When oldest child was in Kindergarten, his wonderful teacher threw a Halloween Party. Every child was sent home with a requested good for the party.
Halloween Day, the parents were invited to the school. The kids dressed in costumes and marched around the fields for their Halloween Parade. The parents then went inside and we helped set up a party while the teacher read stories to the kids.
One parent had brought in fortune cookies, and she quickly opened the box and set out one cookie beside each child's plate.
The kids were enchanted with the party, and having a great time. Parents were talking in corners, getting to know each other while others ran around snapping pictures.
One of the kids opened his fortune cookie and took the paper over to the teacher for her to read out loud. We watched her open the cookie, and then we watched, shocked, as all of the color drained out of her face.
"Quick, grab the cookies" she hissed at her aide, who had scurried over to see what was going on.
As the aide ran around grabbing cookies from the kids, the mother who had brought the cookies ran to get the box out of the trash, and the fortune that had been embedded in the cookie began to make it's rounds through the parents who gasped, turned red, and tried not to guffaw at the absurdity of the situation.
Turns out that the cookies the mother had grabbed were sexually explicit fortunes with details. Wow, the details.
I tell you, you just can't make this stuff up!
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
This and That... but mostly THIS
More changes...
I was a stay at home mom for years. I knew that when my kids graduated from high school and flew the nest, I needed a plan to keep me busy and my mind active. I sat down and made a plan. I wanted to pursue my dream career. I wanted to be a librarian. I had worked in a library in college, and I loved every single minute of it. When the kids were in elementary school, I volunteered in the school library media center, and I knew that this was what I wanted to do. The media teacher let me experience what it meant to be a school library media specialist, and I became a substitute teacher so that I could gain that experience. I took a part time job in my local public library, and got more experience working in the library world, and I knew that I wanted to be a librarian.
I sat down and made a ten year plan. We're looking back to 2005 here. I planned out how to get a Masters Degree in Library and Information Science while raising kids - and figured out how to do so without breaking the bank while we were saving to send the kids through college. After much research, I found the online Master's program at Drexel. It had everything I was looking for, and it was certified by the American Library Association - meaning that the degree would be recognized anywhere in the United States.
Unexpected things happened along the way. We moved. I lost a job. I had to take a year off of my studies when my Dad got very sick and eventually passed away. But I never lost sight of my final goal. When the economy began to loosen up, I began substitute teaching in order to gain more experience. My goal at that time was to become a School Library Media Specialist. (SLMS)
Well, that goal never quite came to fruition - I did a lot of stints as a SLMS over the course of five years of subbing, but I never was offered a job. So, after I graduated from Drexel, I began searching for a library job that was outside of the school system.
I had one job - part time - no benefits - in an Academic Library. I earned the startling sum of $200/week for 20 hours worth of work for a position that required an MLS.
I found another job last year. Again, part time, with no benefits, but this one paid me significantly more than the last. It was in a public library - and I do adore public libraries! You can't put a value on what their services add to the community.
Through it all, I've loved every single minute of my job - even when I was working for ridiculously low pay, I still loved what I was doing.
Earlier this week, I got an offer to move up to a full time librarian position! I get to stay in my wonderful little public library, and work with the best team of people I have ever had the honor of working with!
It is my dream job! And It only took 12 years from the time I sat and wrote down exactly how I was going to make this happen.
I'll keep the blog up as much as I can - but it's going to be less. Over the past year, I've written less and less. I will post at least once a week. I'm hoping I can post twice a week. I will definitely be posting on Mondays. I'm going to shoot for another day during the week, but I can't promise which day during the week the post will be going up.
I would like to thank everyone who takes the time to check in with me over the years I've kept the blog up and running. Believe it or not, having a place to write down my thoughts has been a sanity saver more than once!
Peace!
I was a stay at home mom for years. I knew that when my kids graduated from high school and flew the nest, I needed a plan to keep me busy and my mind active. I sat down and made a plan. I wanted to pursue my dream career. I wanted to be a librarian. I had worked in a library in college, and I loved every single minute of it. When the kids were in elementary school, I volunteered in the school library media center, and I knew that this was what I wanted to do. The media teacher let me experience what it meant to be a school library media specialist, and I became a substitute teacher so that I could gain that experience. I took a part time job in my local public library, and got more experience working in the library world, and I knew that I wanted to be a librarian.
