3rd Times a Charm: The Midwest Roundup Revisited

Back in January when I posted the first invite blog for June, I just knew I would have everything done.  The gardens were going to be perfect, the house was going to be perfect and the food was going to be done on time & perfect.  I got a good running start too.  I started working on gifts in the morning & evening even though my crochet skills are nothing in comparision to Lady S.  That woman makes magic with a hook!  Her stuff is so pretty when finished you don't want to use it!  Since our weather was so warm, I started working in the gardens weeding and helping with the new horse barn.  While DH was laid off, we made the decision to use part of the designated horse fund to build our own barn.  Boarding the horses elsewhere was just getting too expensive and we have land with hay shares.  Since DH signs up for all those "rewards" programs that I don't bother with, we were able to start this in the backyard.

Yet again, we started projecting before a roundup.  We are trying to build an outdoor kitchen area complete with wodd burning pizza oven.  We started this project before the DH was laid off.  DS and I ripped up existing patio bricks to reuse for this project then it skidded to an abrupt halt with the layoff.  With the "rewards 4 times" special we were able to start on the backyard again.  All that lumber cost $5.  I know! I couldn't believe it, made a "rewards" believer out of me.  It will cost more  to totally finish the project but it will be done as the DH  has consistent work. So maybe everyone can come back for pizza and wine some day.  I must say coocar knows her wine.  And she can make pretty food that really tastes good!  Did anyone get a photo of her deviled eggs?

So why wasn't everything perfect?  Maybe cause we took time to paint the house.  Uh, maybe cause I lost some days helping my sister.  The one that sold her farm and is now living a gypsy's life.  Whom I must say I have talked with less in the last 6 months than I have a certain AR cook that gave another AR cook the perfect Kodak moment.  I had no idea my jaw could drop that far!  Lastly, maybe because there really is too much to do for the team of me, myself and I to finish.  Well, at one time the gardens were blooming and looking nice cause the DH took this.

Back to the gifts, I wanted to do something that I could afford and that would be useful.  With the help of WFDM? (She and her girls made these really cool gift bags and donated them to the roundup) I was abe to decorate the bags with a saying that I thought appropriate since all but one of the cooks traveled some distance to get here.   The states Oregon, Nevada, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Kansas were all represented. 

I made herbal finishing salts and a minted sugar from my garden herbs to share and I crocheted some stuff.  A mini lid potholder and 2 handle covers.

Yes, that is a stencil of Pippin's remaining front paw. Can't say he was thrilled to help with this project.  He didn't even stick around to meet our guests.  The DH opened the garage door and he was gone like a shot!  Yes, he did come back after his outing.

My dear friend, bhawk/Brenda, came on that Friday before the party to help.  She gave up a day 2 weeks before also.  We were supposed to work in the gardens but we didn't accomplish as much out there as we did planning our assault on the tasks for the weekend roundup.  We had several lists  going and for the most part we got it done except for the appetizer round.  The Relay walkers came a little earlier than I planned so we didn't get everything out, but they exceeded their goal and that was awesome.

By the time Mi Being Mi arrived, everyone was gone.  We decided to forge ahead and productively party unlike some of the others with that orange stuff.  Our thinking was to get as much done the night before so we could really visit with each other the next day because that is so much more important than sleep!  We figured we were working so well together we needed a name like our "Thelma & Louise".

The best we could come up with was the Katkateers.  Hey, look we are moving so fast in the kitchen Mi Being Mi is a blur!

One of us also had a great decorating idea during the evening.  Brenda wanted to do cool gifts but ran out of time so she brought orange cozies to decorate with the thought of cutely stuffing the rest of  her gift in them.  Well, we had already gotten into the cozies so we decided to use her washclothes as placemats.  Earlier under the careful supervisiono of Mrs. Mike, Mr. Mike set up the tables and chairs getting everything situated in the sunroom.  The placemat idea added a perfect splash of useful color to the tables.  BTW those balloons are still holding air, Mike.  Guess we know who is full of hot air now, don't we? :)

These quiches deserve another shot.  Brenda got the recipes from AR but won't be reviewing them because she totally tweaked them but she would like to thank Sharon Skildum/Asparagus Quiche and Dorothy Collins/Zucchini Quiche for giving her the ideas to work with.  And we who ate them, would like to thank them too!  Yum!

The table is set with absolutely wonderful food.  Thank you, Brenda for setting up the menus and place cards for the food.  Thank you, Sheila for jumping right in and helping all weekend too!

After visiting around the table for awhile

We decided to go to the back and see the horses and the pond.

Lora is explaining her trip to the back from the previous year and I believe she is absolutely refusing to repeat it.

My DS offered his vehicle as more suitable transportation.  Mrs. Mike is wondering if her DH is going to be pried away from the hot rod shop where my DH was engaged in conversation with him, our BF Alan and his dear lady.  They decided even more deluxe transport was necessary so...

Christine and Sheila were game however!

The morning after at Cracker Barrel.  Mike thought perhaps leaving that yellow hat behind would induce me to drive it all the way back to his house.  Afraid not this year :)

The group is saying goodbye.  The weekend was ever so short or so it seemed.

