4/30/2015
Now that spring seems to be officially here, as opposed to some days that are nice and others that are not, the bugs are also here.
Yesterday, in the kitchen was a fly. This sucker was huge. You could have put a saddle on him and rode him around. I got out my fly swatter, but the moment I did, the fly disappeared. I'm wondering if they have some kind of fly training about fly swatters! Flies aren't much trouble, just annoying when they buzz around your head.
In the past, spring has also meant the march of the ants in my kitchen. I don't know where they go the rest of the year, but when the weather warms up, here they are. Makes me think of that song - The ants go marching one by one, etc. I personally find the ants reeeeeeeeeeeeeally annoying. Keep your tiny little bodies outside, where you belong. I don't want you in my kitchen - ever.
We have a bumble bee or maybe two that buzz around the mailbox. They must have a home in the wood (can't think of the word) thing that the mailbox sits on. When I go out to get the mail, there is always one out there flying around. I know that if I don't bother them, they won't bother me. This, however, has never reassured me. What if a bee is having a really bad day, and you're just an innocent bystander but he decides to sting you anyway?
Then, of course, there are the bugs you cannot see. Last year with my weak gardening attempts, I was bitten by something more than once on the legs. This year, when the gardening bug bites me, and it will, I will be prepared. I have bought some bug spray as well as some kind of "bracelet" that has bug repellant on it. My attempts at gardening are at best a joke. And I don't consider weeding as part of gardening. My theory is if it's green, then leave it alone.
I do want to buy an azalea bush for the backyard. They grow quite big and I have an ideal space in the backyard for one.
P
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Craigslist
4/29/2015
Craigslist, a electronic bulletin board, if you will, where you can buy, swap and sell just about anything. I've tried selling a few things on Craigslist, with what I consider very little success.
I sold last year all of Benjamin's wooden play food and appliances, for what I believed a very good price. Still the woman who eventually bought the food, nit-picked about what she was willing to buy. Seriously? We're just talking about play food. She didn't want to take everything that I believe I was selling for $10.00. The things I was selling were made by Melissa and Todd and there toys are very well made and worth the money.
For the past month or so, I've been trying to sell a Britax car seat. The car seat was only used occasionally by Benjamin when he stayed overnight. Yes, it was past it's "expiration" date, but the car seat was in excellent condition - no stains - no tears. I started to try and sell the car seat for $75.00, which was a bargain, considering the original price I paid of $300.00. The lady was a bit worried about the 2008 manufacturing date, and I assured her that the car seat had never been in an accident, and truthfully I could think of nobody who would toss out a $300.00 car seat because it was no longer under warranty. She agreed.
Then I moved down to $70.00 - nothing. The car seat is big, bulky and heavy and I just wanted it gone. I've nowhere to store it, and since it was beyond it's expiration date, there were very few interested in it.
At $65.00, someone finally called me yesterday. And, if wonders never cease, actually came to the house last night! She loved the car seat, which she was buying for her grandchild. She asked if I would take $55.00 and I agreed.
I suppose I could have held out for a higher price, but who knows how long I might have to wait for someone who would buy it. As they say, a bird in the hand is worth more than two in the bush!
My next Craigslist challenge is to sell my Britax Frontier booster seat. That car seat is still within it's warranty date, and like the car seat I sold yesterday, is clean, no stains and no tears. I'm sure that whatever price I start with when I list it, won't be the price that I actually get for it! Such is business I guess.
P
Craigslist, a electronic bulletin board, if you will, where you can buy, swap and sell just about anything. I've tried selling a few things on Craigslist, with what I consider very little success.
I sold last year all of Benjamin's wooden play food and appliances, for what I believed a very good price. Still the woman who eventually bought the food, nit-picked about what she was willing to buy. Seriously? We're just talking about play food. She didn't want to take everything that I believe I was selling for $10.00. The things I was selling were made by Melissa and Todd and there toys are very well made and worth the money.
