We passed the old ACME in Kennett Square a few weeks ago and they were taking huge pieces of drywall in. Obviously something was going in, but WHAT?
A few days later we heard rumour that among other things, a Habitat for Humanity ReSale was going in. Then I read an article in the paper(?) along the same lines.
This morning Child #1 asks, "So mom, do you know when those stores in ACME will be open?" He can't wait to shop there!
I hope that when my littles are teenagers they don't mind "shopping thrifty". Maybe it will be their biggest motivation to "get a job" because I still suffer sticker shop when I see brand name, brand new clothes.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
Really Just a day in My Life
Riding home from the grocery store -
Eann: It's too bad we only have 1 pencil in the car and Kieran has it.
Me: Why?
Eann: Well, I want to play Angry Birds but he has the pencil.
Kieran: I'm on Level 1, Round 8, Angry Birds Pirates.
Me: *Cracking up laughing*
Eann: What? We are addicted to Angry Birds.
Then.....
Eann again: We even have a store we can buy things in, like cannons for the birds and stuff.
Yes, my children play Angry Birds on paper. I LOVE their creativity. Seriously, what kid draws LEVELS of Angry Birds and actually PLAYS them....on paper?
Guess I will keep being the mean mom who doesn't download it on the computer for them to play OR let them play it on my phone. It would totally destroy their imagination and creativity.
Eann: It's too bad we only have 1 pencil in the car and Kieran has it.
Me: Why?
Eann: Well, I want to play Angry Birds but he has the pencil.
Kieran: I'm on Level 1, Round 8, Angry Birds Pirates.
Me: *Cracking up laughing*
Eann: What? We are addicted to Angry Birds.
Then.....
Eann again: We even have a store we can buy things in, like cannons for the birds and stuff.
Yes, my children play Angry Birds on paper. I LOVE their creativity. Seriously, what kid draws LEVELS of Angry Birds and actually PLAYS them....on paper?
Guess I will keep being the mean mom who doesn't download it on the computer for them to play OR let them play it on my phone. It would totally destroy their imagination and creativity.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Daddy's Bringing me a Tambourine (and More)
R. informed me today that daddy is bringing her a tambourine. Let me tell you, I was hoping his flight was landing so I could let him that under no circumstances is he to bring her a tambourine. Our house is loud enough without a tambourine. K. translated for me and said "She means a souvenir".
Speaking of K. and souvenirs, I went to Chinatown with my brother the other day. K. wanted me to bring a souvenir back for him. I asked what on earth I would bring back as a souvenir. His reply? You could bring me a mug with Chinese on it. How does a 6 year old know that a mug is the most cliche souvenir possible?! He was so serious. So sorry son. I brought you rice noodles from Chinatown and cheese and cherries from Italian Market. I hope you live. For the record, he loves food. It worked.
Anyway, back to today. As soon as they saw Dave's flight had landed via flight tracker, that amazing thing. K. said, "Oh good. Now he's coming home." E. said, "Um no. He just got there. You want souvenirs?" Of course K. and R. answered "yes". "Well, you're going to have to wait a few days for him to come home then." "Ok". They will gladly endure daddy being gone a few days to get souvenirs. Me? I am just wondering how I am going to survive.
I did get the car up our icy drive all by myself. We've had to park it at the bottom since the snow came. Go me! Haha. I know I am a good source of entertainment for the Mexican guys at the mushroom farm. Oh well, some one has got to keep it fun, right?
Here's how it goes -
Shovel out ice
Reverse van
Gun van up and around curve into driveway
Slide around
Pray I don't end up in the little gully on the side of the drive
Come to a sliding halt halfway up
Get out
Shovel more ice
Repeat steps 1-7
At this point, dump truck, including the same dump truck driver, I hit almost a year ago, hops out of his truck and asks if I can't get OUT of driveway. Ok, guess he missed the show. He also states tha tnext time maybe they can bring a "tractor" up to scrape some of the ice off. For the record, the "tractor" is a big scoop dozer whose bucket goes 1.5 stories in the air and can "plow" a driveway under 1.5 ft. of snow in a minute. They helped us last year. He's my hero.
Repeat steps 1-6
Hop out of car and feel like "THE woman!"
So where's my coffee? And when is my husband going to be home?
Speaking of K. and souvenirs, I went to Chinatown with my brother the other day. K. wanted me to bring a souvenir back for him. I asked what on earth I would bring back as a souvenir. His reply? You could bring me a mug with Chinese on it. How does a 6 year old know that a mug is the most cliche souvenir possible?! He was so serious. So sorry son. I brought you rice noodles from Chinatown and cheese and cherries from Italian Market. I hope you live. For the record, he loves food. It worked.
Anyway, back to today. As soon as they saw Dave's flight had landed via flight tracker, that amazing thing. K. said, "Oh good. Now he's coming home." E. said, "Um no. He just got there. You want souvenirs?" Of course K. and R. answered "yes". "Well, you're going to have to wait a few days for him to come home then." "Ok". They will gladly endure daddy being gone a few days to get souvenirs. Me? I am just wondering how I am going to survive.
I did get the car up our icy drive all by myself. We've had to park it at the bottom since the snow came. Go me! Haha. I know I am a good source of entertainment for the Mexican guys at the mushroom farm. Oh well, some one has got to keep it fun, right?
Here's how it goes -
Shovel out ice
Reverse van
Gun van up and around curve into driveway
Slide around
Pray I don't end up in the little gully on the side of the drive
Come to a sliding halt halfway up
Get out
Shovel more ice
Repeat steps 1-7
At this point, dump truck, including the same dump truck driver, I hit almost a year ago, hops out of his truck and asks if I can't get OUT of driveway. Ok, guess he missed the show. He also states tha tnext time maybe they can bring a "tractor" up to scrape some of the ice off. For the record, the "tractor" is a big scoop dozer whose bucket goes 1.5 stories in the air and can "plow" a driveway under 1.5 ft. of snow in a minute. They helped us last year. He's my hero.
Repeat steps 1-6
Hop out of car and feel like "THE woman!"
So where's my coffee? And when is my husband going to be home?
Monday, January 16, 2012
"Englisch" People Cook Too
I grew up conservative Mennonite and one thing about all "plain" folk is we know how to cook or pity the husband whose wife doesn't. I have been baking and cooking since I was 6. I couldn't use our stove that young because we had an old old old fashioned gas range that you had to light with a match but I was making pies and mixing cookie dough at that point.
At 9 I was doing the full 9 yards and learning how to prep vegetables for canning. At 12 I was canning and could cook a full Thanksgiving meal on my own. In other words, I know how to cook.
I love it. It could have been drudgery for me but honestly, the only indoor "women's work" I enjoyed was cooking and baking. As the oldest with a 7 year gap before the first son this worked well for my father. I could go from working in the wood shop or yard to cooking for mom.
Fast forward to now. I can cook so many more things than "plain cooking". It comes naturally to me but is made so much easier by the fact that I have a good foundation - years of cooking.
I went to a school reunion last year and had a great time. Some were surprised due to different reasons, the main one being it was a Mennonite school and we left a long time ago. Honestly, I was a bit nervous. It was a mixed experience. I can still hear some of the ugly things that were said to me there as a student since I wasn't a popular girl. However, I went because I had a core group of girl friends who didn't care if I was just like them or not. It was one of the few places that I felt accepted for who I was - in my life. When my family left the Mennonite church they didn't just drop me. We stayed in as much contact as we could for a while. Age and time tend to make you drift apart - we left when I was finished with 6th grade.
While at the reunion, there were also people who didn't like me then, don't like me now. That much was obvious. No, not that they didn't like me but the "outsider" attitude was still blatantly there.
It was also painfully obvious that they talked to me because curiosity allowed nothing else. I was slightly grilled on where my family is, what they are doing, what I am doing, what my husband does. No big deal. I am "proud" of our family.
Then came the slightly rude question and point of my post. "Do you cook for your family?" Try answering that with a straight face. I was imagining what life would be like if I didn't cook for my family. It was all I could do not to laugh. "Why no. Why should I do that? I simply order out for 5 people every night."
I am that curiosity called "Englisch" and that's ok with me. To answer the question, "Yes, I do cook for my family. I just might even make more things from scratch then you do." (Of course I didn't say that.)
Maybe you wonder at the point of this post. I assure you I have no earth shattering reason to post it. Sometimes things just go round and round in my brain and it helps to get it out there. A lesson? Hmmmm.... I guess it's whatever you get from it. For me, it just reminds me of how fickle stereotypes are and why I try to be careful in what I view the world around me as.
At 9 I was doing the full 9 yards and learning how to prep vegetables for canning. At 12 I was canning and could cook a full Thanksgiving meal on my own. In other words, I know how to cook.
I love it. It could have been drudgery for me but honestly, the only indoor "women's work" I enjoyed was cooking and baking. As the oldest with a 7 year gap before the first son this worked well for my father. I could go from working in the wood shop or yard to cooking for mom.
Fast forward to now. I can cook so many more things than "plain cooking". It comes naturally to me but is made so much easier by the fact that I have a good foundation - years of cooking.
