In the words of Winnie the Pooh, it's a cold and blustery day. So, I made Giambotta, or Italian vegetable stew. Doesn't it look scrumptious? Comfort food at its finest. I tried to get my son and the neighbor boy that's spending the night with him to try some, but they opted for pizza instead. Mmmm, they don't know what they're missing.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Ice Storm 2007
Here are three pictures of the ice storm that I was able to salvage from my old digital camera's memory card. There were so many trees that looked just like this one, split right down the middle and opened up like a blooming flower.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Merry Christmas!
I hope everyone got everything they wanted for Christmas. I got a new camera yesterday. Well, it's' not actually new, but it's new to me, and it wasn't for Christmas. For some reason, my old camera stopped working the day of the great ice storms. Then, about a month ago, my ex-husband said that he was going to send me a camera that he has never really used for various reasons, so I called him and told him my camera went kaput and could he please send me the camera he was talking about. He said sure. We got it in the mail yesterday afternoon, just in time to take pictures on Christmas day. It's a Canon Powershot A630. A MUCH better camera than my old one. Now I just have to figure out how to use the thing.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Blackout!
I have electricity! I have been without power for a week due to a severe ice storm that swept through Oklahoma last Sunday/Monday. Here are some tips (lessons learned the hard way) in case you are ever stranded without power for a long length of time.
1. Candles, candles, candles: These are a must have during a blackout. However, make sure they are unscented, or you will have one hell of a headache.
2. Lighters or matches: Your candles will be no good to you if you have nothing to light them with now will they?
3. Don't worry about stocking up your refrigerator/freezer with food the night before a reported ice storm is about to blow through, choose non-perishables instead.
4. If you do stock the refrigerator/freezer and don't want to loose $$$ in spoiled food, just stick your food outside. It's an ICE storm remember?
5. If you have an electric stove, how are you going to cook? You don't. You find a restaurant and eat there along with the other 50,000 people in your area without electricity. Luckily we have a gas stove, so we did have that option.
6. When you run out of money to eat out, or just get sick of eating out and fighting the crowd, have a winter backyard BBQ, (yes, vegetarians can BBQ too. They just do it meatless).
7. If birds have built nests in your wood burning fireplace year after year and you have not had a chimney sweep clean your fireplace, EVER, don't build a fire. I repeat, DO NOT build a fire.
8. If you have a gas stove/oven. Thank your lucky stars and use it to try and warm at least a couple of rooms. To do this, turn on all the burners and the oven, open the oven door and hang a sheet from the ceiling to the floor to block off the back part of the house, so that the front part stays toasty warm. Don't forget to crack a window so unwanted gases don't build up and kill you.
9. Flashlights. Flashlights are just as important as candles.
10. Batteries. Batteries are just as important as lighters/matches. Stock up on Size D batteries. After the second day of a blackout, you will NOT be able to find anymore. I promise. Nope. None. No where. Yes, I'm serious. Nada.
11. For entertainment you can make S'mores, tell ghost stories, listen to a battery powered radio, play board games by candlelight, stare at each other, go to bed early, knit, tease, I mean play with the dogs, flashlight tag, shadow puppets, tell jokes, lie in the middle of the living room floor and whine, jump rope, learn some new yo yo tricks, play cards, pretend you are studying for finals (Hey, I couldn't see very well even with flashlights and candles), jump out of dark places and scare the bejebus out of your nine year old, call the electric company and listen to their prerecorded message until you memorize it, color in all of the coloring books you can find in the house, find a place that has power like a Starbucks or Panera so that you can charge your computer, cellphone, and personal DVD players then go to Blockbuster and rent some DVD's.
12. Dogs put out a lot of warmth. If you don't let them sleep with you any other time, let them sleep with you now.
13. Blankets, blankets, blankets
14. It's okay to sleep in your coat, hat, gloves, and scarf even though you are inside your own house.
15. Want to take a nice hot shower, well you are SOL if you have an electric water heater. Boil water, mix it with some cold water and have yourself a bath. Have an electric stove too? Boil your water in a fireplace or on a charcoal grill (do this outside of course).
16. Vow to buy a generator when you can find one which will probably be next summer.
1. Candles, candles, candles: These are a must have during a blackout. However, make sure they are unscented, or you will have one hell of a headache.
2. Lighters or matches: Your candles will be no good to you if you have nothing to light them with now will they?
3. Don't worry about stocking up your refrigerator/freezer with food the night before a reported ice storm is about to blow through, choose non-perishables instead.
