I think his interests were more in a Jeep that was driving through the parking lot. The girls picked their favorite fireworks although their pick seemed to change with each one.

Happy Birthday America and thank you to those who have given everything so we could live in this amazing Republic!