tornado watch....
give me snow over this any day.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
keeping you wondering...
on the way home from our meeting tonight, our neighbor's jack russell was taking her for a walk. we pulled over to chat for a second... and i found out that one of the contestants on a talent/"reality" show that people either love or just don't care about lives in my neighborhood. i might have to start watching this season just for that reason... and to vote for her just for that reason. we watched last week, until hubby's show came on. i must admit that i liked his show better, but i usually start enjoying it after the worst singers are weeded out... not that they all get weeded out, but i think you know what i mean. and i do like changing the genre of shows that get airtime in our home.
on the way home from our meeting tonight, our neighbor's jack russell was taking her for a walk. we pulled over to chat for a second... and i found out that one of the contestants on a talent/"reality" show that people either love or just don't care about lives in my neighborhood. i might have to start watching this season just for that reason... and to vote for her just for that reason. we watched last week, until hubby's show came on. i must admit that i liked his show better, but i usually start enjoying it after the worst singers are weeded out... not that they all get weeded out, but i think you know what i mean. and i do like changing the genre of shows that get airtime in our home.
the cat might be out of the bag...
no secrets, really. i just felt like calling this post that. at our sunday school class leadership meeting tonight, some friends mentioned finding my blog. i asked "which one", and they meant baby-bear's. so then, of course, i told them about this one. now, the husband in the couple has a blog, too... but i get the feeling it's a little bit different than mine. i got to thinking, and his wife really needs to get to know farm wife. these friends have 3 boys under 7. she and farmwife could really empathize with one anothers struggles of having littles all around. it sounds like he's more of the blogger of the two, but maybe, just maybe we'll lure his wife into our little estrogen filled blog family. not that our hubbies aren't welcome, or male friends/acquaintances that join into the random theological discussions that might pop up when my heart wanders that way. or any other discuissions or just plain old posts. but i'm not sure they WANT to be here that much, or understand why we're on here as much as we are.
so, if you friends from church are lurking out there, welcome to another part of my life. :-) if you still want to link to my blog from yours after reading it, welcome to everyone else who might wander this way...
no secrets, really. i just felt like calling this post that. at our sunday school class leadership meeting tonight, some friends mentioned finding my blog. i asked "which one", and they meant baby-bear's. so then, of course, i told them about this one. now, the husband in the couple has a blog, too... but i get the feeling it's a little bit different than mine. i got to thinking, and his wife really needs to get to know farm wife. these friends have 3 boys under 7. she and farmwife could really empathize with one anothers struggles of having littles all around. it sounds like he's more of the blogger of the two, but maybe, just maybe we'll lure his wife into our little estrogen filled blog family. not that our hubbies aren't welcome, or male friends/acquaintances that join into the random theological discussions that might pop up when my heart wanders that way. or any other discuissions or just plain old posts. but i'm not sure they WANT to be here that much, or understand why we're on here as much as we are.
so, if you friends from church are lurking out there, welcome to another part of my life. :-) if you still want to link to my blog from yours after reading it, welcome to everyone else who might wander this way...
wish me luck...
i'm baking chicken in cream of mushroom soup with french's onions.... green bean casserole but replace the green beans with chicken. hubby's not typically a big casserole fan, but he likes chicken and he'll eat gb casserole. i have leftover asparagus to cook up, so i thought i would sautee it as usual, and then put some of the sauce from the chicken over it. i didn't want to torture hubby with the taste of asparagus baked into the chicken, when I was already taking a risk.
baby bear has apparently decided that she is too big for 2 naps a day. i feel sorry for the nursery workers at church tonight already. hubby and i are going to a meeting, and she'll be in nursery. she is jabbering away in her crib, sometimes fake crying, sometimes talking, sometimes quiet... it's been that way for 30 minutes now, and at the moment she is quiet. maybe she fell asleep after all. if i'm lucky. we played outside today... it is warm, sunny and breezy here. she chased her ball around the yard and wanted to jump off the cliff into the woods, but i stopped her. she also wanted to go make herself comfy on the neighbor's lounger on their patio. i didn't let her get that far either. she dug her fingers into the earth pot... nothing like recycled wisconsin dirt! as she did so, i realized they will need weeding and more soil if i am going to give potted veggies another shot. so far my luck has not been very good with potted tomatoes or peppers. it's a shame, because i LOVE both. the thyme in the herb pot is green, and we'll see if the oregano and basil come back. they did last year. i love fresh herbs. they make my limited cooking skills seem fancy. nothing like a little fresh herb sprinkled across the top to say "homemade". that's what my mom taught me. anyone else grow up with parsley sprigs and cayenne pepper sprinkled across their mashed potatoes just to be pretty? (besides bec, of course). or a dad who grew nastirtiums because they were edible (they taste like radishes, if you want to know)?
it sounds like bear actuallly went to sleep. Calm. QUIET. Aahhh... that's what they mean by the phrase sleeping like a baby.
i'm baking chicken in cream of mushroom soup with french's onions.... green bean casserole but replace the green beans with chicken. hubby's not typically a big casserole fan, but he likes chicken and he'll eat gb casserole. i have leftover asparagus to cook up, so i thought i would sautee it as usual, and then put some of the sauce from the chicken over it. i didn't want to torture hubby with the taste of asparagus baked into the chicken, when I was already taking a risk.
