tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-368103192024-03-07T13:34:06.616-05:00Living Out Loud. . . musings on life and all the people, places, and things I love.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.comBlogger179125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-46513749533836213932012-05-10T14:25:00.001-05:002012-05-10T14:25:20.389-05:00Weeks vs MonthsMiss A is 12 weeks old as of two days ago. Some might think, that means she is 3 months too. But some months have more than 4 weeks so I guess she really isn't - yet. Her 1-month birthday was a day after 4 weeks and each month the gap is bigger. So she will not be 3 months until next week. <br />
Who cares?<br />
I don't know. Maybe no one, but everyone asks how old she is. I answer in weeks still, but I think I'm hitting the point where saying "about X months" is going to be easier for everyone. <br />
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Okay, that topic was much shorter and more lame than I expected. So now I'll just have to ad-lib about something else. What else did I used to talk about on here? Food! Yes. That's a hot topic.<br />
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A has an intolerance for milk that we discovered when she was 2 weeks old. It took another 4 weeks to figure out soy was also an issue. Now I'm not eating either think since I'm nursing. I'm getting used to it. I'm also constantly surprised that every time I whine about it, there's someone in the group that had the same issue. So I feel like a wuss because even though I likely did not know them then, I'm sure they whined less. But whining is my shtick, so I don't feel too bad.<br />
What I feel bad about is that I went from a somewhat healthy vegetarian to the kind that does not eat much of anything good - just junk and lots of carbs. I felt so deprived that I would eat anything I found to be soy and dairy free. Usually that was chips or cookies . . . not vegetables which I'm pretty sure are also devoid of both. I'm getting better though. Having the scale plateau post-baby gave me a wake-up call. I don't have a ton of time for working out so I had better get my diet in better order. Swim suit season is approaching and I still can't fit into most of my non-maternity clothes. This is a problem considering they are mainly fall & winter items. I have 2 pairs of shorts (maternity) and one non-mat pair of capris and that's it. Quite frankly I just do not want to buy new clothes! I want to wear MY clothes. It's hard to find shorts that aren't Daisy Dukes or Bermudas and clearly I was able to scrape together a wardrobe of "normal" length shorts over the seasons and I don't want to abandon them.<br />
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Thrilling blog entry here. Makes you glad I'm back, I'm sure. But time flies when training a 12-week old to nap in her crib. After a whopping 20 minutes she's awake AGAIN. I rocked her for at least half an hour after she woke up last time and now she has not napped as long as she fought me. I would have been tearing my hair out by now with J. The second one IS easier in some regards in that I know better to sweat the small stuff - like this.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-31655902923613744602012-05-08T13:40:00.002-05:002012-05-08T13:40:53.217-05:002012Uh. It's been over a year! And what a year it's been. . . finished P90x, vacationed in USVIs, my toddler became a preschooler, and now we have a 12-week old baby girl.<br />
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I've been wanting to come back here for awhile now, but time is never on my side it seems. I want to use this as a record for A as I did with J. And sometimes I like writing about random things. <br />
<br />
So here I am, breaking the dry spell here. I'll be back. Soon. Likely I'll have a new look and who knows maybe a new name. I wonder how many times I've changed the look and the name!?!? <br />
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Come back and visit. I promise (I think) to be back too.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-22715655929418493792011-04-30T20:15:00.003-05:002011-05-03T14:17:17.212-05:00Butterflies and RainbowsI suspect I could be painting a picture of P90X as being all rainbows and butterflies over here. With the exception of an evening last week when it indeed included a rainbow, this is entirely not the case. I, well we, have discovered my own pattern within the pattern of P90x. It's a pattern of whining. <div><br /></div><div>I like to start start with denial which very quickly moves into anger and bargaining before I lie down on the couch in a state of depression. Most evenings I find acceptance pretty quickly after that warm-up. I really like all the back, shoulder and arm workouts. I don't like legs or yoga though. I still haven't seen much in the way of results, in my opinion. I have gone up, and up in the amount I lift and I feel strong and generally less jiggly. I wish and hope for something more noticeable though before I hit the beach!<div><br /></div><div>So there you have it. One rainbow and no butterflies. I must be holding out for the latter though because I still show up every night. </div></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-86943993412153577012011-04-13T14:09:00.002-05:002011-04-13T15:00:11.962-05:00B-A-N-A-N-A-SBananas.<div><br /></div><div>Though bananas are abundant at every grocery store I visit, to me they are elusive. They are the day lily of fruits. Okay, maybe I'm just particular about bananas. If the peel won't come off they're clearly under ripe, but if they taste "bananay" enough to be Laffy Taffy then they're too ripe. That means when I get a bunch of perfect bananas I gorge on them for a day. I'm wiling to share but I don't advertise that there are new bananas in the house. Once they've passed my version of their peak, I let others in the house have a few before the speckled ones are banished to the freezer for baking. Yesterday was a banana day and I thought they'd last into today but sadly, no.</div><div><br /></div><div>We have a new addition to our house this week, well, in addition to Phase 2 of P90x. Her name is Vera. She's an adorable 5-month old black & white kitty. She's super sweet. J has been able to scare her a couple times but for the most part she lets him hug her and pet her and play with her. Considering she's only lived here three days I think that's awesome. Last night our other kitty stopped hissing at her too. I'm thinking this is because she has secured her place as queen and a not-so simple look of smug superiority is all she needs now. </div><div><br /></div><div>After nursing a calf injury during P90x's recovery week, we're back into the meat of things. My mantra for Phase 1 was "survive" but I didn't see the results D has (shocker there) so my mantra for Phase 2 is "doubles." I'm going to try to get in as many double workouts as possible. Today I ran again after I was rained out yesterday morning. I had an epiphany yesterday which was a really just a realization of the obvious. The epiphany was that while I need to take a day off in-between lifting, I <b>can</b> run more often with fewer days off. In fact, I <b>need</b> to be running more often if I want to conquer this once and for all. I've wanted to be a runner for years - since high school track I suspect. I'm finally getting there, and though my 5ks are not that impressive I couldn't be more pleased. I really want this and I have my eye on a few 5ks and maybe even a mini triathlon this summer. So yeah, I'll need babysitters. Feel free to use the comments field below as a sign up sheet. </div><div><br /></div><div>P90x is all about muscle confusion (oh and X-treme!). There are 3 phases and 2 recovery weeks between phases. Each phase uses some different DVDs. Monday was Chest, Shoulders, Triceps and I wasn't sure I was going to finish the entire workout. In all honesty, I completely gave up on all push-ups 3/4 of the way through. I'm still rocking the abs workout though (So where's even a hint of the six-pack I should be starting to see?!?!? Still looks like the only six-pack related to my body is St. Paulie Girl). Tonight is Back & Biceps which sounds like pull-ups and curls and some other sort of crazy added in for fun. </div><div><br /></div><div>I think I'd better go get a cup of tea. Since starting this workout caffeine has become a necessity. I believe I can thank my misfiring thyroid for that. But I have to leave with one last thing, my dream last night. This is really for anyone reading this who's related to me. I dreamt last night that I was headed down Grandma's street in Masury and where the house and extra lot were was now a HUGE mansion. I think the driveway alone was bigger than Grandma's house and it had many points on the roof as if it was trying to look like an Eastern European castle. Maybe it's a message coming through in the dream and we're Hungarian royalty. ;) </div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-56865860983830246532011-04-07T12:59:00.002-05:002011-04-07T13:51:14.763-05:00Recovery WeekThis is recovery week. However, I've managed to injure myself. I'm limping. I'm not sure what happened considering my workout last night was repeatedly turning my head away from the TV to avoid disturbing <i><a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/black_swan_2010/">Black Swan</a></i> scenes. I need cliff notes for that thing. Maybe my inner Black Swan went for a crazy run last night or something because I woke up limping. My calf is either pulled or just in a perma-cramp. <div>I actually suspect it's a delayed response to <a href="http://ohiokravmaga.com/">Krav Maga</a>. I felt like P90x wasn't X-treme enough and I needed to add in some hand-to-hand combat skills. I actually really enjoyed Krav class and if I had time I would pursue it but clearly I do not. It was a good workout, but unfortunately between taking turns and taking instruction, I wasn't able to keep my heart rate up the entire hour. I cannot do doubles 4x a week and P90x is only 1/3 done. Oh and there's that little thing called running that I want to keep doing. </div><div>In fact we did a 5k this past weekend - <a href="http://www.cookforest.com/marathon/">Cook Forest 5k</a>. I have really only two complaints (since I'm clearly in a little bit of a complaining mood). The first is my fault, I should have read the description as being relative. Clearly the only "significant" hill to someone living in the Allegheny Mountains is at mile 2 but to the flatlander I've become, I beg to disagree. The second complaint is that I didn't look at who the run supported. I would have loved to see it support the park or some other non-profit or cause. That could keep me from participating in the future. </div><div>I did finish the race though! I ran all but that significant hill (about 20 yards) and my time was not great but not hideous. I have room for improvement and I plan to improve! We have a couple future 5ks in mind but I'm not sure which will work out. There's the <a href="http://www.thewilds.org/events/ecothon.asp">EcoThon</a> which I've done before and is pretty tough, plus the <a href="http://www.komencolumbus.org/">Race for the Cure</a>. We'll see. First I need to stop limping.</div><div>Next week we start phase two of P90x. The workouts will change a little and we can add more whole grain carbs back (ha! as if I was good at doing low carb). I suspect D will go back to low-carb again to jump start phase two. I may also. I'm excited to see how this month goes. I already see a little difference in myself both in how I look, how I feel, and my strength. P90x - I hate it, but I love it!</div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-75923107571186876652011-03-18T13:09:00.001-05:002011-03-21T15:51:52.012-05:00money back guaranteeI'm still here and still doing P90x! I realize hiding outside the realm of blogdom so no one could find out I quit DOES sound like me. However, no, that's not the case. I've actually been busy, really busy. We left the day after the last blog entry and spent four days in Pennsylvania, mainly Pittsburgh, to celebrate my mom's birthday. <div> D did a ton better than me in keeping with the <i>fat shredder</i> portion of P90's nutritional plan. The first night at dinner I lasted about 10 minutes in the presence of soft pretzels before they had to be mine. Otherwise though I had salmon and the next night was simply veggies & tofu so I didn't do horribly but I didn't do great. We were also unable to do the workouts though we'd hoped we could. Bleh. But we came home and got back on the wagon, well for a few days. We had 2 birthday parties, one was at our house for J and then strep hit. What a mess. So we've really had only two half weeks instead of two full weeks. Yeah, there goes our money back guarantee. <div> With that said, we do keep going back and pushing play. We do our best, and forget the rest. We're still going - and D is still doing better. I really love how easy it is for guys to lose weight. That's totally awesome. I really like to continually hear about the downward spiral of the scale. In exchange I retain water, that's how I roll. Clearly the difference is annoying, but I'm not letting it get to me this time, at least not yet. Really.