Iām not a baker, I can cook but the baking part is not my forte. However, when Iām really stressed or upset I tend to try making something sweet for my family. I ran across this great and easy blueberry cobbler recipe online. Itās been a hit with the guys every time Iāve made it!
You donāt need many ingredients; most you probably already have in your pantry. It takes just minutes to whip up and put in the oven!! It seriously takes my oven longer to pre-heat than it does to make it.
I thought Iād share it with you on this dreary day…who knows it may boost your mood to bake it!
Blueberry Cobbler
Ingredients
4 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon lemon zest
For the batter:
6 Tablespoons butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
ground cinnamon
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Slice butter into pieces and add to a 9×13 inch baking dish. Place the pan in the oven while it preheats, to allow the butter to melt. Once melted, remove the pan from the oven.
Add blueberries, sugar and zest to a bowl and stir to combine.
In a separate bowl mix together the batter ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the milk, just until combined.
Pour blueberries over melted butter in pan. Drizzle batter over the top. Sprinkle with a little bit of cinnamon.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 35-40 minutes, or until lightly golden on top.
Serve warm, with a scoop of ice cream, if desired!
Itās a good question! How do you actually pronounce where we are moving in Alabama? Well, I had been saying it wrong and was quickly corrected when we visited. Itās A-rab. And please donāt say it wrong if you ever go or youāll be corrected! Lesson learned.
Arab was established in the 1840ās and like every small town it has some good stories behind it. I think my favorite Iāve read is that in 1882 the USPS got the name wrong which was originally supposed to be Arad. Well, Arab was the mistake but stuck all of this time.
Arab is located on top of Brindlee Mountain and just at a little over 1,100 feet above sea level. The 2018 census states that there is around 8,300 citizens.
There are two highways that you get to the Mountain and one is currently under construction due to a landslide. So there are detours that we will have to use for a while. Another thing Iām not used to seeing is NO public transportation. I donāt think Iāve ever lived anywhere that didnāt have it. I guess being out in a rural community thatās kind of pointless.
Arab is in the Northern part of the State. It is approximately 65 miles northeast of Birmingham and 25 miles south of Huntsville. If we ever get the chance we will head up to Nashville which is only an hour and a half drive.
The Arab City School Board operates four schools, a primary school with grades K-2; and elementary school with grades 3-5; a junior high school with grades 6-8; and a high school composed of grades 9-12. Enrollment in the city schools totals approximately 2650 students. All four schools are accredited by the Alabama State Department of Education. This was a huge selling point to us as far as schools in question because we are all about smaller teacher to student ratios. I think that would help Brody tremendously.
Arab Park and Recreation Department offers year-round sports programs including t-Ball through Pony League baseball programs; softball for girls, men and women; football, basketball, soccer and swimming. A modern recreation center features a basketball gym, racquetball courts, weight equipment and banquet facilities. Arab has two public 18-hole golf courses.
You will also find a bowling alley, skating rink, and eight ball fields.
Lake Guntersville State Park, located 6 miles northeast of Guntersville, offers another golf course, plus swimming, camping, tennis, hiking, canoeing and fishing.
It sounds like we will have a lot of fun activities to do as a family. We want to get out, explore and use the camper more. There is so many possibilities on where to camp itās insane. We should never run out of things to do!
It hosts such events as “Back When Day,” held annually on the last Saturday in April and featuring demonstrations of quilting, milling corn, and blacksmithing; “Fall Fest,” which is held the second Saturday in September and features arts and crafts and food vendors; and “Santa in the Park,” which is held the first Friday after Thanksgiving. The Poke Salat Bluegrass Festival is held in downtown Arab on the third Saturday in May. The name refers to the folk term for a salad made from pokeweed, a toxic plant that requires special preparation to make is safe for consumption.
Sounds like a lot of family fun to be had! We are always ready to discover new things and places.
Weather wise we are going to a State that is high risk for tornadoes. Hence, the 10 person underground shelter we have on the property. In Arab the summers are long, hot, and muggy; the winters are short, very cold, and wet; and it is partly cloudy year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature varies from 33Ā°F to 88Ā°F and is rarely below 19Ā°F or above 94Ā°F. Some snow may be seen during the winter months but donāt expect it to be a heavy snow.
There are 35 restaurants/fast food chains to choose from but most of these will be a drive for us because we are off the beaten path. I think the closest store to me is the Dollar General about 10 miles away. LOL. For groceries I will have to trek into town 15-20 miles to do my monthly trips at Walmart. And Iām pretty sure that Dominos wonāt deliver! LOL.