baby bear has apparently decided that she is too big for 2 naps a day. i feel sorry for the nursery workers at church tonight already. hubby and i are going to a meeting, and she'll be in nursery. she is jabbering away in her crib, sometimes fake crying, sometimes talking, sometimes quiet... it's been that way for 30 minutes now, and at the moment she is quiet. maybe she fell asleep after all. if i'm lucky. we played outside today... it is warm, sunny and breezy here. she chased her ball around the yard and wanted to jump off the cliff into the woods, but i stopped her. she also wanted to go make herself comfy on the neighbor's lounger on their patio. i didn't let her get that far either. she dug her fingers into the earth pot... nothing like recycled wisconsin dirt! as she did so, i realized they will need weeding and more soil if i am going to give potted veggies another shot. so far my luck has not been very good with potted tomatoes or peppers. it's a shame, because i LOVE both. the thyme in the herb pot is green, and we'll see if the oregano and basil come back. they did last year. i love fresh herbs. they make my limited cooking skills seem fancy. nothing like a little fresh herb sprinkled across the top to say "homemade". that's what my mom taught me. anyone else grow up with parsley sprigs and cayenne pepper sprinkled across their mashed potatoes just to be pretty? (besides bec, of course). or a dad who grew nastirtiums because they were edible (they taste like radishes, if you want to know)?
it sounds like bear actuallly went to sleep. Calm. QUIET. Aahhh... that's what they mean by the phrase sleeping like a baby.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
sunny day. everything's A-okay......
the meeting with my friend was not so bad. it's nice to see her excited about what she's doing to try to help with her family. we had a good chat, and baby-bear woke up from her nap just as friend was leaving... perfect timing.
i received an e-mail that the signing time video #2 came in at the library, so baby bear and i went on a little outing to retrieve it. (we haven't seen #1 yet, but no biggie.) our library has a great new play structure behind it, so it is perfect! i foresee the playground becoming a reward for good behavior while inside as she gets older. she met lots of other toddlers, most of whom were older than her. i met some mommies. i think everyone was just relieved to get some fresh air and not have to wear a coat, or jacket. there were mommies with their 4 & 8 week old boys, one had an infantino sling... that thing looked like it did it's job while she chased her 23 month old around! I was very impressed. i might try to make it to a story time with bear in the near future. these outings are good for us. and free of charge fun makes everybody happy.
when we got home, we went for a short walk down the street and back... she rode her tricycle while i steered. she actually kept her feet on the pedals, though the connection between movement and pushing the pedals with her feet has yet to be made. the cup holder on the parent steering post is really not a good idea for sugary drinks like coke, especially when the toddler on the trike has minimal stability. she almost had a hissy fit when i decided it was time to come in, but got over it soon enough.
one of these times i'll remember to bring my camera downstairs (and ti the playground) and get some new pics on her blog.
yes, it's been a good day. bear is napping, i have the guest bed ready for the next guests, laundry is almost caught up... and costco's coupon flier actually has things i'll use in it, so we may just make a costco trip next month. $4 off a big tub of laundry detergent... can't beat that! clorox wipes, kirkland diapers and wipes.... yes i do believe we will make a costco trip at some point...probly the last day the coupons are good. maybe i'll even get my photos picked out for baby bear's scrapbook, so they can be printed while i shop. ok, that would be a real miracle.
i think i'll see if i can catch some zzzz's before hubby gets home and bear wakes up...
the meeting with my friend was not so bad. it's nice to see her excited about what she's doing to try to help with her family. we had a good chat, and baby-bear woke up from her nap just as friend was leaving... perfect timing.
i received an e-mail that the signing time video #2 came in at the library, so baby bear and i went on a little outing to retrieve it. (we haven't seen #1 yet, but no biggie.) our library has a great new play structure behind it, so it is perfect! i foresee the playground becoming a reward for good behavior while inside as she gets older. she met lots of other toddlers, most of whom were older than her. i met some mommies. i think everyone was just relieved to get some fresh air and not have to wear a coat, or jacket. there were mommies with their 4 & 8 week old boys, one had an infantino sling... that thing looked like it did it's job while she chased her 23 month old around! I was very impressed. i might try to make it to a story time with bear in the near future. these outings are good for us. and free of charge fun makes everybody happy.
when we got home, we went for a short walk down the street and back... she rode her tricycle while i steered. she actually kept her feet on the pedals, though the connection between movement and pushing the pedals with her feet has yet to be made. the cup holder on the parent steering post is really not a good idea for sugary drinks like coke, especially when the toddler on the trike has minimal stability. she almost had a hissy fit when i decided it was time to come in, but got over it soon enough.
one of these times i'll remember to bring my camera downstairs (and ti the playground) and get some new pics on her blog.
yes, it's been a good day. bear is napping, i have the guest bed ready for the next guests, laundry is almost caught up... and costco's coupon flier actually has things i'll use in it, so we may just make a costco trip next month. $4 off a big tub of laundry detergent... can't beat that! clorox wipes, kirkland diapers and wipes.... yes i do believe we will make a costco trip at some point...probly the last day the coupons are good. maybe i'll even get my photos picked out for baby bear's scrapbook, so they can be printed while i shop. ok, that would be a real miracle.
i think i'll see if i can catch some zzzz's before hubby gets home and bear wakes up...
tuesday's (wandering) thoughts:
*tonight's dinner- leftovers- salmon for one of us, chicken and potatoes for the other, cooked *spinach for me and baby bear (hubby may eat his token amount)
*i feel like we're in a construction zone, between the blasting that shakes the neighborhood from a mile away and the bulldozing going on down the hill behind/next to our house. please tell me THAT part means it won't be long before we get a retaining wall... pretty puh-lease???
*gotta call the doc and make sure the insurance company BCBS is actually paying our claims now that they heard from hubby, who verified that we indeed are not covered under another plan. beginning to wonder if saving money was worth the switch.
*friend coming in 30 minutes to pick up her mlm business catalog and try to talk me into signing up. Want to say, "what part of i'm burnt out on ALLdirect sales/mlm/networking don't you uderstand?" I will try to be more tactful. Spending more and recruiting other people to save but still spend more than they normally would in order to make money just isn't worth it. Even if the products are organic, healthful, non-carcinogenic, etc....
*tonight's dinner- leftovers- salmon for one of us, chicken and potatoes for the other, cooked *spinach for me and baby bear (hubby may eat his token amount)
*i feel like we're in a construction zone, between the blasting that shakes the neighborhood from a mile away and the bulldozing going on down the hill behind/next to our house. please tell me THAT part means it won't be long before we get a retaining wall... pretty puh-lease???
