Time for Pies!

Well this year I decided to make 2 pies. I know... there are only the two of us at home this year. But I LIKE Pumpkin pie, it's like a tradition, a part of Thanksgiving, that I am not willing to give up.... EVEN tho.... I know my hubby doesn't like it. Sooooo I asked what his favorite pie would be and he said "Chocolate".

Hmmm OK... I have never made a chocolate pie so I asked him to look up a recipe so I could see if I had all the ingredients. Cocoa - check, eggs - check, butter - check, sugar - check, vanilla & milk... when I had milk but I didnt think it'd be that creamy with skim milk so I picked up some 2% milk. I figure, let's go all out, it's Thanksgiving! LOL... actually I looked in the store for a quart or 1/2 gallon of whole milk but no deal, and I didn't see the need to buy a gallon! So I got a half gallon of 2%.

Making it didn't take anything at all! It was an easy recipe, and went together fast.It's cooling now. So now it's time to get started on the Pumpkin pie!

I already steamed the cut up pumpkin, disgarded the seeds, and mashed the pumpkin meat. Now onto the recipe...

Tupperware Day

It's a Tupperware day! I have orders to bag up and deliver, YAY!!! I love when people get their new Tupperware and look in the bag like it's Christmas! It's so rewarding to know they love their purchases! It's fun to see them getting in the party mood with all the great items we have for entertaining!

I also love the compliments I get on my car as I pull up to houses. I have nicknamed it the "Tuppermobile", it seems to fit! What do you think?

Out for a drive . . .

We went out for a drive yesterday to see the leaves on the trees.... we got about 5 miles down the road when I said, "Um.. .I think we're too late. They are all gone." LOL Joke was on us, but it was a nice drive. We pulled over at one point and looked across the river, and watched the seagulls. Then a woman pulled up in her car with a 1/2 bag full of torn bread. She got out of her car and started tossing handfuls and the seagulls acted like they had been waiting for her. TONS of them flocked around and made real fast work of that bread! 5 min flat (if that) and it was cleared out.

Chewie

Chewie is my long time Lhasa Apso. But he's getting older and losing alot of weight. Why do they do that? When my cat got older, she did the same thing... it's sad to see bones sticking out of skin with no meat between them. So he stopped eating the dog food I bought him as if on a food strike. I thought maybe he lost interest in eating, but it seems he just lost interest in that particular food. Today I got out some leftovers of chicken and some white rice... blended them together and cut the chicken up as small as the rice, and he devoured it! That was great to see... then he dived into his water bowl... YAY! I only wish we could get some meat back on his bones.

Crossing the Line?

Is it just me, or do you think people are 'stretching' the stopping point at stoplights? As I learned it, way back in Driver's Ed, those fat white lines that are painted at intersections are the lines you are supposed to stop BEHIND. Has this changed? Well, I have seen several times cars that roll a bit past the line, but these 2 cars ahead of me, took the cake! The light is red... and they are stopped PAST the line! What the.... ???(^&%

Sure Glad I Got Up Early

I'm SO glad I got up early today; I couldn't sleep and at 5am I decided if I got up now, I could put the coffee pot on, and throw my quilt-in-progress out over the (for once) clear dining room table and start the next step towards finishing it. I'd really like it done before Thanksgiving.

So I went out to the kitchen and started making coffee. As I was filling the pot and getting my Tupperware coffee canister out from the cupboard, I glanced at the stove. ICK! There is still splattered grease on the back panel. And as I look around, I see cauliflower still sitting in the small collander (it was draining last nite). A few items on the counter also not put away... hmmm those dishwashers need to be fired! Ahh but then who would 'get' to do it...right, the Cook! (me)

You see in our house, we'd adopted the rule that she who cooks does not clean up. Now don't get me wrong, I do clean as I go, as much as I can. I wiped the counters 3 times in preparation of dinner last nite and my darling step-son (half-jokingly) informed me that I COULD have wiped it 4 times, then he wouldn't have to wipe it. "Nahhh wouldn't want to deprive you of that one wipe kiddo!" So As my husband washes, the kiddo is supposed to put things away off the counter and wipe it down (A lot gets missed) as he's waiting for items to dry. I also heard dad tell him to clean the stove while he's waiting but, he dawdles along and manages to forget it, knowing it won't get caught until sometime later - like morning.

