tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41867633463909932282024-03-06T01:43:58.230-05:00Simply BelAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06993448878986983961noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186763346390993228.post-10223395635966157552016-03-18T08:58:00.002-04:002016-03-19T13:52:25.484-04:00Best Laid Plans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgloQpX5A-9xhLJFEqK9HVZmsAWyW64IYcB-43pzks4nf4EIu6hlIWaMAdoveIYMKK4CLf0fU6ZqRmgowru3Y_63ZYJsrvbAeHHm91aPgiQYTTNvElI5ST9hRI5CybHin-5OROliZt_J7/s1600/771011tagbel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgloQpX5A-9xhLJFEqK9HVZmsAWyW64IYcB-43pzks4nf4EIu6hlIWaMAdoveIYMKK4CLf0fU6ZqRmgowru3Y_63ZYJsrvbAeHHm91aPgiQYTTNvElI5ST9hRI5CybHin-5OROliZt_J7/s1600/771011tagbel.jpg" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Man proposes, God disposes" or "man plans, God laughs." The universe is probably laughing at me right now. Actually, I believe I am a great source of amusement for it because I doggedly make my lists and try to establish habits and patterns (yes, I am probably a little OCD). Albert Einstein said the definition of stupidity is to do the same thing over and over again expecting different results. Yet the urge to make plans will not go away.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">I had my grocery shopping list all set but, as usual, I procrastinated until the very last minute because I hate to shop. It was 2pm and I was trying to psych myself up to go out when the power went out and, although the electric company promised it would be back on in a couple of hours, it didn't come back on until 7pm. By this time I was frantically trying to figure out how I was going to get my son's dress shirts clean and wrinkle free for his BPA thing that he was leaving for the next day. I couldn't cook dinner, either, so I braved the streets with no working lights to grab some pizza (the outage was fairly wide spread but we were near an outer edge so it didn't take long to get to "civilization"). Ironically, I have been looking into "Prepping" but that's as about as far as I've gotten - I am not prepared for a power outage of more than a couple of hours, max (and that's only if my laptop and Kindle are all charged up).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">I did manage to get those shirts done and was busy patting myself on the back when, suddenly, one of my teeth decided it no longer liked liquids anywhere near it. So I had to make a visit to the dreaded dentist. I treated myself to the gas while they were grinding away in my mouth but it still stung when I saw the bill - almost $500 to fill the crater in my tooth. And once the novocaine wore off... well, let's just say my plans to munch this weekend are now kaput. I should buy stock in ibuprofen *sigh*</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06993448878986983961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186763346390993228.post-36809867362276090652016-03-16T10:09:00.000-04:002016-03-18T06:25:35.346-04:00Baching It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5I-dGO0rAdOOCT23gB6z2wq-ruzWeVQCZUsWdoc-2vtG2m9gUnzuoBuL5Tnkagk9Js9PnfZBdWixk5zCcy8n2-OVIsR1vhgoihpe76DiyRtDu6Mta4Uu37YoTudV8Z_sKcdB0NzYym-J/s1600/tranquility.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5I-dGO0rAdOOCT23gB6z2wq-ruzWeVQCZUsWdoc-2vtG2m9gUnzuoBuL5Tnkagk9Js9PnfZBdWixk5zCcy8n2-OVIsR1vhgoihpe76DiyRtDu6Mta4Uu37YoTudV8Z_sKcdB0NzYym-J/s320/tranquility.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My husband is a union plumber/welder and is sent where ever there is work available. Last year we lucked out and he got to stay home so I sorta got used to having him around. Right now he is working in Lime, Ohio, which is about a 6 hour drive away. He was home this past weekend and had to visit all of his family members because his birthday is coming up which was an exhausting proposition for this introvert!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This coming weekend my son will be attending the State regionals for his high school BPA (Business Professionals of America) so I will be all by my lonesome. If my house was all clean and tidy I'd be very excited to just do nothing for the next 4 days (he leaves tomorrow from school) but since my house is never clean and tidy it will pretty much be business as usual except that I won't have to cook unless I really want to :) I can also monopolize our only bathroom which would be great if we had a real bathtub :p Still, I may squeeze my oversized body into our minute tub for a bath, we'll see.