This is definitely going to be an eye opening experience for us all but we are so very excited!!
I hope you enjoy my posts and as soon as things get moving (no pun intended) Iāll update pictures of the move!
Today has been an emotional one for me. I really donāt know why except for the fact Iām overwhelmed, Iām nervous and Iām tired of being stuck in the house.
Iām always a nervous Nancy but today has been on the brink of insanity. I think Iāve just come to the fact that everything is out of my control at this point and being a control freak that drives me bat shit crazy.
Iāve tried to keep myself busy with packing loose ends, arranging and rearranging boxes, etc. However, none of it worked today. My nubs for fingernails prove it. Gross habit, I know, but itās what I do when Iām anxious. Itās a good thing I donāt drink anymore or I would have been stumbling drunk before 2:00!!
I donāt know how one really prepares at this point for a move. Everything is pretty much done except for loading, transporting and unloading the boxes. Granted we still have the closing on both houses to accomplish in a day which really freaks me out. I hate being pushed for time; another trigger for me. Iām such an organized person for the most part and depending on others to get things done sends me in a complete tail spin. Iām depending on everything to fall perfectly in place with people whom Iāve never met. Is that even possible?!?
Let me just chew on my nails some more.
Iāve got to learn to let go and let God but once again; tell that to a control freak. It just doesnāt sink in.
As we are quickly approaching our move date we are starting to run into each other which is causing stress. Our house is becoming quite claustrophobic due to boxes in every nook and cranny. To top it off weāve been quarantined since mid-March…needless to say I think weāve reached the point of getting on each otherās nerves.
Brody threatened to pack his bags and move out today because after so much hard work as weāve put into keeping our house clean he DESTROYED the upstairs. And I mean the entire upstairs which consists of two bathrooms, two bedrooms, bonus room and a craft room. How does one 55lb boy make such a big mess?!? I mean, seriously, most of his stuff is packed up!!!!
Mike rarely loses his temper and today it reached a boiling point. I just sat there quietly as he was at a loss for words and very frustrated with the whole situation. Rightfully so though.
I have to give credit where credit is due. Brody is doing pretty good for not having anything to play with but lately heās losing his cool too. I can completely understand because the kid has been locked up with the rest of us and there is really no outlet for him. Heās utilized the outside as much as he can. It hotter than hell here so most of his day is spent inside.
My patience has worn thin too. I keep getting frustrated over things that would typically not bother me. I feel like I havenāt been the best partner or Mom lately due to the fact Iām just overwhelmed and tired of staring at all of these damn boxes. I also feel out of sorts because Iāve been wearing the same outfits on a daily basis because all of my clothes are in wardrobe boxes! My washing machine has been used more in the last month than it has been in a year (kidding)…but I am doing a lot of laundry!!
Moving definitely isnāt for the weak. It takes a lot of mental and physical strength. More than I remembered from when we moved here and we did that on our own. Thank God we have a moving company to help with this move. I donāt know what we would do otherwise. It seriously wouldnāt be possible.
Iām sitting in a house full of boxes. Itās like a never ending supply of cardboard. I kind of feel bad for the trees that were cut down to make all of these containers that we are packing our lives into.
Life is kind of like a box. Itās hard and sturdy and withstands pressure but it can also fold flat. It made me think about my life and how sturdy our family has been even at times it seemed it would and could go flat.
Weāve been through our share of ups and downs. From Brody being very sick for a couple of years to my depression/anxiety, being in a new, unfamiliar place that I never really wanted to be. I wasnāt opposed to leaving my parents and hometown because letās face it; sometimes it just isnāt possible due to careers. However, as my Momma always told me youāve got to bloom where youāre planted…but my roots were kind of dry here.
As I packed my boxes I was reminded of those things and it felt good to pack some of it away and a lot of it was purged. If youāve never tried it you are missing out. Purging feels AWESOME. Itās like letting go of things that are weighing you down; discarding the junk that you no longer need or want. It is very liberating.
Once the boxes were packed and ready to be sealed I thought about the tape. Tape holds things together so they are manageable. Kind of like ourselves. We are all a little broken and bruised and we use many things to ātapeā ourselves back together such as alcohol, drugs and then most importantly finding God. His tape is the best one to use. Itās sturdy and holds your broken pieces together. And before you know it you are whole again.
I didnāt realize that you could think so deeply over a bunch of boxes but you can use anything in life that seems meaningless into something meaningful!
So thatās my deep thoughts for the day! Be a box and use His tape to hold yourself together!