The Katkateers headed for Kearney to pick up a gift to be sent on from Candice and Christine.  It was sad to say goodbye again!  But wait, on the way there Brenda felt  a perfectly good day was going to be wasted going back and cleaning up from the party.  After all, the chores would still be waiting patiently for us at all of our respective houses.  So we called mauigirl and arranged a meeting back at Cracker Barrel.  We were going to play tour guides with what was left of the day before we had to put Julie on her plane.  A brief aside here and then I'll share how the 4 of us finished our weekend.

Don't ever play poker with this group especially Lora and Julie.  Two weeks before the roundup, Julie, tells me she wants to make nametags for us.  A nice cheap little gift she can do for us.  Oh, how nice!  BTW they were REALLY cute!  Several days before the party she calls and actually sounded upset which made me feel bad for her.  She had a surprise that is now ruined because the stupid flower shop in Kearney couldn't find my house.  So I email explicit directions and went on with my "to-do" list.  Friday afternoon the flowers still weren't here along with the nametags.  Those having been "sent" to be delivered with the flowers.  Friday evening I call to let Julie know about the missing stuff.  Little do I know she is sitting in an airport waiting for her flight to KCI.  So this is how that Kodak moment happened for me.  Sat. morning Brenda is sure we need to call the flower shop and complain. Lora had to scramble for her phone so she could tell Brenda to NIX that idea.  Just as I'm getting WFDM? soft & fluffy hamburger rolls ready to go into the oven, Lora sings out that I'm needed in the sunroom.  I reply, "Just a minute, please".  No, come now the flowers are here.  So this delivery lady shoves the flowers and box towards me while complaining about finding my house.  I'm formulating this sentence in my head, "I'm sorry I thought" /the question mark above my head is turning into a dim light bulb/  "the directions were ok"  / why is this lady looking over my shoulder at all the cooks gathered round the door?/  "but I am sure glad you got here"  / the light bulb has grown brighter and finally exploded with the realization it is the high energy imp, Julie, standing in front of me!  Like I said don't play poker with these folks!

So what did the tour guides decide to do?  This was coocar's suggestion the day before.  We took Julie to the city market in Kansas City and we went to the Steamboat Arabia museum.

Sorry, Candice, we tried but couldn't get any of those lovely beads for you.  BTW thanks for telling me about my grandmother's antique butter bowl.

Sheila is being grossed out by what is in this open barrel.

Because I decided to wear an orange tank top for our last day together, I got a free candy onion.  I never get free stuff and would never have seen the sign if the little gal hadn't said something to me.  I was concentrating on not walking into posts or off the sidewalk.  I was a little tired.

While in the city market, we decided to have some lunch.  We walked by a Vietnamese cafe and Julie asked around to see if it was any good and then she played culinary tour guide for us.  I admit to not trying ethnic restaurants because I have no idea what to order and my guys  are not that adventurous at all.   Enjoying new flavors was quite a treat for us all!

So our day ended and the only tangible things left behind the next day were all the thoughtful gifts everyone brought.

The most important thing left behind, though, were all the wonderful memories and bonds of friendship these people helped to make.

We thought it fitting to have our group photo with my grandfather's restored Allis Chalmers tractor.  After all it is orange :)  We also raised a toast to sassyoldlady for begining the roundups and to Marianne and Baking Nana for following after with theirs.  To Lora, who took a chance and drove all the way here one dark and rainy night.

XOXOXO to all of you and thank you so much for gracing my home with your laughter, stories and recipes.
With Love,

Thrift Store Mondays & Mom: Still Missing You Both

I can't even pinpoint the exact date that these days started.  At best guess it was the late '90's and it began with my sister.  She had Mondays off and she was the good daughter.  She would drive 45 minutes to my Mom's house and they would go shopping and out to lunch.  My sister could get her errands done and also check up on our aging, widowed mother.  If anything needed to be done on Mom's house or in the yard, she would arrange for her husband and his father to take care of business.  I want to say I had a hit or miss attendance in the early days but really started taking my Mondays seriously around the time my son started school in "98-99.  Back then it was a luxury to have a full day to get my errands done, find some bargains and go out to lunch.  It was always hopeful on the bargain part but ever so worth when I did find them.

Yes, indeed, I am talking about hitting the thrift stores.  Back in my college days there weren't any thrift stores north of the river and the only one I had ever gone to south of the river was not a place I would ever want to go back to, yuck!  After my dad died my, my Mom started going to a little hole in the wall store called "Nearly New".  It is a non-profit store and has expanded since way back when.  Me, I rather scoffed at shopping at a thrift store.  After all, I had grown up with hand me downs.  Why would you go to a store on purpose to buy them?  I had a cool sled which I thought was mine till it was reclaimed.  I must have started my bicycle days by riding one of the oldest Schwinn bicycles ever.  For heaven's sake, it was hanging in an old chicken shed when it was bought back to life for me.  It must be in a museum now.

