Mary's Country Life

The Great Spending Freeze of 2011-Week 1 Update

2011-01-10T19:47:00.000-05:00

The first full week of 2011 is gone with the wind. As with most resolutions, the spending freeze was easy to keep up with during week 1.

We had done a lot of freezer cooking last weekend, so I didn't even need to buy groceries! Bonus!! I did find a great deal on pop at CVS and ended up getting six 12 packs for only $10.00 after extra bucks. Pretty good deal if you ask me!

I also spent $15.00 on a pair of clippers to cut my poor shaggy dog's hair. Whether or not that was a necessity depends on whether you ask the dog or not. All in all, it was a good week and I did a great job of saving money! Hopefully the rest of the month goes so smoothly.

Mary
Believe, Dream, Imagine ♥

Eat from the Pantry during the Great Spending Freeze

2011-01-04T09:59:00.001-05:00

January marks the first month of the Great Spending Freeze of 2011. Since I am trying my very best (I really really am trying) not to spend any money this month on anything but groceries and gas, I decided to join up with lifeasmom.com and goodcheapeats.com to take part in their January pantry challenge. I did a lot of freezer cooking on Saturday and my pantry is pretty full of pasta and canned goods, so I am confident in this month's challenge.

Here are my goals for the pantry challenge:

1. Spend no more than $50.00 per week on groceries.

2. Eat from the freezer insted of the drive through window on work days when I don't feel like cooking.

3. Spend less money on soda and drink more water.

I am going to update my progress on this blog every Monday. Stay tuned!!

Mary

Believe, Dream, Imagine ♥

My Favorite Christmas Pictures

2011-01-01T06:30:00.001-05:00

Since this is New Years Day, and it officially marks the end of the holiday season, I thought I would share with you some of my favorite pictures from Christmas.

This is the ornament that we bought on our honeymoon. It is my favorite and represents the first Christmas as husband and wife for me and Eric.

My doggie Marnie opening his Christmas presents.

My mom and dad, I bought dad the shirt and I had the apron made for my mom. They loved them!

My honey showing off his Blu-Ray player that he just couldn't stop telling me he wanted for Christmas!

I hope that your Christmas was as blessed as mine and the 2011 brings you lots of love.

Believe, Dream, Imagine ♥
Mary

Happy New Years!!!

2010-12-31T18:14:00.001-05:00

Have a Happy Happy New Year!

May your year be full of happiness, and all of your resolutions be lasting.

Believe, Dream, Imagine ♥
Mary

Party Like its 1999!!

2010-12-30T15:39:00.001-05:00

New Years Eve is quickly approaching, as in...It's TOMORROW!
For the first time that I can remember since we've been married (has it been six years already?), me and Eric actually both have New Years Eve off of work. Forget the fact that I have to drag myself out of bed at 5:30a.m. on New Years day to go to work, I'm gonna party like its 1999!! By partying, I mean we are gonna stay home and play Michael Jackson on the Wii and eat some great food while waiting for the ball to drop.

There are a few things I plan on making and I thought I would share with my dear readers...if there is anyone out there ;-)

Buffalo Chicken Dip

This is a favorite at my house, it is tangy and a little spicy and absolutely delicious on a Frito's Scoop.

Recipe:
2 cans chunk chicken (or 3 breasts of chicken shredded)
1 8oz. Package Cream Cheese
1 Package Sharp Cheddar Cheese

3/4 cup Ranch Salad Dressing

1/2 cup (more or less to taste) Hot Sauce.

Mix all of the ingredients and pour into a small crock pot. Turn the crock pot on high and cook until bubbling. Once is starts bubbling, I turn it down to low to keep the cheese dip hot for hours. Serve with Frito's Scoops or your favorite tortilla chip.

Yummy Little Smokies
These delicious little things make my heart go pitter patter.

Recipe:

1 (18 ounce) bottle barbeque sauce
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbs. Grape Jelly
1/3 cup chopped onion
2 (16 ounce) packages little wieners

Mix all sauce ingredients in a small crock pot. Add the little weiners and cook until all warm and yummy or until you cant wait any longer to eat them. Enjoy :-)

I plan on posting some more great information about my New Years plans and the Great Spending Freeze of 2011! Until then, have a safe and happy new year!

Believe, Dream, Imagine ♥
Mary

Merry Day After Christmas

2010-12-26T07:53:00.001-05:00

Enjoy your day after Christmas. Be Thankful for what you have and laugh a little at this poem. I sure did!

Twas the Day After Christmas

Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the house,

Every creature was hurting -- even the mouse.

The toys were all broken, their batteries dead;
Santa passed out, with some ice on his head.

Wrapping and ribbons just covered the floor, while
Upstairs the family continued to snore.

And I in my T-shirt, new Reeboks and jeans,
Went into the kitchen and started to clean.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the sink to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the curtains, and threw up the sash.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a little white truck, with an oversized mirror.

The driver was smiling, so lively and grand;
The patch on his jacket said "U.S. POSTMAN."

With a handful of bills, he grinned like a fox
Then quickly he stuffed them into our mailbox.

Bill after bill, after bill, they still came.
Whistling and shouting he called them by name:

"Now Dillard's, now Broadway's, now Penny's and Sears
Here's Levitz's and Target's and Mervyn's--all here!!

To the tip or your limit, every store, every mall,
Now chargeaway-chargeaway-chargeaway all!"

He whooped and he whistled as he finished his work.
He filled up the box, and then turned with a jerk.

He sprang to his truck and he drove down the road,
Driving much faster with just half a load.

Then I heard him exclaim with great holiday cheer,
"ENJOY WHAT YOU GOT ... YOU'LL BE PAYING ALL YEAR!"

