Ironing and Baseball and Random Thoughts

My day today has been spent making up for Jim's day off from work yesterday. Isn't that the way it always is? Instead of keeping my usual schedule, I let everything go and lazily sat around with him. We did take Sweet Baby M to Applebee's for lunch which was a treat and then Jim took her to get her first checking account! Big times!

Today I have done nothing but washing and ironing. I miss the days when I dropped shirts off at the dry cleaners and never paid them any attention until I picked them up and hung them, freshly ironed, in the closet. This ironing is painful! I love ironing flat things, but shirts...ugh. I need a better iron for sure!

Tonight Big D is supposed to have his first baseball game of the season. We will see if it happens since it has been drizzly all day. I think it's going to be too wet. He won't be too sad as then he can go to youth group. He has just begun to attend and really loves it. He is reading his bible in his room (makes my heart so happy!) and is such a good boy. He needs good friends and a group to interact with.

I need to return library books on my way to pick up Big D. Hopefully baseball will be called off and we will have a quiet night at home.

Monday Morning Blahs

Oh my goodness, I have the Monday Morning Blahs. Last night was stormy and no one slept well except maybe Jim. He could sleep through anything! Shadow spent his first night ever in Big D's bed. I was glad he slept the night through and didn't have to go out in the rain. I love having the little dogs sleep on my bed (and in Tiki's case, IN my bed) so I'm so happy that Big D has a friend to snuggle up with.
Sweet Baby M needs to take her prom dress to be altered today and so that is high on our agenda! She doesn't have school and I was so looking forward to shopping and lunch but OF COURSE she has plans with friends for lunch. How did she grow up so fast? There is a 50% chance of more rain today so maybe it wouldn't have been a very nice day for shopping anyway. Better to stay in and tackle the laundry.
At least Big D's baseball game will be canceled. They weren't ready to play a game yet anyway...not enough practice.
Onward with the day. Lots to do...

Benton Garage Sale Finds

After dropping the ATV's off in El Dorado, we took a little side-trip through Benton on the way home. Benton was celebrating 100 years as a little town and having a city wide garage sale event! We only stopped at a few but I got my entire load of merchandise for $3.50!!

Four wine glasses, three cordial glasses, a really unique square pitcher, a small (one person) teapot, a milk glass vase, wonderful plate marked Germany on the back, a really cute, never used dishtowel and a fabulous heavy crystal egg-shaped candy dish. The fabu purchase of the day was the pale green enamelware teapot!

Saturday Morning

The Big Galoot (def. is an old word used, primarily in Scotland, that means a person with an ungainly, cumbersome, and clumsy personality. ...) is growing by leaps and bounds. Shadow is a nice dog but he has his moments. He still sleeps in Big D's room but is outgrowing the crate he's been sleeping in. It's actually a cage. Why am I calling it a crate? Crate sounds more gentile then cage. We keep our dog in a crate. We keep our dog in a cage. Yep...crate it is.
This reminds me of Shadow's first visit to the vet. She asked if he was on "large breed" food. Uh..no. Since both my other dogs don't even weigh enough to constitute a breed between them...I didn't know there was such a thing. Of course, because she asked me like I was a complete ax murderer if he wasn't...I answered yes. And then quickly ran to Petco to get Large Breed Puppy Food.
Right now, The Galoot's favorite activity is to drag poor Pup pup around by the tail! She doesn't exactly resist but she doesn't seem to enjoy it either! He loves that big fluffy tail. Then he will go stand by the couch and bark at Tiki. Usually though, he can be found laying under the kitchen table watching me cook.

It's definitely time for more coffee and I think I'll make a quick batch of pumpkin muffins for breakfast. My pumpkins will love that!

Bird Dog

These funny ducks decided to hang out in our front yard. They obviously don't realize that we now have a bird dog in residence. When they tried to walk around in the back yard, they got a bit of a surprise. Shadow chased the intruders back out front. Then they decided to take a siesta under a tree. Of course he doesn't look too intimidating sitting in his flower pot!

A Moment of Peace

After four hours of non-stop barking, biting, bathrooming, eating, drinking and playing...it looks like we just might have a moment of peace. I'm practically tip-toeing around so they stay sleeping and happy and it's only 8:45 a.m.!

When the Big Dog is away.........

sDSA


the little dogs can sleep all day. And anywhere they want! Are these too cute or what. I love these dogs and this new guy is going to fit in perfectly.

Good Early Morning

It's 4:30 here in Kanasas and Pup pup decided she wanted to get up and go out. Since she was up, I decided to stop in Big D's room and see if the new puppy needed to go out too. He was sleeping so nicely in his cage and Big D had made a nest out of his comforter and was sleeping right beside him. Too cute! I think he loves his new friend. Usually when Pup pup goes out she goes right back upstairs and falls back asleep BUT not this new little guy. He went out, did his business and it was play time. He is having the time of his life chasing Pup pup around the family room and making her squeal. Every so often his teeth nip a little part of her back leg. He is chewing a toy right now and she is hiding between my feet. I think her fascination with him might just be wearing off. He's such a good little guy though and when he's not exploring, he wants to lie on the big dog pillow and view the world. He is certainly coming to life!

