You just never know what a day will bring, that's why it's a good idea to stay prayed up. And like Papaw always said, "If you're behind in your prayer life, don't catch up at the dinner table."
Ben has had diverticulitis for a couple of years now, and has learned how to keep it under control quite well by being pedantic about the amount of fiber in his diet. And that worked fine until we went away for a long weekend about a month ago, wherein someone else brought all the food and did all the cooking. And there might have been 2 grams of fiber in the entire 3 1/2 days.
A few days after we got home, he began having the familiar pain. I suggested he might go to the doctor, since these things always require an antibiotic. He opted to try getting rid of it on his own. How that was going to work, I'm still not sure, but I stayed silent. Sort of. I really do try not to be a nagging wife. My success rate varies.
After two weeks when it was obvious it wasn't going to go away, he went the doctor, had a CT scan, and started on 2 oral antibiotics, with orders to have another CT scan when the antibiotics were finished. That was this morning. What they found was an abscess that is very happy being where it is and has no intention of leaving.
So this afternoon he was checked into the hospital and started on IV antibiotics. The surgeon will visit us in the morning to give us his take on things. At this point I'm glad to be on a first-name basis with the Great Physician.
If you are too, we'd appreciate your prayers that the meds would work and surgery would not be necessary.
Be thankful ~
Karen
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
This 'n' that, with no transition in between.
Yesterday I braved life and limb and walked out front by the blooming azalea bushes. I love azaleas for the two weeks in spring when they have actual flowers on them. The other 50 weeks they're just ugly. But if I tear them out I have to put something else in their place, and if you think I'm doing that then you have grossly overestimated my landscaping abilities.
When you round the corner of the garage, you can hear the hum coming from them, and I was hoping to get a decent shot of what causes all the ruckus.
Still with the focusing issues, but I was trying not to be aggravating to them. Yeah, that's my excuse.
Obviously I needed a faster shutter speed to stop the motion of his wings, but at that point I was more concerned with his stinger than his wings. Nevertheless, I survived the ordeal.
If you've been reading here very long, you know daughter #3, Abbie, is studying art at Liberty University. So today they had a school-wide art show and Abbie entered her pencil drawing of a friend.
Here's the text I just got from her:
You rock, Ab!
Be thankful ~
Karen
When you round the corner of the garage, you can hear the hum coming from them, and I was hoping to get a decent shot of what causes all the ruckus.
Still with the focusing issues, but I was trying not to be aggravating to them. Yeah, that's my excuse.
Obviously I needed a faster shutter speed to stop the motion of his wings, but at that point I was more concerned with his stinger than his wings. Nevertheless, I survived the ordeal.
If you've been reading here very long, you know daughter #3, Abbie, is studying art at Liberty University. So today they had a school-wide art show and Abbie entered her pencil drawing of a friend.
Here's the text I just got from her:
You rock, Ab!
Be thankful ~
Karen
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeep.
You know how every so often you'll be listening to the radio in the car and you hear that long beeeeeep followed by some squawking sound? And then the random radio voice says, "This is a test. For the next 60 seconds, this station will be conducting a test of the emergency broadcast system. This system is used in the event of an emergency to blah, blah, blah."
Well last night for the first time in my 49-year-long life, I actually heard an emergency broadcast!
I wish I could tell you how many times the weather people have gone dark-side about violent thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes, etc., and we've not seen so much as a stiff breeze. But apparently last night there were actual funnel clouds and major damage. I only know this because after church on Wednesday nights, I take one of our college students back to campus, and then come back to church to get Man-boy.
On my way back to church from campus, I heard the familiar beeeeeeeeep, but then it was followed by the announcement saying the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia, had issued a tornado warning for my county, that violent thunderstorms with tornadoes were approaching my very neck of the woods from the southwest, and that we were to take cover immediately in an interior room.
I wondered where the interior room was in my Taurus.
So I hastened me back to the church, where Man-boy and I hung out until the warning expired.
This morning I woke up expecting to find devastation, but the worst I can see is a few extra leaves on the deck and the tarp that blew off the wood pile. Today I'm thankful the weather bubbas were wrong.
Be thankful ~
Karen
Well last night for the first time in my 49-year-long life, I actually heard an emergency broadcast!
I wish I could tell you how many times the weather people have gone dark-side about violent thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes, etc., and we've not seen so much as a stiff breeze. But apparently last night there were actual funnel clouds and major damage. I only know this because after church on Wednesday nights, I take one of our college students back to campus, and then come back to church to get Man-boy.
On my way back to church from campus, I heard the familiar beeeeeeeeep, but then it was followed by the announcement saying the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia, had issued a tornado warning for my county, that violent thunderstorms with tornadoes were approaching my very neck of the woods from the southwest, and that we were to take cover immediately in an interior room.
I wondered where the interior room was in my Taurus.
So I hastened me back to the church, where Man-boy and I hung out until the warning expired.
This morning I woke up expecting to find devastation, but the worst I can see is a few extra leaves on the deck and the tarp that blew off the wood pile. Today I'm thankful the weather bubbas were wrong.
Be thankful ~
Karen
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Two things I like today.
1. Actually, this first one is in the category of things I LOVE. I found Lisa on Twitter. (Don't ask me how. I have enough trouble figuring out the purpose of Twitter. I can't be expected to understand how I find the people I follow.) Anyway, Lisa makes the most amazing jewelry. If I won the lottery, I would order one of everything, except the earrings, of which I would get two. Seriously, go browse her Etsy shop. You'll be hooked too.
2. Abbie came home last weekend wearing a T-shirt dress that belongs to a friend. It's adorable and soft and comfy. Then I opened the latest Chadwick's catalog and saw this one and loved it. I would wear Lisa's Funky Hoop Earrings with this dress and be untouchable. At least in my own mind.
I'm going to the gym now so I can snap back to reality.
Be thankful ~
Karen
2. Abbie came home last weekend wearing a T-shirt dress that belongs to a friend. It's adorable and soft and comfy. Then I opened the latest Chadwick's catalog and saw this one and loved it. I would wear Lisa's Funky Hoop Earrings with this dress and be untouchable. At least in my own mind.
