Fishing , eating bluegill and a few bluegill facts

Yikes! I did it again. I was so busy yesterday I didn't get my post in, let alone get my CVS figured for today. I went fishing almost all day yesterday with hubby and then later with my Dad and hubby. First was the cruise around the lake then the fishing. Then later another cruise around the lake and more fishing. All in all hubby cleaned 19 fish. You know what we are having tonight for dinner. The rest went in the freezer. There is nothing like fresh bluegill.My husband fillets the fish then skins them. We then put them in the fridge with salt water until ready to fry. We usually dip the fillets in egg and dredge in Drakes fry mix or Andys fish dip and pan fry.We like to fillet and cut the skin off. I don't like to deal with the bones nor do we like scaling them. Some people still prefer them scaled, bones, and all and fried in a pan. Some say there is more flavor that way. I guess it's a matter of preference. I remember as a kid we would scale them and pan fry them bones and all. That meant picking out bones as you ate. This wasn't much fun I guess I don't like working so hard for my food but never less, I always worried I would choke on a bone. Did you know bluegill like nearly all fish are nutritious and high in vitamin D? Bluegill also help humans by eating thousands of pesky insects, such as mosquitoes. Bluegills are the most common fish caught by fisherman. They are easy to catch because they eat so many different things, such as earthworms, crickets, grasshoppers, even people food like bread and corn! They eat just about any little animal that will fit into their small mouths, especially (water) insects and (land) insects that fall on the water. Fishing for bluegill is alot of fun. I know I can't wait to go out again fishing. Maybe next weekend. Aaah life is good! If anyone has a favorite way to prepare bluegill please share.

A great day and a big thankyou!

This was an exciting day for me. The pontoon is now fixed. The man we bought it from has been ever so kind to not only let us use his sons pontoon trailer for a few days while it was getting fixed but to also pick it up and drive it to our place. Make sure everything was running like it should, helped us get it in the water and in the fall will help us get it winterized like he always did. Yes, we took it for a spin around the lake some today. My dad, my son, hubby and I oh my, I am really in love!!! We have seen more of the lake in that short time than in the 4 years we've lived here! The husband and I are going fishing tomorrow. This post isn't all about our pontoon though. It's about the new friends we have made, the help they have offered to get this boat to our house, the time spent to help us in general and the fellowship with them. I am so glad to see there is still good people in this world after all. What we gave for this pontoon was totally insane. It should of been way more. I guess the people just wanted it to go to someone who would enjoy it as much as they did all these years. Thank you, Mr and Mrs. Myers! We will enjoy this boat for many years.

Pontoon bikini tops

We are going to need a bikini top for our pontoon. What is a bikini top? Bikini tops or any other quality boat covers are essential for any boat. Bikini tops and boat covers keep the rain and sun off you and your passengers as well as off your boat when it is not in use. There is no point in having a nice boat and trying to spend a fun filled day on the water and being completly burned by the sun or frozen by ice cold rain if dark clouds begin to overcast your skies. Bikini tops protect you and your passengers from Mother Nature's harsher side.. http://www.wholesalemarine.com has everything you need or want for your pontoon. When I found this site, I spent a couple of hours on it just looking and dreaming. You can go absolutley crazy with your pontoon and when you get done you can live pretty comfortably on your boat. I really reccomend this site. Whether you have a pontoon or just a nice leisure boat, you will have fun looking and dreaming like I did.

refreshed, and a pontoon, It can't get any better than that!

Hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. As you know I took most of the week off. It was all getting very overwhelming for me so the break from it all felt really good plus, gave me the chance to get caught up on things. With 2 garage sales almost back to back it was very tiring and stressful. Our lake is having their annual Lake wide sales starting today through this weekend and for the first time since I have lived here I am forfieting in on it.. Anyways last Saturday was kinda a recoup day for me. Sunday afternoon we had the kids over here for a cookout. Monday was our 4th year anniviversy. For the first time in months I slept in. Ahhh...what a great feeling. Both of us stayed home and chilled. It felt good! Tuesday we bought a 24 ft pontoon with a 35 johnson outboard motor.Hubby has only wanted one for 4 yrs now.The price was right. It had to be fixed as the tube had too much pressure as you can see from the picture. oops! But, no biggie. It is being fixed and will be as good as new. It needs a bikini top also. This is also not a problem. We will buy one. We hope to do alot of fishing and cruising on the lake now. The rest of the week was spent cleaning. My floors are clean, the laundry is caught up, the grass is mowed, everything is put away now that needs to be. Dishes are done. It can't get any better than that!