I sat down and made a ten year plan. We're looking back to 2005 here. I planned out how to get a Masters Degree in Library and Information Science while raising kids - and figured out how to do so without breaking the bank while we were saving to send the kids through college. After much research, I found the online Master's program at Drexel. It had everything I was looking for, and it was certified by the American Library Association - meaning that the degree would be recognized anywhere in the United States.
Unexpected things happened along the way. We moved. I lost a job. I had to take a year off of my studies when my Dad got very sick and eventually passed away. But I never lost sight of my final goal. When the economy began to loosen up, I began substitute teaching in order to gain more experience. My goal at that time was to become a School Library Media Specialist. (SLMS)
Well, that goal never quite came to fruition - I did a lot of stints as a SLMS over the course of five years of subbing, but I never was offered a job. So, after I graduated from Drexel, I began searching for a library job that was outside of the school system.
I had one job - part time - no benefits - in an Academic Library. I earned the startling sum of $200/week for 20 hours worth of work for a position that required an MLS.
I found another job last year. Again, part time, with no benefits, but this one paid me significantly more than the last. It was in a public library - and I do adore public libraries! You can't put a value on what their services add to the community.
Through it all, I've loved every single minute of my job - even when I was working for ridiculously low pay, I still loved what I was doing.
Earlier this week, I got an offer to move up to a full time librarian position! I get to stay in my wonderful little public library, and work with the best team of people I have ever had the honor of working with!
It is my dream job! And It only took 12 years from the time I sat and wrote down exactly how I was going to make this happen.
I'll keep the blog up as much as I can - but it's going to be less. Over the past year, I've written less and less. I will post at least once a week. I'm hoping I can post twice a week. I will definitely be posting on Mondays. I'm going to shoot for another day during the week, but I can't promise which day during the week the post will be going up.
I would like to thank everyone who takes the time to check in with me over the years I've kept the blog up and running. Believe it or not, having a place to write down my thoughts has been a sanity saver more than once!
Peace!
Saturday, August 26, 2017
Have You Ever Wondered?
Who cuts the pope's hair?
Does he use another priest? Is it his valet? Or does he just go down the street from the Vatican and have a local barber give him a trim?
Why college food is so much better now?
Back in my day, you ate what they put on your tray that day, and that was your choice. I knew students who had been in the Army who thought our food was horrible. Now, colleges are vying for honors as fine dining establishments. When the hell did this change? Why didn't it change when I was in school?
State Fairs.. Just how much fried food can we eat?
And how do people think up these things to fry? Fried Oreos? Fried PB and J? Fried Pop Tarts? It's probably a good thing I can't eat gluten. Heaven knows I'd weigh 500 pounds if I could eat every fried wonder they have on hand.
Apple Season
Just how many varieties of apples can be found within an hour's drive of your house? And why do those apples taste so darn good when cooked with cinnamon and brown sugar?
Why does the hair around your face turn grey first?
Does he use another priest? Is it his valet? Or does he just go down the street from the Vatican and have a local barber give him a trim?
Why college food is so much better now?
Back in my day, you ate what they put on your tray that day, and that was your choice. I knew students who had been in the Army who thought our food was horrible. Now, colleges are vying for honors as fine dining establishments. When the hell did this change? Why didn't it change when I was in school?
State Fairs.. Just how much fried food can we eat?
And how do people think up these things to fry? Fried Oreos? Fried PB and J? Fried Pop Tarts? It's probably a good thing I can't eat gluten. Heaven knows I'd weigh 500 pounds if I could eat every fried wonder they have on hand.
Apple Season
Just how many varieties of apples can be found within an hour's drive of your house? And why do those apples taste so darn good when cooked with cinnamon and brown sugar?
Why does the hair around your face turn grey first?
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
This and That
Notice: This Post Contains Affiliate Links
EclipseThe eclipse of the century is over. We've got 7 years until the next eclipse in the United States. Were you in the path of totality? We were well outside the path of totality, with about 80% coverage here in Maryland. I made a pinhole viewer and a pinhole projector to see the eclipse, and we were able to watch the eclipse through the viewers and on the reflection off the hood of the car, as well as through the shadows of the leaves on the trees. It was a fun afternoon for a science geek!