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> In other news, my baby is three! He seems like such a big boy . . . nearly potty trained now, taking a swim class without me, refusing to use his booster seat, and using his imagination all the time! I'm just glad he still likes to cuddle. I love that with me he decides we'll be cats or birds - I'm the momma and he's the baby and we're in our nest cuddling. Love it.</div><div> What else do I love? Yes, carbs but I was thinking something other than food. Spring! I have crocus that are blooming as well as both daffodil and allium about to bloom. It's 68 degrees, and though I'm writing this with strep, sick and in bed, I have all the windows in the house open to enjoy this year's first, full day of spring. I think my meds are working, and I hope tomorrow it's still warm so I can enjoy it a bit. I might have to get outside and run - turning tomorrow into a double!</div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-61009211069920274532011-03-09T14:31:00.004-05:002011-03-09T15:00:16.692-05:00Yeah! Yoga!I was really nervous about P90x. Then I was really annoyed by having to change what I eat. Finally, I was simply overwhelmed with this being added to my already over-flowing plate. In addition to the four "events" I'm planning over the next couple months, and my work to get work, I'm also still involved in all my pet projects AND thought now would be a good time to start potty training a certain little man. <div> </div><div>Between potty training and P90x, I have landed upon an unlikely mantra, 'It's always darkest before dawn." It seems like just as I'm about to drown myself in a toilet, J has a break through. And just as I'm getting negative about P90x (yep, already), I have an awesome workout.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last night was Shoulders & Arms and I was less than enthusiastic. I was actually contemplating bailing on Ab Ripper after the arms workout . . . yes, feeling <i>that</i> negative. Well, I've got to say I really liked the Shoulder & Arm workout! I felt really strong, and I'm not sore at all - yet. I'm doing lighter weight but higher reps because I'm not looking to add bulk anywhere. Still, I'm not wussing out either with the weight. I stuck with it and did Ab Ripper too, and it was just as difficult as the first time. I can't wait to see those 6-pack abs I surely have, hibernating maybe a little more than "just" below the surface.</div><div><div> </div><div>I feel like I'm starting to hit a groove though. I'm not as cranky about the food, and I'm not craving carbs. I'm really excited about yoga tonight too. I know it will be intense - I've already watched the video in preparation. Still, I'm looking forward to it. I won't lie, I'm really looking forward to Savasana. I've been wanting to get back into yoga - and here it is. Yeah! Yoga!</div></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-37081917964112589772011-03-06T11:21:00.003-05:002011-03-06T11:58:36.965-05:00chocolate croissants consume my thoughts<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Most weeks J and I share a breakfast treat one day. In the summer it's Saturdays during the farmer's market, but in the winter it fluctuates. Usually once a week though we share a chocolate croissant. Our favorite is from Le Chatelaine but we often have to settle for Whole Foods' version. I woke up this morning thinking about these and I almost sent D out for some. But then I remembered . . . egg whites. I'm supposed to have egg whites. Gag.<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I seem to have fooled a number of people into thinking I have amazing will power. Ha! I have very little when it comes to food at least. I miss my croissant. I have pondered it. I eventually came to the conclusion that I deserve one. I mean, it's part of my constitutional right as it's clearly pivotal to my pursuit of happiness. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I made the stupid egg whites but they were nearly inedible. I finally managed to eat them, without gagging, by putting them on an English muffin with some soy sausage. The latter are both listed in the meal plan example I have so I'm not cheating. It was more a comedy of errors at the stove that made the eggs vile. I don't hate eggs, but I don't love them and I'm particular about how they are prepared. Overall a chocolate croissant is far easier and more delicious. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>If you read the last entry, you know I'm starting P90x. We did our fit test last night and decided to start on the meal plan this morning. The first month's meal suggestions are very Atkins-like. That will be hard for me. I feel like I eat pretty well, however I do love carbs. I think I can do it with a few adjustments (i.e. chocolate snacks & chai tea). I need to be spoiled, even if I'm the only one doing the spoiling. I think I'll do better on mornings D is not around. I may have outdone him on the fit test, but he has a lot more will power with food. Apparently things don't have to taste good for him to eat them - and consistency isn't an issue either. Ugh.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I got online this morning to check out the P90x community I was told existed. You know, I understand selling P90x drinks, bars, supplements, etc and claiming they are they ones to have. But to have your website structured to charge for community support seems just wrong. It's an additional $3 a week for the blog, videos, recipes and more. Seriously?!? That's annoying, even for an infomercial product. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I was also annoyed to see that the free calculator/wizard said I should be eating 1300 calories on this plan. WHAT?!?! Ah yeah, I could eat that many calories while sitting on the cough in front of soaps and lose weight. I'm pretty certain I was well above that calorie count when I was doing Weight Watchers . . . where I successfully lost over 25 pounds, meeting my goal and becoming a lifetime member. But I'm doing this for more than weight loss. I want to be in shape and have muscle definition. I had already been thinking about adding lifting back into my repertoire because my arms are getting flabby. So this makes sense to me, for now. I should also note that I'll be in the Virgin Islands in the next few months and I do recall my previous photos on the beach. I would have to destroy any photographic evidence if I went in my current "condition."</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>But back to positivity, my fit test went well last night. I only failed one part - the jumping jacks. My calves cramped up so I did a modified version. Considering how hardcore this program is going to be, I labeled that as a failure. In Tony Horton speak 'I'm currently struggling with' jumping jacks. On the bright side, I did nearly 3x the number of pull-ups as the minimum, and I blew past the minimum for curls as well as in & outs. I feel ready. I think it's good to start the program feeling good and positive. I'm glad the fit test has gotten me into that state-of-mind. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>After the fit test we watched a couple of the DVDs to see what was coming. I like to have all the information and know what's coming. Good thing too, because we figured out we need to re-work our pull-up bar. D is going to the hardware store today. We also learned we need more weights - well weight options. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>We'll see how I feel tomorrow. Tonight is Chest & Back as well as Ab Ripper. Yikes. I haven't watched the Ab one yet so I'll likely do that this afternoon. I NEED to know ahead of time what horror awaits. Stay tuned. I suspect the next entry may be comically different than this.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-25012984928665784892011-03-06T10:07:00.003-05:002011-03-06T11:12:57.994-05:00Fickle<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I looked for a good quote using "fickle," but I couldn't find anything suitable. Many of the quotes used the word to, rightly in my opinion, describe the collective consciousness of a mass of people (particularly with politics, fame, pop culture). I was looking for a quote that read more like a confession. I would not say I'm normally fickle, but with this blog, yeah, <i>I'm hot and I'm cold; I'm yes and I'm no</i>.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A friend (you know who you are) sent me a rather old article yesterday, which I read and enjoyed, <i><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2003/03/caring-for-your-introvert/2696/">Caring for your Introvert</a></i>. I think everyone who knows me knows I'm an introvert but if not - there you have it! I'm on the more social end of the spectrum these days, but I'm no extrovert. Until reading this, I had never considered the idea that the world is run by extroverts, and hence extrovert qualities are desired. However, I have experienced that! I have wished I could become an extrovert and change the entire basis of myself. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>For being myself, again an introvert, I've also often been asked "what's wrong" or told I should appear happier and more outgoing ("why don't you smile"). Beyond that though I've also been wrongly labled as "haughty" and even bitchy because I'm introverted. The article suggests that extroverts don't understand us but I'd like to go farther . . . many introverts don't seem to understand either because some of the labeling and misunderstanding I've encountered is from them! </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Why mention this? Well, this clearly affects my blogging, in that I always think before I speak (or write) and I don't want to share all my thoughts or feelings with people. The combination leads to a lack of blogging topics or at least unauthentic writing. Sometimes I read what I've written, and think 'I'm a better writer than this; how embarrassing,' so I delete it all. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I'm not upset at the continual evolution of this blog. I'm not looking to find a particular audience for this, nor will I monetize it. So evolution is fine. I mean I'm evolving as a person so it makes sense. I plan to abandon recipes here. I don't enjoy taking bad photos any more than I enjoy posting poorly written entries. I can do nice food shots, but I really hate dragging out my studio lights to photograph my dinner before I eat it. I'm hungry! </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Adoption updates . . . I wanted to chronicle our adoption process here. Well, I guess I had hoped there wouldn't be this long period of waiting, or perhaps I didn't realize I'd have so little to say while waiting. I'll still post any update I have, but at this point they seem few and far between.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I plan to update my travel blog after some upcoming adventures. I'll also make sure it's up-to-date with past trips. So be sure to check that every so often. I'll likely link to it from here though so don't worry. I hope to keep my writing blog updated as well. I feel like I have zero audience over there, but I like that. It's also very focused. I think this blog could use more focus, or re-focus.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The newest incarnation of this blog will mainly be anecdotal. In addition to tidbits about daily life, I'll mainly be documenting my progress on P90x. (gulp) Yeah, I've been talked into doing it. My couch-to-5k program is taking longer than it should (that's an understatement). Having a buddy may have helped with that, and for P90x I will have one. D got the program and really wants to do it. How can I sit and snack during primetime TV while he's working out and getting ripped? I don't expect, or necessarily want, the latter but overall I feel like I should try the program as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>More to come!</div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-73811766316542487282011-01-18T16:20:00.004-05:002011-02-17T15:31:32.298-05:00where oh where has the blogger goneAnother gap in my blogging - I KNOW! Yet again, I'm at a place where I'm considering abandoning the blog(s). I keep reinventing this thing in hopes . . . . in hopes of various things.