Oh what a week it was, it really was! The weekend promises to be interesting, too.
This was my day with Jesse and James. James spent the day with me and I picked Jesse up after school. We went to the shoe store and the boys got new athletic shoes and socks. They both got to "spin the wheel" for socks. I don't think they'll need socks for some time. Well, maybe dress socks but not crew socks. Mary, their mom, is out of town for a few days so I baked a pork loin roast for Keith and the boys. They are having a "Boys Fun Three-Day Weekend" complete with videos, games, and special food. Maybe they'll even have a fire in their wonderful fireplace.
Tomorrow (Saturday) Harry and I go to Nashville, TN, for a reefer's sale and swap. It'll be fun to see a few other reefers that we know and to meet others. (Remember our brand of reefers are coral reef hobbyists.)
It is cold here in the sunny south. 9 degrees this morning. Yes, NINE!! I know some of you will laugh at me but, darn, that's cold. Temps aren't predicted to be above freezing for at least three more days. Brrrrrrrrrrr! The good side of that is: The insect population will be reduced to tolerable next summer.
We'll be recognizing Harry's birthday on Sunday. Now he's as old as I am. He likes to remind me that I'm the oldest. Yeah, big deal - less than 3 months. Hey, I'm the oldest so I get to be the boss. Right?
Good night to all.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
I Remember
In 1968 (yes I'm old) my husband, two sons, and I moved from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to a little town on the edge of Appalachia. We lived there for 10 years. During those years I came to love the mountains, the people, and the life. The memories of those years visit me often - so many memories of another life.
I remember the smell of a dewy morning, the hush of falling snow, the way rain would rivet down the windows and freeze in trails, the fresh dampness of a summer fog, the smell of rain in the evergreen woods, the beauty of frozen fog in the morning sun, the feeling of anxiety during a winter thunder storm when there was ball lightening. (I remember the "Blizzard of '78" too.)
I remember the pride of a well planted spring garden, the pride in sharing the bounty with others, the fall harvest, and the gatherings to share in preserving the winter’s food.
I remember the making of apple butter, molasses, and syrup in the fall. Families would come together to share the day long labor and enjoy being together.
I remember families going to church on Sunday morning. The children sat with their parents and listened to the message with reverence and respect.
I remember the simple beauty of the mountains, the love and respect the people had for each other.
I remember the Saturday night family gatherings when everyone brought their musical instrument. There was music, singing, dancing, food, and plenty to drink – spring water and stronger stuff, too.
I remember a place of peace and contentment.
I remember the smell of a dewy morning, the hush of falling snow, the way rain would rivet down the windows and freeze in trails, the fresh dampness of a summer fog, the smell of rain in the evergreen woods, the beauty of frozen fog in the morning sun, the feeling of anxiety during a winter thunder storm when there was ball lightening. (I remember the "Blizzard of '78" too.)
I remember the pride of a well planted spring garden, the pride in sharing the bounty with others, the fall harvest, and the gatherings to share in preserving the winter’s food.
I remember the making of apple butter, molasses, and syrup in the fall. Families would come together to share the day long labor and enjoy being together.
I remember families going to church on Sunday morning. The children sat with their parents and listened to the message with reverence and respect.
I remember the simple beauty of the mountains, the love and respect the people had for each other.
I remember the Saturday night family gatherings when everyone brought their musical instrument. There was music, singing, dancing, food, and plenty to drink – spring water and stronger stuff, too.
I remember a place of peace and contentment.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Of Tile and Exploding Pressure Cookers
It's been six days since I wrote here. Bad girl! I'm just having trouble finding subject matter in a hum-drum everyday world. You can only post so many menus and tell so many grandkids stories. For the most part that's my world right now.
I have had a bit of a hoop-la trying to locate an adequate number of the tile I selected for the master bathroom. Remember the bathroom project from before Thanksgiving? Well, we've lived with that ugly situation long enough. I finally - just today - resolved the problem of getting the exact tile I want. Monday I'll call and schedule the workers to come and put us back in good order. I hope they'll be available soon.
I promised one of my best blogging friends that I'd write about having a pressure cooker explode. So here goes. This happened years ago when my boys were five and seven. I used my pressure cooker at least once a week - maybe more - so I wasn't the least bit afraid of something going wrong. Well, this particular day I was making chicken and dumplings. As was my usual habit, I cooked the chicken in the pressure cooker, took it out, pulled the meat from the bones, and put the meat back in the cooker with the broth. Then I made the dumplings .
All this time the boys and a couple of their little friends were playing on the deck just outside the kitchen. From time to time one would open the door and asked, "Are they ready yet?" I was tired and wanting to finish cooking so the kids could eat and settle down.
Well, I put the dumplings in the hot broth, set the lid back on the cooker - I didn't lock it down - and set the heat on low. I went out to the deck to watch the children and rest my tired feet and legs for a few minutes. Next thing I knew there was a loud noise in the kitchen. I jumped up and started back through the door. As soon as my feet hit the kitchen floor I was skating and ended up sitting on a floor covered with dumplings, chicken, and gravy. The lid on the cooker was heavy enough to cause a certain amount of pressure to build up. Gravy spewed out through the steam valve and the lid blew off.