I'm going to the gym now so I can snap back to reality.
Be thankful ~
Karen
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Sweet Shot Tuesday
Last weekend I had the perfect opportunity to get some good photos when we went hiking in Shenandoah National Park (and stole my 35mm 1.8 back from my daughter). It always amazes me that I have to take hundreds of pictures to get one or two good ones, but I've heard that's the way it is. I'm using that excuse, anyway.
After a little debate, I've decided this is my sweet shot of the weekend, mostly because it was hard to take pictures of my son endangering his life. I figured if I stayed behind the camera I could live in denial for a few minutes.
For more Sweet Shot Tuesday, visit m3b.
Be thankful ~
Karen
After a little debate, I've decided this is my sweet shot of the weekend, mostly because it was hard to take pictures of my son endangering his life. I figured if I stayed behind the camera I could live in denial for a few minutes.
For more Sweet Shot Tuesday, visit m3b.
Be thankful ~
Karen
Monday, April 25, 2011
It continues.
Yesterday we got Tony (the trainer dude) to come to church with us, and then he came home and had dinner with us afterwards. I was nothing short of dumbfounded at how much a 5' 4" 19-year-old could eat, and he just raved and raved about the food. I thought that might buy me a relatively easy day in the gym today, but I grossly underestimated his likeness to a Marine Corps drill instructor.
For those of you who are not on facebook, this was my status after I got home from the gym this morning, reflecting the ongoing snark war between Tony and me:
Take a guy to church, feed him a great meal, and what does he say on Monday? "You need to get on the stairmaster." Thanks Tony.
So tomorrow, do you know what I'm going to do?
Get on the stairmaster.
Be thankful ~
Karen
For those of you who are not on facebook, this was my status after I got home from the gym this morning, reflecting the ongoing snark war between Tony and me:
Take a guy to church, feed him a great meal, and what does he say on Monday? "You need to get on the stairmaster." Thanks Tony.
So tomorrow, do you know what I'm going to do?
Get on the stairmaster.
Be thankful ~
Karen
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Oh, the exhaustion!
Who'd have thought a harmless little walk in the woods could be so hard?
A few people from our Sunday school class went to hike in the mountains of Virginia today. We wound up doing 10–11 miles and climbing from 1400 to a little over 3000 feet, and if you think that's no big deal then you'd better check with my legs.
It was a perfect day for it: cloudy, good breeze, few bugs, not too many people.
Looks easy enough, right?
Man-boy got a little overheated and dunked his head in a mountain stream. You should have heard the screaming! It was a little chilly.
We went down first, to about 1400 feet elevation, and found a creek. We also found a copperhead (that's a snake, in case you didn't know).
Back up to 2200 feet and we're trying to figure out which way we want to go. We're parked at Humpback Rocks parking. Yes, that says 11 miles. Somehow we cut off part of that. Don't ask me how, I was a follower today.
Got back to the parking area and decided we needed to climb to Humpback Rocks. I think the altitude was affecting our better judgment. So we started up a wide, easy trail and then came to a fork in the path. A guy who had been there before told us that although the left side was steeper, it was half as long, so we opted for the quick torture rather than the slow, painful death. Pictures don't do this trail justice; it was a bend-over-and-grab-the-next-root kind of climb. Twenty feet and stop for breath.
See that pointy thing? That's where we're going. I was thankful for every minute I ever spent on the bike and treadmill, and for every leg press I ever did.
This was the view when we topped the last rock.
Abbie made me get out on the rock so she could take my picture. I am petrified of heights and what you can't tell from this photo is that I am a good 25 feet from the edge and still scared to death. That smile is totally fake.
Here's Man-boy giving me more gray hair.
He's part mountain goat.
Safely back on terra firma, here's a look at where we were.
Abbie's exhausted too.
Be thankful ~
Karen
A few people from our Sunday school class went to hike in the mountains of Virginia today. We wound up doing 10–11 miles and climbing from 1400 to a little over 3000 feet, and if you think that's no big deal then you'd better check with my legs.
It was a perfect day for it: cloudy, good breeze, few bugs, not too many people.
Looks easy enough, right?
Man-boy got a little overheated and dunked his head in a mountain stream. You should have heard the screaming! It was a little chilly.
We went down first, to about 1400 feet elevation, and found a creek. We also found a copperhead (that's a snake, in case you didn't know).
Back up to 2200 feet and we're trying to figure out which way we want to go. We're parked at Humpback Rocks parking. Yes, that says 11 miles. Somehow we cut off part of that. Don't ask me how, I was a follower today.
Got back to the parking area and decided we needed to climb to Humpback Rocks. I think the altitude was affecting our better judgment. So we started up a wide, easy trail and then came to a fork in the path. A guy who had been there before told us that although the left side was steeper, it was half as long, so we opted for the quick torture rather than the slow, painful death. Pictures don't do this trail justice; it was a bend-over-and-grab-the-next-root kind of climb. Twenty feet and stop for breath.
See that pointy thing? That's where we're going. I was thankful for every minute I ever spent on the bike and treadmill, and for every leg press I ever did.
This was the view when we topped the last rock.
Abbie made me get out on the rock so she could take my picture. I am petrified of heights and what you can't tell from this photo is that I am a good 25 feet from the edge and still scared to death. That smile is totally fake.
Here's Man-boy giving me more gray hair.
He's part mountain goat.
Safely back on terra firma, here's a look at where we were.
Abbie's exhausted too.
Be thankful ~
Karen
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Sweet Shot Tuesday: His, not mine.
I know you've seen this before, but I had to put it up here by itself so I could link up over at Darcy's for Sweet Shot Tuesday.
While I was sitting on the deck fiddling with my camera this afternoon, I noticed a few settings were off, so I'm waving the somebody-changed-my-settings! flag as my excuse for this terribly out-of-focus shot. Man-boy's shot, however, was amazing. Yes, that's a cast on his foot.
Be thankful ~
Karen
What they did today.