Author Unknown

Believe, Dream, Imagine ♥
Mary

National Coupon Month!

2010-09-09T12:59:00.000-04:00

September is National Coupon Month. Boy does that make me a happy camper! I love coupons almost as much as my mascara. I wanted to share some of my favorite coupon sites and also some places to receive great advice on saving money.

http://www.coupons.com/ The ultimate place for printable coupons. Install the coupon printer and in 5 minutes you are ready to save save save.
http://www.redplum.com/ Click, print, save. Easy Greasy.
http://www.cellfire.com/ You dont even need a printer, just load these directy onto your shoppers rewards card.
http://www.shortcuts.com/ Same as above. Load and save.

http://www.moneysavingmom.com/ This website is a great place to find store match ups and awesome information about how to save money.
http://www.lifeasmom.com/ I visit regularly and enjoy the grocery geek series very much!
http://www.southernsavers.com/ Learn how to become a true saver.

Enjoy the list, feel free to add your own money saving websites in the comments section.

Believe, Dream, Imagine ♥

Normal Day

2010-08-22T18:53:00.000-04:00

Normal Day

let me be aware of the treasure you are.

Let me learn from you,

love you,

bless you before you depart.

Let me not pass you by

in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.

Let me hold you while I may,

for it may not always be so.

One day I shall dig my nails into the earth,

or bury my face in the pillow,

or stretch myself taut,

or raise my hands to the sky and want,

more than all the world,

your return.

-Mary Jean Iron

Serenity

2010-08-22T14:38:00.004-04:00

Taken at the same place as the previous picture, but later in the evening. This is my favorite picture from the trip.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

Love One Another :-)

Peace

2010-08-22T14:32:00.008-04:00

I took this picture at Alum Creek Lake State Park in Delaware, Ohio.
It was early evening and the shadows on the pond were beautiful

I Love...

2010-08-21T20:47:00.001-04:00

Thunderstorms in the afternoon
Sleeping in
Weekends spent with those that I love
The thought of being a mother
The smell of fresh cut grass

Today...I am thankful.
Love One Another :-)

Grand Times at the Ohio State Fair

2010-08-13T08:52:00.002-04:00

Yes I know, the State Fair has been over for a few days...okay, it has been like a week...but I have been busy sitting on my couch in my pajamas eating a 3 lb bag of candy this week. Now that I am finished with the bag and my jeans are a little snugger, I am ready to write about all the joy that the fair brought to me.

Lets start here with the reason that we all load our families into the car and walk around in the smothering Summer heat. FOOD! Funnel cakes, barbecue, batter dipped things on sticks, fried everything! Really, is there anything better in the world than fair food?

Upon walking by this area, I immediately began drooling in delight.

Oh thank you little piggy for supplying us with your wonderful pork products.

Mmmmm German Roasted Almonds and Jumbo Turkey Legs. Can I mix those together?

This kid made me laugh, he was so excited by the Lego City!

Being the Great Chicken Lover of Southern Ohio, I had a blast going through the enormous chicken house.

Im so jealous of this pretty hens hair. It is so beautiful and puffy without hair spray.

Another fine hair specimen.

Hello Georgeous!

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources had an awesome area that you could walk around and meet the native animals of Ohio. On display was a very antsy coyote which was housed right next to the bobcat. They had all kinds of birds and bats and even bald eagles!
I really enjoyed the butterfly house. I need to find out who their gardener is.

An attempt at "real" photography. I tried to catch this little guy in flight, but my aperture and ISO were all messed up, since I have no idea how to adjust aperture or what exposure compensation really is...this is the result I ended up with.

There is so much to explore at the Ohio State Fair. I could go on and on but I would risk boring what few readers I actually have and that would be terrible! If you are looking for a great time to be had by the whole family, pack them up and take them to the fair. Make some memories today.

The T-Shirt Says It All

2010-08-08T11:38:00.001-04:00

Since it is Sunday morning, and I'm tired, and it's been a long weekend full of no fun at all, I decided I would share with you some T-Shirt designs that make me laugh until I want to pee my pants. Most of these can be found at http://www.thelighterside.com/ .

Enjoy!!!

Its great to be a girl.

Coupon addiction, is there a rehab for that?

I would be skinny for sure.

Chocolate is what makes me tick.

I think I am somewhere in the middle.

My husband would agree.

Amen.

This Weekend in Ohio (July 30-August 2)

2010-07-30T14:04:00.000-04:00

I extended the weekend in to Monday this week, because there are some nice fairs that start on Monday, and also because I am off that day! Enjoy this weeks list.

Ohio State Parks

Friday July 30
Christmas in July @ Jackson Lake
Friday Family Fun Night @ Cleveland Lakefront
Luau Beach Party @ Headlands Beach

Saturday July 31
Christmas in July @ Jackson Lake
Campers Yard Sale @ Paint Creek
Girls Tri Too @ East Fork
Rudy & The Professionals @ Mosquito Lake
Wildcat Hollow Disc Golf Tournament @ Pike Lake

Sunday August 1
Triathlon & Duathlon @ East Fork

Please visit Ohio State Parks Website for more Information.

Fairs and Festivals

• Summit County (Tallmadge): July 24-Aug. 1
• Union County (Marysville): July 25-Aug. 1
• Senece County (Tiffin): July 25-Aug. 1
• Lucas County (Maumee): July 27-Aug. 1
• Pike County (Piketon): July 30-Aug. 7
• Preble County (Eaton): July 31-Aug. 7
• Auglaize County (Wapakoneta): Aug. 1-7
• Greene County (Xenia): Aug. 1-7
• Medina County (Medina): Aug. 2-8
• Gallia County (Gallipolis): Aug. 2-7
• Columbiana County (Lisbon): Aug. 2-8

Also the greatest fair around THE OHIO STATE FAIR is going to be going on all through the weekend and next week.