<div>In hopes it will be useful. But to whom?</div><div>In hopes I'll come back to it and write more. </div><div>In hopes it will simply be a space, a thing, to which I enjoy giving my time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Honestly, with even minimal thought I quickly come up with only negative responses to these hopes. I mean, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">c'mon</span>, I can give my time to far better things than a blog, a nonentity. So take that hope #3. And hope #2, well, I have a separate writing blog where I had wanted to explore my writing and the serious commitment I was making to it. I haven't been over there either. And lastly, hope #1 is a constant issue because I *should* blog for myself but I don't. And since I'm being honest here, as long as I'm not blogging for myself then I'm not likely to feel at home here. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not trying to be the next big anything with this blog so I really have little business blogging for others. On the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">flipside</span> to that, blogging for myself is pointless. Really, I don't see the point. I mean I see the point to writing for myself but not blogging. I don't put in-depth information out into the world. I'm a private person. I will tell you that what I tend to blog here is within the confines of what I'd discuss at a cocktail party. I'm quiet, shy, a wall-flower so if you know me you know that's not a whole lot of information. I guess that's part of why I find it so hard to fill posts. I'm editing myself. I'm editing myself right out of entire posts.</div><div><br /></div><div>So maybe I will drop this one and just keep my travel log and writing blogs up. Release myself from the self-imposed blogging pressure. I could pick up some paper and a pen and actually write openly, honestly and completely for myself there. I'd still edit but at least I'd try to limit it. </div><div><br /></div><div>So yeah, that's where I'm at right now and why I'm not here much.<br /><div><br /></div></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-58991664191263043582010-10-17T14:12:00.011-05:002010-10-17T17:41:22.150-05:00Eating like it's Spring<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I'm a vegetarian so it would make sense that I like salad. Though in my case, this is reversed - I've come to like salads because as a vegetarian often times salad is the only item available for me. Becoming a weight watchers lifetime member solidified my salad love. The lower the points the more I love it! <div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>With the change of season, I've gotten out fall and winter clothing, and I've come to the joyous realization that even my fat pants are snug. So salad it is. This is a little bothersome because the toddler boy needs "real" food. So far it's worked out fine but I know long-term this will become and issue. Stay tuned. For now though, I thought I'd share my approach to the boring SALAD.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIy-irXlEY7i4SFLAw36UGX_Nph_IUJpB9MdJssyane_qQHpHityhnY4k1JaG6JRKmpx5UQyUODfcR2RhrJcleqYVGXD7yn8Z00bIUpvEpy9so5NDRNJ6nf7ylmdYcd7-t7hJEDA/s320/MH900154176.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529106212023580402" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>First and foremost is prep. During the summer I frequented the farmer's market and whatever was in-season and looked good was what I got. Normally though, I buy whatever lettuce is on sale or a mix of different greens that strike my fancy. I'm not above the bag of salad either. </div><div><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Tip:</b> Though the following idea may sound obvious, I thought it was pure genius (thanks AJ for sharing) . . . wash the lettuce, dry it, store it, and serve it in a giant salad spinner. It works great to have everything ready to go and keeps me from derailing due to well, let's call a spade a spade here, complete laziness. Personally, I also store the veggies in the salad spinner that I will want in each type of salad. For instance, something like cucumber I may use in every salad, whereas carrot I would not so I'd leave the carrots in their bag, not the spinner.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Next you have all your toppings and quite frankly this makes or breaks a salad in my opinion. I like to have all the toppings on hand for any type of salad I could possibly decide to want for dinner. This also helps keep me on the straight and narrow because if I was in the mood for miso I would potentially bail on the salad if I didn't have what was needed for a miso salad. I try to fool-proof everything so the salad is actually the fastest and simplest thing to eat for dinner, besides a bowl of cereal of course.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Here is where I contradict myself and say next is NOT the toppings but figuring out which salads you like best and may want to make. Below is my list of favorites, check them out and they may be your new favorite too!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/sophies-chopped-salad-recipe/index.html">Bobby Flay's Sophie's Chopped</a> (served at Mesa Grille)</div><div><a href="http://www.cpk.com/menu/salads/">CPK's Field Greens</a></div><div><a href="http://www.mollywoos.com/Menus.cfm">Molly Woo's Miso Salad</a> (aka House Salad)</div><div><a href="http://www.panerabread.com/menu/cafe/salads.php">Panera's Fuji Apple</a> (sans chicken)</div><div><a href="http://www.cpk.com/menu/salads/">CPK's BBQ Chopped</a> (sans chicken) </div><div><br /></div><div>The others are my recipes which I will describe briefly below each. </div><div><b>Taco Salad </b></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>This is a modern version of my moms 1980s taco salad with Catalina dressing and Taco Sauce. I add black beans, veggies, and non-iceberg lettuce in this. It is requested each time I visit family & friends in Texas. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Cheddar Apple </b></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I love cheddar and apple together and often eat that as a sandwich on a baguette or ciabatta bun with some honey mustard. Take it off the bread and put it into a salad - WaLa!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Wedge Salad</b></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I think you probably know this one; it's not really my recipe. Of course I use fake bacon in mine. I always have tomatoes as well and sometimes diced cucumber for extra veggies. This is my only iceberg lettuce salad; sometimes I just really want the crisp, watery iceberg.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Santa Fe Lime</b></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I just made up that name though the salad is real. This is based around a couple things - jicama, black beans, and <a href="http://www.newmansown.com/product_detail.aspx?productid=75">Lime Vinaigrette</a> (one of my current loves). I have no clue what makes it Santa Fe in my mind considering I've not had anything like this when visiting Santa Fe. Maybe it's actually more San Diego? Who knows. I don't particularly care; it's good and I like it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>This many salad recipes may sound like you'll need to keep a lot of ingredients on hand, but that's not really true. I could make all but the wedge salad right now and that's due to the iceberg lettuce. Most of these salads have similar ingredients. Once you have determined <i>your</i> favorite salads look at the ingredients and make your grocery list from that. It is important to me to have just the right dressing; I have two shelves on the door of my fridge full of dressings. Again this is to keep from being derailed by my salads being too far off the mark from the original, not satisfying and hence leading to desserts (yes, plural).</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Once you've bought your toppings - from veggies to beans and from croutons to fancy imported cheeses - organize and store them in a way that works for you. I keep all my salad fixings in one drawer in the fridge and on one shelf in the pantry so I can see it all. Then I grab and go for whatever I have in mind. Remember, these are your favorite salads so you won't need a recipe. Likely you've eaten these a million times so you know exactly what to grab!</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><b>Tip:</b> Looking to add crunch without the wasteful calories of a crouton (I'm not really anti-crouton but <a href="http://www.weightwatchers.com/">WW's</a> point system is.)? Try roasted garbanzo beans. They're easy to make, packed with protein and add the needed crunch to a salad. Use 1 TBS of olive oil per can of beans. Drain and rinse the canned beans and place in bowl - add the oil and your whatever seasonings you like. Don't be shy with the seasoning! The beans need flavor so add about 2 teaspoons of dried seasoning per can plus salt to taste. If you like them plain just add salt, pepper and the olive oil and bake. You'll want to watch these the first time you make them. My first batch was undercooked and my second nearly overcooked. Bake at 450 degrees for 30-40 minutes. They crunch up slightly more once cooled too. I set the timer for 10 minutes and shake the pan each time it goes off to stir them a bit. Enjoy!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Though autumn has arrived with all it's comfort foods, I will be eating as if it's spring and summer until those skinny pants are fitting again. I need to locate my weight watcher's book with all the points. I'm seriously not buying a new wardrobe. It's becoming my MO to end with a question, so . . . . what's YOUR favorite restaurant salad (or salad of your own creation)? </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-43792591212985174202010-09-08T12:53:00.002-05:002010-09-08T13:52:27.950-05:00ConsiderationsAs fall approaches it's naturally a time of change. I used to pass a reservoir on my way to work each day, and I always noticed the seasonal turnover of the lake each fall. The mix of water color across the lake was mesmerizing to me. And not surprisingly, the beautiful scene gave me a sense of melancholy. Where changes in the spring, be it lake turnover, budding trees, or melting snow, fill me with exuberance, I get melancholy this time of year. I love fall and I can handle change. I guess I'm a summer girl though and it's harder to transition into fall regardless of how much I love it once I do. This year I can feel the itch for change and I can see that in others too. <br /><br />I'm considering a number of changes, from how I interact with people to the table we eat dinner at, and my head is swirling with the possibilities. I may spend my evening at the library tonight just trying to think through it all, and only because the zoo is closed. During our visit today I could have sat in the aquarium for hours. I made a mental note to return there with a notebook some rainy afternoon.<br /><br />Do you feel an autumnal desire to make a change or changes in your life? I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours - comment below! Okay, okay I'll give you a sample, but it's a utilitarian change, nothing exciting. I'm hoping to change how I approach my computer time with a '<a href="http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2010/09/08/kicking-the-e-mail-habit-30-day-experiment/">Kick the E-mail Habit 30-day Challenge</a>.'<div><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"When you're finished changing, you're finished." - Benjamin Franklin</div></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-25652753391703525032010-09-07T14:55:00.026-05:002010-09-07T21:36:30.878-05:00Here and ThereAs I admitted in my last post, I've been, well, busy. Perhaps I should find a synonym that annoys me less. In any case, I also mentioned I'd carved out time for a few things including weekend trips. Below are the highlights - enjoy!<br /><br />On or around July 4th we began to stew in unending heat and humidity. This has continued with cool offs only a few days here and there up through this week. Today it's 90 and we're in the midwest so that's neither normal or abnormal but still hot (for us). I remember feeling like I was melting when we went to the parade and watched Mr. Franklin read the Declaration of Independence.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Lng0XwhSCvNqrUw9PrcxMva7w4-HXwsiUXIdYz0gEjRkBzfTGg_ItpccS4ZQv9kCrvPCViAZl8tOL8P2ifcXFBq-MwqBy91cqJKurPHl0R_ZFYHrWDcPv4-JSib_5n-GkrCltA/s1600/DSC_0726.