Monday, April 20, 2009

Daybook April 20, 2009

FOR TODAY... Monday April 20, 2009

Outside My Window... Dark, still and warm. Tons of bugs.

I am thinking... about hitting the hay.

I am thankful for... Erika. She makes me laugh because she makes herself laugh.

From the kitchen... veggies and strange stuff from the pantry.

From the schoolroom... Katy and the Big Snow. It's weird to read books about snow when it's hot outside. Another of my recent failures in planning...

I am wearing... black cargo capris and a deep red t-shirt with sparkles.

I am creating... Grom's slippers. They are knitted and just need to be sewn.

I am going... to try to not raise my voice with Grom tomorrow. I'm tired of him not listening and I'm tired of getting crabby with him. I haven't been consistent.

I am reading... Between Sundays by Karen Kingsbury.

I am hoping... to keep my Spring Cleaning and organizing going even though I'm not living at my house.

I am hearing... a silly movie playing in the background. Why do I need noise?

Around the house... craziness. My sister and her husband and the princesses have moved in while their house is being remodeled. They are trying to settle in while I'm trying to figure out where I am.

One of my favorite things... playing the "that's crazy" game in the car with Grom. You probably don't know how to play. Here's the gist... I say something, like "you know what's crazy... a turtle driving a car" and Grom says something like "you know what's crazier... a turtle driving a car talking on a cell phone" and it goes on and on.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: lots of driving, some organizing, feeding cats, trying to be consistent with Grom, work, and hopefully lots of fun.

Here is picture I am sharing... orange flowers always make me happy.photo by exper

How you can be praying for me and mine... pray that our housesitting time would be an adventure and that I'd stop complaining about it.

Read other Daybook's at Peggy's Blog, The Simple Woman.

What's for Dinner - Week of April 20, 2009


Life is crazy. Surferman, Grom and I are housesitting for friends of my parents. I'm not sure what I was thinking when I thought this was a good idea. It's been quite an upheaval. We sleep, get up, run off to where we go during the day, run back to our house, get dinner somehow, go to bed and start it all over again. I have lists of things to remember to do and to remember to get.

And on top of it all, it was really hot today. Over 90. I live at the coast. It's not supposed to be over 90.

Anyway, this is about what we're eating... enough complaining.

I'm still working on using up my pantry and freezer.

Monday
so... we were supposed to have... but I was in a mood... and we have money in our envelope...
so... we went out. I had a great cheeseburger.

Tuesday
~watch the Princesses~
Red Cabbage and Apples
Pumpernickel Bread and Butter

Wednesday
~potluck before
Kid's Club / Bible Study~
Bring Green Salad

Thursday
Shrimp and Veggie Stir Fry
Rice

Friday
~Care Team Meeting~
~helping hands meal~
Chicken Pasta with Veggies
Garlic Bread
Green Salad
Iced Pumpkin Cookies

Saturday
~cupcake decorating party~
Leftover pork sandwiches
Cole Slaw

Sunday
Fish?

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Thursday Thunks - 4/16/09

Thursday Thunk is a blogging meme that gives you something to blog about. I joined to add to the biographical quality of my blog. Think of it as another way to get to know me.

1. Have you ever been sucked in to the latest "thing"? (Like Harry Potter, the movie Titanic, social networking, etc. etc. etc.)
I got sucked into Facebook. I'll say it again... I don't really get it.

2. What software do you use for your email?
Mail. I use a Mac.

3. Are you comfortable being nude?
Ummm... in the shower, yes. Otherwise... not so much.

4. What is something you plan on doing this summer?
Lots of fun with Grom... swimming lessons, VBS, letterboxing, lots of bocce... maybe Disneyland.

5. Do you have a favorite movie/book quote? If so, what is it?
"Have fun storming the castle" from the Princess Bride. I used to say it all the time to Surferman as he left for work. Lately, I say, "No, I'm not asleep and I promise I'll get out of bed right after you leave." Silly Surferman buys it everytime.

6. How many email addresses do you have?
3 that I check regularly and a couple more that forward to ones that I check regularly. And one that I gave over to SPAM.

7. Is the sky falling?
Not usually.

8. Have you been to the Grand Canyon?
Yep. I was a kid. I have vague memories and not much desire to go back.

9. When was the last time you mailed a hand written letter?
A couple of months ago.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Bob Marleyrabi...

is chillin' in my fridge.