I will be heading to the State Fair this weekend and I am sure to have lots of fun pictures to ahre when I get back. Have a great weekend!

If you have any fun or exciting events that you would like me to share, please leave a comment!

A (hot) Day at the Adams County Fair

2010-07-24T16:16:00.001-04:00

Why Hello There!

I had the super enjoyable experience of visiting the Adams County Fair this past Thursday. Boy did we have a good time. This is a true country fair with plenty of fun to be had by all ages. The weather outside was humid and about 320 degrees. OK it was actually only 95, but it felt like 320 just the same.

Charlotte the pig agreed with me about the temperature. Do pigs sweat? I sweated enough for the both of us anyways.

This pig, lets call her pinky, was so hot that she had to put the cool bars of her pen in her mouth for relief. My nephew was really enjoying watching pinky in action.

These two are in love. They are best friends and destined to spend the rest of their lives together. I feel that way sometimes about my Cherry Garcia Ice Cream.

I know that I already posted this picture up above, but I shared a special bond with this little piggy. I think we both wear the same size jeans! Isn't she adorable all sprawled out and comfy with her water bottle within reach? All she has to do is turn her head (no energy expended) and she will be rewarded with a cool clean drink of fresh water.

The fair is fun! I rode the merry go round. Me and my family ate our weight in fried foods. I have lard coming out of my pores.

This cow is the most perfect cow I have ever seen. If I were to be reincarnated as a farm animal, I want to be her. Her hair was fluffy, I saw them applying something from a spray can that looked suspiciously like Aqua Net. Notice the distribution of brown to white on this girl. She is perfect!

If you didn't get a chance to experience all that the Adams County Fair has to offer this year, I would highly recommend putting it on your list of fun summer things to do next year. You will definitely not be disappointed.

This Weekend in Ohio (July 23-25)

2010-07-21T12:04:00.000-04:00

Ohio State Parks

Christmas in July @ Findley, Maumee Bay, Rocky Fork, East Fork, West Branch, Deer Creek
Lake Festival @ Grand Lake St. Mary’s
Butterfly Release @ Kizer Lake
Friday Family Fun Night @ Cleveland Lakefront
July Night Haunt @ Malabar Farm
Summer Fest @ Portage Lakes
Youth Fishing Derby (Saturday only)@ Jackson Lake
Canning Workshop (Sunday only)@Caesar Creek

Please visit the Ohio State Parks Website for all the information on these events.
Ohio State Parks

Celina, Lake Festival
Main Street & Lake Shore Dr. Celina, OH
More info

Jazz and Rib Festival

Downtown Columbus Riverfront
Columbus, OH
More info

Brad Paisley

Blosson Music Center
Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Island Fest

Division Street Kelley’s Island, OH

Fairs

Franklin County Fair July 17-24
Crawford County Fair July 18- 24
Fayette County Fair July 19-24
Jackson County Fail July 19-24
Ottowa County Fair July 19-25
Warren County Fair July 19-24
Carroll County Fair July 20-25
Clark County Fair July 23-30
Knox County Fair July 24-31
Summit County Fair July 24-August 1

This weekend looks like a great weekend to get out and enjoy all that Ohio has to offer. Fair season is in full swing and theres plenty going on Ohio State Parks. Get off your butt and enjoy the weekend at one of these fabulous events!!

*If there is an something going on in your neck of the woods that you would like me to mention , or a festival that I simply must attend, please feel free to leave a comment.

Whats Growing This Week?

2010-07-20T00:06:00.000-04:00

This week at my house, the vegetables are ripening! What an awesome time to have a garden.

This is what I collected from the garden this week

This green bean is as big as a banana. I really don't think that it is legal for a green bean to be that large in the state of Ohio. I'll have to check the charter.

Vanilla Ice Cream

2010-07-19T17:45:00.000-04:00

Is there anything better than ice cream in the summer? I think not. This ice cream is a recipe that I have tweaked from several of my favorite ice cream recipes. It is so creamy and yummy and delicous that you will want to eat it on everything. Bologna and ice cream sandwich anyone?

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups Half and Half

1 1/2 cups Heavy Whipping Cream

4 Egg Yolks

1 Cup Sugar

2-3 Tbs. Vanilla Extract (dependent on your love of vanilla)

In a medium sauce pan combine your half and half with the sugar. Turn your stove onto low heat and whisk the two ingredients together. Be careful not to scorch the half and half.

Once the half and half is warm, add the vanilla. I use 3 Tablespoons, this gives the ice cream a rich vanilla taste. If you want a more subtle vanilla taste, adjust the amount of vanilla you add. Stir the mixture and continue to simmer over low heat.

While the mixture is simmering, place the 4 egg yolks into a mixing bowl. Beat the egg yolks with an electric mixer until they are light and fluffy and look like clouds from heaven.

Once you have your fluffy deliciousness all whipped up, it is time to temper the eggs.

To your beaten eggs, drizzle a small amount of the hot half and half/sugar mixture into the eggs. You want to do this very slowly a few tablespoons at a time and make sure that you whisk constantly. We temper the eggs so that they do not turn into cooked scrambled eggs when we add them to the heat.

Continue to whisk in about 1 cup of the warm mixture. Once the egg mixture is warm, you can add it to the half and half mixture that is simmering on the stove. Stir constantly while adding the eggs.

Continue to simmer for 10-15 minutes on low heat until your creamy yummy mix thickens up. It will have the consistency of a runny custard when it is ready. It may take more or less time depending on the heat of your stove.