So why go to a thrift store to look through other people's stuff?  Oh, because you can find some of the most excellent bargains.  And that we did.  We hunted so well in our little pack.  Me, my sister and Mom.  We knew each others color preferences, sizes and possible needs.  Before anyone ever got out of the car on those thrift store Mondays, this question was always asked, " Do you need anything in particular or are you just out for lunch and along to look?".

Here are just a few of my favorite things that I have found over the years with my pack.  Or should that be pride? :) The shelf was a find by my fellow hunter and sister.  The plant at the bottom my Mom found at the thrift store where I find the best buys on books.

The flowers are in a vase I liked because of the color.

So the tree didn't really come from a thrift store but it along with 2 others were purchased on a thrift store Monday excursion, with one of the stops being K-mart back when those trees were  so much cheaper.  I love this Japanese maple for its color in the sun.

I used to bring Mom a bouquet of my flowers for Mother's day.  I dug those peonies from my grandma's farm and that lovely purple iris from the DH's great aunt's house.

I'd have to say my attitude changed 100% towards thrifts when I was pregnant and money was scarce.  Being able to get things that I needed for little was extremely important to me then.  My sister and mother had already scoped out lots of the thrifts that were springing up north of the river.  If ever there were two more discerning women about the quality and condition of things, it was them.  Both of them could give bloodhounds a run for their money.  If a place smelled bad or their stuff was dirty that was it.  They did not go back.  Mom's favorite was always "Nearly New".  It was the first she started going to.  It was close to home and I think it gave her something to do after dad died.  She also said one of the volunteers who OK'd items told her one time that "if I wouldn't take it home neither will anyone else."  That meant something to Mom.  And still to this day that is one of the nicer stores to go to.  Sadly, most of the volunteers who knew us by sight and expected us on Mondays are gone.

Those Mondays weren't just about the potential of finding bargains either.  These were the days we all got to get dressed up, see each other and go out to lunch.  Going out to lunch was a big deal because we weren't saddled with any men who could only eat at certain places.  Depending on which direction we were headed gave us the choice of restaurant for that day.  And on special occasions, like birthdays, we would head up the highway to the mall (when it existed) hit those thrifts at that end of town and eat at Red Lobster..  Hey, I know it isn't the greatest place for seafood but what can I say?  We are landlocked here and it was fancy for us.  And whoever's birthday it was didn't have to pay because the other two took care of the check!  Sometimes we would miss the actual birthday and Mom would announce before heading  out, "Don't we have a missed birthday and shouldn't we head towards Red Lobster?"

On really special occasions we would be joined by other relatives and friends.  Maybe it was a day off or a holiday but those days were so much fun.  More girls to talk to and catch up with.  More to share the thrill of the hunt with!  And, of course, to make memories with.  Like the time my sister's daughter came with us.  We had taken Mom's car with my sister driving because letting Mom drive would have driven us all to have a liquid lunch.  We had finished a stop and were heading to the next.  I was riding shotgun.  Suddenly, I hear a strangled "Wait!" from the back seat.  Evidently my sister had failed to see if all her passengers arms and legs were in the vehicle before proceeding to back up.  My niece, while laughing hysterically, was trying alert her mother, part of her mother was still hanging out of the car!  What can I say?  My sister is pretty focused when shopping but after that she did at least start looking over her shoulder and asking the back seat passengers if they were in the car before taking off.

I can't say each and every Monday was perfect.  Some of those days Mom might not be so lovable or one of us might not be in the best of moods.  In the case of Mom, she was getting older.  First, it was her hearing.  She started saying "what did you say more often" or missing some of the conversation.  Then her blood pressure became a problem.  We didn't know the breast cancer was already at work then but I wonder if Mom did.  There is one day in particular that I so remember.  Mom was getting on my sister's nerves.  I always looked at Mom and spoke distinctly because I knew she wouldn't understand me that was until my sister convinced Mom she had to get hearing aids.  That was a tough sell since Mother always thought she couldn't understand her elder daughter because of her teeth.  On this day Mom had said one too many times she couldn't understand whatever my sister was saying on the count of her teeth being crooked.  For once I heard my sister snap at Mom.  Hey, that was the good daughter and quite the surprise.  Me, I had always been on the receiving end of Mom's criticisms.  On that day though, maybe it was the maturity I was finally achieving, I thought to myself these days are numbered so why snap at the little old woman exasperating thought she might be?  Some day there will be no more Mondays.  Even if each day wasn't perfect I was determined to enjoy it even if I had to grit my teeth.  Which I did on more than one occasion.

I'm glad I did because it has been 5 years since those days ended.  Another Monday approaches and there is no one to go to the thrifts with me.  My sister is retired and travels so she doesn't really need anything even when she is here.  More importantly there is no one to catch up or share the daily life news with.  Even if I go by myself, which I do sometimes, no one will ever start the ride with "what do you need or are you just looking today?"  No bits of gossip shared in the car or "did you see where"'s either. 

I'm still missing you, Mom, and those thrift store Mondays but I am sure glad that I had all the ones I did!