I went to a school reunion last year and had a great time. Some were surprised due to different reasons, the main one being it was a Mennonite school and we left a long time ago. Honestly, I was a bit nervous. It was a mixed experience. I can still hear some of the ugly things that were said to me there as a student since I wasn't a popular girl. However, I went because I had a core group of girl friends who didn't care if I was just like them or not. It was one of the few places that I felt accepted for who I was - in my life. When my family left the Mennonite church they didn't just drop me. We stayed in as much contact as we could for a while. Age and time tend to make you drift apart - we left when I was finished with 6th grade.
While at the reunion, there were also people who didn't like me then, don't like me now. That much was obvious. No, not that they didn't like me but the "outsider" attitude was still blatantly there.
It was also painfully obvious that they talked to me because curiosity allowed nothing else. I was slightly grilled on where my family is, what they are doing, what I am doing, what my husband does. No big deal. I am "proud" of our family.
Then came the slightly rude question and point of my post. "Do you cook for your family?" Try answering that with a straight face. I was imagining what life would be like if I didn't cook for my family. It was all I could do not to laugh. "Why no. Why should I do that? I simply order out for 5 people every night."
I am that curiosity called "Englisch" and that's ok with me. To answer the question, "Yes, I do cook for my family. I just might even make more things from scratch then you do." (Of course I didn't say that.)
Maybe you wonder at the point of this post. I assure you I have no earth shattering reason to post it. Sometimes things just go round and round in my brain and it helps to get it out there. A lesson? Hmmmm.... I guess it's whatever you get from it. For me, it just reminds me of how fickle stereotypes are and why I try to be careful in what I view the world around me as.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
"I'm Gonna Die!"
Tonight Kieran took a leap and jumped on the couch. He just so happened to jump on a pencil his brother left there and stabbed his leg.
He was screaming hysterically in the livingroom and I was in the kitchen, with no clue what he was trying to say. I asked him to come to me (not realizing he was hurt, since he is my dramatically loud kid). Well, he comes to the kitchen screaming "I'm hurt. I'm gonna die!" Seriously, at this point I can't even see where he is hurt. It just looks like he has a spot of ink on his leg. He got closer and I was able to get the full story but he just kept freaking out. "I'm going to die. I am so scared. I am super freaked out. I'm gonna die."
At this point I felt horrible but at the same time...I was trying to hide my laughter. Really child? A small pencil wound and "you're gonna die???!!" Of course it didn't help when I squeezed his leg so the blood started trickling down it (he thought it was a river) and he was sure that I was going to make him bleed to death. I explained that the blood helps get the bacteria/germs out and that was all I was doing. It was hardly any blood and I thought he would survive.
After I cleaned the blood off he took a good look at it and says "Oh, I thought it went the whole way through." REALLY? Seriously? YES! He thought that was all the pain and blood there would be if he poked it clear through his leg?
He finally calmed down and we put a Hello Kitty bandaid on it. My macho boy who HATES pink AND Hello Kitty has a pink Hello Kitty bandaid on because obviously that will keep him from bleeding to death.
He just kept saying over and over " I was so nervous I was going to die. I thought I was going to bleed to death." I asked him why he was scared he would die and he said "'Cause I would never get to move or anything."
So I said, "Well sweetie, do you think you would go to Heaven?"
"Well yeah, but it would be boring. I would have nothing to do there."
The conversation went on but fast forward to a few hours later....
As I type this I am laughing hysterically as I am relaying parts that Dave missed. Eann just piped up from the bedroom, "At least he's asleep." Oops, thought HE was asleep. Someday Kieran's going to want to kill me for this. For now can it be our secret?
He was screaming hysterically in the livingroom and I was in the kitchen, with no clue what he was trying to say. I asked him to come to me (not realizing he was hurt, since he is my dramatically loud kid). Well, he comes to the kitchen screaming "I'm hurt. I'm gonna die!" Seriously, at this point I can't even see where he is hurt. It just looks like he has a spot of ink on his leg. He got closer and I was able to get the full story but he just kept freaking out. "I'm going to die. I am so scared. I am super freaked out. I'm gonna die."
At this point I felt horrible but at the same time...I was trying to hide my laughter. Really child? A small pencil wound and "you're gonna die???!!" Of course it didn't help when I squeezed his leg so the blood started trickling down it (he thought it was a river) and he was sure that I was going to make him bleed to death. I explained that the blood helps get the bacteria/germs out and that was all I was doing. It was hardly any blood and I thought he would survive.
After I cleaned the blood off he took a good look at it and says "Oh, I thought it went the whole way through." REALLY? Seriously? YES! He thought that was all the pain and blood there would be if he poked it clear through his leg?
He finally calmed down and we put a Hello Kitty bandaid on it. My macho boy who HATES pink AND Hello Kitty has a pink Hello Kitty bandaid on because obviously that will keep him from bleeding to death.
He just kept saying over and over " I was so nervous I was going to die. I thought I was going to bleed to death." I asked him why he was scared he would die and he said "'Cause I would never get to move or anything."
So I said, "Well sweetie, do you think you would go to Heaven?"
"Well yeah, but it would be boring. I would have nothing to do there."
The conversation went on but fast forward to a few hours later....
As I type this I am laughing hysterically as I am relaying parts that Dave missed. Eann just piped up from the bedroom, "At least he's asleep." Oops, thought HE was asleep. Someday Kieran's going to want to kill me for this. For now can it be our secret?
Friday, October 28, 2011
Time or lack there of
I am so reminded of how little time we truly have in life today. Simply in the example of my day today. I know, how morbid, thinking of how short life is.
Sometimes I feel like we rush around all the time and truly accomplish nothing. At times I feel helpless to be able to slow any of it down.
Occasionally I take a look at what is going on and prioritize, trying to find something I can cut. The only thing that ever seems to be is spending time with/on family and friends. I am not willing to go there. I know it has already happened to a degree. I have friends that I miss. Many of them online friends because that is what has definitely decreased - online time. It makes me sad. You may say, "How does one miss an online friend?" I do. There is a spot in my heart that misses them and makes me miss being able to get together IRL even more. (Know you ARE missed.)
Being so busy makes it easier to lose track of what really matters. I know it adds to my stress levels, which triggers anger for me. I find myself in that place where I am actually spending time with my kids but it feels so worthless because I am so stressed and angry about everything. Instead of being able to just relax and spend the time together it gets wasted. I am making a conscious effort to really be in tune with my stress and anger and take it to the one I know can and will help me. Talk about LOTS of prayer!!! Someone told me the other day that her job is really demanding and it is reminding her to go to God with it. It shows her just how much she needs help. It was a good "refresher" perspective. Sometimes the stress in our lives is there because of us - because we need the reminder that we can't rely on ourselves alone. I have lived life "as an island". I don't want to be there again.
Today I am juggling a million things. It all started with a VERY late morning. I haven't been getting a lot of sleep and somehow I slept until 9 AM. Um, WOW!!! I was talking with Dave and saying that I need to remind myself not to get all stressed about how much HAS to be done today because I desperately needed that sleep and felt so much better for it. However, it is easy to look around me and get stressed out. That's when I really lose the value of those extra hours of sleep.
I know this is a bit of rambling but somewhere in there, I hope you can hear an echo of sense. It isn't how much time I have. It isn't about how much I get done. It's about what I do with the moments of time I have. Today my house may not be completely sparkling when company comes for dinner but my prayer is that I am at peace and my kids feel that company tonight doesn't mean they had a totally trashed day.
Sometimes I feel like we rush around all the time and truly accomplish nothing. At times I feel helpless to be able to slow any of it down.
Occasionally I take a look at what is going on and prioritize, trying to find something I can cut. The only thing that ever seems to be is spending time with/on family and friends. I am not willing to go there. I know it has already happened to a degree. I have friends that I miss. Many of them online friends because that is what has definitely decreased - online time. It makes me sad. You may say, "How does one miss an online friend?" I do. There is a spot in my heart that misses them and makes me miss being able to get together IRL even more. (Know you ARE missed.)
Being so busy makes it easier to lose track of what really matters. I know it adds to my stress levels, which triggers anger for me. I find myself in that place where I am actually spending time with my kids but it feels so worthless because I am so stressed and angry about everything. Instead of being able to just relax and spend the time together it gets wasted. I am making a conscious effort to really be in tune with my stress and anger and take it to the one I know can and will help me. Talk about LOTS of prayer!!! Someone told me the other day that her job is really demanding and it is reminding her to go to God with it. It shows her just how much she needs help. It was a good "refresher" perspective. Sometimes the stress in our lives is there because of us - because we need the reminder that we can't rely on ourselves alone. I have lived life "as an island". I don't want to be there again.
Today I am juggling a million things. It all started with a VERY late morning. I haven't been getting a lot of sleep and somehow I slept until 9 AM. Um, WOW!!! I was talking with Dave and saying that I need to remind myself not to get all stressed about how much HAS to be done today because I desperately needed that sleep and felt so much better for it. However, it is easy to look around me and get stressed out. That's when I really lose the value of those extra hours of sleep.