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| I punched several holes into my pinhole viewer and look! Many little eclipse shadows! |
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| I love this! The light coming through the leaves of the trees made mini-eclipses! |
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| We also made a pinhole projector out of a tube of wrapping paper. Here, you can see the eclipse at it's totality in Maryland in the shadow on the envelopes. We really, really enjoyed playing with the shadows! The light was really dim here during our totality. We never got totally dark, the birds kept singing, but the light was very odd. |
The OTHER Eclipse
No, people were not amused when I put this up in our workroom along with our pile of lost sunglasses over the weekend....Another Overdose
The 23 year old who lives around the corner from us died of a drug overdose over the weekend. Even one more is too many more. I've lost count this year. My oldest son's graduating class has been decimated. 6 years after graduation, 300 kids total, we've lost almost 30 of them to drug overdoses. That's 10%. That's just in our tiny little community. I can't imagine what this looks like on a national level. We are losing the next generation! What can we do to keep our kids safe? What are we missing? What do we need to change to help these kids?
On my Nightstand
Sherman Alexie is the well known author of several books including "The Absolutely True Story of a Part Time Indian". I'm reading his most recent release right now. I am not certain what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't the stark look at the life of a Native American growing up on the reservation with alcoholic parents. It's a painful look deep into the heart of a man and a people who have been systematically stripped of their cultural heritage and their hope. Anyone who has grown up with a parent who struggled with addiction can relate to his tale. As he relates his own story of growing up and coming of age in this very difficult environment, you see the true strength of the man, and the depth of the love that holds him firmly in this world.Reading this book right on the heels of Undefeated, the Jim Thorpe story has definitely made me think about the plight of our Indians - how they have been treated them in the past, and how we continue to treat them in this so called "enlightened" time. I've had a thought provoking couple of weeks of reading.
Monday, August 21, 2017
Solar Eclipse 2017
If I had any doubt about the amount of insanity surrounding the eclipse this weekend, it was erased when I was cursed out yesterday because our library is not handing out eclipse glasses until today.
So, if you don't have a set of eclipse glasses, but would still like to view the eclipse, there are a few things you can do.
1) Make a pinhole viewer.
Directions here: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/activity/build-a-solar-eclipse-viewer/
2) Make a pinhole projector.
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/dont-have-eclipse-glasses-make-a-pinhole-projector-to-view-the-great-american-eclipse/70002363
3) Watch the NASA live stream.
https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-live-stream
We didn't buy eclipse glasses. I didn't want to fork over the money for them, and I really didn't want to stand in line. We have a pinhole viewer, and a flat pinhole projector that I made from 2 pieces of white poster board. We will also be watching the NASA live stream.
But most important - we will be together! I always enjoy watching people. I will be going outside, walking around in the twilight in the middle of the day and watching the people around me. The last partial eclipse I paid attention to was when I was in college, back in the 80's. I remember walking around campus in the weird twilight, watching the street lights turn on, and then back off again!
I am headed out to watch with some friends this afternoon. I'll be posting pictures below as my day goes on! Whatever you choose to do, please view safely!
Updates:
So, if you don't have a set of eclipse glasses, but would still like to view the eclipse, there are a few things you can do.
1) Make a pinhole viewer.
Directions here: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/activity/build-a-solar-eclipse-viewer/
2) Make a pinhole projector.
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/dont-have-eclipse-glasses-make-a-pinhole-projector-to-view-the-great-american-eclipse/70002363
3) Watch the NASA live stream.
https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-live-stream
We didn't buy eclipse glasses. I didn't want to fork over the money for them, and I really didn't want to stand in line. We have a pinhole viewer, and a flat pinhole projector that I made from 2 pieces of white poster board. We will also be watching the NASA live stream.
But most important - we will be together! I always enjoy watching people. I will be going outside, walking around in the twilight in the middle of the day and watching the people around me. The last partial eclipse I paid attention to was when I was in college, back in the 80's. I remember walking around campus in the weird twilight, watching the street lights turn on, and then back off again!
I am headed out to watch with some friends this afternoon. I'll be posting pictures below as my day goes on! Whatever you choose to do, please view safely!
