Oct 30, 2008

MAD

Wow what a title for a blog, well I am, mad that is. Know why?
Well in the past election we voted at our American Embassy in Zagreb and that was great but this year they changed everything.

This year we had to send off to the states, actually to our county for the ballot and we were suppose to receive the ballot; we would fill it out for McCain of course and return it to be counted but here we are sitting less than a week away and still no ballot. Even if it came today there would be no way to get it returned in time. I'm so hot about this I can't even stand it. There is one silver lining, Texas is already pretty much guaranteed for McCain so my vote wont make a difference in that but still.

Johnny is totally convinced that the "ballot senders" are democrats and that's why the long wait. Could be, dunno, but I'm still mad!

Oct 24, 2008

Sew and So!

Okay so today I took some time and did a little stitching. I have been meaning to make this shopping bag that Debbie posted about over at HOMEMAKING DREAMS and I finally did. Debbie does a wonderful job of explaining every step in detail and it really works just like she shows.

I used some old fabric I've been holding onto for ever and I like it! It's the perfect size. Also it'll be great considering we live in Europe. What does that matter you ask? Well in most stores in Europe you have to buy your grocery bags so it'll be great to have one that is reusable and looks nice and crafty.

Thanks Debbie for a great tutorial!Oh guess what a friend gave me ... all this super cool upholstery material. A local furniture store close and her cousin gave her all these swatches of fabric and leather. So anyhow, I'm showing you this so you can give me some ideas on what to use them for. The small leather ones are about 12'' x 6'' and the larger ones are about15 x 15 inches. I was thinking about using them for maybe shopping bags or even pillow covers. Dunnno, but I thought you gals would have some great ideas, can't wait!

Oct 23, 2008

IKEA or Bust!

Guess what, IKEA is coming to Croatia!!! No, really, in 2011 Croatia will moving into a whole new socio-economic sphere. Okay so IKEA won't make that big of a difference for Croatia and her people but what a difference IKEA will make in my life!!

We headed to Austria and it was a lovely drive. Austria is a wonderfully crafty country anyways but to be there during the fall was wonderful. I didn't get lots of pictures since Johnny is a get there and get it done kinda guy but I did manage to get him to stop so I could take a picture of the pumpkins. Cool huh?

Once on the highway we were on our way and fast like too. After I saw this sign for Salzburg is was a true fight within me to either go to my beloved IKEA or drop in to Salzburg to visit Maria and the Captain from Sound of Music, and yes I know they aren't there anymore...

If you can't tell already, I'm an IKEA junkie! I love the place, actually many times while wandering it's long halls of impressive two-people dwellings I have imagined myself living within the massive store, and then the silence breaks and one of my offspring walk up with a plastic banana sticking out of one ear; I quickly tell them to leave the kitchen displays alone and I go back to dreaming.
Have you ever been to IKEA, NO! You're kidding, it's a trip of a life time in my humble openion. I love the place and there are so many reasonable things and ideas.

I have to tell you, we were at the closest IKEA to Croatia in Graz, Austria (home of Arnold S.) and I was in awe in the fabric dept. I love the IKEA style. I am the IKEA style but just uncultivated. I love the modern shapes and colors, I like the clean looks, I just like it! Really they should be paying me for all the publicity, but anyhow. I'm in the fabric dept. and I have finally found the fabric I want so I ask my sweet Johnny to have it cut for me since I don't know a lick of German and that's what they speak at this particular IKEA, anyhow, we stand there and wait, and wait and still more waiting. Then this very handsome blond lady comes over to the table where we are waiting and she is obviously not an employee of IKEA and do you know what she did? Really, she grabbed those huge sheers and just began cutting her own material. I'm like...this woman is nuts, who does she think she is touching those sheers and all. Then another women proceeds to do the same, then it hits us, this is a self-service fabric dept. Now we're cooking so I reach over and take the great sheers and begin to cut my own fabric, how cool is this. After cutting it I weighed it and stuck the little price sticker on myself. Oh now I'm hooked!!! I loved it and it was so nice not having to ask for a meter or whatever. Super cool, just another reason why I ♥ IKEA!

I bought a small amount of a few fabrics I liked, I love this bright, fun fabric; don't have any idea what I'll do with it but it's nice.

And then this great red stuff, I LOVE it! I don't know why but I do, I love it.
I didn't know what I was going to use it for but I finally figured it out. I made a wondow valance for the office with it. I actually took a 1x2 and stapled it, drilled pilot holes and Johnny attached it for me. I like it, so clean and I can still see the outside, I like that.

