SINGLE SATURDAY

[Harriet]

So sorry dh had that bad experience, Sadie. I know how shocking it can be to have wildlife suddenly appear in the headlights and there's nothing you can do.

I know that piece, Kathryn, and don't believe I've ever been in a choir that attempted it. But the UM church at which I was secretary sang it often as a congregational. I thought that was brave! Actually, it can turn into a very sobering piece, possibly because of the unusual music.

I have visited my colorist. HRH has taken his friend out shopping for something - not sure. I had an oatmeal breakfast like Sadie mentions. I figured out how to make a better stab at flavored ones (when at home - not on the road!) by using about 1/8th cup of the new "plum amazin" product (prunes already cut up into bits) in plain oatmeal, then adding a packet of stevia. It is quite good, and only adds 50 calories, no sodium, but a couple grams of fiber. The author of the book I'm reading says oatmeal actually absorbs the acidity of raisins in it, so that's a pretty good way to eat raisins, so I'm hoping that would hold true for prune bits.

Thunderstorms daily here, Twins Mom - one even threatens the bday party today, so the entire group of us may end up retreating to the fire department hall.

A backhoe birthday cake, OKay? Dd13 says "that is awesome - how do people do that? It'll be like Cake Boss!" Ddil and ds have gotten a lot of compliments on their choice of a spray park, but of course if we get thunderstormed-out I won't know whether it would have worked out well or not! Yes, check them out to see which one would allow a closely-parked car, and then, in my opinion, "reserve" that space with some kind of homemade handicapped sign! Or, better, ask someone to park a vehicle they can spare in that spot for the morning of the party, and move it for your father when he arrives.

[DeeClutter]

Sounds quite good, Harriet. I sometimes add craisins and/or walnuts to my oatmeal -and occasionaly cinnamon.

[DeeClutter]

Went down for the 'pirate's' raft race. There were only 4 rafts this year, but I'll wager there's more next year. Even with only 4 it was a lot of fun to watch. There was quite a large crowd there cheering them on. Took a lot of pictures but have no idea yet what I have. The sun was shining toward me and I couldn't see what I was taking pictures OF.

I've accomplished zilch today other than making the bed and picking up the kitchen a little. Just don't feel any zip and my get up 'n go definitely got up 'n went.''

[Emptynester]

We are in DD#2's town. She met us at church parking lot and is taking DH to scout the tree limbs on the road to her house. I'm holding down the fort with the MH.

We had 2 does run across in front of us this morning but they were far enough away to be in the trees by the time we passed.

So ready to get off the road for awhile. But it looks like the brakes in the pickup are not working when hooked to the MH. So we have to check that out while we are here. Also should do something about the waste tanks as they smell going down the road. All is well after we are parked for a couple of hours. My makes for a ishy tummy on the road.

[Cowinkie]

Morning y'all..

I'm also visiting my hair colorist this morning...as I have a fund raising benefit to attend later this afternoon. Sweeties oldest df's gd has been diagnosed with leukemia. She is 6 years old. Sweetie is considered the honorary Uncle to df's girls and has known them since birth. We have spent many holidays with the entire family. Brianne has been responding well to treatment. the family was told on April 26th that she had leukemia and by May 2 she was receiving chemo therapy. Fortunately this is the type of cancer that responses well to treatment with an 85-90% of recovery. Hopefully she will be within that range.

I have been working on my geneology but have gotten stuck. I am missing the one like that will connect my present day family to documented family members in 1446. Ugggggggggg. Over and over again I find books, census and documents that clearly state that the Green family are direct members of the Crispins. The secret lies in the Crispin cemetery which still exists. I have written historical authors, contacted historical societies and the such and so far ...nothing. If I had the names of the people buried in the cemetery I would have my answer. However, the cemetery is private and not connected to a church so this is making it a real challenge. So I am left waiting tapping my foot until I get some type of response

I leave for my mom's next week and think I have convinced my son to come visit me for a couple of days after I get back. We may travel to see the Grand Canyon or just hang at home. I told my son I will leave that decision up to him.