While I was slaving over a hot computer, here's what my men did today.
While they were hard at work getting all three vehicles road-worthy, Pete held down the chewing-on-chunks-of-firewood part of the fort. Because intelligence is his strong suit and he needed to floss anyway.
Be thankful ~
Karen
While they were hard at work getting all three vehicles road-worthy, Pete held down the chewing-on-chunks-of-firewood part of the fort. Because intelligence is his strong suit and he needed to floss anyway.
Be thankful ~
Karen
Monday, April 18, 2011
His first masterpiece.
Amazing things are happening in my family, namely that we have discovered an artistic genius among us, and it's not Abbie, although she is very talented.
It appears her incredible abilities have also manifested in the DNA of my grandson, Sticky Bean (in just a minute you'll learn his real name).
First, this came in the mail today, and I might have almost cried right there at the mailbox:
Our first ever letter from a grandbaby! Honestly, last night I was crashing everybody's party being all negative about our current struggles, and look what shows up today! It sort of puts everything in perspective.
Here's what was inside:
Is that amazing, or what? I'm telling you, I see pure genius here.
And the back:
I couldn't be prouder! It's now hanging in its rightful place where every soul who enters my home will beforced able to stand and admire it for a good long time.
In other not-nearly-so-thrilling news, I was sitting at my desk yesterday when I looked up and saw this guy on the deck:
(Sorry for the blur. That was a major crop.) But look at him with his head thrown back singing to his lady. Did you know that while the female bluebirds build the nest, their mates (they mate for life) sit on a nearby branch or deck and sing to them? How romantic!
Happy spring!
Be thankful ~
Karen
It appears her incredible abilities have also manifested in the DNA of my grandson, Sticky Bean (in just a minute you'll learn his real name).
First, this came in the mail today, and I might have almost cried right there at the mailbox:
Our first ever letter from a grandbaby! Honestly, last night I was crashing everybody's party being all negative about our current struggles, and look what shows up today! It sort of puts everything in perspective.
Here's what was inside:
Is that amazing, or what? I'm telling you, I see pure genius here.
And the back:
I couldn't be prouder! It's now hanging in its rightful place where every soul who enters my home will be
In other not-nearly-so-thrilling news, I was sitting at my desk yesterday when I looked up and saw this guy on the deck:
(Sorry for the blur. That was a major crop.) But look at him with his head thrown back singing to his lady. Did you know that while the female bluebirds build the nest, their mates (they mate for life) sit on a nearby branch or deck and sing to them? How romantic!
Happy spring!
Be thankful ~
Karen
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Saturday confessions, with links to awesome recipes.
1. I'm just now getting over here to read a few blogs at 5 pm, and I saw that Melissa at A Familiar Path was late with her Saturday confessions too, and that reminded me to get on the ball and write something down. I'm glad I'm not the only forgetful one.
2. I've spent the whole day getting ready to have a bunch of young men here for dinner tomorrow. I've cleaned two bathrooms, vacuumed up all the dog hair, dusted, and done four loads of laundry. I'm not sure why I worry about the dog hair. Young men don't care about clean houses—they care about food.
3. I started the day by making a cheesecake. My mother always said when you're having company for dinner, make dessert first. You can serve a mediocre dinner, but if the dessert is spectacular, that's what they'll remember. So, the famous Stella's Cheesecake.
4. At 4 pm, I thought I was finished with everything I had to do today so I lay down on my bed with a new book. It felt so good! Then I remembered that it might be nice to eat dinner today too. So back to the kitchen I went and made a Mexican lasagna, which is now in the oven making my house smell delish.
5. Somewhere in there I also made two cherry cobblers for Man-boy to take to the teen's fund-raising dinner tomorrow after church. He really wanted to dig into one of them today and said he might just take one tomorrow and tell the youth pastor he ruined one. (Easiest cherry cobbler ever: Dump 2 cans of cherry pie filling in a 13x9 pan. Sprinkle a dry yellow cake mix over the top. Melt 1 1/2 sticks of butter and pour that over it all. Bake at 350° for about 40 minutes. People beg for my recipe, but now you don't have to. Aren't you glad?)
6. Why is this called Saturday confessions? The only confession here was #5, and that didn't actually happen, it was just a thought.
7. After months of putting it off, I finally connected the external hard drive to my computer last night to back up all my files. After 15 hours it still wasn't finished and I got sick of waiting and canceled the whole thing. This is why my files never get backed up.
8. Now I'm going to eat the Mexican lasagna and rest up for tomorrow.
Be thankful ~
Karen
2. I've spent the whole day getting ready to have a bunch of young men here for dinner tomorrow. I've cleaned two bathrooms, vacuumed up all the dog hair, dusted, and done four loads of laundry. I'm not sure why I worry about the dog hair. Young men don't care about clean houses—they care about food.
3. I started the day by making a cheesecake. My mother always said when you're having company for dinner, make dessert first. You can serve a mediocre dinner, but if the dessert is spectacular, that's what they'll remember. So, the famous Stella's Cheesecake.
4. At 4 pm, I thought I was finished with everything I had to do today so I lay down on my bed with a new book. It felt so good! Then I remembered that it might be nice to eat dinner today too. So back to the kitchen I went and made a Mexican lasagna, which is now in the oven making my house smell delish.
5. Somewhere in there I also made two cherry cobblers for Man-boy to take to the teen's fund-raising dinner tomorrow after church. He really wanted to dig into one of them today and said he might just take one tomorrow and tell the youth pastor he ruined one. (Easiest cherry cobbler ever: Dump 2 cans of cherry pie filling in a 13x9 pan. Sprinkle a dry yellow cake mix over the top. Melt 1 1/2 sticks of butter and pour that over it all. Bake at 350° for about 40 minutes. People beg for my recipe, but now you don't have to. Aren't you glad?)
6. Why is this called Saturday confessions? The only confession here was #5, and that didn't actually happen, it was just a thought.
7. After months of putting it off, I finally connected the external hard drive to my computer last night to back up all my files. After 15 hours it still wasn't finished and I got sick of waiting and canceled the whole thing. This is why my files never get backed up.