BTW, that's my sweetie sitting at his computer, sure love ya Babe!
Anyhow, if you ever want to go to IKEA with me, you're welcome to fly on over and we'll head to IKEA in Austria together. fun fun fun!

Oct 21, 2008

Way too many spices!

That's what I usually have in my cabinets, way too many spices. I'm sure I'm the only one who does this but I always forget what I have and then end up buying more of the same stuff. So I took inventory and made a little list so I would always know what I have and what I need. I can just look at a recipe and then check the list to see what I have. Anyhow, it works for me.

I actually forgot to take a before picture so just take my word for it, it was messy!

***edited to say:
Rhonda in OK,
No we can't get these brands of spices here in Croatia. We have been here for 8 years and so I have brought them back little by little.

Nina,
Every time I go to the states I bring back some cans of non-fat cooking
spray, they last a long time if you go sparingly!

Everyone,
I have so many cream of tarters because we had a group of people come once and they wanted a list so I gave them one and they all brought a little of each thing, so I got about 10 cream of tarters. So, if you have any unusual ways to use the COT, please let me know!

Oct 19, 2008

How to cook a fresh pumpkin

I've been meaning to do this for years and never really got around to it.

Here in Croatia it's almost impossible to find good cooking pumpkins because in this part of Europe black pumpkin seed oil is tradition and everyone loves it. Actually in the fall it's totally normal to see fields lined with big, orange pumpkins ready for the pickin', but then it happens. Every year I'll see a field over flowing with pumpkins and then the same field will the lying with the wasted shells of the same pumpkins. As soon as the pumpkins are ready the women come out to the field, cleave the pumpkins into, scoop out the insides and leave the rest to rot! Can you believe that such waste is going on in a civilized country? It is, right here in Croatia and this whole part of Europe.

Anyhoo, here is a picture tutorial on how to cook a fresh pumpkin:

First, get your pumpkin. There are many varieties out there but since I didn't really know I settled for the average orange one.
Cut the pumpkin into and then scoop out the innards! These can be retained and then separated to make toasted pumpkin seeds.
Scooped out!
Then there are several ways to cook the pumpkin. You can add them to a large baking pan like the above one, face down and fill with 1 inch water or you can even cook it in the microwave if it's large enough to accomodate the pumpkin. (BTW, my kids drew on the outside before I cut it open, see the funny faces, that's about as close to a jack o lantern they have ever been.)
My daughter, Hannah wanted you to see the pumpkin in the over, don't ask why! I cooked the pumpkin on 325 for about an hour or a little less. The whole purpose is to get the flesh nice and soft, soft enough to be pureed in the food processor.
After the pumpkin is finished cooking take it out and let it cool completely. When it's cool enough to handle take a knife and clean all the skin off of the flesh of the pumpkin. We want only good clean flesh, then I chopped it up in 2 in cubes so it would be easier for my food processor to puree.


Ta-da! Pumkin puree! You may want to put it into a fine colander to strain some of the water off. I set it in the colander over a bowl and let it strain for 15 minutes and there was really alot of liquid that ran off.

After the pumpkin is all finished you may use it exactly like you would for can pumpkin. From one medium sized pumpkin I got about 6 cups of puree. I made 4 loaves of pumpkin bread and 12 muffins and they were delish! So fresh! Here's the super-easy, super-yummy Pumpkin Bread recipe I used, sure to be a hit no matter where!

Pumpkin Bread

1 C all purpose flour
1 C packed brown sugar
1 TBSP baking powder
1 TSP ground cinnamon
1/4 TSP salt
1/4 TSP baking soda
1/4 TSP ground nutmeg
1/8 TSP ground ginger or cloves
1 C canned pumpkin or fresh
1/2 C milk or buttermilk
2 eggs
1/3 C shortning
1 C all purpose flour
1/2 C chopped walnuts or pecans
1/2 raisins (optional)

1. Grease the bottom and half way up the sides of a 9x5x3 in. loaf pan; set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl combine 1 C flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, nutmeg and ginger or cloves. Add pumpkin, milk, eggs, and shortning. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed till blended. Beat on medium to high speed for 2 minutes. Add the 1 C of flour and beat until blended. Fold in the walnuts and raisins.
*** I used a wooden spoon and mixed just until blended and it was wonderful!
3. Spoon batter into prepared pan. Bake in a 350° oven 60 to 65 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
*** I only baked it for about 40 minutes and it was good but I have a confection over so it works different. Use the toothpick method and when it's almost dry it's ready, don't over cook!
Cool completely on a wire rack.


