Between Heaven and Earth

It all started with a girl named Mel (who works at Chick Fil A). Mel decided she wanted to go sky diving. She told her boyfriend. Casey sent a text message to Josiah, which he received just as he got into bed.

"Wanna go skydiving in January?"

Cy responded, "Sure". Anything seems like a good idea at mid-night I guess. ::snort::

Today was the day. They all drove to San Marcos. They received instruction. They were harnessed to an instructor. A camera man jumped out with each of them. Josiah has 116 photos and a dvd. . . and an experience he'll not soon forget. Just as they were boarding a plane someone came down and landed in the pool. ::snort::

Notice the man to the right with the camera duct taped to his head - there was only one instructor tall enough to jump with Josiah - this young lady.

Casey on the right, Josiah behind
I can't believe I'm about to do this! He was the first one out of his group.
Bohonkus' in space
This isn't so bad!
::snort:: The Old Man look
Can't get away from those Longhorn fans


Land


I can never again use my famous line, "If all your friends jump off a cliff, would you?" Josiah has proven, given the proper thrill factor and circumstances, that he just MIGHT. AND he'd be the first one over the cliff! ::snort:: (OK - for those who don't know Josiah - he's very level headed and wouldn't follow his friends off a cliff.....he'd lead.)

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Got A Call...

at about 1:00 p.m. saying that Josiah was about to jump. We've not heard a word since. I guess he and his two friends were all calling their families before they jumped. ::snort::

We're hoping to watch the jump on DVD tonight if they get back in time.....and they really ARE talking about doing this again to celebrate Jamin's graduation. Krista says she'll jump with them. We're not sure the military will allow Mike to jump. Mike says he "doesn't know why anyone would want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane," but then he's a pilot.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Crock Pot Yogurt

I've tried making yogurt in a cooler, on top of a fridge...17 years ago I began trying to make it. I was not motivated to try this recipe when my friend, Deja, began to brag about it. I am jinxed....but I DID buy all that milk on sale. I DIDN'T order a case of Brown Cow Vanilla Yogurt this month. I read all the comments several times at Crock Pot 365....and gave it a shot.

Ingredients:
8 Cups whole milk
1/2 C live/active culture plain yogurt (I've discovered 3/4 C starter makes for thicker results)

Optional Ingredients:
2 T dry milk powder per quart of milk (to thicken, added with starter)
1 T vanilla & 4 T honey (for vanilla - I did this but will use more next time, added at the end)
3 large pureed bananas per 1 qt yogurt (not sure when they added this but most say to add fruit right before using as it breaks down the protein if you add it earlier and your yogurt gets runny).

I lined up my ingredients, determined to try once again.


I did NOT use the vanilla as Deja told me it tasted a bit funky when she did. At this point I planned to make it plain.

Pour the milk into your crock pot. Turn it on low and let it cook on LOW for 2 1/2 hours. I was out running and it cooked 3 hours (Deja said that would be ok).

Unplug pot. Leave the lid ON and let it sit for 3 hours.

(Yep, still sitting. It was at this point I decided I would add a bit of dry milk and the vanilla and honey. We LIKE the vanilla best and I read over and over that this was "sharper" than store bought. I like the way this turned out but it's close to plain....so I won't have trouble at all using it for recipes and ranch dressing...and I'll add double when I want vanilla. Come to think of it maybe those measurements above were for 1 qt?).

Scoop out 2 cups of warmish milk and whisk in 1/2 C live culture yogurt (add milk or vanilla at this point too). Dump back into Crock Pot. Stir to combine well.

Put the lid back on. ::snort:: Wrap the pot in a towel (I used 2), and let sit another 8 hours.


This was the toughest part. I accidentally chose Zander's dinosaur towel to wrap the pot in. He was NOT sure this was a proper use of his bath towel.

8 hours later...


Chill and serve. Will keep 7 - 10 days. You can also make Yogurt Cheese with this, I'll try that sometime this week I think - sounds good for bagels (which I should make sometime this week).

Mom, you KNOW I don't like yogurt. The kids really love Brown Cow and I tried it one day. It's thinner and wonderful tasting. This is similar. I had a bit over fruit this a.m. YUM!

Cost-wise this is far cheaper. Health-wise, I'm not sure. Since it doesn't keep as long it must have less preservatives (but I don't see preservatives listed on the Brown Cow label - pectin?). The Brown Cow we buy is non-homogenized and I like that....this will be made with homogenized milk....so it may be a toss up.....but I KNOW what is in this...no question about "vanilla flavor" etc. I can buy one 32 oz BC yogurt instead of two cases and make yogurt for the month. LOL

More recipes can be found on my Recipe Index.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Saturday!

The day began bright and early with my yogurt making attempts.

I hustled to IHOP for our monthly Chaplain Spouse breakfast.

I took Jared to CAP and stopped by the Commissary. I was pleasantly surprised to see MORE Organic food on the shelves. Maybe I won't NEED a United Co-op in our new location - just a really nice commissary.

I baked 3 loaves of bread and 2 doz garlic rolls.

Mike CAME HOME!!!!

We played around.

BreAnne called.

Mike took me to dinner.

I did my Stability ball/Strength exercises....managed 2 sets of squats and 4 (4 in the 1st set forget the rest) lunges....it's improvement. ::snort::

Mike read to the boys to settle them down at bedtime. Mike went in to read Stacia a bedtime story and she said, "Let me tell you a story...." - vintage Stacia.

I read blogs and played around with a new template while I waited to discover if I'd made more sour milk or yogurt.

I made YOGURT! Yes - photos to follow but I really have better things to do tonight than blog.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Yogurt Makers?

Can you move the crock with the towel wrapped milk during the 8 hours that it sits? I was thinking that when I'm done baking bread, cooled the oven off...that I'd like to set it in there with the oven light on. I really, really, really do not want to make another crock of sour milk. I tried every recipe out there when the older 4 kids were little....and they never worked for me. I'd really like to put this in the oven...but now I wonder if it will somehow rebel on me if move it...

I'm not sure it will be a savings to make yogurt if I have to buy a maker - but if I do - have any of you used a maker and which features should I look for?

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Yogurt

I was determined to make yogurt today. I wanted to time it so it could "set" overnight. I went to Crock Pot 365 and spent an hour reading recipes and comments. I was set...except I forgot to start it.....and now I've decided that I don't REALLY want to wake up at 1:30 a.m. to add starter....maybe tomorrow. If any of you have had success with this, please leave your tips. ::snort:: I've attempted to make yogurt in the oven, on top of the fridge etc.....years and years ago....and all I ever get is sour milk. Ah well, the younger kids need the failed yogurt experience to be properly developed members of the G family. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

At Least He'll Have Clean Underwear When He Goes to the ER

Time for a Josiah update. Josiah has been enjoying a few weeks off from college. He'll start back to school on Tuesday. The second 1/2 of his second year. He made 3 B's and 2 A's last semester....not bad working 40+ hours a week.

He NEVER brings his laundry home....never. What fun it was when he surprised me tonight....I needed to see one of the older kids. He'll be jumping out of a plane on Sunday - at least I'll be able to rest easy knowing he has clean underwear on. ::snort:: He is promising to buy the video and professional photos. I'll see if I can post a photo or two. Jamin wants to jump, but they won't allow you to do it unless you are 18. They are talking about doing another jump to celebrate Jamin's graduation in May....maybe the girls will jump with them. ::snort::

We're watching the second half of , "Around the World in 80 Days". Josiah had borrowed Tim Hawkins', "I'm No Rockstar" and brought it back to view together. Poor Nolan is not happy....but the rest of us are.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.