I imagine him listening to some Christafari. Especially the kids album - Reggae Sunday School.
Reggae ABCs and Higher Higher (click the links to listen... it's good stuff).

Tollipop

I love the internet... especially bloggers. There is so much cool stuff to find.

Today I found the blog Tollipop and her etsy shop.

She does this little people paintings. I think they are cute in a simple way.

This one is called, "love story"
and these are the "cardigan girls"

She's hosting the great tollipop giveaway. And we all know how much I like to win things. Especially things I really want. She has multiple prizes, but look how cute the main prize is...

They are Mercy, Harper and Pip. "All three essentially well-behaved young ladies, prone to rare moments of insubordination."

Go check out her blog. It's a fun read and a delight to look at.

If I don't win, I hope you do.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

My kid cracks me up

Sick little boys need an afternoon nap, whether they want one or not.

Mommy helps that happen.


She can't make him sleep in his bed though.



TWO hours curled up in a toy crate.

It's amazing he's feeling better.

I'd need a Chiropractor.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Daybook April 13, 2009

FOR TODAY... Monday April 13, 2009

Outside My Window... the sun is going down. It's at that pesky place where I have to lower the shade or be blinded. Our weather has been beautiful. My only possible complaint is that it's been a bit windy.

I am thinking... that I need a shot of motivation. I have so much I want / need to do that it's hard to get moving. I know that you have to eat an elephant one bite at a time.

I am thankful for... lives saved and rededicated to the Lord over the weekend at our E-Week events. And for everyone who contributed to the events either with their time or their resources. And... for antibiotics that keep us from dying from things that killed people a hundred years ago.

From the kitchen... Baked Potatoes with Chicken, Cheese and Broccoli. The recipe I had planned got simplified.

From the schoolroom... fun with "Katy and the Big Snow".

I am wearing... surprise! Brown pants, white t-shirt, flip flops.

I am creating... new slippers for Grom. I'm hoping to get a good start tonight at Crafty Women.

I am going... to keep shopping from my pantry and freezer. With our weekly CSA box, it never seems to clear out.

I am reading... a Karen Kingsbury book that I just found that I borrowed from a friend forever ago. If she remembers that I have it, I'm sure she'll be glad to get it back... as soon as I'm finished.

I am hoping... my parents are having a great time in Holland. They went to see the tulips.

I am hearing... loud motorcycles on the Highway.

Around the house... lots of Easter Egg hunts and jelly bellies. My parents bought Grom the Costco sized jar of jelly bellies. We've been having fun guessing flavors and combining them for recipes. My favorite - Blueberry Muffin: 1 popcorn + 2 blueberry. Grom's favorite - Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich: 2 peanut butter + 1 grape.

One of my favorite things... my old mocassin slippers. So comfortable and they can go outside. They are starting to fall apart. I hope they'll make it to Christmas.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: The usual stuff and housesitting, decluttering, bocce?

Here is picture I am sharing...I found this in my CSA box today. I think it's a purple kohlrabi. I see is a smiling face with some cool dreds sprouting out of the top. I think it's a boy kohlrasti. I put him outside in the garden for his photo. I should probably put some reggae on in the fridge. Don't worry... I know I've lost it.Here he is on the dining room table in case you're having trouble seeing his face. Yep... really I've lost it. In my defense I haven't named him.... yet.

How you can be praying for me and mine... that Grom would get completely, totally, fully well and that allergies would leave all of us alone. We are going to be housesitting for some friends for about 3 weeks. Pray that we would be flexible and patient with each other as we live between our home and their home.

Read other Daybook's at Peggy's Blog, The Simple Woman.

What's for Dinner - Week of April 13, 2009

Monday
~Crafty Women~
Cheesy Ranch Potato Bake
adding broccoli
Salad with beets

Tuesday
Red Cabbage and Apples
Chicken Apple Sausages

Wednesday
LO Veggie Soup
Quesadillas

Thursday
CORD
{clean out refrigerator day}

Friday
~Steak and a Movie Night~
Baked Potatoes
Salad

Saturday
Freezer Chicken Pasta Dinner
{from Trader Joes}
Salad

Sunday
~Family Dinner~
Fish?

More meal plans can be perused by following links from the Organizing Junkie's weekly linky.

