It's the winter that never wanted to quit. Have you ever read The Chronicles of Narnia? In the book The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the kingdom of Narnia is suffering through the eternal winter that never ends because of the influence of the evil white witch.
This winter has felt a little like that.
Middle son had a planning weekend at the summer camp where he works this past weekend. I drove up to pick him up yesterday. I drove through a torrential, blinding downpour with a 6 foot visibility in front of my car.
I pulled off at my exit, and started winding my way through the back roads up to the camp. There are two very low spots along that road that cross bridges over creeks. Yesterday, these creeks were raging rivers. I hit one low spot and for one heart stopping moment, I felt the car begin to float - the water was so much deeper than I had anticipated. The thought "Oh sh*t, I'm going to be on the news because I was stupid enough to drive into standing water" crossed my head before the wheels on the other side touched pavement and my little car roared up out of the water.
Picked up son and we drove back a different way, avoiding the standing water.
We came back through more torrential rain, and he decided he wanted to come home for a little while as he had a load of laundry he wanted to do. No sooner did we pull into the driveway than it started to sleet. For the next 2 hours, it sleeted. Then, it shifted to snow for the next 2 hours, then back to sleet for 2 hours before turning back to torrential rain again. He spent the night with us last night, and drove him back to school early this morning. Glad he's going to school close to home!
Today, it's supposed to get up to 60*, and it's opening day for baseball. The Orioles are playing the Red Sox, and I really wish I could be there. Maybe next year!
Anyway, my accomplishments for this past week:
I've gotten some major cleaning done down in the basement this past week. Husband and I decided that we are going to participate in the community yard sale next month. We're going to sell some of the things in our basement. (I can almost knock that one off of my long term list!)
As of today, all of the heat in the house is turned off. If we have an exceptionally chilly day, we can light a fire in the wood stove to take the chill out of the house.
I switched out the emergency kit in the back of the car. I switched the shoes out for a comfortable pair of sneakers, extra pairs of socks, a rain poncho, a lighter jacket, a change of clothes, and extra food that will be able to handle the warmer weather better. Among the items I put in there are nuts, a tuna salad kit, and a couple of power bars. I also checked the spare tire to make sure it is inflated and that all of the tools are there, as well as checked the fluids, and I changed out the batteries on the flashlight. I shook out the blanket, and folded it back up again. I'm keeping it in the trunk, just in case if I ever need it.
I cooked every meal from scratch, and husband and I both took our lunches to work every day this week.
I attempted another gluten free pizza crust. This one turned out well, and I'll post more about it later this week.
I've staked out the new area for the strawberry patch. I hope to have the beds put in place and the plants moved this week.
I found 20 Meyer Lemons on the discount rack at the grocery store for $1.50. I zested all of them, and then I juiced them. In an ice cube tray, I put the juice from the lemons along with a little zest. Everything was frozen. The juice cubes are in a plastic bag. The extra zest was frozen flat on a cookie sheet, and is now in a separate baggie, ready to be used.
I'm getting ready to start a new job tomorrow. So, today I'm making a pot of veggie stock to make into broth cubes. Hopefully, this will help cut down on my prep time in the future.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Saturday, March 29, 2014
The End of an Era
6 years ago, I was working part time in a library. My kids were not thriving. I had been a stay at home mom for years before then, but I had gone back to work. Over the 3 years since that time, I had watched in horror as my kids, and all of my carefully crafted child raising began to fall apart. I finally had to admit the fact that my kids needed me, at home. They needed their Mom. They needed someone to be there when they walked in the door. They needed someone to talk to the minute they walked in the door, and they needed the stability that only comes along when one person is constantly home to run the house.
For the 2 years after that, I was a full time stay at home mom. My father in law died. A child in daughter's class died from Leukemia at the age of 12. I child in my son's class died in a car crash- her 18 year old brother was driving, and she was 14. Another child at the high school died of Leukemia. A friend of the kids lost their father. He had brain cancer, and he left behind 3 children, ages 12, 14, and 16. It was a tough time. No one wants to face these harsh realities of life. I am forever grateful that I was able to be home with the kids. Times were tough. The loss of three young lives was difficult enough for the parents. The loss of those lives so quickly- one right after the other was devastating for everyone, but all of the kids took it very hard. The loss of grandpa, and the loss of Mr. Ed, hit the kids hard. Father's aren't supposed to die when their kids are still at home. And Grandpa. Well, he was invincible. It was inconceivable that he could be gone. The kids took it hard. Daughter took it hardest of all.
