100 postings

Well, since this is my 100th posting, it seems that this should be a really spectacular posting.

Not!

Nothing spectacular is going on in my life at the moment, in fact things are pretty crazy and in need of prayers.

First, my little elderly mother is having some "spells" and will not allow me take her to get them checked.  One of the workers at the community she lives in called the ambulance for her yesterday.  She refused to go to the hospital.  I get there to find her sitting in the lobby looking like a wilted rose, ambulance workers beside her, trying to convince all that she is just fine.  So...yesterday was spent driving back in forth across town to check on her.

Next, my sweet daughter in law is having a few problems with the pregnancy and has been put back in the hospital.  She will be there for at least two weeks unless the baby comes before that.  He is due August 24, but I suspect he just may come a little earlier.  Also, the way my son talked, they will induce the labor in two weeks if he hasn't come.  Bad thing is when they aren't at work, no pay.

Also, had a wonderful visit with my oldest daughter and two grand sons this past week.  I am already missing them so much.

For the last week it has been in the triple digits here, expected to be all week.  Our air conditioning is out.

On a positive note, the puppies are really starting to take on some personality.

Will be 3 weeks on Saturday.  I tell you it is so funny to hear a baby dog learning to bark and growl.  They kind of have to work up to it, not just coming out with the bark.  Kind of starts off soft and grows to the short bark.  Then of course they are surprised when it actually comes out.  We are not keeping any of them, but I have to say I do have a little favorite.

This little one is so laid back, so sweet, and already loves to be petted.  Will move it's head back to your hand for some more when you stop.  They aren't going to be very big, the momma dog looks to be at least part dachshund but with a little longer legs, think the father is a mixed terrier.  My son is bound and determine to make our mini pom the dad, but...how do I say this?  He just doesn't have the moves if you get my drift.  He tried...a lot...but it was always sideways across her mid back. LOL

With the heat, I am not doing any baking...sweets or meats...so the meal plans around here are what ever I can have the energy for.  I hope to get back on track with the menu planning over the week end, am also working on a schedule or list of tasks that need to be done around the house.  Have a list going also of things I want to try to cook.  Not meal wise, but things like making a batch of pasta, bagels, MYO mixes.  I definitely need to work on organization, but man this heat is just zapping me.  Our air conditioner is not working correctly for some reason, hubby moved the one from the garage in to the day room window.  It helps a little, but evaporate air units just don't work well when it is humid.  Which it has been (unusual for this area) because the monsoon season has started and we are having thunder storms build up along the mountains.  Here in the valley floor we won't get the rain, but it sure makes it muggy.

Also on a positive note, received a call today that I have been placed on a morning bowling league for the fall.  I had really wanted this, but had held back a bit as I had offered to watch the newest grand baby while his mom worked.  However, the mom's boss is letting her bring the baby to work with her.  Hubby said to just go ahead and make my plans then change them later if needed.  Of course for the first few months I can take him with me.  Then if I have to I will quit the league, but at least I can have a little time with the ladies.

Well, that's about it for now.  Check back in.  Oh yeah, I am joining in on a July Challenge from another blog, they are spending on groceries only what you would have if you were on assistance.  More about that on Monday, when I post my Monday Meal Plan.  I am also changing how I plan my meals so watch for that news as well.

Just Wrong!

I just have to vent a minute.  I used to belong to a Yahoo group that was cooking related.  More specific, related to a certain technique, Pressure Cooking.  This is not a canning group, they were about cooking meals using the pressure cooker to cook the meat or sides.  They were a very helpful and friendly group until I posted my view about a line of discussion generated by a posting celebrating New York making it legal for same sex marriages.

I offered my opinion which simply stated, I wondered if I could still be a part of group that was so joyful over something that I felt was not a reason to celebrate.  I was not mean in my posting, didn't bash any one for their lifestyle, was not judging anyone, just following my convictions of associating with like minded people.  My computer is still smoking from the flames I got.

Now, my Christian faith tells me that a same sex lifestyle is wrong in the eyes of our Lord.  However, while I would not go out and embrace that type of thing, I would be the last one to sit and tell them over and over how wrong it is.  I think deep down they know it.  I compare homosexuality to being a drunk or addict.  They know it is wrong, know that they are not living the way they should, yet they still put their self in to the activities that allow them to enjoy that life.  They continue in those relationships, continue to take the next drink, get the next high.

I will not get on my soap box about how this legislation is opening the doors for much worse things to come.  I will ramble on about how the only reason it passed is because the supporters for this legislation bullied the lawmakers in to a vote when several members were absent.  I will not expand on the fact that only republican votes were by former democrats that changed their party line to gain more votes.  I won't even mention the little tid bit of information about how New York is the only state that does not allow the general public the opportunity to vote on legislation in general ballots which in essence would have allowed the residents of the state, the very people these politicians claim to represent, to have a voice in the running of their state.