The 30 day challenge update

Well, here it is my 30 day challenge update! I know I am a little late on this because of taking a few days off from my blog. The good thing is I lost 5 lbs! I will be happy to except that. I didn't get my walking and crunches in every day but I have been working hard moving around all the time, eating less and so forth. A good part of it was having these garage sales almost back to back which is alot of work. It's amazing that you do not have to go to a fancy gym or do sit ups every day but, just getting off your keester and moving around and eating a bit less is will do the trick. I will definitely continue to sit less move more. I may not lose alot but I know I will be alot healthier for it. So... how did you do?

Bloggy Break

I will be taking a bloggy break for the rest of the week. My hubby has 4 days off and so we will kinda be on vacation away from it all for the rest of the week. Hope you all have a safe and wonderful Memorial Day! See ya in a week!

Wordless Wednesday

I don't believe you can call this wordless but this was taken a couple of weeks ago or so of hubby tilling the garden and I can honestly say as of this morning I have my whole garden planted. Just planted the last 2 rows of beans!!! Whoo-Hoo!

Menu Plan Monday

Wow! It is another Monday and another very busy week for me! Here's what I have planned for this week.

MONDAY- beef and noodles
tossed salad
strawberry creme pie ( I am cheating, it's an Edwards frozen pie already made)

TUESDAY- pork steak
garlic potatoes
peas and mushrooms

WEDNESDAY- spaghetti
tossed salad
garlic bread

THURSDAY- we are eating out!

FRIDAY-beef stirfry with steamed white rice
icecream sundeas

SATURDAY- basic grilled chicken breasts
pasta salad
peach smoothies

SUNDAY- On our own!

The Day Of Rest

We need to urge people to lay aside everyday tasks once a week for a day of rest. Sunday should be a time for spiritual growth, family, activities and such, to pause after a busy week of work routines whether at the workplace or from home, to focus on faith and family. It feels good to set aside this day to just rest! Did you know the word "sabbath" means "the day of rest"? God created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th, for this reason, one day is set aside during the week as a day of rest and worship. Now, however, it is not a day to waste away by doing nothing. Unfortunately, Sunday is usually a catch-up on chores day. Okay, Yes, I am guilty. You might think a day of rest?How? Dirty diapers don't stop on Sundays! Besides, I have barely the time to read the grocery ads and cut out my coupons, let alone Christian books! Can you relate? I am so guilty. Does taking a day of rest seem like impossible? In biblical times, keeping the Sabbath would bring delight not duty. Here's how we can make Sunday special. First: Plan ahead, take some time Saturday eve to prepare the next days dinner to prevent Sunday morning chaos. Second: Set aside time to focus on the Lord by going to church, worshipping and reading the word. Third: Take time for each other, unhurried, a special time. Take time to rest in the Lord! Many people have to work on Sundays. This however cannot be helped in most cases.Yes, there always seems to be more things to do than time to do them. The Sabbath has been celebrated for thousands of years. ultimately, its up to us to welcome the spirit of rest back into our busy weekends so we will feel refreshed and experience greater delight in all of our endeavors.

Loving my husband

My husband, My best friend, He makes me feel special. He regards me as important and I let him know he is important to me as well. He lets me be myself, craziness and all. He lets me yell, he lets me pout, he lets me laugh too loud, and he's okay with that and I love him more because he doesn't try to change me. He is the best dad, step dad,and papa with the grand kids. Speaking of grand kids,I don't spoil them near as much as he does. This makes him happy. I love my husband because he's mine and always will be, I've spoiled him and he's spoiled me more, there is no other person that can take his place!