*gotta call the doc and make sure the insurance company BCBS is actually paying our claims now that they heard from hubby, who verified that we indeed are not covered under another plan. beginning to wonder if saving money was worth the switch.
*friend coming in 30 minutes to pick up her mlm business catalog and try to talk me into signing up. Want to say, "what part of i'm burnt out on ALLdirect sales/mlm/networking don't you uderstand?" I will try to be more tactful. Spending more and recruiting other people to save but still spend more than they normally would in order to make money just isn't worth it. Even if the products are organic, healthful, non-carcinogenic, etc....
Monday, February 26, 2007
today's methods of procrastination...
blogging & checking e-mail, of course
going grocery shopping (for food that hubby will most likely deem unnecessary, since it includes spinach and asparagus and strawberries) prediction was correct... not quite WWIII, but not a good experience. we managed to call a truce before we fell asleep, following the advice we received in pre-marital counseling: NEVER go to bed angry at one another. (We weren't really angry at eachother, just mutually frustrated about mars/venus/money issues.) We tried, neither of us could sleep, so we talked it out and then slept soundly until 6-ish.
taking baby bear to the playground
taking baby bear outside to play with her new trike that was handed down to her (with handle for me to steer her with--- she can't quite ride it herself yet. she can ring the bell on it, though)
what i've accomplished so far today...
switched laundry loads
took a shower-
played with baby bear- read a few books, watched some of her signing video, etc...
changed a bunch of diapers.... i've been feeding her more fruit this week.
helped baby bear put away the groceries (she put away the pop cans; i put away the rest... btw, anyone with publix- coke product 6 packs are 99 cents. includes diet dr pepper, caffeine free stuff, you name it.)
still to do...
put away clean dishes, re-load dishwasher: a never ending cycle
sweep kitchen-done!
cook dinner (Salmon, asparagus, rice)- would have cost $30+ tip for both of us in a restaurant, tasted just as good, if not better than many places
fold laundry pile on guest bedroom- done and put away!
vacuum everywhere- clear floor required to do this!
change sheets on all beds- done in guest room
Re-focus on my Finding Focus Project... make a list of things to do this week and do them...
play with baby bear some more
i'll stop there for now....
Hope everyone's week is off to a great start!
Color updates- current as of 9:13 am CST Tuesday.
blogging & checking e-mail, of course
going grocery shopping (for food that hubby will most likely deem unnecessary, since it includes spinach and asparagus and strawberries) prediction was correct... not quite WWIII, but not a good experience. we managed to call a truce before we fell asleep, following the advice we received in pre-marital counseling: NEVER go to bed angry at one another. (We weren't really angry at eachother, just mutually frustrated about mars/venus/money issues.) We tried, neither of us could sleep, so we talked it out and then slept soundly until 6-ish.
taking baby bear to the playground
taking baby bear outside to play with her new trike that was handed down to her (with handle for me to steer her with--- she can't quite ride it herself yet. she can ring the bell on it, though)
what i've accomplished so far today...
switched laundry loads
took a shower-
played with baby bear- read a few books, watched some of her signing video, etc...
changed a bunch of diapers.... i've been feeding her more fruit this week.
helped baby bear put away the groceries (she put away the pop cans; i put away the rest... btw, anyone with publix- coke product 6 packs are 99 cents. includes diet dr pepper, caffeine free stuff, you name it.)
still to do...
put away clean dishes, re-load dishwasher: a never ending cycle
sweep kitchen-done!
cook dinner (Salmon, asparagus, rice)- would have cost $30+ tip for both of us in a restaurant, tasted just as good, if not better than many places
fold laundry pile on guest bedroom- done and put away!
vacuum everywhere- clear floor required to do this!
change sheets on all beds- done in guest room
Re-focus on my Finding Focus Project... make a list of things to do this week and do them...
play with baby bear some more
i'll stop there for now....
Hope everyone's week is off to a great start!
Color updates- current as of 9:13 am CST Tuesday.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
As we walked into church this morning, I noticed the Mom of a little boy I had in my nursery class last year. She didn't seem to recognize me, but I remembered her son. The only child with a wheat allergy who brings his own snack sort of sticks out. He was a sweet boy, too. Anyway, she was by herself, and mentioned that her little guy was home with Daddy... he just doesn't handle the whole morning (SS & Service back to back) very well. At our church that can be 4 1/2 hours, so it is understandable. Many of Baby Bear's classmates only come to one service, as they live close enough that Mom and Dad can swap duty Sundays for sunday school and then bring the child to nursery during service, or many have given up Sunday School altogether for a while. Living 25 minutes away, we sort of make Baby Bear "suck it up", to quote someone who refuses to do that (siu) with a certain kids' act that she finds annoying. We drop her off at 9:15 a.m., or shortly therafter, and then pick her up after the service ends... around 12:30 ish. Except on the weeks I work in her class. I remember how shocked I was at the beginning of this year when she was assigned to my toddler room. She was not yet 1 year old! My Baby was not old enough to be in that room!
Then it dawned on me that the kids I worked with had been younger when they entered the class, but I did not get to see them grow up that whole year, since I did not start volunteering until January. I thought Baby Bear (and (, for that matter) might do well with a break from Mommy, but the age group really was best for her. Now I'm glad we are in there together. Just when she is beginning to tire of being in nursery, Mommy shows up. And while she is generally a happy camper, playing with her friends, fighting over toys, and patting the Bible (or lifting it at the end of the B-I-B-L-E song), during those edgy moments when one tired toddler overreacts to another, Mommy is there. Plus, it dawned on me recently that it is good for her to see Mommy holding and plaing with other children. While she is curently the "center of our world" at home, when God does allow us to have another one, she will need to learn to share her Mommy,Daddy, and toys.
p.s. While all the kids seem to like the toy piano in our nursery, I've noticed that Baby Bear and the son of a drummer in a Christian band seem to like it the most. I guess having a piano around for her to bang on does peak that natural curiosity... even if Mommy isn't quite a professional musician.
p.p.s As I sit and watch the wiggles with bear, it doesn't grate me quite as badly as Friday night... but I can see why certain people choose to steer their kids minds away from such randim silliness. I'm not sure that most kids need this much help being silly.