I made this bread for church this morning and out Croats loved this bread. They are super slow to try anythign and since they don't eat the pumpkin I didn't tell them what was in the bread until they all said how good the bread was, then I broke the big news, IT'S PUMPKIN!!

Also my husband doesn't like pumpkin and he loved this bread, yummy!
Make sure to let me know if you cook your own pumpkin and share your culinary creations!

Oct 18, 2008

Another Wonderful Give-a-way!

Hey guess what Nina over at Portugal Bound is hosting her very first give-a-way all the way from, you guessed it, Portugal!!! She is giving away the cutest Portuguese table setting, it's so to-die-for!

Anyhoo, head on over to Portugal Bound and enter to win.

Oct 16, 2008

Krampus!

The other day while out shopping I noticed that some of the stores already had Christmas stuff on the shelves and I was surprised to find these two looking up at me. In the major part of Europe there is some sort of tradition surrounding Saint Nikolas day on December 6th and Croatia isn't any different. The first time my kids were in town and the devil came up to them, they all burst out in tears, not exactly child friendly. Even little kids know what evil is when they see it and it's nothing to be laughed about. These are different post cards from years ago that also show the tradition:

Now many people dress up in hideous costumes and parade around town, remind me to stay home. I don't want to meet St. Nick or his partner Krampus!

In many parts of Croatia, Krampus is described as a devil, wearing chains around his neck, ankles and wrists, and wearing a cloth sack around his waist. As a part of a tradition, when a child receives a gift from St. Nicolas he is given a golden branch to represent his/hers good deeds throughout the year; however, if the child has misbehaved, Krampus will take the gifts for himself and leave only a silver branch to represent the child's bad acts. Children are commonly scared into sleeping during the time St. Nicolas brings gifts by being told that if they are awake, Krampus will think they have been bad, and will take them away in his sack."

Anyhow, just a little cultural lesson for you folks, it's real and it happens today!!!

Oct 14, 2008

Awesome Quilt Give-away!



Hey check out this wonderful quilt give-away over at Pigtails and Snails! It is absolutely to die for and she's giving it away! WOW!
Head on over there and enter to win!

Oct 13, 2008

Abortion and Murder

It totally amazes me how anyone especially a mother could vote for a man like Barack Hussein Obama who believes in taking the life of an innocent child born or unborn.
Here are two videos floating around that I thought you should see.

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Jeremiah 1:5





So that I share both sides, this is what Barack Hussein Obama had to say in response:


I'm voting ANTI-CHOICE, anti-choice because only the Maker of these precious little children has the right to choose!

Vote McCain and choose to save a life!

Oct 12, 2008

Happy Sweet 16

Today alone with celebrating the Lord's Day we are celebrating our oldest sons 16th birthday. I almost can't believe that my baby is now 16 years old. Actually I keep telling Cody that he's not actually 16 until tonight at 11:10.

God has been so good to us to give us 3 wonderful kids and we're happy to watch them growing and turning into young men and women for God.

So in honor of Cody's 16th birthday I'm going to give you 16 things I love about my 16 year old son.


1. I love how Cody never misses a morning that he doesn't come down stairs and hug his mom.
2. Cody spends lots of time playing with his little brother and sister.
3. Cody loves the Lord.
4. Cody Isn't ashamed of Jesus.
5. He has a very sweet spirit.
6. Finds humor in everything.
7. I never open the door for myself, he's always there for his mother.
8. He quickly does his school work and doesn't give his mother any problems at all.
9. He is honest.
10.He does a wonderful impersonation of Ernest P. Worrell.
11. He always talks to us when he needs hlep.
12. He is a homebody and loves to be with his family.
13. He has never complained about living on the mission field.
14. Cody would defend his family with his life.
15. Cody is a first class football player.
16. He is my son and I love him!

Oct 10, 2008

Create and Celebrate

Guess who's having their Create and Celebrate again? Yep, you got it, Sew Mama Sew is back out with another series of Create and Celebrate and guess who made the list??? No, not Martha Stewart, ME! Really they included me on the second post, I'm between the Jango Fett costume and the Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel quilt. I'm so excited since I simple love the Sew Mama Sew Blog and the store for that matter. Take a look-see and enjoy all of the Create and Celebrate submissions!