I will however post that even though I had posted to the group that I was considering leaving, I was during the night removed from the group.  I guess if you have a view point or belief, you are not allowed to defend it.  If it doesn't go along with the majority, you just get thrown out.  In my opinion it only goes to show that those that preach tolerance from everyone, cannot give a little from them self.

Saturday - Anniversary

So, today is my wedding anniversary.

My mom and I made these matching dresses.  My oldest daughter C was just 14 months at the time.  Yes, the math is correct.  Any who, C's little dress was worn to the wedding, it is the same fabric as the flower girl and candle lighters.  They were my nieces and hubby's little sister.  Over estimated the amount of fabric needed, so we made my going away dress out of the same fabric.  OH MY GOSH I was so thin back then.

Now, 28 years later, here we are, still together, added two boys and another girl.

This week has been crazy.  Getting ready for our wonderful visitors, daughter C and the grand sons, to arrive tomorrow for a few days.  Flying in from Texas.  I am so ready to see them.  Have also spent the week going to various doctors.  Daughter J. had to go again to get a release to resume volleyball try outs.  Took mom for a check up at the cardiologist.  I went to an eye doctor to see if there is something that can be done about my drooping eye lids.  Not that I care much for appearance sake, they have started falling in to my line of vision a bit.  At any rate, the amount of limp tissue is considered a medical reason for surgery, not a cosmetic one.  So, insurance will pay for it, but on the flip side of that, I have to be seen by a surgeon and he will determine it to be needed or not.  In other words, another doctor visit.  Next week will be even crazier.  I am not even going to attempt to plan any meals until after they go home.  Just don't know what day we will be doing what. As far as I know the only plan is drive down to San Diego and go to the zoo, one one day and maybe spend the night and hit the beach.  Not sure, don't know what day, but hubby is thinking about it.  Yes, thinking about it.

I did a ton of cleaning in my kitchen today.  Cleaned out the fridge and freezer.  Got rid of expired food, spoiled food, all left overs as well.  Need to buy some groceries, but will do that on an as needed basis this week.  Sure is a different kind of shopping.  Bought a car seat for the youngest grand son, he will be one next month.  Will take C. to store after we get back from airport to buy diapers and baby food.  Have to say, it is really strange to be doing that kind of buying again.  I will say, after cleaning and organizing the fridge and freezer, at least the smaller one (side by side fridge/freezer) that I have found room that I didn't have before and quite a bit of meat that I thought I had used up already.  In the freezer over the fridge in the garage I found some more meat that I had forgotten about.  I need to clean out the upright freezer, and defrost it, which is busting at the seams with food as well.  So...as far as that goes I am sitting pretty good at the moment. I reckon that the freezer has gone this long in a frosty shambles, it won't hurt it to go another week or so until the kids leave.  Also, when they are gone I will be cleaning out my pantry and hoping to make a bit more room there as well.  Shouldn't be too difficult, I usually to manage to make empty space when I clean out and re-organize the canned goods and staples a bit.  I am shifting my cooking to less processed and more from scratch so I really have used a lot of the goods, just can't find them for all the plunder that has been thrown in there from various camping trips.  You know, like bags and bags of chips.  My bottom half which is cake mixes, cereals, pastas and such is the worst organized.  I am sure that the majority of the crackers are stale or moth infested.  At any rate, I need to clean it all out and plan to make an inventory of what I have so I will know what I need to buy.  Don't even know how much flour I have any more.  Bad, bad, state I have let it get in to.  As I said, after the kids are gone.  I only get to see them once a year, twice if I am lucky, so I am going to spend every minute with them I can.

I need to get going and get some more laundry going.  Stop back in some time, although I will probably not be on here much until the second week of July.  Feel free to leave a comment.

Soup - Puppies

Last night we had Minestrone Soup. I just love Minestrone soup and am actually a bit picky when it comes to eating it. I set out to find a recipe that I thought tasted right. I am still going to try and get the recipe from Mom's dining room at her apartments, but this one is really good.  Just click on the link for the recipe over at cdkitchen which I just love their site.

Pesky shadow at the bottom again.  I took five different shots of this bowl, each from a different angle.  Still there, cannot figure what is causing it.  Any way, doesn't it look yummy?

I know that any recipe can be converted to use a slow cooker or crockpot, but for the first time on any recipe I like to make it exactly as the recipe states, with all the ingredients that it calls for.  Then, if I like it I will start adding my own little touches and tweaks.  That being said, I was forced to make a few changes in the original recipe, this is what changed.

