Monday, August 28, 2006
Fever- I got the fever. Fever all throught the night.
A few hours of tossing, turning and sweating later I moved to the couch where I took my temperature again. 105.6, I knew I was in for misery. Not just because of the bad TV thats on at that hour either.
So far, I've been taking Ibuprofen every 4 hours and the lowest I can get my temp is 103.
My biggest concern is that now I'm going to get Gryffin sick- again.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Thank you for prayers- they worked, as usual!
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Big Shoes!
Gryffin and I discovered yet another way to have the home made tortillas. Spread a thin layer of peanut butter on half and fold over, I drizzle a little bit of honey on mine. This made for a most excellent late night snack. I've tried this before with the store bought tortillas but it just didn't work out the same. I think maybe because their salt content is too high.
The past couple weeks Gryffin has been letting us know when his diaper is dirty by pointing to it. Wow, Kiddo! Between the sign language and this you're making it easy on us! Thanks!
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Tuesday terror....
Last night's dinner was awesome. I even impressed myself! It was a Mexican Fiesta of home made tortillas, sofrito rice, pan roasted corn with black beans and taco meat. Along with all the regular comdiments, it turned out wonderfully. Mike had thirds and Gryffin cleaned his plate!
Tonight is honey mustard chicken with brown rice and broccoli. I hope it turns out as well.
Enough of patting myself on the back... my arm is starting to hurt!
Monday, August 21, 2006
Schedule adjustment...
This just reiterates what I've always known. Kids must have schedules and structure. When they no longer know what to expect they freak out. I was this way as a child, which explains why I was always freaking out. I still do sometimes when things aren't as they usually are. But as an adult I have better coping skills and can more easily adjust.
Again, if I'm going to get it ALL done in one nap session I've got to get moving!
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Friday, August 18, 2006
Woo Hoo we're havin' a cookout!
I think the only things that NEED to be done are the yard mowed and the poop scooped, both of which I DO NOT do. I deal with enough poop day in/day out that I refuse to clean up the dog's too. Sorry Honey, but that is up to you.
I hope all of you have a great weekend!
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Honey Wheat Bread
Honey Wheat Bread
1 1/4 cups lukewarm water
4 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons bread machine yeast
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon salt
1. In a small bowl, combine water, honey, sugar: sprinkle with yeast. let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes
2. In food processor, combine flours and salt. While the machine is running add yeast mixture just until the dough forms a ball. If too wet, add small amounts of flour just until ball forms.
3. Knead dough by pulsing until it is smooth and no longer sticky, about 30 times.
4. Spray large bowl with nonstick spray; place dough in bowl and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let dough rise until double in size, about 1 hour.
5. Punch down dough and turn out onto floured surface. Pat into 8x12" rectangle. Fold into thirds, pinching the seams to seal and form and 8" loaf.
6. Spray an 8x4"loaf pan. Place dough in, cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, about an hour.
7. Preheat oven to 350 and bake on center rack until it sounds hollow or internal temp in over 190. About 1 hour.
8. Remove from pan and cool completely on rack.
On a roll...
You can smell fall in the air today. I love it! I've got all the windows open and the attic fan going so there is a nice little breeze throughout the house. I think I may be even looking forward to winter. Something about hot cocoa and hopefully getting to watch Gryffin play in the snow for the first time.
I've already done my menu for next week and the grocery shopping so I think I may start on the laundry. Thursday is my shopping/errand and catch-up day. My errands are on hold until the buyer for our chair and ottoman shows up sometime after noon. But I'm thinking they may be on hold till at least tomorrow, if this weather holds Gryffin and I may just play the day away!
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Slacker to Attacker
Wednesday is Kitchen/Dining room Day.
I've already: cleaned out the fridge, wiped down the counters and appliances, cleaned the stove and microwave, wiped down the table, watered the plants, dusted and vacuumed.
Hopefully, I will still have enough steam to do the bathroom and laundry from yesterday. Oh, and I've got to clean the chair and ottoman that was sold over Ebay because the buyers are picking it up tomorrow. And since we sold Mike's old recliner yesterday my living room is going to look like a living room again. Maybe I will post a picture of our new chairs.
I want to give a shout out to Catherine, angelfoodcakeisntacandle.blogspot.com, for catching me when I was falling off the bandwagon. It helps to have a cleaning buddy. Keep it up, Girl and I will try to keep up with you!
