Homemade Garden Noise Makers/Bird Deterrents

We've been having a BIG problem with birds eating our tomatoes before we can pick them!  I can't even get them while they're still not ripe yet (orange-ish/yellowish) without small holes in them too!  So, after some suggestions of how to keep the birds out of the garden, we decided to try them out!

First, someone suggested pie tins--I didn't have any round ones, but I recently bought a big package of  rectangle ones for taking meals to people...so we used those instead.  Jon cut them in half and we hung them in the garden last night.

They seemed to be doing a good job so far today as I haven't had to chase any birds away yet!  As the kids woke up from their nap and I was trying to figure out what to do with them the rest of this afternoon (since we can't go out in this horrid heat!)  I decided to have them make even more noise makers out of cans from the recycle bin.  They love to paint anything (probably since it's messy :) so I grabbed our art supplies and let them go away at the cans.  I punched a hole in the bottom of the can and threaded string down through the hole and tied the tab on the end of it inside so that it would make a nice little noise when the wind blows them.

 The kids painting their cans

 Noise maker supplies

 Finished product

 Notice the pie tin tied on the other side...

 Our redneck garden!  I can't imagine what the neighbors are thinking...

Up and Down

I went to the doctor today to follow up on how I'm doing on the new medication I started taking 4 weeks ago.  They drew the bloodwork on Monday and I met with him this afternoon to go over the results.

He said the results were typical of why it is important to check more than TSH levels only.  My TSH was .719 which was in the very good range (normal is 0.35-4.5).  This is why so many doctors assume they are managing hypothyroidism (including Hashimotos) well with Synthroid only--because they look at this test only.

Well, this Dr. understands the importance of doing more detailed tests, so he also re-checked my Free T3 and Free T4 and those were NOT normal.  My free T4 was .57 and the normal range is .80-1.8.  My free T3 was 2.5 and the normal range is 2.3-4.2.  He said even though that last one slid right in there, that you want to be as close to the top of these ranges as possible.  So, he doubled my dosage of Armour from 15mg to 30mg.

The frustrating part is that with Hashimotos, these numbers can fluctuate SO much based upon when my body is triggered to attack my thyroid.  I really need to work on figuring out what foods trigger an autoimmune attack (other than the typical iodide and soy that I've learned about thus far from researching).  We'll see how this all continues to progress.  At least I'm working with  Doctor that is understanding of this issue and that it just takes trial and error to work with it.  Another possibility is compounding medications, which he said works well for many patients.  But it is a more expensive option, so I want to try to work with the dosing this way first!

Oh, Beautiful Day!

It has felt like a PERFECT fall-like day today--but it's the middle of July!  The kids and I have thoroughly enjoyed playing outside today.  We weeded and watered the garden this morning while the kids played with some "new to them" toys we inherited from some friends down the road who are moving (and we hate to see them leave the neighborhood!)

 Sean had to hold Brilee with his foot to keep her from coming towards me trying to get the camera!

 enjoying her new ride!

Sean said while they were playing, "It's a good thing Jesus didn't bring out the sun today!"  I love how he thinks and remembers that God is in control of everything!

Our sunflower was looking pretty droopy and the leaves were falling off around it, so I looked up when to harvest the sunflowers.  I found a website that spoke all about how/when to harvest them.  It gave two options--1) leave the flower on the plant to dry, but you have to fight against birds getting to the seeds first or 2) cut the flower when the petals turn brown and fall off and dry it yourself.   I decided to go the 2nd route1.  It said to cut the flower off and keep it inside a paper bag to dry in a warm, dry place.  The kids enjoyed playing with the little flower ends that were still sticking to the seeds.  I'm thinking it might have still been a tad early to cut it off, but it was really leaning over the fence into the neighbors's yard and I just wanted to get it over with.  Here's the kids enjoying inspecting the sunflower (inside Sean's wheelbarrow)

They were having so much fun I hated to leave to do our usual Friday grocery shopping after Brilee woke up from her morning nap.  We rushed through that trip and came home to have a picnic lunch.  Sean got upset when it started sprinkling rain while I was making the PB&Js.  At first I thought he had hurt himself outside because he came in screaming with tears down his face!  When I figured out he wasn't hurt but that he was worried we wouldn't have our picnic lunch I thought, "How sweet that my little guy looks SO forward to just a simple thing like lunch outside."  I hope he's always this easy to please!