I know this is a bit of rambling but somewhere in there, I hope you can hear an echo of sense. It isn't how much time I have. It isn't about how much I get done. It's about what I do with the moments of time I have. Today my house may not be completely sparkling when company comes for dinner but my prayer is that I am at peace and my kids feel that company tonight doesn't mean they had a totally trashed day.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
What you really CAN do!
A few months ago my KitchenAid mixer BROKE. That is one of the worst kitchen things that could break for me. Of course it isn't under warranty anymore, even though it is only 3 years old. The frustrating thing to me is that it was still running. It just wasn't turning the beaters.
Enter me, the "fixer of all things". I took that baby apart but got to a certain part and couldn't figure out how to get it apart enough. I put it back together and finally, weeks later, we went to look at new ones.
This time we decided to look for the top of the line one. It's pretty simple, I know what I want. Of course it costs $400 BUT with a 20% off coupon AND a rebate for buying one of 2 attachment options, you really couldn't beat it. The problem was they didn't have warranty information on the box AND I really don't have $400 for a mixer right now. The other problem is that I really DO need a mixer. It is somehting that I use several times a week.
We decided to go home and figure things out. Dave decided that maybe I didn't take enough of it apart (obviously I didn't since I couldn't find anymore pieces to take apart.) Here is why it is so much better for two to work together. He found some hidden screws. Between the two of us we got everything apart and found out that Kitchenaid mixers have A TON OF GREASE in the housing, like gobs of the stuff...grotesque amounts of it!!!!
We found out that a PLASTIC gear had stripped. Yes, everything but the most important gear on the mixer is metal. We got it off, found a replacement part on Amazon, and in 3-5 days we will get the new part for $12.97 and free shipping. Now we are going to hope and pray that goes in easily and WORKS.
If it works we have just saved ourselves over $300. If it doesn't we have lost $13. I prefer to risk losing $13. You just never know what you are capable of until you try.
Oh, BTW, you can buy Kitchenaid Mixer grease on Amazon for $20...just in case you ever need to know that.
Enter me, the "fixer of all things". I took that baby apart but got to a certain part and couldn't figure out how to get it apart enough. I put it back together and finally, weeks later, we went to look at new ones.
This time we decided to look for the top of the line one. It's pretty simple, I know what I want. Of course it costs $400 BUT with a 20% off coupon AND a rebate for buying one of 2 attachment options, you really couldn't beat it. The problem was they didn't have warranty information on the box AND I really don't have $400 for a mixer right now. The other problem is that I really DO need a mixer. It is somehting that I use several times a week.
We decided to go home and figure things out. Dave decided that maybe I didn't take enough of it apart (obviously I didn't since I couldn't find anymore pieces to take apart.) Here is why it is so much better for two to work together. He found some hidden screws. Between the two of us we got everything apart and found out that Kitchenaid mixers have A TON OF GREASE in the housing, like gobs of the stuff...grotesque amounts of it!!!!
We found out that a PLASTIC gear had stripped. Yes, everything but the most important gear on the mixer is metal. We got it off, found a replacement part on Amazon, and in 3-5 days we will get the new part for $12.97 and free shipping. Now we are going to hope and pray that goes in easily and WORKS.
If it works we have just saved ourselves over $300. If it doesn't we have lost $13. I prefer to risk losing $13. You just never know what you are capable of until you try.
Oh, BTW, you can buy Kitchenaid Mixer grease on Amazon for $20...just in case you ever need to know that.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Brownies and Egg-less Molasses Cookies
This is about a lot of things. I knew coming into my "blogging life" that I can be quite random so I wanted to call it "ramblings and randomness". However, someone had that brilliant idea before me. Oh well. You have been warned.
I woke up this morning and made the children their favorite breakfast-oatmeal. We decided to try chocolate chips instead of cranberries, raisins, and sugar. Excellent idea, right? In theory, yes. In actuality, no. Oh well. You live, you learn. It started our day off badly because everyone thought this was going to be the best breakfast ever and it was a dud.
Then I thought Kieran had a one-on-one class with his teacher at 9 so I delayed starting school until then since it is always a pain to be half way through the subject and have to set it aside until later. WRONG!! After arriving at his classroom online and waiting 10 minutes I double checked the time - 11:30.
Next I got him started on a subject and started up my netbook. Ok, tried to start up my netbook. The dying battery light flashed even though it was plugged in. *Sigh* I tried to start up the PC and the data wasn't making it from the computer tower to the screen. YAY!!! Two broken computers. Thankfully the PC did start up later but I don't know how long that will last.
(Yes, I am getting to the brownies and molasses cookies.)
On a positive note I was able to wash 2 loads of laundry today without my children killing themselves or each other. Some of you know my horrible laundry room situation but if you don't, here it is. **We live in a very very small house. That means there is no space to put inside stairs to the basement. Really, it would take up my whole bathroom space to do so! We also have a front 2nd story porch that is the whole length and 1/3 the width of our house. I have to go outside, downstairs, through the garage, a second room and then back the length to the back of the basement to get to the washer and dryer. Great for exercise, not so great when you hear a thud and scream from upstairs.**
You would think two technology issues in one day was enough but no, my husband texted me on the way home and when he got home, with no coffee in hand (he asked me what I wanted), asked why I didn't text him back. I did. However, my phone says it sent it but he never got it and the sent copy had no message. Good thing a new phone is on its way.
Halfway through the day I received an email reminding me that I have snacks for our Community Group meeting tomorrow. I thought it was in November. OOPS! So now what??! I am gone from 5:30 AM until 10:30 PM tomorrow!! I finally was able to think about what I was taking around 5:00 tonight. There are a lot of allergies in our group and I really try to make sure there is yummy stuff for everyone, or as close to everyone as possible. With tree nut, peanut, egg, dairy, and sulfite allergies it is a challenge I honestly love. (I am so sorry Becky. I am not sure if I was successful.)
I grabbed my old standby - Pillsbury chocolate fudge brownie mix (sorry Erin). Instead of oil I used some of my yummy home canned applesauce and threw in chocolate syrup and cinnamon. Dairy and nut (both types) free!!!
Then, around 9 PM I found a recipe for eggless molasses cookies. SWEET!! I have been wanting molasses crinkles for awhile so it kills 2 (birds) with one stone. I get them and I don't eat them all.
They are so good, even though they are a little low on the molassesy flavor. I will definitely make them again. Once I perfect the recipe I will share it with you.
I feel accomplished. My whole day felt like such a bust but when I pulled those trays of cookies out of the oven-I felt IT. I accomplished something!
Plus those cookies were awfully yummy.
I woke up this morning and made the children their favorite breakfast-oatmeal. We decided to try chocolate chips instead of cranberries, raisins, and sugar. Excellent idea, right? In theory, yes. In actuality, no. Oh well. You live, you learn. It started our day off badly because everyone thought this was going to be the best breakfast ever and it was a dud.
Then I thought Kieran had a one-on-one class with his teacher at 9 so I delayed starting school until then since it is always a pain to be half way through the subject and have to set it aside until later. WRONG!! After arriving at his classroom online and waiting 10 minutes I double checked the time - 11:30.
Next I got him started on a subject and started up my netbook. Ok, tried to start up my netbook. The dying battery light flashed even though it was plugged in. *Sigh* I tried to start up the PC and the data wasn't making it from the computer tower to the screen. YAY!!! Two broken computers. Thankfully the PC did start up later but I don't know how long that will last.
(Yes, I am getting to the brownies and molasses cookies.)
On a positive note I was able to wash 2 loads of laundry today without my children killing themselves or each other. Some of you know my horrible laundry room situation but if you don't, here it is. **We live in a very very small house. That means there is no space to put inside stairs to the basement. Really, it would take up my whole bathroom space to do so! We also have a front 2nd story porch that is the whole length and 1/3 the width of our house. I have to go outside, downstairs, through the garage, a second room and then back the length to the back of the basement to get to the washer and dryer. Great for exercise, not so great when you hear a thud and scream from upstairs.**
You would think two technology issues in one day was enough but no, my husband texted me on the way home and when he got home, with no coffee in hand (he asked me what I wanted), asked why I didn't text him back. I did. However, my phone says it sent it but he never got it and the sent copy had no message. Good thing a new phone is on its way.
Halfway through the day I received an email reminding me that I have snacks for our Community Group meeting tomorrow. I thought it was in November. OOPS! So now what??! I am gone from 5:30 AM until 10:30 PM tomorrow!! I finally was able to think about what I was taking around 5:00 tonight. There are a lot of allergies in our group and I really try to make sure there is yummy stuff for everyone, or as close to everyone as possible. With tree nut, peanut, egg, dairy, and sulfite allergies it is a challenge I honestly love. (I am so sorry Becky. I am not sure if I was successful.)
I grabbed my old standby - Pillsbury chocolate fudge brownie mix (sorry Erin). Instead of oil I used some of my yummy home canned applesauce and threw in chocolate syrup and cinnamon. Dairy and nut (both types) free!!!
Then, around 9 PM I found a recipe for eggless molasses cookies. SWEET!! I have been wanting molasses crinkles for awhile so it kills 2 (birds) with one stone. I get them and I don't eat them all.