So as I'm wiping the back of the stove, I see that the grates and burner tray area also need cleaning. Off come the grates and put in the sink. Run the hot water and add dishsoap... and they can soak in there while I clean the top part of the stove. Of course that leads to the front area where the knobs are. Oh My... when was that done last? ok.. off come the knobs, and HEY I might as well get a stool... Ahh now I can reach better and not break my back. This also puts me in clear view of the oven front door. Not sure what some of those streaks are and since it's a black hi-gloss and glass stove and oven, I can see it all clearly when I'm up close. So I wipe down the oven door, and work on down to the lower oven - the handle and the door... my what a nice shiny stove we have now. You see it's only 2 years old, so it SHOULD be shiny! That's what I keep telling them...

Of course, as I'm wiping a few crumbs from the oven door off, and they spill onto the floor, I'm just about to feel bad for getting them on the floor when I notice.... Hmm "someone" didn't do the floors yesterday. Oh, yes... let me mention: in our house, they don't LIKE the idea of "Saturday chores" they want to do that on Sunday. Right. There are a few problems I have with this... Whatif I want to invite friends over for games on Saturday night? [I REALLY would like to do that] What if step-son goes to see mom for the weekend? Whatif... whatif... well it doesn't seem to matter. Even though I asked that we put it back to Saturday after a trial run of doing it on Sundays... they disagree and want to do it on Sundays. ~ Guess what guys?! It's NOT Working.

OK so as I look at the floor and realize I have company coming at 9:00 this morning, I decide there is only one choice. Do it myself. Great. Out comes the broom and mop. Swept the kitchen floor and if I hadn't known better (and i do) I would have thought it was 2 weeks worth of dirt & dust. My Goodness! Then, after sweeping the kitchen, I remembered the other area dear hubby is supposed to sweep - the front hall; the very thing new company will see first when they arrive. Yup... off I go to sweep there. Yuk! Midway thru sweeping dear hubby trapezes through on the way to his morning shower. It's then that I realize, I need MUFFINS! (No, looking at him didn't remind me of it, there is no link there... LOL) I had a blueberry muffin mix I wanted to get whipped up for my company. Get out the Bowl, Milk, Spoon and Mix... dump in bowl, ok ... stir. Oops preheat oven! While I'm waiting for the oven to warm up I'll finish sweeping that front hall. Hubby emerges clean from his shower just as I'm scooping up the dirt & dust into the dustpan from kitchen and front hall. (Did I mention I started coffee an hour ago? Yes, I haven't had a drop of it yet)

Floors swept, I get muffins into the paper cups and ready for the oven, and along comes Hubby for his goodbye kiss. "Why'd you get up so early, honey" he asks. "Well, I couldn't sleep and just got up, but it seems it's a good thing I did. I have company coming today and someone didn't do his floors yesterday~" No reply.

As he leaves for the day, I retrieve the rug for the front hall, which I had taken outside to shake and air out; Then, begin mopping the front hall, and then the kitchen. Before finishing the kitchen, I realize I have not had any of that precious coffee I made an Hour & a half ago! So I poured it and took it out to the living room. There, it can sit and cool, and wait for me. I go and finish the kitchen floor, wipe the kitchen counter from my muffin mixing, and wash out the bowl, measuring cup and spoon I used. Set the timer. While I'm finishing these steps is when it hits me... I've had a workout this morning, I can feel it on the back of my neck and along my hairline, perspiration (and frustration). The Sunday chores idea is Just Not Working.

Another task hubby is responsible for... is folding towels and washcloths when they come out of the dryer. I suppose it's my fault for leaving them in the dryer last night, but now I have to fit in time to fold and put those away as well. ~~Ding.. the muffins are done and step-son is up and wanting breakfast. Passing him in the kitchen I say, "I hope there is cereal". "There is." he informs me. Good. Because next on the list are the bathroom chores that HE didn't do last night after returning from mom's.

Ahhh, I finally got a sip of that coffee while writing this blog.
Well.... Break time is over, off to get those bathrooms done!

