Words on Wednesday

Spring is coming!  I was just in the hardware store yesterday and they have garden seeds and little seed trays prominently displayed up front.  I'm not switching out my boots for flip-flops quite yet.

I sat in the dental office yesterday waiting for son #1 to get a couple teeth pulled.  I saw this fish tank.  It is full of fish.  I have one little goldfish that loves life and keeps swimming.  I would love to re-home him.  I'm wondering if the dental people would notice if I snuck in with a little baggie of our fish and just slipped him in with these big guys.  And no, I didn't find Nemo.

I also went to the foot doctor for daughter #1.  I really really liked him.  I really really don't like the price tag on the potential upcoming surgery.  Think almost five digits...  After we got home and I was telling the Chairman about the $$$$$ price tag she said, "are you still glad you adopted me?".  That put it all in perspective.  I'd give my life for her.  Really.  

We live in Dairyland!  It is big news when a lot of cheese is stolen.  The news headline said "No Whey!" (clever)  It appears $70,000 worth of cheddar and some other varieties was stolen but recovered.  However, another truck with $90,000 of Parmesan is still missing.  Sounds like an awful lot of spaghetti is needed to take care of that amount.  

I actually am one of those people that enjoy cooking/baking.  I was almost brainstorming the other day about making meals for families and then selling them.  I could freeze lasagnas, enchiladas, stroganoff (spell check doesn't recognize that word), shrimp fettuccine, stir-fry,  or whatever you would request.  Send along a few loaves of bread to go with.  And voila!  Supper or dinner or whatever you call it.  I doubt this idea takes flight.  But it is fun to entertain.  

Lisi is getting better.  I cancelled the vet appointment and Googled potential issues.  She pulled a shoulder muscle in case you were interested.  And she's back to her rambunctious self.  

Daughter #2 took me down memory lane which isn't that far back.  She's looking for a picture of herself as a baby/toddler for her 8th grade graduation this spring.  Yes, our 'baby' is going into high school.  They say don't blink or you'll miss it.  I'm trying not to blink and it makes my eyes water.

Desperate moms call for desperate measures for entertainment

I'd love to take this little girl for a walk again

no words

cheese

this makes my heart smile and seize at the same time

 What is love?  It is The Chairman leaving the sock drawer open so he makes the least amount of noise in the wee hours of the morning despite his own pet peeve of leaving drawers open.

 The following picture is kinda like a Pinterest fail picture.  I saw a photo and recipe online for delicious sour cream cake doughnuts.  So I stirred them up and friend them and my gall bladder seized and protested at first bite.  They were exceeding rich, sweet, and way too greasy for my liking.  Thanks anyway.  We all shared about two between the five of us and the rest went straight to the garbage.

Well this is enough.  That doughnut picture is making my stomach turn.  I'll leave you with what I just saw out the window.

Monday Musings

Good morning Peeps!  Time to Muse once again.  I might try to keep it to Musing and not an essay or discussion about matters that really don't matter to you.

The past few days I feel like I've been tippy-toeing around a land mine of viruses.  It seems no matter where I was or who I was with I heard the sniffly, sneezy, coughing sounds of illness.  My throat tickles.  My eyes itch.  But I'm not going to succumb to this without a fight.  Hopefully my green smoothies and daily kefir keep me afloat.

If you are a parent, you will know what I am saying.  Children are exhausting.  They keep you awake even before they are born - whether through the worry of adoption or carrying a full-term baby.  They keep you awake as babies.  They exhaust you as toddlers and beyond.  Then as they grow and develop and change, they exhaust you through emotions and worries of the unknown future.  As I may have mentioned before, we are in the sweet spot of parenting in some ways.  No significant others.  No huge choices yet for another year.  They tie their own shoes and are starting to drive themselves to places.  But.  It is exhausting.  In a good way.

The other night, the Chairman and I were lying in bed around 10:20 finally catching up with each other on how our days went.  It is a precious time we carve out each day.  The door slowly opens.  And the eldest child leaps into our bed between us and says, 'what should we talk about?'.  Um.  That we love you deeply and would love you even more if you left our room.  Heh.  I saw this cartoon and this was so very appropriate.