In a clean bowl, pour the 1 1/2 cups of heavy cream. Remove the half and half and egg mixture from the stovetop and combine it with the heavy cream. Stir together until it is all mixed up and full of deliciousness. Take a deep breath, smell the aroma of fresh vanilla ice cream mix and be in heaven for a moment.

Cool the mixture down in your refrigerator for an hour or two, then add it to your ice cream maker. Once it is finished in the ice cream maker, it will be soft serve-like. If you cant help yourself, scoop some out and eat it immediately. If you are patient, pop it in the freezer overnight and eat it for breakfast! It is really much tastier when it is good and frozen. Serve the ice cream with your very favorite cobbler, cake or just some yummy fried apples like me!

Delicious homemade ice cream, its really not that hard!

Feed Us!

2010-07-19T15:52:00.002-04:00

This Weekend in Ohio (July 16-18)

2010-07-16T17:19:00.005-04:00

In Ohio State Parks
Christmas in July @ Grand Lake St. Mary's, Dillon, Hueston Woods and Cowan Lake State Parks (campsite decorating, gift exchange, crafts, caroling, movies and treats from Santa!)
Kite Flyers Weekend @ Maumee Bay
Cast Iron Cooking @ Cowan Lake
Ice Cream Social @ Harrison Lake
Party at the Beach @ Indian Lake
Railroad Day Rendezvous @ Pike Lake
The Santa Fe Band @ Mosquito Lake
Zaleski Flint Knap-In @ Lake Hope
Mountain Bike Race @ Findlay
Please visit the Ohio State Parks website for more information on these events.
Ohio State Parks Website

Miami Valley Steam Threshers Association
Pastime Park, US 42 N.
July 15 - 18, 2010
Info Here

Clinton County Fair
Wilmington, Ohio
Daily gate entry, $6.00
Lawrence County Fair
Proctorville, Ohio
Madison County Fair
London, Ohio
Logan County Fair
Bellfontaine, Ohio

AWHA Regional Championship Show
Ohio Expo Center
More info

Washboard Music Festival
Logan, Ohio
More info

Festival of the Fish
Vermillion, Ohio
More info

Avon Heritage Duct Tape Festival
Avon Heritage Duct Tape Festival
More info

For all the dairy lovers out there, remember that this Friday (July 18) is National Ice Cream Day! Make sure to visit your neighborhood ice cream parlor for some summer refreshment.
* If you have an event going on around Ohio this week or in the future that you would like me to share, or if you know of something cool going on that I simply must attend, please leave a comment.

Memorial Day

2010-05-29T15:43:00.000-04:00

Have A GREAT Memorial Day Weekend. Be Safe and make sure you dance every chance you get!

Fun Filled Friday, Chicken Style!!

2010-05-08T00:39:00.002-04:00

Today is Friday, do you know what that means? It's time for another super edition of Fun Filled Friday!

As you may or may not know, about a month ago I got some baby chickens. I would like to introduce to the world Daffodil, Daisy and Petunia. Why didn't anyone tell me that chickens grow so fast?

A few short weeks ago, these cute little babies fit in the palm of my hand. Let me just take a moment to weep a few tears at how quickly my babies have grown up. *Sob sniff sniff cry snot*...OK, Im done now.

This is Petunia, she is different than the other 2 chickens. I am not aware of chicken varieties, but I think she is a Cornish Hen. A miniature chicken if you will. Today while I was taking a shower, Petunia decided to break out of the aquarium I have been keeping the little sweeties in while they grow. Petunia landed on the toilet seat...and then she pooped in the toilet. Yes that IS chicken poop in my toilet. Has anyone else ever had a potty trained chicken? If so, I would love to hear about it.

My dad has spent the better part of three days working on this Chicken Coop. I have been helping him with it and I even got a few injuries today. Injuries on fun filled friday, how silly. I managed to smash not one, but two of my fingers while nailing the roof on this place This is not just a regular old chicken coop either, it is the Hilton of chicken coops. I think the girls will be very happy in here. They spent a few hours inside this afternoon and enjoyed it thoroughly. The coop should be completely finished tomorrow and ready for move in day. I believe we will have a small party for the chickens complete with refreshments like crickets and cracked corn. I might even make some cupcakes for the humans! Come to the party! It will be fun.

That is all I have for this week's edition of Fun Filled Friday! It was a whole day of chicken coop building but it will definitely pay off when my little cuties start laying those yummy eggs.

Stay tuned for more infomation!

~Mary

A Sunny Day in Columbus

2010-05-01T15:39:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of visiting Columbus with my husband on a beautiful spring day. Hubby and I are often in Columbus, and I am amazed at how much stuff there is to do so close to home. After picking the husband up after another long week of truck driving, we set off to explore the city. Did I mention how beautiful the weather was? It was literally a day out of a story book being sunny, warm and breezy.

Our first stop of the day was a picnic at the Columbus Park of Roses. This place is beautiful. USA Today newspaper calls it “one of the largest and most celebrated municipal rose gardens in the United States.” The park is huge at 13 acres and includes several different gardens with all kinds of flowers, herbs, bushes, trees and of course roses! Whetstone Park which offers plenty of shady places for recreation of every kind is a truly awesome place to take the family for an afternoon or a whole day of fun. The best part is that it doesn’t cost a penny to enjoy everything that this great park has to offer.

The next stop for the day was the North Market located on North High Street. The North Market has been around since 1876. When first opened, it was located in the north end graveyard! Since then it has been hosted at a few other locations until it found its permanent home at its current location. In addition to a great selection of outstanding local food vendors, the market also offers a Farmers’ Market on Saturday and Sundays are home to the Artisan Sunday’s Handcrafted Market. The market is a great place to pick up anything you need to complete your dinner. From artichoke hearts to chicken feet and anything in between, you can probably find it at the North Market.