Things started to stabilize, and I tried to get back into the library. In spite of what the library had said when I took the time off, they had no space for me. Multiple positions opened up, I submitted my resume, but somehow, they never called me in for an interview, and they never found a place for me to go back.
Never one to be easily pushed down, I decided to do the unthinkable. I became a substitute teacher. It put me on the same schedule as my kids. I reported to work after I put them on the school bus, and I was home within a half an hour of them. Much to my surprise, I enjoyed subbing. I had a great time. It was ideal.
I had kept my teacher certification up long after I left the classroom "just in case". Thankfully, my active teaching certificate earned my an extra $25 every day I subbed. That was a nice little bonus for taking the trouble to renew my certificate every 5 years.
I enjoyed subbing so much that I began to search for a job as a classroom teacher. Much to my disappointment, nothing ever came of it. I have been to more interviews than I care to admit, but I have never yet gotten a job offer.
Meanwhile, in those years, I was active and involved in the community. I was a business and public relations mentor for a robotics team. I've been a Girl Scout Leader. I've been president of our women's group. I even managed to finish a master's degree online. (Not bad for someone who's going to be celebrating her 13th annual 36th birthday this summer!)
I was thinking last night about everything I've done in the last 6 years. The list is long. It's varied. I am very proud of the things the kids I've worked with have accomplished, and how much they've grown and become independent adults who are focused on their goals, and know how to go about accomplishing them.
My kids have grown. Two of the kids are in college. The third is a Junior in high school, and she will soon be flying the coop.
This week was my last week of subbing. I start a new job next week. I'll be in a library. An academic library. It's exciting. Working in an academic library has been a goal for a very long time. Realizing that I'm finally achieving that goal is something else. This job runs from 8 am until noon, five days a week. I'll be leaving when daughter walks out the door to the bus, and I'll be home long before the high school lets out.
I'll still be sharing stories of the kids for a while to come. I have a wealth of stories from over the years. Actually, I'm thinking of putting them together into a book. I'd like to look back on some of the amazing kids I worked with over the years and sit back and laugh at the crazy things they said and did. It was a great experience. I'm glad that I left while it was still fun. I'd hate to have waited until I was dreading the days that I went in.
Now, on to the next adventure in my life...
For the 2 years after that, I was a full time stay at home mom. My father in law died. A child in daughter's class died from Leukemia at the age of 12. I child in my son's class died in a car crash- her 18 year old brother was driving, and she was 14. Another child at the high school died of Leukemia. A friend of the kids lost their father. He had brain cancer, and he left behind 3 children, ages 12, 14, and 16. It was a tough time. No one wants to face these harsh realities of life. I am forever grateful that I was able to be home with the kids. Times were tough. The loss of three young lives was difficult enough for the parents. The loss of those lives so quickly- one right after the other was devastating for everyone, but all of the kids took it very hard. The loss of grandpa, and the loss of Mr. Ed, hit the kids hard. Father's aren't supposed to die when their kids are still at home. And Grandpa. Well, he was invincible. It was inconceivable that he could be gone. The kids took it hard. Daughter took it hardest of all.
Things started to stabilize, and I tried to get back into the library. In spite of what the library had said when I took the time off, they had no space for me. Multiple positions opened up, I submitted my resume, but somehow, they never called me in for an interview, and they never found a place for me to go back.
Never one to be easily pushed down, I decided to do the unthinkable. I became a substitute teacher. It put me on the same schedule as my kids. I reported to work after I put them on the school bus, and I was home within a half an hour of them. Much to my surprise, I enjoyed subbing. I had a great time. It was ideal.
