MarytheKaytheBlog

5 Things

Recently, I've found myself in conversations where I am really defending a point I am making...when all-of-a-sudden I realize, "Huh.  I don't REALLY know as much about this subject as I am making it sound."  And yet--my mouth keeps moving, and I keep spouting facts...well...as if they are facts.

Do you ever find yourself doing this?

Man, this know-it-all quality must be just PEACHY for my friends to be around.  And my poor husband...

These are the subjects I typically think I KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT.  So, please just consider this a fair warning.  If you don't want me share all my enlightened knowledge with you, maybe you shouldn't bring up these topics in my presence...

1.  I am a fabulous internet doctor.  I bet you didn't know this about me.  Well, my close friends know this, and sometimes seek out my "services."  I am really great at researching symptoms online and diagnosing illnesses.  I know right now my doctor dad--and all good doctors out there--are rolling their eyes.  People like me who diagnose from WebMD drive them crazy.  But, I can't help it.  Some people go to medical schools.  Others can just diagnose with Google.

2.  I can "cut to the chase" in seconds flat.  This quality gets me in trouble ALL the TIME with my husband.  He can be telling me something, and I will be answering him before he is even 1/3 of the way through telling me.  I'm sure you can imagine how fun it is to live with someone who thinks she knows exactly what you're saying--even before you finish...  But, it's like my brain has x-ray vision, and knows what you are going to say--even before you finish.

3.  Punctuation and Grammar.  Ooh, do I even dare to write those words here?  Because right now, I know all grammarphobes are scouring these words to find mistakes.  How do I know they are doing this?  Because it is what I DO anytime I read something.  If you send a newsletter to my house, I will edit it.  Newsy Christmas letter?  Yep, I edit it.  Don't worry, though--I am not obnoxious enough to TELL YOU about it...It's just something I do.  (Oh, and by the way--now I feel all obligated to tell you that I am aware I break grammar rules all the time here on the ole blog-ola.  This blog is conversational, so I write the way I talk.  And if you know me in real life--you know I talk like a hick.  And don't worry--I do not edit blogs.  Or texts.  Or Facebook.  Well, not much, anyway...)

4.  I have the ability to pick good recipes.  If you haven't noticed around here, I do like to cook.  I do NOT consider myself an accomplished cook...I more consider that I am able to improvise my mistakes into something that works.  But, what I DO think about my cooking abilities is that I can PICK good recipes.  It's kind of like combining #2 above with cooking:  I can usually cut to the chase through high-falutin recipes, and be able to tell if they are decent or not.  I mean, if a recipe doesn't have real butter, sugar, cream, buttermilk, or bacon fat--it's probably not worth making.  When I see words like "margarine, olive oil, stevia, or tofu"--I don't waste my time on recipes like that.  (Sorry, Italians, I don't like your oil.)

5.  I am an expert in everything I have lived through, or done.  I really LOVE learning new things and researching--anything and everything.  If I am going through a difficult time about something, I usually research it TO DEATH--online, talking to people and asking them hundreds of questions, and reading books about it.  So, after I have navigated through an issue, I usually do have a pretty large base of knowledge surrounding it.  That doesn't mean I sailed through the problem.  But, it does mean that I learned everything possible in the meantime.  And...usually I like to share most of that knowledge with you if the subject comes up.  I'm sorry.

So, there ya have it.  5 subjects that I can be absolutely obnoxious about.  I mean, I really try not to be obnoxious...  But, just lately when I have caught myself in those conversations where I am droning on and on about something--that I may or may not really know everything about... it has made me wonder:  How many times have I NOT been self-aware, and have droned on and on about a subject?

What about you?  What are YOUR obnoxious know-it-all subjects?

Please tell me it's not just me...

P.S.   Just to keep things honest around here...and so that YOU know that I KNOW...that I don't know everything...  I misspelled the word "grammar" in the word "grammarphobe" in #3 above.  Yep, I spelled it "grammEr."  Nice. 

Also--one more thing.  Guess what PICTURE I put on the cover of the "Christmas in Italy" booklet I'm teaching tomorrow?  A picture of the Eiffel Tower.  Yeah, think about it...  Thank the good Lord above that I caught it BEFORE sending the little kiddies home with their Italy/Eiffel Tower booklets!!!!!