They are so good, even though they are a little low on the molassesy flavor. I will definitely make them again. Once I perfect the recipe I will share it with you.
I feel accomplished. My whole day felt like such a bust but when I pulled those trays of cookies out of the oven-I felt IT. I accomplished something!
Plus those cookies were awfully yummy.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Losing the Invisible (Miscarriage mentioned)
I read of an older woman once who had lost a baby just a short time into her pregnancy over 20 years before. Her words will always stay with me. Paraphrasing her - "Don't be afraid you will ever forget. You will be old and gray and will always remember the special baby who never made it. You won't always have the same gut wrenching pain that you do today but each year the memory and emotions will change. Twenty years from now you will still have the pain but the freshness will be duller, the pain will change. That baby will still be your baby though, will always be your baby. No one can take that away from you."
At the time, I tried to picture the pain being just a little else. I couldn't imagine how that could be but it's true. Five years later the pain isn't the same. Occasionally I get flashbacks to just how dark those days were and I see how far I have come. When I was in the moment I just coped and got by. I didn't see the just how dark it was. Looking back though I can. It scares me that I've been there.
I lost a lot of friends. When you are in that place you just want your "normal friends" to understand, to be what you need. The problem is they can't. They generally feel pretty helpless and in trying to help, to put it bluntly, make it worse. I feel for friends who were exposed to me in those days. I don't remember much of what I said or other people said but I remember some things and I remember some horribly awkward moments. I also remember some long time friends who I lost through it. Like it wasn't enough to lose my baby, live far from anyone I knew, I lost my friends. I can't lay the blame. Well, one or two I can but others -they didn't know what to say or do. I can't blame them. At 16 a best friend told me she had a miscarriage and I lost her then because I didn't know what to say so I said something stupid. We never got to speak again and I never got to tell her how sorry I was that I didn't know the words to say.
Maybe you are one of those women who suffer in silence, not knowing what to say. Maybe you are one who doesn't WANT to say what you have been through. It's ok. We each grieve differently, we each remember in our own way.
Now, no matter who you are we have a day specifically set to remember those who left before they came, came silently into the world, or left us with only a few memories. October 15, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day is set to make it just a little less taboo.
I truly believe that if women stop being afraid to talk about "it" we can change the way our friends think. We can change the way the world thinks of loss. 1 in 4 women suffer from a miscarriage. This does not factor in later term losses, stillbirth, infant loss, young child loss. IT FACTORS NONE OF THAT. OVER 1 in 4 women suffer a traumatic loss and many of them don't know what to say. How do you tell a stranger who comments on your 3 beautiful children that life isn't fair and they should be commenting on 4? You don't. Instead you silently feel torn that you have one who can't be recognized.
They say everything happens for a reason. I firmly believe that. Do I know why? No, I don't but someday maybe I will. Someday I can't wait to meet my precious little one that the average person on the street knows nothing about.
Next time you hear of someone who lost a pregnancy or infant, here's what you can do: take them a meal, send them a thinking of you card, offer to be there if they need you. Give them something to recognize their loss.
DO NOT: say "Everything happens for a reason", "I know they are better off", or "time will heal your pain". They hear it enough. Don't give them flowers. The worst reminder of their loss is when those flowers die and they have to throw them away. The places that can take a mind, you don't want to know. Don't be silent and pretend they don't exist.
All around the world today at 7 PM people will be lighting their candles in memory and honor of the little lives that are gone just like a candle's flame - one little breath. My prayer is that all the mommies and daddies suffering will feel the love and peace I ask for them.
At the time, I tried to picture the pain being just a little else. I couldn't imagine how that could be but it's true. Five years later the pain isn't the same. Occasionally I get flashbacks to just how dark those days were and I see how far I have come. When I was in the moment I just coped and got by. I didn't see the just how dark it was. Looking back though I can. It scares me that I've been there.
I lost a lot of friends. When you are in that place you just want your "normal friends" to understand, to be what you need. The problem is they can't. They generally feel pretty helpless and in trying to help, to put it bluntly, make it worse. I feel for friends who were exposed to me in those days. I don't remember much of what I said or other people said but I remember some things and I remember some horribly awkward moments. I also remember some long time friends who I lost through it. Like it wasn't enough to lose my baby, live far from anyone I knew, I lost my friends. I can't lay the blame. Well, one or two I can but others -they didn't know what to say or do. I can't blame them. At 16 a best friend told me she had a miscarriage and I lost her then because I didn't know what to say so I said something stupid. We never got to speak again and I never got to tell her how sorry I was that I didn't know the words to say.
Maybe you are one of those women who suffer in silence, not knowing what to say. Maybe you are one who doesn't WANT to say what you have been through. It's ok. We each grieve differently, we each remember in our own way.
Now, no matter who you are we have a day specifically set to remember those who left before they came, came silently into the world, or left us with only a few memories. October 15, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day is set to make it just a little less taboo.
I truly believe that if women stop being afraid to talk about "it" we can change the way our friends think. We can change the way the world thinks of loss. 1 in 4 women suffer from a miscarriage. This does not factor in later term losses, stillbirth, infant loss, young child loss. IT FACTORS NONE OF THAT. OVER 1 in 4 women suffer a traumatic loss and many of them don't know what to say. How do you tell a stranger who comments on your 3 beautiful children that life isn't fair and they should be commenting on 4? You don't. Instead you silently feel torn that you have one who can't be recognized.
They say everything happens for a reason. I firmly believe that. Do I know why? No, I don't but someday maybe I will. Someday I can't wait to meet my precious little one that the average person on the street knows nothing about.
Next time you hear of someone who lost a pregnancy or infant, here's what you can do: take them a meal, send them a thinking of you card, offer to be there if they need you. Give them something to recognize their loss.
DO NOT: say "Everything happens for a reason", "I know they are better off", or "time will heal your pain". They hear it enough. Don't give them flowers. The worst reminder of their loss is when those flowers die and they have to throw them away. The places that can take a mind, you don't want to know. Don't be silent and pretend they don't exist.
All around the world today at 7 PM people will be lighting their candles in memory and honor of the little lives that are gone just like a candle's flame - one little breath. My prayer is that all the mommies and daddies suffering will feel the love and peace I ask for them.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Too Many, Not Enough....How about mind your own business?
I think it is "funny" how people believe that other people with no children can't "possibly know". Ok, so yeah, you CAN'T possibly "know". Then of course, it tends to be hinted that "IF you were a parent then you COULD "possibly know".
Boy have I got news for you!!! It doesn't end. One of the biggest things about parenthood that I never saw coming with parenthood was how many people "possibly know" so much more than you and aren't afraid to tell you so.
Today's pet peeve is "amount of children".
It is not acceptable to have one child because obviously one child will be pampered and spoiled and generally have a horrid and lonesome life. True to some degree? It CAN be. It all depends on the family and/or child. Coming from 1 of 7 I can't imagine how lonely it could be but I can imagine the sheer bliss of your toys actually being YOURS and not broken or stolen by some one else. Oops, I was the one who broke my sister's doll in a very creative way. Oooooooookay, moving right along.
It is not acceptable to have 2 children unless of course you are so good as to purposefully have 1 boy and 1 girl. Even at that, we know there are cons because obviously, 2 children of opposing genders means no sibling who truly "gets you".
Next, we have 3 children families. Oh yes, that would be my family's category. I have heard so many lame reasons why you simply cannot have 3 children. Among many other statements I have gotten "Well, two's company, three's a crowd". How absolutely silly that can be. Ok, I concede. If there are 3 children of the same gender, perhaps the older two leave out the younger. I don't know. it isn't my life. However, in our household it runs splendidly. They all fight equal opportunity. If for some reason my daughter simply cannot handle not having a companion sister of the same gender, well, she will hopefully get along perfectly with her "girl cousin" who is 2 years younger than her. Really, how much better can it get? My sister fixed that one up for me.
On we go to 4 children. This is when you start hearing "YOU HAVE HOW MANY KIDS?" Ok, so really, 4 kids IS a perfect number, especially if you have been so lucky to get 2 and 2, preferably each 2 the same gender so they will most obviously be best friends forever who never fight over room colors or sides or anything else.
I don't think we need to talk in detail of those people who get looked at as if they have 2 or more heads when they mention anything over 4 kids. We all KNOW they belong in a padded room. There simply is no other explanation.
Ok, so let's get real. Seriously, whose business is it how many children someone decides to have or not have? When did it ever become socially acceptable for people to make the comments they do about someone else's decision on family size? Too bad it isn't socially acceptable to say "Mind your own business"? Why do people NOT think before they speak? Maybe the person has 1 child does so because they tried for years and couldn't have another? Thank you so kindly for rubbing it in their face. Maybe the person who has 7 lived a life as an only child and wanted a whole house full. Either way, it really is none of your business if you aren't being asked to raise them.
Maybe the next time it would be better to mind your own business. Instead of telling me how hard it must be for "sister" to be the only girl and in round about ways suggest that my children will be -psychologically harmed because we have an uneven three, you can simply tell me how blessed I am. I remember the lady who said that with a smile versus the cringe at some other comments I also remember. Be a blessing to someone instead of pulling their day down by reminding them of just one more way they are failing their children because they simply don't feel enough guilt over things they aren't perfect at.