4. If you do stock the refrigerator/freezer and don't want to loose $$$ in spoiled food, just stick your food outside. It's an ICE storm remember?
5. If you have an electric stove, how are you going to cook? You don't. You find a restaurant and eat there along with the other 50,000 people in your area without electricity. Luckily we have a gas stove, so we did have that option.
6. When you run out of money to eat out, or just get sick of eating out and fighting the crowd, have a winter backyard BBQ, (yes, vegetarians can BBQ too. They just do it meatless).
7. If birds have built nests in your wood burning fireplace year after year and you have not had a chimney sweep clean your fireplace, EVER, don't build a fire. I repeat, DO NOT build a fire.
8. If you have a gas stove/oven. Thank your lucky stars and use it to try and warm at least a couple of rooms. To do this, turn on all the burners and the oven, open the oven door and hang a sheet from the ceiling to the floor to block off the back part of the house, so that the front part stays toasty warm. Don't forget to crack a window so unwanted gases don't build up and kill you.
9. Flashlights. Flashlights are just as important as candles.
10. Batteries. Batteries are just as important as lighters/matches. Stock up on Size D batteries. After the second day of a blackout, you will NOT be able to find anymore. I promise. Nope. None. No where. Yes, I'm serious. Nada.
11. For entertainment you can make S'mores, tell ghost stories, listen to a battery powered radio, play board games by candlelight, stare at each other, go to bed early, knit, tease, I mean play with the dogs, flashlight tag, shadow puppets, tell jokes, lie in the middle of the living room floor and whine, jump rope, learn some new yo yo tricks, play cards, pretend you are studying for finals (Hey, I couldn't see very well even with flashlights and candles), jump out of dark places and scare the bejebus out of your nine year old, call the electric company and listen to their prerecorded message until you memorize it, color in all of the coloring books you can find in the house, find a place that has power like a Starbucks or Panera so that you can charge your computer, cellphone, and personal DVD players then go to Blockbuster and rent some DVD's.
12. Dogs put out a lot of warmth. If you don't let them sleep with you any other time, let them sleep with you now.
13. Blankets, blankets, blankets
14. It's okay to sleep in your coat, hat, gloves, and scarf even though you are inside your own house.
15. Want to take a nice hot shower, well you are SOL if you have an electric water heater. Boil water, mix it with some cold water and have yourself a bath. Have an electric stove too? Boil your water in a fireplace or on a charcoal grill (do this outside of course).
16. Vow to buy a generator when you can find one which will probably be next summer.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Christmas Tree 2007
This is the last year I'm putting this Christmas tree up. It's about fifteen years old and it's starting to look pretty scraggly. I left off half of the ornaments that we have, because I'm even tired of them. It's time for a new tree, new ornaments, and a new color theme. Also, have I mentioned that I'm really sick of looking at that bright yellow wall?
My New Favorite
If only they came in dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate. They're still good though.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
When does this Christmas spirit crap kick in?
When we first moved into our house seven years ago, no one on our street put up Christmas lights. "This just will not do!" I proclaimed and became the first on the street to decorate. The next year, the people across the street put up lights. Not to be outdone, the people to the left of me put up lights the year after that. Eventually, the entire street, except for one old scrooge, was decorating with outdoor lights. My heart swelled with pride. Then I started graduate school.
I currently have five IQ tests to administer, three IQ reports to write up, a paper on ethics, a paper on an emerging theory, and a paper on personality disorders all due within the next two weeks. Oh, and four finals to study for. So, what do I decide to do tonight? Yep, put up Christmas lights. Actually, it wasn't my idea. The rest of the neighbors already have their lights up, and my son asked if we could put ours up too. My initial response was, "Why? We have so many other beautiful houses to look at that have lights." He wasn't happy with that answer, and I really didn't want to be known as scrooge #2. I mumbled a few #$*&% to myself and up to the attic I went.
Most of the lights strands are old and probably need to be replaced, but I didn't feel like running out and getting some right then, besides you can get them 75% off the day after Christmas. Instead, I went through each strand and located the burnt out bulbs with my handy dandy locater and replaced them with new ones, all the while mumbling #$*&% to myself.
After I got the strands all untangled and glowing brightly, I began stringing them across the front gutter. Austin decided that this year he was big enough to climb the ladder and clip the lights to the gutter instead of me, so he informed me of this milestone. #$*&% I muttered to myself. I didn't want his help. It would be 50 times faster without him getting in my way. I compromised with him and let him do just one strand up on the ladder while I stood there and held it and yelled the following things up to him. "Be careful. You don't need to climb THAT high. No, I will not let go. I'm standing right here and holding this thing. Of course I trust you honey. It's the ladder I don't trust. Hurry up. Put it on the hook. The hook. THE HOOK. #$*&%!