While at the market, I picked up the inaugural issue of Edible Columbus magazine. You can pick up the digital edition free of charge by visiting http://www.ediblecommunities.com/columbus/ I was very impressed with this magazine; it has so much useful information about eating locally. Kudos to the Editor Tricia Wheeler who trained at the French Culinary Institute in New York, this girl knows her food! There was one article in particular at the end of the magazine regarding a lady who had such high ambitions of raising an amazing organic garden in her first year of gardening, only to be let down by the weevils and rodents who snacked on her tender tomatoes and precious peppers. The article shows us that we are not alone when the beetles eat our zucchinis and that we should continue trying to garden even if we don’t have the most perfect plants.

My day in Columbus really was exciting and full of fun. I can’t wait until the next scheduled service on hubby’s truck so we can do some more exploring in Columbus!

Paper Princess

2010-04-27T20:48:00.001-04:00

Easy Bratwurst Burgers

2010-04-18T20:54:00.001-04:00

I was making bratwurst the other day for dinner, and the thought crossed my mind that they would make one excellent burger. I came up with this recipe that is super easy and makes some yummy burgers.

1 Package Bratwurst- your favorite flavor
1/2 lb. Ground Beef
1/2 tsp. Garlic
1/4 tsp. Parsley
1/4 tsp. Seasoning Salt
2 Tbs. Finely chopped onion

1. Remove the Bratwurst from the casing. It is easiest to do this using a sharp knife and cutting along the side.

2. Place Bratwurst in a large bowl with the other ingredients.
3. Mix all ingredients together and form into patties using about 1/2 cup of mixture.

4. Grill until cooked through or no longer pink.

5. Serve on your favorite hamburger rolls and top with your favorite hamburger toppings.
I like the onion kayser rolls with bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion and mustard for a fantastic burger!

A Big Goodbye to the Ultimate Blog Party 2010!!!

2010-04-18T16:06:00.001-04:00

I met some amazing ladies (and a few pretty cool dudes) during the Ultimate Blog Party this year. I can’t believe it went by so fast. There was so much to learn and discover and I’m so glad I could be a part of it. I have lots of fun blogs to visit still and I am going to be checking the mclinky from UBP10 all year long. Here are three of my favorites, I decided to just pick in random order since there were too many to pick from.

http://musingsofamanicmama.blogspot.com/ Can you say “Oh my George”? Alisha is raising THREE boys and wrangling a husband in her spare time. This girl is seriously surrounded by testosterone. Her little maniacs are just too cute and always up to some antics. This blog is definitely a great mom blog and you can find lots of useful information and fun books to read. Plus, I think Alisha is almost as crazy about the Pioneer Woman as I am.

http://www.onjustacoupleacres.blogspot.com/ It is truly amazing what this woman does with a few acres of land. She raises chickens and pigs and children. She grows vegetables and herbs and flowers and children. She home schools, she cooks…really, this woman is Supermom (I bet she even sews her own cape). This is definitely a quality blog and worth reading for all of us girls with not-so-green thumbs.

http://whodoesntlovecoupons.blogspot.com/ This site is definitely a great source for saving money. It is packed with new deals and coupon match ups every single day. There are tons of free samples with easy links and great explanations for how to get stuff. Check it out for all of your couponing needs!

I am sad to see the UBP 10 come to a close, but am blessed to have had the opportunity to spend it with so many great people. A big thank you goes out to those who checked out my blog and decided to follow me on this crazy adventure. A giant huge extravagant THANK YOU goes out to http://www.5minutesformom.com/ for hosting this crazy party for us all. I have no idea how 2 women could pull off such a huge event, but I am super glad that you did it. Thanks to happypandababy for taking care of all the prizes and thanks to all those who contributed prizes. I hope to see you all throughout the rest of the year and I can't wait for UBP11 for more blogging fun!!!

~Mary

A Backyard Stroll

2010-04-14T23:05:00.000-04:00

This evening, I took a little stroll in my yard to see what I could see. There were lots of flowers and buds of every kind popping up all over the place.

I have a huge lilac bush full of these beautiful little purple flowers in the front yard. It smells so amazing, very sweet and floral. I love when the wind blows the scent in through my front window.

This neat ivy is growing beside my flower bed. I didn't plant it and I'm pretty sure it is just a weed, but it is pretty and I like it so I have just been trying to keep it contained to a small area instead of mowing it down.

I found these peonies growing right there in the grass by the fire pit. This part of the yard hasn't been mowed yet since my riding mower belt decided that it was tired of working and snapped the other day when we were cutting the grass.

This Azaela Bush is one of the prettiest spots in my front yard. The feeder is empty, but usually it is full and there are all kinds of little chickadees and other small birds peeping and eating. The cardinals also love to perch in this bush, it is about 8 feet tall!!!

Here are some more "weeds" that I think are just beautiful. The little yello flowers are so cute and I always see a lot of honeybees flitting on them in the summer.

I forgot what these pretty bulb plants are called, but this is the first year that they have flowers growing on them! So exciting, I didn't kill something!

After my walk, I took a few of the pretty flowers that I picked up along the way, and made myself a pretty flower arrangement for my living room. It smells so good and makes me happy everytime I look at it. I love Spring!

~Mary

Is it vacation time yet?

2010-04-12T20:49:00.003-04:00

After a fun filled weekend of chicken nabbing and garden building (not to mention window breaking and sunburn getting), it is back to work for me. I am working for the next 3 days, 12 hour shifts each day. But I was just sitting here at work in between chaos thinking about vacation.

Vacation for my family is probably a little different than for most families. Vacation is the one time each year that me and my husband actually get to see each other for more than 2 days at a time. If you have read my other posts, you know that my husband is a truck driver and is away for long periods of time each week.