Son #1 is doing a lot of practice driving.  He's been so flawless that I find myself playing games on my phone instead of watching for oncoming cars.  Can I toot his horn a little? He began wrestling as a sophomore in high school just a couple weeks ago.  On Saturday at a tournament, he won three matches and lost one.  I think that is worth tooting about.

Lisi and I needed to kill some time while waiting for one of the MYP at an appointment.  We found this little area that was so pretty in the most monotone way.

Since that day, she has been limping and favoring one leg.  I'm not sure what's wrong, but hopefully the vet tells me this afternoon.

We had a couple extra young teens with us this weekend.  So I made them stand all purdy in a row and get a picture before we left for the day.

This morning I had yet another mammogram.  I'm the 'problem child' they call me.  The apprehension is palpable before I go in.  I had the same gal I had a year ago when I needed a biopsy.  She remembered me which was really nice.  Within 10 minutes I had my results which thankfully were good.  And even better, for the first time in years, I don't have to return until another year passes! There are many bad things happening to good people.  I count myself fortunate and feel for others. And the extra-special balm is the Chairman texting me entirely through the 10-minute waiting time because he's incredibly thoughtful and knows it would help me.  I love him for that.

I liked this quote.  And today I was hoping for a bit of it.  But the laundry piles call out my name and the ingredients for cookies are in the cupboard and the night time meal where we all gather at the round table isn't really figured out yet.  Happy week ahead!  Looks like the Musing was bit too wordy once again.  My apologies.

Monday Musings

Well I got my adrenaline rush for the day.  On my way to Costco I was cruising long and then I noticed what looked like a cop car.  Then I looked down at my speed.  I was 11 mph over the speed limit.  The cop pulls over and u-turns behind me.  I polish my halo and fluff out my angel wings and try to look like a perfect angel that would never speed or disobey the law.  However, I'm also trying to come up with a list of excuses.  And also think of how I'm going to tell the Chairman I was pulled over and fined $120 for driving too fast.  The cop either saw through my back window that I indeed had a halo over my head and angel wings sticking out my back, or he thought 11 mph over the limit wasn't bad enough to stop me or he didn't have on his laser or he lost interest in me.  No matter.  He left my tail and drove away after a bit.  Whew.

I posted "60 things you should say to your children" on our refrigerator.  The MYP thought it was all a hoot of a joke and read them and laughed and laughed (at me).  Then they went even further and were saying all the things I really say to them "GET OUT OF BED!"  "KNOCK IT OFF!"  "SET THE TABLE"...  and yes, in a yelling tone.  ((sigh))

Before the extreme wind/chilly weather came in, we hit the slopes on Saturday.  I'm not a great skier.  I've only skied really for a couple years.  I can safely get down the hills.  I came back from our Colorado skiing adventure last spring without any cast on.  But the first run every year gives me the willies.  I'm kinda slow like that.

 Last night it was windy and cold.  I even screen shot my phone so you could see it was a -25 wind chill factor.  Lisi and I headed out for a bit, but she decided to turn around before I did.  I had on two layers of pants and she did not.  Doesn't seem fair does it?  Lisi is really good at selfies these days.

 This was on my FB feeder and it isn't funny.  Too bad she wasn't dressed for the elements.

I took one of those silly on-line quizzes a couple days ago.  I thought the results were spot-on.  Hardly.  I agree number three.  The rest?  Not so much.  

It got me thinking though.  What are four things that I couldn't live without?  I came up with a lot more, but here are the top four anyway:  1) my faith, 2) my family, 3) my friends, and 4) my smartphone as it is my camera and organizer and planner and a host of other things.  

So!  This is it!  I intend to nap by the fire for a few moments before I head into the arctic wind.  

Fragrant and frizzy Friday

The things I do that I would haven't even considered years ago when I was hip and single.  A few minutes ago the text came in.  "Mom.  I need pennies for patients money right away."  I'm sitting in my pjs and fuzzy bathrobe and enjoying quiet reading.  So throw a long coat over the pjs, a hat over my rats-nest of post-sleep hair and take my fragrant body to the school office.  On a side note, they actually don't want "pennies".  They wanted at least $10.