We have a winner!!

Well..Big D has a new puppy. Name yet to be announced but is he a winner or what? He's as sweet as they come and fiesty too. The girls (Tiki and Pup pup) are a bit unsure about him. He likes them though.

New Baby

We are getting ready to go look at a litter of these. Here's hoping that one "feels right" to the Big D. We went and looked at a sweet litter of Golden Retrievers last night but they just didn't feel like the ones. None of us thought they were quite right so we felt pretty good on the drive home..even without a new puppy. Maybe these little guys will be the right ones for us. Keeping our fingers crossed!

A Rainy Day, Nesting and Random Thoughts

I love nesting. It's a rainy day here in Kansas and the house is dark and gloomy..very Edgar Allen Poe (love him!) but with the lamps lit and coffee brewing it is a cozy house that I reside in. I love this house. I love knowing that my family is the ONLY family that ever lived here. The dirt is related to me. I've already cleaned up the Big D's room (it only took two Hefty bags) and vacuumed AND cleaned the carpet. Whew! And it's only 10:00 a.m.

Wandering around my gaze settles on things I love. The first picture is a cabinet that my husband, the woodworking genius, made for me. I love using it to store all my extra glassware and barware. The little Chinese folk on the top were a gift from my Mother. The little birds are a new find. Hummel figurines that I found at an estate sale and picked up for a song. Too cute! The big cabinet represents one of my greatest loves...my Royal Doulton toby jugs. I haven't added to my collection for a while but I am always on the lookout for new pieces. Finally...I love those California Ted Lewy prints. I found the first two of Lombard Street and the Cable Cars long, long ago (at least 20 years) in Kimberling City, Mo. I wanted them so badly but didn't buy them. A year later my sweet Mother-in-law purchased them and gave them to me. I have added a few more since then and adore the colors and subject matter.

My goal for this week...try to figure out how my Gran made her Chow Mein. It was so good. I know it was pork, browned, onions, bean sprouts, celery and then perhaps a slurry of cornstarch, chicken broth and soy but it had to be more than that. I guess I will defrost some pork and try to figure it out.

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

I was cleaning the bookshelves today and came across this book that I've had for some time. It's titled "Songs of a Housewife" and is the poetry of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. Marjorie wrote "The Yearling" and "Cross Creek" along with many, many other books.
The poems are so sweet and well worth the read. Here's one:
Duty Books
I don't like books I "ought to read,"
Too dull and ponderous, stupid stuff
I give scant interest and scant heed -
Less weighty tomes have charm enough.

I do not care to read by rule,
To follow where the critics swarm.
I like, regardless of their "school"
The books that keep my spirit warm.

I like to browse in libraries,
And choose at random from a shelf;
To read and study as I please.
My duty is to suit myself.
MKR

Don't you just love that! I think you can still get the book on Amazon. Pick one up and enjoy!

Looks Like Trouble

Don't even show me this picture. I beg you! I'm defenseless against a puppy and I can't stand firm. I'm completely a pushover when it comes to that puppy breath and those big puppy feet.
Big D wants a lab puppy so badly. My fleeting voice of reason says, "Are you insane?". Finally we will have a yard unfettered by trampling children, the "path" around the garden is just filling in from previous dog trampling and we all know who the care and training will really fall on...Mom. However, he's a 13 year old boy. They need faithful friends to tell all their troubles to, run with, grow up with and learn responsibility through. I'm doing this for him. Yes, that's the ticket...it's all for Big D! And besides it's spring and will be easy to housebreak another puppy. I have two dogs, why would I deny him? Besides he has already posted it on his Facebook.
Oh...that face! I can't resist a puppy. We have an appointment to go look at a little guy at 5:00 p.m. this evening. If it's not to be, pray I will have divine inspiration!

Where's the laundry fairy when you need her?

Obviously this is how I will be spending my day. I don't mind the jeans and towels..easy to fold. The underwear and socks are the WORST..we never have the same socks to mate up and I am very particular about the way the undies are folded. I like to hang all the shirts. It is such a sense of accomplishment when it is done but so depressing before it is started. It reminds me of that Elisabeth Elliott quote that I think she quoted from someone else that went..
Be a labor great or small,
do it well or not at all.
If a task is once begun,
never leave it 'til it's done.
I think that's how it went. Sounds good anyway she probably loves laundry! The thing that really burns me up is when I sort it out and find FOLDED underwear and socks in the bottom of the basket. Ugh..excuse me, but when did people start re-folding their dirty underwear? Is it so that it will look tidy in amongst the dirty clothes? Puhleze! Everyone knows the culprits were just too lazy to put it away and threw the dirty on top of the clean. The little beasts.

