Super Bowl Sunday

Sometime during this week MIchael and I realized a slight problem with THIS Sunday's family dinner. We don't have television. It was Super Bowl Sunday. We asked the boys if they were wanting to watch the game. They were. They invited us over to watch....Us 5 took them up on the offer.

Stacia and I baked cookies and such to take for our afternoon with the  Eagle River Contingent!  I threw something in the Instant Pot and we headed to church. 

Proud of my men for seeing a need and pitching in. 

Nolan & Michael help Aaron shovel the church walks

The moose are returning. I'm not sure where they went for a couple of months. It's fun to have them back. I AM spending a lot of time trying to figure out what sort of fence will keep them away from our planned garden and landscaping.  Some say nothing will work, some swear by a few slats at 3, 5 and 6 feet, some say electric is the only option, some say 8 ft tall chain link with concrete posts.....I love the moose. I want a garden too!🌱🌿🌽

We saw two moose before church, but we were too busy to take photos. I was glad this one came back to visit.

And...The Eagles won! All in all a very fun day! 

Gideon Around 8 Months

Michael and Bre took Bella to the doctor today and we got to play with Gideon! I can't tell you how much I am enjoying having the grands on the place! Bella plays coy with me. She keeps me on my toes. Sometimes she wants to be with me, other times she prefers Nolan or Stacia. But Gideon and Benny - Ah! They smile every time I talk to them. Well, Benny is about at 90%. LOL

Note, Yuuki sulking as we won't let her near the blanket. We'd "brushed" and vacummed the carpet, then put his blanket down. She thinks any blanket is fair game for her.

Hey sweet boy! 

Then it was tummy time! He's trying to hard to get the crawling down! 

Benny and "THE CRADLE"

Here is our favorite 2.5 month old baby boy in the whole world! Bennett Lee, Benny Bear, Benny Boy...Benny Boo

That smile melts hearts

 CoRielle had some concerns about the sleeper/rocker they were using. It keeps babies in one position so they are SAFE, but has led to problems with muscle development and shapes of heads. They were looking for a solution for Benny to sleep in now....and we just happened to have a very old-fashion solution.

Michael's father, Earl, made this cradle for Mary K, Rebecca and Michael. I've seen pictures of all of them sleeping in it. He was excited to pass it on to us for his grandchildren to sleep in....and they all slept in it to one extent or the other. In the past 11 years it has been Stacia's toy box.  Today, it was brought out of storage, decals scrapped and thoroughly cleaned, so Benny Bear can sleep in it for a few months/weeks - however long he fits.

What's with the space? 

 Mom? Dad? I don't know about this!!!!

Ah, I guess it will work. 

I know Grandpa Earl would be thrilled to see his great-grandson sleeping in the cradle he made over 1/2 a century ago.

Eclipse

Super Red Blue Moon Total Eclipse....

Michael's camera was ready to go....hooked up to the telescope lens. Unfortunately, it was too much for our tri-pod and the pictures are out of focus due to movement....he's figured out how to compensate for this and is ready for the next eclipse. I have to put a couple in - regardless.

Bella Came to Play

Bella Boo came to play with Gemma today!!!! Bre and Gideon went to MOPS. We were happy to have Bella stay. The kids did school. I played.  I pulled out bubbles. 

She loves the nook, so I supplied her with colored pencils and paper - both things I have handy in the nook. 

We had a "tea break" - she seemed to like sitting in the chair by herself with her cup and cracker. 

Bella loves cleaning. I got a lot of work done, she thought it was all a great game. Win/Win. We vacuumed, dust mopped, swept and wiped down counters.  

Bella wasn't the only excitement in the day. We also had a productive school day. Stacia and I selected recipes and started pricing them out to see what we may be able to produce and sell to increase our seed.

We tried two new recipes tonight - one for chicken thighs and one for CRISPY oven baked fries. Both were hits....Note Yuuki guarding the oven for us. She also loves the new clear glass door and oven light. LOL

In a fun turn of events, Bre's ride to MOPS lives down the road and around a couple of corners. She recognized Bre's maiden name as my last name. I'm on an Alaska Chicken Raising facebook group. She said to tell me if I want to come sit and chat about her chickens, I can. Yay!

CRISPY OVEN BAKED FRIES

I was so happy to find this recipe! Layers of Happiness is a blog to spend some time exploring.  I am "saving" this in it's entirety so I don't lose it. Sites with my favorite recipes have been disappearing - a  drawback to cooking from the internet rather than Betty Crocker. 

ANYWAY - with the discovery of this technique (I've tried a variety of seasonings), I no longer NEED an air fryer! These are crispy and healthy. 