Another sale????

Yes, another sale is in progress. My sister Sheila has graciously opened her garage for a sale next week for a few of us in the family. Today I have been busy helping her set up the tables, pricing a few things and setting out a few things. There will be 7 of us participating. It will be a great sale. You might think I am crazy because I just had a sale of my own a couple of weeks ago. Well, I might be, This is different and easier when you actually have a garage. Since it is also the week for city wide garage sales, a volume of people will be no problem. I am excited. Sheila and I work together quite well and we actually had fun today. Tomorrow I will help in the afternoon again. We hope to get alot accomplished. Please pray the weather cooperates as there is nothing like rain to dampen things.

Thankful Thursday

It's Thankful Thursday again! I look forward to this day every week and love hearing what God is doing in so many lives. Although I am thankful for many things today, I thought I would pick just a few of them.
I am thankful for the beautiful weather today and for the rain last night which left the morning air smelling so very sweet. I am very thankful God kept us safe as storms hit us in the middle of the night. Some areas in the midwest were not as lucky as, tornadoes ripped through their towns. I pray God will be with these people who survived and help them to rebuild their lives, homes and towns.
I am thankful my garden is planted now, well almost...I still have to finish planting my green beans. I will now be anxiously awaiting for the seeds to sprout and poke through the soil.
I am thankful for my grandchildren. I know, I've said this before. They grow up so fast. Enjoy your grandchildren while you can. They are such a blessing!
I am thankful for springtime! It's one of my favorite times of year. It's such a time of hope and renewal. Seeing plants pop out of the ground and thrive all on their own. It's a miracle and I appreciate and enjoy each bloom and bud.
I am thankful for my relationship with my husband. I love how we're very compatible and enjoy being and doing so many things together.
Take a moment to acknowledge some of the things you are blessed with. Share what you are thankful for.

Wordless Wednesday

windows vista and a new computer

You all probably know by now I got my new computer. My son set it up for me last night. He is the computer wizard so it only seemed fitting to let him set it up instead of hubby who would be so much slower at it. I love this computer but, since I was used to windows xp and all that old technology this is going to take some getting used to. I have got so much to learn. It's not hard just different. I still have my dial up but Wow! this computer is soooo much faster than that old thing I had been using. Speaking of dial-up....I'm guessing it's becoming the thing of the past because,when hubby and I were shopping for a computer neither one of us gave it a thought as to remember or tell the salesman we had dial-up so I get this computer, we start setting up and realize...no Internet because modems in computers are not standard anymore! So..hubby I believe, still lives old school because him and my son go to staples and Hubby tells them He just spent $800.00 for a new computer and he is not happy! I am so glad I was not with him. Well, to make a long story short, we have a brand new modem now to go along with the new computer. Hubby says he wants everything new and wasn't going to stick our old modem in a brand new computer. Ha Ha I'm not going to argue with that. Anyways, I managed to get a few pictures downloaded from my camera. I would like to share with you these pictures.

Dalton's 1st birthday!
Jasmyne, Abby, and Jocelyne (Easter Sunday)

Reese is showing off !

On Easter Sunday...Jocelyne and Jasmyne with my stepdaughter Amanda

Menu Plan Monday

I am hoping all of you had a good mothers day! I know I did! This week I will be eating what I have left from the freezer when it comes to meat. I haven't bought any meat in awhile and probably won't this week. I am going to be too busy playing on my new computer plus other things. Yes, I got my new computer. Yaaay! My son is supposed to stop by and help me set it up. I can hardly wait. So.....this is my attentive menu for this busy and exciting week.