Butts growing roots, gotta move!
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Scrub-a-dub-tub
Today is bathroom day- my least favorite. I wipe down the sink every night when I wash my face so that never gets too bad. But the tub it seems always looks dirty. Thanks hard water, I needed an upper body workout. Funny how a thing that is always getting covered in soap never really gets clean. At least I only have one small bathroom to contend with unlike my MIL who has like ninetybajillion. When she bought her house I told her she must love vacuuming and scrubbing toilets because that was all she was going to be doing. I complain about my little two bed one, bath house but at least it doesn't take long to clean.
Tuesday To Do's:
scrub tub, sink, stool and floor
clean mirror, window and stained glass panel
straighten linen closet
wash rug & shower curtain, change shower liner
For Bonus Points and a chance to compete in the finals:
clean out the fridge in prep for maintenance dude tomorrow
get a jump on the menu and grocery list
Monday, August 14, 2006
Our leather chair and ottoman that we posted on Ebay as a local pickup only item sold. And for a heck of a lot more than we thought it would. We got half of its original cost and got to use and abuse it for several years. Now we are just waiting for the buyer to come pick it up.
The weekend, although hecktick and emotional, was productive. Since we were house bound it got cleaned- even the mud room! Yeah, I have my mudroom back. All my cleaning supplies are in there organized and reachable. My 'To Sell' items and packing supplies for Ebay are all in one spot. My stained glass lamps that I made but can't have out because of little curious fingers are safely stored. Hey, even Gryffin's stroller can fit in there again and no longer 'decorates' our dining room. I feel a pat on the back coming!
I've divided up all the house cleaning and have assigned each room(s) a day:
Monday is bedrooms: wash sheets, take dirty laundry down, dust/vacuum, straighten
Tuesday is bathroom: scrub the 'appliances' and floors, straighten the linen closet, wash towels and rugs
Wednesday is the kitchen and dining room: scrub every thing, clean our the fridge, mop the floors and water the plants, wash Gryffin's clothes
Thursday is errand day: make my menu and list, grocery shop, Target, Sam's, etc. and wash the darks
Friday is the living room and office: dust/vacuum, straighten, wash the whites and do a quick pickup of the rest of the house
Saturday and Sunday are Free Days!
Now... I pledge allegance to the cleanliness of the united house of Holcomb and to the happiness in which it thrives, one household under God, indivisible, with love and laughter for all.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Tonight I don't think I will cook. We get to pickup our new recliners! Hey, if we are going all the way there we might as well make a night of it. Maybe if there is room in the truck we will stop and get one of those cheap plastic wading pools for Gryffin. The one we have is great but its labor intensive to set up.
My mother-in-law, Dianne, stopped by yesterday for a visit after getting back from vacation. She went to visit her family in New England and boy was I jealous. A few years ago Mike and I drove up there for a visit and I fell in love with it. Vermont is awesome! We rolled down the windows and it was like getting hit in the face with a dozen pine scented air fresheners, except this really smelled like pine! His family is spread out between there, New Hampshire and New York State so we got the full tour. Maybe next year we should take Gryffin, a 26 hour car drive with a two year old sounds like a great idea. Hee hee hee.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
1 cup meat, cooked, diced
3/4 cup vegetable , if frozen, thaw
1 cup cheese, shredded
1/4 cup onion, diced
2 cups milk
4 egg
1/2 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1. Combine meat, vegetale, cheese and onion.
2. Place this mixture in a labeled 1 gallon freezer bag.
3. With a mixer or blender combine milk, eggs, flour and baking powder.
4. Pour into bag with the meat and veggies.
5. Seal and freeze.
6. To Serve: thaw completely, shake bag well to combine all ingredients.
7. Pour into well sprayed deep dish casserole dish.
8. Bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes, until lightly browned on top and well set in the center.
9. Cool slightly before serving.
With this one I usually use ham and broccoli or chicken and asparagus. You do not need to freeze first, but this is one of my freezer recipes for when I do my bulk cooking.
1 pound chicken breast, cooked and cubed
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup butter
16 ounces mixed vegetables, frozen
1 pie crust, prepared
various herbs and spices
1. Preheat oven to 425
2. In a saucepan melt butter, add flour and whisk to make a roux, stir in herbs
3. In a large bowl mix chicken and veggies, add roux and stir to coat
4. Spoon into greased, deep pie dish or casserole dish
5. Cover with pie crust and cut 4 vents
6. Cover crust with foil and bake 30 minutes
7. Remove foil and bake until crust is browned
8. Let stand 5 minutes and serve
White bread from a red head...