Shop Hoppin

Saturday was 'Shop Hop' day with Sandy ... it was fun. If you aren't familiar with a Shop Hop, here's how it works: This year there are 14 quilt shops participating, and you go to as many as you can, shop around, find new things, and collect goodies... and get your card stamped... etc... to get in a drawing.. Oh, also this year, each store give you a printed copy of a particular "STEP" in the directions of putting a quilt together. If you go to all 14 stores, you get all the steps... otherwise... well, you get the idea. It's also kind of fun to see what the stores decide to hand out as their 'goodies'... or Not! Sometimes they can be kind of chintzy, and other times they really put some thought into it and give you something you can actually use! Thank you to those stores :-)

The event runs for 2 weekends in a row; we made it to 7 stores... and we'll see if we can finish (or not) next weekend..

It was the best part of my weekend... oh, and driving home, a coyote ran out of the center of the interstate and darted across the road... RIGHT in front of us... Sandy slamming her brakes to miss... She did a great job of avoiding it (thank you Sandy)

All in all... it was a F-u-n T-i-m-e!

Scattered Tacos

Tonight we had a version of 'walking tacos' for dinner... but we didn't walk! lol We started with Scoops on a plate, added the taco seasoned ground beef, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and taco sauce... Yummmm

Also helped that I make my own recipe of Taco Seasoning... no more mixes, since we couldn't agree on one we all liked, I just Googled and experimented til I got one we all like... and I know ALL the ingredients in it... nothing I can't pronounce! Want the recipe...? OK.. here it is!

Taco Seasoning

1 tablespoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

Mix all together in a small bowl and store in a Tupperware Spice container. (if you don't have one, contact me and I can order one for you!) You can also order them on my Tupperware website!
http://my.tupperware.com/ruthinman

Dog Food...Gonna make my own!

I am so tired of trying various dog foods to find one my Chewie can eat!!! Arrrghh! Now he has blood in his urine again... Im wondering if it's the Ocean Fish in this new one??





So.. Im thinking of just making ground up food for him. I want to be sure he gets all the nutrients he needs and to leave out the junk he doesn't need, like sodium, sugar, etc... Any hints or tips on things like that to leave out or be sure to put in?


All comments welcome!

Little Yummy Bites of Goodness!

I made CREPES today! From scratch! Yummm Ohhh Yummmm! WOW... Who would have ever thought it was that easy!!?Why on earth do people buy Crepe Mix? Let me tell you the recipe I used. I got it from Giada de Laurentiis yesterday when I saw her making them on TV. Yes, she does have a habit of making things look easy... but this WAS easy!

Put in blender:
4 eggs
1 cup milk (skim is fine)
1/2 cup flour
1 Tablespoon sugar
1/8 tsp salt

Hit BLEND for about 30 seconds. As long as it looks well blended and creamy it's good to go!

Heat small 8" frying pan (or a crepe pan if you have one). Keep it on LOW and put in about 1/2 Tablespoon of butter. Wait for it to look frothy and foamy (not brown!) and gently pour in 1/4 cup of batter. (Use the measuring cup so you don't put too much, or else you'll have an eggy pancake). Swirl the pan a bit to get it as large as the pan allows. Let cook about 45 seconds - 1 minute. You should see bubbles, or when you lift with a silicone spatula, it lifts easy and flip. Cook on other side 30-45 seconds. Get parchment paper ready to lay it on and I layer a sheet in between each crepe to allow them to cool. (They are easier to handle when slightly cooled).








That's it, my friend, you have crepes. NOW what to do with them?

Ahhhh well today I did several things with them! 1st I made a jam filling. Take any preserves and warm them, maybe add a SMALL dash of vanilla. Instant filling! or...
- Slice a banana and lay slices in a row
- Slice strawberries, put on top of bananas
- Add a couple small dollops of... whipped cream, vanilla yogurt, pudding, ricotta cheese
Fold over, add a dollop for garnish! .... and ENJOY!

Clean Sink

Do you have any idea just how good a clean sink makes you feel about your kitchen? Or even in general! I guess I knew before, but had forgotten. Recently, maybe a couple months ago now, I began slowly following the Fly Lady technique of getting my house under control. She starts you out with Baby Steps - exactly what I needed! Starting a whole new routine of anything just doesn't work! It needs to be eased in... slowly....

So step 1 is to shine your sink. Now she doesn't just have you wipe it down, she means really CLEAN it. Fill it with hot water and bleach and clean all the tiny crevices around the edges and taps, etc. Once you do this, you will be amazed at how easy it is to keep it clean. Maybe it's because you have a renewed sense of Wanting to. ;-)

What the....!!*^(^%$^

Have you ever had that one annoying person you just HAD to deal with? Well I had mine this month.