8. Now I'm going to eat the Mexican lasagna and rest up for tomorrow.
Be thankful ~
Karen
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Basketball
I'm always whining about how I have nothing interesting to take pictures of, but I know I'll never get better if I don't get the camera out and get snapping. So tonight after supper when I heard Man-boy and the neighbors down in the cul-de-sac playing basketball, I grabbed my camera and ran.
Why, yes, that IS Man-boy dunking with a cast on one leg. In related news, we just got the bill for the ER visit from the last time he played basketball—$2,624.50—and can I get an AMEN for the great insurance that paid all but $25 of it? I've learned over the years to look at the "patient pays" column first. Then I can go look at the total charges and laugh.
Some of my favorite photo subjects were playing tonight. B lights up in a cheesy grin as soon as he knows there's a camera.
Look at those freckles!
Princess P is a little more serious. She doesn't quite have the hang of peek-a-boo yet.
Love those blue eyes!
Cooley was allowed to come down and play until he tried to get eaten by a Chesapeake Bay retriever. Then he got banished to the house for his own safety.
In other news, Sticky Bean has apparently decided he's going to be a lefty. This photo came in a text from Deb the other day. Both Ben and I replied right away, "Put a baseball in that kid's hands!"
Why, yes, that IS Man-boy dunking with a cast on one leg. In related news, we just got the bill for the ER visit from the last time he played basketball—$2,624.50—and can I get an AMEN for the great insurance that paid all but $25 of it? I've learned over the years to look at the "patient pays" column first. Then I can go look at the total charges and laugh.
Some of my favorite photo subjects were playing tonight. B lights up in a cheesy grin as soon as he knows there's a camera.
Look at those freckles!
Princess P is a little more serious. She doesn't quite have the hang of peek-a-boo yet.
Love those blue eyes!
Cooley was allowed to come down and play until he tried to get eaten by a Chesapeake Bay retriever. Then he got banished to the house for his own safety.
In other news, Sticky Bean has apparently decided he's going to be a lefty. This photo came in a text from Deb the other day. Both Ben and I replied right away, "Put a baseball in that kid's hands!"
Great minds think alike.
Be thankful ~
Karen
By-hand directions for the bread.
For those of you who don't use a bread machine to mix the dough, here are the very simple instructions for making Kelly's Whole Wheat and Oat Bread by hand.
1. Pour boiling water over oats in a large bowl. Let stand 30 minutes or until just warm.
2. Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water.
3. To oat/water mixture, add salt, honey, and oil. Stir in yeast mixture.
4. Add whole wheat flour, 1 cup at a time, until a soft dough forms and you can turn it out onto a floured board or counter and knead 8–10 minutes.
5. Place in an oiled bowl, turning to oil the top, and let rise in a warm place for 45 minutes or so.
6. Punch down and form into loaves. Place in greased 8x4-inch pans and let rise 25 minutes.
7. Bake at 350°F about 30 minutes.
Enjoy! This bread is amazing fresh out of the oven, good for sandwiches, and makes great toast.
Be thankful ~
Karen
1. Pour boiling water over oats in a large bowl. Let stand 30 minutes or until just warm.
2. Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water.
3. To oat/water mixture, add salt, honey, and oil. Stir in yeast mixture.
4. Add whole wheat flour, 1 cup at a time, until a soft dough forms and you can turn it out onto a floured board or counter and knead 8–10 minutes.
5. Place in an oiled bowl, turning to oil the top, and let rise in a warm place for 45 minutes or so.
6. Punch down and form into loaves. Place in greased 8x4-inch pans and let rise 25 minutes.
7. Bake at 350°F about 30 minutes.
Enjoy! This bread is amazing fresh out of the oven, good for sandwiches, and makes great toast.
Be thankful ~
Karen
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Weekend recap.
I started out all gung-ho yesterday to do a weekend recap and wound up waxing nostalgic about my babies-turned-adults and it spiraled downward rather quickly, didn't it?
(By the way, the origin of the expression "gung-ho" can be found here, and now I find out it doesn't mean nearly what I thought it did. Who knew? But I'm using it anyway, thank-you-very-much.)
So back to the weekend.
We were supposed to go hiking on Saturday with our Sunday school class, but by 9:30 Friday night the government still couldn't agree on a budget and we were afraid we'd drive two hours to a national park and it would be closed, so we canceled at the last minute. In the spirit of adventure, I decided to use my Saturday morning to go grocery shopping, which is always a happening time at the commissary on a weekend what with all the young children who've waited all week to be trapped in a buggy traveling very slowly up and down aisles of tomato sauce and carpet shampoo.
I spent the rest of the day doing laundry, working a little, and generally lying around being lazy. It was lovely.
On Sunday a good friend came to teach our Sunday school class all the way from Washington State and even brought props.
Can you guess what we're supposed to be?
Then I left right after church to meet Abbie in Richmond. As I said yesterday (come on, you know you want to hear it again), we had lunch, got our toenails done, and did a little shopping. My happy moment of the day came when I was trying on denim skirts. I grabbed a size 8 because that's what I always wear, and Abbie gave me a 6 "just in case." When I put the 6 on and it was loose, I was stunned and Abbie said, "Mom, you are so tiny!"
Now that is a word I would never have used to describe myself, but I'm willing to take a pat on the back from girlfriend in this case.
Here's what I wound up with.
I'm always suspicious when I fit in a size that's smaller than I usually wear. You KNOW they change the sizes to make us feel good, right? But in this case I'll take it.
I got home in time to have perfect fried eggs cooked by my beloved (he cooks for me every Sunday night), have a hot bath, and get in bed with the ceiling fan and A/C on, my favorite way to sleep.
Monday morning I got the estimate to fix the Taurus: $850. My weekend of car-trouble denial was nice, but I'm back in reality now, where even a size four skirt doesn't get you down the highway. How much time until next weekend?
Be thankful ~
Karen
(By the way, the origin of the expression "gung-ho" can be found here, and now I find out it doesn't mean nearly what I thought it did. Who knew? But I'm using it anyway, thank-you-very-much.)