I had kept my teacher certification up long after I left the classroom "just in case". Thankfully, my active teaching certificate earned my an extra $25 every day I subbed. That was a nice little bonus for taking the trouble to renew my certificate every 5 years.
I enjoyed subbing so much that I began to search for a job as a classroom teacher. Much to my disappointment, nothing ever came of it. I have been to more interviews than I care to admit, but I have never yet gotten a job offer.
Meanwhile, in those years, I was active and involved in the community. I was a business and public relations mentor for a robotics team. I've been a Girl Scout Leader. I've been president of our women's group. I even managed to finish a master's degree online. (Not bad for someone who's going to be celebrating her 13th annual 36th birthday this summer!)
I was thinking last night about everything I've done in the last 6 years. The list is long. It's varied. I am very proud of the things the kids I've worked with have accomplished, and how much they've grown and become independent adults who are focused on their goals, and know how to go about accomplishing them.
My kids have grown. Two of the kids are in college. The third is a Junior in high school, and she will soon be flying the coop.
This week was my last week of subbing. I start a new job next week. I'll be in a library. An academic library. It's exciting. Working in an academic library has been a goal for a very long time. Realizing that I'm finally achieving that goal is something else. This job runs from 8 am until noon, five days a week. I'll be leaving when daughter walks out the door to the bus, and I'll be home long before the high school lets out.
I'll still be sharing stories of the kids for a while to come. I have a wealth of stories from over the years. Actually, I'm thinking of putting them together into a book. I'd like to look back on some of the amazing kids I worked with over the years and sit back and laugh at the crazy things they said and did. It was a great experience. I'm glad that I left while it was still fun. I'd hate to have waited until I was dreading the days that I went in.
Now, on to the next adventure in my life...
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Eggs in the Microwave
Last week, I taught my boys how to fix 5 easy and quick meals that would get protein into their system and get them out of the door in a hurry. I didn't want anything that was peanut butter based. Oldest son relied heavily on peanut butter sandwiches last summer. He needs a repertoire of easier, healthy, inexpensive meals that he can make.
Eggs are a wonderful source of protein. One egg is a fantastic meal, a great way to start your day and get your engine running.
Made in the microwave, I don't have to worry about oldest child putting eggs on the stove and then reading a book while waiting for the eggs to cook, forgetting about the eggs and setting the house on fire.
The ingredients: egg, tortilla, a little bit of milk, a dash of hot sauce, and some shredded cheese.
Eggs in the Microwave:
In a microwaveable coffee mug, sprayed with non-stick cooking spray:
Crack one egg. Pierce the egg yellow, and whip the egg well. (I use a fork.)
Add a couple of dashes of hot sauce. (I use the green tabasco sauce because it's not as intense as the red sauce.)
Add a small chug of milk. (Like maybe 2 TBSP)
Stir well.
Put in the microwave for 90 seconds. Pull it out after 1 minute, stir the eggs again, and then zap it for 30 more seconds.
You'll have what looks like an egg ball in your mug!
Spread the egg inside of a tortilla, top with a little cheese, wrap it up, and you've got an awesome meal in less than 5 minutes!
Note:
If you don't like hot sauce, don't add it.
If I have them on hand, I'll add fresh spinach or basil to the tortilla before I add the eggs.
Eggs are a wonderful source of protein. One egg is a fantastic meal, a great way to start your day and get your engine running.
Made in the microwave, I don't have to worry about oldest child putting eggs on the stove and then reading a book while waiting for the eggs to cook, forgetting about the eggs and setting the house on fire.
The ingredients: egg, tortilla, a little bit of milk, a dash of hot sauce, and some shredded cheese.
Eggs in the Microwave:
In a microwaveable coffee mug, sprayed with non-stick cooking spray:
Crack one egg. Pierce the egg yellow, and whip the egg well. (I use a fork.)
Add a couple of dashes of hot sauce. (I use the green tabasco sauce because it's not as intense as the red sauce.)
Add a small chug of milk. (Like maybe 2 TBSP)
Stir well.
Put in the microwave for 90 seconds. Pull it out after 1 minute, stir the eggs again, and then zap it for 30 more seconds.
