Sunday, March 28, 2010

Thank you Mother Nature for a nasty yucky day!

All this week (and most of last week) I just had a dragging feeling that I was missing Track Season . I knew that the "Snowball Relay" would have been this past week and I wouldn't be there. I didn't want to miss track, I didn't want to miss the anticipation of each jump, I didn't want to miss watching W's excitement, I just didn't want to miss TRACK!

UNTIL ~ the weather yesterday. It was rainy, windy, bone chilling cold. I then remembered the the plastic coat and SUDDENLY I didn't really miss track anymore!

Thank you Mother Nature for helping me see things more clearly!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Did it or Didn't it? Do they or don't they?

Early this morning I went to move a wheel barrel that got left in the yard during spring break chores. I had already noticed the cat was very interested in the wheel barrel and soon I understood why. A mouse rushed out of wheel barrel and under the car. The Cat took noticed and kept it under the car for a bit. She was distracted by me wheeling the wheel barrel around. In her moment of distraction the mouse went by the dog and into the garage.

Interesting side note to this ~ G was walking out about the same time the mouse was rushing in and did the natural, stop, stiffen and gasp at the sight of a mouse. I now know that this is a natural reaction since little G hasn't dealt with any mice in life time!

Well, I left the garage door open as I drove G to school thinking that either the cat (or dog) would get the mouse or it would leave the same way it came it. AND I certainly didn't want to think that my loyal pets would allow a mouse into the house!

Well, when I got back the dog was still acting all giddy. My confidence rose, they were still on the trail. When I surveyed the garage no mouse but no cat.....she was asleep in her 'bag'!

So Did it or Didn't it come into my house?

A couple of hours later I started the self cleaning oven as I walked out the door to the Y. When I returned my house was filled with smoke. Yes, my oven and baking stone were really in need of a cleaning! Lucky for me the weather was somewhat warm so I could open the windows and air things out. Then I thought why weren't the smoke alarms going off!?! Once before (years ago) we had a smokey cooking event and wondered why they hadn't gone off. They work when I press the test button, hmmmm.

So do they or don't they work ?

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Molly & McGee



(this is Molly)

You can watch Molly & McGee on a live cam.

Molly is sitting on 5 eggs that are suppose to hatch any day.

McGee pops in every once in a while with a tasty treat, usually a rodent!

Spring has arrived

Spring has arrived at least on the calendar!

And it's still snowing. It supposed to snow throughout today
ending by tomorrow morning.
There could be 6-8 inches by in the morning


No one is impressed with the Spring snow!
FYI ~ yesterday I left Walmart at 4pm and it was 67 10 minutes
later it was 62 and WINDY
it was 32 and raining by 10:30pm
Today at noon it's 29.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Spicey Honey Chicken .... mmmm mmmm!

I just sent this recipe to a friend that is making a recipe book and I realized that I'd never given it here! Shame on me, cuz it's mighty good!

Spicy Honey Chicken
2 T oil
rub ~
2 t granulated garlic
2 t chili powder
1/2 t onion powder
1/2 t coriander (I couldn't find this so I don't put it in)
1 t kosher salt
1 t cumin
1/2 t chipotle chili powder
**for extra heat increase chipotle or add ground red pepper

8 boneless skinless chicken thighs (can be made with chicken breast but not as good)

Glaze
1/2 c honey
1 T cider Vinegar

Use kitchen shears to trim off any excess fat from chicken. Pat dry. Drizzle oil over chicken and rub with your hands to make sure you lightly cover the entire piece. Then toss the chicken in the rub mixture (cover all of the chicken) Grill the chicken a few minutes on each side until cooked through.

While chicken is cooking, warm honey in the microwave so it's not so thick. (reserve 2T honey) Add vinegar and combine well and brush on chicken (both sides) in the final minutes of grilling. Brush with remaining honey before you serve!

** it's going to make a mess but it worth it! simply because you're putting honey on the grill not a mess anywhere else! **

I've also made this in the oven, it's tasty from there too!
oven at 400 and I bast the chicken about mid way through and then again at the end.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Daylight Savings and Spring Break

I was so thankful that DayLight savings would start on the first Sunday of Spring Break it would give me an entire week to adjust to the 'new' time I'd be waking up.

WELL...... I've just stayed up later and slept later!

It hasn't helped that the weather has been lousy. Cloudy, chilly is not a reason to get out from under the covers!

Today was beautiful. It's 9:35 and I think I could go on to bed so I get up and have a day like today again! Reality of this is that the first part of tomorrow will be beautiful then the rain and snow will come, yes I said, er wrote snow! "the last snow of 2010" right?!?

March Madness

We've got our March Madness brackets filled out and are eagerly awaiting for the games to begin! I love the fact that we fill these brackets out only to have them blown out of the water with the first games!




notice that W has 2 brackets .... he couldn't resist when his teams began losing! Filling out another bracket isn't allowed after play begins! says me the judge!


