A Day in the Life

Yesterday was a very busy "MOM" day.

It started with Stinky getting his wisdom teeth out.  Took a little time to get the bleeding to stop, but things eventually quieted down and he spent most of the day on the couch with me trying to convince him to drink or eat something.

Mid-afternoon, Krissy called...she has the stomach virus that Ryan had over the week-end and she is at work for a 2pm conference call.  She finally heads home, only to find they have no power and she can't get in the house.  She comes here in her desperation to just lay down.

Within about 45 minutes, Cait calls her in a meltdown as Austin,  also caught the virus and he has just projectile vomited all over himself and her...while she is holding Luke.  Krissy crawls out of the bedroom and says "Mom can you drive me over to get the boys."

We get over to Cait's and Krissy puts Austin in the car and he looks at me and says "I frow up".

We start the drive back to my house, as they still have no power.  It's now rush hour and I can hear Aus getting more and more agitated as we slowly make our way.  Needless to say, he doesn't make it, but Krissy does a pretty good job catching it all in a towel.

We are almost to my house and Ryan just wants out of the car cause "he doesn't want to see it."  I tell him we are almost there, "see there is the hospital right by Oma's house".  His 4 year old mind goes into overdrive now.  "How bout we drop Austin off at the hospital.  That a good idea.  He's sick and they can take care of him".

"No honey, we can't take Austin to the hospital."

"But he's sick and that's a good place for sick people."

It's hard to explain the difference between sick and really sick to a four year old.  Especially one who wants his brother out of sight as fast as possible.

We finally make it home and Krissy strips Aus in the drive way and wipes him down leaving a trail of car seat and clothes and towels.  (Lucky Jay gets to clean the car seat.)

I finally get everyone situated around my very tiny house. Stinky on the couch in the living room.  Krissy and Austin in the front bedroom, trying to keep the germs confined to one area.  And Ryan in my bedroom watching SpongeBob.

Ryan sticks his head out and says..."Oma, I want a snack."

Ahhh, finally I got someone eating something.

Pesto Changeo

My basil has been growing like crazy, so I finally got around to making pesto last night.

I adapted this recipe from a few others but since I've never made it exactly like this before, I'll have to let you know how it turns out.

Pesto

• 1/3 cup toasted pine nuts (saw them toasted once on TV and since I love toasted pecans on salads....I thought I would prefer toasted pine nuts in my pesto.)
• 4 cloves garlic
• 3 cups of basil leaves (packed)
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt (I was a little more generous)
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 3/4 cup olive oil
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese

I heated a non-stick saute pan on medium until hot and then added the pine nuts.  I tossed and toasted them for 1 - 2 mintues, just until I could start to smell their aroma. I put the pine nuts and garlic into a food processor and pulsed for about 30 seconds.  I then added the basil, salt and pepper and turned the processor on low.  I slowly added the olive oil.  When compbined, I removed the top and added the parmesan cheese and processed for about 1 minute.

I then poured the pesto over two boneless chicken breasts (which I had sliced in half lengthwise, cause they were just too big.) They have been marinating in the fridge for about 24 hours.

I am grilling these tonight, so if...and this is a big if, I can remember to take a picture of the finished product, I will update this post with a new picture.

Update:  Needless to say, we all sat down for dinner and ate the chicken...all gone, before I remembered I was supposed to take a picture.  So sorry.  I'm such a bad blogger.


Next time I using this on a pasta.

Card of the Week

Cait needs a couple birthday cards and CPS has a new card sketch up so that's what I  was working on last night.

Here is the CPS Sketch for this week:

And here are a couple of my interpretations of this sketch.  

And just so you know...my most recent card attempt (we are going to a wedding tomorrow) is currently in the trash.  It totally tanked and despite my efforts to salvage, it could not be saved.  There were some elements that were on track, I just need to "tweek" a few things. (Name the movie).  Hope to show you the new version soon.  I just didn't want you to think that all my cards work outy.  They DON'T!

Quiche of the Night

BW's been traveling for work a lot lately, so I've been basically feeding myself.  (Stinky's never home in the evening...who knows what he is eating these days.)  Consequently, I've been cooking a little different and I've been making a lot of quiches lately.  There easy and a great way to use up various leftovers in my fridge.

First off, I just use a Pillsbury refrigerated pie crust.  I roll it open and put it in a pie plate, crimping the edges with a spoon.  Pierce the bottom with a fork and then back in a 450 degree oven for 10 minutes.  Let cool.

While that is baking, I saute diced shallots and diced mushrooms in a some butter.  As it starts to brown and dry up a bit, I add a splash of Sherry.