Updates:
Line outside of the library for eclipse glasses:
Look! It's the image on the bottom of my pinhole viewer! 1:30, EST. You can see the shadow beginning to cross the sun!
Thursday, August 17, 2017
Sure, I'm Going to Exercise More...
Enjoy this Throw Back Thursday post! I originally posted this on Dec. 30, 2015.
Exercising, making it a priority, and enjoying it has become a priority. I've been working hard on getting exercise since I was dismissed from Physical Therapy- whether it be walking, going to a yoga class, or stopping by the Y and swimming a few laps.
Sadly, all of that Physical Therapy went to my head. I feel like I'm capable of doing anything now.
Until earlier this week.
Baltimore has had exceptionally warm weather this month. We've been treated to early summer temperatures that have made this the most enjoyable Christmas weather I've ever experienced. You know, this weather has led me to make some very questionable decisions.
Case in Point:
I decided I was going to run. Every once in a while, I get this urge to "run for my health". I don't know where it comes from, nor why I feel the need to do this. Maybe it's some weird form of torture I enjoy. Maybe it's the glorious weather? Who knows?
I strapped on my shoes, pulled my hair up in a ponytail and attempted to run. I had mapped out a 1 mile route from my house. I figured I might be able to do a slow jog through about half of it.
I seriously overestimated how much I could do.
The good news is: I made it down to the end of my street.
The bad news is: I live 3 houses from the end of the street.
By the time I got to the stop sign, I was huffing and chuffing for breath as if I had just run a marathon, not the reality of having slowly jogged 0.1 of a mile. (You read that right, ONE TENTH of a mile.)
When I pulled up at the end of the street and started walking, one of my neighbors drove by, rolled down her window and cheerfully shouted "Great day for a run! You look wiped! How far did you run today, 5 miles?"
Sadly, I didn't have the breath to answer her, so I mustered some half hearted attempt at a smile, and gave her a thumbs up.
Yeah, I do this for my health. Sure. There's nothing healthier than running a tenth of a mile and wondering if I've managed to run enough to justify a Dairy Queen run.
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
Canaday's Book Barn
Nestled deep in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania around Carlisle is a lovely little 200 year old barn filled with books. It's a wonderful, beautiful used book store that covers the main floor of the barn and the loft of the barn. There are books of great age in the store, as well as relatively modern releases. Sadly, business has not been good for the Canaday's lately and they are going to close the store. But not before they sell off their inventory. This is very good news for you! If you live in the Mid-Atlantic region, and can set a day aside to drive to Carlisle, the trip is well worth your time. In this picture, we see the main floor of the barn from the top of the loft. I really enjoyed the wide variety of genres, titles, and years that this collection encompasses. I don't know how much longer the barn will be open - so this would be the year to head up there and find a unique book in one of the most unique stores you've ever seen. In the pictures below, you can see a few more glimpses of the interior. It is a nifty little book store, isn't it?
Store Web Site: http://www.canadaysbookbarn.com/
Call before coming to verify that they are open!
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
A Life Lost
Friends of our suffered a great loss last week. I am copying from their Facebook post. It's been a rough week for the family. I ask your prayers for them.
We know the statistics: 22 Veterans commit suicide every day. It's tragic.
But it's beyond tragic when the veteran is the father of your heart & soul...the person who is half you and half him.
On Tuesday morning, August 8th, P.'s father took his own life.
This is a shock beyond anything that can be put into words & articulated. My daughter's heart is broken. Actually, it's shattered.
As a mother, your job and sole purpose in life is to protect your children...to console your children...to do everything you can to take away their pain.
I don't know what to do and how to help her. I don't think I've ever felt so helpless as a parent.
This is a tragedy no one should endure.
Your positive thoughts, prayers, mantras & meditations are greatly appreciated at this time.
We know the statistics: 22 Veterans commit suicide every day. It's tragic.
But it's beyond tragic when the veteran is the father of your heart & soul...the person who is half you and half him.
On Tuesday morning, August 8th, P.'s father took his own life.
This is a shock beyond anything that can be put into words & articulated. My daughter's heart is broken. Actually, it's shattered.
As a mother, your job and sole purpose in life is to protect your children...to console your children...to do everything you can to take away their pain.