(This post was inspired by the always entertaining Mama Kat's Weekly Writing Workshop.  Check out some of the other great entries!)

*image credit: Flickr

Household Hazards: What to do when your pantry smells like poop

1.  Above all else, remain calm.

2.  If you happen to be starving to death--even after smelling the horrible, gag-inducing, poop-smelling pantry, then you must really be starving to death, and should go ahead and eat.  A girl needs her protein in order to face the death-inducing smell.

3.  Too bad you have to look in the poop-smelling pantry to find something to eat.

4.  Better yet--find something in the fridge.

5.  Aw man, ya need to throw something away in the pantry.  Just throw it out in the yard and hope for the whole circle of life thing to happen.

6.  All done eating in the opposite end of the house...now it's time to get back to the Pantry Patrol.  Gotta find out where that nasty poop smell is coming from.  Sniff, sniff, sniff, sniffffff aaaahhhhggggghhh.  THERE IT IS.  I'm gonna die.  I'm gonna die.  I'm gonna die.  It's the Bob Evans pre-made macaroni and cheese, and it has leaked all over the shelf.

7.  Lean over the trash can and heave 12 times.

8.  Throw the NASTY horrible, gag-inducing, poop-smelling leaky mac 'n cheese away.  Pull everything out of the pantry, and wipe down the shelves.

9.  Oh, I give up. I can't stand it anymore. Wake up the kids, bundle them up and load up in the car.  We are staying in a MOTEL tonight.

10.  As soon as everyone wakes up, call a realtor.

Goodbye forever, poopy pantry...

I'm really not as ditzy or slovenly as these silly pictures are making me appear...  I mean, I clean out that pantry AT LEAST once every couple of years...or decades.  But, it doesn't matter anyway now.  I have NAILED the pantry door closed now.  We'll just line up our can goods across the counter tops from now on.

And, that concludes our study on: What to do when your pantry smells like poop.  Please tune in next time to learn:  What to do when you need the broom inside the nailed up pantry.

Can anybody...anybody out there empathize (identify??) with me?

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Handmade Christmas Gift Idea: Photo Placemats

I have to tell you--this is one of my FAVORITE gifts I have ever given my parents.  This gift takes care of my favorite Christmas gift requirements:  It was fairly easy to do, it's a sentimental gift, and it was inexpensive. 

(If you have been around here for long, you might remember that I did post about this last year.  I want to re-post it again just in case you missed it...and because I love ya so much--because this is really a FUN GIFT for a family member!  I have updated last year's post just a bit...)

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 About 7 Christmases ago, I made some very simple Christmas photo placemats for my parents.  They are simply our old family pictures--Christmas and otherwise--

placed on red paper,     color copied,     and laminated at a copy shop. 

I love this handmade gift idea mostly because it PRESERVES our family's history, and our Christmas traditions for our kids.  These placemats have become such a fun tradition for the Christmas meals at my parents' house.  All the grandkids love seeing the old pictures, and hearing the stories that accompany many of the funny pictures.

HOW TO MAKE THEM:

Gather pictures.  I made 4 different placemat designs, on 11"x 17" (ledger size--the largest that copy shop could laminate) red paper.  Over Thanksgiving, my sister and I gathered a whole bunch of family pictures.  Many of them were pictures of past Christmases, but some were simply old pics of extended family members.  We tried to find pictures that were funny, or that told a story.  I ended up using about 12-13 pictures per placemat--so I had a total of 50 pictures that I took to the copy shop (along with a roll of Scotch tape).

At the copy shop.  At the copy shop, I purchased 4 pieces of 11" x 17" red paper, and began arranging the pics.  I attached the pics onto the paper only temporarily--just using Scotch tape on the back of the pics.  Once I had the pics arranged, the copy shop made 3 color copies of each of the 4 designs, and laminated all 12 placemats.  Ta-Da--that's it!!!

The end, that's it!  As you can see, these placemats are nothing fancy.  But, the pictures on them are priceless--to our family.  Each picture tells a different story, shows a different family tradition, reminds us of a beloved family member we miss...  Every time our family has a meal with these placemats, we end up telling some of the old stories. 

Beautiful, on any table.  Oh, and just so you know...My mom still sets a beautiful Christmas table.  Even though these placemats seem "casual," they look really great, even on a more formal table (on top of a tablecloth, or on a bare table).