You'll have what looks like an egg ball in your mug!
Spread the egg inside of a tortilla, top with a little cheese, wrap it up, and you've got an awesome meal in less than 5 minutes!
Note:
If you don't like hot sauce, don't add it.
If I have them on hand, I'll add fresh spinach or basil to the tortilla before I add the eggs.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
My Accomplishments
It was a great week. I enjoyed having both of the boys home from school, but I am so very glad to have them back! Love my kids, but I've gotten used to NOT having them in the house. :)
Our accomplishments this past week:
1) Made dinner from scratch most nights. We took the kids out for dinner one night, and we stopped for lunch after church on our way back to school on Sunday.
2) I mentioned this last week: we cashed in reward points for a free night at the hotel in the town where oldest child went up to look at a graduate program last week.
3) Taught the boys 5 quick, easy healthy meals to make in a hurry. I've already featured one: Hummus. I talked about the yogurt parfaits we taught the boys to make, but I didn't actually feature a recipe for that on here.
4) Took the cars in for oil changes, had the tires rotated and alignment checked. (A very big deal with the winter we've had and the pot holes that have opened up on our roads!) Maintenance on the car might seem expensive, but replacing the car because you've neglected the maintenance is even MORE expensive.
5) Patched the holes in the sleeve of my favorite denim shirt with the iron on denim patches. I did a really small whip stitch around the edge of the patches to keep them from pulling up. Lest you laugh, this is one of my favorite shirts. I've had it for over 20 years. I really don't want to throw it out! It has snowflakes embroidered on it!
6) Hubby and I both took oatmeal for lunch every day last week and both days this week (so far).
7) Signed up for the emergency alerts from the power company. It turns out that the power company has emergency usage days, and they charge more for electricity during those emergency times. The only way to find out if you are in the middle of one of the emergency use periods is to sign up for their text messages. I'm not thrilled with the program, but it is what it is. I loved my old time of use meter, but the power company switched everyone to a "smart meter" this past fall. I am not a fan of the new meter.
8) Due to the crazy weather, I still haven't planted my peas yet. I HAVE started seeds for the tomatoes and peppers, though.
9) Daughter used the reusable lunch bags to take her chips for lunch, and she used the reusable bowls to take home-made hummus for lunch. Not paying extra for plastic bags or those little containers of hummus? I think we saved about $10 on that this past week.
10) Used the half of the ham bone from last week to make a pot of bean soup yesterday. Today, we're having Moroccan Chickpea Stew for dinner. (The link takes you to the site for Mother Earth News.) The more meatless meals we eat, the lower our bottom line.
11) I hit up the discount rack at the store, where I found great northern beans and green split peas at $1/pound, CFL's for $2.24, and Gluten-Free Pizza Crust mix for $1.50. I got a treasure trove of stuff for $20!
12) I took middle child to the playground by the airport last week. We watched the planes land and take off, went for a walk, and sat around and talked about nothing. I miss the little boy, but I am so damn proud of the man he is becoming.
13) I found soy powder. In her book, The Complete Tightwad Gazette
, Amy recommends that 1 egg be replaced with 1 TBSP Soy Flour and 1 TBSP water in baked goods. I found the soy powder this week and added the substitution. The soy flour is considerably less than the cost of each egg per serving. In addition to using home-made applesauce in place of the fats in the recipe (oil, butter), it really does help to reduce the overall cost per serving of baked goods.
14) I renewed my library books online. So nice to be able to renew online and not have to suffer the $20 in late fees I would have faced if I had waited a day or two to return everything!
What did you do to save money this week?
Our accomplishments this past week:
1) Made dinner from scratch most nights. We took the kids out for dinner one night, and we stopped for lunch after church on our way back to school on Sunday.
2) I mentioned this last week: we cashed in reward points for a free night at the hotel in the town where oldest child went up to look at a graduate program last week.
3) Taught the boys 5 quick, easy healthy meals to make in a hurry. I've already featured one: Hummus. I talked about the yogurt parfaits we taught the boys to make, but I didn't actually feature a recipe for that on here.