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Thursday Thunks - 4/8/09

Thursday Thunk is a blogging meme that gives you something to blog about. I joined to add to the biographical quality of my blog. Think of it as another way to get to know me.

1. What was the last thing you ate?
Ben and Jerry's Half Baked. I won't say how much of the carton I ate.

2. I say the color purple.. what do you think of?
Peggy Pottenger. It's her favorite color and I miss her a bit.

3. Lamps or ceiling lights?
ceiling lights with wall switches.

4. What color rabbit is your favorite?
fluffy white rabbits

5. Your car breaks down on a deserted road and your cell phone has no signal - what do you do?
Start walking in whatever direction I think will get me reception.

6. What is one thing most of your friends do online that you just can't understand the fascination and do not participate in?
Facebook. I don't get collecting plants, taking quizes and poking.
I also don't online role playing games like WOW or whatever.

7. What do you need right now?
I probably don't need anything. I have a lot of wants. I would like Grom to feel better. I would like a getaway with Surferman. I would like a foot massage. I would like...

8. And your most serious injury you've had was....?
Probably from my c-section to birth Grom. It was worth it.

9. What is the most evil thing you've ever done?
The most evil things I've done in my mind. I often struggle with being compassionate. It's easier for me to be legalistic and seek justice instead of mercy. Oh the things I've thought! Fortunately I don't act.

10. Give us some random facts about you.
I moved to Tennessee when I graduated from college.
I have really big feet.
I'm afraid I'll find a dead body in the dumpster at church.

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Amish Friendship Bread

Or as I now call it... Amish You're-No-Friend-Of-Mine Bread

A few months ago a neighbor came by the house. She came bearing a ziploc bag full of goop and a photocopied sheet of instructions of how to take care of the bag of goop. The paper promised that if I was diligent I could make some delicious Amish Friendship Bread and have enough goop to pass it on to a number of my friends.

I looked at the goop (ok it's technically a fermented leavening agent - like a sourdough starter) and thought about my good friend and neighbor who lovingly shared it with me. What I realized is that she is a neighbor and only a neighbor. We've lived near one another for probably 10 years and I know she loves cats. That's it.

The first few days of parenting the goop are pretty easy, you just mash the bag. It's easy enough to do this as you move it to wipe the kitchen counter after cooking a meal. Then one day I looked at the goop and realized that I had missed the day that I was supposed to do something to it to prolong it's life. I wasn't a day late. I was a week or more late.

I was an Amish Friendship Bread failure.

Fast forward to this week. My sister leaves me a ziploc bag full of goop and photocopied sheet of instructions of how to take care of the bag of goop. I was indignent.

I got her on the phone.

Turns out her good friend and neighbor (wait, only a neighbor) brought it to her. My sister is a little quicker than I am. She didn't wait for the step where it multiplies and you have to find unsuspecting victims friends to give it to, she just gave it to me.

So... today I buried the bag of goop in the trash can. This is it's memorial service.

Let's stop passing this stuff around.

Or at least change the title on the instruction sheet...

Yada Yada Gifts

It's good to be digiscrapping again.

I've been playing with Apple's Pages and also learning more about Photoshop and Illustrator. I know that Photoshop and Illustrator have a lot going for them, but Pages... wow is it simple. Both of the projects below were done with Pages and free digiscrapping papers and fonts I've found around the web.

If you've read any of the Yada Yada Prayer group books you'll immediatedly recognize this idea for birthday gifts.

First for spunky Katie's birthday...
Katie means "pure". I found a great verse, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Mathhew 5:8. The image size is 2"x3".

Next for dear Stacey's birthday...
Stacey means "resurrection". For her, the dictionary definitions seemed appopriate. If I had looked at an actual dictionary, I think a picture of her would be there. The image size is 4"x6"

These are fun little projects. I'm collecting frames and hope to continue the idea for many friends.

If you'd like more info or credits on digiscrapping elements that I used or fonts. Please leave a comment.

Monday, April 06, 2009

Daybook April 6, 2009

FOR TODAY... Monday April 6, 2009

Outside My Window... It's really dark. Today has been a really long, but good day.

I am thinking... about going to bed.

I am thankful for... the wonderful young women God has put into my life.

From the kitchen... unleavened flatbread, unleavened flatbread and more unleavened flatbread for Passover at church on Wednesday night. Also goodies for the baby shower I'm hosting tomorrow evening.

From the schoolroom... Funtastic Frogs. I need to read more with Grom.