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Lng0XwhSCvNqrUw9PrcxMva7w4-HXwsiUXIdYz0gEjRkBzfTGg_ItpccS4ZQv9kCrvPCViAZl8tOL8P2ifcXFBq-MwqBy91cqJKurPHl0R_ZFYHrWDcPv4-JSib_5n-GkrCltA/s320/DSC_0726.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514274286751072610" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisfktUo85OHF1Vpo1QlXvin_9cQDiwjLWdEDiamZdrNb2_WBQwa8wvx-9Ncwhqp8KkJlwk7Rf5jZicZYNzoe7iRysmkaTUu-LaEswIWqHRdNEGLgoA1etrvnVLBX3FcHR_Ucsrg/s1600/DSC_0764.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisfktUo85OHF1Vpo1QlXvin_9cQDiwjLWdEDiamZdrNb2_WBQwa8wvx-9Ncwhqp8KkJlwk7Rf5jZicZYNzoe7iRysmkaTUu-LaEswIWqHRdNEGLgoA1etrvnVLBX3FcHR_Ucsrg/s320/DSC_0764.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514275777477695970" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Our mid-summer vacation was to <i>the </i>lake, as in the one D spent summers at growing up. It's about 40 minutes north of my parents' home so we bookended the trip visiting them. The lake is small, about a mile wide and probably triple that in length. It has a turn of the century (the last century) amusement park on it which sadly is in need of much repair. At the other end of the lake from the park is an extremely small town, and surrounding it all is rural Pennsylvania. It's quiet. It's beautiful. And we wish we could spend more time there, but alas. Last year J was afraid of the water. He has a lot more fun this year but was still wary of the blue gills that would swim right up and bump your toes or legs.</div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdehyaeTeWZzqP9GaQD9IO48vYg14EyFuc43B_osxC03N9mVJx4v0jHb0_Qqkv6_Agse8VTzogQEzk4Z7w6d5pQBN8J-KM7oUkxNmLhJXUg-1CCIpXwc8tldYq1_mwmU2gglq9Uw/s1600/mornin1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdehyaeTeWZzqP9GaQD9IO48vYg14EyFuc43B_osxC03N9mVJx4v0jHb0_Qqkv6_Agse8VTzogQEzk4Z7w6d5pQBN8J-KM7oUkxNmLhJXUg-1CCIpXwc8tldYq1_mwmU2gglq9Uw/s320/mornin1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514279135110680402" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReB9ctJr-hbMOgvyE9EIdU3zjJS0eIjrueDAtWQEPzI1plUneCLlpuM4ImQPiBtlhcV-wBvVnLRb2Nqm72G8dXWqRVyAcyaPutwRLJrMJL-acYYKMn0HFViQdtH4W-d74eD-pBQ/s1600/sunset4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReB9ctJr-hbMOgvyE9EIdU3zjJS0eIjrueDAtWQEPzI1plUneCLlpuM4ImQPiBtlhcV-wBvVnLRb2Nqm72G8dXWqRVyAcyaPutwRLJrMJL-acYYKMn0HFViQdtH4W-d74eD-pBQ/s320/sunset4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514279138890705826" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>We celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary in August. As usual we discussed the options of going away versus doing absolutely nothing. And as usual we ended up somewhere in-between. We visited a conservation center, that works with zoos all over the world, and took a safari tour. It was cool but we both think it would have been better if we'd done a sunset tour as it would have been cooler, and more animals would have been active. Now we know what to do next time!</div><div><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCjm6cF_XMlbH8PhYYJ2ipOYryWerufgGKEdPPpL1G3FM-rIasaQ3HE5x_U93-AVmG4Wji7uR5L1LyrjP9Jg5Bdw2YOQGCB_jPhCih6HLa1jevy3KcRFHfv1xoNDietcPzZC60A/s1600/DSC_0330.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCjm6cF_XMlbH8PhYYJ2ipOYryWerufgGKEdPPpL1G3FM-rIasaQ3HE5x_U93-AVmG4Wji7uR5L1LyrjP9Jg5Bdw2YOQGCB_jPhCih6HLa1jevy3KcRFHfv1xoNDietcPzZC60A/s320/DSC_0330.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514358540468440098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdviyHmoaweNVgiWXDqJwfmXB1xoK3zUXtIql-WWcoN42cH3duF95b2os6UVo3SRB8OiPx-oPCdl7aFuodTuWlv9tTsMGxPYrAoOZcPocl5LqJCYwuOmVVYlu2N8OmsbXWNs0DQ/s1600/DSC_0301.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdviyHmoaweNVgiWXDqJwfmXB1xoK3zUXtIql-WWcoN42cH3duF95b2os6UVo3SRB8OiPx-oPCdl7aFuodTuWlv9tTsMGxPYrAoOZcPocl5LqJCYwuOmVVYlu2N8OmsbXWNs0DQ/s320/DSC_0301.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514358532003063650" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We traveled over this past weekend, Labor Day, to visit my parents and the fair we grew up attending each year. This is a small fair but it still has vendors offering elephant ears, not just funnel cakes, so clearly it's awesome. I like a small fair. I don't need six vendors selling me burritos when one or two is fine. I don't even need a butter sculpture. <br /><br />This was J's first fair. We went through the animal barns first - horse, cows, pigs, goats, sheep and then the beloved chickens. Not surprisingly this was J's favorite barn. We had to go through it twice. My father met us there after we were done with the barns and the chickens were the only ones J wanted to show him. Of course I too love the chickens and so much so that I didn't actually get any photos of J's excitement as he ran through the aisles. I was too busy getting close-ups of the birds and working through my own excitement. My bad.<br /><br />After the animals we hit the center field of tractors - so many tractors. J was equally happy here. Then we moved on to lunch, games, and of course dessert (the elephant ear!!!!). It was cold and rainy but overall still a good time and a nostalgic way to welcome fall.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6gixz_JRAr7x99PySWu7HchYykJR0KOxiEErcMPz9L4Atknye4rHQdFxGLdAr-Ef4XXOKe0nVcscbIsyE-PZslbvPVLDMGshQcpM3MeT1GV-_V39xlLqmdOBkvqvVuvoKCYGzw/s1600/DSC_0428.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6gixz_JRAr7x99PySWu7HchYykJR0KOxiEErcMPz9L4Atknye4rHQdFxGLdAr-Ef4XXOKe0nVcscbIsyE-PZslbvPVLDMGshQcpM3MeT1GV-_V39xlLqmdOBkvqvVuvoKCYGzw/s320/DSC_0428.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514364171802642146" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKhhwsw6IUIa6G3H8cXUrxvkYbsjsFYg8XH-zGY1lOq1fsZBa5uZO2g3Pja9dM5XAaSBOUBfbLZ4QFwKv6fj6zDrDjHaJAVUP2INSvqpzOD84ofUTfRrDm11n45t9J9JA24tugg/s1600/DSC_0464.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKhhwsw6IUIa6G3H8cXUrxvkYbsjsFYg8XH-zGY1lOq1fsZBa5uZO2g3Pja9dM5XAaSBOUBfbLZ4QFwKv6fj6zDrDjHaJAVUP2INSvqpzOD84ofUTfRrDm11n45t9J9JA24tugg/s320/DSC_0464.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514363622332920658" /></a>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-82434003587556932572010-09-07T14:08:00.005-05:002010-09-07T14:54:56.653-05:00Put up or Shut up<i>I've been so busy</i><b><i>.</i> </b>I hate when people say that. But I know sometimes it's actually true, and when it is I don't mind hearing it. I've actually been <i>so busy</i> myself for the past few weeks. I've been working on freelance work in all my spare time and that's why there have been no blogs. I did manage to carve out time to celebrate my birthday, take a couple weekend trips out-of-town, and put up a bunch of goodies. <div><br /></div><div>Our CSA came to an end last week; that's a little on the early side but we knew that going in. Between that, the farmer's market, our garden, and a trip to the berry farm, I've been able to freeze and can quite a bit of things. I froze two types of jam, blue berries, pesto, and corn. I hope to get at least one more batch of pesto frozen this weekend. I love pesto and I'll know next year to plan 7 or 8 basil plants since the 5 I have has not yielded as much as I would have liked. I've also discovered that though I love basil, I absolutely adore rosemary and it's likely my favorite herb. </div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-BawKPP7PyBFlOxFKz6lu6iNOhP8b3hSOFt0vy20hz4NsbQqdY6kwBZwUm8lUT_qahi9PTIUg04ouqvdjXP3OzIPMXYX4D5RA4KIvjueBldgrodyxQW4ss9CkMNhkgGVNcGTNQ/s1600/Raspberry+Jam.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-BawKPP7PyBFlOxFKz6lu6iNOhP8b3hSOFt0vy20hz4NsbQqdY6kwBZwUm8lUT_qahi9PTIUg04ouqvdjXP3OzIPMXYX4D5RA4KIvjueBldgrodyxQW4ss9CkMNhkgGVNcGTNQ/s320/Raspberry+Jam.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514261819153253954" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>There should be a name for this time of year, between summer and fall. The days are noticeably shorter and range wildly in temperature - today is 90 here but yesterday was 80 and tomorrow is forecasted to be in the 70s. That's crazy but also so normal for this time of year that clearly needs a name. It's also when gardeners are inundated with tomatoes and zucchini. We only grew tomatoes this year. We have 8 heirloom plants and they are massive, however they're not yielding a crazy amount of fruit. I've gotten enough to freeze some pints of salsa as well as a handful of containers of oven roasted tomatoes, however I've had to supplement from the farmer's market. I also got 12 pints of tomatoes canned. I hope the remaining tomatoes ripen in time for this weekend so I can move on to quarts and do a last batch. </div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnK-41hnhvJncZ1v1RjQRIHdf0KCRwv6ViXdZNhN3Ch_gfiluxFzRBzjg04oUJpCsW9Wz9wk8VPWXC_rCddhfFXbCamsMhyE6D6FJctjP1Giee7kaaCPYI-D3q8jtn28gH1ffJiA/s1600/Salsa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnK-41hnhvJncZ1v1RjQRIHdf0KCRwv6ViXdZNhN3Ch_gfiluxFzRBzjg04oUJpCsW9Wz9wk8VPWXC_rCddhfFXbCamsMhyE6D6FJctjP1Giee7kaaCPYI-D3q8jtn28gH1ffJiA/s320/Salsa.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514261853631908290" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>This is my first year of canning and that is the source for my blog title - <i>Put up or Shut Up. </i>I've been talking about wanting to can for at least two seasons now. I spent most of the summer filling our freezer, hesitant to actually get the canning supplies out and try my hand at it. Well, it's easy! I'm so excited to have successfully canned peach butter, tomatoes and jelly (okay the latter wasn't a success but that was an issue with overly juicy peppers not their processing) that I'm looking forward to apple butter, applesauce, and even soups this fall! Now I need a place to store all these goodies in the basement. Of course I'm set on something vintage, so I've been scouring Craigslist. </div><div><br /></div><div>Admittedly I could have also called the post <i>Put up AND Shut Up</i> considering ever since the arrival of a large box of canning jars and accessories from my mom arrived, D has been bugging me about using them. He didn't think I actually would and that they'd just take up space. Ah, but now they are taking up space and filled with garden fresh fruits and veggies for winter. Someone will have to shush now. </div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-34298713501894986882010-08-26T16:22:00.002-05:002010-08-26T16:24:17.469-05:00CommentsI've been gone awhile - just really busy. I have quite a few things I'd like say, but still no time. Just wanted to say that comment moderation has been enabled. Got some comments that were odd to say the least so I'll moderate them for awhile or forever. Whatev. More later.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-65890499877412574382010-07-04T13:35:00.011-05:002010-07-11T14:38:05.563-05:00Various<div style="text-align: left;">I haven't done a "various" blog post in a long time. I've sort of missed them - have you? As per my tradition, these are mainly updates.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>- Breaking my own rule right out of the gate, as this is not an update. Ha! While it could have been about 5 degrees cooler everyday last week, I generally like heat and humidity especially in the early evening when the blazing sun is below the trees. I appreciate the sun for keeping us all alive, don't get me wrong. I just don't like it blazing down directly on me. I prefer the same 90 degree temperature but with indirect sun. I'm not at all picky though. </div><div>We finally tried out the fountains at Ballantrae Park in Dublin. Anything that is compared to the Easton fountains is an automatic negative for me so I was a little leery. However, it was great! Absolutely no shade but considering J insisted I remain at his side (I don't blame him since we didn't go with other kids) it was fine because I was soaked. I hope to go again this afternoon and this time I'll wear my bathing suit. I've decided I'm too impatient for the "quick" dry of quick dry shorts. I hope to get some photos this afternoon too - cross your fingers!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>- Our house is still being "landscaped," though right now it looks more like a foreclosure-scape. Perhaps we were too hasty in ripping out the hedges. It looked better at first but now the once empty beds with freshly tilled dirt are dry and full of weeds. Very attractive. D spent May beside himself over how horrible it looked; fretting that all eyes were on his eye-sore of a yard. Worried that all the neighbors were whispering and pointing. June was a month of acceptance that it is what it is. Now in the heat of July we're simply waiting. Waiting to get on our landscaper's schedule now that we've finally gotten quotes from him for the work. They'll be prepping all the beds in the front, and D will then plant the trees and shrubs himself. Of course we cannot get any of this done until the masonry company repairs our brick wall (ah yeah, rebuilds our brick wall). Seems I failed to mention the pile of bricks in our front side yard. Pretty. Supposedly that work will be done this week though it was supposed to be done last week. All I know is even I'm starting to think the house looks like complete ass outside.