Long-term Biscuits!

Can't recall posting this but there are always people popping in for a look who might find this handy!

Freeze 'n' Bake Biscuits

6 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup dry milk powder
1/4 cup baking powder
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
2 cups shortening
1 1/2 cups water

In a large bowl, mix all dry ingredients together until well combined. Cut shortening into dry ingredients until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Using fork, stir in water until mixture is just moistened.

Heat oven to 400 degrees F.

Turn dough onto well-floured surface. Lightly flour your hands and knead dough 8 to 10 times until smooth. Pat out dough about 3/4-inch thick. Cut into 1 1/2-inch squares or cut with biscuit cutter, without twisting biscuit cutter. Place about 1/2-inch apart on baking sheet and bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden.

Makes about 5 dozen.

To freeze, prepare but do not bake. Freeze, then place in plastic bags. Remove biscuits as needed and bake frozen for 30 to 35 minutes. Ingredients may be mixed, stored in container, water added and baked as needed.

Termites are so much fun . . .

If you believe the subject line, I might have some swamp land property to offer, too! We first got notice of the unwelcome critters when we discovered they had actually eaten a noticeable chunk out of the baseboard in my daughter's room. Fortunately, they were able to treat just the wall and, for the sake of prevention, sprayed our attic and the perimeter of the house. We were offered a yearly 'membership' for $250 which would give us an annual check up and treatment as needed. We weren't sure but decided to go for it. Best decision of our life.

Given the extensive treatment of last year, we were pretty sure the $250 payment would remain just a fee without a benefit. Wrong! The termites came in through a drain line that was outside the house BUT up against the wall of an inside closet. Uh, this is my craft/junk closet so you can imagine how much I enjoyed my husband the the termite guy pulling out the piles and piles of stuff. Sigh . . . Guess what, that closet is near perfection today. Do you think the termite guy was sent by my guardian angel to finally bring organization to that portion of my life?

Hard to figure . . .

When I was about two weeks away from delivering my fourth child, I got an unexpected visit from an unpopular relative. She had actually brought a gift for the unborn baby and addressed it in the name of the baby we had named and lost the year before. It was like she figured we'd recycle the name until we had a live birth of a male child. It was not a calming influence on an already nervous mother to be. I had a bad fall the next day and went into labor two days after Christmas and had an uneventful birth and a healthy baby.

The odd part followed. Every year, we go to the trouble of calling each and every sibling and parent and wish them a Merry Christmas. Giving the pre-Christmas trials and tribulations and the pending delivery, we never got around to it. We found it a bit disheartening that not one of the relatives called us either. We have stopped calling and they don't seem to notice. Guess we get extra blessings for having made the effort?

I've run into that with casual friendships over the years, too. It must be a frequent quirk among more people than just family. It is really kind of sad that in this turbulant world of ours, people can so easily let go of relationships. This actually happened to us this year but we must have 'grown up' a bit because we just shook our heads and went on with life.

We had one of those Christmas holidays which was preceded by the onslaught of a leaky roof, an unexpected dental bill, and a termite invasion. We missed out on connecting with a lot of people with all this going on. A few of them didn't notice so I guess we were subtly informed that the friendship wasn't really there. It's a strange world which is probably what hones our sense of humor! :-)

Have still been busy with sewing, crocheting, and trying to sell my items on-line. I feel a great need to pad our emergency fund!

All so true . . .!

We may not imagine how our lives could be more frustrating and complex--but Congress can.
- Cullen Hightower

I used to wake up at 4 A.M. and start sneezing, sometimes for five hours. I tried to find out what sort of allergy I had but finally came to the conclusion that it must be an allergy to consciousness.
- James Thurber

Bureaucrats write memoranda both because they appear to be busy when they are writing and because the memos, once written, immediately become proof that they were busy.
- Charles Peters

Lack of intellect . . .

As you all know, some 22 year old guy decided to hurt or destroy the lives of over 18 people today. Not sure on the number as the investigation is ongoing at the crime scene. I sure do not respect this guy for whatever he thinks he stands for in this situation. Only an idiot or a bully resorts to physical violence against innocent people. It seems that if a person can't meet their opposition on an intellectual level, they resort to fists . . . or guns. Strong-armed power does not make the person. It just reflects a serious lack of real brain power. Situations are changed with ideas or suggestions not destroyed to make the point.

We have to remember all the people involved in this horrible event today. We even have to pray for the gunman that he realizes his intent today and has to deal with the guilt of what he did to so many people and their families because HE had a problem.

As usual, we see that even the moderate gun control laws do not stop murders by gun because only the law-abiding citizens weren't prepared for gunplay today.

Number One Rule!

I've learned that what you tell people they see, they WILL see! This is especially true of husbands. Men are usually so happy to just have a warm home and wife that they don't notice the changes over the years as in a few wrinkles or gained pounds . . . unless you constantly point this out to him. A friend's husband recently signed them both up for a health program that would reduce their insurance co-pay. She was shocked when he mentioned he had signed up for improving his body mass indicator while he signed her up for the weight-loss program. He said his boss was amazed that he would do that and still be welcomed home in the evening. Although my friend didn't say TOO much to her husband, she was a bit shocked and asked how he came to consider the weight-loss program for her. He said because she was always complaining about having gained weight. She was bringing something to his attention that he wasn't 'seeing'!

At New Year's, the same friend and her family shared what they'd like to change about themselves during the new year and, also, what they'd like to see each other do differently. Her husband said he couldn't think of a single thing he'd change about my friend. She is learning . . . She smiled and simply said, "Thank you!"

I guess what the world and our loved ones see in us is what we project to them and the world. If we are happy and content with what God has given us, it shows and people react positively.

Back to schedule . . .

Although I do not really have a schedule, I do like to get certain things done during the day. We always start our morning off with daily Mass. I've heard some people say that attending the eight o'clock Mass disrupts the flow of the day. Personally, I like the fact that I have a good beginning to the day. If everything else goes wrong or doesn't get done according to MY specifications, I know that I checked in with God before it all started.

With older children heading back to college, I now have to get down to work on my youngest's lesson plans. I keep asking him for his books, he forgets to give me the books, and I forget to ask him again. Do you think we are both avoiding the issue?

Today, lesson plans WILL be prepared.

I got back into sewing after the hectic holidays. I made six Easter tote bags to sell on-line. I know that when my children were of the Easter basket stage, the 'worst' part of the Easter aftermath was the baskets. They didn't want to part with them and about three months down the road, beaten up baskets graced various parts of the house. I came up with the idea of Easter tote bags! They can hold an adequate amount of Easter goodies and have a side pocket for stashing a special coloring book or saint book for Easter. The best part is that even though they are floral and bright, they are not particularly labeled EASTER so can be used during the year. They would be fun for the children to use for bringing their little prayerbooks, Rosaries, and such to Mass thus freeing up mom's purse!

Crocheting has taken hold of me lately. I'm anxious to try a lacy poncho-type pattern but had to wait until I completed a baby blanket. Sigh . . . I love the idea of using a tiny crochet hook and fragile yarn until I'm a quarter of a way through the project and it takes so long! My creativity, sometimes, exceeds by patience.