Then it dawned on me that the kids I worked with had been younger when they entered the class, but I did not get to see them grow up that whole year, since I did not start volunteering until January. I thought Baby Bear (and (, for that matter) might do well with a break from Mommy, but the age group really was best for her. Now I'm glad we are in there together. Just when she is beginning to tire of being in nursery, Mommy shows up. And while she is generally a happy camper, playing with her friends, fighting over toys, and patting the Bible (or lifting it at the end of the B-I-B-L-E song), during those edgy moments when one tired toddler overreacts to another, Mommy is there. Plus, it dawned on me recently that it is good for her to see Mommy holding and plaing with other children. While she is curently the "center of our world" at home, when God does allow us to have another one, she will need to learn to share her Mommy,Daddy, and toys.
p.s. While all the kids seem to like the toy piano in our nursery, I've noticed that Baby Bear and the son of a drummer in a Christian band seem to like it the most. I guess having a piano around for her to bang on does peak that natural curiosity... even if Mommy isn't quite a professional musician.
p.p.s As I sit and watch the wiggles with bear, it doesn't grate me quite as badly as Friday night... but I can see why certain people choose to steer their kids minds away from such randim silliness. I'm not sure that most kids need this much help being silly.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Further proof that horoscopes are worthless...
Does this mean I should read the horoscope for Cancer, if I read it at all? Because according to this, I shouldn't be what I am.
Just for fun, any non-family members want to guess my actual sign without scrolling back in my blog for clues?
| You Should Be A Cancer |
 What's good about you: you're incredibly kind, caring, and generous What's bad about you: you can be too moody and impossible to understand In love: you enjoy wining and dining the object of your affection In friendship, you're: likely to depend on other friends for emotional support Your ideal job: historian, marine biologist, or religious figure Your sense of fashion: you dress to match your mood You like to pig out on: classic home cooked meals, like mac and cheese |
Does this mean I should read the horoscope for Cancer, if I read it at all? Because according to this, I shouldn't be what I am.
Just for fun, any non-family members want to guess my actual sign without scrolling back in my blog for clues?
it's time for "i told you so" from crt...
hubby and i made the mistake of thinking that because crt doesn't tolerate sesame street, and we do without a problem, she was being a little melodramatic in her opinion of the wiggles.
she wasn't. baby bear seems to love them, but i suspect the only time we'll let baby bear actually watch the darn dvd is when she's upstairs in her pack and play while i'm showering. it's not that there's anything morally wrong with the dvd... it's just the most random collection of songs. annoyingly random collection of songs. seriously, what kind of drugs are these grown men taking? the educational value is.... debatable, to be generous. i need to go check out the reviews on amazon to see what the general public thought. God help us all if it was a hit.
we should have gone with little einsteins, dora, or even blue's clues which bores baby bear half to death.... oh, well. at least baby bear likes it. or should that worry me?
hubby and i made the mistake of thinking that because crt doesn't tolerate sesame street, and we do without a problem, she was being a little melodramatic in her opinion of the wiggles.
she wasn't. baby bear seems to love them, but i suspect the only time we'll let baby bear actually watch the darn dvd is when she's upstairs in her pack and play while i'm showering. it's not that there's anything morally wrong with the dvd... it's just the most random collection of songs. annoyingly random collection of songs. seriously, what kind of drugs are these grown men taking? the educational value is.... debatable, to be generous. i need to go check out the reviews on amazon to see what the general public thought. God help us all if it was a hit.
we should have gone with little einsteins, dora, or even blue's clues which bores baby bear half to death.... oh, well. at least baby bear likes it. or should that worry me?
Thursday, February 22, 2007
modern tools, of sorts
We have lived in our house about 3 1/2 years. I have become a huge fan of such modern conveniences as the garbage disposal and dishwasher. One of these days, I will clean my self-cleaning oven, but the one in our former apartment always smelled awful, so for now I jet let the gunk build up... I know, that's bad. Anyway, our dishwasher is nice, but lately it's been having some issues... mostly with spotting, etc. I couldn't remember the last time I used rinse aid, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. Hubby bawlked at the $4 price tag for the blue liquid, but we still bought it. This morning, as I put the clean dishes away, I noticed a significant difference in the shine of the dishes. The plastic things were actually dry, too.
I don't remember ever seeing my mom use rinse aid in the dishwasher. And I am sure because it was considered to be a luxury that we didn't need. Well, it sure was nice to have the tupperware actually dry this morning. I think I'll splurge on the blue stuff a little more often from now on.
We have lived in our house about 3 1/2 years. I have become a huge fan of such modern conveniences as the garbage disposal and dishwasher. One of these days, I will clean my self-cleaning oven, but the one in our former apartment always smelled awful, so for now I jet let the gunk build up... I know, that's bad. Anyway, our dishwasher is nice, but lately it's been having some issues... mostly with spotting, etc. I couldn't remember the last time I used rinse aid, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. Hubby bawlked at the $4 price tag for the blue liquid, but we still bought it. This morning, as I put the clean dishes away, I noticed a significant difference in the shine of the dishes. The plastic things were actually dry, too.
I don't remember ever seeing my mom use rinse aid in the dishwasher. And I am sure because it was considered to be a luxury that we didn't need. Well, it sure was nice to have the tupperware actually dry this morning. I think I'll splurge on the blue stuff a little more often from now on.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
What a difference a couple of days makes...