Wanna see 'em all?

On this one, I love Uncle Harry pointing at me (when I took the picture 30 years ago).  I also love prim and proper Aunt Mae with my dad (bottom left).  The one of my grandaddy kissing my forehead at the airport is priceless to me.  And my mom at the piano in her white go go boots--Sassy!  (oh she will hate this comment!!)  And the girl in the 3 matching jogging suit girls...click here to read all about it!

When using these placemats, we usually laugh about my dad's blue robe...that appeared in many years' Christmas pics.  Sadly, the blue robe has been retired.  There's one of my Gram (bottom middle) at her house, and one with my brother holding one of my Gram's famous Christmas morning fried quail (YUM...middle right).  And the one of my Grammy and Grandaddy in the middle always makes me smile.

There are also pics of the grandkids--who were SO little 7 years ago!  There are the little cuties (now tall and handsome) Drew and Brady (upper left) and Claire, still without much hair (oh I rhyme!  top middle)  I SO WISH the pictures were clearer here--so you could see my very distinguished older brother with a record number of olives in his mouth (middle left).  And my Aunt LaNell, who has the BEST laugh, with our sweet neighbor Miss Patty (bottom right)  That very well may be the only picture we have of our dear Miss Patty...

This one...I cropped a little...I am not sure my parents were ready for their WWW smooch premiere.  However, on the placemat, the kiss picture is just CUTE and totally appropriate for our family.  I love the one with my little sister--with our 1980s big hair--on our Christmas garland stairway (bottom middle).  Ah, and there's my sweet little blond girl Becca Boo!  (bottom right)

If you make these for your parents or in-laws, or even for your own home--I hope they bring your family as much enjoyment--and giggles--as they have brought ours!  If I can get my act together, I do hope to add a couple of new placemats this year...with some of the younger grandkids not yet born 7 years ago!
I'd also really love to tackle this project for my husband's side of the family...but shhh, don't tell!!!

What's YOUR favorite gift you've ever given--or made?

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Thanksgiving on the Farm

This Thanksgiving post is dedicated to all you city-slickers, who might not have ever spent time on a farm. 

Our family spent a really fun Thanksgiving weekend at Dave's parents' farm in South Dakota.

Here's a peek at what Thanksgiving on the farm was like for our family this year...

I thought it was so sweet of this little piggie on the neighbor's farm to say "THANKS" to Thanksgiving turkey...  (And, no, the cows were not my paparazzi this time...)

Here's the Thanksgiving table all ready!  C'mon people--let's get this party started!!

 

All holiday tables must include the relish dish--one of my favorite things!  Too bad there are no green olives...  (Can I get an amen?)

 

Finally!  After all the passing around of dishes, and pretending to be polite--finally it's time to EAT!  Yum.  Do you see the thin tortilla-looking thing on the top of my plate?  I bet you a million bucks you don't know what that is!  I'll even give you a hint:  It's a Norwegian tradition...

Whew!  I thought for a minute someone was going to guess.  I'd better hurry up and tell you what this Norwegian tradition is, before someone blurts it out and makes me pay a million bucks...  It's called Lefsa.  It is like a flour tortilla--but much lighter, and is made with potatoes.  YUM.  Many people put mashed potatoes inside, and eat it that way.  I like to slather mine with butter, and also dip it into gravy.  Dave's aunt always supplies us with her homemade Lefsa for our holiday meals.

 

How about some dessert?  We enjoyed 2 kinds of pie this year--apple and pumpkin.  What kind did you have?  (Psst! Want my apple pie SECRETS??)

 

I couldn't decide between the two--so I had a little of each!  WITH homemade whipped cream on top, of course!  There is NO Cool Whip at THIS farm, no sirree!!

 

I sure wish I could tell you what kind of pie THIS PERSON had...but, ummm, this person REALLY LIKES his whipped cream.

Oh boy, now we don't usually have this kind of gorgeous weather at Thanksgiving on the Farm...but, this year it was amazing!  All the girls went on an afternoon walk down this road.

See!  Here are a couple of us.  And would ya look at that--we're not even wearing COATS, and it's nearly December.  Perfect weather.

Rebecca got to hitch a ride back in Grandma and Grandpa's Model A.