Boy have I got news for you!!! It doesn't end. One of the biggest things about parenthood that I never saw coming with parenthood was how many people "possibly know" so much more than you and aren't afraid to tell you so.
Today's pet peeve is "amount of children".
It is not acceptable to have one child because obviously one child will be pampered and spoiled and generally have a horrid and lonesome life. True to some degree? It CAN be. It all depends on the family and/or child. Coming from 1 of 7 I can't imagine how lonely it could be but I can imagine the sheer bliss of your toys actually being YOURS and not broken or stolen by some one else. Oops, I was the one who broke my sister's doll in a very creative way. Oooooooookay, moving right along.
It is not acceptable to have 2 children unless of course you are so good as to purposefully have 1 boy and 1 girl. Even at that, we know there are cons because obviously, 2 children of opposing genders means no sibling who truly "gets you".
Next, we have 3 children families. Oh yes, that would be my family's category. I have heard so many lame reasons why you simply cannot have 3 children. Among many other statements I have gotten "Well, two's company, three's a crowd". How absolutely silly that can be. Ok, I concede. If there are 3 children of the same gender, perhaps the older two leave out the younger. I don't know. it isn't my life. However, in our household it runs splendidly. They all fight equal opportunity. If for some reason my daughter simply cannot handle not having a companion sister of the same gender, well, she will hopefully get along perfectly with her "girl cousin" who is 2 years younger than her. Really, how much better can it get? My sister fixed that one up for me.
On we go to 4 children. This is when you start hearing "YOU HAVE HOW MANY KIDS?" Ok, so really, 4 kids IS a perfect number, especially if you have been so lucky to get 2 and 2, preferably each 2 the same gender so they will most obviously be best friends forever who never fight over room colors or sides or anything else.
I don't think we need to talk in detail of those people who get looked at as if they have 2 or more heads when they mention anything over 4 kids. We all KNOW they belong in a padded room. There simply is no other explanation.
Ok, so let's get real. Seriously, whose business is it how many children someone decides to have or not have? When did it ever become socially acceptable for people to make the comments they do about someone else's decision on family size? Too bad it isn't socially acceptable to say "Mind your own business"? Why do people NOT think before they speak? Maybe the person has 1 child does so because they tried for years and couldn't have another? Thank you so kindly for rubbing it in their face. Maybe the person who has 7 lived a life as an only child and wanted a whole house full. Either way, it really is none of your business if you aren't being asked to raise them.
Maybe the next time it would be better to mind your own business. Instead of telling me how hard it must be for "sister" to be the only girl and in round about ways suggest that my children will be -psychologically harmed because we have an uneven three, you can simply tell me how blessed I am. I remember the lady who said that with a smile versus the cringe at some other comments I also remember. Be a blessing to someone instead of pulling their day down by reminding them of just one more way they are failing their children because they simply don't feel enough guilt over things they aren't perfect at.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
In Our World today....
Kieran hates Rohanna's hair cut and doesn't fail to tell her this about once an hour. Apparently it is too short and she looks awful - she looks like a boy. *Giggle* Boys look awful?? Ok, BOY!
Kieran's vendetta continues - Me: Everyone clean up the boys' room. Kieran: Rohanna, I don't like you. Me: Why? Kieran: She always makes our room a mess.
Oh yes, I forgot, he doesn't play with toys OR sleep on the floor, which means his blanket and pillows are on the floor rather then his perfectly fine bed. It's all her fault.
Stopped at the bank. Kieran AGAIN: "Mom, tell her(bank teller at window) I said hi." Eann chimes in: "Me too." As I tell bank teller HIM "hi" from my children I want to hide in mortification. He looks at me like I am insane. Oh, that's right I AM!!!! By the way, as I was saying "hi from my children" Rohanna pipes up "For candy." Yup, see? There was a motive behind their friendly behavior. Can't you see their brains are working? "If we say 'hi' they cannot possibly miss the fact that there are children in the car and realize that they need to add some lollipops to the envelope. Maybe one of these days I will put a note in with the slip asking for dog bones instead of lollipops. See what happens then.
Before I got a mile down the road today that little red brake light popped on and started dinging at me. SERIOUSLY???!!!! WHAT NOW??? Oops, Dave forgot to add brake fluid when he changed caliper #1 yesterday. I was on the way to pick up caliper #2. Turned around, came home, found brake fluid and felt like a hero. I really did know where it goes lol. Look around, any macho guys watching? Look at me, I am THE WOMAN! I can fix cars!! :-D
Get home, call Dave, inform him that I picked up the caliper. "So, you gonna change it today?" I laughed, "How did you know I actually thought about trying it for about 5 seconds??!!!" He really wouldn't be surprised to come home to the car jacked up and missing a tire. I would most likely get half way through and not be sure if I had it quite right. I am tempted to try it just to prove that being assistant on a few too many of these jobs HAS taught me something.
Finally, in our world today, I am making tiramisu, tomato sauce, canning salsa, making bread, homemade potato soup for dinner, biscuits for dinner AND the freezer, and some yummy breakfast food for tomorrow. Maybe some apple muffins for the freezer too?? I think the caliper will wait.
Kieran's vendetta continues - Me: Everyone clean up the boys' room. Kieran: Rohanna, I don't like you. Me: Why? Kieran: She always makes our room a mess.
Oh yes, I forgot, he doesn't play with toys OR sleep on the floor, which means his blanket and pillows are on the floor rather then his perfectly fine bed. It's all her fault.
Stopped at the bank. Kieran AGAIN: "Mom, tell her(bank teller at window) I said hi." Eann chimes in: "Me too." As I tell bank teller HIM "hi" from my children I want to hide in mortification. He looks at me like I am insane. Oh, that's right I AM!!!! By the way, as I was saying "hi from my children" Rohanna pipes up "For candy." Yup, see? There was a motive behind their friendly behavior. Can't you see their brains are working? "If we say 'hi' they cannot possibly miss the fact that there are children in the car and realize that they need to add some lollipops to the envelope. Maybe one of these days I will put a note in with the slip asking for dog bones instead of lollipops. See what happens then.
Before I got a mile down the road today that little red brake light popped on and started dinging at me. SERIOUSLY???!!!! WHAT NOW??? Oops, Dave forgot to add brake fluid when he changed caliper #1 yesterday. I was on the way to pick up caliper #2. Turned around, came home, found brake fluid and felt like a hero. I really did know where it goes lol. Look around, any macho guys watching? Look at me, I am THE WOMAN! I can fix cars!! :-D
Get home, call Dave, inform him that I picked up the caliper. "So, you gonna change it today?" I laughed, "How did you know I actually thought about trying it for about 5 seconds??!!!" He really wouldn't be surprised to come home to the car jacked up and missing a tire. I would most likely get half way through and not be sure if I had it quite right. I am tempted to try it just to prove that being assistant on a few too many of these jobs HAS taught me something.
Finally, in our world today, I am making tiramisu, tomato sauce, canning salsa, making bread, homemade potato soup for dinner, biscuits for dinner AND the freezer, and some yummy breakfast food for tomorrow. Maybe some apple muffins for the freezer too?? I think the caliper will wait.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Homeschooling AND Work
Homeschooling and working isn't always easy. I can't imagine the moms out there who work full time days (or nights) AND homeschool elementary to middle school. INSANITY. Ok, so it would be a little easier if I did the whole "order books" style home schooling. At least when it comes to flexibility but it would take so much more time planning.
Today is a juggle it all day. I clean three houses today, starting at 9 AM and ending whenever I get done. However, wouldn't you know, the teacher that oversees 3rd grade schedules their group classes for Tuesday mornings. Honestly, out of ALL the days it would HAVE to be Tuesday AND his lucky time? 9 AM. As if that isn't enough, apparently Tuesdays are every one's favorite day!! Kieran has a group lesson at 1 PM. Thankfully his is only once a month.
I have gotten all sorts of comments about homeschooling but here's the deal. I am no hero. I am also not a lunatic, although somedays I feel like one. We are doing what is best for OUR family - not YOUR family. If you think you can't do it, you could if that is what you needed to do for your family.
My house doesn't look like a million bucks. Actually, right now you couldn't pay me to let you see my house. Some days I wonder why I am cleaning other people's house when I walk into mine but I do what I have to do.
Somedays I do think it would be easier to stick them on the bus and wave good bye for the day but then I think of the reprecussions that would have on our family (yes, there would be quite a few) and realize it just isn't an option for us.
Instead, I pray hard and when I start to freak out and say I can't do it, my husband reminds me just get through one thing at a time then move to the next. Guess what? It works. I make it to the end of the day and move on to the next.
But in case you still think I make it all sound pretty, it's not. It's hard to juggle my life right now. There are just so many things that you can't even possibly know that are going on but I do it because this is what I have been called to, to serve my family and care for them the way they NEED me to, not the way I WANT to. Somehow God gives me grace to get through it - just one more day.
