Friday, March 29, 2013

They Call Me Forrest

On a brighter note,  I ran yesterday.  And I didn't almost die!  (Imagine mixing up those two words!!)  I call that a win!

I don't know how far I went.  I think my gadget said 2.3 miles or something.  I might be making that up though and it's clear in the back room so I am just going with 2.3 miles.  That is including my five minute walk to warm up and cool down.  If I keep up with my program at least every other day, I should be golden by the time the 5k comes around!  Should be...

The weather was aaaahhhhmazing!!!  Gorgeous!  I had on shorts and a long sleeve shirt and definitely didn't need the long sleeves!  The roads were pretty firm, just had to avoid a couple puddles/mud!

The dogs were pretty excited to get out of the yard and run.  UC was ready to be home about 25 minutes in!!  We stopped so they could play in what little snow we have left.


I'm a little sore today, but not like I expected at all!!  I think I have reason to run tonight-- a little steam to blow off!!  Or maybe the margs will capture me first...

Breaking Up

I think we're breaking up.

No, not DJ and me. 

JT. 

And it's rough.

Worst.  Breakup.  Ever.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Some days....

Some days I get really good ideas to write about.

Some days I have no idea what to write about.

Some days you really want to write a post.

Some days I don't have time to write.

Some days I'm just too tired.

That day is today.

ZZZzzz....

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Just Another Reason to Love Me

Last week, after a late night for DJ and myself, I got up to get ready for work.  I take a shower and get ready.  Things are looking good.  I'm going to be to work early for a change.  And then I remember I'm out of Toaster Strudles at work.  I look in the freezer upstairs.  Not there.  I run downstairs.  Not there.  Crap.  They're in the garage.  Now I'm going to be right on time.  If I'm lucky. 

I pull out of the garage and put it in drive.  And then get stuck.  I pop it into 4wheel drive.  I manage to get through the big drift, only to get stuck in the small one right past it.  Crap.  I try backing up, flooring it, everything I can think of.  And then I call DJ. 

"I'm stuck" 
   "Where?" 
"The driveway"
   "Put it in 4wheel" 
"I did, thanks"
    "Oh"
"Are you going to come pull me out or should I just take your truck?" 
   "Is there a place to hook it up?"
"I don't know.  It's dark"
   "Do you need a flashlight?"
"Yes"
   "Go get one"
"Get out here"
   "Is there a place to hook it up on the back?"
"Not that I can see"
   "If you wanted to pull a trailer right now, could you?"
"No.  That's why we have that thing laying in the garage."
   "Oh.......How about on the front?"
"Uh, not that I can see"
Silence
"Did you hang up on me?"
    "Uhh, no"
"So are you coming?"
"Yeah"

So I text my boss that I'm stuck and will be there when DJ rescues me.  Noticing the dogs are out, I look around for DJ.  Nothing.  I head inside.  He's wandering around the house with just his sweats on. 

"What're you doing?"
   "Uh, looking for shoes"
"You might want to put a shirt or coat on"
   "Yeah"
"Pick it up bud, I got places to be."

I head back out and wait for him.  He eventually makes it out in his truck.  He gets out to hook it up and looks at it. 
   "You're stuck?"
"Yep."
   "How?"
"I don't know.  Feel free to hop in and drive it on out."

He goes ahead and hooks it to my car and his truck and we hop in.  I'm pretty sure if I could have got a butterfly to give me a little bump, I could have drove it out, because that's about how hard it was for DJ to pull me out. 

We hop out.  He unhooks it.

   "You were stuck?"
"Yep"
  He shakes his head
"Thanks!!  Love you!"
   While laughing-- "Yeah, love you too"

I'm pretty sure I laughed the whole way into work.  He went back to bed.  I'm sure I will never live this down.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

A Quick Favor

Just a quick favor to ask all of you.  I don't know details, but I have a close friend who's husband is over in Afghanistan right now and one of their close friends lost his life while over there fighting for us.  If you could say a prayer (or a billion...) for him, his family, friends, the other men and women over there, that would be great.  It might not seem like much, but the power of prayer is amazing!  Thank you all!!

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Quilt #2

I went to one of my high school friend's baby shower this weekend and gave her the quilt so I can finally post pictures.  I can't lie, I'm pretty proud of this one!  There was a TON of improvements made since Superman's!  (Don't worry-- I'm already working on another one for "him")


The Front

Close Up

"Let's begin by taking a smallish nap or two...-Winnie the Pooh"




The Back
The Label
Apparently MS, my friend and I are the only ones who can read my terrible sloppy handwriting!  I sewed my "tag" right into the quilt-- that baby is NOT coming off!!  I put 2013 for the year and 2 because it was my second quilt I've done.

What do you think!?!  It's a far cry from perfect, but the binding alone on this one looks like someone else made it!  It was pretty funny, my friend didn't realize I made it until someone else said something!  I hope the baby gets lots of use out of it!!