I promised him the sprinkles would end soon and we could still eat outside and that dried up his tears quickly.  They enjoyed their outside lunch then played some more.  So glad they're enjoying good naps now so we can play some more outside this afternoon!  I am soaking in this weather while it lasts for the weekend because it's supposed to be back into the high 90s next week :/

Eat Your Peas

I usually don't write about things other than my family and kids on my blog, so you may wonder where this post is leading...I promise this isn't just a political tyrade, but it DOES lead to something funny that Sean said, which is why I'm writing about it!

I usually NEVER turn on the tv for myself during the day.  So, when earlier this week I had an inclination in my mind to "turn on the tv to see if there is any news on" (in the middle of the day when there would ordinarily be junk programming on!) I thought it strange.  I turned it on anyway and was shocked when in only 10 seconds a "special report" breaking news announcement popped onto the screen.  I thought to myself, "Wow, God really DID prompt me to turn on the tv!"  I thought perhaps something very important was happening or that there was a major announcement.  It turns out that it was merely a news conference with the leader of our country, and normally I would turn off the tv because that is the only way I can control my anger against this man--to simply avoid listening to him.  However, something made me listen to what he was saying. 

And in the typical fashion, I started getting more frustrated as I listened to him...especially when he started making statements about Republican leaders that seemed to turn them into children like, "It's time to take off the band-aid.  Time to eat your peas."  Those are statements I would say to my CHILDREN--certainly not to grown-up men.  It irritated me that he was acting so condencending saying things like, "Profession politicans"...should "know better." 

He lost me completely when he said, "I haven't suggested raising taxes this year, or next year...what I have suggested is starting in 2013....(blah blah blah) we increase REVENUE."  Does he really think the American public is stupid enough to not know that TAXES are what increase REVENUE?"  Ok, my blood is boiling again.  And here is the point of my post:

Sean was irritated that I was watching the news, so when it got to this point I told him, "It's ok, Sean.  Mommy's turning off the news now.  This man isn't saying anything except a bunch of lies."  To which Sean asked, "Is he going to get his mouth washed out with soap, mommy?"  :)  I wish, buddy...I wish!

Fresh Cantaloupe

Picked from our garden today.  The kids loved it!

Blueberry Cream Cheese Pie- A Youngblood Family Tradition

The first recipe I received when Jon and I were first married (actually, engaged I think!) was his aunt's Blueberry Cream Cheese Pie recipe.  You can't go through blueberry season in our family without making one of these bad boys!

I say that, however, sadly--I didn't make a single one last summer because 1) I had a newborn hanging on me (literally!) and 2) Jon's parents' blueberry crop was horrible last year due to lack of bees pollinating their bushes.  They have turned to beekeeping over the past several months to remedy this problem, and they had a bumper crop again this year!

Anyway, on with the recipe!   I have to forewarn you that this is the MESSIEST recipe to make--meaning you use a LOT of pots/pans/utensils for all of the steps.  I told Jon if it weren't so good, I wouldn't bother making such a mess!  (Just to prove this to you, my sink was clean before making this pie--here is the aftermath:)

Ok, so if that doesn't seem that messy to you, I'll add that there are little blueberry stains all around my stove from the blueberries boiling in the pot and from having to strain out the berry mixture in the sieve.  Just trust me...messy!  So, if you're still eager to make this yummy treat, here ya go!

Graham cracker crust:
1 1/2 C crushed graham crackers
1/3 C butter, melted
3 T sugar
Mix all ingredients and press into 9" pie plate.  Bake 10 min. at 350.  Cool completely

Middle Layer:
8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1/4 C sugar
1/4 C sour cream
1/2 t. vanilla extract
Combine ingredients with mixer on med. speed for 1 min or until smooth.  Spread mixture into crust; cover and chill for 1 hr.

Blueberry Glaze Layer:
2 1/2 C blueberries, divided
1/2 C water
2 T cornstarch
1 T lemon juice
Combine 1 C of blueberries into small saucepan; mash with potato masher.  Add water, bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer 3 min.  Remove from heat.  Strain berry mixture.  If necessary, add water to juice to make 1 cup.  return to saucepan.

Combine sugar and cornstarch; stir into berry liquid.  (I use a mesh tea strainer to sprinkle it in a little at a time to prevent clumps from forming)  Bring to a boil; boil 1 min, stirring constantly.  Stir in lemon juice; cool.

Place 1 1/2 C remaining blueberries on top of cream cheese layer;  pour glaze over top.  Chill 2-3 hours.

Trust me, it is necessary to wait that 2-3 hours.  If you don't, this will be a gloppy mess when you try to cut into it.  It should be nice and firm...like this--the picture does NOT do this justice...so go make you some!

Brilee's 1 year pictures

We had these pictures taken last week at Kids' Shots here in Matthews. Brilee is very photogenic (I think!) and they turned out really well.