Monday Morning Blues

I have realized that after the weekend, I really miss my little family. Since quitting work, the hardest thing is the quiet of the house day after day after day. It makes me realize how much I loved the stimulation of people and ideas. I enjoy listening to the radio and really love NPR in the mornings and K-LOVE (Christian radio) after that but I've noticed that on K-LOVE they play the same songs in the morning and afternoon. I guess they figure no one is listening all day. When I was between jobs with Old Splurge and New Splurge...I used to listen to books on tape, especially ones that I couldn't quite stay engaged with in text. One series in particular that I love LISTENING to but can't quite stay with READING is the Amelia Peabody books by Elizabeth Peters. Love, love, love listening to them when I iron. Yes, that is another horror of not working for a paycheck...ironing. UGH! Maybe I need to get a few books on tape for the afternoons...of quiet.
My library list is long today, my chore list is long today, my laundry pile is so huge it's overwhelming and I want to plan my garden today. Obviously some of those tasks are rolling to tomorrow. Not the laundry and kitchen however...they are immediate concerns!

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

This recipe is nothing new but it is such a yummy coffee cake (or anytime cake) that I thought I'd add it to my blog. It is fail-proof. Big D seemed to really enjoy it this morning when he finally rolled out of bed at 10:00!

Sour Cream Coffee Cake
1 C. butter, room temperature
2 C. sugar
2 lg. eggs
2 C. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 C. sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
For Streusel Swirl
1 Tb. sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 Tb. brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Cream together the butter, sugar and eggs. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt and slowly add it to the creamed butter mixture. Stir in sour cream and vanilla. Grease (or just spray with Pam) a bundt pan. Spread 1/2 batter in pan (it will be very thick). Sprinkle with streusel. Spread rest of batter evenly over top. Bake at 350* for 45 minutes or until a pick comes out clean.
Cool about 15 minutes in pan then invert on pretty plate.
If you choose, you can glaze with the following:
1 C. powdered sugar
1 1/2 Tb. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla

I did not glaze mine, it was plenty sweet, but the glaze would have been a pretty finishing touch. Since mine was consumed almost as fast as it was cool...it didn't matter. I listed nuts as optional only because my anti-nut-ites would revolt. I think they are extra yummy in this. Enjoy!!

Alan Jackson Concert

After belly-aching all day about going out in the cold, agonizing over nothing to wear, finally deciding on a sweater and jeans..we ventured out to the brand new Hartman Arena located across the highway from the existing Coliseum. VERY ODD. We drove North on I-135 (is that right...I really just know it as the canal route) and when we got to 61st street exit noticed cars lined up on the shoulder. The Hartman Arena is located at the 77th street exit! Oh my gosh..we were 1 1/2 hours early and traffic was horrible. Jim wisely decided to zip up to 85th and come back South to
77th street in hopes that exit wasn't so bad. It wasn't nearly that crowded but we were still stopped at the bottom of the exit ramp off the canal route. We weren't even close to the Hartman Arena. Finally after about 1/2 hour of creeping up the off-ramp, a police officer came and directed traffic and it got a tiny bit more efficient. By the time we parked (7:00 a full hour after we got off the highway), we heard that the line on the canal route was backed up over 4 miles each direction.

Anyway, the place was pretty empty for the first hour of the concert (so many people were stuck on the highway) and so we moved from our VERY squished seats between the big man in the Harley shirt with the lip piercings and the couple intent on producing a pregnancy that evening. Yikes, I obviously don't get out to many concerts. We moved over to what was probably considered the complete nosebleed section but was actually great! Able to see the stage head on, we kicked our feet up on the seats in front of us and really enjoyed the show. Alan sang all his greatest hits and everyone sang along, it was a lot of fun. Kind of a mixed crowd...young cowboys and lots of middle aged and older folks. We fit right in there somewhere.

We left during the encore thinking we'd beat the HIDEOUS traffic out of the place. Uh, no luck. I was driving and while we quickly backed into the LINE, the line was so long it would have been at least an hour to get out of the parking lot alone. Jim convinced some people to back up and so that we could cut through a line of cars and go the opposite direction towards another exit. That worked and we were on our way in about 1/2 hour. There had to be people still sitting there an hour later. The Hartman Arena's parking plan stinks. Anyway, had a lot of fun, AJ was great and Jake Owens (the opener) was pretty good too.

Puppy Perfection

Are these not the cutest dogs ever? Pup Pup, the Pomeranian, is perfection. She is a almost two year old Pommie and super naughty but oh-so-cute! She's my super snuggle bunny. Tiki, the Chihuahua, should be known as "the nester" for obvious reasons. She can usually be found wrapped up like a burrito on the couch or on her super big dog cushion lying in the sunshine. She's just a sweet old girl.

A Snowy Snowy Day

Is anyone tired of hearing me complain about how much I hate snow? Yikes, I hate it! Why are these two out instead of in?

Alan Jackson Concert

Poor Alan Jackson! He probably thinks he picked a pretty crummy date for a concert in Kansas. I guess he only has to walk across a snowy parking lot. We actually have to drive there, park, walk across a snowy parking lot, stamp off boots, shed coats/gloves/scarves, and then do the whole thing in reverse to go home. UGH.