Today is a juggle it all day. I clean three houses today, starting at 9 AM and ending whenever I get done. However, wouldn't you know, the teacher that oversees 3rd grade schedules their group classes for Tuesday mornings. Honestly, out of ALL the days it would HAVE to be Tuesday AND his lucky time? 9 AM. As if that isn't enough, apparently Tuesdays are every one's favorite day!! Kieran has a group lesson at 1 PM. Thankfully his is only once a month.
I have gotten all sorts of comments about homeschooling but here's the deal. I am no hero. I am also not a lunatic, although somedays I feel like one. We are doing what is best for OUR family - not YOUR family. If you think you can't do it, you could if that is what you needed to do for your family.
My house doesn't look like a million bucks. Actually, right now you couldn't pay me to let you see my house. Some days I wonder why I am cleaning other people's house when I walk into mine but I do what I have to do.
Somedays I do think it would be easier to stick them on the bus and wave good bye for the day but then I think of the reprecussions that would have on our family (yes, there would be quite a few) and realize it just isn't an option for us.
Instead, I pray hard and when I start to freak out and say I can't do it, my husband reminds me just get through one thing at a time then move to the next. Guess what? It works. I make it to the end of the day and move on to the next.
But in case you still think I make it all sound pretty, it's not. It's hard to juggle my life right now. There are just so many things that you can't even possibly know that are going on but I do it because this is what I have been called to, to serve my family and care for them the way they NEED me to, not the way I WANT to. Somehow God gives me grace to get through it - just one more day.
Friday, September 16, 2011
All About Food
Today has been all about food here!! I was on a roll and it was (is) FUN!!!
I decided to pull out my food dehydrator and figure it out since I have several bags of organic red delicious apples in the basement from the last food auction. They are close to going bad and I don't want to lose more money. They turned out beautifully!!! So awesome to make a favorite (healthy) treat all on my own. I also threw some grapes int here. They are half way done. While I had the dehydrator open to pull off the apples I decided to try making yogurt leather too. We'll see what happens. I used half blueberry, half strawberry Greek yogurt.
I also made my perfected banana chocolate bread recipe into muffins. I am finally completely happy with the recipe AND I use whole wheat flour but it doesn't even taste like it. Instead of putting the oat/brown sugar/butter streusel on it I sprinkled oats and a tiny bit of raw sugar on top. PERFECT!!!!
I also made Dave brownies since he commented late last night that he wished he had made brownies like he had thought of doing. I used Betty Crocker premium chocolate chunk brownies for the last time. They are super yummy and gooey and chocolatey deliciousness but it is time to embark on finding the perfect homemade brownie - HFCS(high fructose corn syrup or whatever they are calling it these days) free. I usually just doctor up boxed mixes because I never like the homemade recipes I try. They are always just kinda blah. Although I just checked my favorite boxed mix - Pillsbury. They still use plain old sugar(Who knew they could be AS good??!!! I actually like them better than BC). However, since the days of free brownie mix seem to be drawing to a close I still need to find a good recipe.
Finally, I have a friend who very graciously gave me her bread machine that was collecting dust(??) in her home. Today it is kicking off it's debut in its new home. Since I never do things by the book and I didn't have bread flour, OR all purpose flour, I substituted homemade oat flour. We'll see if it works.
Thankfully we have leftover chicken soup and salad from the last few nights' meals so dinner has an appointment with the microwave.
**Edited to add - the bread turned out great. I can only shake my head in amazement. I really though it wouldn't turn out.
I decided to pull out my food dehydrator and figure it out since I have several bags of organic red delicious apples in the basement from the last food auction. They are close to going bad and I don't want to lose more money. They turned out beautifully!!! So awesome to make a favorite (healthy) treat all on my own. I also threw some grapes int here. They are half way done. While I had the dehydrator open to pull off the apples I decided to try making yogurt leather too. We'll see what happens. I used half blueberry, half strawberry Greek yogurt.
I also made my perfected banana chocolate bread recipe into muffins. I am finally completely happy with the recipe AND I use whole wheat flour but it doesn't even taste like it. Instead of putting the oat/brown sugar/butter streusel on it I sprinkled oats and a tiny bit of raw sugar on top. PERFECT!!!!
I also made Dave brownies since he commented late last night that he wished he had made brownies like he had thought of doing. I used Betty Crocker premium chocolate chunk brownies for the last time. They are super yummy and gooey and chocolatey deliciousness but it is time to embark on finding the perfect homemade brownie - HFCS(high fructose corn syrup or whatever they are calling it these days) free. I usually just doctor up boxed mixes because I never like the homemade recipes I try. They are always just kinda blah. Although I just checked my favorite boxed mix - Pillsbury. They still use plain old sugar(Who knew they could be AS good??!!! I actually like them better than BC). However, since the days of free brownie mix seem to be drawing to a close I still need to find a good recipe.
Finally, I have a friend who very graciously gave me her bread machine that was collecting dust(??) in her home. Today it is kicking off it's debut in its new home. Since I never do things by the book and I didn't have bread flour, OR all purpose flour, I substituted homemade oat flour. We'll see if it works.
Thankfully we have leftover chicken soup and salad from the last few nights' meals so dinner has an appointment with the microwave.
**Edited to add - the bread turned out great. I can only shake my head in amazement. I really though it wouldn't turn out.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Trying New Things: Dinner
I tried out 2 new recipes today. Both were a hit!!! Dave is not a huge "soup person" and he loved it. We had cauliflower soup, organic brown basmatti rice, and chicken oreganato.
Recipe 1 - Cauliflower Soup, from Pioneer Woman
I changed it up a bit. I used beef broth in place of chicken broth. Then I used 1 3/4 cup skim milk and 1/4 cup heavy cream for the whole milk. Instead of 1 cup half and half I used 3/4 cup heavy cream. I also skipped the sour cream. The recipe made enough for tonight's "veggie" and lunch for tomorrow for Dave, Kieran, and I.
The rice turned out the best rice has ever turned out for me. I adapted a trick online where you bring the rice to a boil then simmer it 5 minutes without doing anything to it. I simmered it for 30 minutes and it was done perfectly. Maybe I had a smaller amount than they used. Either way, I added some freshly made butter (like 5 minutes old) and a dash of salt and we were set.
The chicken oreganato is actually from my new recipe book that I have been reading at night. Yeah, literally. I have told my husband about 10 times that I couldn't wait to try it. It is "Don't Panic, More Dinner is in the Freezer. I bought it at Borders for, oh, maybe $3. I guess I can thank the college girl who needed to educate her guy friend on what Kegels are and how they help your sex life, in very descriptive terminology in Borders, in the cookbook section, in front of my 8 year old son. Seriously, I don't know why her reading off cookbook names had to changes from Kugels to Kegels. Anyway, her reading off the name of the book that is now ALL MINE, and proclaiming "how dumb it is. Why would anyone want that" is what brought my attention to it. Girl, little do you know that someday those Kegels might lead to "the best sex you ever had"(another thing she alluded to) and in turn, end you up with a darn good reason to have some dinners in the freezer.
Ok, so here's the recipe, just in case you ever need "dinner in a hurry".
Chicken Oreganato
6 Servings
3 # cut up chicken pieces
4 medium potatoes cut into chunks
4 roma or plum tomatoes
1 large onion cut into medium chunks
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup fresh oregano, coarsely chopped
1/2 t. kosher salt
1/2 t. freshly ground pepper
In large bowl combine chicken and vegetables. Add oil, salt, pepper, and oregano. Stir until chicken and vegetables are evenly coated. Place chicken and vegetables in freezer bag and freeze.
Thaw completely, Preheat oven to 50 degrees. Place chicken and vegetables in large roasting pan, making sure chicken is skin side up and resting on top of the vegetables. Roast until chicken juices run clear, appr. 1 - 1 1/2 hours.
Ok, so, do you think I actually followed this?? No, but I will next time. It was very good with the time and ingredients I had. I had to use the chicken up fast. I was actually afraid that the difference in last night and this morning would be the difference in good and bad chicken. I put the chicken in a pan with onion but no other veggies, drizzled the oil over and then appr. 1/8 cup dried oregano. Covered the dish with foil and baked it over night, 11 PM to appr. 5:15 AM on 200 degrees. Dave pulled it out and put it in the fridge before he left for work. This evening I put it in the oven at 375, covered with foil. It cooked while the rice cooked and was heated when the rice was done (30'ish minutes. It was so good and moist. We loved this also.
Recipe 1 - Cauliflower Soup, from Pioneer Woman
I changed it up a bit. I used beef broth in place of chicken broth. Then I used 1 3/4 cup skim milk and 1/4 cup heavy cream for the whole milk. Instead of 1 cup half and half I used 3/4 cup heavy cream. I also skipped the sour cream. The recipe made enough for tonight's "veggie" and lunch for tomorrow for Dave, Kieran, and I.
The rice turned out the best rice has ever turned out for me. I adapted a trick online where you bring the rice to a boil then simmer it 5 minutes without doing anything to it. I simmered it for 30 minutes and it was done perfectly. Maybe I had a smaller amount than they used. Either way, I added some freshly made butter (like 5 minutes old) and a dash of salt and we were set.
