Gluten free strawberry rhubarb crisp ~ a Pinterest project

Photo by The Baking Beauties

Following my fabulous success with the Best Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls from The Baking Beauties , I was so impressed with Jeanine's recipes that I signed up to follow her blog by email.  One of the first posts I received was about this recipe:Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp , so I promptly pinned it and saved the recipe to try later.
My dad had lots of rhubarb in his patch and I had lots of frozen strawberries to use up, so I made one of these for Father's Day.  It would have been better to use the fresh strawberries as called for, but I had so many strawberries frozen from last year and the year before, that I chose to use some of those.  This crisp has wonderful fresh fruity flavor!  I doubled the recipe to make a 13x9 pan and was glad that I did.  I don't think you'll be disappointed if you try this recipe.  We really enjoyed it.

Back-on track challenge, days 12~15

Graphic from The Cottage Market

Since I promised to keep updating on this challenge, I will -- but I don't have much to report.  The weekend was a busy one and yesterday was a busy day.  I certainly didn't stay on track as I'd have liked to.  Here's how it went in the four areas in which I'm challenging myself:

*  health and energy -- I exercised only once and walked a couple of times,  didn't keep up with the BCI  at all.   Did okay with eating right, fairly well with limiting sugar and getting enough water.  Did okay with getting enough sleep.
  *  homemaking -- did some work in Zone 2 and a lot of work in Zone 3.  Kept up with basics like dishes, laundry, vacuuming, etc.  Did a major declutter of one area. 
*  spiritual life -- kept up with my regular Bible reading, journaling, and prayer times.  Finally finished memorizing a passage I've been trying to get for weeks.  Changed my prayer journal into its new binder.  Got in some good work on my Sunday School lesson.  Had a little Bible study yesterday with one of my granddaughters. 
* creativity -- posted a few times in this blog.  Finished crocheting a primrose dishcloth.  Started crocheting another dishcloth.  Spent time working on the strawberry themed bunting I want to make.  Changed the decor on my hutch from spring to strawberries.

I'm certainly hoping the next few days will be more on-track!

Goals for week beginning 6/17/2013

Blooming in my back yard right now...

It's been a busy weekend and a busy Monday!  Here are some goals for this week:
*  Continue with Back on Track challenge
*  Spend time in 2 Samuel Bible study
*  Work on Sunday School lesson 4
 *  Make 2 pages for "What Do I Know About My God"?  notebook
*  Memorize Psalm 9:1-2
*  Read 2 chapters in A Woman's Call to Prayer
*  Exercise or go for walks as often as time allows
*  Keep up with crafting goals for birthdays, Christmas, and finishing UFOs
*  Keep up a good water intake
*  Get to bed by 9:30 or 10 pm each night
*  Post once or twice in my Christmas blog and at least five times in my regular blog
* Plan Christmas in July posts for my Christmas blog
*  Complete homemaking goals for Zone 4, the master bedroom, including decluttering
*  Begin the large project of reorganizing the many piles, stacks, notebooks and containers full of recipes I've collected over time.
*  Bake some cookies for my hubby
* Make some strawberry themed book page banners for the kitchen and dining room
*  Make a daily time schedule for the things I need to do


And here is how last week went:
*  Continue with Back on Track challenge -- DONE!
*  Spend time in 2 Samuel Bible study -- DONE!
*  Work on Sunday School lesson 3 -- DONE!
*  Make 2 pages for "What Do I Know About My God"?  notebook -- DONE!
*  Memorize Psalm 104:33-34 -- DONE!
*  Read 2 chapters in A Woman's Call to Prayer -- DONE!
*  Exercise or go for walks as often as time allows -- sort of done
*  Keep up with crafting goals for birthdays, Christmas, and finishing UFOs -- sort of done
*  Keep up a good water intake -- did okay with this
*  Get to bed by 9:30 or 10 pm each night -- didn't manage this every night
*  Post once or twice in my Christmas blog and at least five times in my regular blog -- managed the regular blog but not the Christmas one
*  Complete homemaking goals for Zone 3, the bathrooms, including decluttering -- DONE!
*  Begin the large project of reorganizing the many piles, stacks, notebooks and containers full of recipes I've collected over time  -- not done
 *  Bake some cookies for friends (and my hubby) -- DONE!
*  Make a daily time schedule for the things I need to do -- DONE!

And, as usual, I'm hoping for a better and more productive week ahead.

Pinterest project ~ Homemade Tub and Shower Magic cleaner

(Photo from Food.com)

So, some time ago I got an idea from another blogger to blog about Pinterest projects I have pinned and then actually done.  I did one post of this type -- the one about our simple Valentine buntings.  And then, as so often happens, I wrote down a few ideas of other Pinterest projects to blog about ... but I didn't do it.  Today, I was cleaning the tub/shower and thought I would share about the homemade cleaner I've been using for several months.

