Thankful: Day 30

I am thankful for haircuts.  And stylists who understand when I say, "I need something that is cute without styling" that I mean it.  Really.

Thankful: Day 29

Coffee.  I forgot to be thankful for coffee.  And ice cream.  And pizza. 

Thankful: Day 28

I am thankful for snack foods.  And making meals of snacks to recover from the gorging of the holiday.

Thankful: Day 27

I am thankful for my mother-in-law and getting to spend special time with her.  And candlelit tea to celebrate the beginning of Advent.

Thankful: Day 26

I am thankful for sporting events.  Especially when they are local college football on tv with good announcers when it is cold outside.  I folded TONS of laundry while watching a very exciting Saints football playoff today.

Thankful: Day 25

I am thankful for high speed internet, ordering pictures online, shopping online and all things technology related.... even when they make me swear.

Thankful: Day 24

I am thankful for family.  And, also, pumpkin pie from Costco with fresh-whipped cream and grated nutmeg.

Thankful: Day 23

I am thankful for days off.  Days of fun and crafts and projects and kid stuff.  Baking and cleaning and wrapping.  Music and dancing. 

Thankful: Day 22

I am thankful for being organized.  Or the illusion of being organized.  Or the hope of being organized. 

Thankful: Day 21

Waffles.  I am thankful for waffles.  And when I am organized enough to make fresh, homemade waffles for my kids... on a school morning.

I like my waffles with butter and brown sugar.  No syrup.

Thankful: Day 20

I am thankful for Costco and laundry baskets.  Sturdy turquoise laundry baskets.

Thankful: Day 19

I am thankful for my in-laws.

Thankful: Day 18

I am thankful for cell phones that take pictures.  I am particularl thankful we didn't have them when I was young(er) and dumb(er).  I'm so thankful there isn't photographic documentation of all that stupidity.

Thankful: Day 17

I am thankful for scanners.  For the funny vintage pictures they allow to be posted on Facebook. 

Thankful: Day 16

I am thankful for Facebook.  It lets me keep track of my family.  And see funny vintage pictures. 

Thankful: Day 15

I am thankful for checklists.

Thankful: Day 14

I am thankful for forgiving fashion.  Long drapey sweaters and yoga pants.  Land's End tshirts and jeans.

Thankful: Day 13

I am thankful for long weekends and projects.  Especially projects completed and long overdue.

Thankful: Day 12

I am thankful for hot chocolate and simple pleasures.  The rituals and routines of my life.

Thankful: Day 11

Love this boy.

Thankful: Day 10

I am thankful for all wheel drive.

Thankful: Day 9

 

Chili & Mox..... specifically Chili Applebee and Mox Polamalu.

 

My darling murderers. 

 

We got what we thought were two female kittens after finding mouse sign in our house in the summer of 2009.  Our dear grey cat went to heaven a while before... she was a murderous maniac and one of the oddest cats on earth.  Loved her.

 

Turns out one kitten was male.  Oh well.  They came from the barn and had learned the art of rodent war well from their mama.  That was the goal.  They spend a lot of time in the house and display dead things daily on the lawn right in front of the steps.  Ew.

 

They had to evacuate with me late in the summer of 2009.... that was interesting.  We went to my sister's house.  She has the two littermates.  We had to paint fingernail polish streaks on their heads so I didn't get confused and bring home the wrong kittens. 

 

Thankful for nice cats that murder rodents.

Thankful Day 8

I love this boy.  Even when he does naughty things.  I can't imagine I will have much more time on this earth with him so I just focus on enjoying the time I have.  His "spot" is curled up behind my knees.... on the couch or in bed or wherever.  He is my #1.

Thankful Day 7

Carrots and Hummus.

Specifically... the GIANT bags of carrots and single-serve containers of hummus from Costco.

I am, in general, opposed to single-serve items that are more expensive and I prefer to make-at-home vs buy pre-made.

HOWEVER. 

In finding the balance between cost-effective and healthy/green and convenient (my personal chartreuse triumvirate) I don't follow that concept to the letter.  Ya have to know the rules to know when to make an exception says I.

I sometimes buy the pre-packs of carrots and love them.  But lately my kids have been on a bugs bunny style carrot fest.  And I've been making lots of pans of roasted veggies and those little peeled buggers just don't taste as good as a real carrot..... all carmelized and delicious.  And those big bags, stored unwashed in my crisper, seem to last FOREVER.

I know how to make hummus.  But I don't have a food processor and cleaning the blender is a pain.  And the repackaging and spoilage.  Well.... I love being able to just grab one of those little packets from the fridge and go with it. 

Also... is it wrong I consider cut-up carrots and hummus a breakfast food? 

Thankful Day 6

Food in the freezer.  So thankful.

Jokes have been made about my compulsive need to have a full freezer.  Yes, I am a Costco shopper.  And, yes, after this weekend trip to the farm I have about 12 packages of hamburger.  We are trying for a low-based food budget for the next two weeks so everything will be burger-based.

I believe in having a second freezer.  Ours is an upright in the garage.  In stock, always:  a three pound bag of coffee beans, some butter, frozen vegetables of some variety, bread, ice cream, parmesan, chicken nuggets, water, flour, spare ice packs.  Whenever possible....cows, deer & elk.  I also enjoy chicken but I'm alone in that one.  Rotating in and out.... various convenience foods.... potstickers, pizza bagels, frozen pizzas, hot pockets, eggos, egg rolls..... things I might have on hand to make something.... bread heels to make croutons, freezer jelly, frozen cheese, muffins, homemade bean burritos, cooked beans or lentils, frozen fruit.  In the summer I stock a variety of delicious icy treats.  Pre-hunting season I clean out both freezers and rotate stuff to the front to be eaten before any meat comes back from the processor. 

This year Hot did his deer all to jerky & summer sausage.  Delish.  And the way my kids eat jerky it won't last long.

I'd like to be a more seasonal eater.  And eat more locally....putting up summer garden extras for the winter.  Heck... I love to garden.... if I didn't have 99 other things on the list in front of pulling weeds. 

Thankful Day 5

I am thankful for spreadsheets.

Thankful Day 4

Well now... it would make SENSE to post about Hot today, wouldn't it?  But I'm not gonna... not because I'm not thankful but because I have a particular photo I want to use and it must be found.

Instead.  Today.  I am thankful for heat.

I love my pellet stove.  I would also love a wood stove but I really love the pellet stove.  Even with the price of pellets going into orbit... I love it. 

I have a red lattice-topped metal steamer on top.  It is starting to peel and look a little ratty.... I saw one similar to this at our local fireplace shop.  Cute, right?

Thankful: Day 3

Hello you precious little fashion bug.  This one loves oversized flip flops (fipf-fops, mama).  She loves to color and play kitchen.  (Wanna pit-za?)  She's scared of deer stepping on her and cats on the stairs.  (Me too.)  She likes to dress herself.  Love you Ama.

Butter My.....

A few days ago I made some really bad corn bread.

So I asked and you commented and Cristal mentioned BISCUITS.

I love biscuits.  My mom used to make them for us for breakfast almost every day.

So... who has a good recipe?  Who uses the ones in the twisty can?

Thankful: Day 2

Oh I love this girl.  She has such style and grace.  She is a great storyteller and has a completely contagious giggle.  She loves to draw and write letters.  She likes music and dancing.  And I love her so.  Love you Fifi!

Thankful 2011 Day 1

Elle challenged posting thankful for November.

Here's a start.  I'm thankful for this smiley face.  And his health.  And his joyful personality.  Because he is a character.  Love you buddy.