I don't know what to do and how to help her. I don't think I've ever felt so helpless as a parent.
This is a tragedy no one should endure.
Your positive thoughts, prayers, mantras & meditations are greatly appreciated at this time.
Monday, August 14, 2017
This and That
Viewing the Eclipse
Much of the United States will be in the path of totality for the upcoming eclipse. Here in Maryland, we are only going to see a partial eclipse. I am very excited about the upcoming solar events! Next Monday I am headed to one of our local libraries in order to safely view the eclipse through the solar filters the Astronomical Society will have set up outside. I'm not buying eclipse glasses. I am making a pinhole viewer, (here: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/activity/build-a-solar-eclipse-viewer/family/) and I will be watching the live stream of the event in real time on the NASA website. https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-live-stream
If you're going to be outside observing the eclipse next week, remember that it is NEVER safe to look directly at the sun. You can do permanent, irreversible damage to your retinas. You can watch the eclipse using the eclipse glasses, but with the number of recalls I've seen for the glasses, I'm not certain that it's safe.
Whatever you choose to do, keep your eyes safe and healthy!
On My Nightstand
I remember hearing about Jim Thorpe when I was a kid. I've always heard about Pop Warner, but I'd never put the two together, and I never really understood the impact that the two had on the sport that we call American Football. While this is catalogued as a children's book, the material is presented in an engaging narrative that everyone will enjoy.
Catapults
I had a library program last week where we built catapults out of craft sticks, rubber bands, and spoons. We built castles out of cardboard blocks, and then we used our catapults to launch marshmallows at the castles. Did we get them over the castle walls? We did with some of them! Curious to see how we made our catapults? Check out the directions I found on the web here: http://theresjustonemommy.com/2014/11/11/simple-craft-stick-catapults/
Beans, Beans, Beans, they're good for your heart...
Middle child is home for good. He doesn't have a professional job yet, so I've hired him to finish the huge pile of odd jobs that I have around the house that need to be done. By God, talk about progress! It's worth every penny I'm paying him.
The big bonus is that the kid loves to cook, and he is good. He makes the best pot of beans I've ever eaten. We've had at least one pot of beans every week since he's been home. He makes a huge Dutch Oven full, and it provides us with meals for several days. I'm eating a lot of beans - and um... yeah.. you know how the rhyme goes:
Beans, beans they're good for your heart.
The more you eat the more you fart.
Enjoy your Monday!
Much of the United States will be in the path of totality for the upcoming eclipse. Here in Maryland, we are only going to see a partial eclipse. I am very excited about the upcoming solar events! Next Monday I am headed to one of our local libraries in order to safely view the eclipse through the solar filters the Astronomical Society will have set up outside. I'm not buying eclipse glasses. I am making a pinhole viewer, (here: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/activity/build-a-solar-eclipse-viewer/family/) and I will be watching the live stream of the event in real time on the NASA website. https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-live-stream
If you're going to be outside observing the eclipse next week, remember that it is NEVER safe to look directly at the sun. You can do permanent, irreversible damage to your retinas. You can watch the eclipse using the eclipse glasses, but with the number of recalls I've seen for the glasses, I'm not certain that it's safe.
Whatever you choose to do, keep your eyes safe and healthy!
On My Nightstand
I remember hearing about Jim Thorpe when I was a kid. I've always heard about Pop Warner, but I'd never put the two together, and I never really understood the impact that the two had on the sport that we call American Football. While this is catalogued as a children's book, the material is presented in an engaging narrative that everyone will enjoy. Catapults
I had a library program last week where we built catapults out of craft sticks, rubber bands, and spoons. We built castles out of cardboard blocks, and then we used our catapults to launch marshmallows at the castles. Did we get them over the castle walls? We did with some of them! Curious to see how we made our catapults? Check out the directions I found on the web here: http://theresjustonemommy.com/2014/11/11/simple-craft-stick-catapults/
Beans, Beans, Beans, they're good for your heart...
Middle child is home for good. He doesn't have a professional job yet, so I've hired him to finish the huge pile of odd jobs that I have around the house that need to be done. By God, talk about progress! It's worth every penny I'm paying him.