Oct 9, 2008

CONSTRUCTION

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

At the moment I'm moving the furniture around here at A Home Away From Home, hopefully I'll be finished before all you dear folks in the states wake up. :0)

Oct 7, 2008

Sewing for the Home Tutorials

Hey look what's going on over at Sew Mama Sew blog. There is a wonderful list of tutorials over there from all over Blogville. Take a look, who knows you may get motivated to do some sewing for your home!

Oct 5, 2008

A Little of This and That

That's about what today's post is, a little of this and that. Really I have had things to post about for ever and just haven't. I'm like Paul, I know what I should do and I don't and what I shouldn't do I do!

Life has really been a whirl-wind lately. We have been keeping busy with both the work in Varazdin and the original work in Cakovec. Seasons have changed so decorations need to change also (which I'm not complaining about one but, love the whole decorating thing). Fall is my favorite time of year, not so much in Texas since it's pretty much brown all year but here in Croatia Autumn comes in in an array of colors that just can't be described. I'm sure the fall here is similar to the north in the U.S..

I have been in the fall mood so much lately. Making nice fall foods, big pots of soup, chichen and dumplings, pot pies and tons of other warm fall favorties. Oh yea and I usually have a pot of oranges, cinnamon and cloves simmering on the back burner just for ambiance, it works too, my husband and kids love it.

I been in love lately with all the wonderful gourds around. I'm talking about every color and
shape that you could possibly imagine, they're wonderful and works of art in themselves. I read somewhere that they really keep a pretty good while, or at least the very hard ones. I decorated the church with some gourds and I sure hope they hold out until it's time to change the decorations for Christmas.
Hey if you know how long they last, please chime in and share that info. with us so we will all know too!


Last Saturday night we had a family fun night at the new church in Varazdin. How much fun was that?? We had a great turn out, around 20 folks turn out and we had way too much food, which is my biggest sin in life. I have no idea why but I always make too much food, without fail! We found a great old fashioned recipe for Popcorn balls over at Allrecipes.com and Joshua and Hannah had a ball making them. ( get it? a ball???) This is a great recipe for missionaries because it doesn't require marshmellows which are usually totally hard on the mission field.

Grandpa's Popcorn Balls

INGREDIENTS
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 1 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup water
  • salt to taste
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar (optional)
  • 5 quarts popped popcorn
DIRECTIONS
  1. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, corn syrup, butter and water. Stir and heat to hard-crack stage or 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Remove from heat, add vanilla or vinegar; mix well.
  2. Pour slowly over popped popcorn while stirring. Wait 5 minutes and shape into 3 inch round balls.
These were very good and the Croats thought they were very interesting. :0)

We were going to have bobbing for apples at the family fun night but after I did some thinking about the hygeine of the whole bobbing practice we decided against it. Have you ever watched people bob for apples? They stick their face in the water with their mouth wide open trying to catch that apple between their teeth. Most times they miss and slobber goes into the water as their mouth slips from the apple and they go for a different one. After a few people, those apples are floating in a bath of mixed saliva and who knows what germs. Eek! I know I'm a downer and all but I think I'll pass!

We also made some yummy M&M cookies, which always go over good here in Croatia. There are usually only a few varieties of goodies here, we have a kolac (kolach) which is usually a creamy layered desert then we have a Torta which is what our cakes would be considered and lastly they have keks (cakes) which are their cookies. They don't really have any drop cookies like we do with our chocolate chip and so on. Anyhow, they like all the different things I come up with, they think I'm creative and I'm not telling them any different! :0)

Anyhow, this is basically what I've been up to lately other than home schooling my kiddos which are now in the 6th, 8th and 11th grades. (I had to read over that a few times to believe it, I have no babies any more) I also noticed something yesterday as I was thinking about our oldest son Cody, he is about to be 16 and I realized he is just two years younger than I was when I was married at 18, wow time really flys just like my mother always said it would. You were right Mom!

BTW, would you please remember my mother in prayer, she's going through one of the hardest battles she's ever faced and it breaks my heart that I can't be with her. Her name is Deborah so if you do pray for her you can call her by name. TIA!

Anyhow, I'm blogging this morning as the rest of the family is at church. Actually my oldest is a sleep on the couch. He's is havng stomach cramps and some naseau so it looks like he's coming down with a virus, oh joy! And I have been sick for 3 days with some upper respiratory junk so I'm hoping I can medicate enough tonight to be able to go, I'll just have to steer clear off our yummy tottlers.

Hoping you're all having a great Lord's Day and see many come to know Him as their Saviour today.