The chicken oreganato is actually from my new recipe book that I have been reading at night. Yeah, literally. I have told my husband about 10 times that I couldn't wait to try it. It is "Don't Panic, More Dinner is in the Freezer. I bought it at Borders for, oh, maybe $3. I guess I can thank the college girl who needed to educate her guy friend on what Kegels are and how they help your sex life, in very descriptive terminology in Borders, in the cookbook section, in front of my 8 year old son. Seriously, I don't know why her reading off cookbook names had to changes from Kugels to Kegels. Anyway, her reading off the name of the book that is now ALL MINE, and proclaiming "how dumb it is. Why would anyone want that" is what brought my attention to it. Girl, little do you know that someday those Kegels might lead to "the best sex you ever had"(another thing she alluded to) and in turn, end you up with a darn good reason to have some dinners in the freezer.
Ok, so here's the recipe, just in case you ever need "dinner in a hurry".
Chicken Oreganato
6 Servings
3 # cut up chicken pieces
4 medium potatoes cut into chunks
4 roma or plum tomatoes
1 large onion cut into medium chunks
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup fresh oregano, coarsely chopped
1/2 t. kosher salt
1/2 t. freshly ground pepper
In large bowl combine chicken and vegetables. Add oil, salt, pepper, and oregano. Stir until chicken and vegetables are evenly coated. Place chicken and vegetables in freezer bag and freeze.
Thaw completely, Preheat oven to 50 degrees. Place chicken and vegetables in large roasting pan, making sure chicken is skin side up and resting on top of the vegetables. Roast until chicken juices run clear, appr. 1 - 1 1/2 hours.
Ok, so, do you think I actually followed this?? No, but I will next time. It was very good with the time and ingredients I had. I had to use the chicken up fast. I was actually afraid that the difference in last night and this morning would be the difference in good and bad chicken. I put the chicken in a pan with onion but no other veggies, drizzled the oil over and then appr. 1/8 cup dried oregano. Covered the dish with foil and baked it over night, 11 PM to appr. 5:15 AM on 200 degrees. Dave pulled it out and put it in the fridge before he left for work. This evening I put it in the oven at 375, covered with foil. It cooked while the rice cooked and was heated when the rice was done (30'ish minutes. It was so good and moist. We loved this also.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Islander Pork: Recipe and Review
http://giveawayblogdom.com/2011/09/islander-pork/
We had this for dinner the other night. It is really simple. I made it even easier. I put the raw roast in the crock pot and then followed the rest of the steps minus the nutmeg since I didn't have any. Seriously, who doesn't have nutmeg? Well, after dumping my nutmeg the other month and being too cheap to pay THEYWANTHOWMUCHFORTHAT?! I have none. Oh well. I added whole small potatoes and baby carrots - no peeling, no chopping!!!
It was in the crock pot on high for 6-8 hours. I wish I could tell you what time exactly but your lucky I even remembered we ate this week.
It was really good but next time I will thicken the juices like it suggests at the end. That wold add a richer flavor to it. Because I made it in the crock pot it was very tender and moist. I will definitely make this recipe again.
We had this for dinner the other night. It is really simple. I made it even easier. I put the raw roast in the crock pot and then followed the rest of the steps minus the nutmeg since I didn't have any. Seriously, who doesn't have nutmeg? Well, after dumping my nutmeg the other month and being too cheap to pay THEYWANTHOWMUCHFORTHAT?! I have none. Oh well. I added whole small potatoes and baby carrots - no peeling, no chopping!!!
It was in the crock pot on high for 6-8 hours. I wish I could tell you what time exactly but your lucky I even remembered we ate this week.
It was really good but next time I will thicken the juices like it suggests at the end. That wold add a richer flavor to it. Because I made it in the crock pot it was very tender and moist. I will definitely make this recipe again.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
What an Adventure...
Ha! But not one I really wished to take. Our car battery stopped working. Of course, right before a hurricane was suppose to hit. We left it at Wawa(gas station) overnight and the next day we went back with a new battery from Wal Mart. You really see how nosy people are when you are standing in a gas station parking lot trying to change a battery. I stood there holding a huge musty smelling black umbrella while Dave tried to get the battery out in the rain and wind that started kicking up, a precursor to what later made it appear to be a slight breeze.
Well, that battery lasted 3 days. I got a call from Dabve at 5:50AM asking if I could pick him up from right up the road and take him to work. Fun times. Obviously there was something else wrong with the car. We both thought alternator. Not like we have ever had car problems before. That was sarcasm in case you didn't catch it. (I'm thinking of you Aunt Sylvia and the time you let us borrow your car. Oh, and the time Chuck and Jan let us borrow their boat....and the time....and the time...) It's been quite a few years since "those days".
We finally figured out "how to jump start your car" amid dire warnings of battery explosions, acid burns, frying your car, you name it. We were able to get it home thankfully. Anyway, so we called the mechanic we like to use - we buy the parts and pay $50 an hour. He usually fits us right in and we are golden. However, our mechanic is approximately 16 miles away. I am laughing now. Most of the trip is highway which is great - there's a wide berm IF the car dies. Which, you know, is quite likely. I prayed so hard!!! Yeah, right. We were about 6 miles away and he coasts off the side of the highway. THE HIGHWAY!!! Dave pulled into the grass so I could pull up next to him and he jump started the car AGAIN and much more quickly this time Thank God!! I was, of course, imagining all sorts of horribleness like some tractor trailer blowing by us so fast he flipped the car or someone hitting the van, then knocking into the car and hitting Dave and of course, everything blowing up from the cars charging and something going horrible wrong.
Thankfully it was over in no time and 5 minutes later we were exiting the highway. Of course it was busy and uphill and wouldn't you know, there was another car off the exit, hood up. I saw Dave starting to gesture with his arms just as the car I started jerking. He made it around the corner and amazingly, a few driveways down, where we needed to go. We both fit into the driveway and the car stopped. I started laughing. Seriously, we made it!!! Apparently he put it in neutral as soon as we got off the exit because it had completely died, and coasted down the slight slope to where we needed to go.
Now we are just waiting for a phone call to say the car is ready....I'm worried. It was suppose to be ready about 20 minutes ago.
Well, that battery lasted 3 days. I got a call from Dabve at 5:50AM asking if I could pick him up from right up the road and take him to work. Fun times. Obviously there was something else wrong with the car. We both thought alternator. Not like we have ever had car problems before. That was sarcasm in case you didn't catch it. (I'm thinking of you Aunt Sylvia and the time you let us borrow your car. Oh, and the time Chuck and Jan let us borrow their boat....and the time....and the time...) It's been quite a few years since "those days".
We finally figured out "how to jump start your car" amid dire warnings of battery explosions, acid burns, frying your car, you name it. We were able to get it home thankfully. Anyway, so we called the mechanic we like to use - we buy the parts and pay $50 an hour. He usually fits us right in and we are golden. However, our mechanic is approximately 16 miles away. I am laughing now. Most of the trip is highway which is great - there's a wide berm IF the car dies. Which, you know, is quite likely. I prayed so hard!!! Yeah, right. We were about 6 miles away and he coasts off the side of the highway. THE HIGHWAY!!! Dave pulled into the grass so I could pull up next to him and he jump started the car AGAIN and much more quickly this time Thank God!! I was, of course, imagining all sorts of horribleness like some tractor trailer blowing by us so fast he flipped the car or someone hitting the van, then knocking into the car and hitting Dave and of course, everything blowing up from the cars charging and something going horrible wrong.
Thankfully it was over in no time and 5 minutes later we were exiting the highway. Of course it was busy and uphill and wouldn't you know, there was another car off the exit, hood up. I saw Dave starting to gesture with his arms just as the car I started jerking. He made it around the corner and amazingly, a few driveways down, where we needed to go. We both fit into the driveway and the car stopped. I started laughing. Seriously, we made it!!! Apparently he put it in neutral as soon as we got off the exit because it had completely died, and coasted down the slight slope to where we needed to go.
Now we are just waiting for a phone call to say the car is ready....I'm worried. It was suppose to be ready about 20 minutes ago.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Quirky Week?
First we get an earthquake on the East coast, then a hurricane is heading our way. Well, in between that my kids get to experience their first vicious thunderstorm of the year. Yes, I know, we have had several this year. They were all at night!!
At the first clap of thunder Eann wondered if we were having another earthquake. No sweetie, it's a thunder storm. "I have never heard a thunderstorm this bad mom."
"Well Eann, we have had SEVERAL this year already but you see, you all slept right through them." The look on his face was hysterical. He couldn't believe me at first. These children literally sleep through smoke detectors blasting for 10 minutes in their bedrooms at the 1 AM, "there's a battery dead somewhere and the electric back up is letting you know."
So enter tonight. We haven't been real freaked out to be honest. I mean, we have prepared just in case but no big concerns. But then there are tornado warnings EVERYWHERE. We opted to haul sleeping children through the rain to the basement "just in case". After all, we do live on a hill. Thankfully it was just a "drill". Two stayed asleep through the journey down, laying on the hard floor, and back up through the rain. The other heard tornado and has been awake for a bit. Again, Eann. We get them all back in be and Eann comes out all worried because "the sky looked red". Seriously?? I have no idea what that child saw. It is BLACK out there besides the floodlights at the mushroom farm. there is no mistaking ANYTHING for red tonight but I think he was sure the sky was falling or something.