It is this: Tub and Shower Magic, made from 2 simple ingredients of Dawn dishwashing liquid and white vinegar.  Our tub and shower tend to get pretty bad, since we have not only the usual soap scum but hard water to boot.  The only thing I have found prior to this that really works on it is Greased Lightning.  When I read about the Tub and Shower Magic and all of the comments from people who had tried it, I just had to give the recipe a try.  It really works very well -- in fact, well enough that I have made several more batches of the stuff.  I've also been using it on bathroom sinks and countertops, and -- although I can't say I've found it the miracle worker some pinners claim it to be -- yet I do have to say that I'm pleased with how it works.  It's easy to use, and the price is right!

Back-on-track challenge, days 8 ~ 11

Gorgeous vintage graphic from The Cottage Market

We're finally seeing a little bit of sun (but only a little bit) after days of rain.  Rain meant Mr. T missed a couple days of work as it was too wet underfoot in the woods.  Am I the only one who gets sidetracked when their hubby is home for a day or two unexpectedly?  Here's how the past few days have gone with the back-on-track challenge:
  *  health and energy -- I exercised only once but walked several times,  kept up with the BCI  fairly well and did okay with eating right, limiting sugar and getting enough water.  Didn't do as well with getting enough sleep.
  *  homemaking -- did some work in Zone 2 and Zone 3.  Kept up with basics like dishes, laundry,vacuuming, etc.
*  spiritual life -- kept up with my regular Bible reading, journaling, and prayer times; on Tuesday  I spent time in Bible study.  Bought a new binder for my prayer journal; my old one was broken and held together with packaging tape.  (I really need to redo some of the pages as many of them are tattered, holes ripped out and so on.)  Got in some good work on my Sunday School lesson.  Have been so encouraged this week as I see God giving me daily guidance and direction. 
* creativity -- posted several times in this blog.  Finished crocheting a daisy wheel dishcloth and started another primrose dishcloth.  Made 2 ladder ribbon necklaces.  Came up with a simple but fun creative idea as a gift for a friend.  Can't give details yet.

I guess that's about it.  Now we're coming up to the weekend again, so I'm not sure how I'll do staying on track.  But I intend to try!

Berry Cheesecake Dessert

(Photo by Taste of Home)

This past Sunday I needed a dessert for a potluck and wanted to use some of the strawberries we froze last summer.  I had planned on making this one: Berry Cheesecake Dessert the week before (when I had some fresh strawberries) but wimped out on it since it was a hot day and the dessert required time in the oven.  I ended up making the Cheesecake Mousse with Strawberries that week, and it worked out great.

So this week it was cooler and I made the Berry Cheesecake Dessert, only substituting frozen (thawed and drained) strawberries for the fresh ones.  I also made the crust gluten free by substituting gluten free vanilla wafer crumbs (homemade) for the graham cracker crumbs.  The dessert was very good and went over well at the potluck, but it would have been MUCH better with fresh strawberries.  I will keep this recipe in mind for when we go strawberry picking!

Goals for week beginning 6/10/2013

This lovely and inspiring graphic is by Little Birdie Blessings

Time to set goals for the week!  Here's some of what I'm hoping to accomplish:
*  Continue with Back on Track challenge
*  Spend time in 2 Samuel Bible study
*  Work on Sunday School lesson 3
*  Make 2 pages for "What Do I Know About My God"?  notebook
*  Memorize Psalm 104:33-34
*  Read 2 chapters in A Woman's Call to Prayer
*  Exercise or go for walks as often as time allows
*  Keep up with crafting goals for birthdays, Christmas, and finishing UFOs
*  Keep up a good water intake
*  Get to bed by 9:30 or 10 pm each night
*  Post once or twice in my Christmas blog and at least five times in my regular blog
*  Complete homemaking goals for Zone 3, the bathrooms, including decluttering
*  Begin the large project of reorganizing the many piles, stacks, notebooks and containers full of recipes I've collected over time.
*  Bake some cookies for friends (and my hubby)
*  Make a daily time schedule for the things I need to do

And here is how last week went:
*  Continue with Back on Track challenge -- DONE!
*  Spend time in 2 Samuel Bible study -- DONE!
*  Work on Sunday School lesson 3 -- DONE!
*  Make 2 pages for "What Do I Know About My God"?  notebook -- DONE!
*  Memorize Psalm 104:33-34 -- not completed
*  Read 2 chapters in A Woman's Call to Prayer -- DONE!
*  Exercise or go for walks as often as time allows -- -- DONE!
*  Keep up with crafting goals for birthdays, Christmas, and finishing UFOs -- not done
*  Keep up a good water intake -- DONE!
*  Get to bed by 9:30 or 10 pm each night -- not done
*  Post once or twice in my Christmas blog and at least five times in my regular blog -- DONE!
*  Complete homemaking goals for Zone 2, the kitchen, including decluttering -- DONE!•
*  Make a daily time schedule for the things I need to do -- DONE!
• I am calling this done even though I didn't finish everything in the zone (hope to do that today!) because I did accomplish some of it and a large kitchen decluttering project