The big bonus is that the kid loves to cook, and he is good. He makes the best pot of beans I've ever eaten. We've had at least one pot of beans every week since he's been home. He makes a huge Dutch Oven full, and it provides us with meals for several days. I'm eating a lot of beans - and um... yeah.. you know how the rhyme goes:
Beans, beans they're good for your heart.
The more you eat the more you fart.
Enjoy your Monday!
Tuesday, August 8, 2017
This and That
Notice: This Post Contains Affiliate Links
On My NightstandTechnically, not on my nightstand! It's in the CD Player in my car. This is the original NPR Radio Drama of Star Wars. It was originally produced back in the 1990's. There are two carryover voices from the motion picture - Mark Hamill (Luke) and Anthony Daniels (C3PO). The voices of the other characters are not the same as the movie, but they are FANTASTIC voices! This is a drama, not the book, so you have a cast of characters to listen as they narrate the story. The original soundtrack by John Williams is included in the recording. There is nothing like driving down the road with the Star Wars theme blaring out of your speakers between the spellbinding episodes!
Hey, for those of you who are die hard Star Wars fans, these episodes contain information that was in the books, but only hinted at in the movies. In the course of my 20 minute commute to work, I can listen to one entire episode.
ALS Sucks
Six years ago, one of our cousins was diagnosed with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease). We've all watched as his health has slowly deteriorated over the years. The worst part of it for all of us was that as his body declined his mind remained fully active and engaged.
When his diagnosis came through, he and his wife traveled every where they had ever wanted to travel, and seized every moment as it came along. They gracefully battled through the disease together, never once dwelling on the negative but always focusing on the positive.
He lost his battle with ALS last week. He was 42 years old.
As a way to honor him and his memory, our kids went out on an adventure Friday afternoon. They went to the zoo on their own and made some memories! They stuffed themselves onto the bronze nest and took a picture of themselves. They took a ride on the kiddie train, and they picnicked along the Jones Falls.
Carpe Diem.
Friday, August 4, 2017
Things Overheard
I know it's not polite to listen in on conversations of other people, but what the heck. If I'm at the store or at work and someone says something loudly enough for me to hear, then I figure it's fair game. If it's funny, then eventually it's going to be fodder for my Blog!
Listening
A teacher, with her group of students says "Friends, we need to talk about our word of the day. Today's word is LISTENING."
"This is my personal hell." says a young child. (My guess was age 10-11.)
Daddy's Birthday
A mom and her two young kids were looking for birthday presents for Daddy.
"Now remember, we want to get him things he really needs. What's something you think Daddy really needs to have?"
Without missing a beat, the six year old replies: "Daddy needs muscles."
Listening
A teacher, with her group of students says "Friends, we need to talk about our word of the day. Today's word is LISTENING."
"This is my personal hell." says a young child. (My guess was age 10-11.)
Daddy's Birthday
A mom and her two young kids were looking for birthday presents for Daddy.
"Now remember, we want to get him things he really needs. What's something you think Daddy really needs to have?"
Without missing a beat, the six year old replies: "Daddy needs muscles."
Thursday, August 3, 2017
Shrimp Stir Fry
Daughter and I were looking for a quick and easy dinner earlier this week. We both work 5 until close at our respective jobs, and we leave home at 4, so we aim to eat something hearty around 3:30. Monday afternoon, we were searching for something but didn't want to go to the store, so we foraged in the refrigerator and freezer. We decided a stir fry would fit the bill quite nicely. We were missing ingredients we normally use, but hey, necessity is the mother of invention. Let me tell you, this was a quick and tasty stir fry!
Shrimp Stir Fry
1 pound peeled, deveined shrimp
1 pound carrots, peeled and sliced
1 large sweet onion, cut in half and sliced into strips
2 cups cooked rice
For the Sauce:
3 TBSP soy sauce
2 tsp cornstarch
2 TBSP dry sherry
1 tsp sugar
1 TBSP crushed red pepper
Mix the sauce ingredients in a measuring cup or mason jar, set aside.
Over medium-high heat, pour enough olive oil into the bottom of a skillet to cover the bottom of the pan.
Stir Fry the carrots until mostly done - about 4 minutes, stirring constantly.
Add the onions, cook for 2-3 more minutes, stirring constantly.