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>- After two grueling, yes grueling, weeks of working on our adoption profile, I took a copy to our attorney on Friday. Attorney or lawyer - is there a difference? I like attorney better but I'm not sure why. I use lawyer more but I think only because it's faster to type. </div><div>Anyway, I seriously spent every single naptime and every single evening working on this thing for nearly two weeks. I had to locate images, scan them, color correct them, crop them, re-size them and then finally place them into the document. I used Word and if you don't already know, Word doesn't like too many images in one document. And if you get the images too close to one another, no amount of wrapping voodoo will keep them from dancing all over the page however they like, which I assure you is not how you like. I'll claim it was my mad Word skillz but maybe it was also having a Mac now that made this easier than in the past. However, once I added textboxes for all my captions it was on. Fun times. I'm so glad to be done! I have to give a shout out to AJ who was beyond, beyond, beyond helpful with the entire project. She spent most of her day on Thursday looking over every single page and emailing me thoughts for each one. I know I thanked her but I have to do so once more - THANK YOU, AJ . . . you rock! And I would be remiss not to thank everyone else who also helped. This thing was 26 pages of photos and answers to about a dozen questions. It was time consuming for everyone - THANK YOU ALL!!!!!!!! </div><div>Our attorney will be looking over it this week and letting us know if it's good, correct, awesome, I'm not sure what. I'm assuming that since we followed his suggested guidelines I'll have little or no additional work to do. I'll have more printed and we'll be all set for the long period of waiting. Of course "long" is a relative term and I have no idea how many weeks or months that could be. I'm thinking positively though so not <i>that </i>long.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>- My attempt to eat less sugar has had a reverse affect. I find that often happens and it's got to be subconscious. I'm not dieting so there's no internal mantra of "don't eat sugar" or "don't eat this, don't eat that." If there was then I'd understand the reverse happening. I had just hoped to make better choices but alas I think I've been making worse choices!<br /><div><div>At this rate, I will not have a very good habit formed going into fall which (no pun intended) is my downfall. Once Halloween hits all bets are off through Pi Day in March, well really through J's birthday two days later. What else is one to do in the midwest in winter other than bake and use up all those frozen summer berries? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>- Speaking of summer berries, my collection from last summer is thankfully still good. I taste-tested them this morning. I plan to make two mixed berry galettes this week - one for our visit to the lake, and one for a family reunion. We are traveling again for another long weekend. I hope to hit a flea market or two while in WM. I can't seem to find any around here and I'm looking for a vintage pizzelle maker. Yeah, more baking, I know. I have my great-grandmother's pizzelle recipe and I really want to start making them and perfecting them. I suspect it will take awhile. </div><div>I only have three old family recipes . . . kolachi (I can't seem to find a universal spelling on that), pizzelles, and tomato gravy. The first two are my great-grandmother's and the latter is my grandmother's on the other side (as in my mom's not my dad's). I love them all equally, but I do wish they had more of their old friends in my recipe book. </div><div>Speaking of family, I found a photograph of a headstone with what is, according to my dad, either my great-great grandmother or great-aunt's name on it. He's leaning towards the latter. I looked up the name on Ancestry.com and found a couple close hits in the 1930 census records. Of course you have to have a paying account with Ancestry.com to view the record. Has anyone signed up with them? Did you get your money's worth out of it? I'd love to do family trees on both sides for my dad and the one on my mom's that is currently non-existent.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>- One final update and it's a sad one. Sorry to end on a bum note. Our kitty Gato died this week. He was 12 years old and seemingly in good health. D found him dead one morning. </div><div>Gato was awesome basically. He had a wonderfully friendly and outgoing kitty personality. I don't think anyone ever met him and didn't like him. He was a huge (as in big-boned though I'll admit a little heavy too) orange tabby tomcat. A gentle giant though, he would never even fight back when one of the dogs was after him. At most he'd punch them and wait for help. But, if his sidekick Tatey was the one cornered Gato would turn into a ninja. Out of nowhere he'd jump down onto one of the dog's backs, biting and scratching to create a diversion and escape for Tate. It was shocking and comical at the same time. We love our dogs but they're little shits and they deserved whatever Gato gave them.</div><div>Gato had one issue, he was territorial (aka he sprayed sometimes). This became a huge issue at the other house but we were able to work through it and fix the damage to the house and stop him from continuing. After the move to the new house he started again and was currently living in the basement with our other cat until they could get used to the new smells and sounds of the place. It was taking longer than we would have liked and we'd been discussing the option of having the kitties become indoor-outdoor because basement life just isn't right. </div><div>I feel really guilty that he did not have his fair share of people-time in the new house and well really at the end of his life. I feel like I would have made other decisions if I had known he was sick and nearing his end. I also feel really bad because he and J were buds in the old house and definitely not here in the new one. I have no one to blame so I have been blaming myself. But for my own sanity, I think I will move the blame to carpeting. I hate carpeting anyway, especially cream colored carpeting. Let the petitioning for bamboo floors begin! Also, I'll be moving <i>Remember Me</i> up to the top of my Netflix Queue as I hear it's a tearjerker and I could use a good cry.</div><div><br /></div><div>Miss you Gato - tell Tatey and Cleo we said "hi."</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizW3jHJRHNQPhVjx5UPuihCzDXgUDTW-QdLcXsWniMtfjwTvWRFKBUjH17fTg0eAyoxxSi99-akwiGJACXd-seWfCo0miA5MlJzTjhRHi672oKzZhnLHJDN0BqFUI_rI_ziHNiPg/s320/GATO.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492730793814062546" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-65830937056715874252010-07-04T13:35:00.008-05:002010-07-04T20:05:17.812-05:00Oh sugar, sugarI've not yet hit the acceptance stage of my apparent sugar addiction. I'm still in denial. Over the past few years I've had it implied by a couple people that I have an addiction. In my defense though, I'm not as bad as her over there, or HER for goodness sake, and what about him? No, I'm fine. I barely eat any sugar. I watch D sprinkle it on his cereal in utter disgust. I'll take the honey, thank you very much. <div><br /></div><div>And THAT is my downfall. Sugar IS in more things I eat than I am consistently conscious of; and so when I actually eat cookies or drink my Tall, Soy, No water, No foam, Chai Latte I think I'm still doing okay. I'll admit, I have sugar "issues" but I'm not ready to commit to removing it from my life and hence I'm not willing to admit my body could be addicted.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think you may have noticed with my past few blog posts that I like to bake and want to bake more, and get better at it (ah, yeah like the tart incident). I do try to make my baking healthier so, for example, I do vegan lemon bars to avoid all the egg (oh and because lemon curd sends chills down my spine - anything overly yolky does) and I use whole wheat flour often with ground flax and wheat germ added. This is how I came to find myself baking <a href="http://make-happy.blogspot.com/2010/07/banana-pecan-breakfast-bread.html">banana breakfast bread</a>, which claimed to be healthy and guilt-free for breakfast. JUST what I was looking for! Too bad I didn't do the sugar math until it was already in the oven. Assuming I cut the bread into 12 pieces, that is 1 tablespoon of sugar per serving. That's a lot. I would not put 1 Tbsp of sugar in my tea, or on my cereal, or on my macerating berries. I certainly would not want to give J 1 Tbsp of sugar at a sitting or in a day even if I could help it (which really, I can). Besides, cutting those into 12 pieces is not realistic which means more sugar per serving.</div><div><br /></div><div>I tasted the bread this morning and it didn't even taste that sweet. I added an extra banana, didn't put in the full 3/4 cup of sugar, added wheat germ which is normally a bit sweet, AND added a handful of chocolate chips. If the recipe had been written by a food expert I would leave a comment stating my disappointment. But really, this got me thinking and that's a good thing. How can I make this bread into a truly guilt-free breakfast bread full of flax, nuts, and banana? How can I make it taste good? </div><div><br /></div><div>To answer some of my questions I'll need to do some research. How is honey digested and utilized by the body? I'm under the assumption it's no different than sugar or banana. So maybe I need to look into stevia. Or what about agave nectar? There are so many sugar alternatives and I wonder if any of them are *really* a healthy alternative? I'm willing to look at sugar on a recipe by recipe basis but not as a whole in my life. I feel like the latter is too overwhelming and if I take care of the former then I should be okay.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also met with my naturopath this week. I have not had an appointment with her since I got my prenatal vitamins. My file was so old that it was in storage in her house, but she did find it! That was good because it showed that in 3 years my cellular health and weight and metabolism have all remained the same or gotten better. However, my cholesterol is way too low, I failed her calcium test, and she thought I generally had a horrible diet. I can't disagree. I'm always thinking that if I ate only what I fed J then I'd be amazingly healthy and probably thinner too. It's easy to give him healthy food and expect him to eat it; it's all he's known and he's used to it. On the other hand those things taste weird, bland, and generally nose-wrinkling icky to my white bread taste buds. I'm doing far better but I'm not to the point where I will choose water over DQ ice cream. This is what J did last night. He spent our drive saying "yum yum" over a cup of ice water because it had the always coveted straw. Meanwhile his cone sat in the seat next to him with only a couple bites gone. I realize this sounds horribly messy, but let me clarify that J gets an empty cone and I sort of dip it into my ice cream so he gets a few licks. He isn't an ice cream fan and we learned this the hard way at the beginning of summer. Luckily a boy can be washed and a Jeep can be hosed out.</div><div><br /></div><div>My naturopath gave me a suggested diet to follow but I gotta admit, it's just too much. I have a lot going on and while I want to improve I need to make baby steps or I'm gonna quit. So I've decided to tackle taking my vitamins regularly, eating more vegetables, and adding better sources of protein into my diet. These were things I knew I needed to do and wanted to change anyway. What I don't want to do is limit my carbs - at all. The suggestion was that I do one fruit and one whole grain carb a day. Okay I'd be done at breakfast after my cheerios and strawberries. No. I have to draw the line somewhere.