Meet me on Monday turns 22

Meet me today and please cheer me up. I have a sore throat and I feel BLAH! I'm turning 39 on Saturday and I feel old...

Ok, I got that (partly) out of my system, now for the fun part. Java's given us some nice questions again. Here are my answers:
Questions:


1. Do you eat Sushi?

I've tried a few times, but I can't say that I liked it very much.

2. What kind of bath soap do you use?

I love shower gels and currently am using this one from Lux.
3. How often do you talk to your Mom?

3 -4 times a week?

4. What TV shows do you watch on a regular basis?

Castle, Big Bang Theory, CSI Miami and New York, Cougar Town, and the girls and I started watching Wallace and Grommit's Inventions.

5. Did you start Christmas shopping yet?

No, but I started crafting some things for Christmas.:)

Meet me on Monday, twenty-one

Good morning all you bloggers out there. Aren't Mondays great? A fresh start, every week. :)

Last week I told you that my oldest, Amy was sick. During the week Cindy, daughter # 2, caught the same fever-flu. And (finally) yesterday Brianna got it too. With her I'm much more worried, with her history of seizures with high fever. So I'm keeping her home today. She's in my bed now, looking at old Good Housekeeping magazines and drinking chocolate milk. Who said being sick has to be boring, eh?

I'm linking to Java's today with her weekly questions. Hope you enjoy!

Questions:




1. What is your favorite kind of pie?

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Dixie-Pie

This is the best pie ever!
 
2. Have you ever ran out of gas in the car you were driving?

No, but I've run out of gas on my motorcycle a few times:)

I have a 20-year old bike just like this one, just blue. Now my daughters like to drive around the farm on it:)  
 
3. How many languages do you speak?

English, German, Low-German, Spanish, and a little bit of portuguese

This is a poster ad on the wall in the supermarket in the neighbor town. They wrote the caption in Low-German.

4. Do you take daily vitamins?

No, but I try to eat fresh fruit from our orchard, when in season.
 
5. What is your worst eating habit?

Snacking in between meals!!!

Thanks for visiting, feel free to comment, hugs to all, I'm off to feed the zoo...

Meet me on Monday turns 18!

Welcome to the 18th edition of  "Meet Me On Monday!"

I'll quote Java's introduction to this meme here today:

Blogging is a funny thing...we tell our most intimate thoughts for all to read and yet most of the time I find myself sitting and wondering, "who is this person!?" I know them...but yet I don't know them! I want to know who the person is behind all those words so I thought of a great way for all of us to "meet" each other!


Every Sunday I will post five get to know you questions that you can copy and paste into your own Monday post and we can all learn a little more about each and every one of us!!


"Its a great way to to meet new friends and for others to get to know me better....one Monday at a time!!!"....as quoted by the Chacogirl!! (That's ME!:)
I will make this SIMPLE and FUN!!!

Questions:

1. Do your pants get hung on a hangar or folded?

I fold my pants. (And for whoever doesn't know how to, look at the diagram below:)

2. If you are stranded on an Island, what 3 things would you need to have with you (not including humans or electronic devices)?


My bible, handcream and chapstick.

3. Where is the farthest you have ever traveled to?


Canada to Paraguay both ways when I was about 4 or 5, and Canada to Paraguay, one way, when I was 10.

4. Do you live in a house, trailer or apartment, etc.?


We live in a house, which we built 6 years ago. We lived on the same farm but in an older house for 10 years before that.



New house




Old house, it was built by one of the first prople to live in this village. About 80 years old. (And very small:)

  5. What is your most hated household chore?

Ever since I've had back pain (4 - 5 years ago), I've feared and hated washing my floors. I had back surgery for two herniated discs almost 3 years ago, and since then a lady comes once a week to wash my floors.:)



There, I hope I've answered some of your burning questions:) I really like to participate in this meme, because I notice a lot of differences of living in Paraguay, compared to Canada or the U.S.

I hope you all have a good week, tomorrow I'll be posting some pictures of some crafts I've done in the last few weeks. See ya!

Meet me on Monday, chapter 15

I sent the family to the volleyball game without me tonight. I have a headache and a sore throat aaaaannndddd I wanted to finish watching a movie! I hope my husband's team won the game tonight, because if they win this game and a game next week, they're champions! WooHoo!!!

(Ok, the family just came back, and they didn't win. Too bad!)

So, I'm checking into my Google Reader and I see that Java has her questions posted already. This will be the last thing I'll do tonight: post my "Meet me on Monday" answers on my blog.

Questions:

1. What is your favorite all time movie?

I always loved "The Princess Bride" The right mixture of silliness, fantasy and romance! As you wish!

2. How often do you go over the speed limit?

Sometimes when I'm in town, I'm slightly over the speed limit. Please don't tell anyone! :) The picture is from the entrance to our one-street village. The speed limit is listed in km/h, not miles per hour.  

 

 

 3. What really gives you the creeps?

Horror movies with dolls with wierd eyes. "Chucky" is the creepiest movie of all times for me!