A girl and her new .410 shotgun!  However, she's not sure she's keeping this one...it kicks quite a bit...

 

And...another girl and her BB gun!  Oh, we do like our guns on the farm!

 

Not to worry, though.  These girls do love their girly crafts!  Aunt Ginger made the darling Christmas aprons!

There was also some cookie making with Grandma!  Grandmas are much nicer that mamas...who thought making cookies in the middle of cooking for Thanksgiving lunch was crazy.  But, not Grandma!  She and Becca whipped up a batch of these cookies in the middle of it all!

 

And, to all a good night...

Bedtime at the farm...I do LOVE sleeping under this patchwork quilt Dave's grandmother made.  Its heavy weight, and flannel back makes for great winter snuggling!  I also love imagining what kind of clothes were cut up for these groovy fabric squares. 

Goodnight, good people.  I sure hope your bellies don't ache too much from all the eating...

What about you?  Did your family enjoy any of these traditions?

Some Thanksgiving Music while you Cook...

 How about some smooth and lovely music to play while your family cooks together? 

Ah, Nat King Cole's Unforgettable instantly transports me back to my Gram's kitchen...the smell of turkey and cornbread dressing, gravy simmering on the stove, and the whir of that 1-beater mixer as my Gram makes her homemade whipped cream in the crock with the chip...  The iced tea already sweating in the heavy green glasses...the small hands sneaking black and green olives from the middle of the table...Just waiting on the pan of rolls to turn golden--filling the house with their warm, yeasty aroma...

Finally.  Finally grabbing hands to make a circle in the middle of the kitchen.  These hands that bind our hearts together as family.  My Gram asking my uncle to pray--but NEVER failing to remind him, "Berry Lee, we've got rolls in the oven, so not too long."

I'd give anything to have that same circle again, hear those same heartfelt prayers again, see my short little grandmother with the splattered apron tied around her waist, directing us through the line and to our appointed places.  To sit leisurely at that table, and listen to those old stories again. 

I am full of thanks for happy memories.

What sights and sounds take you back...to Thanksgiving pasts?

A Difficult Thanksgiving, and a Saran Wrapped Plate of Love

The most difficult Thanksgiving I remember was when our daughter Rebecca was about 2-years-old.  My husband Dave, Rebecca, and I were planning to make the 10-hour drive to his parents' house for Thanksgiving week.  However, Dave started having severe, and unrelenting gall bladder pains the week before.  After days and days of pain (and symptoms you don't want to know about), Dave finally went to the doctor.  The doctor decided Dave's gall bladder needed to come out immediately.  Usually laparoscopic gall bladder surgery is outpatient, with several days in bed at home after, but Dave was convinced that as soon as he was released after surgery, we'd still make the 10-hour drive to visit his family.  My parents drove over for the surgery that morning, and I had friends checking in on me.  But, after the surgeon came out after surgery and gave Dave the "all clear," my parents headed south to spend Thanksgiving with my brother's family, and nearly all my friends headed out-of-town as well.  Supposedly, I would be taking Dave home just as soon as he woke up in Recovery.

But, that's not what happened.  Dave just did not improve after surgery.  His "levels" were all off (whatever that means), and he was not recovering like the doctor wanted.  So, they kept Dave overnight.  And they kept Dave another night, and another.  He ended up spending a WEEK in the hospital before he finally recovered.  (a complication from a wayward gall stone, and not from the surgery.)

I'll never forget how lonely and overwhelmed I felt that week.  Especially the night before Thanksgiving.  My 2  1/2-year-old Rebecca was NOT one to sit still for long--and especially in a boring hospital room visiting her daddy.  I had taken her to the hallway to walk around that evening, when she decided to pitch a major tantrum right there in front of the nurses' station.  I leaned down to try to pick up my screaming child, to take her home to bed--and when I pulled her hand to help her get up, she started crying even more.  I ended up scooping her up and just carrying her all the way to the car.  When she continued crying, I figured she was exhausted, since it was past her bedtime.  I changed her into pajamas at home, and put her in the bed.  She quickly went to sleep.