This year, we are going to take a closer to home vacation due to the econimic crisis that is ongoing in my neck of the woods. We will be visiting A few islands in Lake Erie off the shore of our great state of Ohio. It really is quite easy to find a nice vacation that doesn't cost a fortune close to home if you are creative. We will be camping out at the campgrounds located on each island. Sure a nice air conditioned hotel would be nice, but a lakefront campsite with a cool little tent/cabin contraption isnt bad either. I thought I would share with you, my faithful readers (all 3 of you), some interesting things about the places we will be visiting this June. So grab a seat on the boat and lets begin our adventure into the Lake Erie Islands!!!

Put In Bay is the most popular of the Lake Erie Islands. It is also known as South Bass Island. It is accessible only by boat, ferry or plane. Put-in-Bay has been a summer resort for more than 100 years. Today Put-in-Bay is a vibrant tourist resort complete with bars, hotels, boating, fishing, a monument, caves and much more. My favorite way to get around the island is by golf cart. There are several rental places when you get off the ferry that offer bikes, golf carts or scooters, they even have their own taxi on this little island. There is lots to eat and a nice state park where you can camp and do other water activities. Put In Bay is a pretty exciting island with a lot of nightlife.

Kelley's Island is a more serene peaceful island. It is the largest island in the western basin on Lake Erie. It is home to a very impressive site of some Glacial Grooves. This island is full of beautiful lakeside houses and also has a nice state park with camping. There are lots of outdoor activities and of course, the best part is the Golf Carts!

There are lots of other cool places to visit at Lake Erie. One of my favorites is Cheesehaven. It is a giant store filled with every kind of cheese and smoked meat imagineable.

The more I dream about it, the more excited I get about the getaway that we have planned for the Lake Erie Islands this summer. Stay tuned for more information!

~Mary

You can build a Raised Bed Vegetable Garden

2010-04-12T01:25:00.000-04:00

I have been thinking for a while about building a raised vegetable garden. After last year, when my garden would hardly grow due to all the rocks and clayeyness (definitely not a word), I decided that I would elevate and use some bagged dirt. I found out that it is really not so hard to build a raised bed. The hardest part was fitting all the wood into our little Explorer Sport SUV. But we managed, and after breaking the drivers side window (not related to the wood) and patching it up with some super fancy and ultra cool plastic sheeting that makes lots of noise in the wind, we were started on our garden. Here is a tutorial-a-la-Mary, filled with non-technical terms and lots of thingies.

Supplies

A toolbox filled with all kinds of items, except the ones you actually need.
*A Drill

*8 2"x4"x8' pieces of lumber

*8 Fasteners (see picture of flat silver things with holes)

* 2 packages of Corner Braces (4 in each)

* A box of long wood screws (3")

* The Sunday Paper

* Love

The first thing that we did was take the lumber 2x4's and lay them out on the picnic tabe to make sure they were all mostly straight.

Next we took 2 boards and drilled pilot holes that matched the holes on the fasteners.

Next we took 1 fastener and put 2 boards together so that the sides will be 8" high.

The picture below is how the boards will look when all the holes are drilled and the sides are fastened.

Repeat that step with all of your boards. Ta Daa!!! You have walls! Give yourself a pat on the back and get a drink of lemonade.

Next we fastened all of the boards together in a square using the Corner braces. Be sure to brace both the top and the bottom of the wood so that the box will not move.

Fasten all those sides together and you have a box! Not just any ordinary box but a garden box. One that you can fill with dirt and compost and plants and love.

One last thing that I did tonight. I filled the box with newspapers, after I removed all of the coupons of course (Sunday papers are so thick and awesome). After I got the whole thing covered, I wet the newspaper with the hose to keep it in place. I also had my cute little husband throw the bags of dirt still in the plastic on top of the papers to keep them from shifting. The newspapers will kill the grass underneath and keep any new weeds from forming. Also, you don't even have to remove the newspaper when you add the dirt. I saw on a garden website (I have seen so many I can't remember which one) that newspaper makes great compost. You just put your dirt right on top.

This really was an easy project as far a wooden things go. I am not handy at all, but me and my husband were able to whip this up in just a hour or two. I am excited about my new garden. Rest assured, I will be blogging about the funness of this garden all season long.

Stay Tuned!!

~Mary

FUN FILLED FRIDAY!!! Party Edition

2010-04-10T00:30:00.003-04:00

Happy Friday Friends! This week is the Party Edition of Fun Filled Friday!!!

This week we are partying like rock stars at the Ultimate Blog Party 2010 sponsored by http://www.5minutesformom.com/!! Make sure you stop by and add your blog to the list so that you can get lots of partygoers to visit you. This is sure to be a fun filled week of blogginess.

This Weeks Recap
This was the very first week of Mary's Country Life and I think I will call it a success. The blog had over 150 views in the first week! A big thanks goes out to each and every one of you who stopped by to give me some words of encouragement and read my crazy musings into this country life.

This week we made some fantastic food including:
Yummy Yummy Sticky Buns for breakfast on Easter Sunday, Sizzlin Salsa sure to please those spicy taste buds and Easy Fiesta Potatoes, the perfect quick and easy side dish to go with any meal.

I spent some time talking about my first ever herb garden, and wrote a very silly letter to my poor neglected kitchen. This week was all about getting to know the blog and figuring out how things work. I am super excited to see what the weekend holds and how next week's blogging will go. It is sure to be full of fun, especially with the Ultimate Blog Party 2010 going on!

My Fun Filled Friday
This evening my parents came out and we had a nice little bonfire here on my property.

My dad tending the fire.

We had a lot of fun sitting around talking and playing with the silly cats. My cats do the funniest things sometimes, like walking down the runway for a big cat fashion show.