Then I pull out the leftovers and chop them up.  Tonight I had a baked potato and broccoli.  Then I fried up about 6 pieces of bacon and diced that as well.  Put all of this in the pie crust along with the shallot and mushroom mixture.  Season with salt and pepper.

Shred up your favorite cheese.  I used Gruyere and Parmesan tonight.  Add that to the pie crust.

Crack 8 eggs into a separate bowl and whisk together with about 1/4 cup of half and half.  Pour the egg mixture into the pie crust.

Bake the quiche in a 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes.

And out comes this:

Very easy and very yummy.

Cait and I have been discussing doing a quiche with ground lamb, feta and spinach.  Maybe I'll make that version next week.

Flashback...to the Days of Decoupage

I just bought this:

And what's interesting about this is that my Dad....when he was probably about the age I am now, decided he wanted to be an "Artesian in Wood".  Now he meant Artisan...but after having 1000 cards printed up with Artesian on them...there was no going back.

He got into refinishing furniture, but mostly he made wood candlesticks.  Give him a chunk of tree and out would come a candlestick.  I remember the year he paid my brother 10 cents for every Christmas tree he dragged home. (Yes...Jeff was occasionally a bit of sucker.  I think he ended up earning a dollar.)

Dad made candlestick after candlestick after candlestick.  If you happened to stop by our house for a visit, you couldn't leave without a visit to his basement workroom to check out his latest creations.  Many guest were kind enough to shell out a few bucks taking one of his candlesticks home with them.

I actually am lucky enough to have a few of his candlesticks.  Here's my collection:

As an additional creative output, he also started to do his own version of decoupage.  (For all you youngin's that was real big back in the 70's.)  Basically, he would stain and varnish pieces of wood.  Then he would soak labels of any jar that passed through the house.  Smucker's jelly was a particular favorite.  Using his giant bottle of his favorite Mod Podge (see, I finally got around to the Mod Podge) he would glue the label onto his homemade wood frame cover it with a few coats of MP and whalla...Art.

Needless to say, his teenage children were pretty merciless about his creative genius.  To his great credit, whenever we would start teasing...he would sit and chuckle quietly (I can still see his belly shaking).

And the enormous irony, is that I have a project in mind that requires...MOD PODGE.

I only wish he had enough of his faculties so that I could share this with him.  I'm sure his belly would shake a little bit.

What a Difference a Shade Makes

I've been living in my house for over 11 years.  When I moved in, the master bedroom had pink carpet, pink walls and pink blinds.  A Pepto-Bismal nightmare.  Many years back, I painted the room a cream color, which helped a lot.   I can't afford to replace the carpeting, but for reason I can't even explain....I left the pink blinds up.

To make matters worse, over a year ago (or longer) I bought some cream colored shades at Ikea for the specific purpose of replacing the blinds.  I brought them home and conveniently stuck them behind a chair and left them there, undisturbed until....MONDAY.

I finally took down the pink blinds and put up the new shades and I am so happy with the results.

It felt so good to take down the dusty, grimy pink blinds and put up these lighter shades.  Gives the room such a bright feeling.

For reasons I can probably explain, I did not take a before picture.  (Just too disgusting to share I think.)

Christmas in July

I'm participating in a Christmas Open House in July Linky thing with Carol from The Answer is Chocolate (great blog name).  I read about it over at her blog and thought it sounded fun.





Here's a card that I made for last Christmas.  These cards were the first set and I was going to make 4 more sets of 6 cards. The plan was to give these away as gifts packs.  You probably won't be to surprised to find out that I never got the other cards made...but there's always this year.

I'm really pleased with the how well the Snowman Stamp turned out.  The pack of Christmas paper that I bought, provided a great background.  The little rhinestone just set it all off.

Can't wait to see all the other Christmas projects.  Thanks for visiting.

Also linking up to Jens Weekend Wrap Up over at Tatertots and Jello.  Make sure you check out the projects over there as well.

Luke's Blessed Day

Baby Luke was Baptized on Sunday and I thought I would share this very special moment.

And here is what Luke thought of all the whoop-dee-doo.

Summertime List

I haven't done a list in a long time and since we are in the middle of a very hot summer, I thought I do a list of me 10 favorite summertime things:

1.  Sun - All winter long, we Northerners dream...imagine the feeling of the warm sun on our faces.  When summer actually gets here, it never disappoints.

2.  Grilling hamburgers and corn on the cob - The consummate summertime food

3.  Sprinklers - Taking our walk today, I just let myself get wet in a couple of sprinklers and I can clearly remember the pure joy of running through them on a hot summer day.