When the carrots and onions reach your level of done (I like my carrots to be soft, but still have some crunch. The onions should be almost translucent.)
Add the shrimp. Cook until the shrimp is pink. Turn the heat under the pan off, but keep the pan on the burner.
Give the sauce one last stir to mix up anything that's settled on the bottom of the glass, and then pour over the shrimp and veggies. Stir until the sauce is fully incorporated into the vegetables and shrimp.
Serve over rice.
Shrimp Stir Fry
1 pound peeled, deveined shrimp
1 pound carrots, peeled and sliced
1 large sweet onion, cut in half and sliced into strips
2 cups cooked rice
For the Sauce:
3 TBSP soy sauce
2 tsp cornstarch
2 TBSP dry sherry
1 tsp sugar
1 TBSP crushed red pepper
Mix the sauce ingredients in a measuring cup or mason jar, set aside.
Over medium-high heat, pour enough olive oil into the bottom of a skillet to cover the bottom of the pan.
Stir Fry the carrots until mostly done - about 4 minutes, stirring constantly.
Add the onions, cook for 2-3 more minutes, stirring constantly.
When the carrots and onions reach your level of done (I like my carrots to be soft, but still have some crunch. The onions should be almost translucent.)
Add the shrimp. Cook until the shrimp is pink. Turn the heat under the pan off, but keep the pan on the burner.
Give the sauce one last stir to mix up anything that's settled on the bottom of the glass, and then pour over the shrimp and veggies. Stir until the sauce is fully incorporated into the vegetables and shrimp.
Serve over rice.
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Amelia S. Givin Library
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Enjoy the pictures!
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| Just look at that stone work! |
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| And the floors! |
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| I admit it, I really wanted to stand halfway up that ladder and go sailing down the row yelling "whee"! |
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| Do you see the spiral staircase to the second floor? It's hidden behind the revolving book racks on the right. |
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| More of that beautiful wood work. Yes, those screens are wood, not metal. |
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| The children's section in the recent addition. It's a huge section, but I love this little corner of paradise! |
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| The view across the addition, from the edge of the children's section. |
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| The Sci-Fi Collection lives on this book rack, located in the middle of the computers. NICE TOUCH! |
Library Website: http://www.cumberlandcountylibraries.org/AME
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
2017 Resolutions - August Update
In the confusion of the past month, I forgot to do my update for the month of July. So, this is the July/August update!
It's been a crazy couple of months. We've had hours available at work, and I've taken as many as I can. We just remodeled the bathroom, and I really would like to build that savings account back up as soon as possible.
So, here's the update:
1) Complete 12 Home Improvement Projects
Recover the kitchen chairs.
Add the knobs to the cabinet under the kitchen sink.
Fix the sewer line out of the house, through the basement wall.
Replace the baseboard heater in the hall bathroom.
Replace the lighting in the hall bathroom.
Re-enamel the hallway bathroom tile.
Replace the light at the bottom of the basement stairwell.
2) Lose a few more inches around my waist.
Honestly, I wanted to lose 2-3 inches. How hard can that be? As it turns out, pretty darn hard!
3) Get away with my husband - TWICE - this year.
Done!
The first trip was a long weekend to visit our oldest child at school. (OK, that's a maybe..)
Second was the long weekend we spent in Princeton - he was up there for business, and I went up there for a long weekend at our own expense at the end of his official business.
4) Lenten Cleaning Challenge
5) Post at least 12 book reviews on my Books for Teens Blog
7 Down!
You can view my blog here: https://librarynut-booksforteens.blogspot.com/
6) Finish the Hallway Bathroom
9 years after the long nightmare began, we now have 2 working bathrooms in our house!
7) Participate in the NoSpenduary Challenge
The moratorium is over! End of May, and we can spend money on unnecessary things again. For now, that means I can pay for some plants for landscaping in the front. Bigger picture, I am saving again in order to build our emergency savings fund back up to where I like to have it.
8) Learn another language.
This is haunting me. Every month, I write it down, and every month I have to admit I haven't made any real progress on this challenge. I'm disappointed in myself.
9) 100 Things Every Marylander Should Do
I was hoping to knock off a few of these this year. Not all 100, but maybe five more of them? I really need to get my act together! Maybe if I ever get more than one day off of work this summer.