However, I knew something wasn't right when I checked on her the next morning.  She had not MOVED the entire night.  My all-over-the-bed child had slept on her back, and now wouldn't use her left arm.  I'll never forget calling Dave's hospital room that morning, telling him I thought Rebecca's arm may be broken.  I'll also never forget that lonely feeling of walking into the Emergency Room early that chilly Thanksgiving morning--all alone.  Well, all alone with my hurting 2 1/2-year-old.  Checking in all alone, and explaining three times--to three different people--how the evening before I had pulled on my daughter's hand to help her get up, and now that arm seemed hurt.

Right away, the nurse called her arm a "Nurse maid injury," which she was quick to explain is an injury caused by the child's caretaker.  In other words--an injury CAUSED by her MAMA the night before.  Her mama, who was all alone on Thanksgiving--while her very sick husband was three floors up, in the same hospital.  It was almost too much for me to handle.

Thankfully, the doctor was very kind.  He could see from the X-ray that Rebecca's arm wasn't broken; her elbow was dislocated.  He also explained how in children her age, dislocated joints were common, and no cause for any alarm.  While I was holding Rebecca, he told me not to worry, she would cry for just a moment--and he POPPED that elbow right back to normal.  Sure enough, Rebecca screamed out, and then she calmed down, and then she smiled and started using that arm as if nothing in the world had happened to it.

My sweet, and now well-rested and now non-injured, happy daughter and I walked hand-in-hand up to visit her daddy that Thanksgiving morning.  Poor Dave--he felt terrible.  He really didn't even want us there visiting.  He just wanted to sleep.  So, we hugged him and headed back home.

And then.  Then my dear friend rang my doorbell at home, and brought me 2 Saran Wrapped plates of Thanksgiving love.  If you live around here, you may have heard about Miss Charlene's cooking.  And if you have, you understand how my terrible day--my terrible holiday--suddenly got a little better.

Even though I didn't eat Thanksgiving dinner with Carissa and Charlene and their family (even though they had invited me), I felt like a part of their celebration as I ate their turkey, and their mashed potatoes, and their salad and their yummy dessert.   Even though I was eating that plate of food alone at my kitchen table, I felt their love. 

And that love, and that plate of delicious food, nourished my body--and my spirit--that Thanksgiving day.

This story reminds me...how much a Saran Wrapped plate of food can mean to someone.  Especially someone alone, on a holiday. 

Do you know someone who would be blessed by a Saran Wrapped plate of Thanksgiving love this year?

It's such an easy gesture.  Yet, it means so much to the one receiving it...

My oh my--let's make apple pie!!!

I have been on a life-long search for the perfect apple pie recipe.  You see, I was spoiled as a child by Miss Alene.  Miss Alene made the--hands down--BEST apple pie you've ever eaten.  Her crust was flaky, buttery, and melt in your mouth. Her apples were slightly tart/slightly sweet, with just the right amount of cinnamon.  Miss Alene's apple pies were pure perfection. 

Sadly, I never got Miss Alene's recipe before she died.  But, ever since, I have been trying to recreate it.

Just recently, I believe I stumbled onto just the right recipes.  And because I love ya--and because I believe everyone should have the JOY of a Miss Alene apple pie, I'm sharing ALL my secrets here. (I don't seem to keep very many secrets...)  I'll show lots of pictures, and share my own modifications.  However, I wanted to let you know I used these 3 sources to come up with this best-you've-ever-eaten apple pie:

The recipe for the crust here  (This is the BEST pie-making tutorial I have seen!)

The basic recipe for the apple filling here.  I'll did make a few modifications, based on the Reviews...

The video tutorial on making the crust in a food processor here.  This is a GREAT tutorial!

All right, let's get started!!

What kind of apples should you buy?

First, you need really good pie-worthy apples.  You want ones that hold their shape in baking, are slightly tart, slightly sweet.  To get this tart/sweet combination, use TWO KINDS of apples.  Granny Smith + Gala is a great combination.  Or Granny Smith + Golden Delicious.  Other great pie apples are Cortland, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Pippin, Rome Beauty, Winesap.  (Pictured below are from my uncle and aunt's orchard--Haroldson and Sweet Sixteen--perfect for pie!)

Before you start cutting apples, let's make the melt-in-your-mouth crust!

How to make the piecrust

If you're new at making crust, this is a GREAT video tutorial.  Also, if you've never made crust in a food processor, TRY IT. 

Also, my BIGGEST SECRET for making the BEST piecrust is this--lard.  Yes, I said lard.  You can purchase it next to the Crisco sticks...but it is NOT Crisco.  It is lard.  (It is also called Manateca, and is used in flour tortilla-making.)