For the past month or so, I've been trying to sell a Britax car seat. The car seat was only used occasionally by Benjamin when he stayed overnight. Yes, it was past it's "expiration" date, but the car seat was in excellent condition - no stains - no tears. I started to try and sell the car seat for $75.00, which was a bargain, considering the original price I paid of $300.00. The lady was a bit worried about the 2008 manufacturing date, and I assured her that the car seat had never been in an accident, and truthfully I could think of nobody who would toss out a $300.00 car seat because it was no longer under warranty. She agreed.
Then I moved down to $70.00 - nothing. The car seat is big, bulky and heavy and I just wanted it gone. I've nowhere to store it, and since it was beyond it's expiration date, there were very few interested in it.
At $65.00, someone finally called me yesterday. And, if wonders never cease, actually came to the house last night! She loved the car seat, which she was buying for her grandchild. She asked if I would take $55.00 and I agreed.
I suppose I could have held out for a higher price, but who knows how long I might have to wait for someone who would buy it. As they say, a bird in the hand is worth more than two in the bush!
My next Craigslist challenge is to sell my Britax Frontier booster seat. That car seat is still within it's warranty date, and like the car seat I sold yesterday, is clean, no stains and no tears. I'm sure that whatever price I start with when I list it, won't be the price that I actually get for it! Such is business I guess.
P
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Birthday Shin-Dig
4/28/2015
This Saturday, Jeff and I are going to Scott's house for dinner and to help him celebrate his 37th birthday! I know, I know, I look way too young to have a son that old - but when you've got great genes what can I say.
I've booked myself to bring deviled eggs - lots. It is amazing how fast those little buggers can get consumed. If you try to be delicate and eat only half, you may end up with the other half on your lap. So, it's probably to just pop the whole thing in your mouth and for a few seconds be unable to speak, unless you want to spit out egg along with your words! Not a pretty sight I assure you.
I've also opted to bring a bean dish. Don't groan this casserole of sorts is very good and was always a hit when I served it. And no if you're wondering, it's not just a can of beans heated up. Here's the recipe. If you make it - they will eat it - I promise!
This Saturday, Jeff and I are going to Scott's house for dinner and to help him celebrate his 37th birthday! I know, I know, I look way too young to have a son that old - but when you've got great genes what can I say.
I've booked myself to bring deviled eggs - lots. It is amazing how fast those little buggers can get consumed. If you try to be delicate and eat only half, you may end up with the other half on your lap. So, it's probably to just pop the whole thing in your mouth and for a few seconds be unable to speak, unless you want to spit out egg along with your words! Not a pretty sight I assure you.
I've also opted to bring a bean dish. Don't groan this casserole of sorts is very good and was always a hit when I served it. And no if you're wondering, it's not just a can of beans heated up. Here's the recipe. If you make it - they will eat it - I promise!
Fourth of
July
Bean
Casserole
Background: this recipe came from a Taste of Cooking
magazine in 1994. The beans are
delicious and is one of the boys’
favorite dishes.
½ pound sliced
bacon, diced
½ pound ground beef
1 c chopped onion
1 can (28 oz) pork and
beans
1 can (17 oz) lima
beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 oz)
kidney beans, rinsed and drained
½ c barbecue sauce
½ c ketchup
½ c sugar
½ c packed brown
sugar
2 T prepared
mustard
2 T molasses
1 teas. salt
½ teas. chili
powder
In a large skillet,
cook bacon, beef and onion until meat is
browned and onion is tender.
Drain and transfer to a greased baking dish (I use a crock pot
instead). Add all of the beans and mix
well. In a small bowl, combine the
remaining ingredients and stir into the beef and bean mixture. Cover and bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Uncover
and bake 15 minutes. Or put in the crock
pot for several hours.
So while the recipe does call for pork and beans, by the time you add in all the other stuff, it becomes so much more. For your next "BYOD" (bring your own dish) event, you might try this.
P
Monday, April 27, 2015
To Dig or Not to Dig
4/27/2015
As the weather warms up, my inner gardener begins to speak to me. Of course, my inner gardener also knows that the body (mine) isn't exactly attuned to doing laborious work. And, unfortunately, my ship of gold hasn't arrived yet, so there is no "outer" gardener to do the work for me.