I am wearing... flip flops, black capris (enjoying the warm weather we've had the last couple of days) and floral print top.

I am creating... so much... digiscrapping projects, t-shirts for Easter morning, and a couple of quilts in progress.

I am going... to eat oatmeal for breakfast. Oatmeal is yummy.

I am reading... Cross Country Quilters still...

I am hoping... that people meet and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior through the events of this week. And that I'd be willing to be used and to serve however He would want.

I am hearing... TV in the background.

Around the house... I don't feel like I'm going to be home much, but there is a lot that I want to get done. It's very frustrating.

One of my favorite things... cooking with Grom. I have been letting use knives for quite a while. He is very good with a paring knife. This week he was cutting some cooked chicken and the paring knife was just to small. I gave him a small santoku knife to try. He did a great job. He also decided that since he could use such a knife that he was "almost an adult". Not so fast buddy...

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: hold on tight... Baby Shower, Passover, Babysitting, Community BBQ, Concert?, Easter Sunrise Service, Easter Service, BBQ, Baptism... not to mention my plans for Spring Cleaning... pheeeww!

Here is picture I am sharing...the invitation to my church's Easter Celebration. It's going to be great!

How you can be praying for me and mine... Pray for health. All of us have been dealing with seasonal allergies. And Grom's best buddy has a fever. With all our plans for the week, I'm not excited about dealing with a sick Grom. Also pray for great weather this Sunday for Easter celebrations.

Read other Daybook's at Peggy's Blog, The Simple Woman.

Sunday, April 05, 2009

What's for Dinner - Week of April 6, 2009

E-Week is here! E stands for Easter. E stands for Evangelism. E stands for Exhausting.

It's a week full of events and celebrations and opportunities to share Jesus with our community. To recognize His death on the cross and to celebrate His resurrection and our salvation.

Through it all... we still have to eat.

Monday
~Crafty Ladies~
(we will be lettering t-shirts for Easter morning)
Chicken Noodle and Vegetable Soup
Bread and Butter

Tuesday
~Baby Shower for Stacey and Baby Simon~
Philly Chili Cheesy Dip with Fritos
Truffle Brownies
Lemonade
Coffee

Mock Tuna Salad Sandwiches (Surferman and Grom)

Wednesday
~Passover~
Unleavened Flatbread
Preparing elements for the ceremony

We'll be eating dinner there.

Thursday
~watch my nieces~
Garlic Chicken Pasta (one of those dinner in a bags)

Friday
~Community BBQ~
We'll be eating dinner there.

Saturday
~Concert~
I think we'll have a quiet night at home.
Pancakes
Apple Sausage

Sunday
~Easter at the Rock~
We'll be there most of the day.

Steak
Baked Potatoes
Veggies

Buffalo Chicken Enchiladas

I found this recipe for Buffalo Chicken Enchiladas. I love the flavor of Buffalo Chicken Wings, but don't like wings. They are messy and fatty. A fast food place we go to sometimes offers a Buffalo Chicken Sauce for dipping chicken strips. It's great. I saw this recipe and thought I might be on to another variation.

I made it for a friends 40th birthday celebration and they were quite good. Of course I made changes. Here's my recipe...

Buffalo Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients:

3 cups cubed cooked chicken breast
3/4 cup Frank's Red Hot Sauce

flour tortillas

1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
2 T. dried onion
1 t. dried parsley
3/4 t. ground black pepper
1 t. garlic salt
1/4 t. onion powder
2 pinches dried thyme
1/2 t. dill weed

1 c. shredded 2% sharp cheddar cheese (more if desired)
1/2 c. blue cheese crumbles (more if desired)

Directions:
  1. Preheat oven 375F
  2. Toss chicken with hot sauce in a bowl and set aside.
  3. Mix soup, sour cream, herbs and spices in a bowl until smooth and incorporated.
  4. Spray a 9x13 casserole dish with cooking spray.
  5. Place tortilla in the bottom of the casserole.
  6. Spread each tortilla with about 1 T of the soup mixture and then chicken.
  7. Roll as enchilada.
  8. Repeat until pan is full and filling is used up.
  9. Spread remaining soup mixture on top of enchiladas.
  10. Cover with foil.
  11. Bake for 35-40 minutes until hot.
  12. Remove foil. Top with shredded cheddar cheese.
  13. Bake 5 more minutes.
  14. Top with blue cheese crumbles before serving.
Update! I baked the second pan tonight. I watched the time better and they still came out a bit drier than I'd prefer. Next time I make them, I'm going to try adding a cup of milk to the soup/sour cream mixture before pouring it over the top. I'll let you know how it goes.