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">First, I will have to make sure my son has everything he needs for his trip so I must do some laundry so his dress shirts are all fresh and clean. Since I did lots of laundry this past weekend (because my husband saved all of his dirty clothes just for me) I don't have much else that needs washed except for any of my comfy clothes because you can bet I will be in pajamas while I am alone. Oh, who am I kidding, I pretty much live in my PJs, lol.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Next I might actually get ALL of my dishes washed since I won't have to cook :o The idea of that makes me somewhat giddy! I can clean the counters and they will pretty much stay that way until Sunday night - oh joy!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I also need to go to the grocery store, which I had to do anyway, to get myself lots of snacks (mostly healthy). As I think I've said before, I hate shopping, but if I get it done today by the time my son gets home from school he will unload the car for me - bonus!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodnoreqzWpl_wJ4c57x383BUBbRifvUNE5NmD7SgYFiMNVpQfDVIm8BEZR8EwfiwG176iY8e1wkI1kxNdYXTG7pqUaG4w82B5CW7CfBfQ6hRbz5EcZLzyWaKY0RFpxYm-Dw8qsp1xewc9/s1600/thanksgiving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodnoreqzWpl_wJ4c57x383BUBbRifvUNE5NmD7SgYFiMNVpQfDVIm8BEZR8EwfiwG176iY8e1wkI1kxNdYXTG7pqUaG4w82B5CW7CfBfQ6hRbz5EcZLzyWaKY0RFpxYm-Dw8qsp1xewc9/s200/thanksgiving.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am a big one for using shortcuts in the kitchen but am highly aware that some may not be very healthy. While I'd love to have an all organic, whole grain diet that just isn't feasible all the time. I also believe that the eatability of food is very important so I am not about to do without certain comfort foods. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Anybody that has looked into organic fruits and vegetables is probably aware of the <a href="http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ALB00035/The-Dirty-Dozen-Foods-You-Should-Always-Buy-Organic.html" target="_blank">"Dirty Dozen" and "Clean 15." </a>Half the time the organic produce at my local grocery stores are just sad, though. Luckily we usually have a garden every summer so I can be sure to have organic produce for part of the year, anyway. We also have a farmers market near by but I don't make it there nearly as often as I should. However, as I've recently read, it's better to attempt to ingest more fresh produce regardless of whether it's organic or not than to simply avoid them. I try to buy apples that don't have that shiny wax on them (because the look crappy once you wash them) and frozen organic strawberries and blueberries. Luckily, there are a whole lot more organic options today than there were even five years ago.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I also love the nutty textures of things like brown rice and whole grain bread. I can get away with feeding my son the bread but both he and his father prefer white to brown rice. I have found some quinoa and rice blends (yes, they are prepared foods but I've tried regular quinoa and it just doesn't do it for me) that I want to try. I also lean toward ground turkey, turkey sausage and canned chicken for many meals (and Aldi's Fit and Lean Turkey Meatballs) so I am not very worried about the small amount of pork and beef products I eat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I love a good multigrain cracker (Wheat Thins multigrain Toasted Chips are my current favorite) with cheddar cheese and a sliced apple on the side. Unfortunately, I love the crackers a little <i>too</i> much. Still, as long as I'm getting some protein and a fruit, I'm not going to beat myself up too much about it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Finally, I almost always use a good olive oil to cook with so I have plenty of healthy fat in my diet. I also want to try incorporating organic coconut oil into my diet - I hear it's good to use for rice.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06993448878986983961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186763346390993228.post-19439757831671728502016-03-15T05:58:00.000-04:002016-03-15T15:20:27.014-04:00Simplification for the Body - Hands and Feet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGlPwkItab1rBsLWPXckUK_ggDuyLzR6FCnLM0Z2ZeQrKCSMSQVkpA-YvGzhSJQgS7bd6uDvHwqowA6KOnqpGpiwCPVAG8mdCic1y9a0XsHTijTExu47gGpPrRmlATnMwGwLvrN3-PB61/s1600/beauty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGlPwkItab1rBsLWPXckUK_ggDuyLzR6FCnLM0Z2ZeQrKCSMSQVkpA-YvGzhSJQgS7bd6uDvHwqowA6KOnqpGpiwCPVAG8mdCic1y9a0XsHTijTExu47gGpPrRmlATnMwGwLvrN3-PB61/s200/beauty.jpg" width="141" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For quite awhile now I have been trying my best to de-clutter and simplify my life: Car, house, body, brain, and spirit. It all seems overwhelming which is the complete opposite of simplification so I decided (which is really difficult for me, by the way) to ask myself two questions: What <i>can</i> I do? and What am I <i>willing</i> to do? I am applying these to the smallest part of each over all task. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Right now, I am contemplating my body so I will start with my feet. I have no interest in things like pedicures, I just want to treat them nicely because they do a lot of work for me. I have a ton of soft, fuzzy socks so I am already a step ahead (ha ha). They are well calloused because I only wear shoes when absolutely necessary and I'm fine with that. I occasionally like to give them a good scrub and lather on a slightly mentholated cream (right now I have <a href="https://www.shaklee.com/us/en/shop/healthybeauty/dailycare/product-_p_herbal-blend-multi-purpose-creamp?g=bodycare" target="_blank">Shaklee's Herbal Blend Multi-Purpose Cream</a>) before putting on a pair of those lovely socks. Of course they don't stay on long but that's okay, too. I did just treat them to a pair of <span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/BOBS-Skechers-Womens-Pureflex-Supastar/dp/B00PDERCZ4" target="_blank">BOBS from Skechers Women's Pureflex Supastar Flats</a> (which run small, btw, so I had to get a size 10, ugh) but they're really comfy and the arch support is in the right place so they'll do.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle">Next up - my hands. They are a mess, poor things, but I have been treating my nails with Nutra Nail Growth Treatment with Green Tea and using <a href="http://www.yvesrocherusa.com/control/body-care/hand-care/riche-creme-anti-wrinkle-high-nutrition-hand-cream/" target="_blank">Yves Rocher Riche Creme Hand Cream</a> to moisturize them. I also just stocked up on <a href="http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2726822" target="_blank">C. O. Bigelow Rose Salve</a> which is my all time favorite lip balm but it works wherever you put it so I am currently also using it as a cuticle cream. I don't paint them, or do manicures, I just use a nail block (The <a href="http://smile.amazon.com/Body-Shop-Nail-Polishing-Block/dp/B001B7CJDM/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1458035308&sr=8-1&keywords=the+body+shop+nail+block" target="_blank">Body Shop</a> makes my favorite one but, holy cow, the price has tripled!) to file, buff, smooth and shine my nails. I am also trying to remember to take a hair and nail strengthening supplement also. I really hate taking pills, though which is ironic because I have dozens of vitamin, mineral, and herb supplements. I have also gotten rid of a lot due to my new "simplifiy and declutter" mentality. Okay, the mentality I am working on, anyway.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle">I have also sorted through all the make-up I don't wear anyway (or rarely wear) and am planning to donate un-used items to the local thrift shop. They will at least get a nice assortment of nail polish and lip stick, lol.</span></span></span><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06993448878986983961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186763346390993228.post-52220791361599451942012-07-11T07:36:00.001-04:002012-07-11T07:37:59.297-04:00Family - Whatcha gonna do?Six years ago my sister and her family moved from our home state of Michigan to the 'burbs of Washington, DC in search of better economic conditions. This month, they're coming back. Luckily, we've visited often enough (especially in the last couple of years) that my nephews (12, 10 & 7 1/2) and I have formed lasting bonds because it's just them and me (and my own 14 year old son) for the next 2 1/2 weeks or so.<br />
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What will I do now that the amount of my children have quadrupled (and then some, with friends of my son also hanging around now that it's summer)? I'm thinking hiding in my room is a viable option (except for when I'm going to the grocery store to feed them all, of course). I was vaguely dabbling with the idea of trying to come up with healthy snacks and meals but, when you've got young ones who've never been apart from their parents for more than a few days now staring 3 weeks in the face (they managed 1/2 a week at Grandpa's before having to be back with Aunt Bel (and their cousin's video games)), comfort food is a must. Now, comfort food for children is different than comfort food for adults - I crave things like meatloaf and mashed potatoes or a pot roast but the kids want chicken nuggets, mac & cheese (from the box, of course), pizza and hot dogs. However, we can all agree that sweets make awesome comfort foods but I'm not an idiot - 4 children stuffed with ice cream, cookies, brownies and soda (AKA SUGAR) does not a peaceful aunt make. I bought fun flavored popsicles, Hawaiian Punch and big pretzel sticks instead (and they can't have the former two after 7 o'clock or so but the pretzels are fair game if I don't mind crumbs everywhere).<br />