Baby Bear and I went for our first walk of the season. She roamed the front yard, stopping to pet the shrubs and crocus blossoms. Our daffodils are getting taller, so in a week or so, we should have blossoms. Oh, and just because I am in the south, does not mean I will tarnish the daffodil name and call them buttercups. Buttercups are a different yellow flower, one that I used to pick near the woods down the street from my house as a little girl. While the color may be similar, daffodils are much taller and have larger blossoms.
After Baby Bear pet the green stuff, we walked two houses down before she asked to be picked up. So we returned to the house, where I put her in the stroller, and we went for a real walk. We passed 3 other moms who were out and about in the warm, sunny and fresh air. One was talking on her cell as she pushed her little girl, one was holding her 3 month old son with one arm and the dog's leash with the other, and the other was speed walking with her stroller and looked too young to be a mom. Maybe she was the babysitter.
Perhaps we can go buy some more flowers to plant this weekend. The crocus bulbs are pretty, but our yard could use more color. Anyone want to dig in the dirt for me? Just kidding, I find it rather invigorating... until I have to scrub the dirt out from underneath my nails. Even when I wear garden gloves, some dirt manages to creep in through the tiny holes and paste itself into my skin.
Baby Bear and I went for our first walk of the season. She roamed the front yard, stopping to pet the shrubs and crocus blossoms. Our daffodils are getting taller, so in a week or so, we should have blossoms. Oh, and just because I am in the south, does not mean I will tarnish the daffodil name and call them buttercups. Buttercups are a different yellow flower, one that I used to pick near the woods down the street from my house as a little girl. While the color may be similar, daffodils are much taller and have larger blossoms.
After Baby Bear pet the green stuff, we walked two houses down before she asked to be picked up. So we returned to the house, where I put her in the stroller, and we went for a real walk. We passed 3 other moms who were out and about in the warm, sunny and fresh air. One was talking on her cell as she pushed her little girl, one was holding her 3 month old son with one arm and the dog's leash with the other, and the other was speed walking with her stroller and looked too young to be a mom. Maybe she was the babysitter.
Perhaps we can go buy some more flowers to plant this weekend. The crocus bulbs are pretty, but our yard could use more color. Anyone want to dig in the dirt for me? Just kidding, I find it rather invigorating... until I have to scrub the dirt out from underneath my nails. Even when I wear garden gloves, some dirt manages to creep in through the tiny holes and paste itself into my skin.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Here's why I rarely cook from scratch:
(the white bag behind the canister fell out from the cabinet
(the white bag behind the canister fell out from the cabinetabove the stove and into the bowl, sending flour and baking soda flying everywhere.)
After I swept up this portion of the mess,Baby Bear decided she liked the floor better covered in flour.
The end result:Yummy Nestle-Tollhouse homemade chocolate-chip cookies.
Without nuts.
All's well that ends well!
Without nuts.
All's well that ends well!
Sunday, February 18, 2007
The problem with road trips...
is that you can never do everything you want to, especially if it's just for a weekend. We've had a good time relaxing here. Hubby and Computer Guy trekked out in the snow yesterday to run a few errands, as well as window-shop at the sporting goods store. I find it funny that hubby actually window shops for his toys more often than I go clothes shopping. That's probably a good thing, though.
Anyway, other than going to church this morning, we've hung out at home. I am so thankful we have family with whom we can just relax.
Next time we head North, we'll have to plan ahead and get together with Grace's gang. That would be a fun adventure. I'd be calling her kids by their pseudonyms. The energy level would be close to nuclear, but in a good way. (Well, assuming the kiddos cooperate, of course.) Thankfully we make it up this way a few times a year, so when the weather is nice, it will be easier.
So here I sit, with crt's laptop on my lap and hubby has ours on his. The kiddos are in bed. Thankfully it sounds like Baby Bear has gone to sleep on her own. We do hear an occasional thump from one of the older girls, but that's normal around here.
is that you can never do everything you want to, especially if it's just for a weekend. We've had a good time relaxing here. Hubby and Computer Guy trekked out in the snow yesterday to run a few errands, as well as window-shop at the sporting goods store. I find it funny that hubby actually window shops for his toys more often than I go clothes shopping. That's probably a good thing, though.
Anyway, other than going to church this morning, we've hung out at home. I am so thankful we have family with whom we can just relax.
Next time we head North, we'll have to plan ahead and get together with Grace's gang. That would be a fun adventure. I'd be calling her kids by their pseudonyms. The energy level would be close to nuclear, but in a good way. (Well, assuming the kiddos cooperate, of course.) Thankfully we make it up this way a few times a year, so when the weather is nice, it will be easier.
So here I sit, with crt's laptop on my lap and hubby has ours on his. The kiddos are in bed. Thankfully it sounds like Baby Bear has gone to sleep on her own. We do hear an occasional thump from one of the older girls, but that's normal around here.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
she's still my baby...
It seems that lately I have been noting how big my little one is growing. She's attempting new words almost daily . (Today's word is "go!") In the past, I've mourned the fact that she typically doesn't fall asleep in my arms. The Mommy in me would love to just hold her indefinitely. While the pragmatist in me is glad she sleeps independently, a little more cuddle time is always welcome.
Our daughter was cranky when we put her down tonight. I guess I would be cranky, too, if I had to sleep in a closet. It's a large walk-in, so don't be alarmed. The pack and play fits in with room to spare, and it has an air vent and a light switch. This is not the cupboard under the stairs. My mothering instincts kicked in, and I decided to go back up stairs and try to settle her down. It was not easy, but eventually she laid down on my torso, her back to my tummy. I could feel her body relax. I had the blinds open, so the glow of the moonlight and neighborhood lights reflecting off the snow below served as a night light. Baby Bear seemed to want to go toward the light coming into the room through the cracks around the doorway, but eventually she settled down. Until Daddy came to check on us. She was glad to go to him for a few minutes though she returned to my arms pretty quickly. Eventually, both of us fell asleep on the bed, and about an hour or so later, I woke up to my little one sleeping and snoring peacefully underneath my arm. I snuck her into the closet and laid her in the pack and play, where she is sleeping soundly.