Strong and Brave

If you click the photo and make it bigger, you will see Grom.

He is hanging from the parallel bar at gymnastics.

He climbs up to the platform and then hand over hand walks out to the middle of the bar.

He hangs straight - tight and strong while his coach counts.

He falls 6 feet into the trampoline bottom pit filled with foam blocks.

He climbs out smiling.

He thinks its great fun and loves showing off his strength and bravery.

Saturday, April 04, 2009

Thursday Thunks - 4/4/09

So it's Saturday... send the Thursday Thunks police.

Thursday Thunk is a blogging meme that gives you something to blog about. I joined to add to the biographical quality of my blog. Think of it as another way to get to know me.

1. Did you play any April Fools jokes on anyone or have a joke played on you?
Nope. Not this year.

2. If you could be on any non-reality TV show as a guest star or star, which one would it be and why?
ER. Probably because it's fresh on my mind and the series finale was a couple of days ago. I watched it all the way through. It was quite a show. I could be a patient.

3. Do you crack your knuckles?
No. Yuck.

4. If you remember your first day of kindergarten, were you scared or excited? If you have kids or grandkids, were they scared or excited?
I don't remember my first day of kindergarten. Grom will be stating kindergarten in the fall. If he goes to school I'm sure I'll let you all know how his first day went.

5. If you are in the shower, hear the fire alarm going off and smell smoke/see flames, will you just run out of the house with a towel on or grab some clothes & dress as you run out?
I keep clothes (at least a robe) in the bathroom so I'd get my clothes on before I ran out.

6. Last week the Thursday Thunkers asked about your Daddy (twice), so this week tell us a little about your Mom.
My mom is great. She is creative and loving and generous.

7. Which search engine do you use most often?
I am the self-appointed Queen of the Google search. I can get the answer to most any question rather quickly and can always find a great deal on whatever crazy thing I need to buy for work. Last week it was glow sticks.

8. Did you participate in Earth Hour?
No.

9. What was the last new-to-you movie you watched? Was it in the theater or on DVD? Was it
good?
Made of Honor. We "watched it now" on Netflix. I couldn't get past the fact that they were trying to shave 10+ years off Patrick Dempsey and that the coffee sleeve was invented after I'd been using them for years.

10. If you do something embarrassing, do you laugh it off, or sit & worry about it?
Laugh it off.

11. Where is your favorite spot in your home to sit & relax?
Probably in our front room on a red leather couch with a decaf latte.

Simple Mom for a simple mom who loves Crocs

I follow a lot of blogs. Maybe too many, but who's to say...

One of my favorites is Simple Mom. Her tag line is "Live simply, stay sane. Life hacks for home managers". In my feed reader, I mark posts that I want to come back to and reread. I have 39 blog posts from Simple Mom to come back to. She is that good.

She is celebrating the 10,000 subscriber milestone this week with a Crocs giveaway.

Truth me told, I get an extra entry in the giveaway if I blog about it. I want to win me some Crocs. Grom just broke the back strap on his favorite orange pair and Momma can always use a new pair of shoes.

So whether you think Crocs are the ugliest things you've ever seen (because you've only seen the style they sell at Costco) or if you are as enamored with these comfortable shoes as I am, go check out Simple Mom and enter to win. If you can't bear to wear them, you know who you can pass your prize onto... ME!


photo by martineno

If all these pretty colors don't make you smile...

If I don't win, I hope you do. Although with 10 prizes we both could win.

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Spring Cleaning - Information and Inspiration

I loved watching Clean Sweep. It was a great show. They would go to a home and help the owners declutter and organize two rooms. Peter Walsh was the best organizer. He has gone on to write a bunch of books and make some guest appearances on various shows.

I just got a pile of his books from the library. They'll never become clutter because they have to go back in three weeks. I hope to get some inspiration and maybe an idea or two.

It's interesting to me that the covers on two of these books are orange. Does orange appeal to disorganized people or is it an organized color? Or does Peter Walsh just like orange like I do?

Thanks for the input with the office cupboard vs office room. I appreciate it. An office armoire wins.