Before I could get up one of the kids stuck his head in and asked, "Are we ready to eat?" Those kids were laughing and jumping around. They thought it was a real funny show. I told them to stay on the deck while I cleaned up. What a mess! I was busy trying to salvage some of the stuff from the pan and looked around to see one of the neighbor kids eating a hot dumpling that he'd picked up from the floor. It was a nightmare.
Have you ever seen gravy drip from the ceiling onto the floor and run down the front of your cabinets? I truly hope not. Service Master came and cleaned the grease and smoke from everything. Can you believe our home owner's policy paid for the damage?
Have I ever used a pressure cooker again? Nope!!! If you do, beware the exploding steam vent.
I have had a bit of a hoop-la trying to locate an adequate number of the tile I selected for the master bathroom. Remember the bathroom project from before Thanksgiving? Well, we've lived with that ugly situation long enough. I finally - just today - resolved the problem of getting the exact tile I want. Monday I'll call and schedule the workers to come and put us back in good order. I hope they'll be available soon.
I promised one of my best blogging friends that I'd write about having a pressure cooker explode. So here goes. This happened years ago when my boys were five and seven. I used my pressure cooker at least once a week - maybe more - so I wasn't the least bit afraid of something going wrong. Well, this particular day I was making chicken and dumplings. As was my usual habit, I cooked the chicken in the pressure cooker, took it out, pulled the meat from the bones, and put the meat back in the cooker with the broth. Then I made the dumplings .
All this time the boys and a couple of their little friends were playing on the deck just outside the kitchen. From time to time one would open the door and asked, "Are they ready yet?" I was tired and wanting to finish cooking so the kids could eat and settle down.
Well, I put the dumplings in the hot broth, set the lid back on the cooker - I didn't lock it down - and set the heat on low. I went out to the deck to watch the children and rest my tired feet and legs for a few minutes. Next thing I knew there was a loud noise in the kitchen. I jumped up and started back through the door. As soon as my feet hit the kitchen floor I was skating and ended up sitting on a floor covered with dumplings, chicken, and gravy. The lid on the cooker was heavy enough to cause a certain amount of pressure to build up. Gravy spewed out through the steam valve and the lid blew off.
Before I could get up one of the kids stuck his head in and asked, "Are we ready to eat?" Those kids were laughing and jumping around. They thought it was a real funny show. I told them to stay on the deck while I cleaned up. What a mess! I was busy trying to salvage some of the stuff from the pan and looked around to see one of the neighbor kids eating a hot dumpling that he'd picked up from the floor. It was a nightmare.
Have you ever seen gravy drip from the ceiling onto the floor and run down the front of your cabinets? I truly hope not. Service Master came and cleaned the grease and smoke from everything. Can you believe our home owner's policy paid for the damage?
Have I ever used a pressure cooker again? Nope!!! If you do, beware the exploding steam vent.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Paying the Penalty
Sunday came and gathering day happened. The little ones are getting bigger every week. The adults all continue to dote on their every move. Today's menu, you ask? Well, let me tell you . .
No cooking in this house today - except for the microwave. I looked in the freezer and decided to treat everyone to meatballs with a choice of Chipotle, Teriyaki, or Sweet & Sour sauce. . . And what else? Look! A big box full of frozen mini corn dogs. Those dishes popped right out of the freezer and into the microwave. Refrigerator yielded cheddar cheese, three kinds of mustard, cream cheese, celery, and carrots. The pantry was hiding three opened boxes of snack crackers and some white bread. It wasn't a balanced meal nor was it necessarily a good meal. Every tummy was full, no one complained, and my freezer now has room for the next round of cooking.
Last night (Saturday) while Harry and I watched TV I ate several (more like a lot of) dark chocolate M&M's. Big mistake. I knew better but it just happened. I fell off the wagon in a weak moment. Have I told you that chocolate is to me as straight Bourbon is to you? Not only was I inebriated (that sounds better than being just plain drunk) but I had a hangover this morning. You can laugh but chocolate is a major mistake for me. I enjoyed the day with all the kids but the headache is still with me.
I'm going to bed and try to sleep off last night's mistake. I hope none of you have a day long hangover.
... And a happy Monday to you.................................................
No cooking in this house today - except for the microwave. I looked in the freezer and decided to treat everyone to meatballs with a choice of Chipotle, Teriyaki, or Sweet & Sour sauce. . . And what else? Look! A big box full of frozen mini corn dogs. Those dishes popped right out of the freezer and into the microwave. Refrigerator yielded cheddar cheese, three kinds of mustard, cream cheese, celery, and carrots. The pantry was hiding three opened boxes of snack crackers and some white bread. It wasn't a balanced meal nor was it necessarily a good meal. Every tummy was full, no one complained, and my freezer now has room for the next round of cooking.