After that, we moved on to the trees. We used to have five trees in our front yard. A tornado blew through one year and blew one of them down. Last year's multiple ice storms took care of two more. I used to wrap lights all around the trunks of these trees. All I have left is one big stump. I decided to try and make a Christmas tree with lights using the stump as a center pole. It didn't exactly turn out as I had envisioned it. It looks more like a teepee, or perhaps a volcano. #$*&%! I thought we could just live with it, but the more I look at it, the more I realize that I'm going to have to take it down and try something else. #$*&%!%&*#&*@$!!!!!!
I WILL live with it until finals are over though. In fact, I think I may have to ground myself from doing other things until I get all my school work done. You know, because putting up Christmas lights is just so much damn fun.
I currently have five IQ tests to administer, three IQ reports to write up, a paper on ethics, a paper on an emerging theory, and a paper on personality disorders all due within the next two weeks. Oh, and four finals to study for. So, what do I decide to do tonight? Yep, put up Christmas lights. Actually, it wasn't my idea. The rest of the neighbors already have their lights up, and my son asked if we could put ours up too. My initial response was, "Why? We have so many other beautiful houses to look at that have lights." He wasn't happy with that answer, and I really didn't want to be known as scrooge #2. I mumbled a few #$*&% to myself and up to the attic I went.
Most of the lights strands are old and probably need to be replaced, but I didn't feel like running out and getting some right then, besides you can get them 75% off the day after Christmas. Instead, I went through each strand and located the burnt out bulbs with my handy dandy locater and replaced them with new ones, all the while mumbling #$*&% to myself.
After I got the strands all untangled and glowing brightly, I began stringing them across the front gutter. Austin decided that this year he was big enough to climb the ladder and clip the lights to the gutter instead of me, so he informed me of this milestone. #$*&% I muttered to myself. I didn't want his help. It would be 50 times faster without him getting in my way. I compromised with him and let him do just one strand up on the ladder while I stood there and held it and yelled the following things up to him. "Be careful. You don't need to climb THAT high. No, I will not let go. I'm standing right here and holding this thing. Of course I trust you honey. It's the ladder I don't trust. Hurry up. Put it on the hook. The hook. THE HOOK. #$*&%!
After that, we moved on to the trees. We used to have five trees in our front yard. A tornado blew through one year and blew one of them down. Last year's multiple ice storms took care of two more. I used to wrap lights all around the trunks of these trees. All I have left is one big stump. I decided to try and make a Christmas tree with lights using the stump as a center pole. It didn't exactly turn out as I had envisioned it. It looks more like a teepee, or perhaps a volcano. #$*&%! I thought we could just live with it, but the more I look at it, the more I realize that I'm going to have to take it down and try something else. #$*&%!%&*#&*@$!!!!!!
I WILL live with it until finals are over though. In fact, I think I may have to ground myself from doing other things until I get all my school work done. You know, because putting up Christmas lights is just so much damn fun.
Monday, November 26, 2007
A Tribute To Mary
To my next door neighbor, Mrs. Mary.
You started having health problems about a year ago and last month you started declining really fast. Hospice came to take care of you, and they did a great job making sure that you were comfortable and had everything you needed. You died today.
Who's going to make sure I remember that it's trash day?
Who's going to wave to us from the window every time we pull into our drive way?
Who's going to watch our house when we are away?
Who's going to talk to me through the fence when I'm doing yard work?
Who's going to sneak dog biscuits to my dogs through the fence? You didn't realize I had figured out it was you they kept getting them from, did you? I didn't say anything. I didn't want to ruin your fun.
Who's going to tell my son that he is welcome to come by for a Popsicle any time.
Who's going to toss my son's golf balls back over the fence?
Who's going to catch me up on all the television programs I've missed?
Who's going to make me fudge at Christmas?
Who's going to watch my son do a gazillion fireworks on the Fourth of July?
Who's going to tell me that my son is trying to blow up the mailbox with Black Cats?
Who's going to tell me that my son is too smart for his own good?
Who's going to give me tomatoes from their garden?
Who's going to ask me where my helmet is when I ride my bicycle?
Who's going to make sure that they have an extra special treat for my son when he comes to their door on Halloween night?
Who's going to let my son take a rose from their rose bush to give to his mom?
I think what I'm trying to say Mrs. Mary is that you will be missed.