And to my anonymous AR gifting angel, I hope you enjoyed this story and I thank you for letting me share it.  This month I was going to have to invoke my LVN rule (luxury vs. necessity rule) as my AR membership was due to expire.  Afraid it was looking like the luxury side was winning and I have to cut back on those right now, so thank you again for your gift.  Would you please tell me how to get my daily emails of recipes, though?  Darned if I don't miss those :)(: !

Happy Mother's Day!  I hope everyone enjoys their day!

Midwest Missouri Roundup Reminder!

Day 50 and counting till the 3rd annual Middle of the Midwest Missouri Roundup on June 9th, 2012.  Well, actually it is the 8th, 9th and 10th.  Yes, I should have had this blog done by day 60.  I promised Magnolia Blossom it would be done last weekend.  I can hear her slight concerns in her emails that yet again I will not have everything done on time.  See, she has always arrived here on Friday night and been armed for action on Saturday morning.  I must say she has been quite the blessing to me in the past.  She and bhawk have jumped in and helped out to make things go smoothly for the last 2 roundups. In fact, I believe MB is quite familiar with my kitchen and  knows where my vacumn live.

Why is this year different?  Friday night there is a Relay for Life walk in the neighboring town and Mike Harvey has organized some of the roundup attendees in joining him for that walk.  Here are the links to two of his past blogs if you would like more info.
http://allrecipes.com/cook/13101603/blogentry.aspx?postid=269590
http://allrecipes.com/cook/13101603/blogentry.aspx?postid=268312
Cancer seems to touch all of us in some way and it is really a neat thing that Mike goes out of his way to find events that he can attend no matter where he is.

If you have been toying with the idea of coming to a roundup in your area and this one fits in, please don't feel you have to attend the walk to attend the roundup.  The actual roundup is the 9th at my house.  Yes, we do have returning faces but don't let that stop you either.  Each year there have been new faces attending and what a blast it is for all of us to see our friends from the previous year and to add new friends to our group.  Lunch will be served at 1:00pm and BBQ is on the menu.  Sunday a brunch will be served for those that have stayed over either here at my house or at the surrounding motels.  Please email me at cathillcafe@yahoo.com if you would like any information and would like to come. 

I feel I need to apologise to some of my friends before I get to the list of this years attendees.  So, sueb, saw some really good food photos. Want the recipes for one I saw. Southern Gma, miss you but I do know you are up and kicking. Redly, that was a fluke I managed to make it back for your limerick blog.   petey, excellent job on Pippin's.   For those that are used to "talking" to me, I've been in the garden or cleaning poo.  No, seriously!  That has been what I've been doing.  Missouri weather is fickle at best and if you have nice days they have to be used especially if you have more than a 10 X 10  flower or garden area.  Which is looking pretty good right now. 

I can not believe some of the stuff that is blooming right now.  Flowers that should be out for Mother's Day may hit their peak and be gone.  I couldn't believe I found this little red stinker.  They were expected to be ready for the roundup so I could serve organic fresh strawberries on a fruit tray.  Ugh!  Doesn't look like that will happen.

As for the poo, we added 8 animals to the household.  The 2 horses moved down here to live and I decided I wanted fresh eggs so I added 6 hens.  And yes, as with all animals they do seem to fall under my jurisdiction.   I actually thought the DS would be more of a help with the horses.  To give you a little insight into his thinking he walked into the house shortly after the horses moved in and announced, "It's staying pretty clean in the stalls and the barn area."  My eyebrows shot up past my hairline, I believe, as I opened my mouth to say, "NO, (fill in the blank) Sherlock!".  His father was wise enough to say, " that could be cause your Mother cleans the pen daily".

If you are wondering why the DH doesn't help with any of the gardening.  This is what he did to my flowering crab.  The tree that I potted and drug in and out of the garage for 3 years.  Planted it in the hen pen for shade and 5 days later......

Here is a list of this year's attendees as I know it at the moment:

For sures-
Magnolia Blossom
Lady Sparkle
Mike Harvey and his lovely wife
Candace and her daughter
Christina
Cindy Lepp
applestrudel
Mangel
bhawk
Casi

Pretty sure-
ibbz
Litegal1

Wanting to come but will let me know closer to date-
MiBeingMi
SoupLovingNicole
Perri Pender

Interested in coming but.....
Scott- LLL Productions
Lovebreezy
and a lady that for the life of me I can't remember your screen name at the moment.

Friday night hardy appetizers will be served for those coming in at different times.  There is still some room in the camper.  Saturday is lunch.  Sunday is brunch.  If you want to come or want more info please email me.  For those attending other roundups, have safe travels because you will have a blast!

I'd do the heart thingy but I always get it wrong

Cat

Our First Year Together: A Furry Love Story

I've always thought of myself as a cat person.  Don't get me wrong I'm a card carrying animal lover period.  It has been said of me that I like my animals better than some people I've met.  I can't refute that statement!  But now I can say that I am officially a dog lover also.  Again don't get me wrong, I've always liked dogs and there have been a few that have shared time here with us.  The last being, Spot, Ryan's dog of 12 years.  She was a dump that I took care of and that would tell me if we had unexpected company.  Beyond that she pretty much did whatever she wanted.  When she passed away June 2010, I missed her but I didn't really want another dog here.  Because I swore if we EVER had another dog it would be trained and become a part of the household which meant ALL the care would be my responsibility.  So I politely didn't listen anytime the DH would bring up an ad for a puppy.  Until that fateful day in December when a little old lady walked into my house and used my bathroom.  Then I was all ears because having a total stranger just walk in made me realize exactly how much I needed a four legged companion who would at least say someone is on the property.

