Hair - From Rock Star to Prairie Princess

I miss my little girls longer locks. Occassionaly she would actually allow me to put it up in some funky do or make it look all fancy.

Here is her rocker look:

(She asked if I could make her look like a cat)

And here is her "fancy" updo.

This took some patience since her hair is layered:

Cheffin' It

Three brand spankin' new cooking things I recently tried:

A whole chicken meal.





Believe it or not, I never-ever-ever attempted before to cook a whole chicken. It is hard for me to hold that little body in my hand, see its form and throw it in the pot to cook. Tonight was the first attempt for me. I am such a sap. Before I put the bird in, I washed it gently, took out its stuffed giblets, patted its little butt, thanked God for blessing us with this cheap (30% off already reduced price - 5.00) chicken. I pouted my little lower lip, smothered it up in spices and salt and dumped it in the crock pot over some onions. It was really tasty. Eating meat is fine for me unless I see it in its carcass. Then, I am overwhelmed with guilt. Thankfully, Jesse took the chicken apart before I came home to eat with the family. I don't know if I could do it.


African cuisine.






For my pick in my book club, I chose the first in the series of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency By Alexander McCall Smith. Since the setting was Africa, I thought why not to cooking African food. I used recipes from The Congo Cookbook (online). It was fun. I was a mess that morning trying to get everything in order but the food came out tasty. I made a peanuty soup with chicken in it, spicy ribs, fancy fish and sweet potatoes. We drank ginger ale and it was so much fun.


My own homemade stew.






Never before had I attempted a Beef and Barley Stew. It was thick. It was a bit too salty ( I need to simmer down on the salt adding). But we ate it and it warmed our bellies.

Creative Domino Mazes by Brandon

Volunteer Central

Some ideas I researched for volunteering in the local community:

Volunteer Match

Providence Hospital

AmericanTowns

Anchorage Museum

The National Archives

Ushering in the Arts

Military Appreciation

Anchorage Senior Center

Chugiak Senior Center

I am sure there are many more....!

Menu-Planning Monday 06-01-09

Monday:
Breakfast - cereal, toast, juice
Lunch - corn dogs, veggie mix, milk
Dinner - apple sausage stir fry, rice, water

Tuesday:
Breakfast - oatmeal, apple slices, little bitty omelets, water
Lunch - pb&js, sports drink, gorp (hike trip)
Dinner - pork chops & gravy, veggie medley, fruit slush

Wednesday:
Breakfast - fruit mix, bagels and cream cheese, milk
Lunch - tuna fish sandwiches, ants on a log, juice (Music at the Park)
Dinner - crock pot chicken curry, rice, cucumber salad. water

Thursday:
Breakfast - cereal, orange slices, boiled egg, water
Lunch - quesadillas, chicken slices, cucumber salad, juice
Dinner - canned Italian wedding soup, salad, bread

Friday:
Breakfast - cinnamon rice, fruit mix, sausage, milk
Lunch - turkey cheese bagel sandwich, grapes, water
Dinner - chicken fajitas, Spanish rice, juice

Saturday:
Breakfast - breakfast burrito, chocolate milk
Lunch - pb&js, carrot sticks, pretzels, snacks, juice (fishing)
Dinner - fresh caught fish, baked potatoes, strawberry/blueberry mix

Sunday:
Breakfast - bagel and cheese, sausage
Lunch - leftovers
Dinner - crock pot beef and barley stew, rice, rolls, fruit salad