Well, my husband got me an Amazon Kindle for Christmas!  For those of you who’ve never heard of it, it’s basically an electronic book reader. You can download books in seconds (it works through Sprint cell towers) and read them with ease!  (It’s easier to hold than a book!)  For homeschoolers, it’s a dream come true!  I’ve found some beautiful old books online that are free! Many of the classics like Pride and Prejudice and Anne of Greene Gables are free as well.  (My daughter did buy an old Nancy Drew book yesterday for $2.)  If you want recent books, you go to Amazon and buy them for up to $10 if they are available.  (If not available, you click a button telling them to please make it available.)

In addition, it’s also a great way to keep hundreds of books in something thinner than a small book!  (Are there any other homeschoolers out there that feel like their house is being overrun by books?)  I read somewhere that it’s one of Oprah’s favorite things.  Hmmm…. I can see why.

Okay, anyone got any healthy way to prevent ticks?  There’s something about our city being so near the Everglades and far west that we have problems with ticks!  At least that’s what the vet says, but do our neighbors have them?  No.  Does anyone in our neighborhood?  No.  I’ve talked to a lot of people and I’ve decided that a truck load of vermin come to our yard at night and have parties and leave their parasites behind! (I picture the movie “Over the Hedge”.)

I’ve been trying to look at the bright side, at least our dog is white.  I can usually see them and get them off of her.  Finally, I did resort to having the lawn sprayed - twice.  Then, she came in the other day with one hanging on her belly hair.  I looked her over really well and found 2 more!  So, out of desperation, I did a terrible thing.  I bought that yucky stuff to put on her neck.  I know, it’ll probably kill us all.  I just can’t take any more of these nasty bugs! So, if anyone has a magic potion, I’m ready to buy, or at least listen to some ideas of how to scare them out of our lawn! 

30 second commercial: 

Are you tired of your same ol’ toothbrush?  Well, we had an Oral B battery one that lasted for years.  It was a good toothbrush while it lasted… however…

In need of a new one, we went to Costco the other day and bought a sonic toothbrush.  It’s great!  My teeth feel really clean!  I did have to get used to it though.  The first couple times using it I splattered toothpaste all over the mirror.  Now that I’ve mastered the brusing technique (keeping my mouth partially closed) I highly recommend it!

Okay, I got this recipe from Alton Brown and over a hundred people rated it 5 stars!  I made a few alterations to it to make it more healthy! When you use fresh milled flour (you have to have a mill for that) it adds lots of fiber and vitamins.  No one knew that it was healthier! (The honey crystals can be found at breadbeckers.com.  I use it for all my sugar!  It tastes like sugar and vanilla mixed together.)  The regular sucannant can be bought at Target or a health food store.  It has a much stronger molasses flavor.  You can use all of the honey crystals if you don’t like the taste.  Some said it was the best carrot cake they’d ever eaten!

Carrot Cake:

Ingredients:

butter for the pan

12 ounces (about 2 1/2 C) flour  (I used fresh milled flour so I used 3 cups)

12 ounces grated carrots (abt. 6 med.) (I cut them up and threw them in my blender)

1 t baking powder

1 t baking soda

1/4 t ground allspice

1/4 t ground cinnamon

1/4 t freshly ground nutmeg

1/2 t salt

10 ounces sugar (abt. 1 1/3 C)  I used Succanant with honey or honey crystals.

2 ounces dark brown sugar (abt. 1/4 C packed) I used regular Succanant.

3 large eggs

6 ounces plain yogurt

6 ounces vegetable oil

Directions: (preheat oven to 350 degrees)

Butter and flour two 9 inch round cake pans.  Line the bottom with parchment paper.  Set aside.

Put the carrots into a large mixing bowl and set aside.

Put the flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt in the bowl of a food processor (I used my blender) and process for 5 seconds.  Add this mixture to the carrots and toss until well coated with the flour.

In the bowl of the food processor (or blender) combine sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and yogurt.  WIth the processor still running, drizzle in the vegetable oil.  Pour this mixture into the carrot mixture and stir until just combined!  Pour into the cake pans and bake on the middle rack for 35 minutes.  Reduce heat to 325 degrees and cook for about 15 minutes.

Remove pans from oven and allow to cool 15 min. in the pan.  After 15 min. turn the cake onto a rack and allow to cool completely.  Frost between each layer, tops and sides.

Frosting:

1 1/2 bars cream cheese

3 ounces unsalted butter (I use Earth’s Balance)

1 1/2 t vanilla

Apx. 3 cups of powdered sugar (you can put the succanant with honey in the blender to powder it)

Mix together slowly adding powdered sugar slowly.

Well, I am excited to say that our tree, after a week in our house “au natural”, finally got lights!  I of course had the usual difficulty with half a strand out, all of a strand out, and then the ONE SMALL part of a strand that decides to BLINK!  At one point my poor daughter Lauren asked me what she could do to help and I said “Just make it STOP!!”.  Eventually I found the guilty red bulb and got it all fixed.  (After running to Walmart to buy additional lights of course!)

I really enjoy decorating the tree with the kids, but I hate the lights!  My friend Miriam is the light pro.  She wraps the lights around each branch lighting up the interior as well.  One day, I’m going to get a lesson!  It always makes her trees look PERFECT! I’ve also heard that you should put on 100 strands for every foot as well. Here’s a site that tells you how to do the lights.  They say VERTICAL!  Hmmm… maybe I should take them all off?  :-)  Yeah, right.  Maybe next year.

http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/package/0,21861,1809928-1016034,00.html

We had a great time in Orlando.  Universal Studios was tons of fun.  You have to go and visit the Grinch if you go.  Everyone loves him the meaner he is.  It was to funny.   You have to watch the fireworks show in front of  Cinderella’s castle.  It was decorated like it had ice hanging from it.  It was the most beautiful I have ever seen it.  The best thing was NO LINES!!!!  It was great.  We waited 30 minutes at the most.  The rest we just would walk right up and get on the ride.  Now that is what I am talking about!!

Antoinette

My favorite part of walking around Italy was that on every block there is a Gelato place.  The displayed cones and vibrant color of the gelato were incredible.  You could eat one everyday and then walk it off as you go.  I love it!!

Ok  if you have not figured it out I ate my way through Italy.  There were these artichokes that were baked first.  Then they let them cool in the fridge.  Then when ready they would deep fry for  about 30 seconds in EVOO.  Wow they were a great tasting different version of an artichoke.  I am hungry now!!!!

I have never even seen Chicory.  It is great.  What a fresh crisp salad we had in Italy.  I will have to look for it to make it at home.  If you see it when you are out and about let me know!!

Antoinette

Wow,  what a great time with my mom, sister, cousin and aunt and uncle.  Roma was great to walk……walk ….and walk more.  We found a great place to eat.  Every one should visit the Il Ragno Doro translation is the Golden Spider. Senora Anna is a wonderful chef.  This was like sitting in her living room and spending time with her family.  Paulo our waiter was like the lovablecousin who is always happy.  The father (I am sorry I can’t remember his name) sat in the back and played cards with the boys.  He would get up and cook a little.  He brought us warm out of the oven home made almond cookies.  Molto Bella!!!  If you are ever near the Vatican you must visit Senora Anna!!