I can't say that I blame her for not settling down. She's in a small "room" that is relatively unfamiliar to her. She has been playing with her cousins all day, and loves every minute of getting into her cousins' toys, climbing on the little tikes castle, and going down the slide. And don't forget her gleeful response to chasing Jessie, the not-so-little kitty. She loves to give Jessie kisses when she catches her, and Jessie does not hiss at her like Princess or Lucy would.
Bedtimes like tonight remind me that my growing toddler is still a baby. She may be twenty-something pounds of baby, but she is not yet a little girl. The instinct to protect and care for her and to make her comfortable when she can't quite comfort herself, is one of God's greatest gifts to women. In light of recent events, I am even more grateful that she still needs her Mommy. Her Mommy needs her, too.
It seems that lately I have been noting how big my little one is growing. She's attempting new words almost daily . (Today's word is "go!") In the past, I've mourned the fact that she typically doesn't fall asleep in my arms. The Mommy in me would love to just hold her indefinitely. While the pragmatist in me is glad she sleeps independently, a little more cuddle time is always welcome.
Our daughter was cranky when we put her down tonight. I guess I would be cranky, too, if I had to sleep in a closet. It's a large walk-in, so don't be alarmed. The pack and play fits in with room to spare, and it has an air vent and a light switch. This is not the cupboard under the stairs. My mothering instincts kicked in, and I decided to go back up stairs and try to settle her down. It was not easy, but eventually she laid down on my torso, her back to my tummy. I could feel her body relax. I had the blinds open, so the glow of the moonlight and neighborhood lights reflecting off the snow below served as a night light. Baby Bear seemed to want to go toward the light coming into the room through the cracks around the doorway, but eventually she settled down. Until Daddy came to check on us. She was glad to go to him for a few minutes though she returned to my arms pretty quickly. Eventually, both of us fell asleep on the bed, and about an hour or so later, I woke up to my little one sleeping and snoring peacefully underneath my arm. I snuck her into the closet and laid her in the pack and play, where she is sleeping soundly.
I can't say that I blame her for not settling down. She's in a small "room" that is relatively unfamiliar to her. She has been playing with her cousins all day, and loves every minute of getting into her cousins' toys, climbing on the little tikes castle, and going down the slide. And don't forget her gleeful response to chasing Jessie, the not-so-little kitty. She loves to give Jessie kisses when she catches her, and Jessie does not hiss at her like Princess or Lucy would.
Bedtimes like tonight remind me that my growing toddler is still a baby. She may be twenty-something pounds of baby, but she is not yet a little girl. The instinct to protect and care for her and to make her comfortable when she can't quite comfort herself, is one of God's greatest gifts to women. In light of recent events, I am even more grateful that she still needs her Mommy. Her Mommy needs her, too.
Friday, February 16, 2007
winter retreat...
While some might long to retreat from their winter wonderland this weekend, we have opted to retreat northward to experience true winter weather. Baby-bear slept very little on the drive up to her older cousins, and she has already had a grand time being chased by Monarch and Purple Princess, chasing Jessie (the fat cat that doesn't do anything), pushing Purple Princess' old little tikes trike, and climbing the stairs. the older girls try their hardest to keep her downstairs, but our little one is quick.
We were surprised by how far north we had to drive before we saw any snow accumulation... but the beauty of the ice on the trees and the crystals glistening on the ground was worth the wait. The interstates and main roads are clear, and even the neighborhood streets are relatively passable. I find it refreshing to experience a taste of true winter weather... and if it is going to be as cold as it has been lately, we might as well get to see the snow (and play in it, even if it's for a mere 5 minutes or less). We even saw a couple of men ice-fishing on a pond near the interstate. I haven't seen a pond that frozen since... well, definitely since before we move to TN from the MidWest when I was in high school. Perhaps Baby Bear will fall into a snow drift tomorrow (we won't let her sstay there, don't worry.)
Starting last night, Baby-bear has been around her relatives, and I am so grateful. I have fond, ye distant memories of our drives to my cousins' in PA when we were little, including our dog, Gabe playing with their dog, Sheba. (I had to be younger than 5, since Gabe was hit by a school bus when I was in Kindergarten.) Anyway, I am glad she had time with Juliana last night and this morning, and now she gets to be overwhelmed by the exuberance of her older cousins.
It looks like they're expecting more snow tonight.
While some might long to retreat from their winter wonderland this weekend, we have opted to retreat northward to experience true winter weather. Baby-bear slept very little on the drive up to her older cousins, and she has already had a grand time being chased by Monarch and Purple Princess, chasing Jessie (the fat cat that doesn't do anything), pushing Purple Princess' old little tikes trike, and climbing the stairs. the older girls try their hardest to keep her downstairs, but our little one is quick.
We were surprised by how far north we had to drive before we saw any snow accumulation... but the beauty of the ice on the trees and the crystals glistening on the ground was worth the wait. The interstates and main roads are clear, and even the neighborhood streets are relatively passable. I find it refreshing to experience a taste of true winter weather... and if it is going to be as cold as it has been lately, we might as well get to see the snow (and play in it, even if it's for a mere 5 minutes or less). We even saw a couple of men ice-fishing on a pond near the interstate. I haven't seen a pond that frozen since... well, definitely since before we move to TN from the MidWest when I was in high school. Perhaps Baby Bear will fall into a snow drift tomorrow (we won't let her sstay there, don't worry.)
Starting last night, Baby-bear has been around her relatives, and I am so grateful. I have fond, ye distant memories of our drives to my cousins' in PA when we were little, including our dog, Gabe playing with their dog, Sheba. (I had to be younger than 5, since Gabe was hit by a school bus when I was in Kindergarten.) Anyway, I am glad she had time with Juliana last night and this morning, and now she gets to be overwhelmed by the exuberance of her older cousins.