</div><div><br /></div><div>So basically my future food related posts will likely be a little healthier. I'll probably be doing more salads for one. I love to re-create restaurant salads so I'll likely share a few of those with you all. I found another recipe for lemon bars and since I'm not a sugar addict I may try those as well. </div><div><br /></div><div>D asked if my naturopath had anything good to say. She did. In addition to all the cellular stuff, she admired my working out. Ha! I think I'm horrible at sticking with that but I guess perspective is everything. I'm in week three of the <a href="http://www.c25k.com/">Couch to 5k</a> program. I'm also planning to start back up with Zumba this week and finally get to my last couple bootcamps. So yeah, I work out semi-regularly and generally I'm no longer sedentary since leaving cubicle serfdom. Now, according to my naturopath, I'm ready for the next step.</div><div><br /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-64128336020569251992010-07-04T12:44:00.001-05:002010-07-04T13:35:12.986-05:00Homestudy & ProfileOur homestudy is done. It's actually been done for a few weeks now but with vacation, work, celebrations, and life in general I've been derelict in my blogging. I know I tend to be gone for awhile then post like mad. Trust me, if I knew how to change the date stamp in Blogger for my posts so they wouldn't get lost in the mix then I'd write a bunch and dole them out slowly over a few days. But back to the homestudy! I think it went well.<div><br /></div><div>Our case worker arrived fashionably late. I think this is to allow frantic parents-to-be the chance to finish up scrubbing tile grout, dusting light bulbs, and alphabetizing their media cabinet contents. We were doing none of these though, we were ready in time with baked goods. However, our house was also full of smoke, the smoke detector was going off, and said baked goods were a complete disaster.</div><div><br /></div><div>I used the homestudy as an excuse to try a new dessert, a pretty yet seemingly simple dessert. I refused to purchase any number of round tart pans I saw. I finally found myself at Williams Sonoma, the evening before the homestudy, staring at the rectangle tart pan I wanted. However, I continued to stare because it was clearly smaller than the one used in the recipe. No size was stated in the recipe for the tart pan, and I wrongly assumed tart pans were standard - ya know like pie pans and loaf pans. Nope. I bought the WS tart pan and headed home to bake, hoping all would be fine!</div><div><br /></div><div>I made the crust the night before and the filling. The morning of our homestudy, I spread the filling over the crust, placed my not-at-all-inexpensive fresh, organic apricots into the frangipane filling and put it in the oven. I should've put a pan under it, but I was in a hurry and while I did consider it, I thought the filling didn't seem like something that would bubble over. THAT was the mistake of the day. Being that my tart pan was on the small side, the filling bubbled over, poured over, goo'd over and basically found every and any way out of the tart pan that it could. It proceeded to burn all over the bottom of the oven. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had asked D to check on it and by the time he did the damage was too far gone, and by the time I got into the kitchen alarms were going off and every single window was being opened and fan cranked. The tart had cooked long enough so I took it out and turned off the oven. Luckily I had made two desserts and the second had turned out, well decent which I rank below "good." Those were my vegan lemon bars. They never did setup fully and while they were delicious they were also ugly and soupy. Regardless though, the caseworker passed on any food; she didn't even want water. So much for all that.</div><div><br /></div><div>She was there for just over two hours and the questions were not as difficult as I expected. It was the same stuff that will go into our profile. D described himself, then I had to add to it and vice versa. We had to discuss why our family was totally awesome but also what "opportunities" we felt we had here in Chateau Thompson. The example we were given is that some couples say they need to lose weight. So I guess anything can be an opportunity then because I'm not sure how weight issues reflect on parenting. Our opportunity was completing our home renovations - lame! I mean shouldn't we have had to get into the nitty gritty? </div><div><br /></div><div>Trust me, I'm okay with it having been easy peasy. Maybe since we have a lil one who's made it over 2 years here without major damage she went easy on us? Her tour around our house was less involved than the ones we give to our friends. She had no desire to see the laundry room for instance which was actually a disappointment for D. I made him finish it before she came and apparently for no reason. Ha! I'm just glad it's done now.</div><div><br /></div><div>After writing down our responses to her questions, taking our paperwork, completing our safety inspection, and explaining the process she took her quick partial tour and left. Then I devoured my lemon bars. I had planned to have those as breakfast as she snacked. I was famished. I also tried the tart. My poor tart. I might as well have cooked it over a campfire. It was smoky and goopy and generally disgusting. D's comment was that perhaps tarts are advanced baking. Pa-sha! </div><div><br /></div><div>We're still waiting to get the final report from the court. That would be the report that the caseworker files after our meeting. She seemed to imply we'd passed. What we have gotten is our breakdown of how our first payment was spent and I was none too happy. We currently have $37 remaining. That's fine; we've known we'd be paying more. What's not fine is that for each of our 90 second phone calls, in which the front desk clerk rushes us off the phone, we are charged for 15 minutes! Wow. Let's just say my next call will be lengthy. The front desk clerk and I are gonna be bffs with all my chatting. Honestly, I'd rather be charged by the minute and have each minute be more expensive than be charged for at least 3x more minutes than were used. </div><div><br /></div><div>Rant done. </div><div><br /></div><div>We're currently working on our profile (or as some call it, life book). It's going to be spiral-bound and printed front and back, roughly 20 pages with text and full-color photos. I have it 80% completed. D needs to write more, and I need to add more photos. After that I'll be formatting and tweaking. This thing is a monster and it's taking forever! I'm sure it will be gorgeous when done and used for years by our lawyer as the shining example of what a book should look like. More importantly though, I think there's a birth mother out there that will read this and not surprisingly choose us!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-11039674177543487092010-06-21T15:13:00.002-05:002010-06-21T15:18:36.689-05:00Travel BlogI posted to my travel blog! I did; I really did! I actually had a vacation to post about - yeah! :)<div><br /></div><div>Enjoy.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://vivalapuravida.blogspot.com/">Main Blog </a>(scroll down and work your way up)</div><div><br /></div><div>or</div><div><br /></div><div>Individual posts (with photos):</div><div><a href="http://vivalapuravida.blogspot.com/2010/06/cook-forest-part-1.html">Cook Forest - not so long ago</a></div><div><a href="http://vivalapuravida.blogspot.com/2010/06/cook-forest-part-2-day-1.html">Our trip day 1</a></div><div><a href="http://vivalapuravida.blogspot.com/2010/06/cook-forest-part-3-day-2.html">Our trip day 2</a></div><div><a href="http://vivalapuravida.blogspot.com/2010/06/good-bye-for-now-cook-forest.html">Our trip day 3</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-75361312487475104052010-06-07T13:32:00.008-05:002010-06-07T15:32:48.801-05:00I ♥ berry season<div style="text-align: left;">We don't grow our own (yet), but with what's apparently a <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125845773">bumper crop of strawberries </a>this year we don't have to grow our own. With that being said, we are trying to purchase local. This isn't easy when the Farmer's Market strawberries are so much more costly. To avoid the sticker shock, we went with a<a href="http://www.localharvest.org/csa/"> CSA (community supported agriculture) </a>that offers fruit. We've already gotten our first delivery, which included a wooden pint box brimming with those red berries. They appeared to be the smaller, lop-sided cousins of the mammoths you see in the grocery store. I like that each is unique and getting a big berry is a big deal. While these berries weren't super sweet they were still really flavorful and delicious. I can barely wait until tomorrow's delivery.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>This CSA is going to take a little getting used to, because I'm not sure how much I'll get each week or even what I'll get each week. I ended up already buying some produce for the weekend and beginning of the week knowing the local stuff will get me through the end of the week. I do try to buy local at the grocery but it's rather difficult outside of summer. I try to stop at Anderson's Market which is conveniently located near our Whole Foods. Both carry local produce and in-season WF's prices aren't quite as breath-taking. Anderson's is normally very reasonable though when you're dealing with the shipped in stuff from CA and FL they can't hold their own with the big box grocers. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I'm not sure how my love of berries has turned into a monologue on which grocery/market has the "best" produce. I currently have three different types of berries in my fridge right now. I have tasted them all and they are all delicious. I even got to discuss the seemingly unknown elderberry at a party this weekend. Berries, berries everywhere!</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvtDDkOM4urWx1OEqNHXV1vcmkmDdcuaNMt5_O3y-NIeKj0A41aPa2pIFrTn9TEayX8bZjqBKZ271VoK4CCSMotJJv7VGwIx0Ee_v_J6fSLkyyVdfIHbR4lLKkm1Lk2-8y8F5bg/s400/berries.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480131585451731490" /></div><div>Everyone here loves berries - even D who's by far the pickiest eater here. J's been carrying around a toy tea kettle as his blueberry pail. And ever since our strawberry shortcake a couple weeks ago he's obsessed with "cake." Sweets fall into only three categories right now with J . . . cake (anything cake-like including pancakes), pie (he rarely gets pie but apparently remembers what it is) and cookies which is any small version of the previous two plus of course actual cookies. On National Donut Day he even had a donut which he licked all the glaze off of while repeating "num; mmmmmm; yummy," but he never took more than one bite of either donut. Yeah, he was double-fisting the donut holes. C'mon it WAS a national holiday!!!! Needless to say he seems to agree with D that donuts aren't all that great. Personally I very much enjoyed the donuts which I so rarely get. </div><div><br /></div><div>Since I started with a doozy of a tangent let me go offsides a bit here too. My mom used to take me to a little bakery in downtown Sharon when we lived on the west hill. This was pre-siblings and pre-move to our later rural setting. I remember the cases full of shelves and shelves of sweets. What I cannot remember is the name of the bakery and neither can my mother. It's been closed for years; I think it was Tastee Bakery. Anyone know? It was downtown by the Post Office. Anyway, I'm not sure what all we bought there, but my memories are all about the donuts. No Dunkin' Donuts for us, thank you. I really want to find a small bakery around here like Tastee (I'm convinced it was Tastee Bakery). I know I can be weird and this supports that, but I'd prefer J have a less national-chain, shared memory of things and something more personalized. That is a benefit to a smaller town, and while I'm not moving back anytime soon (or ever - as my perks here are more plentiful), I definitely want to be weird and work to give J some small-town. I mean it's not like we live in an mega-metropolis.</div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, back to berries or at least food. I have not baked anything lately. I feel like that's insulting to the fresh berries. Weirdness again, I know. I'll bake with them at the end of the season when they start getting a little iffy. I have been cooking though! I've tried out a few new recipes and tweaked versions of old. I didn't take any photos - I was too hungry. I think I need to start dinner sooner most days. Perhaps descriptions will interest you enough, and if you want a more detailed recipe just leave a comment and I'll get it to you.</div><div><br /></div><div>First off I also love sandwiches. I was inspired by a brie and basil sandwich on chocolate bread that I saw on <a href="http://foodgawker.com/">FoodGawker</a> (I'm still addicted). I thought that was a little too close to dessert to even remotely pass for dinner so I used raisin bread. Clearly that screams dinner. It was essentially a grilled cheese. It was delicious. J gobbled it up. I didn't even hear any "eh, green" as he pulled out the basil . . . because he didn't pull it out; he gobbled it up along with the rest.