The cats sure are silly, but I love them to pieces!

This weekend my husband is coming home from another long week on the road (did I mention he is a trucker?), and we are going to the swap meet here in my town. The swap meet is a HUGE flea market and is held in the fairgrounds each spring and fall. I plan on buying some hens that lay eggs, I had a chicken when I was a little girl and I loved it. If anyone has any good chicken raising tips please do let me know.

That is all there is to report on this Fun Filled Friday! Please enjoy your weekend and dont forget to laugh and have fun! Laughter really does make the world a better place.

~Mary

Easy Fiesta Potatoes

2010-04-09T21:52:00.001-04:00

Since today is FUN FILLED FRIDAY and we are beginning the Ultimate Blog Party 2010, I thought I would share a recipe that is super easy to make while still being fun and festive.

Fiesta Potatoes Ingredients

1 can of Whole Peeled Potatoes

1/4 of 1 Medium Onion

1 T. Butter

1 T. Chili Powder

1 tsp. Garlic Powder

A Zip and Steam bag from Ziploc
Sour Cream (Optional)
Shredded Cheddar Cheese (Optional)

1. Chop the potatoes into quarters (the smaller ones can be cut in half).
2. Add all ingredients to the Zip and Steam Bag. A medium sized bag works fine for this dish.
3. Jiggle the bag around a little bit to make sure that all of the potatoes are covered.
4. Pop the bag into the microwave for 5 minutes. The bag will be hot and steamy so be careful when you remove it.
5. Serve on a pretty platter topped with Cheddar Cheese and Sour Cream (Optional).

Pretty easy huh? And they taste fantastic!

Fun Filled Friday is coming to Mary's Country Life!!

2010-04-09T14:54:00.001-04:00

I have seen a lot of blogs that dedicate each day of the week to a theme. I am a busy working woman and am not always able to blog every day. But I did want to try to dedicate at least one day a week to something, so I came up with FUN FILLED FRIDAY. This will be a place where we can share all things fun for the week. It will be a kind of summary of what I blogged about for the week and what is coming up for the weekend. We could all use a little more fun in our lives so lets feel free to let loose, put on our silly glasses and funny hats and fill our day with FUN!!!

Welcome to my friends from the Ultimate Blog Party 2010!!

2010-04-09T00:51:00.001-04:00

Hi Ya'll I'm Mary!

I am so excited to be a part of Ultimate Blog Party 2010. My blog is a place for me to share the joys and frustrations of being a young lady living in the country with my cute husband.

I wasn't always so excited about living in the country. In fact, not too long ago, I thought about buying a house in the city and leaving the stresses of endless grass cutting and bug busting and rodent deterring behind forever. As I was looking in town for houses, I realized just how much I really do like living in the country. There is a peacefulness and serenity that comes from havng a rippling stream in your backyard. At that point I went from reluctant wannabe city dweller to experimental country girl. I have only begun to embrace the country lifestyle and I will blog all of my trials and tribulations for my readers to share in. I am a pretty funny person and always try to inject humor into my day to day life. Laughter really is great for the soul!

I hope that you enjoy reading my experiences as I try to tackle this life away from the big city! To (mis)Quote the wise and witty author Dr. Seuss,
"Oh the places we will go!"

♥ Mary

[USC 61, USC 44, USC 39, 112, 108, 88, 79 Prize List]

Sizzlin Salsa

2010-04-08T19:22:00.001-04:00

In celebration of the start of my herb garden, I thought I would post my favorite fresh salsa recipe. This recipe is SUPER SIMPLE and tastes awesome. You can add any kind of pepper that you like, the hotter the pepper the hotter the salsa!!

The Ingredients
3 med. tomatoes (I like roma for this, they are nice and strong) chopped

3/4 c. chopped onion
1/2 c. chopped green bell pepper
1/4 c. chopped yellow bell pepper
1/2 c. chopped fresh cilantro
1 clove garlic
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tbsp. lime juice
1-2 jalapeno peppers(depends on how hot you want it)seeded and diced

In small non-metal bowl, combine all ingredients.
Mix well.
Cover; refrigerate 1 to 2 hours to blend flavors.
Store covered in refrigerator up to 5 days.

Makes: 3 1/2 cups.

Oh you dirty dirty little kitchen!!

2010-04-08T16:05:00.000-04:00

Oh kitchen, how I have neglected you. I am so sorry for mistreating you and stuffing your cute little cabinets full of unwanted little things that I don't need "right now." How was I to know that I would never find the lids to those 25 tupperware bowls that were crammed into that tiny little cabinet? I had no idea that spices went bad after just 2 years, I would have thrown them away if I would have known the pain that they caused your poor little spice rack self. I know it is just me and my husband, but I am just positive that we need 15 dinner plates and a whole pile of bowls. Also, that silverware drawer has to have at least 30 forks and 30 spoons or I am simply unprepared for mass food disaster!
Please forgive me for splattering all that grease on the range hood while frying some of my (delicious) chicken. I can always clean the grease and grime tomorrow right? That chicken sure did taste good though.
Cleaning the garbage can? Why would I clean a garbage can? It holds garbage. Oh you poor plastic garbage can with paper and liquid stuck to your bottom. I always put a bag in you, how was I to know that on the inside you were a mess? I didn't take the time to clean your lid the way I should.
My old faithful refrigerator. I love you dearly, you keep my lettuce so crisp and my tomatoes red and plump. Whenever my throat is aching for a cold drink, you are always there to help me in my moment of need. Because of you I am able to prepare wonderful dinners for my little family. I am so sorry that I let you down and neglected you the way I did. I let those cucumbers turn into mush in that bottom crisper drawer. I am so sorry that they spilled icky gooey green stuff all over your pretty little white bottom. I had no idea that American Cheese had an expiration date. It got very sticky and Im sure it hurt when I pried that stuck on cheese off of your thin plastic shelf.
Oh little kitchen of mine, I promise to scrub you up good as new. I will perform a miracle cleansing and you will be looking good and feeling great. Don't give up on me dear kitchen, I will scrub you clean with every ounce of fight I have left in me. I promise I won't let you down.
Now where did I put that bleach...