Last spring I bought myself some "real" gardening tools. No lightweight, bright pink, flimsy shears for me - nope I bought manly shears and also manly long shears, for the really big jobs! Also last spring I bought myself a series of plants, which since I don't have a green thumb, had to baby along most of the spring and into the summer. I'm happy to report that said plants have begun to rise from the ground - will miracles never cease?
Since I insisted last year that Jeff "trim" the Leyland Cypress trees in the backyard, our yard is somewhat exposed. I thought and still do that the trimming was a good idea, because these trees are shallow rooted and over the course of 29 years have become quite tall. Okay, once the trimming was finished, more of our backyard was exposed (horrors) and that's where new plants came into play last year.
While we lived in California, we grew roses. The temperature was right and the winters were mild. We haven't tried roses here, because they do need some work and our winters can be downright nasty at times.
I don't want to plant annuals, because if I am going to go to the trouble of messing around in the dirt, I for sure don't want to have to plant something new in that place again next year, etc. Nope only perennials for me. Plop them in the ground, give 'em some water when they're new and then I pretty much forget about them.
I'm a bit interested in something called a Hummingbird Vine, which looks pretty and who doesn't love those little birds. I can also buy plants that attract butterflies - or - always an option - buy a plant that doesn't attract anything!
If I could (a) afford it and (b) more importantly physically able, I would love to have the ground around our fence line covered in all manner of plants, both flowering or not. I do have a little shovel (it's for kids actually) that I used last year to dig up the ground for my new plants. I'm thinking about an Azalea plant because they are very colorful and become quite large over time.
Since my time spent in the garden is dictated by how good I feel, there is no danger of my ever being able to fill out the fence line with back-to-back plants. I can, however, get one or two plants and get them into the ground and watch with great satisfaction as they grow.
P
As the weather warms up, my inner gardener begins to speak to me. Of course, my inner gardener also knows that the body (mine) isn't exactly attuned to doing laborious work. And, unfortunately, my ship of gold hasn't arrived yet, so there is no "outer" gardener to do the work for me.
Last spring I bought myself some "real" gardening tools. No lightweight, bright pink, flimsy shears for me - nope I bought manly shears and also manly long shears, for the really big jobs! Also last spring I bought myself a series of plants, which since I don't have a green thumb, had to baby along most of the spring and into the summer. I'm happy to report that said plants have begun to rise from the ground - will miracles never cease?
Since I insisted last year that Jeff "trim" the Leyland Cypress trees in the backyard, our yard is somewhat exposed. I thought and still do that the trimming was a good idea, because these trees are shallow rooted and over the course of 29 years have become quite tall. Okay, once the trimming was finished, more of our backyard was exposed (horrors) and that's where new plants came into play last year.
While we lived in California, we grew roses. The temperature was right and the winters were mild. We haven't tried roses here, because they do need some work and our winters can be downright nasty at times.
I don't want to plant annuals, because if I am going to go to the trouble of messing around in the dirt, I for sure don't want to have to plant something new in that place again next year, etc. Nope only perennials for me. Plop them in the ground, give 'em some water when they're new and then I pretty much forget about them.
I'm a bit interested in something called a Hummingbird Vine, which looks pretty and who doesn't love those little birds. I can also buy plants that attract butterflies - or - always an option - buy a plant that doesn't attract anything!
If I could (a) afford it and (b) more importantly physically able, I would love to have the ground around our fence line covered in all manner of plants, both flowering or not. I do have a little shovel (it's for kids actually) that I used last year to dig up the ground for my new plants. I'm thinking about an Azalea plant because they are very colorful and become quite large over time.
Since my time spent in the garden is dictated by how good I feel, there is no danger of my ever being able to fill out the fence line with back-to-back plants. I can, however, get one or two plants and get them into the ground and watch with great satisfaction as they grow.
P
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Weather and Whether
4/26/2015
Weather. It should really be spelled whether. Why? Because the weather determines whether I (a) can be outside without getting wet and/or cold; and (b) most importantly, do I need to shave my legs and have a pedicure so that I can wear sandals. I know there might be, and surely are, more important issues out there in the world, but for women taking care of (b) is right up there on the top ten list of things we need to do.