We didn't have a class on how to fill out basketball brackets but I think we should have!




This is G's bracket .... notice his technique? It took some time but W figured out this method.


HINT ~ if you follow the red lines you'll see the progression of a team! If your red line is broken, you're OUT!
FYI ~ Hubby and W pick Kansas to win it all, G has Tennessee winning it all!


Burn Notice

I've not told you about my first burn simply because it was silly and a bit embarrassing. While fixing soup early in January, I reached over the boiling pot and burned a very tender part of my body. I didn't touch the pot, I was attacked by the steam, it came right through my sweatshirt to 'get me'. I have a good size scar and I can't wait to go for my mammogram and GYN appointments next month and have to explain it.

You wouldn't even have to hear about this if I'd not burned myself again. Not in the same place but an even more tender spot .... got'cha thinking about that one huh?

Last Sunday I was sampling the potatoes from the pot of Roast, potatoes and carrots. I scooped a potato out, let it cool, popped in my mouth.... it tasted heavenly so I did it again .... there was my mistake! Yes, I let it cool the same amount of time but it was HOT, burning HOT! I've burned the entire left side of the roof of my mouth. I can't believe it. That was last Sunday and I'm still suffering not just a bit but alot! I'm hopeful that tomorrow will be a day of hope that this latest burn will have some hope. Guess I can explain this scar to the Dentist next month also!

lesson I've learned .... stop cooking!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Friday, March 12, 2010

Slim Down Final Results

Since February 1st
6 weeks ago
-15.5 pounds
-12.25 inches
of me GONE!
Not here
poof
disappeared
shrunk
melted
This time losing weight has been different my whole body lost weight. Usually I just lose weight in my hips and legs but as you can tell by the inches lost I've lost it all over!
4 inches in my chest
3.75 inches in my waist
3 inches in my hips
1.5 in my right thigh
now I'm going to keep moving so I can get to
a total of 20 pounds GONE by the end of March!
Stay Tuned....

Slim Down #6

Results Week #6
-1.25 pounds
-1.75 inches
This was a shortened week
so 3 cheers for me
Yay, Yay, Yay!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Fieldtrip report

At G's school they read books, get AR points for reading book, save up AR points and buy cool stuff! or they don't save up and they buy cheap stuff!

Well, G and 85 other students had 'purchased' a field trip to watch our Women's NCAA conference's tournament today! Unbeknownest to them (before yesterday) we would get to watch a player that just graduated 'our' High School last year (with W). This added to everyone's excitement.

things I've learned on this field trip .....

*girls have blood curdling screams
*my hips are just about too wide to walk the isle of a school bus
*basketball players are about 1/2 inch from where we sat
*girls have to go the bathroom alot
*some 10 years whine too much, and ask too many questions
(ie: are we there yet?, I think this is taking too long, I can't see the clock, I spilled my water,..... and on and on and on)
*some of these kids never get out of our little town!

pictures to come!

The week of Odd Dreams

Boy, waking up this week has been full of memories of odd dreams.

I spent Christmas with my sister in law (yes, you Maurice) only it wasn't her real house, and she had some odd decorations. I just kept trying to figure out this one particular decoration and just couldn't. Maurice when you read this, just let me say that if you ever get an idea to put the red velvet curtain (that is still some how hanging in the window) under the glass vases filled with pine cones ~ it's not a good look!

ANd I've sorted my recycling with Oprah! but then again who doesn't sort their recycling with Oprah in a dream?!? In the dream I embarrassed myself by telling Oprah all about Terracycle and then remember that I learned about from her!

Monday, March 8, 2010

Slim Down #5

Results of Week #5
- 3.5 pounds
-1.5 inches
Super Yay!
things I've learned
along the way ~
Get to class early
today was too full I couldn't get in!
and just where did they come from?
Don't wear my gray shirt, stick to the white ones
the gray shows sweaty pits, sweaty neck, and the ever so lovely sweaty 'smiles' under my breast!
On my Couch to 5k it comes in handy that I didn't start on the couch!
I've had to move up faster ~ which is good!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

from Couch to 5k

Today I started this program.

It was time to shake up my workout routine and what better way than to start running. Well, let's be honest it's mild jog! Not to be confused with a wild hog!

Monday, March 1, 2010

Slim Down Week #4

Results week #4
-1 pound
-1.25 inches
of me GONE!
Gone! Gone! Gone!
Things I've learned
in week #4
I don't ever want to be the lady that wears her jewelry, her nice clothes and full make up while working out!
Yes, I've seen 'her' but I've not seen her perspire!
Gum is my friend
it changes the taste in my mouth, so I know that the meal is over!
I think it's time to put a riser under my step
the workout is becoming too easy
I always thought I had a 'bad leg'
it was needed to be worked out! It's a GREAT leg!
It's still hard to find time for me
even after 4 weeks
I like to work out
but it's time to 'shake things' up with my workout.