1 cup warm water plus 3 Tablespoons
3 1/2 cups bread flour
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon butter
1 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast
1. Preheat oven to 350.
Add liquid ingredients to bread machine pan.
2. Add dry and make a well in the middle
3. Divide butter and place in corners
4. Add yeast to middle
5. Set machine for dough
6. When done, turn dough out onto floured surface and knead into loaf
7. Place into greased loaf pan and let rise until doubled in size
8. Brush top of loaf with water.
Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.
9. Take out of pan and let cool before you slice and serve.
This recipe has many adaptations.
-Add garlic powder, basil and oregano for Italian bread. Perfect for meatballs.
-When you turn the dough out slightly roll it, spread it with butter, cinnamon and sugar, roll up and follow the rest of the recipe for cinnamon bread.
-Cut thick and this makes awesome French Toast- hint for Sunday morning, Honey!
- Cut the crusts into 1" squares, spray with non-stick spray and dust with your favorite herbs & shredded cheese for home made croutons. Just bake until toasted.
Quandry, quandry, have no laundry!
Maybe I will organize the mudroom or Gryffin's closets. Ooh, Gryffin and I could go to Lowe's and pick out a new color to paint his bedroom. That would thrill Mike (sarcasm). I know! I will make some bread. I haven't made bread in FOREVER and with it being $2.50 a loaf (on sale) I need to get back into the habit.
What are you going to do today?
Monday, August 07, 2006
Make me an offer, any offer... please.
Mike listed the bed on the board at work and we have a guy coming tonight to look at it. Holy Crap! A stranger in my home- tonight?! I'm going MIA, I'll just have the dust bunnies show it too him. Yeah, I know that will break all sorts of dust bunny union and labor laws and I certainly don't want to have to start paying them. I guess I better get off my blogging butt and get to cleaning.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Mike and Gryffin in the recliner doing the 7pm cuddle snuggle while watching football.
I am about to become a football widow. Thats alright. I really should count my blessings though, Mike only watches football and basketball. Living in the St Louis metro area and not being a hockey or baseball fan puts you in a very small minority. Narrow that down further by the fact that he doesn't hunt, fish or drink Budweiser and he is in a party of three, him, Chris and myself. Add a couple to the roster, I don't think our gay neighbors (a.k.a. gaybors) do any of those things either. Well they may drink Budweiser but I won't hold that against them, they're good neighbors.
We've had a kicked back Sunday. A little yard work, a little laundry and a market run for the grandparents. Not too bad at all. Plus, I snuck in another nap since someone snored me out to the couch about 4:30 this morning. The boys napped together on the couch until Mike got a wet wake up call from Gryffin. I've noticed the diaper companies don't say their products are leak proof anymore.
I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend as much as I did!
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Put me in Coach, I'm ready to play....
Gryffin did really well. He did get a little restless and we had to leave before the event was over but I couldn't really blame him. It was hot and there was just way too much to get into.
We came home and had lunch. Afterward my loving and wonderful husband, tired of my crankiness and sarcasm, sent me to bed for a nap. I woke up and 'tagged him in', whereas I looked after Gryffin while he took a nap.
A little game of 'What Can I Make With Leftovers' for dinner, a bath for Gryffin and I think we will call it a night with Alton Brown's new show. Especially since I saw a clip of it and he went to Ted Drewe's in St Louis! Yummy! Ted Drewe's has THE BEST concrete ever. Hey, anyplace you can buy a Christmas tree and a concrete all while freezing your tashukiss off in the snow ain't bad.
Man, I have used a lot of ain'ts tonight... must be the belligerent Budweiser swillers I was surrounded by today.
Boo in a box with a good book
So we went an filled out paperwork for the Mom's Day Out Program, which now I think I will refer to as Pre-preschool. Gryffin got to see his classroom and playroom. And even do a little playing while I crammed my rear into a chair made for a toddler. That was fun. I filled out paperwork while he tried shoving square pegs through round holes, that's the story of life kid. I feel better knowing they have it set up like school with a curiculum and schedule and its not all play time. Look- he's already studying. Now if they could only teach him to say Momma.