Here is the recipe for melt-in-your-mouth piecrust: 

For a nine inch, two crust pie

2 cups all purpose or pastry flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon sugar (for a fruit pie. Omit sugar for a savory pie.)
¾ cup cold butter, cut into chunks
¼ cup cold lard, cut into chunks
¼ cup cold water

Put into food processor:  Flour, salt, sugar, cold butter chunks, and cold lard chunks.  Pulse food processor until mixture looks crumbly--no big chunks left.  Slowly, while pulsing, add 1/4 cup ice water.  Pulse until dough forms into a ball.

The flakiest piecrust is the LEAST-HANDLED one!!  Do not over-process the dough, and once you pull it out, the LESS you handle it and the LESS you let your hands warm it up, the BETTER.

Look at my cute helpers!  Sweet girls.

Divide dough into 2 discs, place onto 2 pieces of parchment paper and chill in fridge.  (I usually begin slicing apples while I wait for it to chill.  The slicing of the apples is the slowest part of the process.)

Once dough is chilled, you're ready to start rolling it out.  Roll the dough between 2 pieces of parchment paper.

When you roll out your piecrust, make sure it is at least 1"-1 1/2" wider than your pie pan.  Remember--the less you handle it, the BETTER.

NOTE:  Keep your rolled-out piecrust chilled between the parchment paper sheets until your apples are READY to go.  THEN, put your crust into your pie pan.  (You don't want to chill your pie pan because putting cold glass into a hot oven will break it.)

Now, for the tart and sweet apple filling!

This is a good time to pull out your apple peeler/corer/slicer.  They are not very expensive, and make the job of peeling and slicing apples MUCH FASTER.  However, because I am WEIRD, I like to hand-peel my apples, and cut them myself.  (I like thicker apples in my pie than the peeler is able to make.)

Apple pie filling

6 cups thinly-cut apples

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

¼ cup white sugar

½ cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

½ teaspoon vanilla

2 Tablespoons flour

PUT ON TOP: 4 Tablespoons of butter, cut up

Pour the ingredients over the apples, and toss it all together to coat the apples.

NOW is the time to put your chilled crust into your pie pan, then fill it with your apple mixture.  Move your apples around to fit neatly into the crust, so that the apples are mounded in the middle.  (I usually have to cut more apples--I never cut enough the first try!)  DON'T FORGET to dot the apples with your butter! 

For the bottom piecrust, fold it under, making a "wall" all the way around the pan.  Once you put on your top crust (or top strips), you'll want to fold that top crust over the bottom crust, pressing slightly together to join the 2 crusts.  Once again, you're making a sort of a "wall." 

Now you're ready to "flute" your edges and make them pretty!

What kind of a top crust do you prefer?  My favorite is the strips overlapping crust.  Why is that my favorite?  Because that's the way Miss Alene made hers!  It's easy--and I think is every bit as pretty as the complicated lattice-top pie.


Make sure you cut slits into the whole top/smooth top crust!  Otherwise, your crust will explode to release the steam...and nobody wants an exploding pie crust.

Now you're ready for one of my favorite parts--sugaring the top!  Brush the top of your pie with an egg wash (whisk 1 egg with 1 Tablespoon of water, and brush this over pie crust).  Now, lightly dust it with cinnamon and sprinkle lots and lots of sugar all over the top! 

Now, let's bake that pie!

Baking instructions

Bake your pie on a lower rack of your oven at 425 degrees for the first 30 minutes, and then lower your oven to 375 degrees, and continue baking until the juices in your pie start bubbling, and the crust is a beautiful golden brown.

NOTE:  If your crust starts browning too much, slide a piece of foil over the top of it. 

That's it!  Now you're ready to ENJOY your beautiful, warm, flaky, comforting, tart, sweet, delicious pie.

I'm sorry--this pie really IS that good!

Now, invite somebody over to share this pie!  And remember--we have Miss Alene to thank.  This pie is in her honor...

And as she would say...

"Hon-NEY, I'm tel-LIN' YOU!"

Now, WHO is making this pie for Thanksgiving?

Or, what pie is your favorite?