4) Took the cars in for oil changes, had the tires rotated and alignment checked. (A very big deal with the winter we've had and the pot holes that have opened up on our roads!) Maintenance on the car might seem expensive, but replacing the car because you've neglected the maintenance is even MORE expensive.
5) Patched the holes in the sleeve of my favorite denim shirt with the iron on denim patches. I did a really small whip stitch around the edge of the patches to keep them from pulling up. Lest you laugh, this is one of my favorite shirts. I've had it for over 20 years. I really don't want to throw it out! It has snowflakes embroidered on it!
6) Hubby and I both took oatmeal for lunch every day last week and both days this week (so far).
7) Signed up for the emergency alerts from the power company. It turns out that the power company has emergency usage days, and they charge more for electricity during those emergency times. The only way to find out if you are in the middle of one of the emergency use periods is to sign up for their text messages. I'm not thrilled with the program, but it is what it is. I loved my old time of use meter, but the power company switched everyone to a "smart meter" this past fall. I am not a fan of the new meter.
8) Due to the crazy weather, I still haven't planted my peas yet. I HAVE started seeds for the tomatoes and peppers, though.
9) Daughter used the reusable lunch bags to take her chips for lunch, and she used the reusable bowls to take home-made hummus for lunch. Not paying extra for plastic bags or those little containers of hummus? I think we saved about $10 on that this past week.
10) Used the half of the ham bone from last week to make a pot of bean soup yesterday. Today, we're having Moroccan Chickpea Stew for dinner. (The link takes you to the site for Mother Earth News.) The more meatless meals we eat, the lower our bottom line.
11) I hit up the discount rack at the store, where I found great northern beans and green split peas at $1/pound, CFL's for $2.24, and Gluten-Free Pizza Crust mix for $1.50. I got a treasure trove of stuff for $20!
12) I took middle child to the playground by the airport last week. We watched the planes land and take off, went for a walk, and sat around and talked about nothing. I miss the little boy, but I am so damn proud of the man he is becoming.
13) I found soy powder. In her book, The Complete Tightwad Gazette
, Amy recommends that 1 egg be replaced with 1 TBSP Soy Flour and 1 TBSP water in baked goods. I found the soy powder this week and added the substitution. The soy flour is considerably less than the cost of each egg per serving. In addition to using home-made applesauce in place of the fats in the recipe (oil, butter), it really does help to reduce the overall cost per serving of baked goods. 14) I renewed my library books online. So nice to be able to renew online and not have to suffer the $20 in late fees I would have faced if I had waited a day or two to return everything!
What did you do to save money this week?
Monday, March 24, 2014
My Life Must Touch a Million
I found this poem years and years ago while I was in college. The last verse especially stuck with me, so I penned it out on a nice piece of paper, and I kept it tacked to the bulletin board in my dorm room all through college, and I've had it in a prominent place over the years, reminding me that my actions affect other people. For good or for bad, everything I say or do does impact other people. I try to keep that in mind, so that when I'm dealing with difficult people, I can keep in mind that they might have had the worst day of their lives, and maybe, just maybe, my little bit of kindness is the one bright spot in a horrible day.
I wanted to share this today. I won't go into details of why I needed to see this today, but let me say, I did need to pull this up on my cell phone and meditate on the thoughts in the poem for a while.
I wanted to share this today. I won't go into details of why I needed to see this today, but let me say, I did need to pull this up on my cell phone and meditate on the thoughts in the poem for a while.
As I Go On My Way
My life shall touch a dozen lives before this day is done--
Leave countless marks for good or ill ere sets this evening sun.
Shall fair or foul its imprint prove, on those my life shall hail?
Shall bension my impress be, or shall a blight prevail?
When to the last great reckoning the lives I meet must go.
Shall the wee, fleeting touch of mine have added joy or woe?
Shall He who looks their records o'er--of name and time and place--
Say "Here a blessed influence came" or "here is evil's trace"?
From out each point of contact of my life with other lives
Flows ever that which helps the one who for the summit strives.
The troubled souls encountered--does it sweeten with its touch,
Or does it more embitter those embittered overmuch?