So back to the weekend.
We were supposed to go hiking on Saturday with our Sunday school class, but by 9:30 Friday night the government still couldn't agree on a budget and we were afraid we'd drive two hours to a national park and it would be closed, so we canceled at the last minute. In the spirit of adventure, I decided to use my Saturday morning to go grocery shopping, which is always a happening time at the commissary on a weekend what with all the young children who've waited all week to be trapped in a buggy traveling very slowly up and down aisles of tomato sauce and carpet shampoo.
I spent the rest of the day doing laundry, working a little, and generally lying around being lazy. It was lovely.
On Sunday a good friend came to teach our Sunday school class all the way from Washington State and even brought props.
Can you guess what we're supposed to be?
Then I left right after church to meet Abbie in Richmond. As I said yesterday (come on, you know you want to hear it again), we had lunch, got our toenails done, and did a little shopping. My happy moment of the day came when I was trying on denim skirts. I grabbed a size 8 because that's what I always wear, and Abbie gave me a 6 "just in case." When I put the 6 on and it was loose, I was stunned and Abbie said, "Mom, you are so tiny!"
Now that is a word I would never have used to describe myself, but I'm willing to take a pat on the back from girlfriend in this case.
Here's what I wound up with.
I'm always suspicious when I fit in a size that's smaller than I usually wear. You KNOW they change the sizes to make us feel good, right? But in this case I'll take it.
I got home in time to have perfect fried eggs cooked by my beloved (he cooks for me every Sunday night), have a hot bath, and get in bed with the ceiling fan and A/C on, my favorite way to sleep.
Monday morning I got the estimate to fix the Taurus: $850. My weekend of car-trouble denial was nice, but I'm back in reality now, where even a size four skirt doesn't get you down the highway. How much time until next weekend?
Be thankful ~
Karen
Kelly's Whole Wheat/Oatmeal Bread
This bread could also be called The New Crack, because I can't stop ingesting it. It's seriously addicting. Last night I made a batch and three of us (Ben, Man-boy, and I) ate half a loaf for dinner. For the record, Man-boy only ate one slice.
I make the dough in my bread machine because I'm lazy like that. And I also forget to take photos. My ability to plan ahead knows no bounds.
Here's what you do:
Put 3/4 cup oats (I use old-fashioned, not quick) in the machine. Pour 1 3/4 cups boiling water over top and let it sit for about 30 minutes, or until it's just warm.
Then add 3/4 tablespoon salt, 3/8 cup honey, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 4 cups whole wheat flour, and
1 1/2 tablespoons yeast, in that order. Set the machine for the dough and first rise cycle.
When it beeps, punch the dough down and divide in half. Form into loaves and put in greased 8x4-inch bread pans. Let rise a bit and bake at 350°F for about 30 minutes.
Get the butter handy.
(This recipe has been cut to fit in my bread machine. Kelly makes huge batches to feed her family of 9. I could make that much, but then I'd eat it.)
Be thankful ~
Karen
I make the dough in my bread machine because I'm lazy like that. And I also forget to take photos. My ability to plan ahead knows no bounds.
Here's what you do:
Put 3/4 cup oats (I use old-fashioned, not quick) in the machine. Pour 1 3/4 cups boiling water over top and let it sit for about 30 minutes, or until it's just warm.
Then add 3/4 tablespoon salt, 3/8 cup honey, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 4 cups whole wheat flour, and
1 1/2 tablespoons yeast, in that order. Set the machine for the dough and first rise cycle.
When it beeps, punch the dough down and divide in half. Form into loaves and put in greased 8x4-inch bread pans. Let rise a bit and bake at 350°F for about 30 minutes.
Get the butter handy.
(This recipe has been cut to fit in my bread machine. Kelly makes huge batches to feed her family of 9. I could make that much, but then I'd eat it.)
Be thankful ~
Karen
Monday, April 11, 2011
Redeeming the time.
I've been thinking . . . when you're a child, you can't wait to be a teenager (you don't know the angst yet). When you're a teen, you want to be out of high school and living the good life in college (you have no idea what studying really means). When you're in college you just want to get married (totally understandable). Then you get married and all you want is to have babies so you can sit and cuddle and smell their soft little heads all day (what's sleep deprivation? You've been in college where you sleep until noon if you want to). Then you want them to walk. And talk. And learn to read. And you can't wait until they're old enough to actually hang out with you and be fun. If you have girls, you want to go shopping with them, have lunch, get your nails done . . . you know, be adults together.
And then all of a sudden, you're doing it and having a great time, but inside you're screaming, "NOOOOO! Stop the clock!" because you know that TOMORROW they will be gone and might live far away and you'll only see them once or twice a year. *sigh*
It went way too fast.
Yesterday Abbie and I spent the afternoon at our favorite outdoor mall in Richmond. We had lunch at Chipotle, found jeans for her, a denim skirt for me, and had a pedicure. But mostly we just enjoyed being together, talking girl talk, solving everyone's problems, and laughing a lot. I love hanging out with all my girls together, but with one in Virginia, one in South Carolina, and one in Tennessee we only get to do that once a year at the most. And trying to get all five kids together? Just about impossible, especially now that Mike is in the Air Force.
I feel like my grandmother with all this lamenting over "where did the time go?" So I'll just say this: Don't waste it. Don't spend your time doing things that won't matter when you're gone. When I'm dead, I want my kids to talk about the fun things we did together, but for that to happen, we have to do fun things together, whether that's going to Disney World or baking cookies or singing in the garden while we pick beans.
Make the time count. And get a pedicure—it's fun!
Be thankful ~
Karen
And then all of a sudden, you're doing it and having a great time, but inside you're screaming, "NOOOOO! Stop the clock!" because you know that TOMORROW they will be gone and might live far away and you'll only see them once or twice a year. *sigh*
It went way too fast.