10) Daughter's Quilt
Progress! I am making big progress! It's more than 1/4 quilted now. I don't think I can safely say it's 1/3 of the way done, yet. I'd like to have it completely finished by the end of the year!
11) Clean Out Closet and Dresser Drawers
I really need to get back to this. I've been trying to pack up oldest child's stuff and move it down into the basement so that middle child can move into the room - and LIVE in that room - until he saves enough money to move out on his own.
12) Clean Out the Little Room in the Basement and Make it Usable
I've made some progress on cleaning this out over the past month. I don't know how much progress I'm going to make on the actual remodeling of it considering how much money
13) Work on Landscaping the Front Yard
Sadly, I got a head start on this when the plumber pulled out one of the big bushes in front of the house. Now, I have only 4 overgrown bushes to take care of in the front yard. I've got Tiger's Memorial Garden in the back yard, and I'm not planning on doing any more landscaping until Fall.
14) Take at Least One Class through the ALA
I finished the class! I submitted two of the lessons that I wrote, and they have been approved as library programs for this summer! Hooray! It's going to be a great summer! Even better? I got a few more CEU's to add to the total number of hours I need to renew my teaching certificate.
How are you doing with your resolutions this year?
It's been a crazy couple of months. We've had hours available at work, and I've taken as many as I can. We just remodeled the bathroom, and I really would like to build that savings account back up as soon as possible.
So, here's the update:
1) Complete 12 Home Improvement Projects
 |
| New LED fixture at the bottom of the stairs. |
Recover the kitchen chairs.
Add the knobs to the cabinet under the kitchen sink.
Fix the sewer line out of the house, through the basement wall.
Replace the baseboard heater in the hall bathroom.
Replace the lighting in the hall bathroom.
Re-enamel the hallway bathroom tile.
Replace the light at the bottom of the basement stairwell.
 |
| View of the farmer's market. |
Honestly, I wanted to lose 2-3 inches. How hard can that be? As it turns out, pretty darn hard!
Done!
The first trip was a long weekend to visit our oldest child at school. (OK, that's a maybe..)
Second was the long weekend we spent in Princeton - he was up there for business, and I went up there for a long weekend at our own expense at the end of his official business.
5) Post at least 12 book reviews on my Books for Teens Blog
7 Down!
You can view my blog here: https://librarynut-booksforteens.blogspot.com/
6) Finish the Hallway Bathroom
9 years after the long nightmare began, we now have 2 working bathrooms in our house!
The moratorium is over! End of May, and we can spend money on unnecessary things again. For now, that means I can pay for some plants for landscaping in the front. Bigger picture, I am saving again in order to build our emergency savings fund back up to where I like to have it.
8) Learn another language.
This is haunting me. Every month, I write it down, and every month I have to admit I haven't made any real progress on this challenge. I'm disappointed in myself.
9) 100 Things Every Marylander Should Do
I was hoping to knock off a few of these this year. Not all 100, but maybe five more of them? I really need to get my act together! Maybe if I ever get more than one day off of work this summer.
10) Daughter's Quilt
Progress! I am making big progress! It's more than 1/4 quilted now. I don't think I can safely say it's 1/3 of the way done, yet. I'd like to have it completely finished by the end of the year!
11) Clean Out Closet and Dresser Drawers
I really need to get back to this. I've been trying to pack up oldest child's stuff and move it down into the basement so that middle child can move into the room - and LIVE in that room - until he saves enough money to move out on his own.
12) Clean Out the Little Room in the Basement and Make it Usable
I've made some progress on cleaning this out over the past month. I don't know how much progress I'm going to make on the actual remodeling of it considering how much money
13) Work on Landscaping the Front Yard
Sadly, I got a head start on this when the plumber pulled out one of the big bushes in front of the house. Now, I have only 4 overgrown bushes to take care of in the front yard. I've got Tiger's Memorial Garden in the back yard, and I'm not planning on doing any more landscaping until Fall.
I finished the class! I submitted two of the lessons that I wrote, and they have been approved as library programs for this summer! Hooray! It's going to be a great summer! Even better? I got a few more CEU's to add to the total number of hours I need to renew my teaching certificate.
How are you doing with your resolutions this year?
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