...Some cooking thing in a box...

Last Week

Needlework
continue crayon rolls
6 log cabin chickens

Other
Monday - Simon Orthodontist
Monday - Satellite dish replacement
Monday - dentist
Wednesday - sub 1/2 day pm Foley
Friday - Cubs 7:00
Saturday - Musical crew, cast banquet
Tori - "Oliver" rehearsal all week exc. Wednesday
final cut front lawn
put plow on tractor
finish cleaning garage

Yesterday the local Catholic Church held their annual Penny Fair - buy a card of 25 numbered tickets for 50¢, put them in little buckets in front of the things you'd like to win. Local businesses offer gift cards, or cash(!) or savings bonds. Others donate "things"- Pampered Chef items, clocks, clothes, toys... They draw the winners at 5, or something like that, we didn't stick around. My friend Kathy posted on my Facebook wall this morning that her son came home last night and said "Dorothy won some cooking thing in a box." Hmmm... intriguing.

Today is promising to be one of the last gorgeous days of fall, so I'm headed outside. The blade didn't get put on the tractor, so that's a job, and the lawn mower deck needs to come off. The license plates came for the car, so that's another job. And if there's time, maybe I'll sit in the sun and read my book. :o)

Oh, and, sigh, I've decided to climb back on the not-so-fat wagon. Just in time for the holidays.

This Week

Dinner Menu
Monday - beef barley soup, cheese bread
Tuesday - grilled chicken breasts
Wednesday - spaghetti with meatballs
Thursday - chicken and dumplings
Friday - pizza
Saturday - ribs
Sunday - roast chicken

Needlework
finish crayon rolls
6 log cabin chickens

Other
Monday - Parent Teacher conference 7:15 am
Tuesday - PTO
Thursday - sub full day Kayhart
Thursday - H1N1 Clinic
Thursday - Book Club
Saturday - Oliver matinee
Tori - "Oliver" rehearsals all week, show Thurs, Fri, Sat
put plow on tractor
schedule snow tire install & oil change

I know Hallowe'en was last week, but...

As Daniel and I shuffled through leaves last Friday evening, I noticed how calm it seemed. Hallowe'en, when I was a kid was a little more ... frantic. My dad was the designated driver (yes, he drove us around.) We lived in the country, and walking around the neighbourhood would have meant either a) 3 things in out bags (from the walk-to-able neighbour's houses) or b) we'd be out all night. And we couldn't be out all night because, for many years, not being home before 10 would have meant not being home for a looooong time. I'm not sure when the practice switched to Devil's Night (Cabbage Night, Hallowe'en Eve, whatever) but when I was younger, every Hallowe'en, around 10 o'clock, someone would throw a half dozen or more tires across the road, toss on some gasoline, and set the barricade on fire. I know just where it happened (there was always scorched pavement the next day) so I assume the police knew where it would happen, but year after year, the tires burned, the air filled with horrible stinky smoke and we knew Hallowe'en was officially over for another year. Strangely, I find this a happy memory. Ahhh, good times. Cough, cough.

Christmas on Thursday

Quick one today, I got up late, and I'm working in less than an hour.

The crayon rolls are working! I have 15 "outsides" done, including 3 pink, (2 of everything else) and they go fast, so I can make up more if time allows. I need to work out a closure solution, I think an elastic strap with a button, like a bento band. next week.

2 are completely done except for the closure, 2 more have the crayon pocket on and just need binding, and the rest have pockets cut and pressed, but not attached. They're certainly colourful! And Daniel likes the idea, so I think they'll sell. What do you think $8?






And so there's no delusion that I'm making EVERYTHING for Christmas, there's this. I chaired the fundraising catalog sale (Innisbrook) at the elementary school in Septemeber, and the orders showed up (surprise!) on Friday. The Cinnamon Almonds are for my mom, the tin of cashews are for Scott's mom, and the mug tower (cute!) is for, ahem, me.

The spirit? Of Rio?

Someone's gonna be mighty disappointed.

Deep Breath...

This is a busy freaking morning! Holy cow!

•Okay, once the kids are up, it's everyone in the car, NOW! It's a half hour drive to the orthodontist appointment at 8:10.
•Don't forget to leave a note for the satellite guys, in case they actually get here when they're supposed to.
•Daniel's all in for eating breakfast at school, yeah! And hot lunch, too (corn dogs) so no lunch to pack. Whew! He's even got some change in his bag if he wants to visit the snack cart, 'though he did ask me to make him some of "that crazy trail mix" (raisinettes, goldfish, and animal crackers.) It's the least I can do.
•Drop Tori off at the high school, Daniel off at the elem school, swing back around and head south. We can do this!
•And once done there, I have to remember to drop off a check at the insurance agent's to pay the policy on the new car. We drive right past it, though if I forget, I can just drop it in the mail...
•At least I get to sit still for an hour or so this afternoon. Sadly, it'll be in the dentist's chair.

I did forget a couple more things on my to do list for this week. Daniel's staying for the After School Enrichment Program on Wednesday - they're making pear butter for the hot lunch program, and Thursday evening is my book club. I haven't finished the book, yet, but it's in my bag to fill any gaps I may have in my schedule this week. Depending on where we meet, I may take the time to make a batch of these intriguing cookies. Snockerdoodles. What a name! And I have everything to make them! From The Jack Daniel's Spirit of Tennessee Cooking, via Milk and Honey blog. Click the picture to go to the recipe.

Rabbit Rabbit

Is Rabbit Rabbit an American thing? Is it regional? My kids are all over this, "say rabbit rabbit first thing on the first day of the month and you'll have good luck all month." Never heard of it.









Last Week

Needlework
crayon rolls
look for fabric for Krank quilt

Other
Monday - mattress delivery
Monday - Scott's b-day
Tuesday -tractor repair
Tuesday - dentist
Wednesday - sub 1/2 day pm Foley
Friday - Fun Night @ elem school
Saturday - Halloween
finish washing front windows
rake leaves

I've somehow managed to schedule a whole week worth of stuff into 6 hours on Monday. Ugh. The school asked if I could sub Monday, but there's just no way. Once I get back from the dentist, though, my day will be over (ha!) Actually, the weather forecast would suggest that Monday afternoon will be prime time to get the yard work wrapped up. Tuesday promises rain, so I'll do my morning volunteer in the school library and then come home and sew. Famous last words...

This Week

Dinner Menu
Monday - corn chowder, homemade bread
Tuesday - mac & cheese
Wednesday - beef stew and biscuits
Thursday - fish and chips
Friday - stromboli
Saturday - grilled chicken sandwiches
Sunday - lasagna

Needlework
continue crayon rolls
6 log cabin chickens

Other
Monday - Simon Orthodontist
Monday - Satellite dish replacement
Monday - dentist
Wednesday - sub 1/2 day pm Foley
Friday - Cubs 7:00
Tori - "Oliver" rehearsal all week ex. Wednesday
final cut front lawn
put plow on tractor
finish cleaning garage

Duncan turns twenty

Today is my nephew Duncan's twentieth birthday. He is the son of my second brother (Ed) and his former wife, Deb. I do not know how Duncan could possibly be twenty, I remember when he was born. We were living in North Carolina at the time, but were actually in Los Angeles for a trade show when I found out he was born. How? I have no idea, it's not like we were all walking around with cell phones in 1989.

A couple of years before Duncan was born, my sister Sandra and I were bridesmaids at his parents wedding. There exists a much better(?) picture of us in our ridiculous get-ups, but gee, I really wanted to share this one. Nice hair huh? That's Deb's brother. I think he had a band...