It looks like they're expecting more snow tonight.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
DATE NIGHT!!!!!!
I cleaned a bunch today... didn't get all the laundry folded, but the kitchen floor is no longer gross, the guest bath is clean, and the counter top and bar between the kitchen and living room are essentially clear. Baby Bear probably didn't know what to think of her Mommy's cleaning frenzy. It's amazing what happens when people are coming over...
We had our symphony date tonight. The evening began at Uncle Gio's, a local Italian place. The food was yummy, and it was so nice to eat uninterrupted by a fidgety toddler. Bec, Brett, & cousin Juliana came over. Apparently Baby-Bear did pretty well, except for literally pulling her cousin out of the toddler chair. Then, apparently she acted like she wanted to get up, but she didn't want her cousin to have the chair, so she stayed put and pouted. Finally, the tossed the chair around together. Or something like that. Bec might tell the real story on her blog.
Anyway, while Juliana was sharing her Mommy and Daddy with our daughter, we enjoyed our nice, peaceful dinner. Then we headed downtown to hear the symphony
at the new Schermerhorn symphony center. Parking and shuttle were free for symphony patrons.... while the garage was technically within walking distance, the chilly night air made the shuttle even more appealing. We especially enjoyed the first half, which included classics by Beethoven and Haydn. The cellist "rocked it hard core," to quote hubby. The 2nd half was composed by Philip Glass, an American composer. While technically the music was superb, the subject matter was a bit eastern for our tastes. It helped to not read the lyrics in the program and just focus on the music. As we headed down to the complimentary coat room to pick up my coat, a familiar face was coming down the staircase above us... Nashville's mayor. I supposed the woman with him was his wife, but I haven't the slightest clue.
It was a fun, relaxing evening. Hubby did good for Valentine's this year. We were apart for the Holiday last year, so I guess he felt he had to make up for it. No complaints here. The whole experience made me glad that my musical knowledge and appreciation are (hopefully) a little better than many American's. There wasn't a bad place in the hall, and I can say that because we were seated very near the back and the sound was still good. The precision of the orchestra, the animation of the conductor, and the choir's artistry made the show. (I told hubby they had to be good musicians to sing the lyrics of the Glass composition and not laugh... and it was not a comedy. Forgive me, please. ) Oh, and one cannot forget the beauty of the building. I felt rich just being in a place like that. I felt loved by the one God has given me. I observed a very expectant Mom, and remembered how Baby Bear used to dance to the classical music I played in my office when I was pregnant with her. Hubby held the doors for me, helped me with my coat, put his arm around me... I felt cherished. While we love our daughter dearly, it was nice to have an evening for just the two of us. And I hope that in spite of their toddler tiffs, the girls will grow to be great friends.
We might be heading to Indy tomorrow... hubby is off work on Monday, and he thinks he misses the cold. And his brother, crt, and Monarch and purple Princess. (Might is actually probably misleading... we are planning on it. I just haven't started packing yet.)
Good night, Friends!
I cleaned a bunch today... didn't get all the laundry folded, but the kitchen floor is no longer gross, the guest bath is clean, and the counter top and bar between the kitchen and living room are essentially clear. Baby Bear probably didn't know what to think of her Mommy's cleaning frenzy. It's amazing what happens when people are coming over...
We had our symphony date tonight. The evening began at Uncle Gio's, a local Italian place. The food was yummy, and it was so nice to eat uninterrupted by a fidgety toddler. Bec, Brett, & cousin Juliana came over. Apparently Baby-Bear did pretty well, except for literally pulling her cousin out of the toddler chair. Then, apparently she acted like she wanted to get up, but she didn't want her cousin to have the chair, so she stayed put and pouted. Finally, the tossed the chair around together. Or something like that. Bec might tell the real story on her blog.
Anyway, while Juliana was sharing her Mommy and Daddy with our daughter, we enjoyed our nice, peaceful dinner. Then we headed downtown to hear the symphony
at the new Schermerhorn symphony center. Parking and shuttle were free for symphony patrons.... while the garage was technically within walking distance, the chilly night air made the shuttle even more appealing. We especially enjoyed the first half, which included classics by Beethoven and Haydn. The cellist "rocked it hard core," to quote hubby. The 2nd half was composed by Philip Glass, an American composer. While technically the music was superb, the subject matter was a bit eastern for our tastes. It helped to not read the lyrics in the program and just focus on the music. As we headed down to the complimentary coat room to pick up my coat, a familiar face was coming down the staircase above us... Nashville's mayor. I supposed the woman with him was his wife, but I haven't the slightest clue.
It was a fun, relaxing evening. Hubby did good for Valentine's this year. We were apart for the Holiday last year, so I guess he felt he had to make up for it. No complaints here. The whole experience made me glad that my musical knowledge and appreciation are (hopefully) a little better than many American's. There wasn't a bad place in the hall, and I can say that because we were seated very near the back and the sound was still good. The precision of the orchestra, the animation of the conductor, and the choir's artistry made the show. (I told hubby they had to be good musicians to sing the lyrics of the Glass composition and not laugh... and it was not a comedy. Forgive me, please. ) Oh, and one cannot forget the beauty of the building. I felt rich just being in a place like that. I felt loved by the one God has given me. I observed a very expectant Mom, and remembered how Baby Bear used to dance to the classical music I played in my office when I was pregnant with her. Hubby held the doors for me, helped me with my coat, put his arm around me... I felt cherished. While we love our daughter dearly, it was nice to have an evening for just the two of us. And I hope that in spite of their toddler tiffs, the girls will grow to be great friends.
We might be heading to Indy tomorrow... hubby is off work on Monday, and he thinks he misses the cold. And his brother, crt, and Monarch and purple Princess. (Might is actually probably misleading... we are planning on it. I just haven't started packing yet.)
Good night, Friends!