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I will also indulge them with far more video game playing time than they usually get at home although I'll encourage them to go outside for a little while as long is it's not over 90 F (which it has been and will be but right now we're coasting along in the mid 80's which is on the warm side for me, but perfect for them). I'm also trying to come up with board and card games which will appeal to the lot of them which is not as easy as it sounds, especially if you don't want the pieces spread throughout the house. If I can find 4 different backed packs of playing cards, I think I'll teach them how to play War - fun, easy and fair. Heck, if I can find a 5th pack, I might even play along with them!<br />
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Taking the dog for a walk is another option. Our dog will follow me as well as any obedience dog when I'm wandering around the house. He'll even stay right by me for brief forays into the yard regardless of fencing (or lack thereof) but if you put a leash on him, he becomes a 32 lb pulling machine (which feels more like 50 lbs, especially since he's got short legs and a long body which gives him extra pulling power). And, if I don't go with them, he does his darndest to return to the house like a horse to a barn. Should keep them all busy for a little while (and, hopefully, tire them out - evil Auntie Bel).<br />
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So, four children, one adult and a dog should be able to survive in an 800 ft house with two bedrooms and one bath without it imploding, right?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06993448878986983961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186763346390993228.post-59583689761774309592012-05-10T20:31:00.001-04:002012-05-10T20:31:08.159-04:00It's that time of year againAfter celebrating the rebirth of spring beginning with crocuses pushing up through the snow, the blooming of our few daffodils and hyacinths, the return of the robins and witnessing brief visits of fruit trees and lilac blossoms (and the lilacs were disappointing this year - I think the warm/cold/warm/cold weather had a detrimental effect so I really hope they blossom a second time) it's time to start planning and planting our garden.<br />
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We didn't become gardeners until our first full summer at our new house, 7 years ago. Every year I vow to sit down and learn when to plan what and every year we just wing it. We <i>are</i> learning as we go but our excitement to get things in the ground so we can marvel at the forming of the fruits always overshadows and prudence we might briefly entertain as to when is actually the best time to plant. At least this year we're relatively close to Memorial Day which officially marks the beginning of planting season here in MI.<br />
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We've made an attempt not to buy and plant all the seedlings at once (after a dozen I'm ready for a break while hubby would happy dig holes all day long) and I'm already looking forward to fresh bell peppers and sauteed baby zucchini as well as canning our own dill pickles. I am forever spoiled by the taste of our own pickles, the flavor of home grown roma tomatoes (and I disliked fresh tomatoes as a child) and the incredible sweetness of corn and carrots picked from our own back yard.<br />
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Yum, yum, yum (and pretty much worth the effort)!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06993448878986983961noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186763346390993228.post-45338540716105716992012-03-23T08:59:00.001-04:002012-05-07T10:42:08.806-04:00Ahhhhhhhhhhh Wonderbread!If you are wondering (no pun intended) why I have Wonderbread on my mind, blame a FB friend and his apparent obsession with Wonderbread and bologna sandwiches (it seems he had one for dinner last night and one for breakfast this morning but with the new timeline thingie, who knows). So now it's stuck in my head and I must remove it so I can go play with some new beads I got.<br />
