Talking to Elle

Elle and I were having a phone conversation and she asked, "How much of what we talk about do you think to yourself... whoa.... I should blog that."

And I confess.... if I could live blog one of our phone conversations I would.

We are frickin' hilarious.

But usually by the time I get off the phone I can't remember what we talked about.  At all.

This conversation included me telling a story about some teenaged chipmunks playing chicken.... which... if I can remember it.... I will tell you later.  Truly a redneck story.

And the universal mommy lament about time, effort, reward and busy-ness. 

And money.  We often talk about money.  Which is a little odd because we are in very different places money-wise but we still have the same problems.

And meal planning.  And vet bills.  And family.  And being married to men who don't like chicken. 

And see... I can't even remember what we were talking about that had me laughing so hard the ear tooth fell in the grass. 

Lumineers and Trouble With the Curve

I love The Lumineers.

So tonight I'm watching tv and a trailer comes on for the new Clint Eastwood movie "Trouble With the Curve" and the song is....

HO HEY by The Lumineers. 

Love that song.  And my kids were excited to hear something they know (besides something from the Shrek soundtrack...). 

Now are they going to get all famous and main stream?

And does it mean I'm a grown up now that "my" music is being used in advertising?  Because I will tell you.... the first time I heard The Soup Dragons (I'm Free) on a credit card ad I just about curled up in a ball..... I'm pretty sure everyone around me is a grown up but I am not.

And will they EVER tour to Montana???

Meals Last Week and Next

Somehow last week fell apart on me.  I'm looking at the list of things I intended to make and I only hit it on one day and that was hot dogs. 

Hmmmm. 

Let's just say we bought a case of ramen (robin noodle soup) at Costco and we ate enough that what remains fits in the cupboard. 

I made calzones last night.  Yum.

Tonight will be spaghetti... maybe even with fabulous homemade breadsticks. 

For next week:

Monday:  Meal in the Car... we have football at 7.  Probably noodles with white sauce and clementine oranges and blueberries.  Or this might be the night Tuff finally talks me into going to Hardy's for a chicken sandwich.
Tuesday:  Pizza at the school open house at 5:30.  Then football at 7.  And a cat vet appt at 3:45.  How AM I going to get the cat home, get the kids and do the open house?  A mystery.
Wednesday:  Beans & rice?
Thursday:  Fire roasted veggies and pasta
Friday:  Sandwiches
Saturday:   Something in the crock pot.  I'm hoping Elle's experiment with crock pot freezer meals works out and she posts some recipes by Sunday.
Sunday:  Birthday party in Belt.  I think. 

Sunday Morning at my house.

Wake up with big plans to tidy the whole house and then work on the living room.  After several months of it being in a total state of flux I'm ready to finish the last bits of floor painting, make it cute with a fantastic floor arrangement and think about buying a new rug.

Make coffee.
Clean up dining room.
Clean up kitchen.
Put kids to work on crafts in dining room.
Start pulling paint tape in living room.
Take a break and make pancakes for breakfast.
Kids eat ALL pancakes.
Go back to pull more tape.
Turn around and realize the dining room AND kitchen are, once again, a complete disaster.

Wonder why I don't ever get anything done.

Music

In search of new music.

Found this site.

I haven't listened to everything but.... I think I may be sharing a musical brain with the blogger. 

Today's Letters. 

Cozi?

Does anyone else use cozi.com for an online calendar?

Anyone?

Anyone?

I just set up an account. 

I'm really looking forward to the part that texts reminders to, ahem, certain people... so Hot knows where/when for stuff.  Not that he will remember, right?

I also have started using the email option that lets me send a text from my email.  So much easier for me to type on my computer than on my stupid number pad... that also makes me pay to send/receive.  It's working great so far. 

And I'm doing some meal planning again. 