Do you have little ones you are continually trying to quickly go down for a nap or to bed?  Just wait until they are teenagers!  Their schedule is sometimes too full and their eyelids too heavy.  The other night after supper two of our sweet teens both said independently, 'I'm going to go take a nap before we have to go to g.m.'.  Age really changes parenting tactics.  Now I'm trying to get them out of bed not into it!

Since the cat has only been to the vet office, I wonder if each and every time we leave in the car that he thinks we are going to the vets?  Or maybe his wee cat brain doesn't think that deeply since he only seems hardwired for mice and soft places to sleep.  Lisi is a different story.  She's just plain morose when we go anywhere without her.  No matter where it would be, it would be the best trip ever.

I know I should be urging our MYP to make their own school lunches.  But they are very busy with work and school and extra-curriculars and so I don't make them.  However, the luster of making three lunches tailored to each child - each and every morning at dark o'clock has lost its luster.  Sandwich, crunchy something, fruit or veg, a treat, a healthy snack or two... so far they haven't complained of their choices.  I would have them eat the school lunch but one refuses because it all is 'gross'.  The other two are ambivalent and it costs nearly $4/lunch.  So frugal me keeps spreading the mayo.

I've been going through some closets here and there.  I texted this picture to daughter #1 of her bathroom yesterday.  She replied, 'are we moving?'

on a -20 wind chill day before we walked.  

Love updating our picture board and the friends that share their pictures!

shopping at Costco on an empty stomach isn't the best idea

yep

Well that's enough.  Happy weekend!

Monday Musings (+ 1 day)

Sorry for the delay.  I had a somewhat busy day yesterday and I was hardly alone to sit down and let the words flow.  Today I am somewhat alone.  Well one of the MYP is upstairs lying abed with a fever and dreadful sore throat.  I have a worry about strep.  Will see what develops.

You see there is a 20 mph wind with a temperature of 5 degrees at present.  The 'feels like' is about -20.  The dog wants to walk.  The wood stove keeps calling me back.  A purring cat at my feet.  But my midsection and the dog will thank me for my efforts once I get out there.  Brrr.

Last weekend we spent 24 hours up at a humongous water park a couple hours from here.  We were invited to go with friends to celebrate a 13-year olds birthday.  It was nice because they did all the booking and checking in and even gave us the use of the master suite!  And to top it all off, they provided a fully home-cooked Indian dinner in our cabin.  That's what I call a good friend.  Heh.  

Water parks are just weird places.  I stay out of hot tubs because it just looks like you are sitting there in your skivvies sharing water with who-knows-what and trying not to make eye contact with the person closest to you.  Not to mention the skin cells or viruses floating around you.  Did I ruin your desire to hot tub it at the next hotel?  ((sorry))

Another reason they are weird places is because people walk around covered only as much (or even less) as their underwear.  It's kind of like people watching at the mall or sometimes state fair with no clothes on.  You see things you really don't want to.  You check out tattoos.  You see veins and dimples and moles that would make a dermatologist cringe.  Yes.  Interesting places.

I did enjoy the high humidity and the overall warmth in all the spots I sat and people watched.  I did go on some rides with the Chairman because deep down I'm a kid at heart despite my gray hair and saggy chin.  

So I'm off to make chicken soup with rice.  There was a song on one of the toddler cassette tapes we had with some lady singing that.  It always pops into my head when I'm ready to make it and here's the link.

And despite the fact I made a batch of whole-wheat, grainy bread yesterday, I'm going to make a batch of Amish white.  Yes, I realize it isn't as healthy.  But sometimes I like to have it to dunk in soup or make grilled cheese or french toast.  So don't judge.  Heh.