Many ages ago I was a true believer in myself. I was a spitfire, confident, rarely worried or ever had anxiety about anything. Fast forward 20 years later…
I am a big ball of anxiety walking aimlessly around this earth waiting for the shoe to drop. I always worry about the āWhat ifā in every situation that enters my life. I have removed all of the confidence I once had with layers of insecurities.
I am so sick and tired of being that girl. I think this move is so important to my well being because I have something to prove to myself and my family. I can be that strong little lady I once was and you better believe that I WILL be. I am so very determined.
With this move I am going into it with positivity and eagerness to learn new things that I didnāt think would ever be possible. Taking care of others has always been something I love to do. Especially animals. I feel a true connection with our furry friends; sometimes more than humans. They love you unconditionally and regardless of what youāre going through they are there. They are a form of therapy for me. So chickens and goats it will be to start with! Iām more than excited about this!!! Who knows maybe a cow or two will follow?!
Gardening has always been a love/hate thing with me. I love to see the fruits of my labor but I tend to have a black thumb at times. As much as I try to give plants TLC they can die on me. This is something though Iām going to perfect and get right. Iām looking forward to picking apples and figs out of the orchard and plucking vegetables from the ground. I want to eventually can my own veggies and fruits. I want to be able to incorporate them in family meals; thatās always an awesome feeling to serve what you plant.
I am so very excited about this new Chapter. I find it so liberating to be able to start over in a new place, center myself again and find that little girl who was once so spunky.
I canāt believe I have twelve days left in Georgia. The last 10 years have been a whirlwind of very good and bad memories but as much as I talk about how ready I am to move there are some things that I will miss.
Date Nights at Austinās. These were always fun nights for Mike and I to escape the parent world for a few hours. Their food is great and atmosphere is even better. The staff was always friendly and a hoot to be around.
Lee County High School Football. They were back to back State Champions for a reason. The support from the community is unreal when it comes to the football around here. It was always an electric atmosphere and you could feel the pride of the community and football team. Friday night lights was always a treat.
Lee County Youth Baseball. We have had some great memories watching Brody bloom into a pretty good little ball player. His love for the game is unreal and without our baseball family it would have been pretty boring. People around here take youth baseball so serious and on a whole different level than anywhere I have lived.
Being close to Destin. Ah, the love I have for those beautiful Gulf waters. Itās like heaven on earth. I had never seen such until I moved to SWGA. I will hate being so far away from the crystal blue waters and white sand as Brody affectionately called āsnowā when he was a toddler.
Alzheimerās Outreach Center. I could go on and on about my volunteer work and job. I made lifetime friendships. I have never felt so passionately about something that gave me purpose like I felt there. It was emotionally draining at times but the clients love and hugs were totally worth it.
I really canāt think of anything else that I will truly miss. I know itās not a lot of positive things but I kind of felt like I never belonged here or that it was āhomeā. Itās such a tight knit community that I found it hard to fit in. Iām sure new residents in the small town of Concord feel the same way.
Welp, thatās all I got today! I need to get busy on a few last minute details before we move and Iāve been dragging my feet!!
I have decided I am breaking up with Facebook for a while as soon as we move! It is time for a change. I want something other than my phone to consume me…and the fact that rural life comes with poor cell and internet service, lol.
I want my family, home and land to occupy my time as much as possible these days because letās face it; we are getting older and those things are whatās most important. I have found that FB is a great tool for uplifting quotes, humor, accountability, pats on the back, news and just everyday chat amongst friends.
However, I have also found it makes my anxiety and depression rear itās ugly head at times (most times). I get so consumed with comparing my life to others, yearning for that happiness and positivity (mentally) that some always seem to have but we all know that nobodyās life is perfect. Itās all a facade at times. I get down when I see posts about loss, animals, children dying, all that Jazz.
I know itās a part of everyday life but when you have over 800 āfriendsā on your list you see a shit ton of it. It gets sad. I guess my priorities are changing and this move has really proven that to me. I want less stress, I want better mental and physical health, I want my family dynamics to change, I want to see a positive change in myself. I yearn to stop sweating the small stuff; soak everything in that I am so blessed to have.
I am still staying āliveā until after the move but then itās see ya later! No clue how long it will last…maybe a week, maybe a month, heck, maybe a year but Iāll get back to blogging again and sharing on this page! Pictures, everyday homestead life, the new normal and everything in between! Itās sure to be hilarious because I donāt know what I am doing as far as taking care of livestock and a greenhouse are concerned but I am determined to do it. Damnit!
šThe Homestead Mind š 