Does love in every handclasp flow in sympathy's caress?
Do those that I have greeted know a newborn hopefulness?
Are tolerance and charity the keynote of my song
As I go plodding onward with earth's eager, anxious throng?
My life shall touch a million lives in some way ere I go
From this dear world of struggle to the land I do not know.
So this the wish I always wish, the prayer I ever pray:
Let my life help the other lives it touches by the way.
Strickland Gillilan
It's that last line that has stuck with me through the years, and one I needed to repeat to myself again today:
Let my life help the other lives it touches by the way.
I pray that I was a blessing and a help today.
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Lent Madness
When most people think about the end of April, they think about basketball, March Madness, and their brackets.
A friend pointed me to a different kind of madness earlier this week, and I wanted to share it with you today.
It's Lent Madness.
Lent Madness began in 2010. Rev. Tim Schenk is the genius behind this wonderful way to celebrate Lent.
At the beginning of Lent, 32 saints are placed into a single elimination bracket. The same kind of bracket you'd find for basket ball. Each pairing remains open for one day. Followers of Lent Madness vote for their favorite saint. 16 saints make it to the round of Saintly Sixteen, 8 go on to the Elite Eight, four make it to the Faithful Four, but only ONE makes it to the end and wins the Golden Halo.
The very cool thing about Lent Madness is that the saints that are featured are not just what we think of as the "traditional" Catholic saints. No indeed. These are people who have made a difference in the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth. Johann Sebastian Bach, Thomas Galludet, and Harriet Beecher Stowe are among some of the saints that have already been featured this year.
The Lent Madness blog entries are well written. They are funny. They are informative. I have found out about people who have made a huge difference in the world around me that I never, ever knew about before.
It's a devotional, it's fun, and it's very well written.
I do have to state here that Lent Madness began as an idea in the Episcopal Church. However, the Lent Madness movement itself has become Ecumenical and has transcended all boundaries of religion.
I'm going to quote here from the Lent Madness Website, just a little more information about the purpose of Lent Madness:
As Lent Madness continues to grow and evolve, what won’t change is the essence of Lent Madness: allowing people to get to know some amazing people who have come before us in the faith and reminding one another that there’s no reason for a dreary Lenten discipline. If this helps people connect with the risen Christ during this season of penitence and renewal, and have a bit of fun in the process, then it continues to be worthwhile.
It's not too late to join in the fun for this Lenten season!
A friend pointed me to a different kind of madness earlier this week, and I wanted to share it with you today.
It's Lent Madness.
Lent Madness began in 2010. Rev. Tim Schenk is the genius behind this wonderful way to celebrate Lent.
At the beginning of Lent, 32 saints are placed into a single elimination bracket. The same kind of bracket you'd find for basket ball. Each pairing remains open for one day. Followers of Lent Madness vote for their favorite saint. 16 saints make it to the round of Saintly Sixteen, 8 go on to the Elite Eight, four make it to the Faithful Four, but only ONE makes it to the end and wins the Golden Halo.
The very cool thing about Lent Madness is that the saints that are featured are not just what we think of as the "traditional" Catholic saints. No indeed. These are people who have made a difference in the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth. Johann Sebastian Bach, Thomas Galludet, and Harriet Beecher Stowe are among some of the saints that have already been featured this year.
The Lent Madness blog entries are well written. They are funny. They are informative. I have found out about people who have made a huge difference in the world around me that I never, ever knew about before.
It's a devotional, it's fun, and it's very well written.
I do have to state here that Lent Madness began as an idea in the Episcopal Church. However, the Lent Madness movement itself has become Ecumenical and has transcended all boundaries of religion.
I'm going to quote here from the Lent Madness Website, just a little more information about the purpose of Lent Madness:
As Lent Madness continues to grow and evolve, what won’t change is the essence of Lent Madness: allowing people to get to know some amazing people who have come before us in the faith and reminding one another that there’s no reason for a dreary Lenten discipline. If this helps people connect with the risen Christ during this season of penitence and renewal, and have a bit of fun in the process, then it continues to be worthwhile.
It's not too late to join in the fun for this Lenten season!
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