Yesterday Abbie and I spent the afternoon at our favorite outdoor mall in Richmond. We had lunch at Chipotle, found jeans for her, a denim skirt for me, and had a pedicure. But mostly we just enjoyed being together, talking girl talk, solving everyone's problems, and laughing a lot. I love hanging out with all my girls together, but with one in Virginia, one in South Carolina, and one in Tennessee we only get to do that once a year at the most. And trying to get all five kids together? Just about impossible, especially now that Mike is in the Air Force.
I feel like my grandmother with all this lamenting over "where did the time go?" So I'll just say this: Don't waste it. Don't spend your time doing things that won't matter when you're gone. When I'm dead, I want my kids to talk about the fun things we did together, but for that to happen, we have to do fun things together, whether that's going to Disney World or baking cookies or singing in the garden while we pick beans.
Make the time count. And get a pedicure—it's fun!
Be thankful ~
Karen
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Saturday confessions.
1. The people in my house don't call those green things avocados. They call them guacamoles. I think that's cutting to the chase.
2. On a related note, the best guacamole has five ingredients: avocado, red onion, fresh cilantro, fresh lime juice, and kosher salt. Amen.
3. The resiliency of a teenage boy is amazing. Three days ago Man-boy was drugged up on double doses of vicodin, unable to eat or drink. Today he is outside playing basketball with one leg in a cast.
4. My grandmother continues to crack me up, even from the grave. I remembered today the time she told me about an article she read in the newspaper about owls. It said they were "wonton killers." She laughed until she peed herself.
5. Husbands who peel the meat off the roasted chickens are worth bonus points.
Be thankful ~
Karen
2. On a related note, the best guacamole has five ingredients: avocado, red onion, fresh cilantro, fresh lime juice, and kosher salt. Amen.
3. The resiliency of a teenage boy is amazing. Three days ago Man-boy was drugged up on double doses of vicodin, unable to eat or drink. Today he is outside playing basketball with one leg in a cast.
4. My grandmother continues to crack me up, even from the grave. I remembered today the time she told me about an article she read in the newspaper about owls. It said they were "wonton killers." She laughed until she peed herself.
5. Husbands who peel the meat off the roasted chickens are worth bonus points.
Be thankful ~
Karen
Friday, April 8, 2011
Random Nonsense Chronicles.
Well, a good workout definitely makes me feel better. After last night's fiasco of a run with Pete, I needed the sanity that comes with 9 miles on the bike and a Strive class. And to top it all off, the trainer agreed to come to church with us on Friend Day, April 17th. The fact that my friend told him I would make banana bread for Sunday school might have helped.
And now, since I can't put together a string of thoughts with good transitions, I'll just use the handy list format.
1. The beginning of the week was sunny and beautiful, with temps in the 70s. Today it's cold and rainy, just in time for tomorrow's hike with the Sunday school class. Stellar!
2. We may be on the verge of a breakthrough in figuring out what Ben's intestinal issues are: beef. I don't know why we didn't think of this before since two of our daughters are allergic to the growth hormones given to cattle. We're going to run a few tests to see if that's what the problem is. If it is, I'm going to buy a bigger freezer and half an organic cow and never look back.
3. Today I was scheduled to have a webinar with another editor I work with to teach me how to use Constant Contact, a program we use to send out E-newsletters and marketing blasts. I was a little apprehensive, since I'm not known for my technological prowess. I shouldn't have been. It was easy-peasy, lemon squeezy. I feel so smart! Except for the part when the webmaster asked me if I had a mic in my computer and I had no idea. Even though I Skype with my daughter. Duh.
4. Man-boy is gradually getting better. He still has pain, but he's off the vicodin and on Aleve. He says it still hurts and has ice packs on his face as we speak, but getting off the drugs was a big step toward normal. Last night he was so dehydrated his skin was hot and dry, and his lips were peeling. I made him drink a big bottle of Powerade, and while he wasn't happy about it at the time, he thanked me later.
5. Sunday I'm meeting Abbie in Richmond to go jeans shopping at our favorite really cool outdoor mall there. It's supposed to be warm and sunny, and they have a Chipotle. What more could you ask?
6. Am I the only person on the planet who doesn't watch American Idol?
7. Car insurance is expensive, but that's to be expected when you're insuring 5 cars. Someday I hope to only have 2.
8. Sticky Bean has about 4 more weeks of being an only child.
And that concludes this edition of Random Nonsense Chronicles. We now return to your regularly scheduled programming.
Be thankful ~
Karen
And now, since I can't put together a string of thoughts with good transitions, I'll just use the handy list format.
1. The beginning of the week was sunny and beautiful, with temps in the 70s. Today it's cold and rainy, just in time for tomorrow's hike with the Sunday school class. Stellar!
2. We may be on the verge of a breakthrough in figuring out what Ben's intestinal issues are: beef. I don't know why we didn't think of this before since two of our daughters are allergic to the growth hormones given to cattle. We're going to run a few tests to see if that's what the problem is. If it is, I'm going to buy a bigger freezer and half an organic cow and never look back.
3. Today I was scheduled to have a webinar with another editor I work with to teach me how to use Constant Contact, a program we use to send out E-newsletters and marketing blasts. I was a little apprehensive, since I'm not known for my technological prowess. I shouldn't have been. It was easy-peasy, lemon squeezy. I feel so smart! Except for the part when the webmaster asked me if I had a mic in my computer and I had no idea. Even though I Skype with my daughter. Duh.
4. Man-boy is gradually getting better. He still has pain, but he's off the vicodin and on Aleve. He says it still hurts and has ice packs on his face as we speak, but getting off the drugs was a big step toward normal. Last night he was so dehydrated his skin was hot and dry, and his lips were peeling. I made him drink a big bottle of Powerade, and while he wasn't happy about it at the time, he thanked me later.
5. Sunday I'm meeting Abbie in Richmond to go jeans shopping at our favorite really cool outdoor mall there. It's supposed to be warm and sunny, and they have a Chipotle. What more could you ask?