Just to prove I really did make these! 

Visit this blog! You'll be happy you did! 

Extra Crispy Oven Baked French Fries

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 45 mins

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 45 mins

Crispy edges, soft centers; extra-crispy French fries baked not fried – so you can feel good about eating them!

Ingredients:

Seasoning Mix (DO NOT USE ALL  OF THE SEASONING FOR ONE BATCH, READ INSTRUCTIONS):

• 2 Tablespoons seasoned salt
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/8 teaspoon cumin
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

For the Fries:

• 3 medium russet potatoes (russet are the best choice for perfect crispy fries)
• 1-2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan (optional)

Directions:

1. Combine seasoning ingredients in a small bowl; set aside.
2. Wash and peel the potatoes. Cut off the ends. With a very sharp knife, cut the potatoes into thin slices about 1/4 inch wide.
3. Add the fries to a large bowl and cover with cold water. Allow them to soak for at least 30 minutes but they can soak for as long as overnight. (Place in the fridge if soaking more than an hour).
4. After the fries have soaked, drain, rinse, and lay the fries on a paper towel lined cooling rack to dry while you preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Blot the tops with additional paper towels to absorb any excess moisture.
5. Line a baking pan with parchment paper or foil and spray with non-stick spray. Make sure the previously used bowl is dry and add the potatoes to it, add 1-2 tablespoons of oil and 1/2 – 1 Tablespoon of the seasoning mixture based on how much salt you prefer. Toss around to mix.
6. Evenly line the baking pan with the fries in a single layer. Don’t overlap or they fries won’t cook properly. Bake for about 30 minutes, flipping with a spatula once or twice after 15 minutes of cooking. Increase heat to 425 degrees and continue baking until the edges look a little burnt!
7. Sprinkle the fries with the other half of the seasoning mix and Parmesan cheese (optional). Serve immediately.

© Layers of Happiness - http://www.layersofhappiness.com/extra-crispy-oven-baked-french-fries/

More Nekkid Moose or Northern Fever

Monday!!! Therapy. Michael did really well with the peanut butter today, I do think he's improving and praying Friday's test shows the right amount of improvement for him to continue receiving the electrical stimulation for another 12 weeks. We would really like to see even more improvement. He's been faithful to do the 2 hours of swallowing exercises at home each day. Thanks for your prayers.

It's become our habit to do the week's grocery shopping after Monday's therapy, when we are in the big town. WOW - it is WINDY today when you get out of our mountain enclave.  Our wind "gusted to 16 mph" - it was 67 mph out in the valley today.  The snow out here in this part of the valley doesn't melt - it blows away!

The kids did a great job with laundry while we were out. Cory took a full trailer load of garbage to the landfill. We haul or own, and we recycle copious amounts of trash.  Michael and I got the wood floor shining, and I cleaned out a couple of closets. I find, since living in the RV for two years, I really like simplicity and dislike clutter. I want to know where to locate everything at a moment's notice. LOL  Stacia made a narrow pillow for Bella's bunk...it is like a bumper pad and will cover the slice of window by her bunk.

We began preparing the cradle Michael and his siblings slept in for Benny.  Stacia has used it for a toy box for the last 11 years and it needed a good scrubbing. CoRielle have a little swinging thingy that is popular these days - but read some more and discovered it contributes to a flattened head, and to babies liking to look one way....so they are moving him to the old cradle for a bit.

Sometime in the midst of it all - the moose showed up. I missed them. Alex sounded the alarm. He told me not to worry, they'd be back.

I seem to have caught some sort of northern fever that causes one to run outside in their stocking feet, short shirt sleeves, with camera in hand. What else would explain how often I find myself standing in snow, coatless, hatless, shoeless, with camera in hand?

It is 16 degrees outside and I came to myself out on the deck, shoeless in the snow, with camera in hand....I heard branches breaking and rustling.....being dusk, it took a bit of time to find them. I was rewarded with finding two more nekkid moose. That makes four today.

Nekkid moose? Facebook has taken to removing my blog posts as they "violate community standards." I think most are volume related - but I was told two of them were "reported." ::snort:: Friends have decided it must be because of all the naked moose photos.....my goal is to get them clothed in Bullwinkle scarves to alleviate this grave offense.

Isn't she lovely?  Can you spot her? 

I did worry just a bit she'd discover my buried strawberry bed.....

Moose #2  - right where I plan to put my raspberry bed. Do moose like raspberries? 

I continue to research homesteading, chicken and gardening in Alaska. I'm also trying to map out the rest of the study year for Bible Babes so Shelly and I can discuss it. Tuesday is an "at home" day - I'll try to work a bit on those projects, "tomorrow."