Friday, March 8, 2013

Cast Iron Banana Bread

Alright, here's the recipe I was talking about.  It is sooo good!!   I found it at themeaningofpie.com.  Thank you, Pinterest.

I had never made banana bread before.  We had some bananas that were past their prime so I went to Pinterest.  I put in banana bread and saw one in a cast iron skillet.  I thought that was great!  (DJ is kind of on a cast iron kick right now...)  And we had pretty much everything on hand.  I made it while DJ was gone.  Then when he got home he informed me he doesn't like banana bread.  Handy.  He did end up trying it and said it was good, then got mad when I decided to take it into work!  I took it into work and it lasted all of a day and a half before we devoured it.  My coworker then told me I had to make it again.  I only had one banana left.  So then my boss gives me two of them.  I took the hint and made it again and brought it in yesterday.  As of now, there's a tiny sliver left.  It's just so good!  You don't even need to put butter on it! 

I did tweak it a smidge... I am not a fan of allspice so I used cardamom instead-- and NO I had never heard of that before so it was a gamble (one that actually paid off!).  They also had mace in place of nutmeg; but that is not something that is stocked at the Holy Knollies!

Wet Ingredients:½ c butter, melted and cooled slightly
⅓ c buttermilk
3 mashed bananas
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
Dry Ingredients:
2 c flour
½ c sugar
½ c brown sugar
1 t baking soda
½ t salt
1 c pecans
¼ t nutmeg
¼ t cardamom
butter to grease the skillet

Preheat the oven to 350.
Mash the bananas. Mix in buttermilk, butter, vanilla and eggs. In a different bowl, combine the dry ingredients and combine. Mix the dry stuff into the wet stuff (half at a time) and stir until combined.  Butter your 9" cast iron skillet and pour your batter in.  Bake for 30-35 minutes (use the toothpick trick!-- my first one took foooorrreverrr and my next one was about 35 minutes)

Alright, go whip up a batch and let me know what you think!!  (sorry-- having difficulties with the picture thing again... just go to www.themeaningofpie.com and look at their pictures!!)

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Yay!

Guess who is coming to visit this weekend?!  That's right.  MS.  I talked her into it.  Okay, maybe that's not how it went, but she's coming and I'm stoked. 

I'm going to make her take pictures of the quilt I've been working on (which has to be done and wrapped up ready to go by Sunday...) so I can post them on here.  Get excited!!  It's kind of a big deal.

I'm not sure what's on the agenda.  Maybe some junkin' time.  Most definitely some bacon.  And booze.  Ya know, we gotta get practiced up for the big St. Patty's Day weekend next week!! 

Oh yeah, and we've already figured out where we are eating so this time we can make it before the close between dinner and supper.  On. Top. Of. It!! 

And then I get to go to the baby shower and see Ma and Pa and hopefully look at a trailer.  We'll see what time allows. 

Oh yes, before I forget, ddid you know daylight saving time begins this weekend?!  Sunday.  Who knew!?  I didn't until OS told me she wasn't going back with me because of this.  Surprise! 

Oh yes, I also have an awesome recipe to share with ya'll!  Yum.  Hopefully I can post that tomorrow.  Complete with a picture.  I think....

Adios!

Monday, March 4, 2013

Moulah

DJ and I have been talking about building a barn/shed/whatever you want to call it, for quite awhile now.  We put together a rough idea of what we wanted and then we he went and got some quotes for us. 

And then we realized we were broke.

Okay, maybe not broke, but these things are expensive!!  I know, big surprise there!!  We've made some changes though and think we have it how we want it (until we show it to someone else who points out something we missed...) to be built. 

Even with the changes we've made, we still have to think about water, electicity, fence, stalls, and who knows what else I'm forgetting!!  Oh yeah, gravel for a driveway.  So we're saving.  Or at least trying to!

I've been working on limiting myself to eating out no more than once a week for lunch and bringing leftovers from home the other days.  I've also been trying to make more homemade items instead of buying them-- tortilla shells are my next attempt.  Watching for sales on food and buying store brand items are something I continue to do-- I am my mother's child after all. 

So while I'm trying to saving pennies, you guys need to go support the economy for me! Or just send me some cash.  It's up to you really.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Ahhh-mazing

Ever wonder what makes an amazing combination when it comes to food and drink?!  I'm here to tell ya, these three make an awesome combo.  Just try it.  Here it is:

Peanut butter, chocolate, Mountain Dew.  Seriously.  Ever since I was allowed to drink Mtn Dew and made this discovery, I can't say no.  There's so many possibilities!!  Reese's candy, puppy chow, scotcheroos, etc.  Yum. 

Aren't you glad you checked in to find this was the topic for today?!   You're welcome.