Yes, we drove all the way to Tyler, Texas to get a Chow puppy.  The DH insisted on getting a dog with papers for various reasons.  A pound puppy would have been fine with me but he who was footing the bills vetoed that idea.  So back we came with this ball of fluff.

We picked this breed for several reasons.  I had read somewhere Chows are catlike in nature.  This is true, but they also have a protective nature not only for their owner but towards the "whole" family of the owner.  They are definitely a one person dog.  My cats would disagree with the whole family protection bit and Pip has his own side of the story.
http://thesensiblyorganiccook.blogspot.com/2012/03/free-to-good-home-shipping-included.html

Besides having my heart stolen by Bane what have I learned about dogs?

Don't get a puppy in the winter time.

He loved the snow even when he had to slinky his way through it in my footsteps.  I didn't love having to deal with potty training since about the only area without 3 foot of snow was the driveway last year.

Also a dog with a beautiful thick coat, has just that and it must be taken care of!

This is one brushing, something that has to be done regularly or we have dust bunnies bigger than our cats!

Since we had such snowfall last winter, Bane and I played in the house.  One of our games was "what's in your mouth".  It was a chase game and Bane had lots of fun because he was getting exercise and he could easily slide under all the furniture.

He also liked to sleep in cat territory.

They still fit, Bane not so much!

Ok, so I had lots to learn about raising a puppy properly.  The one thing I did do right was find a very good trainer.  We had a private lesson and then we took an obedience class.  What I learned in class was worth every penny because Chows can be aggressive and they are most decidedly stubborn.  Bane proved he had both of those traits one night.  He thought helping himself to a hamburger off the counter was just fine.  Granted they were Rachael Ray's meat lover hamburgers and very tasty but Bane didn't want to give up his purloined burger.  One of Charlotte the dog trainer's mantras is "you get the dog you deserve" and I was sliding by letting Bane in the kitchen.  To say he got in a lot of trouble was an understatement but if Charlotte hadn't given me the knowledge to deal with Bane we might have had a serious situation on our hands.  Being banished from the kitchen, Bane has appointed himself the guradian of it.  He will place his toys and himself at the entrance to keep thieving felines out!

He is especially good at alerting me to Glove's misguided attempts at helping himself.

Since the kitchen episode has really been our worst experience, I can truly say I get dog lovers now. There are so many positives that have come from having Bane.  I have someone who loves to play and go for walks so I get exercised.  He really loved playing in the one an only snow we had this year.  Although, that is a basketball he plays soccer with it.  Quite well I might add.

It is kind of like having a little child in the house.  I find myself picking up toys on a daily basis or walking on them.  He always wants to know what I'm doing.  I certainly never have to worry about getting lost because my every move is noted.  He is funny with an odd quirk or two, like not wanting to get his feet wet.  It takes a behind foot push to encourage him to go out in the rain for potty duty.  Sometimes he will go out if I go first; today wasn't one of those days.

Unlike my child, Bane loves anything I cook.  He is not allowed table scraps but he would eat them happily if given.  I do make treats for him.  So far I have made carroty crunchies and liver treats.  Finding hormone free, grass fed beef liver was a trick but I have his full attention when he sees them coming out of the freezer.  I also had my DS's full attention when I made them.  It has been requested that I NEVER make those in the house again.  It is very rewarding for the cook to have someone get so excited over her cooking that they practically dance down the hallway to have some.

It is surprising how fast this first year has flown by.  Maybe it is because Bane is never grumpy or in a bad mood.  He is up and ready to go at the drop of a hat.  He is always glad to see me and he greets me when I came back home with lots of love.  He makes me feel safe knowing while he is on duty no one will open my front door and just walk in.  Most of all who could resist this loveable face?

Certainly not me!

FREE TO GOOD HOME! SHIPPING INCLUDED!

Seriously, there is nothing wrong with the dog.  He is just great!  We really love him dearly but he is allergic to us.  I'm sure he would be a great addition to any cat free home!

Houston!  Seriously!  You can't ship MC's mutt off.

Why not?  I'm sick of the butt sniffing, space invading beast. We all are!  Just look at poor Glove's face.

He got caught on the counter again by that mutt.  He looks so hungry and now he is afraid to get down.  Poor thing!

Ok, I know you have a point there but we aren't supposed to be on the counter even if MC does have us on those ungodly restricted portions she calls dinner.

Well, just look where I have to spend most of my time now.

Hey, that's my perch!  Back a way from the computer, Houston, this is my blog!