4.  The Great Lakes - Go ahead and pick your favorite.  Doesn't matter...cause they are all great.  Summer in Michigan always includes a visit to one of these beauties.

5.  Sitting on the deck or porch with a glass of lemonade - Wonderful.

6.  Flip flops - I just love the sound of them.  Can't you just hear them?

7.  Golf - I've only been golfing for about 5 years, but it has quickly joined my list of favorite summertime activities.

8.  Garden Fresh Tomatoes - Seriously!

9.  A good summertime read - Maybe it's a thriller or something uber romantic.  Just spending time, sitting on a beach reading a good book is so amazing.

10.  Family - Doing all of the above with my family around...Priceless.

What's some things on your summertime list?  I'd love to collect all the best and come up with a list from all of us.  Please share.

The Craft Doesn't Fall Very Far From the Tree

This whole crafting bug that I've only recently uncovered, is actually something that runs pretty deep through my dad's side of the family.  As I've already mentioned, my niece Kelly makes beautiful beaded necklaces.  Her mother is a card maker, like me...although she is really good.

Her other daughter, Kim,  is an amazing quilter.  And here is what recently arrived in the mail for me.  (Don't you just love getting an unexpected box in the mail.)

Isn't this just beautiful and she sent it to me to celebrate my new start as my last child soon heads off to college.  I just love it.  And that pillow is just adorable.

Someday soon I promise to share some of the talents of my Grandmother Ella and my Great Grandmother Maude.  Both gifted and very crafty women.  It feels good to know this trait runs deep and something I no longer need to explain.  I'm just doing what comes naturally.

Thank you Kim.  I will cherish this always.  (I promise to actually use it when we are pushing 100 degrees each day.)

What a lovely wedding!

Just got back from Minneapolis where we attended my cousin Lori's daughter's wedding.  If you've been reading my blog for a while, you will remember Lori from her marathon line standing where she got PW's signature on her cookbook.  You can read about it here if you don't already know the story.

It was a lovely wedding and I don't think I've ever seen a happier bride and groom.  Carly's eyes sparkled like diamonds the entire evening.

And yes...they danced down the aisle after the ceremony. Congrats Carly and Mateo.  Happiness to you both.

On the Road

I'm currently in Minneapolis with my mom, sister and daughter enjoying the company of my cousins and attending a family wedding.  The wedding was last night and we had a great time.  The bride and groom were just over the moon for each other.  There were tears everywhere including listening to a song that the groom had written for his bride.

And did I happen to mention the food?  Best wedding food ever.  Just delish. 

More later with pics. 

Happy 4th of July to everyone.

Card of the Week

Playing along with the CPS sketch of the week.  As soon as I saw it I knew I had to use it for a couple wedding cards that I need.  It's just a really clever sketch.

This is CPS sketch # 173:

Isn't it purdy.  Doesn't it just scream..."use me".  I actually came up with two cards from this one sketch.

Here's my first card:

And here is my second card:

I have to give a lot of the credit to Lisa Silver.  It was her sample card that inspired me the most.  I also got a great chance to use the medallion stamps that I won from Linda B.  To create the larger gold paper on the second card, I used one medallion stamp with gold ink on a cream colored strip of paper.  I just stamped it over and over again to make it look like designed paper.  (I hope I explained that well enough for the non-cardmaking folks.)  All the small squares are taken from some gold foil papers that I use frequently.

Drum Roll Please....The New Do!

Love my new hair cut. My head just feels...lighter. And it's super easy to do.  When I first got home from the salon, I wasn't sure about it, but I knew I shouldn't decide for sure until I do it myself.

Anyone else out there not sure of their hair until they do it themselves?  It was just puffy in the wrong places and I needed to put my spin on it.

As much as I hate to do this, I am about to post pictures of myself.  If there was a way to just put my hair in the picture and not me, I would do it.

Here goes. (I'm being super brave right now.)

And here's one more...it's a close up and shows my giant saber tooth.  I really hate that tooth.  I've seriously thought about seeing if the dentist could file it down a bit.  It takes over my entire face.  (I do know I'm just a little crazy.)

You know how we can label our posts...I have no idea what to label this one, since I don't have a hair category.  Maybe I need to make a hair label as I am a little pre-occupied with it.

Also, here's hoping BW doesn't suddenly decide to check my blog.  He's out of town and doesn't know I did this yet.  I would hate for him to find out I chopped my hair off this way.  Or...maybe that would be a good way for him to find out.  When I first mentioned I was thinking about this, he was like "short hair...why would you cut your hair?"  When I told him that when we met I had short hair and when we started dating I had short hair...he looked confused.  Guys!?