Last night (Saturday) while Harry and I watched TV I ate several (more like a lot of) dark chocolate M&M's. Big mistake. I knew better but it just happened. I fell off the wagon in a weak moment. Have I told you that chocolate is to me as straight Bourbon is to you? Not only was I inebriated (that sounds better than being just plain drunk) but I had a hangover this morning. You can laugh but chocolate is a major mistake for me. I enjoyed the day with all the kids but the headache is still with me.
I'm going to bed and try to sleep off last night's mistake. I hope none of you have a day long hangover.
... And a happy Monday to you.................................................
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Three Down and All is Well
We're three days into the new year - so far, so good. Here's an overview of the first three days of my year.
1. I watched the Rose Bowl parade and three bowl games. It's the first time I've watched football in years. Ya know, it wasn't too bad. It was kinda fun to snuggle down with Harry and watch the action on TV.
2. Judy and Rick closed on their new house and are moving in this weekend. We wish it was here but - once again - I have to remember that Phoenix is their home for now.
3. I was invited to go along with Mary, Jesse, and James to the Early Works Children's Museum downtown. It was awesome! The boys had three hours of non-stop fun. I found a bench and enjoyed watching all the children play together. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the bone-heads who run this world could be peaceful with each other and play nice the way children are?
4. I've set up my checkbook/finance program (on my computer) for 2009 and it still works as well as ever. I wrote this program several years ago - back when my brain still functioned. It ain't fancy but it works well for me. Nothing fancy just plain Jane bookkeeping.
5. I'm making plans and arranging my schedule to get the infamous master bath taken care of. I've been embarrassed by it long enough. Everything is here except the floor tile. As soon as it's in house the workers will enter the picture.
Now you are up to date on the life of an old woman who is determined to make 2009 a better year than 2008.
I hope your year is beginning with a promise of being the year all problems and heartaches are solved/left behind.
Take care, my friends. Hugs to everyone.
1. I watched the Rose Bowl parade and three bowl games. It's the first time I've watched football in years. Ya know, it wasn't too bad. It was kinda fun to snuggle down with Harry and watch the action on TV.
2. Judy and Rick closed on their new house and are moving in this weekend. We wish it was here but - once again - I have to remember that Phoenix is their home for now.
3. I was invited to go along with Mary, Jesse, and James to the Early Works Children's Museum downtown. It was awesome! The boys had three hours of non-stop fun. I found a bench and enjoyed watching all the children play together. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the bone-heads who run this world could be peaceful with each other and play nice the way children are?
4. I've set up my checkbook/finance program (on my computer) for 2009 and it still works as well as ever. I wrote this program several years ago - back when my brain still functioned. It ain't fancy but it works well for me. Nothing fancy just plain Jane bookkeeping.
5. I'm making plans and arranging my schedule to get the infamous master bath taken care of. I've been embarrassed by it long enough. Everything is here except the floor tile. As soon as it's in house the workers will enter the picture.
Now you are up to date on the life of an old woman who is determined to make 2009 a better year than 2008.
I hope your year is beginning with a promise of being the year all problems and heartaches are solved/left behind.
Take care, my friends. Hugs to everyone.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2009
New Year's eve . . . The new year is almost here. I do hope that 2009 is a better year for everyone. How about resolutions? I have only one resolution this year - "This year I will rise above the little irritations in life." I do tend to dwell on little irritations until they become harbors for stress. I never got around to planning a New Year's eve outing after we nixed the Opryland Hotel celebration. 2008 has just about used us up - we'll take a second look and celebrate the arrival of 2009 right here at home. That ain't bad.
Besides, I have a trip to look forward to and plan for. Harry gave me a gift certificate this Christmas. A trip to Biltmore House (near Ashville, NC) to tour the spring gardens. It'll be a perfect trip. I've never seen the Biltmore House gardens and mansion. Also, it's a perfect opportunity to drive through the mountains. There are several really pretty little villages along the route. I hope Harry just falls in love with Evergreen, NC. It's a beautiful small village filled with neat, quiet homes set among huge evergreen trees.
Here's wishing everyone a truly happy new year filled with all the things 2008 failed to deliver and even more.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Christmas and Video
It seems that I have formed a habit of being a very, very bad blogger. One New Year resolution is to improve my recent track record. I hope my blogging friends haven't forgotten me.
Christmas 2008 was quieter than some past Christmases, but it was great. I didn't do a lot of decorating, didn't haul out the Christmas china, had simple food. (Lots of finger food, baked ham, various rolls and condiments, salad, boiled corn and fresh lemonade for the kids. There were a couple of "adult beverages," too.) I hope everyone enjoyed the day half as much as Harry and I did. If so the day was a great success.
I made a short slide show with captions on each picture. As you will see our day was casual - very casual.
Christmas 2008 was quieter than some past Christmases, but it was great. I didn't do a lot of decorating, didn't haul out the Christmas china, had simple food. (Lots of finger food, baked ham, various rolls and condiments, salad, boiled corn and fresh lemonade for the kids. There were a couple of "adult beverages," too.) I hope everyone enjoyed the day half as much as Harry and I did. If so the day was a great success.
I made a short slide show with captions on each picture. As you will see our day was casual - very casual.
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