My name is Pippin.  My human mom is Mama Cat, MC for short.  Yes, I would love to ship her slobbering mutt off.  I may only have 3 legs but I bet I could get it into a box.  For heaven's sake it is the nosiest thing ever.  It would probably go right in thinking it was some new kind of game.  hetaping might be a challenge but I bet I could handle it.   Stupid thing has no respect for privacy, whatsoever.  You can't do anything in this house that it doesn't know about.  See, I was just going to clean MC's yogurt bowl for her but noooo Mr. Werewolf face was on patrol.

I think we have bigger things to worry about than drool boy.  Not only is MC still on me to get exercise but she has added some huge beasts to her menagerie.  Thank heavens they live outside cause I don't care what she says they don't look like vegetarians to me!  Look at this thing; it is trying to eat a fur lined hat off the kid's head.  What does that tell you?

Thing gives me the willies every time I go out.  Since the DH goes to work early in the morning, he lets Houston out for a stroll.  Not my fault he can't tell us apart.  I know we are so twin-like in appearance.  Hey, any time I can escape into the great of out of doors I'm going!  That was until all this rain started.  Three wet feet are just as bad as four wet feet maybe worse.  So I content myself with staying in and playing with the walking furball's toys.

He leaves them lying around everywhere and this bone was so easy to pick up and throw around!  Neener, neener purple tongue couldn't come after me either!  He isn't allowed downstairs. Nah nah na nah!

Back to the problem I see coming down the pike.  MC is losing her mind.  I think it is the change.  She let me out the other day.  No, really!  She opened the door and let me go.  Granted it was snowing, sleeting and raining so it didn't take me long to want back in.

I think she thought this was funny.  I wasn't amused.  Rain damages fur, don't you know?

Here is the real reason I think she is losing it.

She has birds in the garage.  Yep, little tweetie birds and we aren't allowed to visit them.  MC didn't buy that I just wanted to play them.  OK, so maybe I would have put them back in pieces but MC named them so they are off limits.  Get a load of these stupid girlie names.  Vuila, Violet, Vangie, Babs, Bugs and Tangerine.  Why not names like breast, thigh, and drumstick?   Even the DS agreed with me on that one.  Really, though, I think someone needs to talk to her.  After all, when you have cats what else do you need?   Especially, when you have someone as wonderful as me!

                       Remember Life is about the journey no matter how long it took you to get there!

My Totally Torqued Tuesday.

You just know it will be one of "those" days when the complaints begin before you even get out of bed.  Tuesday was no exception for me.  Before I had pulled myself out from under the warm covers and into the dark chilly room, I heard it.  The way the day was going to go.  Houston was sitting outside my door filing a protest.  Houston is good at this and will keep it up until something is done about his issues.

Here he cannot comfortably nap in his chosen spot because Bane, the dog, is too close to my lap.

The door is not opening fast enough.

Houston used to file his complaints civilly before Bane came.  He was rather like the clown in the U.S. Postal commercials.  He would sit by the offending object, stare and make one noise.  If you failed to comply the next time you turned around he would be much closer to you. Making another noise and so on until all was in an orderly fashion or he tripped you and caused you to fall down.

So you get the idea of how the day started.  Houston's issues dealt with. next problem yesterday's debris.  The DH is still laid off and the DS, which is recovering nicely, both seem to think all things of a household nature are done by magic.  Go figure.  Totally trained them wrong.  My bad!

I thought it prudent to stay away from sharp objects for awhile.  Much safer to check my email, attend to a few online things and have my coffee.  That usually cheers me up.  It did until it became apparent I had no patience for people and there was WAY too much fiber in my diet this day.

***I do not get mean, nasty little people.  Sometimes they are grey ghosts slinking in like a putrid fog.  I do not understand why they go out of their way to be shits to others.  You know that takes time and energy to be hateful, mean or just  plain nasty.  We are only given a certain amount of time to live this life so wouldn't it be better to try spending each day learning or creating something positive or happy?  Don't get me wrong, poke me with a stick and I will respond.  You just may not see it coming :)  Poke a friend and I feel just as obliged to poke back!  I should turn the other cheek and take the high road, 'fraid that isn't always possible.

Jeez and Tuesday's fiber.  I really like reading over breakfast.  However, reading the same story 4,5 or 12 times even if by different people wasn't working for me.  After all, I had it from a good source the fiber in the stories sucked.  Given my curious nature, I had to go see for myself and do my own random survey.  First inspect the ingredient list.  Barf, I wouldn't feed this to anyone but my diabetic cousin.  Another site stopped giving the product an endorsement for reasons I can agree with.  Particularly one ingredient but I was curious about a couple of the others so I kept looking.  Seriously, they can put that in our food?  I'll gnaw on a tree of my own choice thanks and take a pass on the cotton balls too.  And to think I could have participated in this fun also.  Might regret passing on that free membership when it comes time to renew mine though.  Oh well, such is Life.***

What to do?  Watching the horses walking in their pen made me think some fresh air would make a world of difference in my day.  Granted, I ended up cleaning stalls but hey a little exercise never hurts.  Unless, while supervising the cleanup one horse pushes another into you and onto your foot.  For those unfamiliar with horses, they will come see what you are doing in much the same manner as dogs and small children.  There is also an enforceable pecking order.  Old horse felt big young horse was getting a better view of the cleanup and since there might be food involved the need to shove the youngster out of the way was overwhelming.