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First let me state that I'm not a big fan of squishy white bread. I grew up with breads that had more texture from Koepplinger's Country French bread (which was as close to Wonderbread as we ever got) all the way to rich, chewy ryes and pumpernickels. As far as I know, there was no such thing as "whole grain" bread and, for whatever reason, my parents shunned wheat bread. However, there was one Wonderbread incident that haunts me to this day...<br />
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When I was somewhere around 7 or 8 years old, my mother baked a loaf of bread. She refused to let me have any while it was still warm, stating that it "wasn't good for me." I remember that clearly, what I don't remember was whining about us not having Wonderbread like my best friend, Becky's, family which is apparently why my mother never baked another loaf of bread, ever.<br />
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Looking back, I can see the holes in that argument as well as the outright lies. First of all, if my mom had really liked the bread she baked, it wouldn't have matter what <i>my</i> preference was. While she was a good cook, she only truly enjoyed making dishes she loved to eat which is why I took her cocoa brownies to school for every one of my birthdays through grade school. She'd make a double recipe, send half with me, and keep the rest. They were also a staple for most pot luck dinner type events except she'd take the whole batch (after all, she'd be there to eat them) and be sure to bring home any that were left over (which was usually none, she baked a helluva brownie).<br />
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Secondly, I suspect that she carved off pieces of the warm bread for herself, while telling ME it wasn't good for me because if we'd both gotten into it, there wouldn't have been much left for supper. I bake bread occasionally although I buy frozen dough (my from scratch attempts are rather brick like) and "testing" it when it's warm is a taste treat that I treasure. And one which I guard jealously so I can understand why she told me what she did those many years ago. I suspect that she made hers from scratch and, while she didn't mind putting some time and effort into her favorite dishes, bread dough was a little much for her which is the real reason she never made it again. She will categorically deny that and still cite the Wonderbread incident but I'm a mom now, and I know.<br />
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I should have made the connection long ago when I made fudge during finals week while living at home one summer and attending off campus college classes. Why I wanted fudge, I don't really remember, but it was too hot to bake (we had no AC back then - they'd soon get a window air conditioner then, later, central AC but I digress) and I knew she had a good fudge recipe although I don't remember ever eating any as a child. I found that once you assembled the fudge you really had to beat it, by hand, before pouring it and letting it sit and harden (my first clue as to why I don't remember having homemade fudge). Mom hovered over my shoulder as I went about my task and suggested I pop it into the freezer so it would harden faster, so I did. Then I went off to study like a good collegiate. Sometime later I checked on it and found it covered in finger pokes and prints. Turning accusing eyes toward my mother she sheepishly admitted that she'd never been able to wait for fudge to harden and had, as a matter of fact, made it many times after "you girls" (my sister and I) had gone to bed and just dumped it hot over ice cream. The fudge was excellent, in spite of it's pock marked surface, and mom was pleasantly surprised that it tasted about as good cold as it did warm. I've not made fudge since although it's not as big as a PITA to make as bread from scratch.<br />
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By the way, I don't buy Wonderbread any more than my mom did but my husband seems to prefer that type of squishy, insipid bread so I compromise and buy "whole wheat white" or whatever they call the stuff that has a modicum of something good for you in it. I'm proud to say that my son prefers a bit of texture to his bread and really enjoys a good rye (but,alas, not the stuff with jaw breaking crust).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06993448878986983961noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186763346390993228.post-50283340835784501122012-03-20T07:17:00.001-04:002012-03-20T07:18:18.905-04:00I saw my first robinIt's officially spring, I saw my first robin on Saturday which was not only St. Patrick's Day but also my husband's birthday. We had a cook out and camp fire which is not unusual for my husband, he'd grill outside in a blizzard, just about, and has camp fires whenever possible (like when the fire pit is not covered in snow and/or the wood isn't saturated).<br />