Yesterday I went to WM. I had pictures of Xmas that I wanted to print so I could give them to my mom. I will spend the next couple of hours putting them together. I'm not a crafty person...so will use an already made album.

Haven't the faintest idea what I'll be doing for dinner. I recently purchased an electric pressure cooker and have been making ll my dinners in it. Sweetie used one to cook in when he was single so we have been cooking together. Sure will make life easier for me when I visit my mom. Since Sweetie is so good at cooking I won't have to worry about him while I'm gone

Ok timer is dinging. Hope y'all are having a terrific day...Lucylee, the best part of my trip to my mom's is I haven't been home during this time of the year...end of July, first of Aug...in more that 20 years. Thats cause I was always in SCHOOL. See me smile

[OKay]

Electric pressure cooker????? Please share details! I use a regular old-fashioned pressure cooker often and have thought about upgrading to the safer/newer ones, but don't know a thing about them and haven't stopped to do the research on them.

I'm in waiting mode...... drumming fingers......if I was smart like Indiana, I would be doing some exercises while I'm waiting.....hum....guess drumming fingers wouldn't count as exercise. I'm finalizing tomorrows plans....taking 3 teenagers bowling & pizza after church. I love txt'ing because it doesn't infringe on anyones time to immediately answer....but that can be frustrating when coordinating arraignments with 3 people. Of course....I could declare "Nana Rules" and just call them all instead of txting back and forth, but I'm trying to communicate the cool and hip way like the teenagers do. LOL @ myself....I don't think they say cool & hip these days

[Cowinkie]

Okay....I bought a a Wolfgang Puck Electric pressure cooker from HSN. There are two versions and I waited for the more expensive one to go on sale. I think I paid $119 for it. Most all of my small appliances are from Wolfgang..with the exception of my coffee maker. I bought a set of his stainless steel cookwear 10 years ago and have been buying his products ever since. A couple of years go I bought his rice cooker and love it. All his produces do exactly like he says they will. I like using HSN and QVC because you can try the products, and if you don't like what you bought, you can return them within 30 days no questions asked.

Sweetie has told me many times how much he enjoyed his old timie pressure cooker. I watched Wolfie over the past year demonstrate how to use his. And because it is so hot around here during the summer, the pressure cooker sounded like a good idea to me. Anyway, when it went on sale a few weeks ago I purchased one. The deluxe version can be used as a rice cooker as well. You can make soups, desserts and many other things besides cooking veggies and meat.

The first night I used it, I also decided to make a huge serving of rice in the rice cooker...Sweetie will eat left overs and he is crazy about rice. Using the pressure cooker, I cooked a couple of chicken breasts, then added veggies...broccili, carrots, bell and red peppers, potatoes, onions, and califlower and cooked them on top of the chicken. In total it took about 45 minutes. Since Sweetie had cooked this way for many years I pretended I didn't understand how to cut the veggies the right way and he showed me how...Tom Sawyer would have been proud Sweetie saw the rice cooker going and he said ...looks like Wolfie is in the kitchen !!!

Take some getting used to, but the food was great. I didn't do anything to the chicken and it looked kinda gray when it came out. But I knew that was going to happen. The veggies were tender and taste. I made Zaterian's (LA rice) and it was terrific. Sweetie said the best thing about the pressure cooker was he didn't have to run cold water over the top to cool it, plus I wasn't worried about it exploding.

The machine is very safe and easy to use. You just add water, add food, close and twist the top, make sure the vent is closed, set the digital dial to choose what you're cooking and walk away. The timer is set by itself. What I like most is the clean up is a snap. Takes less than 2 minutes to clean the appliance, plus there is a removable pan that has a snap on lid. You have the option of pulling your left over dinner out of the cooker, snap on the lid and shove it in the refrigerator for the next meal. No wonder his wife loves him so much!!!