Today we are off to watch the St Louis Rams football team practice with 'Uncle Chris', Mike's best friend. Not my choice in activities but it is so rare that Mike wants to do something unrelated to the yard or house that I can't refuse. Its outside so Gryffin will be happy. We were going to be shameless and put Gryffin in a t-shirt that read, 'Autograph or I'll scream', but we decided to keep our dignitiy. That, and we procrastinated too much about it.
I hope y'all have a good weekend. Yes, I can say y'all. I was edumacated in Tennesee ya know?! But that is a whole other lot of funnies.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Giddy with terror
This program is two days a week from 9:30am-2:30pm. It will give him exposure to kids his own age. And it will give me time to get the house clean, the laundry done and the errands run. All of which, when they do get done, take three times as long because my superhero sidekick isn't much of a helper. Unless I want help making a mess, that is.
Mike and I always knew that if we were going to have a child that one of us would stay home and care for it. He grew up with his Mom at home, I grew up with a muther never at home. I have some daycare stories that will make your jaw drop. Now here I am wanting to put Gryffin in a program (I refuse to call it daycare) where he will be away from me for 5 hours a day, two days a week. What am I thinking?!
But then again, Gryffin really needs to interact with other children. He needs to be exposed to new things. He needs to make friends and learn to share more than just food with our dogs.
I'm so torn, I'm like Hulk Hogan's t-shirt. I don't even know if I can be without him that long! I haven't been away from him for longer than dinner and a movie since he was born. He IS my superhero sidekick, my cohort in crime, my 5th limb!
But I do need a break. That is why I'm feeling so guilty. Because as a stay-at-home Mom needing a break is being selfish. I should be devoted to caring for son 24/7. Does this mean that I'm a bad mom? Does this mean that I shouldn't be mom? What if they do a better job with him than I do? What if he likes being there more than he likes being with me? These are the crazy thoughts that are pinging like a pinball between my ears. Argh!
Calgon take me away!
Thursday, August 03, 2006
The Jones's Jihad...
Besides that, think of all the trees that could be saved if these weren't produced. That and credit is evil. A necessary evil but non the less, EVIL. Keeping up with the Jones's has been keeping down society. Too much emphasis is on 'things'. You aren't a good parent today if your kid isn't wearing a brand name while playing the newest video game and munching on the most popular cereal.
But give me a break. Have you ever really stopped to notice all the advertisements you see in one day? TV commercials, magazine ads, billboards, papers, coupon fliers, etc. Today's society is so bombarded by it we don't even consciously notice it anymore. It goes straight to the brain's hidden compartment only to pop out when we are in a store and see something familiar. "Oooh, there it is. I want that. The lady on the TV said it worked, so it must work." Yeah, I've been a sucker to that myself. The latest was the 'Orange Glow Floor Restorer Kit', save your money. It works just like it does on the commercial, then it dries and your floors still look like crap.
Anyway, enough of my opinionated tirade... here is the site for those that are like minded.
www.OptOutPrescreen.com
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Aliens & tortillas...
Flour Tortillas
4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups warm water
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients and 1/2 the water. Mix together with your hands and continue adding water into the dough until it forms a solid ball, but is not too sticky.
2. If necessary, add additional flour or water as needed.
3. Knead the dough on a floured board for 5 minutes.
4. Cut the dough into 8 equal portions.
5. Roll each piece into a ball and place on a lightly floured surface, cover with a damp towel and let rise for 30 minutes.
6. Heat cast iron skillet to medium heat.
7. Roll out dough to 1/8" thickness.
8. Place one round on griddle and cook each side for about 30 seconds. Take care that the skillet is not too hot or they will scorch.
It sounds a lot more labor intensive than it really is. It only takes about 20 minutes of actual work time and is definately worth the work. I really wish I had made them though because Mike brought home ice cream last night. A sopapilla always sounds good. For that just put a little oil in the skillet and lightly fry the tortilla until it puffs. Drain on papertowels and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar while still hot. Serve under a big scoop of ice cream and drizzle with honey. Mmmmm.
The tortillas do freeze well, although I've never had them last long enough to find out!
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Tonight we are having a treat for dinner. Fajitas! With home made tortillas even. Its quick and won't heat up the kitchen too much- I hope. Ok, well I'm breaking a sweat just typing so its either time to quit typing or turn the thermostat down. Too cheap to do that so- SEE YA!