One of our precious teenagers was quite upset and went barn-storming out the door yesterday to school.  It was so obnoxious it was funny.  Soon a text comes in... 'I love you'.  I responded, 'I love you more'.  It's just a picture of us.  We can be so unlovable sometimes.  To those we are closest to.  To the One who gave his best.  And soon we realize, we need to say it again.  'I love you'.  And the response is 'I love you more'.  It's such a comfort on several levels.  

So without further adieu, here's a few snapshots from the past couple days.  And no, I didn't take a close-up selfie of myself at the water park in case you were interested.  Heh.

Yep

Yes, and thankfully I have the Chairman as well

Mr. Muscles and his sister and friend

Curry anyone?

I tried to take a pic without close-ups of people 

before a very chilly night walk

new year, cleaned-up bulletin board.  Thanks for your pics!

It's lovely to have fresh fruit in the dead of winter.

The Chairman's Granola

Pssst!  I want to let the proverbial cat out of the bag!

...the unofficial recipe of the Chairman's Granola.  I have had more than a handful of requests for the recipe so will print it up.  This recipe is something I tweaked (isn't that a great word?) from combining several recipes off the world wide web.  Our family collectively likes this one best and we go through a batch at least once a month.  So without further adieu:

The Chairman's Granola

10 cups rolled oats (not quick cook)

1 cup sliced almonds

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup wheat germ

1 small bag coconut (or a 1/2 bag large)

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

(dried fruit optional)

3/4 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup (or less) honey

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon almond extract

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  

In a large bowl mix together all the dry ingredients.  

In a small saucepan heat up the oil and honey until it is warmed and mixed together but not boiling.  Remove from heat and add vanilla and almond extract.  Pour over the dry ingredients and stir gently until mixed.  

Divide between two large baking sheets with edges.  Bake 40 minutes and stir about every 10 minutes during baking time.  Let cool and enjoy! 

Words on Wednesday

Bonus Muse this week!  The Chairman's Granola is out of the oven (recipe provided on request).  Potato soup started.  Vegetables all ready for a pot roast supper (or dinner if you're high brow).

Lets see.  Yesterday as I was driving, I heard about a contest that seems like it won't last very long.  The prize was a 'lifetime supply of bacon'.  If you are eating that much bacon, I reckon the lifetime won't be that long.  I hope it's at least Nueske bacon so you can go out with joy.

I stopped at a computer repair shop.  We have a CPU that has died and the call confirmed that it should have a funeral and proper burial.  I'm hoping there wasn't anything too important on it as I'm not diligent about backing things up.  The computer repair man seemed very morose.  I really wanted to ask him as he was typing up my info if his office computers ever went down.  But I didn't.  

I also stopped at Goodwill.  It was kind of surreal to find the exact skirt I was wearing hanging on a rack there.  It must not be as cute as I thought it was.  

I also stopped at the grocery store for just two things on my list.  Here's how it turned out:

There's a saying, "practice what you preach".  I find that extremely difficult with the new drivers in the household.  As I rode along last night I heard myself say, "now don't do like I do at this stop sign.  Remember you must go the speed limit.  Don't take that corner so fast!"  And suddenly, I've got two back seat drivers when I go anywhere.

We have one of those new adult coloring books.  The MYP thought it was just a hoot and a holler watching me but then one soon joined in.  They're oddly therapeutic even if I'm not an artist.

This morning the cat was meowing as usual to be let in after a night on the town and for some reason I was thinking of that Adele song, "Hello" when he was meowing.  "Hello from the other side, I must have called a thousand times..."  If you don't know who Adele is, then never mind.  It isn't that important.  

Also this morning there was a sunrise.  "As wakes the morn' with mercies new..." I really love bare trees against the sky lately.

Sometimes I type things out and hardly realize that people are reading this and may actually hold me accountable.  Well a friend that lives nearby was interested in my New Year's resolution and said she wants to join me in going to some visits.  I thought I had a whole year to live up to my words and here we are in week one...  so thanks to her!

Mused out!  Happy mid-week!

Monday Musings

Good morning!  Everyone is back to their places.  And me?  I'm sitting in the author's chair in my thermals and about to head to the cold outdoors to exercise some holiday excess off my waistline.  Why didn't anyone warn me that once you hit middle-age it doesn't just fall off like melting snow?