I didn't buy this version....if you're interested I'll let you know when the one like mine comes back...they sold out of them during the weekend the pressure cookers were being presented and are waiting for more to be added to the inventory.

http://www.hsn.com/product_p-1003265_xp.aspx

[lucylee]

I am having another very UNproductive day here... dh is no help w/motivating me to do more, LOL -- HE said, "Go ahead, be lazy, you've earned it... you've worked hard." I don't know what he imagines I have done... but I am easily led astray w/the slightest bit of encouragement. Maybe dh is thinking about the fact that I will be working hard one month from today... our students will be returning to school on Aug. 20. * I did see that smile, Cowinkie!

The SINGLE thing that I really must do today is change the sheets, however... and I do plan to get busy with that. Soon.

Otherwise... hmmm... well, we'll just see where the road (cards) take me.

I need to exercise sooo sooo SOOO badly... but I am easily discouraged there, too.

Oh well. I guess I need to (1) get out of this chair and (2) either hit the shower or the walking shoes.

(((MT))) Hope you get all the road-warrior troubles solved soon!!!

Also loving the backhoe cake, OKay! If possible, post pictures!

[Twins' Mom]

I got in a nap after dfriend/rabbi's wife left and dh and ds let me sleep awhile. Dh and I went out - dropped off two boxes at Goodwill on the way to old house, then picked up books and recycling at old house and dropped off part of the books at the town library. (We now live in a city.) Have mostly unloaded my car. We did find pots and pans at the old house so moved those, and identified a possible box in the garage that might have rest of kitchen stuff. Of course, I now have a lot more to put away...

Dh is going back out with ds and they will get propane for the grill. Going to grill chicken breasts and top with mozzarella, basil, tomato and a balsamic vinegar reduction. It's been so long since I've actually cooked I hardly know what to do anymore. I got out of the habit after dh had his gastric bypass when he was such a picky eater, and the trend continued with the kids being away for the past year. I'd like to get in the habit of cooking again, somehow.

Need a quick trip to grocery now; will have to drive ds' car 'cause dh is taking mine.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Re: pressure cookers I've often thought of them as the perfect yet simultaneously worst small appliance for a SHE. They are great because we never decide until the last minute what we'll have for dinner and they cook very quickly. On the downside, at least my mother's needed to be watched like a hawk and with me being so easily distracted, it never seemed like a good idea for me to have one. I suspect I get my ADD from Mom and I watched her clean off the ceiling of the kitchen one time too many to want a pressure cooker of my own.

I've been online searching for singer's throat lozenges. I tried at the market town but they didn't have a clue. It should just be glycerin or something else soothing. No menthol or eucalyptus because the decongestant property of those will also dry out the vocal cords, not my goal at all. My throat is getting really sore these days from all the singing. Jaw isn't that great either.

Dinner tonight is leftover pork stew. Plus two ears of corn I couldn't resist at the grocery store.

It is almost four but today I've:

1. washed and put two loads of laundry on the line
2. dropped dh at the car rental place
3. ruined a pair of capris (that took time so I'll count it as a ta-da)
4. have started to complete the ruination of said capris by soaking them in even more bleach in the hopes that I'll end up with an even, new, colour (or non-colour)
5. attended choir practice (a 4 hour chunk of my day.)
6. dropped off my music director and then headed to the market town for lunch and shopping
7. reviewed my sermon in great detail
8. bought everything on the grocery and to-buy list.

I'm ready for a nap but need to do the edits for the sermon and write the prayers of the people. Then practice the sermon out loud (so far I've been reading silently in order to preserve what is left of my voice.)

Dh is at his family's Christmas party. Ds will be there too. Dh has a crazy idea that we can get up super early tomorrow and drop the rental car off before church. I'm not sure that is the rushed way I want to start my day.