To grow or not to grow... That is the question.

2010-04-07T21:34:00.001-04:00

OK I will admit it. I just started Mary's Country Life blog recently. Why did I start it recently you ask? Well, After 4 years of "grudgingly" living in the country and "dealing with" the day to day grind of pulling weeds and mowing grass and trying to make things live in my icky rocky clayey (is that a word?) soil, I have decided to embrace country life.
My first real endeavor into the life of a country girl came this week when I purchased my very first herb seeds. I keep hearing about how easy it is to grow herbs, and I love love love to cook. I thought I would share some of what I learned about herbs with you and hopefully you can help me out with any tips or tricks that you might have to grow super herbs!!!

Cool Herb Benefits
♥ Some herbs attract beneficial insects to the garden, reducing the need for insecticides.
♥ Most herbs can be grown from seed or by transplant and can be used fresh or dried.

♥ Herbs add variety, beauty and fragrance to your garden.

In some cute little terra cotta flowerpots that I found on clearance I planted:

Cilantro

Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) is an annual herb that grows in sun or partial shade from seed. The entire plant can be eaten and is used in stews, sauces, meat dishes and soups. The seeds, also known as coriander, are frequently used in Indian cooking. I love love love Cilantro in Salsa. Fresh garden salsa is one of my most favorite dishes of all time. Do you have any good tips for growing cilantro? I would love to know them.

Chives

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are a perennial herb that grows in sun or partial shade to a height of 12 inches. The plant has a grassy appearance and lavender flowers that can be eaten. The leaves are also edible and are used to flavor soups, salads, butters and dips. They are a member of the onion family. My favorite use for chives is a yummy sour cream and chive baked potato. Anyone have a good chive recipe they would like to share?

Parsley

Parsley is a member of the Umbelliferae family, which also includes celery, carrots,dill, cilantro, caraway, cumin, and the poisonous hemlock. I love parsley in all kinds of italian dishes. It adds a great flavor. Do you have any dishes that you love parsley in?

So this is the start of my little herb garden. I plan on expanding it and even building a raised bed to house some vegetables in later on in the spring. Hopefully, this garden thing will work out OK. Cross your fingers (better cross those toes too, I do NOT have a green thumb)!!!

Spring has sprung and dust bunnies have multiplied!!

2010-04-05T20:31:00.001-04:00

Its that time of year that we all love. The time when the dust bunnies and pollen begin to blow gently in the breezes that blow in through our freshly opened windows that have been tightly closed all winter. It is officially time to clean up some of the clutter that has been bogging us down all winter and make the old homestead look all nice and pretty for the spring. You simply cannot put out fresh flowers on top of a dusty table, the flowers will sneeze!! In celebration of my joining moneysavingmom.com on her quest to clear the clutter, and the launch of my brand new blog "Mary's Country Life" I decided to give away a little something to help my readers (do I really have any readers?) make their house squeaky clean.
Sooooo...without further ado, I am going to give away this WowGreen Starter kit:

The kit includes everything you need to spruce up your abode while keeping the planet safe using all natural ingredients. It has the following things in trial size:

Window Cleaner
All Purpose Cleaner
Laundry Detergent
Carpet Cleaner
Stain Stick
This kit is sure to help you in your adventures against dirt and grime.

To Enter, just leave a comment with your name, e-mail address, and if you plan on doing any spring cleaning this year. Thanks for entering and good luck!!

~Mary

Yummy Yummy Sticky Buns

2010-04-04T19:31:00.000-04:00

I decided to take some of my giant stock of pillsbury biscuits that I got when things were on sale and make some yummy Apple Pecan Cinnamon sticky buns for breakfast this fine Easter Morning. They were absolutely DIVINE! So rich and wonderful and they are a snap to prepare.

I promise next time I will take pictures, but they flew out of the pan so fast this morning that I didnt even have time to turn the camera on.
Here is the recipe if you would like to try them for your family.

Sticky Buns
1 Can Biscuit dough
1 Granny Smith Apple diced into small cubes
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 T butter (The stick kind is less messy)
1/4 cup brown sugar
Cinnamon

Icing
1 cup powdered sugar
1 Tablespoon water
Dash of vanilla (optional)

Preheat the oven according to the directions on the biscuit container. In the bottom of a muffin pan, place a little of each of the apples and pecans and 1/4 T. butter (cut your stick butter into small cubes about the same size as the apples and put a few cubes in each tin). Sprinkle a little powdered sugar and cinnamon over the apples and pecans. Place a piece of the biscuit dough (I use the precut dough and just place one cut biscuit in each tin, but you can use your grandmother's aunts favorite biscuit recipe if you prefer) on top of the ingredients already in the tin. Now repeat for the rest of the biscuits. Place the entire yummy concoction into the oven and bake according to the directions on your dough. I like to add an extra minute or two to give the yumminess time to really cook well.

While the deliciousness is baking, mix the ingredients for the icing in a bowl, you can use more or less water but you want this kind of runny so it will pour all over your sticky yummies.

When the sticky buns are cooked to perfection flip the whole cupcake pan over and shake to remove the ooey gooey buns from their bindings. The apples and pecans should be on the top at this point. Now take your sugary sweetness (read as icing) and drizzle that all over the top of the yummy yeasty things (read as biscuits). Serve them on a pretty platter, if you can get that far with them.