We've had a week of Saturday's.  The holiday week between Christmas and New Year's can be very confusing.  I'm glad it is Monday again.  However, the MYP here were not.  There were the loudest audible groans I've heard come out of their bedrooms this morning.

Daughter #1 is safely home from her first venture out of state on her own.  She came home and hugged us.  Then went straight to bed and slept 12 hours.  I have a hunch she didn't sleep much.  She says she wants to tell us how her weekend was tonight.

I just fixed an irritating door latch that wouldn't ever catch and adjusted rolling closet doors as well.  Good thing the handyman I called this morning wasn't available.  I'm thinking I could possibly take myself out for coffee this week to celebrate the savings.

Did you make a New Year's resolution?  The one I made for last year was 'patience'.  One of our precious young people told me I failed miserably.  So I was thinking of a more doable resolution like 'try to be more cranky' or something like that.  But in all seriousness, I think mine for 2016 is to reach out more.  I know I spend most of my time caring for my family.  However, I want to get out of my comfort zone and visit a shut-in, invite some that may not get as many privileges, or just visit with some I probably ordinarily wouldn't.  I hope you hold myself accountable.

We've been made aware of many situations that are bleak in some people's lives.  It may be sickness, situational, or just plain bad luck.  Sometimes when I'm aware of distresses, I find it harder to blog the silly or witty or absurd.  But maybe I should for my sake and for others.  Life is so incredibly wonderful and sad - and sometimes at the same time.

Well this Musing hasn't been very profound or worthwhile.  Hope you have a great start to 2016.  Stay warm!  The Chairman and the cat are doing their best.

Friday Festivities

Actually the festivities are all over!  For the first time win many, many days, I'm alone.  When I'm alone, the thoughts rattle around in my noggin and then I think about blogging again.  Lucky you!  Or not.

The local little ski hill opened last night.  Son #1 and the Chairman went to check it out for a bit today.  One of our neighbors also did the same and left with a broken wrist.  Lets hope the men in this house come home unscathed.

Daughter #1 went on a venture to another state with some young people.  I miss her already.  But I stalk her on the phone to see where she's at.  Daughter #2 is having time with a set of grandparents.

I went out to breakfast today with a dear friend.  I LOVE going out for breakfast for some reason.  I do it about once/year if that.  I could eat breakfast foods twice a day for the rest of my life and be happy.  Bacon?  What's not to love?  Pancakes with syrup.  Eggs with add-ons.  Oh my.

I ate too much the past ten days.  Do I regret it?  Not really.

We had family company and special company and I felt like my name was "Martha" a few times.  No, not my friend Martha.  Another Martha we read about - even with the best of planning ahead.

I have an honest dentist.  I went there yesterday morning at the crack of dawn and thought for sure I had a cavity and was going to have to go back.  Nope!  Just some sensitivity (my teeth, not my attitude in case you're confused), and he gave me a bag full of goods to take home.  The hygienist asked when I last flossed since my teeth were in such good shape and I replied, 'well you did it the last time so you should know!'.  Surely I jest.  Or not.

We had a super New Year's Eve party last night.  I love/hate New Year's eve parties because I love my friends but I also love my fleece sheets calling around 10:00 pm.  I wore the same dress/vest I wore ringing in 2015.  I'm not sure why I remember small details like that.  But anyway, I figured 2015 was a nice year so maybe the karma will help 2016 to also be good.  I'm superstitious like that.

Well I'll add on a few pics that were on my camera.  I believe this is my 1, 198th post, so we hit a milestone a couple Monday's from now.  Thanks for tagging along!  And I hope 2016 is a good year for you!

my sweet parents

all the grandchildren but one

my mostly nice older brother and family

my slightly older sister and family (minus 1)

The Chairman and Co.  Why does son #1 look so big?

cousins

cousins

finally some snow!!!

serious game playing 

cat doesn't like me busy with a puzzle

New Year's Eve fun

I collaged New Year's Eve so you don't get tired of pictures

just because I'm silly

that's for sure