The option of going back to bed being long gone, I proceeded with the day.  Pretty much it went along like my brilliant breakfast idea for New Year's Day did.  After a late night, I got up with the thought to make a fancy brunch based on recently viewed AR recipes and on hand ingredients.  How hard could this be to make baked eggs in a cup?  I have a silpat muffin "tin" so it wouldn't stick.  I had bacon, bread, cheese, chervil, ham and eggs.  Flatten bread quarters slightly and place in cups.  OK.  I want them crispy.  Bake before adding other ingredients.  OK.  Saute bacon and chop ham.  Go get fresh chervil which is finally growing.  Hmm, that is chervil right?  Nope.  Dill.  Huh, finally the summer-sown dill grows.  Back into the kitchen.  Why does there appear to be less ham?  Perhaps, I'm mistaken I see no guilty furry faces.  Onto the eggs.  They have to be beaten cause DH can't eat egg whites.  No problem.  Toss in some leftover cheese dip (Ryan's Reverse Popper dip goes great with lots of things :) and the chopped dill.  The bread crisped nicely so above it I'll wrap the bacon and ham.  Perfect.  Pour in the egg mixture and top with leftover croutons.  Now the tricky part.  Getting them baked properly.  First time out they were looking good but not cooked enough for my crew.  Back in.  Darn it!  Then they were over done.  My baked eggs were eaten without enthusiasm.  Oh well, I tried.  The leftovers would make breakfast for me later or they would have if they hadn't disappeared during the day.

Now if anyone can tell me how to get cooked but not overcooked baked eggs I would appreciate it.  I would really like to make this again but how to get soft but not runny or hard boiled eggs as the end result?

So you see I am used to having days like my torqued Tuesday.  And this day was fast approaching the dinner planning hour.  What to do with hamburger and potatoes?  I''d looked at different recipes and was coming up blank so I asked a cooking guru for ideas.  She comes back with the perfect recipe.  Well, it was perfect right up to the point I told the guys what I was going to make.  "EEeeeeewww is that like the crap you made 4 years ago for Christmas?  That was awful.  Yeah, I hated it."  Deep sigh!  So plan B and I still got nothing but hamburger and potatoes to work with.  I refuse to waste the guru's time looking for another recipe.  We've already gone thru all the Tex-Mex recipes.  Had hamburgers and fries.  Had pizza.  Gotta be something different.  Even deeper sigh....

Okay, an AR recipe called for hamburger and hash browns.  Hmm, doable... maybe.  Thanks to a reviewer suggesting making their own hash browns the light bulb went on.  It must have been all that fiber in the morning that made me think of the Galloping Gourmet.

Yes, I'm old enough to remember when he cooked with butter and wine but it was his later show that gave me that rewarding DING DING moment.  I'm guessing this was at least 15 years ago when he started making his recipes more healthful.  Back then, that show didn't inspire me to cook any different but I appreciated his efforts to reduce fat and calories while keeping his dishes flavorful.  After all, even if cardboard were good for you it would still taste like cardboard.  Can't think of any additives that would change that.

So what's the light bulb flashing over?  The hash browns.  The reviewer suggested rinsing thoroughly and then drying the hash browns well on paper towels.  Not going to happen, I'm down to my last roll.  Thank you, Galloping Gourmet, for reducing salad dressing calories by spinning salad and dressing together in a salad spinner.  Salad to hash browns?  Remember it is a torqued Tuesday after all.

Shredded the hash browns in my lovely food processor.  Rinsed thoroughly.  Then spun by handfuls until dry in my great thrift store find salad spinner!  Look how much water came out.  Yeah!

So thousands of others have probably already had this light bulb moment but on this day, it was MINE and it WORKED!

Browned hamburger with garlic and onion.  Tossed now dry hash browns with EVOO, chopped fresh rosemary, garlic, salt and pepper.  Made 3 nests on my silpat.  Topped with hamburger, chopped onion, green pepper and cheese.  Baked until cheese melted and potatoes were crispy.

Did I get any compliments on dinner you ask.  Are you kidding?  There are days I feel the only way to get a compliment around here is to surgically remove it!

And so went my Totally Torqued Tuesday.  How was yours? :)(:

The Marshmallow Rule

Since the fall began, I feel like I have been visited by the ghost of holidays past.  Reaching into the memory vault pullling out this and that holiday to revisit like photographs from an old dusty album.  I found myself sifting through the memories looking to see which holiday was a favored remembrance and what made it so.  The people?  The food?  The presents?  Watching how time had changed my perceptions of what was needed to make the day one to be later savored.  I must tell you that the last 2 holidays of year's end are my favorites, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  New Year's Eve isn't included since to me it is tied so closely to the beginning of the New Year.  Perhaps I've pondered so deeply because this year would be so different for the DH and me.  For once, it has been just us.  After having gotten though Thanksgiving, I can definitely state cooking all the "must haves" takes just as much time for two as it does for 15-20.