After a long stint of being unemployed, I found a new job. It was part time, but it seemed to be just exactly what I needed; until I met Bobbin (named changed). Everyone seemed really nice at this place, friendly, considerate, helpful, ... except Bobbin. She was basically rude, inconsiderate, sharp tongued, unhelpful, unapproachable, and did I mention rude? Anyway, it was apparent we were not going to be close friends. I was informed by others that it wasn't just me she acted that way to, which didn't make it any easier to take but at least I didn't think I had done something to upset her.

One of my last encounters with Bobbin was due to my first paycheck not being deposited into my bank acct the day it was due to. I asked if they were going to give me a manual check, and you would have thought I had asked for the moon. She even resisted in helping determine why it hadn't been deposited, but finally called me at 3pm to let me know my check was waiting. I took it to their bank to cash and managed to have money to live on that weekend. The following Tuesday, she informed me (on the showroom floor) that the deposit had finally made it to my bank and if that was true I would have to repay the money. (DUH??) So I called my bank to confirm the deposit & called their bank to find out the fastest way to return it. I didn't want that money in my account (and not in their account) any longer than possible and I'm fairly self-sufficient that way, (figuring out what needs to be done and doing it) I don't need instructions for every little thing.

So on Tuesday afternoon, I stopped at my bank and withdrew the cash for the same amount and then took it to their bank Wednesday morning. The bank associate knew the correct account to put it into without me needing to know that info and gave me a receipt I could take back to my employer. I put the receipt in Bobbin's "in-box" (as she requested all things to be put) and later on, she waved it at me and asked "What's this?" I told her it was the receipt from the bank showing I had returned the money.

Guess what... Bobbin had a 'fit' that I would actually deposit money into the bank! WOW... I thought it was a good thing to do... returning the money, in cash, as quickly as humanly possible... but she scolded me good for doing that! It's HER JOB to do the banking, she says. It appears she had a chat with the owners about it and the next morning (today) they called me in and said they had talked and had "decided to go in a different direction, that things just weren't working the way they thought it would." After asking them 3 times what the REAL reason was... they finally told me it was the bank incident and if I was "comfortable enough to go and deposit money in their account, they just weren't sure what else I would be 'capable of' in the future" .........WHAT???? HUH!!??? How does this even make sense?

Oh, they were sure I'd "find the right job" sometime in the future, and they'd pay me through the day. OH! Thank-you-very-much! I thought I had FOUND the right job. I think it will be tough for them to find ANY-one to do that job and get along with Bobbin....

The part I found interesting, is that they talked yesterday with her about this, and never called me in to ask me about it. Whatever she told them, they just took at her word, and decided to let me leave. This is the 'procedure' they chose right in the middle of a reorganization going on where they have written an employee manual of steps to follow. I wonder if these are the steps in that manual... I suggested to them, that if something happens in the future involving an employee, they MIGHT think of talking with them about it before making a decision and getting their take on the event. It MIGHT have some bearing on the case, ya know?

I also told them it's a shame they won't get the chance to get to know me, or they would realize how ridiculous it was to even think about "what I might be capable of doing in the future" !

Can't Turn Your Blinker on AND Talk on the Phone?

Then HANG UP THE PHONE!!! I talk on the phone in the car, admittedly more than I should. But what gripes me is when someone is so on the phone that they don't signal when turning. COME ON! If you can't signal, then you shouldn't be on the phone. Use Hands Free if you need to be. But the driving rules shouldn't go out the window just because you don't have a free hand.

Oh, and by the way... it's a signal of what you INTEND to do.. not a signal of what you are already doing! In other words, the rule is to signal "at least 100 feet before turning.", not AS you turn.

Personal Drive.... where does it come from?

I am finding my self wondering how a person develops 'drive', or are we born with it? You know, the stuff inside that makes you want to do something... ANYthing... it could be the desire to pursue a certain career, or the desire to excel as something in school, or even the unexplained passion some people have for helping others. Where does it come from? Is it something you're born with, or do you see it in others around you and 'inherit' it... or is a learned thing...? Can you learn it later in life? What do YOU think?