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I thought after almost 8 years in this house, the whole being able to have a fire in your backyard thing would've grown old but nope - I think my husband is a certified pyromaniac. To give him credit, he doesn't need a giant bonfire (although he'd probably do that if he could but city ordinances pr ohibit it and he does his best to stick to their parameters), he just likes to zone out to the flames. It's his chill zone (pardon the pun) or, as I think of it, his zen/meditation area.<br />
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As for grilling, he simply enjoys doing it, so he regularly cooks the main course for Saturday night dinner. I'm not complaining especially as he's quite good at it - no charcoal nugget burgers or <i>extremely </i>well done steaks for this guy. He even made some delicious beef ribs, which is difficult to do. Of course, I had to point out that the package called for marinading and pre-baking them in the oven (pork ribs you can just slap on the grill, beef ribs can be tough and are generally slow roasted/cooked). Yes, I discovered a cook buried deep within me not long after we bought this house. Before that, I was like my mom - I was a decent cook, but didn't like doing it. Now, as long as the kitchen is clean, I have a fair amount of ingredients and I'm in the right frame of mind (having a willing sous chef who will at least do the chopping, if not the clean up, helps) I can pretend to be a star on food network (although I have to cheer for myself when I add garlic). When I say I'm "concocting" something, my husband is happy, because my dishes generally turn out better when I'm being creative rather than following a single recipe (which I hardly ever do, except when I bake - baking is a science, one that I'm not that good at).<br />
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Wow, a whole post *not* about jewelry :O I'll just say I'm in a pink and green stage at the moment.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06993448878986983961noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186763346390993228.post-90672996135083942952012-03-12T10:59:00.000-04:002012-03-12T11:01:27.904-04:00Spring is springing!We've hit over 60 F TWICE in the last week or so here in southeast Michigan so I now firmly believe spring is on it's way. The other day, I watched winter and spring battle it out - furious snow for a few moments, followed by periods of sporadic sunshine and wind gusts up to 44 mph (according to weather.com). I'm sure we'll see a few colder days before winter finally gives up and I've yet to see my first robin but I'm keeping an eye out. To me, once I see that robin, spring is here, no matter what Mother Nature throws at us.<br />
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So it's spring cleaning time. Not that I indulge every year, cleaning and I don't exactly get along, but hubby's birthday is this Saturday (yes, he's a St. Patrick's Day baby) and he's inviting his family over so the house gets a cleaning. He wants some sort of jewelry with a fish on it as he's a Pisces - I've picked out about a dozen or so fish beads/charms available from my fellow Etsians.<br />
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Cleaning means Shaklee in our household but I'm pretty sure I have enough of their Basic H cleaner to get the job done. This stuff is marvelous - one or two drops in an 8 oz spray container filled with water and it does a wonderful job on windows. Add a little more and you have an all purpose cleaner; add a little more and you have a degreaser - three cleaners that you can refill multiple times all for $10 - $12 is not a bad deal at all. And yes, it works quite well. While I'm mentioning Shaklee faves another can't-live-without product is their <span style="font-size: small;">Nature Bright® Laundry Booster & Stain Remover - it works about as well as bleach and doesn't break down the elasticity of socks and underwear. It works on colors as well, just follow the instructions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Their cleaners don't kill germs, though - they do have antibacterial wipes (which I have a whole container of) but a simple essential oil spritz will also work nicely. Many EOs have natural antibacterial/antimicrobial/antifungal properties (see one of my other blogs, <a href="http://www.thoughts.com/BrownEyedLark" target="_blank">http://www.thoughts.com/BrownEyedLark</a>, for more on that and Avon/Tupperware/Shaklee).</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06993448878986983961noreply@blogger.com0