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next I re-created my favorite dinner on St. John. With all the restaurants to choose from, we normally visit <a href="http://www.morgansmango.com/home.php">Morgan's Mango </a>twice to get this meal. It's so simple but sooooo good. It's the Vegetarian Plate which has veggies (duh), island rice, beans and plantains. The plantains make the meal (in my opinion). I mean the broccoli was good too but I have that all the time. It's hard to find ripe plantains here and I don't usually plan ahead well enough to allow time for ripening. This dish inspired me to pan-fry all my over-ripe bananas this year. J loves them that way, as do I and we get to hoard them all since again the picky D is not a fan. </div><div>My island rice lacked any sense of any island but it was still yummy. My beans however were wonderful and full of Caribbean flavor. The plantains were perfect and with J's sensitivity to broccoli we opt for grilled sweet potatoes (with a spicy little kick). Yum. We just needed some Ting to round it out . . . oh and a tan, snorkel exhaustion, and Love City atmosphere would've been nice too.</div><div><br /></div><div>A final look into our culinary week would be our baked sweet potato lunch. J is not a fan of regular potatoes and since I didn't have the required sour cream for those anyway I went with sweet as well. I topped them with some chipotle seasoned, heavily buttered, corn and then cheddar cheese. Very yummy. I never liked sweet potatoes growing up and I think it was because I only ever saw them assaulted with marshmallow and syrup. I like their natural sweetness when their grilled, but they are equally good balanced with a little spice.</div><div><br /></div><div>We'll see how I do this week. I have two packages of veggie dogs, fixings to mimic a local hot dog shop, and D's father's day gift (an enormous grill) is assembled and ready. I think I'll also be working hard to get J to eat zucchini which so far he hates. I'm hoping AJ's simple sauce & cheese recipe will win him over as it did me oh so many years ago when I was on the fence about this little summer squash. I'll try to be better with photos as well . . . okay I <b>will</b> be better with photos. <a href="http://data360.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/yoda.jpg">I know, there is no "try" there is only "do" and "do no</a>t." </div><div><br /></div><div>In the meantime, enjoy the end of spring everyone. </div><div><br /></div><div> </div></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-82003680476798444572010-05-25T15:08:00.010-05:002010-05-25T15:51:36.664-05:00EnchiladasOne afternoon last week, while J and D were playing outside and friends (unbeknown to us) were planning a Thai adventure, I made dinner. Had we not missed our friends' call I could have continued on my streak of foraging in the cupboards, getting takeout, or eating cereal for dinner. We always have plenty of food for J though I admit I'm not too creative and cycle through the same handful of options, poor guy. But at least he always has a well-balanced meal.<br />Anyway, back to the fairy tale turned reality. . . I found inspiration for dinner online in two different places. I'd bookmarked a <a href="http://delectablyfree.com/2010/05/creamy-bean-and-corn-enchiladas/">creamy vegan bean & corn enchilada</a> recipe knowing full well I'd make it non-vegan. That evening a <a href="http://www.recipegirl.com/2008/09/15/three-cheese-chicken-enchiladas/">chicken three- cheese enchilada</a> recipe presented itself with a very simple homemade sauce. This was perfect considering the only thing I lacked for enchiladas was sauce. I merged the sauce of one recipe with the vegetarian filling of the other. I happened to have heavy whipping cream in the house and cut it with whole milk to achieve the half and half the recipe called for - I don't normally have heavy cream in the fridge. I think milk would work too, though it may need a bit of a roux to thicken it up.<br />D described these as "Paula Dean" enchiladas because they were that rich. They were soooooooo good.<br /><br />Giving credit where credit is due, these are:<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Three cheese, creamy black bean & corn enchilad</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">as.</span></b> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(In our house they will be referred to as "those" enchiladas; the ones that all others will be measured against.)</span></div><div><br /></div><div>INGREDIENTS:</div><div><br /></div><div>Filling:</div><div>1 can black beans, rinsed</div><div>1 cup frozen corn (or canned)</div><div>1 can fire roasted tomatoes (drained)</div><div>1 tsp nutritional yeast (optional)</div><div>2 TBS cream cheese</div><div>1 1/2 tsp cumin</div><div>1/4 tsp red pepper</div><div>salt & pepper to taste</div><div><br /></div><div>Sauce:</div><div>3/4 cup heavy whipping cream</div><div>3/4 cup milk</div><div>juice from drained tomatoes (~1/4 cup)</div><div><div>1 1/2 tsp cumin</div><div>1/4 tsp red pepper</div><div>salt & pepper to taste</div></div><div><br /></div><div>For Assembly:</div><div>feta cheese</div><div>cheddar cheese</div><div>4-6 medium sized tortillas</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>DIRECTIONS:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Preheat Oven to 350</div><div><br /></div><div>In a saute pan combine black beans, corn, and drained tomatoes (reserve the juice ~1/4 cup). You likely can't get all the juice out of the tomatoes and that's good. You only need about 1/4 cup (or less) of juice for the sauce. Add cumin, red pepper, salt, pepper and heat. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7O4MLTEuvTDA66BoN7F887f8fiUkhXmblTI0x9zdCa4KzoETM1bt0u6dQhNvvK-j2Wtrdd-HiaEuZxG43yfo9dP2HckPGV2J4VVNrAEklKlGPQL3h8fAbb9X7ggU8QL6avuUFw/s320/EnchFiller.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475310084495772386" /></div><br /></div><div>In a small sauce pan combine all ingredients for sauce. Heat on low/medium-low and stir often, being careful not to scorch the milk/cream mixture.</div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-COJ50hQHdLtSOknh61LvM8GIZuXtU8VLxie2qzQykCDYyyzieATW7aOzYH7rmCvAve6NeYeqkeTibwRR6_RQwk9DTSnriC7W0nIpb-Lq8DFYI3-oAfmkC-L9pSH_eaAnDr3vXA/s320/EchSauce.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475310063854486018" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Once the beans and corn mixture is warm add the cream cheese and nutritional yeast, stir and continue to heat until cheese melts and mixture becomes creamy.</div><div><br /></div><div>Keep stirring your cream sauce! Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking.</div><br /><div>Heat tortillas in the microwave until pliable (~ 30 seconds for six tortillas)</div><div><br /></div><div>Lay tortilla flat and line the center with filling. Top with feta cheese. Roll tortilla, place seam-side down in pan. [I used a 9x9 square pan for 4 tortillas (I only had 4! I had plenty of filling left over for 6 tortillas). Use a larger 9x12 pan for 6 tortillas.] </div><div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5uW3VvPZMpQ1_BXvyGEyPmHK4UGgPtgqXoAoZ7g_0Tw97cvFlU-BapGRKfWElsEf5OoBNeXsyWuxPKrDT2HPJmAMeudyrD8kkp08lyZM36z854_4N7q-d9MjtsNESo_y97VZAQ/s320/Assembly1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475310067396538434" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div>Repeat until tortillas and filling are gone. Pour sauce over the top. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Bake in oven for 10 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4jdxED7jlmlPLwVkWX98g14GRHeNMnnbjdw_IZvho58webbHLqPDjJ-mk4Bt93Bok3jl3qUbGytqSbI7hBw4Ejga30cbSUf978cYkcoFsLTQ47pxZOwFRUt2TMw8KSXZRbtXDQ/s320/Ench2Oven.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475310072102073074" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div> </div><div>No offense to our friends, whose company we would have enjoyed, but these were worth missing dinner. Try them. You'll agree - they are fantastic. This is not my first time at the rodeo with enchiladas, but these out-shine all the others that in comparison I would call disasters. And let me know if you use only milk, or something else, in place of the cream!</div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHG_hEt5-z3R5ZsLukSVWBx9RwN_qT7Qw19zhAnMzGLGqehf2bnecFGIQEvy7v2QjGgnkNdwbEv-gnnv5HFRnV53rUo7m2yvWFHuNKHBJRjknMe8HskJxfEzCIGiVf0bpy84RCVQ/s320/EnchEAT.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475310083013302594" /><div> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-17009717561913637882010-05-18T15:53:00.003-05:002010-05-18T16:19:57.005-05:00Notarized - Copied - PresentedThough all's been quiet on the adoption front it doesn't mean we haven't been busy. We've been scurrying about getting physicals, clearances, inspections, driving records and references. With only the child abuse and neglect clearances absent, we decided we should get our papers into our attorney so the process could get moving. We took our stack of papers up to the bank yesterday morning right when they opened. Thankfully J was his normal toddler self, climbing the chairs and attempting to run off with their keypad. This saved us from trying to be sold any new products or moved into "better" accounts. We got a stamp and a signature and took off. <br /><br />I made copies of everything - all 30 or 40 pages of application and clearances. I didn't want any of that getting lost somehow. Then I hand delivered it to our attorney just before they closed. Today doesn't feel any different. I wonder if they filed it or if it's sitting in their own "to copy" pile or outbox. There was only one person in the waiting area when I was there - a young woman. Of course I wondered if she was a birth mother. I went so far as to think perhaps I should get a photo into our life book in which I'm wearing the exact same outfit she saw me in yesterday for that split second. Lots of assumptions there, I know, but I'm going to just believe that's normal.<br /><br />The two big things on the horizon are the life book and the homestudy. The latter is nerve-wracking. The social worker will spend a couple hours in our home with us and J. He or she will look over the whole place and ask us a ton of questions. Now we'll be glad we've been through Pre-Cana! We've got a few things still unpacked and the new baby's room is a catch-all. So we've got our work cut out for us. I'm thinking of this as the same housework blitz we did to stage our house last spring at this time. We realized we were listing in 3 weeks and had a page-long to do list. D's going to have to tap back into that momentum again. On the bright side, our house sold in 30 days, in what was still a slow market. I think we'll have the same luck (not sure that's the right term - guess it depends on your belief system) with adoption. <br /><br />The life book is in some ways easier but in many ways more difficult than the homestudy. This will be what each birth mother sees. This has to be a representation of ourselves and our life on paper and in photos. That's not that easy. Answering the tough questions isn't that easy either. You can't write what you think someone wants to hear; that's bad on multiple levels. You have to get in-touch with an honesty that may not be comfortable. And in all fairness to human nature, you want to put that honesty in the best light possible. Our attorney gave us some examples, good and bad to help guide us. We've chosen the method where we'll both answer the questions and then somehow weave them together. First we have to answer the questions though - all of them. We've both started and we've both quit with many of the same blanks. <br /><br />We'll keep you updated. We'll also be looking for some eager readers to help us out. Poor AJ can't do it all.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-79761107989643344032010-05-16T13:30:00.016-05:002010-05-17T11:08:45.521-05:00Food, Glorious FoodI have a new obsession . . . <a href="http://foodgawker.com/">FoodGawker</a>. I visit at least daily. It's a photo-listing of new blog entries on what else, food. It's searchable and you can save favorites. No more over-full bookmark folders or getting bogged down following way too many food blogs. Even as a vegetarian, there are a ridiculous number of blogs out there I could follow. I don't plan on making my own tempeh or seitan though so I just assume not see those posts. Also, I'm not fond of the blogger's ruts like the one that keeps posting pancake recipes (and only pancake recipes). I want ideas. I need inspiration.