Pre-Thanksgiving Linky Dinks

Well, would ya look at that--it's the WEEKEND!!  Here are a few links to entertain you, as you kick back and relax...

 

Man, Jamie's done it again.  Her words cut through the crap, and zing straight to the heart.  Here's one sentence that did just that for me in her post One Jesus, "But if you really want to get crazy, let's talk about what your average weeknight looks like, because the Sunday morning Jesus-fest bores me."    The Very Worst Missionary

 

Okay, okay, I know that I read People.com more than I read the national news.  So, when I say this, please understand that I don't have a very educated grasp.  But, the Occupy movements bug me.  I felt like Occupy Whatever put into words what it is that bugs me.   My Message to You

 

And...on a lighter note...because that's where I'd much rather reside *grin*...Organizer eye candy alert!!  Boxes, bins, and baskets-OH MY!   Delightful Order

 

Need some Thanksgiving inspiration?  How about a fun baking project with your kids?  This Puff Pastry Cornucopia would be darling on your Thanksgiving buffet!  This would be a  FUN and EASY Christmas decoration craft project to create over Thanksgiving weekend.  Love.    CleverlyInspired

 

I just LOVE checking out what's on peoples' Black Friday shopping lists.  I think I just added that immersion blender to my Christmas list...  What's on YOUR list?  Serenity Now

 

Another weekend craft idea?  Christmas ornament wreath - swoon.  I'd even like to make a smaller version, for gifts.    House of Hepworths

 

 That's all, folks.  I sure hope your weekend is wonderful.  I'll see you back here on Monday, when I have some Thanksgiving-ish fun planned!!

What were some interesting links that YOU'VE discovered this week?

My Most Exhilarating Run Ever

Please let me set the stage here.  Because this run was truly exhilarating.  I have not experienced anything like it--since it happened 2 months ago.

And, I promise you--this is not at all what you would expect from "An exhilarating run" story.  I mean, it involves cows.

Two months ago, right after summer, I started training to run a 5K.  Well, re-training is a better word, since I'd stopped and started a couple of times already.  I started the C25K program this time by jogging on my treadmill.  I had only been training indoors on our treadmill, before we headed to my husband's family farm for a short vacation.  I knew I would start running outdoors that week--especially since their family farm is on COMPLETELY FLAT land.  I was really looking forward to those FLAT roads--especially since we live in the Land of Dang Steep Hills.

Anyway, on my VERY FIRST outdoor run, I was a little nervous.  I just didn't know how difficult it would be to run outside, as opposed to my lovely indoor treadmill.

I tied my shoes, slipped in my earbuds, and selected some great music on my phone--and off I went!  Pound, pound, pound--I was jogging down the dusty gravel road with the wind blowing just a bit.  It was beautiful.

Just a few yards down the road, I turned the corner right at a field with fenced-in cows.  Just as I was rounding the corner, several cows looked up at me and started walking towards the fence.  Pound, pound, pound--I was watching the cows as I jogged parallel to the long fence.  I began to notice more and more and more cows look up--and right at me.  (And I wasn't even yelling, "Hey cow!!!")

Then, one by one and two by two--the cows started running towards the fence, and towards me!  Then, they started MOO-ing at me.  MOO-ing loudly.  Lots of them.

Before I knew it--ALL the cows--and I am not even kidding you--ALL the cows were running towards the fence, and running ALONGSIDE ME.  The entire herd of probably 50 cows were running beside me--the entire length of the fence.  While MOO-ing the entire time.

It. Was. Exhilarating.

I have never experienced an entire HERD of cows RUNNING WITH ME.  It was as if they were CHEERING me along, MOO-ing, "You can do it!! Keep going--you're doing great!!"  MOO!  MOO!  MOO!!!!

Well, if cows could talk, I'm sure that's what they would be telling me.

Instead, they were running beside me, putting a huge goofy grin on my face, and filling my throat with hiccupped laughs.

I felt like a movie star.  And the cows were my paparazzi. 

It was AMAZING! 

The cows stopped at the end of their fence-line, but I could hear them MOO-ing in the distance.  Occasionally, I turned my head back, and sure enough--they were standing at the corner of the fence, waiting for me.

I couldn't WAIT to turn around and make it back to my running cows, my partners in this most exhilarating run of my life.  I hit my 10-minute mark, and turned around--excited for the run back.