4. What is your favorite snack?

It's a tie between chocolate and potato chips. But I would like them seperately, please!
 

5. Would you rather be a dog named Killer or a cat named Fluffy?

I'd always rather be a cat!



Polyvore set I made of my cat a while ago



 Join the fun and check out Java's links to other blogs!

I need to get my beauty sleep now, because tomorrow I'll be sewing! On MY own sewing machine. I picked it up yesterday, and it works so good. I just hope it'll stay that way for a while.

Hugs to all my friends and lurkers! :)



Meet me on Monday, the fourteenth

It's almost Monday, and I'm getting a head start on my weekly post. Check out Java's blog and her new questions for Meet me on Monday!

Questions:

1. What is your favorite pasta dish?

Pasta Primavera with chicken! Love to make and eat it!

2. What is the last thing you do before going to bed?



Go to the bathroom :-)

Great T-shirt, for those of us who forget what to do:)

 3. How many nights a week do you go out to eat?

Maybe once a month.

4. Are you an avid book reader?

YES! I love to read and usually have 3 books lying around that I read at once. I finished reading some Lawrence Sanders, and am reading a Max Lucado (Cast of Characters) for review purposes.

5. Would you rather have x-ray vision or bionic hearing?

This is a tough one, but I’ll go with bionic hearing. If I really think about this one, I think I’d go crazy if I could have either one. Over-stimulation drives me up the wall!

 

 And just for fun, so that we remember that we are all Super-Heros:

Have a SUPER week!

Meet me on Monday for the 13th time!

Good Monday morning, everyone! Did you all sleep well? Did you go to bed too late yesterday? Funny that I want to know that, because that is one of the questions Java is asking over here.

She has the best Monday meme called Meet me on Monday! I got to know a lot of bloggers this way, and I would like to name 2 of my favorite blogging friends today. Weezer is soooo sweet! She encouraged me to write my heritage story. Audrey is so funny and sweet. I still think we might be related somewhere! Check them out on their blogs!

So now come the questions, and really fun ones, too!

Questions:

1. Do you wear socks to bed?

Only in the winter, I can’t get my feet warm enough to fall asleep. Usually I even have a hot water bottle at my feet, but then again it doesn’t get that cold very often here.
 

2. Do you have any pets?

 Where should I start? :) 2 parrots, 2 rabbits, 2 cats, 1 German shepherd, 1 dwarf rooster, 2 dwarf hens (11 chicks as of yesterday:), 13 laying hens, the cattle doesn’t count as pets, so I won’t list them.

3. What topping(s) do you like on your pizza?

I love pizza!!! Tomatoes, mushrooms, corn, pepperoni, palmitos (palm hearts), bacon and mozzarella.

4. What time do you go to bed?

It depends. Sometimes as early as 9:00 pm, but sometimes I like to watch a DVD after the kids go to bed, then maybe 12:00am. But I try not to stay up later, because my alarm goes off at 5:30 am.

5. Would you rather get free chocolate for one year or free potatoes forever?

Dumb question, Java! Everyone knows the answer to this one. CHOCOLATE! Because you have to buy potatoes anyway:) !!!





Soooo, now I have to feed my zoo! Come back soon!

Meet me on Monday, the tenth!

I've had a really wild week so far, so now I want to relax and let you get to know me better. Java's got some juicy questions for us today, and I'm starting to think she has a sweet tooth! (So do I!) Check out Java's blog here, link up to her over there and come and meet some more bloggers! I'd like to know someday how many bloggers are from the US and how many are from the rest of the world:)


 Questions:

1. What is your favorite dessert?

I really like floating island, but any old ice cream or cake will do sometimes:)

(I think you can click on the picture for the recipe:)

2. What do you wear to bed?

An over-sized T-Shirt kind of nighty! Super comfortable!

3. Do you get regular manicures/pedicures?

I treat myself to a mani/pedi every few months.

4. Did you play any sports in high school?

I hated sports, but we did have to play volleyball.

 

5. Do you have an iPod?

No, but my sister brought me a new mp3 player from Canada in May. I love it and use it every day!

 

Our garage sale was a huge success! The stuff we didn't sell, we are sending to a Mission store in Asuncion. We had a lot of laughs along the way! My sister, my Mom and my friend Rosella are all great fun to be with:)

This coming week is our yearly rodeo and the kids can't wait to go. They each sold some of their stuffed animals and were allowed to keep the money from the sale of them. They were saving their money to buy rabbits at the rodeo, so we better get the cage cleaned and set up.

I might have a bit of news for you all this week, but I'm not telling yet! (No, Dani and Andrea, I'm not pregnant!)

Oh, I got a care package from my sister in Winnipeg today! THANK YOU, thank you, thank you. My tongue is all wrinkled already from the sweet tarts! Love them!

Have a great week!

Meet me on Monday, for the ninth time

Good Monday, everyone! I'll have to start "Meet me on Monday" on Sunday next time. When I checked in on Java's blog this morning, there were already 27 entries!:) So lets get right to it!