So what does the "Marshmallow Rule" have to do with the holidays?  I hadn't thought of the old battered sign for quite some time.  It bubbled up in my memory after watching the news.  Prodded to the surface by the story of a customer who pepper sprayed others while shopping for the deals of the season.  That night I was trying to figure out what could possibly be so important to purchase for Christmas that hurting others was necessary to get it.  If I thought that was bad, I saw a much worse story later.  I'm not sure where this was but a woman left her little kids in the car to go shopping.  Trying to grab some of those "big deals" it would seem.  The youngest child was one, I believe.  It was dark and the kids were cold and scared.  A gentleman that was interviewed about the incident put it very well, "Ain't nothing in that store worth your kids!"  No kidding!  Probably both ladies needed to read this old rule before the season began.

When did such frenzied consumption of produced products become the norm, necessitating camping out no matter the weather to secure a place in line to purchase those sought after possessions?  Toys of all kinds and TV's seemed to be front-runners of the giant sales this year that started when I was going to bed and continuing when I certainly wasn't gettting out of bed.  This "I MUST & WILL have THAT for me or my child" attitude isn't really a recent trend.  I recall seeing mothers mob the stores for those little kids from the patch roughly 25 years ago.  Yikes!  Has it been that long since they came out?

Don't get me wrong,  I like presents.  I like shopping for them.  I like wrapping them.  I like giving them and I like receiving them.  I like everything from fun and thoughtful to eatable and drinkable to useful and practical gifts.  I also understand the fundamental drive of economics.  A consumer purchasing products gives a manufacturer an outlet for their goods.  Sometimes a supplier is needed in the process allowing access to those goods.  So both supplier and manufacturer are creating jobs for people.  This does keep the whole cycle going.  Some get more, some get less but if the cycle is broken, no one wins.  And yes, my DH has gone out in the wee morning hours on Black Friday to purchase and item, not as a present but a necessity at that time.  Eight years ago, I needed a TV.  Not wanted, needed one to play the home schooling DVDs on.

Yep, I started home schooling my then grade-schooler during the holiday season.  Not something for the faint of heart to be sure but I felt it was the best thing to do.  During one particular session, the "Marshmallow Rule" came into being.  Granted I was trying to combine homework from several classes with it.  I was also trying to give a small Life lesson at the same time.  Multitasking at its best!  And yes, I did finally notice the spelling error.  Kindly ignore it.

First, I'd like to share some bits and pieces of our holiday cheer.  The early years in this house didn't allow for extravagant spending much less lavish decorations or food.  In fact, our first tree was quite the "Charlie Brown" type, put too much on and over it would fall.  It's good for one string of lights, some candy canes and tinsel.  Feeling nostalgic, I chose to put it up again.

It isn't so bad looking and it was even made in the USA.  Pippin's been delighting in knocking off the canes.  I believe it is payback for the next photo.  See that little figurine with him?  My Mom gave what she called white elephant presents for Christmas the year my dad died.  She said she wanted us to remember what was important about this time of year.  That was my gift from the thrift store 18 years ago.  She also had oranges and hard candy for table decorations.  She said when she was a girl to get either or both were a big deal for Christmas.

Long before it dwindled to just us two, it had been my turn to host the mandatory family fun Christmas get together.  I say mandatory because getting this branch together was like pulling hen's teeth.  Either some had way too many commitments for the same day yet felt compelled to show for lunch then leave the table still chewing or some acted like they really didn't care to get together.  I began suspecting the latter when it took 2 and 1/2 hours of serious debate to attempt to forestall any more complaints about who should host the next gathering and exactly when.  Anyway, a relative quite admired my wreaths and asked how I'd managed the creations.  I think she wanted to know how much I'd spent on them.  She didn't quite believe me when I said, "with weeds."  Yep, on a budget weeds can be turned into something quite pretty.  Sometimes, you just have to see the beauty in the smallest and oddest of things and figure out how to make them useful.

That particular ability of mine is probably how I managed to think the "Marshmallow Rule" up in the first place but as you read it you might see why I've been thinking about it these last few weeks.  The hustling bustle of the holiday season sometimes overshadows the simply important things in life.

         ( Not all things in Life must be expensive or complicated.  Sometimes the simplest things, such as a roasted marshmallow, can delight the senses and brighten a cloudy day. )  The lesson, to teach a little boy penmanship, how to write about something he knew and that sometimes something as simple as a roasted marshmallow can put a smile on your face.    

Health.  Food. Safe warm homes.  Family.  And if you don't have family, very good friends.  An income so you can provide some of those things.  Compared to the latest toy or gadget those things are pretty important to me.  As for gifts here this year, they're going to be on the simple side.  Then again, who can resist the perfect cup of cocoa with homemade marshmallows and a toasted s'more?

And that is my simple gift to all of you since you can't drop in and share them here .
http://allrecipes.com/personalrecipe/63012863/cats-chocolate-wine-marshmallows/detail.aspx
http://allrecipes.com/personalrecipe/63012513/cats-kicked-up-cocoa/detail.aspx
My favorite recipes for hot chocolate and homemade marshmallows.

Also the wish that each and everyone of you have very Merry Christmas and a safe Happy New Year!