<br /><br />One of the recipes I found and quickly saved to my favorites was <a href="http://darkredcrema.com/2010/04/preclusion-rhubarb-galette-and-rhubarb-haze/">Rhubarb Galette</a>. I made it for Mother's Day brunch. Yes, I made brunch on Mother's Day. My mom was in town so it was for her. D helped. I was in charge of sweets and he took savory. He made a delicious crustless spinach quiche. D hates the term "galette" as it makes him think of Gilette and shaving cream. He insisted I Google it to find out what it was, how it was pronounced, etc. Considering I love research and I love odd facts, I was already planning to Google 'galette.' Turns out it's pronunciation is straight-forward just as it sounds and it's simply a rustic pie that's not in a pan. They can be savory or sweet and their crust often contains corn meal.<br />I love rhubarb. Considering it's in-season there were plenty of recipes for me to choose from on <a href="http://foodgawker.com/">FoodGawker</a>. Personally, I never mix strawberry with my rhubarb so that reduced the number of recipes I was willing to make. I didn't have to search long. The galette looked so simple (not as in simple to make but simple as in plain & unadorned); it was an obvious choice.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9qiQU1cAHyDAw3r0x4gr_zX5HDOeCylB-qhi7L2N6NYhJ4Yuwadkbri8r7ewyuIKcwGAMhdcLf08VrePSeMUcOQlptBf49XEt5m2-HhPfMB2rQVwRgXDCqbRoe_O6yzxSZLL4Q/s1600/RolledGallette.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9qiQU1cAHyDAw3r0x4gr_zX5HDOeCylB-qhi7L2N6NYhJ4Yuwadkbri8r7ewyuIKcwGAMhdcLf08VrePSeMUcOQlptBf49XEt5m2-HhPfMB2rQVwRgXDCqbRoe_O6yzxSZLL4Q/s320/RolledGallette.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471942841752760002"></a><font style="font-style:italic;"><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">The galette being assembled</font>.</blockquote></font><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh442J_3MltfdwVmWXn6wCjuqZZu-qP7pOElK08dB_-UGS8gwE2Up70RP2UzbL5DeNomRhr5Vgou6nytQ358opUXY6VZhdbwc_JIh0FlUtrdWzkxk9Qbiy1yJCaV6CO_jj0bBHSwA/s1600/GaletteDone.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh442J_3MltfdwVmWXn6wCjuqZZu-qP7pOElK08dB_-UGS8gwE2Up70RP2UzbL5DeNomRhr5Vgou6nytQ358opUXY6VZhdbwc_JIh0FlUtrdWzkxk9Qbiy1yJCaV6CO_jj0bBHSwA/s320/GaletteDone.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471942842469862866"></a><font style="font-style:italic;"><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">The finished galette. It was delicious.</font></blockquote></font><div><br /></div>While I've found dozens of recipes I want to make, including some vegan lemon bars and candied lemons to top them, I opted to make more granola yesterday. I bought all the ingredients during the Mother's Day shopping trip in hopes of making them then. I always think I can fit more into the day than actually ever happens. I made a tropical version yesterday with macadamias, pineapple, mango, extra coconut, and candied ginger. I only put chocolate chips on half the pan and I was sure to keep them on top this time so they'd remain intact. I really liked this version, possibly more than the first. I just need a tropical drink . . . ooooh, or better yet a tropical setting in which to eat them.<div><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8Ug4EAVWnCe6sVDeSeMlOH-EauhtEqpVCIzyWKUjwvGCrkaUJPdI74UtkHdmtk9a4wiFLJHEfyweUqUUILiOq4iRp6B4c-tkODGklX3Ybzx2uUFptfFFWjyOK1VSVq6B7ty5JA/s1600/granola1.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8Ug4EAVWnCe6sVDeSeMlOH-EauhtEqpVCIzyWKUjwvGCrkaUJPdI74UtkHdmtk9a4wiFLJHEfyweUqUUILiOq4iRp6B4c-tkODGklX3Ybzx2uUFptfFFWjyOK1VSVq6B7ty5JA/s320/granola1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471946936080393410"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" size="medium">Done & ready to eat. </font></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5Hj06a02i5ZPmsXgEie81YL7s8C86m_quUja7jZv4VudvMNdjKwnAGt9JH_rTJbPOEuyMQ4YEicx-y-2J-D98cKaY5Lz6gKu6UXfykf4OM_CILVmadNMs-T7cxBO8ptrKWtdxA/s1600/granola3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5Hj06a02i5ZPmsXgEie81YL7s8C86m_quUja7jZv4VudvMNdjKwnAGt9JH_rTJbPOEuyMQ4YEicx-y-2J-D98cKaY5Lz6gKu6UXfykf4OM_CILVmadNMs-T7cxBO8ptrKWtdxA/s320/granola3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471946939900202546"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Tropical Granola: ready for it's close-up.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Last but not least, I found a link on <a href="http://foodgawker.com/">FoodGawker</a> that wasn't a recipe. It was a request for votes on which reader submitted the worst meal(s) they were served by a parent, grandparent, or other family member. They were both revolting and hilarious. It got me to thinking and remembering. My mom cooked for years until my father took over because in-part he apparently liked cooking more than she did. Now everyone tells me his food is fabulous but it's a vegetarian's nightmare. I couldn't tell you how it is. I tried to recall the meals I had that my mom made and they were all really normal compared to those mentioned on <a href="http://thegypsychef.blogspot.com/2010/05/vote-for-worst-meal-your-mother-made.html">this blog</a>. I'm sure one of my siblings could of and/or did love the meals I didn't like. I'd say my least favorite meal that I was regularly served was mini-pizza on hamburger buns. It was made by "spreading" raw hamburger onto hamburger buns and then popping them into the oven. They get topped with some sauce and cheese. The burger turned the white bread burger bun a bit slimy. I really hated them. I've been trying to recreate quite a few of my childhood dishes into vegetarian options, but that won't be one of them. So if you check out the blog and have a contender, their contest is over but I'd love to hear your horror stories! :) </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-58756014247780619622010-05-13T15:12:00.002-05:002010-05-13T15:12:44.273-05:00QuestionI'm working on an adoption update. I'm also working on getting some pictures up from Mother's Day. I'm a bit behind. Probably because I'm a bit busy too!<br /><br />I'm "reading" (read: skimming) a book about someone who created in interesting home-based business. I'm not sure how old the author was when they started the business but it formed out of what seemed like a "what should I do when I grow up' moment. Been there. Maybe I'm still there. How long can a quarter-life crisis last anyway? Can it run right into a mid-life crisis? Hmmm. Well, considering my issue is only employment related I don't think it's considered a crisis of any sort (anymore - that quarter-life thing is real though people, what's up with that?!?!).<br />I spent half my time in college as "undecided" and while I should have enjoyed the wealth of liberal arts options at my liberal arts school, I didn't. Only a handful of months after graduating with my science degree and plans for post-graduate schooling, I found myself (my entire self) inside a dog kennel with a bottle of diluted bleach. You don't want to know what I was cleaning off every surface surrounding me <br />Though it wasn't my first or last time cleaning kennels, I thought to myself, 'self, what the hell are you doing; is this really THE plan?' Within three months I had an office job related to photography. Didn't take me long to realize, though I loved the job, I wasn't going to be doing photography. Not that my job required it, but I still don't "get" all the relationships of aperture, f-stop, lighting, etc. Someday I'll learn to use my DSLR in manual mode. Someday. <br /><br />Fill in a few years of "blah blah blah" and you'll find me glad to have the "out" that is Jack. An out as in a time out, a time out from the cage (or cubicle, same difference). I'm really happy to be home playing with matchbox, learning to decipher toddler-speak, baking, cleaning, and yes even changing diapers. Someday though little ones will be in school. What will I do with myself then? And more importantly what do I do with my brain now so it doesn't turn to toddler-mush? <br /><br />Well, when I find a moment of quiet time, like the author of the home-based business book, I plan to ask myself the same questions she did. I already have a gut response to them and I tend to trust those (intrigued? check out my other blog where I expound on this: <a href="http://squashtheinnercritic.blogspot.com/2010/05/research.html">Squash the Inner Critic</a>). <br /><br />What I'm interested in is hearing from you. Because I know a few of you I was jealous of in college with your solid knowledge of what you wanted to do have ended up in my camp. What about the rest of you? Have you had or are you in the midst of your own 'what should I be when I grow up' crisis? How would you answer the questions below? I'm interested to know; comment away!<br /><br />"What would I love to do tomorrow? . . . Could I lose track of time doing? And wouldn't care if someone paid me or not?"Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36810319.post-76688818437097715952010-04-25T20:15:00.008-05:002010-04-25T21:21:07.319-05:00Spring PhotosIt rained all day today. At times it was thundering and at other times there was just a quiet drizzle. There were even a few bursts of sunshine in-between. It was a perfectly lazy Sunday. I spent some time between the showers taking a few photos. Everything looks very green and lush, including the lawn that will be overdue to be mowed once this system passes. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbBOZ5UBwE73GX4ko-iCPuzL44H6sSauUtlinRWvHqa2Z7v9Y80B7umvLEJuWfdOo89ZJ-NueTseA9heRH8SF2rB9aO4iOWMHJgN7WWb0u-vGAFkL6VDusfbww6UEO90WXlwoZA/s1600/Dandylion1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbBOZ5UBwE73GX4ko-iCPuzL44H6sSauUtlinRWvHqa2Z7v9Y80B7umvLEJuWfdOo89ZJ-NueTseA9heRH8SF2rB9aO4iOWMHJgN7WWb0u-vGAFkL6VDusfbww6UEO90WXlwoZA/s400/Dandylion1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464250759143090946" /></a><br /><blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">One of the many dandy lions in our yard.</span></blockquote><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqCccTaqBxTYWqcFBlihqd9TU5e-NO5NvNmk4eB7Meft0g4Fx0D4XWnwzOgl4ySWnd00iG0_hmLsXUqObVp6MKRw86VUxrnrnpqVGPgWUssAVC8r28taRyMV3kIWrOWouZih1Rw/s1600/NewGrowth1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqCccTaqBxTYWqcFBlihqd9TU5e-NO5NvNmk4eB7Meft0g4Fx0D4XWnwzOgl4ySWnd00iG0_hmLsXUqObVp6MKRw86VUxrnrnpqVGPgWUssAVC8r28taRyMV3kIWrOWouZih1Rw/s400/NewGrowth1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464250832461402354" /></a><br /><blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">Our baby evergreen has all sorts of new growth!</span></blockquote><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCd2CdsII1oxCeh4h76blNYXGbF5IMRAoOdmKjF_qfwGhHSy5Q1OvphKplccn5d01h9e_s75dhE7uzH3N5MWXdMNTUyJih4wadOR2PwXvF3Vi7ebpJCkCdDQiXbSq5RdlgXaV9A/s1600/Lilacs1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCd2CdsII1oxCeh4h76blNYXGbF5IMRAoOdmKjF_qfwGhHSy5Q1OvphKplccn5d01h9e_s75dhE7uzH3N5MWXdMNTUyJih4wadOR2PwXvF3Vi7ebpJCkCdDQiXbSq5RdlgXaV9A/s400/Lilacs1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464250835776595746" /></a><br /><blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">My mom came into town this weekend and part of what she brought was a bag full of cut lilacs. The house smells amazing!</span></blockquote><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWmmwuBW567KyKHVUcrermOyJwrzt6ez9J7TTQlzwYzqvmyc66_wFK9F5KirNZwf6Pw2WFm6461hlf0RidK8okY6S5Lgiy-TvfAxuwZ0nmMJkwEF2iOLBob4TFhylob_xbyqFEg/s1600/Dogwood2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWmmwuBW567KyKHVUcrermOyJwrzt6ez9J7TTQlzwYzqvmyc66_wFK9F5KirNZwf6Pw2WFm6461hlf0RidK8okY6S5Lgiy-TvfAxuwZ0nmMJkwEF2iOLBob4TFhylob_xbyqFEg/s400/Dogwood2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464250839665978002" /></a><br /><blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">Our demure little dogwood hides in the towering white pine beside it.</span> </blockquote><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4-gZSBrK9Vje9327thnlnqAhk3S1NTPnanWOI5E6WzBz661EyHLHkx8OoN4qxpggISyIGHf_KVOM3sHM4VUqQ_oN_qvAmQ6tICN98K534gN_NjpRmkXih3eDaBoi0XCrlkztUg/s1600/Soon2Bloom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4-gZSBrK9Vje9327thnlnqAhk3S1NTPnanWOI5E6WzBz661EyHLHkx8OoN4qxpggISyIGHf_KVOM3sHM4VUqQ_oN_qvAmQ6tICN98K534gN_NjpRmkXih3eDaBoi0XCrlkztUg/s400/Soon2Bloom.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464250851069006370" /></a><br /><blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">We have no idea what this plant is; I went to get a closer look and saw what perhaps are flowers about to bloom??? We'll see.</span></blockquote>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16069820387124513722noreply@blogger.com0