Your Permanent Record

Throughout your school years, teachers, principals, and even parents would warn you of the terrible effect your mischief was having on your "Permanent Record". Perhaps this frightened you. You might have even thought it would prevent you from ever getting a good job! Blemished forever, you hung your head in shame.

At some point, someone may have even told you... nobody cares. Nobody was watching you. There was no permanent record. You felt FREEDOM at last!

But... today I was reading a student manual for a high school in our state, and it mentioned the following rule it must follow:

STUDENT RECORDS
In compliance with the provisions of the xxxxxx School Student Records Act, the following schedule for retaining and destroying student records will be maintained:

Permanent Records: Retained for sixty (60) years. These records include student information such as name, birth date, address, grades and grade level, parent’s names and addresses, and attendance records.

Temporary Records: Retained for at least five (5) years. These records include student files such as family background information, eligibility information, anecdotal notes, and disciplinary information.

All requests to inspect or obtain student records should be submitted in writing to the Main Office. Requests will then be forwarded to the appropriate school personnel for processing (see School Board Policy 7.34-7.35). All records will be reviewed periodically to validate, update, and dispose irrelevant information.

~~~~ SO, while there IS actually a Permanent Record, the Good news is,.. disciplinary information is only kept in the Temporary Record. LOL

Streets

Wow, I got an email today that reminded me what beautiful street designs we have across the country... and heck in other countries too... here is one that made me just ask "Why"... Im sure there are other pictures of streets out there... post yours and lets see how many we can get. (Thanks Jane)

DQ Flavors

I was just reading a blog about DQ flavors... and now I feel I must go get one. I am trying to remember the name of the flavor I had... it was like chocolate covered cherries... it was sooo good.... AH!! Choco Cherry Love


Nutrition Facts:
730 Calories - Need we say more?

What's YOUR favorite flavor??

Top 10 TIPS for Time Management

I found this on a wise lady's blog, and printed it for myself, but couldnt help sharing it with you all. Thanks Karen!

My TOP TEN TIPS for Time Management

1. Have a TO DO LIST - every day without fail, and cross them off as you do them.
2. Get a great diary with a monthly planner - you have to like it to use it.
3. PLAN your day - look at your TO DO LIST and prioritize and get moving!
4. LIMIT the time you spend on each job - create your own daily deadlines - it's amazing how you'll get things done quicker if there a time limit!
5. Make your PHONE CALLS FIRST - don't put them off or make excuses!
6. SCHEDULE time for things like, household chores, kids school run, after school activities - put them in your diary as you would an appointment.
7. Plan to do some EXERCISE 5 times a week - even if it's a walk to the shops or school.
8. DO something good for yourself every day - read a book, play your favourite music, but add it into the diary.
9. At the start of the week (eg Sunday night), review your plan for the week and make lists accordingly - don't get caught in the Monday morning "Oh no I haven't done ...."
10. SLEEP - yes it's important. If you get to bed at a reasonable time you'll be firing on all cylinders the next morning. Allow yourself some relaxation time before you go to bed.

Okay so there's one more thing! Learn to say "NO" when necessary. We can't be all things to all people and if we try we end up missing out on the things we WANT to do. So, do whats right, but remember if you feel like you're being put upon, then you probably are and say no!

Stop, smell the roses...

I can't believe June 2nd is the last entry in here... time just flies so fast. Actually, time doesn't "fly" at all, we just say that when we have been in a whirlwind of activity and we didn't notice it passing by. I guess in some ways, that's a good thing, it shows we have been busy, not bumps on a log. But sometimes we get so busy we don't stop to think about what is important. Are we letting work overshadow our lives? I know I'm not, I'm unemployed. But even unemployed people can get so busy with the tasks they've set up for themselves on a daily basis, that they don't realize what they are Not doing, or seeing as time slips by. There is definite merit to the phrase "Stop and smell the roses" before the roses have all withered and fallen to the ground.

Maybe we tend to think, "Oh, there will be time for that later... " Not always. For some, later comes sooner than they expect. We don't come with expiration dates stamped on our foreheads and we never know what accident or unforeseen illness will cut our visit short here on Earth. We think we are so indestructible... HA.

Stop, smell the roses... and thank God for each and every day that you are here to live again. Celebrate each day He gives you, and be thankful.

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