I bought one large carton of vegetable broth, (32 oz) because it was absolutely all that Walmart had.  It was the Swanson's brand, which I rarely buy, but it was all they had.  No cans of vegetable broth, any brand, only this one carton.  Which was quite expensive. So, I added a can of chicken broth.  I have tons of that on hand at all times.  While at the store for the broth, I found Hunt's Fire Roasted Tomatoes.  OH MY GOSH! what a fantastic flavor.  So, I bought two cans of those for the soup using them instead of the one can of stewed tomatoes. I like lots of tomato so usually double it in all my soups and stews.  I substituted minced garlic when I found my whole garlic had to turned to black mush.  Must clean out the fridge today.  I used one onion instead of the two because not many around here eat them if they see them.  I found that I did not have any basil, so that was left out.  The last change in the original recipe was in the pasta, I used shell macaroni instead of spaghetti.  I have never seen minestrone served with spaghetti noodles and Olive Garden used the shells, so I bought a box of shells and used a little of that.  I did cook them separate and added the pasta to my bowl, not the pot of soup because I am hoping to jar up and process the left overs to put in the pantry for fall, recently found out that canning pasta is not good.  This will definitely go in to the keeper file.  Next time I serve it, I will grate off a little Parmesan cheese using the hand crank grinder I found in my cabinet.

Speaking of finds in the cabinet, I don't think I posted about my home made ice cream. I know I told some one about it, remember talking about the experience, but didn't see it on a post.  Don't have a photo, forgot to get that, I will next time I make it.  I was thinking about my dad, and we have finally started having rather warm temps (finally normal for this time of year) so went and bought the ingredients to make some ice cream. Since I was using my dad's old freezer, I used mom's recipe.

No Cook Vanilla Ice Cream
1 Lg. pkg. Vanilla instant pudding mix
1/2 c. sugar
1 Lg. can evaporated milk
1 can sweetened condensed milk (Eagle Brand)
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
Dash of salt
Whole milk
Mix together until dry ingredients are dissolved, pour into container and add milk to fill line. Process according to manufacturer's instructions.

Simple, you can easily change it by using that as a base and adding different flavors. Next time we will add some crushed Oreo cookies or peaches.  Am also going to try a batch using Splenda.

Now, that all being said, let me tell you what ended up happening.  First of all, the wooden case of the ice cream freezer leaked like a sieve. Guess it was all those years of setting.  I gave this freezer to my parents some where around 25 years ago.  Dad used it often, but he pasted away in 2003, doubt he used it for a few years before that.  Since it leaked, the drum didn't freezer properly.  It was actually really soft at the top, got a little better as we got to the bottom.  We ate it however.  I then put the left over in a plastic storage container and put it in the freezer.  WOW did it harden up in there.  Still nice and creamy texture.  Here is the weird part, it tasted like banana.  Not strong, just a hint.  I did not add any banana so have decided that banana pudding was put in a vanilla box.  Next time we make it, I will use our freezer which is molded plastic.  It has never been used, found it when I cleaned out some shelves in the garage.

On a sad note, one of the puppies died.  It looked like the momma dog sat on him.  Daughter J was just devastated.  I keep telling her not to get attached, we are not keeping a single puppy, but it is too late for that.  We are still not keeping any of them, but she has become quite attached to them, one in particular.

I have a mountain of clothes waiting for me to put up and need to get a bite to eat right quick.  Tomorrow is pay day and we are out of so many things, will be a big bill just in paper goods (foil, baggies, toilet paper, paper towels) so need to get my list and coupons together.  In fact, if I get them all hung up and put away, hubby will wonder what is wrong with me that the bedroom is cleaned up.  I want to work in the bedroom this morning while it is still tolerable temp wise, will move to the cooler kitchen for the afternoon.  Following the menu plan, will be making chicken salad for supper.  Asian chicken salad with mandarin oranges actually.  I am using the left over chicken from KFC we had on Father's day.  I need to use it up, don't want to waste it, and this batch had a little bite to it which will be really good in the salad.  Of course hubby won't like it, he feels it isn't cooking a meal unless I prepare a meat and several sides.  It is predicted to hit the triple digits today, so I am turning that stove on at all.  It will be running late tonight as I set it to clean.  Okay, so just don't tell the family unit that my menu plan for this week is designed to use up the left overs in the fridge.  Most times if I can re-purpose them they don't notice. I just don't understand this aversion to left overs.

Thanks for stopping by, leave me a note if you like.  I love knowing some one read this.  Come back and visit again soon.