Today...

Today I'm going let the mess be.

We're getting ready to go on a little trip. When I go away, I like to come home to a neat house. However if I spend too much time worrying about the house, I take away from the fun, relaxing time the trip is supposed to be. I am going to leave some of the mess and leisurely clean it up when I get home. Bye, bye.

A Second Look--September 4, 2013

This past weekend we borrowed Miss Landers' pressure washer and worked on removing the green and black gunk growing on the back of our house. At the same time, we cleaned our patio that was dirty enough that water was splashing up from it and making the siding dirty again. During the cleaning operation, we were also doing yard work so that meant we spent most of the weekend outside. I had a chance to see several things I don't usually notice on my normal rounds for a Second Look.

Here's what I saw this week during a Second Look.

The patio was definitely dirty.

Wally lashed together a walking stick and a broom to help reach the second story of the house.

This swallowtail was resting on the freshly cut grass.

There was one big toad and several little ones living in this window well. (See one big and one little on the window sill, another little on the leaf on the bricks.)

I uncovered this beetle while weeding.

This grasshopper jumped on top of the grill.

I found these egg shells in the middle of the field. These are either from a chicken egg from someone's trash or a goose egg that a critter has enjoyed. We occasionally find goose eggs buried by a critter with the intention of coming back to enjoy it.

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In case anyone's wondering about the water that it took to pressure wash things, I am lucky to live in an area that doesn't have water problems. We are on a well and never have had any problems--especially this year with all of the rain that we have had.

Thankful Sunday--September 1, 2013

I am thankful recorded books.

Sometimes I get tired of the latest hits and talk radio. Then I turn to listening to a good story with a recorded book from the library. It really does help pass the time.
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Right now I'm listening to The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. It is a Newberry Medal Award winner children's book about Ivan, a gorilla who lives in a circus themed mall. Ivan tells of his friendships with the other animals around him and how his love of art plays into their difficult lives. There are serious themes about the treatment of animals, but the story is also filled with humor as the animals play into their basic characteristics. I am just now at the climax of the book, but would recommend it for the young* and old.

*Older than preschool

The Wisdom of Young Wally

When Wally was nine years old, we made a big move from the Gulf Coast to the East. Ward and I were very absorbed in everything involved with that--getting the house ready to sell, finding a new place, packing, etc. But most of all we were involved in helping Theo, who was six at the time, deal with the coming change. He was very worried about everything and expressing that the only way he knew how--by acting up. Unfortunately daily notes from his teacher became the norm during this time.

After a few weeks of this whirlwind, we realized that maybe Wally needed some attention too. We sat down with him one day and said that we had been paying so much attention to Theo and the move, we hadn't even asked him how he felt about everything. This is the reply he gave us.

"When you first told me about moving, I was upset. I didn't want to leave my friends and my school. But then one day, I laid down on my bed and thought about everything. First I thought about every bad thing there was about moving and then I was done with the bad stuff.  Then I thought about the good stuff like having a bigger yard and seeing snow. And the good stuff is the only thing I think about now when I think about moving and it's okay."

I was inspired at the time with Wally's method on how he handled his worry and still am. Since then, I've tried to remember his example. When I'm worried about something, I try to think about what is really bothering me and causing the worry. Then I think about if there is any action I can take to change it. Next I try to look at the positives of the situation and focus on those. Or to paraphrase young Wally, "First I think about all of the bad stuff and then I forget it. Then I only think about the good stuff."

How do you calm your worries?

Food Waste Friday and True Food Confessions--August 30, 2013

It's time for Food Waste Friday, when the Frugalgirl encourages us to post pictures from the previous week of wasted food from our household. This accountability hopefully will help us to be more careful with our food and maybe save some money. Also, I am using this public forum to encourage us to eat out less which includes better meal planning. You can follow how we are doing in this endeavor by reading True Food Confessions.

This Week's Food Waste

Cottage Cheese and Chicken Soup

The cottage cheese turned green before we finished it. I knew the container was too big when I bought it, but the price was so good. A rookie mistake made by an old pro. Also, last week I was sick for a couple of days and had 1/2 can of chicken soup--our favorite go to with an upset stomach. However, when I felt better, the soup didn't seem so appealing any more. So there it sat in the back of the fridge until it was time for it to go.

This Week's True Food Confessions 

Do you ever have a hard time remembering what you did yesterday? Sometimes I can't remember what I  did even that morning. So sometimes, I can't remember what we had to eat over the last week--like now. But I'll take a stab at it any way. Last night we had meatloaf and a couple of days before that we had chicken and noodles with chicken left over of a roasted chicken. Another night was a frozen pizza. The treats of the week were fresh salads, watermelon, and peaches. Oh the peaches were heavenly. I love peach season. 

Picture from Browneyed Baker.

I didn't make a new recipe this week, but I tasted a wonderful one at work--Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream. This is not ice cream with chunks of cookie dough, but the ice cream tastes like chocolate chip cookie throughout.  It was rich, creamy, and delicious and didn't require churning with an ice cream maker. I may make it this weekend. My friend that made it said that she got the recipe years ago off a bag of a bag of chocolate chips, but I have reprinted it below from Food. com.

Toll House Quick Ice Cream

By children from A to Z on July 16, 2007

0 Reviews

• 
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 24 hrs 30 mins
• Yield: 1.5 quarts

About This Recipe

"I haven't made this but it sure looks good. I found this in the Nestle cookbook I have. No ice cream maker necessary. Cooking time is chilling time."

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup mini chocolate chip
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1. In a small heavy gauge saucepan, combine brown sugar and butter.
2. Bring to a boil over low heat, stirring occasionally; boil 1 minute.
3. Remove from heat.
4. In blender container, combine eggs, vanilla extract and salt; cover and blend at medium speed for 30 seconds.
5. Gradually pour in brown sugar mixture; blend at high speed for 1 minute Set aside;.
6. Cool to room temperature.
7. In a large bowl, beat heavy cream until stiff.
8. Fold in butter/sugar mixture.
9. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts.
10. Pour into foil-lined 9x5x3 in loaf pan.
11. Cover with foil; freeze until firm (several hours or overnight).

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 (1179 g)
Servings Per Recipe: 1

Amount Per Serving

% Daily Value

Calories 3208.8

Calories from Fat 2467

76%

Amount Per Serving

% Daily Value

Total Fat 274.1g

421%

Saturated Fat 140.3g

701%

Cholesterol 1020.4mg

340%

Sugars 155.0 g

Sodium 1522.1mg

63%

Total Carbohydrate 183.1g

61%

Dietary Fiber 12.0g

48%

Sugars 155.0 g

620%

Protein 36.4g

7