6. Am I the only person on the planet who doesn't watch American Idol?
7. Car insurance is expensive, but that's to be expected when you're insuring 5 cars. Someday I hope to only have 2.
8. Sticky Bean has about 4 more weeks of being an only child.
And that concludes this edition of Random Nonsense Chronicles. We now return to your regularly scheduled programming.
Be thankful ~
Karen
Thursday, April 7, 2011
ChiRunning with Pete.
If you've been reading here the last few months, you know I've been trying to get in some semblance of decent shape other than round. I've been doing a weightlifting class and Pilates, and then due to my inability to stop mouthing off to the trainer, I started running at the ripe old age of 49. Things were going fine and I was making progress, and I even got to where I could run three miles, but every once in a while I had a twinge of pain in my left knee. Not wanting to be a cripple by the time I was 52, I started reading everything I could about knee pain while running. Here's what I found out:
There are 5,652,938 things that can cause knee pain, and you must see your doctor to rule out each one. Let's see, with a $12 co-pay . . .
So I did the next best thing: I asked on facebook, because the Internet—and especially facebook—has all the answers. I also consulted with a guy in our church who has done a lot of running and coaching. We came up with a plan to do a series of stretches before and after, and determined that running on pavement probably isn't the best thing right now. So I stretch and I mostly limit myself to the treadmill.
Then a friend recommended a book she had started reading, ChiRunning by Danny Dreyer, so I ordered it through the library. I've read more than half of it already and here's the gist of his method: Preventing injury is all about form, and he goes through the different body parts and what you're supposed to be doing with them while you run. These are the focuses, and he gives different exercises you do to practice each focus.
Fast forward to this week, when Man-boy has been a vegetable in his bed due to all the vicodin he's taking for his new lack of wisdom teeth. Poor Pete has been pacing around the house just waiting for someone to take him out running in the woods, and really, who does he think is going to do that now that it's warm and the snakes are waking from their long winter's nap?
So tonight I gave in and took him for a run, but not in the woods. On the forbidden pavement—I hope he appreciates it. And I thought it would be a good opportunity to practice my focuses, except trying to concentrate on one thing with a 70-pound pinball on a short leash is kind of futile. Cat? Jerk to the left! Squirrel? Jerk to the right! Kid on bike? Run circles around Mommy's legs! I think my arm got more of a workout than my legs, but at least the dog has stopped his incessant pacing.
Tomorrow I'm going back to the treadmill with no Pete. I need my chi back.
Be thankful ~
Karen
There are 5,652,938 things that can cause knee pain, and you must see your doctor to rule out each one. Let's see, with a $12 co-pay . . .
So I did the next best thing: I asked on facebook, because the Internet—and especially facebook—has all the answers. I also consulted with a guy in our church who has done a lot of running and coaching. We came up with a plan to do a series of stretches before and after, and determined that running on pavement probably isn't the best thing right now. So I stretch and I mostly limit myself to the treadmill.
Then a friend recommended a book she had started reading, ChiRunning by Danny Dreyer, so I ordered it through the library. I've read more than half of it already and here's the gist of his method: Preventing injury is all about form, and he goes through the different body parts and what you're supposed to be doing with them while you run. These are the focuses, and he gives different exercises you do to practice each focus.
Fast forward to this week, when Man-boy has been a vegetable in his bed due to all the vicodin he's taking for his new lack of wisdom teeth. Poor Pete has been pacing around the house just waiting for someone to take him out running in the woods, and really, who does he think is going to do that now that it's warm and the snakes are waking from their long winter's nap?
So tonight I gave in and took him for a run, but not in the woods. On the forbidden pavement—I hope he appreciates it. And I thought it would be a good opportunity to practice my focuses, except trying to concentrate on one thing with a 70-pound pinball on a short leash is kind of futile. Cat? Jerk to the left! Squirrel? Jerk to the right! Kid on bike? Run circles around Mommy's legs! I think my arm got more of a workout than my legs, but at least the dog has stopped his incessant pacing.
Tomorrow I'm going back to the treadmill with no Pete. I need my chi back.
Be thankful ~
Karen
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Another day at the oral surgeon's.
Our oral surgeon and I are on a first-name basis.
Today he removed the wisdom teeth from my fifth (and last) child. That makes twenty wisdom teeth and a little over ten thousand dollars. I'm sure he had a lovely time on all those vacations I paid for.
This was Man-boy's first experience with any kind of surgery, general anesthesia, and real pain. He was understandably apprehensive after watching his three sisters pass out repeatedly in the bathroom for days after their surgeries. But at the same time, he was determined to walk himself into the house under his own steam rather than be dragged in by his mother and the neighbor with a bad shoulder (who is also almost a foot shorter than he is. I wasn't sure how that was going to work out, but figured we'd do the best we could and he would live through it. Thankfully, we didn't have to find out.)
When he woke up in recovery (he says he never really slept and was aware of the drilling and breaking of teeth), he was amazed at how good he felt. Drugs will do that to you.
He kept saying how he didn't feel a thing and wasn't it great? He felt like a million bucks and tried to get up and show me. He even gave me permission to take a picture. After I took the photo he reached for my phone saying he was going to send it to Abbie to prove how great he felt. Unfortunately, thumbs on drugs don't do well with a qwerty keyboard so he had a little trouble typing. He kept laughing and making "whooo-eee!" sounds. When the doctor came in and asked how he was doing, Man-boy exclaimed, "Great!" and Dr. A. just laughed.
The drive home was uneventful except for the ice packs leaking down his neck which woke him up long enough to throw them on the floor of the car. He did walk into the house on his own, got in his bed, and was not heard from for two hours.
At which time the realization that all the numbness had worn off and major trauma had occurred in his mouth while he was sleeping became very real. I don't recall the other kids having this much pain, or maybe they just weren't as vocal about it, but I couldn't get a vicodin in him fast enough. He sat on the couch almost gasping in pain and after 30 minutes of no relief, I called the doctor's office.
I told the nurse I had given him one pill a half hour ago and it didn't seem to be helping at all. She said, "Give him another one. And in five hours give him two more."
That did the trick and Man-boy has been sleeping the sleep of the thoroughly drugged for the last four hours, only waking long enough to change his gauze and ask when he could take more medicine.