About 1/4 mile before I got back there, I saw a dust plume trailing behind an old work truck...as it pulled into the cow's gate...when I realized...it was feeding time.

Oooohhhh.

The cows weren't my paparazzi.  They were just excited about DINNER.

I was their food wagon.  Only...I wasn't...which I'm sure was very disappointing to the enthusiastic cows.

Well, that was a little disappointing to know I wouldn't have cow running partners every day of vacation.  However, I'll NEVER FORGET that very first run.  It was the most amazing and exhilarating run of my (still new) running career.

That week of vacation, I did learn a little something about farm life and jogging:  When visiting here, always run just before the feed truck arrives.

Cause I gotta tell ya:  Having a cow paparazzi is FANTASTIC.  Don't mock it until you've tried it.

 

Oh, and just to keep me humble...guess WHO WASN'T my paparazzi?

I hope you notice what SIDE they are mostly showing me...

You know what WORD is coming to my mind, don't you?

Starts with a "J", and rhymes with fat grass.

True Confessions

I was inspired to spill my guts by Megan's confessions earlier today on Sorta Crunchy.  I don't know...something about her confessions just made me feel more "normal"--and less like a crazy woman.  Well, at least for the moment.

Speaking of which, I've had discussions lately with several friends about all the Perfect People on Facebook.  Have you noticed the same thing?  People whose status updates are always CHEERY! and FULL OF ALL THE AMAZING THINGS I'M DOING! 

So, in light of those two things, I present to you some just-to-keep-me-honest confessions.  I sure hope they help YOU feel more normal, and less crazy.  Because compared to me--you probably ARE normal.

1.  This is what our family desk looks like right now.  I was going to try to describe it, and then I realized, "I'll just take a picture."  Because--really--words could not do it justice.

2.  I was trying to get my daughter into the doctor today, and when the nurse finally called us back at 3:45 to see if we could come in right away--my daughters and I were ALL still in our pajamas.  That was one FAST shower.  Also, when I looked into the mirror two hours later while waiting on my older daughter at dance, my hair looked FUNNY.  Funny, as in unwashed and my cowlick was sticking up weird.

3.  I sure hope I don't hurt any dogs' feelings...but frankly, I don't like boy dogs.  I have always been a girl dog kind of a person.  (HA!!!  And I'm NOT calling myself a name here!!)  Here is ONE reason I don't like boy dogs:  When you babysit your parents' boy dog, sometimes he likes to hike his leg on my FURNITURE.  UGH.  How do you get him not to do this????

4.  I used to make our bed every single day.  But, for the last couple of months, I haven't.  My husband and I were discussing this last week, and he suggested that maybe all of my former bed-making discipline is all used up on my daily jogging discipline.  Strange theory, but it works for me.

5.  I have eaten everything in sight today.  Okay, I'll be honest--yesterday, too.  I sure am hoping this is a hormonal occurrence, and not a new trend.

6.  I feel just blah today.  See #5 above.

7.  My rings are getting looser on my fingers.  They have been REALLY TIGHT for the last couple of years, but I was DETERMINED not to get them re-sized bigger. Ha!  Take that, you silly rings that I used to have to spit on to get off...

8.  I know I mentioned in an earlier post how I'd had a temper tantrum lately.  Uhm, I wasn't kidding.  And, just maybe I've had another one recently, too.  It involved a family house-cleaning, some children who were not cooperating, and a doorknob that smacked the heck out of my head as I stood up--while vacuuming, no less.  Needless to say...I have an appointment with my doctor...to talk about that "m" word, and the possibility of some happy medicine.

9.  Last week, I forgot to brush my teeth one day.  YUCK.  I don't think I've forgotten to do that since I was a kid.  (Remember, I'm a little OCD about certain things.)  The bad thing is, that I realized it after I was heading out to lunch, and then carpooling for several hours.  I didn't return home for HOURS. I probably chewed 4 pieces of gum that afternoon.

10.  Are ya'll sick of all my crazy yet?  Okay, here's one last one because I cannot bear to stop on an odd number...  Some days, I am not a very good homeschooling mother.  There are days...when I really don't CARE if my daughters understand their math or not.  I just want the math to be O-VER.   Thankfully, my OCD usually kicks in, and we finish the stinking subject. 

Now, it's YOUR turn.  What do you need to confess today?