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Valentine's Musings
Hubby is very patient with me in my "domestically challenged" state. Every once in a while, I come through with something that breaks my pattern of helpessness. Now, you won't catch me baking much from scratch, like my brother's wife (the Chocolate Queen). At least, not often. That's not to say I never will, but for me, as most of you who have lurked around here a while know, it's an accomplishment to cook. Period. Well, a week or so ago, Tech Mom told me about a recipe someone she works with uses for Pork Roast. I think. Maybe it was roast beef. All I remembered was that it involved Garlic and Ginger. Well guess what hubby requested for his valentine dinner? Yep, a pork roast or pork chops , marinated and cooked in the crock pot. Sara Groves shared that the best advice she received from her Mom as a newlywed was not to make her husband guess what she wanted. Set him up for success. In my 7+ years of marriage, while I would love to come up with a good surprise at some point, I have learned it's better to set myself up for success than leave hubby terribly disappointed. That wise advice works both ways.
Baby bear and I went grocery shopping this morning. Publix gave us a free red carnation "just because" it's Valentine's Day. Baby bear loved smelling her carnation, and she miraculously did not ingest any of it. The stem lasted about halfway through the store, and I was only picking up a few items there. After getting what I wanted at Publix, we headed across the street to the Neighborhood Market, a mini-version of the big superstore that everyone loathes and loves simultaneously. Except for the bold minority who manage to boycott it for philosophical reasons.
I had hoped hubby's diet dew would still be on sale at NM. It wasn't. So I kicked myself for not picking it up at Publix, since their sale price was still better than NM's everyday price. But I did not go back. Baby bear charmed the ladies in the checkout at NM, just as she had at Publix, and she fell asleep by halfway home. She is still sleeping in her crib as I type.
Anyway, I thought I would blog about my experiment, as I manage to lose recipes that I write down. I used what I remembered from Tech Mom's description, combined it with what I read in my crockery cookbook and threw in a bit of my own creativity (if ginger ale can count as my own creativity)... and now it cooks. I pray it works out, because this meal is hubby's main Valentine's gift. And I bought enough so there may even be leftovers for Baby Bear's babysitters tomorrow night, when we go out for our actual date.
Ginger Garlic Apple Pork Roast
2 1/2 -3 lb. pork roast, cut in half
2 tbs. garlic-ginger seasoning stuff that was by the diced garlic at the store, spread all over meat
ground sea salt and pepper, on both sides of the meat
1/2 yellow onion
1 lb. carrots
2 c ginger ale
1 c apple juice
Put in crock pot and let it cook! I'm doing it for 6 hours on high only because I didn't get home from the store til noon, and I don't want to wait til 8 or 10 p.m. for supper.
Serve with homemade mashed potatoes and canned creamed corn. For dessert: Duncan Hines chocolate lover's brownies with chocolate chunks in it. And maybe homemade chocolate cookies with brown and white chocolate chips, if I get around to baking them (miraculously from scratch).
That, my friends, is my Valentine's Day kitchen experiment. Hope it tastes as good as it sounds to me.
Hubby is very patient with me in my "domestically challenged" state. Every once in a while, I come through with something that breaks my pattern of helpessness. Now, you won't catch me baking much from scratch, like my brother's wife (the Chocolate Queen). At least, not often. That's not to say I never will, but for me, as most of you who have lurked around here a while know, it's an accomplishment to cook. Period. Well, a week or so ago, Tech Mom told me about a recipe someone she works with uses for Pork Roast. I think. Maybe it was roast beef. All I remembered was that it involved Garlic and Ginger. Well guess what hubby requested for his valentine dinner? Yep, a pork roast or pork chops , marinated and cooked in the crock pot. Sara Groves shared that the best advice she received from her Mom as a newlywed was not to make her husband guess what she wanted. Set him up for success. In my 7+ years of marriage, while I would love to come up with a good surprise at some point, I have learned it's better to set myself up for success than leave hubby terribly disappointed. That wise advice works both ways.
Baby bear and I went grocery shopping this morning. Publix gave us a free red carnation "just because" it's Valentine's Day. Baby bear loved smelling her carnation, and she miraculously did not ingest any of it. The stem lasted about halfway through the store, and I was only picking up a few items there. After getting what I wanted at Publix, we headed across the street to the Neighborhood Market, a mini-version of the big superstore that everyone loathes and loves simultaneously. Except for the bold minority who manage to boycott it for philosophical reasons.
I had hoped hubby's diet dew would still be on sale at NM. It wasn't. So I kicked myself for not picking it up at Publix, since their sale price was still better than NM's everyday price. But I did not go back. Baby bear charmed the ladies in the checkout at NM, just as she had at Publix, and she fell asleep by halfway home. She is still sleeping in her crib as I type.
Anyway, I thought I would blog about my experiment, as I manage to lose recipes that I write down. I used what I remembered from Tech Mom's description, combined it with what I read in my crockery cookbook and threw in a bit of my own creativity (if ginger ale can count as my own creativity)... and now it cooks. I pray it works out, because this meal is hubby's main Valentine's gift. And I bought enough so there may even be leftovers for Baby Bear's babysitters tomorrow night, when we go out for our actual date.
Ginger Garlic Apple Pork Roast
2 1/2 -3 lb. pork roast, cut in half
2 tbs. garlic-ginger seasoning stuff that was by the diced garlic at the store, spread all over meat
ground sea salt and pepper, on both sides of the meat
1/2 yellow onion
1 lb. carrots
2 c ginger ale
1 c apple juice
Put in crock pot and let it cook! I'm doing it for 6 hours on high only because I didn't get home from the store til noon, and I don't want to wait til 8 or 10 p.m. for supper.
Serve with homemade mashed potatoes and canned creamed corn. For dessert: Duncan Hines chocolate lover's brownies with chocolate chunks in it. And maybe homemade chocolate cookies with brown and white chocolate chips, if I get around to baking them (miraculously from scratch).
That, my friends, is my Valentine's Day kitchen experiment. Hope it tastes as good as it sounds to me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)