During the winter, our toes are covered, so pedicures aren't so important. But, once it's sandal season, pretty toes are downright mandatory. Nobody, at least not women, want to go out without getting their feet to look their best.
Also, in the dead of winter, while you wear long pants, nobody actually knows whether you are shaving your legs. But ladies, it's spring time now and our "winter coat" on our legs has to be shaved off. Again, nobody wants to see hairy legs on a woman, not even on oneself!
Then, of course, is the tanning issue. I have long been a proponent that fat looks better when it's tanned! Trust me, it's true. So when the weather warms up a bit, I'll take my ghostly white legs outside to soak up some rays. There are other ways to avoid that pasty look with all manner of fake tanning products. I've tried a few and they work, but always seem to leave my hands looking just a bit orange - not a good look!
Men, in my humble opinion, have it easy. They are meant to have hair on their legs and for the most part, untouched feet. Such lucky guys.
So ladies, go out and get some sparkle today!
Weather. It should really be spelled whether. Why? Because the weather determines whether I (a) can be outside without getting wet and/or cold; and (b) most importantly, do I need to shave my legs and have a pedicure so that I can wear sandals. I know there might be, and surely are, more important issues out there in the world, but for women taking care of (b) is right up there on the top ten list of things we need to do.
During the winter, our toes are covered, so pedicures aren't so important. But, once it's sandal season, pretty toes are downright mandatory. Nobody, at least not women, want to go out without getting their feet to look their best.
Also, in the dead of winter, while you wear long pants, nobody actually knows whether you are shaving your legs. But ladies, it's spring time now and our "winter coat" on our legs has to be shaved off. Again, nobody wants to see hairy legs on a woman, not even on oneself!
Then, of course, is the tanning issue. I have long been a proponent that fat looks better when it's tanned! Trust me, it's true. So when the weather warms up a bit, I'll take my ghostly white legs outside to soak up some rays. There are other ways to avoid that pasty look with all manner of fake tanning products. I've tried a few and they work, but always seem to leave my hands looking just a bit orange - not a good look!
Men, in my humble opinion, have it easy. They are meant to have hair on their legs and for the most part, untouched feet. Such lucky guys.
So ladies, go out and get some sparkle today!
 | ||
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Sentimental
4/25/2015
Some of my friends tell me that I'm too sentimental, and I'm okay with that label. As a mother of three children who worked full-time, I had little time to ponder keeping the boys' artwork, etc. It seems that when you're in the moment, you believe you'll remember always what the kids are doing and when they did it. I hope your memory is better than mine, because I can't recall with any clarity who did what and when. Sad, but true. I know I'm not alone when it comes to try and keep your children's childhoods.
Then Benjamin came along. I was working full-time that was true, but I was filled with the urgent desire to save most of the things he has made over the past seven years. And yes, my cedar chest is overflowing and threatening not to close soon!
When I receive something from Benjamin, I turn the item over, date it and add his age. Now when I rummage through the memories in my cedar chest, I can see the progression of not only Benjamin's artwork, animals made from clay and all the cards he has ever made for me.
Why do I keep so many things? Why do I date them? I keep these things because a child is only "x" years old only for one year. I have learned that it's difficult to go back and capture memories. You need to memorialize them right now, while you know how old the child is and what year the artwork, etc. was made.
I didn't do a very good job of keeping a lot of what the boys made when they were young, and I regret that. But hindsight doesn't do me any good. What I can do and am doing, is to catalog (if you will) the things Benjamin has made for me.
Most of the things in my cedar chest are good memories. Others are not, but they are still worth remembering.
P
Some of my friends tell me that I'm too sentimental, and I'm okay with that label. As a mother of three children who worked full-time, I had little time to ponder keeping the boys' artwork, etc. It seems that when you're in the moment, you believe you'll remember always what the kids are doing and when they did it. I hope your memory is better than mine, because I can't recall with any clarity who did what and when. Sad, but true. I know I'm not alone when it comes to try and keep your children's childhoods.