This week:

Monday:  Pasta with white sauce & chicken tenders (basil and parm for the grown ups)
Tuesday:  Fire roasted veggies with rice and pasta.  Leftover fried chicken.
Wednesday:  Tortillas with cheese.  Or mini tortilla pizzas.
Thursday:  Tacos
Friday:  Mexican Casserole
Saturday:  Beans & Rice
Sunday:  Burgers

Also for meals:  spinach salad with bacon dressing and hard-boiled eggs. 

And if I can find candied walnuts..... salad with apples, feta, candied walnuts and poppyseed dressing. 

One Last Thing

Via Elle

The last gift I purchased . . . . wait... this is a repeat.....  although at this point I've added a little housewarming something for my sister.... but I haven't gifted it yet so I can't say.....

The last thing I cooked . . . burgers.  Delicious burgers.

The last text message I sent . . .  I confess.  I don't text.  But I did text a phone number for my sister-in-law (she's on the swather now) to the financial advisor.  Yes, that might be confusing. 

The last song I bought . . . Seether.  The Country Song. 

The last celebrity I saw . . .Oddly enough.... celebrities drive by my house all the time.  There is a slightly-famous yoga retreat at the end of our road.... so there you go.  But celebrities I have actually seen?  I got nothin'.

Last TV show I watched . . . Still the Olympics.  But I have also been watching Longmire online.  I love Craig Johnson.

One Last Thing

Via Elle

The last prank I pulled . . . . probably while playing Flip Cup with all the cousins during Family Vacation.  My sister and I were paired up but on opposite teams so we were "pouring" for each other.....  45 minutes of play later and we still hadn't had a full beer..... age and treachery my little cousins.... age and treachery.

Last person I kissed . . . .  Everybody gets kisses in the morning.  Hot, Sweet, Tuff, Bugsy....  not the dog.  The dog gets a treat.

Last vacation I took  . . . FAMILY VACATION!!!!  To celebrate Grandpa's upcoming 90th birthday.  It was a blast.... as only a redneck party can be.

Last album I downloaded . . . . I'm going to download Brave.  And maybe Kin.  But the last thing I downloaded was Seether.... The Country Song.

You yellow-bellied marmot....

Rockwell Charles.... Rock Chuck to you.....  Yes.... it is a yellow-bellied marmot.  My father-in-law was down this afternoon and said there were two rock chucks, a tiny zippy squirrel & a fuzzy bunny hanging out in my yard.  The poor house-bound cat (she's recovering from a rifle shot) was losing her ever-loving mind...... 

My True Love.....

I got a comment on a past post.... I've edited out some identifying info...

 a new comment on your post "Day 12 . . . Photographic challenge. Photos of 1...":

Hello! My mother is taking care of my grandmother. My mom built the snowman by the dinosaur. She even went out 2 times a day to keep him looking fresh. I thought it very fitting that you titled the photo True Love because my mom truly loves snowmen! She builds them doing all sorts of things and will spend hours toting snow around in buckets to make the perfect snowman. I was tickled to see her snowman on your blog. :)

Dear Reader-

That photo is making the rounds on facebook.... at least among the Hi-Line people.  I do love the way the "It's A Small World" theme song plays in my life......

I stole the picture from the owner of the Wicks Trading Post.  Or here on facebook.

You can see the original post here.

One Last Thing

Via Elle...

Last thing I cooked . . . . I whipped up some noodles last night.... does that count?

Last time I was recognized . . . . by all my dear high school pals on Saturday night.

Last vice I indulged in . . . vodka and grapefruit.... two of them... on Saturday night.

Last gift I gave . . . June is the month of birthdays around here.  But the very last gift I gave was to my dear daughter.... and it was a turquoise Mickey Mouse (vintage looking) t-shirt.  It is for the first day of school and she has worn it.....  Every.  Single.  Day. 

Last time I cried . . .Um.  Maybe a few years ago?  I'm not really a crier.....

Kin

Go to iTunes.  Google Kin by Mary Karr & Rodney Crowell....

What do you think??