You know it's working when a teenage boy sleeps through lemon-pepper chicken and mashed potatoes being made 10 feet from where he lies on the couch with nary a nose twitch.
Hoping tomorrow's a better day for Man-boy.
Be thankful ~
Karen
Today he removed the wisdom teeth from my fifth (and last) child. That makes twenty wisdom teeth and a little over ten thousand dollars. I'm sure he had a lovely time on all those vacations I paid for.
This was Man-boy's first experience with any kind of surgery, general anesthesia, and real pain. He was understandably apprehensive after watching his three sisters pass out repeatedly in the bathroom for days after their surgeries. But at the same time, he was determined to walk himself into the house under his own steam rather than be dragged in by his mother and the neighbor with a bad shoulder (who is also almost a foot shorter than he is. I wasn't sure how that was going to work out, but figured we'd do the best we could and he would live through it. Thankfully, we didn't have to find out.)
When he woke up in recovery (he says he never really slept and was aware of the drilling and breaking of teeth), he was amazed at how good he felt. Drugs will do that to you.
He kept saying how he didn't feel a thing and wasn't it great? He felt like a million bucks and tried to get up and show me. He even gave me permission to take a picture. After I took the photo he reached for my phone saying he was going to send it to Abbie to prove how great he felt. Unfortunately, thumbs on drugs don't do well with a qwerty keyboard so he had a little trouble typing. He kept laughing and making "whooo-eee!" sounds. When the doctor came in and asked how he was doing, Man-boy exclaimed, "Great!" and Dr. A. just laughed.
The drive home was uneventful except for the ice packs leaking down his neck which woke him up long enough to throw them on the floor of the car. He did walk into the house on his own, got in his bed, and was not heard from for two hours.
At which time the realization that all the numbness had worn off and major trauma had occurred in his mouth while he was sleeping became very real. I don't recall the other kids having this much pain, or maybe they just weren't as vocal about it, but I couldn't get a vicodin in him fast enough. He sat on the couch almost gasping in pain and after 30 minutes of no relief, I called the doctor's office.
I told the nurse I had given him one pill a half hour ago and it didn't seem to be helping at all. She said, "Give him another one. And in five hours give him two more."
That did the trick and Man-boy has been sleeping the sleep of the thoroughly drugged for the last four hours, only waking long enough to change his gauze and ask when he could take more medicine.
You know it's working when a teenage boy sleeps through lemon-pepper chicken and mashed potatoes being made 10 feet from where he lies on the couch with nary a nose twitch.
Hoping tomorrow's a better day for Man-boy.
Be thankful ~
Karen
Monday, April 4, 2011
Okay, even though my mind is in a million different places, I'm going to finish the weekend update before I move on.
Every year (or sometimes every two years) the church officers and their wives have a retreat, kind of a "get away and do some planning" thing, but we also have fun. This year we rented a big beach house in Sandbridge (Virginia Beach), so of course there was walking on the beach, even though it was in the 40s, cloudy, and windy.
And since we were near Virginia Beach, we were serenaded by the jets out of NAS Oceana. When we lived here years ago there were two types of people: those who loved the jet noise and those who hated it. I never understood the complaints of those who hated it. The jets were here when you bought your house, right? So now that you've moved in, they should leave?
I always loved the noise. It's the sound of freedom.
There were actually a few guys surfing. I can't imagine how a thin layer of rubber kept them warm when we were bundled up and freezing.
The house was great: three floors, lots of bedrooms/bathrooms, a pool table, huge dining room, and a view of the ocean.
There are rumors that the church treasurer put himself through college shooting pool. He won't confirm or deny, but he's good enough.
The pastor plays defensive pool. If you can't sink a ball, block the other guy's shot.
And we learned a new card game: Hand & Foot.
We ate too much, stayed up too late, and didn't exercise, but it was nice to get away. It was also nice to come home and sleep in my own bed, eat normal food, and go to the gym, although I felt the effects of the weekend both on the treadmill and in Strive.
Now we're back to the routine, except that there's a warm breeze blowing in the window and a faint shadow of green in the tops of the trees and that's encouraging.
Be thankful ~
Karen
Every year (or sometimes every two years) the church officers and their wives have a retreat, kind of a "get away and do some planning" thing, but we also have fun. This year we rented a big beach house in Sandbridge (Virginia Beach), so of course there was walking on the beach, even though it was in the 40s, cloudy, and windy.
And since we were near Virginia Beach, we were serenaded by the jets out of NAS Oceana. When we lived here years ago there were two types of people: those who loved the jet noise and those who hated it. I never understood the complaints of those who hated it. The jets were here when you bought your house, right? So now that you've moved in, they should leave?
I always loved the noise. It's the sound of freedom.
There were actually a few guys surfing. I can't imagine how a thin layer of rubber kept them warm when we were bundled up and freezing.
The house was great: three floors, lots of bedrooms/bathrooms, a pool table, huge dining room, and a view of the ocean.
There are rumors that the church treasurer put himself through college shooting pool. He won't confirm or deny, but he's good enough.
The pastor plays defensive pool. If you can't sink a ball, block the other guy's shot.
And we learned a new card game: Hand & Foot.
We ate too much, stayed up too late, and didn't exercise, but it was nice to get away. It was also nice to come home and sleep in my own bed, eat normal food, and go to the gym, although I felt the effects of the weekend both on the treadmill and in Strive.
Now we're back to the routine, except that there's a warm breeze blowing in the window and a faint shadow of green in the tops of the trees and that's encouraging.
Be thankful ~
Karen
Saturday, April 2, 2011
I'll give you a hint.
Where I've been:
I'll have an explanation tomorrow. Right now I'm going to get in my very own lumpy bed with the two perfect ruts and sleep the sleep of the (hopefully) dead.
Be thankful ~
Karen
I'll have an explanation tomorrow. Right now I'm going to get in my very own lumpy bed with the two perfect ruts and sleep the sleep of the (hopefully) dead.
Be thankful ~
Karen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)