Then Benjamin came along. I was working full-time that was true, but I was filled with the urgent desire to save most of the things he has made over the past seven years. And yes, my cedar chest is overflowing and threatening not to close soon!
When I receive something from Benjamin, I turn the item over, date it and add his age. Now when I rummage through the memories in my cedar chest, I can see the progression of not only Benjamin's artwork, animals made from clay and all the cards he has ever made for me.
Why do I keep so many things? Why do I date them? I keep these things because a child is only "x" years old only for one year. I have learned that it's difficult to go back and capture memories. You need to memorialize them right now, while you know how old the child is and what year the artwork, etc. was made.
I didn't do a very good job of keeping a lot of what the boys made when they were young, and I regret that. But hindsight doesn't do me any good. What I can do and am doing, is to catalog (if you will) the things Benjamin has made for me.
Most of the things in my cedar chest are good memories. Others are not, but they are still worth remembering.
P
Friday, April 24, 2015
What to Wear
4/24/2015
I'm in a closet dilemma. And it's not only about sizes, but seasons. If I buy pants the inseam for petite women is 28", which is about 2" longer than I need - hence the tailor has made a small fortune off of me!
But now it's spring, or at least the calendar thinks so and I have put away pants and am now opting to wear what I call "shorty pants" - capris to the rest of the world. Capris on me are just about the right length, almost to my ankle - perfect. I also have several pair of long shorts, because nobody and I mean nobody wants to see me in shorty shorts! That ship sailed a long time ago my friends.
I have a box in my closet filled with pants, which I now need to pull out from the closet and set them in the spare bedroom. Then, I need to fill a new box with my shortie pants and shorts until winter comes back around. The trouble is that some days it's almost balmy outside, and you can open up the windows and freshen up the air in the house. Then the next day, it's cloudy and cool and even cold, depending on how thick your skin is!
I love spring because it's a beautiful season and the temperature is generally mild. I hate summers because of the heat and humidity - I abhor getting into my car and burning my hinny on a hot leather seat! And with the advent of summer, then we get into the when to turn on the air conditioner. It costs an arm and a leg to cool the house, so I have invested in several fans to move around the house depending on where I'm sitting. Smart - I know.
If given the choice, I would rather be cold, because you can always put more clothes on. If you're too hot, well there's only so many clothes you can take off before you're indecent! And, truthfully, the more of my body that's covered, the better it is for everyone!
Today is gorgeous outside, so I've decided to be 50/50 in my clothes. Shorty pants with a long-sleeved shirt.
I hope the sun is shining where you are.
P
I'm in a closet dilemma. And it's not only about sizes, but seasons. If I buy pants the inseam for petite women is 28", which is about 2" longer than I need - hence the tailor has made a small fortune off of me!
But now it's spring, or at least the calendar thinks so and I have put away pants and am now opting to wear what I call "shorty pants" - capris to the rest of the world. Capris on me are just about the right length, almost to my ankle - perfect. I also have several pair of long shorts, because nobody and I mean nobody wants to see me in shorty shorts! That ship sailed a long time ago my friends.
I have a box in my closet filled with pants, which I now need to pull out from the closet and set them in the spare bedroom. Then, I need to fill a new box with my shortie pants and shorts until winter comes back around. The trouble is that some days it's almost balmy outside, and you can open up the windows and freshen up the air in the house. Then the next day, it's cloudy and cool and even cold, depending on how thick your skin is!
I love spring because it's a beautiful season and the temperature is generally mild. I hate summers because of the heat and humidity - I abhor getting into my car and burning my hinny on a hot leather seat! And with the advent of summer, then we get into the when to turn on the air conditioner. It costs an arm and a leg to cool the house, so I have invested in several fans to move around the house depending on where I'm sitting. Smart - I know.
If given the choice, I would rather be cold, because you can always put more clothes on. If you're too hot, well there's only so many clothes you can take off before you're indecent! And, truthfully, the more of my body that's covered, the better it is for everyone!
Today is gorgeous outside, so I've decided to be 50/50 in my clothes. Shorty pants with a long-sleeved shirt.
I hope the sun is shining where you are.
P
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