Questions:

1. Do you watch any Soap Operas?

Nope, we get Brazilian TV here, and it’s not worth watching. I am somewhat addicted to American sitcoms. Can’t wait for the fall season to begin; I can download some of them. (I love Castle!)

2. What appliance is used the most in your house?

My stove, every day, 3-5 times. And my washing machine, almost every day. (Um, do you count a laptop as an appliance?)

3. Do you wear make-up every day?

No, only if I leave the house to go into town or to visit a friend.

4. What is your worst pet-peeve?

I have a few:

I can’t stand someone (or myself) being late.

I can’t stand not being prepared (band-aids, hand lotion, safety pin in my handbag at all times) (Water bottle, picnic quilt and toilet paper in the car at all times) (written notes, if I have to speak in front of a bunch of people) you get the point.

I can’t stand it when the radio announcers pronounce the words wrong. (We have a German radio station, but when they can’t even say New York the right way, it gives me the heebie-jeebies){Heebie-jeebies (idiom), used to describe a feeling of anxiety, apprehension, depression or illness.}


I’ll stop now…. No, just wait; I have another one, just one word: CORNSTARCH!

5. What is your favorite lunch meat?

Smoked ham!

******************************************************

 
I went to a concert in town last night with two of my friends and my oldest daughter, Amy. Anja Lehmann is in Paraguay and was giving concerts in the churches in our area. She has a beautiful voice, face and personality. I really enjoyed it! You can check out her website here.
 
This week is dedicated to cleaning up big bags full of clothing, stuffed animals and a mish-mash of dishes/cutlery/pots and pans, to sell at a garage/yard sale on Friday and Saturday. So, if you are in our area, your welcome to drop in at my parents house in Filadelfia. If you want more info, just call me or write a comment. Thanks for meeting me again this week, wish you all a good one and God bless each one of you!

Meet me on Monday, the eighth

I'm linking to Java's with the answers to her cool questions for this monday. I'm trying to post this while washing dishes from our party last night. Everything turned out well! Almost everyone came, except for my 19 year-old nephew, wonder if he has a new girlfriend? :) (21 people in total)

Questions:

1. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas, hands down. I love that we can celebrate Jesus's birthday, I love the sunday school's programm on Christmas eve, I love that our first child was born a week before Christmas. It gives me a little understanding of Mary's firstborn baby so many years ago! The picture shows my daughters' programm a few years ago. The wise man with the turquoise dress is my youngest, Brianna. The dark haired singer with the green dress on the right is Cindy.

2. What color clothing do you wear the most?

Blue (as in jeans), sage green, dusty rose and brown.

I would totally wear something like this, but i'd close the front opening a little. No need to show everyone everything:)

3. What is your heritage?

My grandparents were german descendents living in Russia 80 years ago. They immegrated to Paraguay in 1930. My parents moved to Canada after they married. I was born in Winnepeg, Man. Canada. We moved back to Paraguay when I was 10 years, and have been here ever since. I am Mennonite by faith. This is the Heritage Park in my town.

4. What is your middle name?

Susan, after my Grandma Susa.

5. What is your favorite cookie?

Right now it would be Alfajores. But that could change:) I love all cookies!

Alfajores are two white cookies stuck together in the middle with Dulce de Leche and rolled in coconut.

Here's the recipe from About.com

Alfajores, a favorite South American pastry, are cookies filled with delicious caramel, dulce de leche, and rolled in coconut to make a buttery-rich for an afternoon tea, a special dessert or an anytime snack.

Prep Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Ingredients:

•12 tablespoons butter
•1 cup granulated sugar
•1 egg
•2 egg yolks
•2 tablespoons cognac
•2 1/2 cups cornstarch (corn flour)
•1 cup all-purpose flour
•1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•1/2 teaspoon baking powder
•Zest of 1/2 lemon
•Dulce de Leche
•Grated coconut

Preparation:
To make cookie dough:
Cream the butter and sugar together, then mix in the remaining ingredients except the dulce de leche and coconut until well blended. Knead on a floured work surface until the dough is smooth and let rest for 15 minutes.

Make the cookies:
Roll the dough out to a thickness of about 1/4 inch and cut into 2-inch rounds. Place on a greased cookie sheet and bake in a preheated 300°F oven for 20 minutes. When cool, spread some dulce de leche on the bottom of half the cookies and press another cookie on top, allowing some of the dulce de leche to squeeze from the sides. Roll the sides in the coconut until the sides are covered.

Makes about 12 delicious, definitely non low calorie cookies!

To make dulce de leche:

Method 1: Pour 1 can sweetened condensed milk into 9-inch pie plate. Cover with aluminum foil. Place the pie plate in a in larger shallow pan filled with hot water. Do not allow the water to cover the smaller pan. Bake at 425 degrees F for 1 hour or until thick and caramel-colored. Beat until smooth.

Method 2: Place unopened can sweetened condensed milk in a pot with enough water to cover the can. Bring slowly to a boil, then lower heat to a simmer and let cook for 4-5 hours until the milk is caramelized. Be careful! Keep the can covered and simmering slowly to avoid the risk of the can exploding. Cool the can before opening.