Meanwhile, Dave is using a SNOW SHOVEL to scoop water out of the driveway because it is running into the garage like it's a riverbed. Problem is there is nowhere for the water to go. It's a losing battle. Now the turtle sand box has become a water catch all in hopes of alleviating it. What next? Empty the garbage bags out of the trash cans and put them out? Put all my packing boxes out to sop it up?
Oh, and Dave just said "The good thing is the eye is still down near Richmond." I asked what is so good about that. He didn't have an answer. I think he is too tired to actually be carrying a conversation.
So what is coming tomorrow? I have no idea but I am ok waiting to find out. For now I will go make myself a cup of Mexican hot chocolate and find something to eat. I missed dinner. :-/
At the first clap of thunder Eann wondered if we were having another earthquake. No sweetie, it's a thunder storm. "I have never heard a thunderstorm this bad mom."
"Well Eann, we have had SEVERAL this year already but you see, you all slept right through them." The look on his face was hysterical. He couldn't believe me at first. These children literally sleep through smoke detectors blasting for 10 minutes in their bedrooms at the 1 AM, "there's a battery dead somewhere and the electric back up is letting you know."
So enter tonight. We haven't been real freaked out to be honest. I mean, we have prepared just in case but no big concerns. But then there are tornado warnings EVERYWHERE. We opted to haul sleeping children through the rain to the basement "just in case". After all, we do live on a hill. Thankfully it was just a "drill". Two stayed asleep through the journey down, laying on the hard floor, and back up through the rain. The other heard tornado and has been awake for a bit. Again, Eann. We get them all back in be and Eann comes out all worried because "the sky looked red". Seriously?? I have no idea what that child saw. It is BLACK out there besides the floodlights at the mushroom farm. there is no mistaking ANYTHING for red tonight but I think he was sure the sky was falling or something.
Meanwhile, Dave is using a SNOW SHOVEL to scoop water out of the driveway because it is running into the garage like it's a riverbed. Problem is there is nowhere for the water to go. It's a losing battle. Now the turtle sand box has become a water catch all in hopes of alleviating it. What next? Empty the garbage bags out of the trash cans and put them out? Put all my packing boxes out to sop it up?
Oh, and Dave just said "The good thing is the eye is still down near Richmond." I asked what is so good about that. He didn't have an answer. I think he is too tired to actually be carrying a conversation.
So what is coming tomorrow? I have no idea but I am ok waiting to find out. For now I will go make myself a cup of Mexican hot chocolate and find something to eat. I missed dinner. :-/
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
And She Scores!! Oatmeal
Rohanna is my picky eater. She always turns her nose up at oatmeal. Just ask my sister - she spoon fed her one day to try to get some in her. No matter what you do to it she whines.
Maybe my baby is growing up!! She didn't complain when she heard we were having it but that doesn't really mean much. What matters is when you put it in front of her.
I made it on the stove with water and threw in a handful of dried cranberries. Once it was done I mixed a beaten egg into it and stirred. Not fast enough apparently because there were those yellow and white little clumps.
I served her a tiny bit and the boys bigger servings, sprinkled a little raw sugar on top and added a moat of milk.
I cringed as I watched her gingerly put it into her mouth. Imagine my surprise when she said "Mommy, why did you give me only a tiny bit?" The child had THIRDS!!!
I will say it was pretty yummy. :)
Maybe my baby is growing up!! She didn't complain when she heard we were having it but that doesn't really mean much. What matters is when you put it in front of her.
I made it on the stove with water and threw in a handful of dried cranberries. Once it was done I mixed a beaten egg into it and stirred. Not fast enough apparently because there were those yellow and white little clumps.
I served her a tiny bit and the boys bigger servings, sprinkled a little raw sugar on top and added a moat of milk.
I cringed as I watched her gingerly put it into her mouth. Imagine my surprise when she said "Mommy, why did you give me only a tiny bit?" The child had THIRDS!!!
I will say it was pretty yummy. :)
Friday, August 19, 2011
It's a Plan
My life is so much easier when I actually plan my meals out. Plus we eat so much better. No "throw it together" half meals. With school starting in just over a week I really need to get my act together. This is the first year we are "structured" homeschooling. Don't get me wrong, Eann is fully educated and on track for his age. Anyway, this is about food not school.
I am making THE PLAN. Maybe it will give you some ideas for dinner this coming week.
Saturday: Chili and cornbread
Sunday: grilled chicken, cabbage/broccoli, and mashed potatoes
Monday: halupki and porcupine meatballs (I will post a recipe after I make them slow cooker style)
Tuesday: slow cooker pork chops, rice, mushroom soup and broccoli
Wednesday: veggie stirfry
Thursday: pasta and sauce - I have a ladies' night
Friday: not sure - company is coming
Next I need to print my menu with a list of what meats need to be pulled and thawed in the fridge on what days. That way it actually happens. What do you do to stay on track with meals during the week?
I am making THE PLAN. Maybe it will give you some ideas for dinner this coming week.
Saturday: Chili and cornbread
Sunday: grilled chicken, cabbage/broccoli, and mashed potatoes
Monday: halupki and porcupine meatballs (I will post a recipe after I make them slow cooker style)
Tuesday: slow cooker pork chops, rice, mushroom soup and broccoli
Wednesday: veggie stirfry
Thursday: pasta and sauce - I have a ladies' night
Friday: not sure - company is coming
Next I need to print my menu with a list of what meats need to be pulled and thawed in the fridge on what days. That way it actually happens. What do you do to stay on track with meals during the week?
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Struggling with this child!
I have a child I won't name. If you know us well you most likely will know who it is anyway.
So, this child is scared of some any things. Literally - we cannot watch Scooby Doo, Duck Tales, and Atlantis type movies scare him too. These are just a few!! Sometimes the music on games gives him nightmares - I guess the suspenseful sounding stuff(?). He sleeps on the floor because he is scared to sleep on the bed - still can't figure out WHY!!!
We have seen here and there where he needs to know things ahead of time to be able to handle "things".
An example, he loves to have sleepovers at my parents. He will beg to have one. However, if you spring it on his last minute he is a crying mess. Literally, hiding under their table crying, with the thought that we can;t say good bye and of course, can't leave. He has to have 2-3 days notice - even with something he LOVES!!!
Today just clinched it. At the Y you have to be a certain age to go to the BIG kid zone. HE has had a rough time with the fact that his brother can and he can't. There are so many things that he can't do that we chose not to make an issue of this one. Older brother is waiting for him to be big enough. He has been waiting for 3 months and wants to "go to the Y on his birthday so he can go to the big kids' class". Well, they are slightly busy today and the main guy said the older one could go so I explained why we were holding off and he said "Oh, his birthday's in a week, he can go too." Any "normal" kid would be excited, right?? As we head upstairs he begged me to let him stay downstairs. By the time we got up there he had tears!!! I ended up making him stay up there because I just didn't have the time to keep going back and forth but it was horrible on him. He did have an ok time but I only stayed 1/2 hour because I wasn't sure how he would do. He didn't look thrilled when I got back but hard to get out of him whether it was good or not.
I try to give him notice as much as possible but sometimes it just isn't an option and I need to teach him how to cope with that. I can't deal with these meltdowns every time something unplanned happens. Do any of you have tricks to help?
So, this child is scared of some any things. Literally - we cannot watch Scooby Doo, Duck Tales, and Atlantis type movies scare him too. These are just a few!! Sometimes the music on games gives him nightmares - I guess the suspenseful sounding stuff(?). He sleeps on the floor because he is scared to sleep on the bed - still can't figure out WHY!!!
We have seen here and there where he needs to know things ahead of time to be able to handle "things".
An example, he loves to have sleepovers at my parents. He will beg to have one. However, if you spring it on his last minute he is a crying mess. Literally, hiding under their table crying, with the thought that we can;t say good bye and of course, can't leave. He has to have 2-3 days notice - even with something he LOVES!!!
Today just clinched it. At the Y you have to be a certain age to go to the BIG kid zone. HE has had a rough time with the fact that his brother can and he can't. There are so many things that he can't do that we chose not to make an issue of this one. Older brother is waiting for him to be big enough. He has been waiting for 3 months and wants to "go to the Y on his birthday so he can go to the big kids' class". Well, they are slightly busy today and the main guy said the older one could go so I explained why we were holding off and he said "Oh, his birthday's in a week, he can go too." Any "normal" kid would be excited, right?? As we head upstairs he begged me to let him stay downstairs. By the time we got up there he had tears!!! I ended up making him stay up there because I just didn't have the time to keep going back and forth but it was horrible on him. He did have an ok time but I only stayed 1/2 hour because I wasn't sure how he would do. He didn't look thrilled when I got back but hard to get out of him whether it was good or not.
I try to give him notice as much as possible but sometimes it just isn't an option and I need to teach him how to cope with that. I can't deal with these meltdowns every time something unplanned happens. Do any of you have tricks to help?
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