MONDAY- chicken and stuffing in the crock pot, mashed potatoes, fresh asparagus from my yard

TUESDAY- Spaghetti and meatballs, salad

WEDNESDAY- macaroni and cheese, green beans, salmon patties

THURSDAY- eating out

FRIDAY-hamburgers on the grill,baked beans, potato salad, rhubarb pie

SATURDAY- bluegill ( from our lake) salad, french fries

Homemade Hummingbird Food

Yes, It's that time of year again. Today I dug out our hummingbird feeders. Tomorrow I will hang them outside and fill them with nectar. If you are like us, we have a few hummingbird feeders around the yard. I just love watching these tiny birds. They always amaze me. Now, you can buy the hummingbird nectar but, this gets costly and there is not much in the pkgs. I label a pitcher to keep in the refrigerator with "homemade hummingbird food" This is so much cheaper. All you do is bring 4 cups water to a boil and stir in 1 cup sugar, stir to dissolve, when cool, pour into the pitcher and refrigerate until needed. As I refill the feeders, I make another batch for the next time. Do not add food coloring. I understand it is not good for the little hummingbirds. Feeding hummingbirds is an easy, inexpensive and rewarding pastime. All you need is a feeder table sugar, some water and you are set. Oh yes, remember, it is important to keep the feeder clean and the nectar fresh. Sugar water is very rich growth medium. Yeasts like to eat it causing fermentation which can harm the hummingbirds. That is why you should keep the feeder clean and the nectar fresh!

Thankful Thursday

This past week I have so much to be thankful for. I am thankful I am loved and it is really thankful Thursday today! I am thankful for all the people who read my blog, whether you comment or not, I appreciate you spending a little time with me. I am thankful for my yard sale success this last weekend and all who helped. The weather just wasn't too kind, but, then it cleared and the people came. I am thankful I have the money now for a new computer. I am thankful for my daughter even though she continues to live her life un wisely at times and it troubles me. I am thankful she continues to go to school for nursing and called us yesterday to tell us she got all A's on her finals this week. Praise God! I am thankful for my husband, friends ,my online friendships, and family. I am humbled by the amazing people that God has placed in my life. I am thankful for the opportunity to wake up each morning and embrace all the day has to offer. I am thankful, I just am!

Garden Labels

Spring has finally sprung, and most of us has tilled and planted our garden or will be planting soon. Now that my yard sale is over I will be concentrating on my garden. I am a little behind this year but, I hope to have the garden tilled and some of my cool weather crops in like my green onions, potatoes, radishes and lettuce. So with that, I thought I would post a quick good tip. Do you need a way to label your plants or rows in the garden? Next time you are at a garage sale or thrift shop and see a white ( or any pale color) vinyl venetian blind, snap it up or maybe perhaps you already have an old one laying around. A single standard venetian blind will give you tons of labels that will last all summer that will withstand the elements. Just cut the string holding the slats apart, then cut each slat in half with a pair of scissors. ( the vinyl cuts easy) take each half and cut into 2 pieces in a diagonal. Now you have a perfect plant marker with a pointy end ready to stick in the soil. You simply write the information on the slat with a permanent marker.

30 Day Challenge - Check In

Well, it's Tuesday, and it's time to check in. Although, I haven't had the time to do my crunches, I have done plenty of walking back and forth, up and down steps, lifting and all that good stuff the past few days. My poor old body feels it also! I believe I have used muscles I haven't used all winter. All and all by staying busy and constantly moving. There has been times I almost forgot to eat and when I did eat, I noticed my appetite was smaller. I guess that is a good thing. I really hope to get some crunches in this week though because my tummy area needs a whole lot of work! Did you get your workout in this week?

A yard sale success

Its finally over! The yard sale was a success in spite of the weather that were against us. Thursday was supposed to have been opening day and I had to close it up because of the rain. I hated to do this but I opened up today later today for a couple of hours. As I figured, we didn't have much people but that is okay because we made $1,438.00 Whoo-Hoo! We have a guy interested in the complete dock we have and that should put us at $1,838.00 if it sells at our price. I think that is not too shabby money making for a couple of days. We all worked very hard at this sale including my sister and son and without them I do not know what I would of done. So thank you Sheila and Daniel from the bottom of my heart! Hubby had to work Saturday and today so he couldn't be here to help even though he planned on it. My skin now has some color to it now, I burned my scalp on top of my head, and I ache through and through! I am really going to appreciate this new computer! I believe things will get back to normal now after I recuperate!