You started having health problems about a year ago and last month you started declining really fast. Hospice came to take care of you, and they did a great job making sure that you were comfortable and had everything you needed. You died today.
Who's going to make sure I remember that it's trash day?
Who's going to wave to us from the window every time we pull into our drive way?
Who's going to watch our house when we are away?
Who's going to talk to me through the fence when I'm doing yard work?
Who's going to sneak dog biscuits to my dogs through the fence? You didn't realize I had figured out it was you they kept getting them from, did you? I didn't say anything. I didn't want to ruin your fun.
Who's going to tell my son that he is welcome to come by for a Popsicle any time.
Who's going to toss my son's golf balls back over the fence?
Who's going to catch me up on all the television programs I've missed?
Who's going to make me fudge at Christmas?
Who's going to watch my son do a gazillion fireworks on the Fourth of July?
Who's going to tell me that my son is trying to blow up the mailbox with Black Cats?
Who's going to tell me that my son is too smart for his own good?
Who's going to give me tomatoes from their garden?
Who's going to ask me where my helmet is when I ride my bicycle?
Who's going to make sure that they have an extra special treat for my son when he comes to their door on Halloween night?
Who's going to let my son take a rose from their rose bush to give to his mom?
I think what I'm trying to say Mrs. Mary is that you will be missed.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Vacuuming
This is what happens in my house when you are lying in bed watching cartoons and then your mother comes in to vacuum the floor and then you scream at the top of your lungs that you CAN'T HEAR THE TV!!! STOP VACUUMING!!!!
Not Vacuuming
This is me lying in bed demonstrating how NOT to complain when OTHER people are vacuuming.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Be Ye Not Afraid!
I am much better with power tools than one would think. Look what I put together all by myself! Finally, I have a mudroom. With my son getting older, I have been in desperate need of a mudroom. I don't have an entry way closet and have just been using simple hooks on the wall next to the front door to hold our coats. The shoes just seem to lay where they fall, which is usually all over the hard wood floor, which isn't too much of a problem when it's dry outside, but not so good when it's wet and muddy. I'm so excited. Austin helped me hang the shelf. By helped, I mean he stood there and cried while he held one end over his head and I held the other end and power screwed with one hand. Wimp!
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Confusing Weather
Sunday we hit the 80 degree mark. Monday we were in the 70's. Yesterday we were in the 60's. I mowed the yard yesterday for the last time (I hope). We finally got our first freeze last night. Yep, finally fell to 31 degrees. The rest of the week is supposed to be in the 70's again. See those two trees in my front yard. They're confused. The one on the left has stripped itself of all its leaves. The tree on the right still has all its pretty green leaves. If you enlarge the photo, you will see that my sweet potato plant sitting there on my porch is still green and lush. The grass however is brown in some places and green in others. We're all confused. I refuse to mow again until March. Bring on some snow please.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
In Honor of Halloween
We have a ghost that lives with us. He's been with us since the day we moved in. How do I know it's a he? I don't. It's just a feeling, I guess. Anyway, our friendly ghost has made banging noises. He has turned the lights on and off. He has dimmed the lights. He dimmed them once when my sister was here and totally freaked her out. He sets off Austin's motion detector toys in the middle of the night. He has done this on numerous occasions. My dogs love to bark and stare at him. Also, when I take pictures inside my house, I'm ALWAYS catching orbs. He has never scared either Austin or me. He's a friendly ghost. The picture up above is a picture I snapped of my nephew while I was sitting there talking to him. You can see the orb smack dab in the middle of his forehead. It even has a little bit of a tail, so that it looks like I caught it in motion. A few seconds after I snapped the photo, my dog started staring at the corner behind where my nephew was sitting and then barked at it. I love having a resident ghost. I feel protected.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Whatchu talkin' 'bout?
I love this picture. I think it's hilarious. No, I'm not talking about the fact that my son has had a much needed growth spurt and his pants are now way too short. I mean the "put the camera down" expression that he's wearing on his face.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Oklahoma Air Show
Today, we went to the Oklahoma air show. Austin loved it. It was 70 degrees with a slight breeze and lots of sunshine. Beautiful! Although I really wouldn't mind if the leaves would begin to change. I have a feeling we are going to go straight from green to crispy brown. Oh, and I would really like to stop mowing the lawn. It's almost November for goodness sake.
An Early Halloween
Since I will be in class all night on my favorite night of the year, Austin and I had our Halloween celebration early. We went Trick or Treating in Brookside where they were having their annual Boo Ha Ha celebration. Austin was being a party pooper, because he didn't like his costume. Hey, he was the one that picked it out.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
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