Saturday, October 22, 2011

Where oh Where Did My Skillet Go?

Yesterday I decided that I was going to make chili and cornbread for dinner.  

I went to the store and purchased the ingredients I did not have in the pantry and by 2:30 P.M. I was in the kitchen chopping onions and garlic, and browning my hamburger.  At 3:00 P.M. my chili was simmering away and I decided to get everything ready for my "Perfect Cornbread" recipe so that when it was time I could just make and bake.  

I cannot make cornbread without my cast iron skillet.  My perfectly seasoned cast iron skillet given to me by one of Raymond's aunts for my wedding shower back in 1981.  I opened the cabinet where I keep my wonderful skillet ... no skillet.  Since it is such a deep and long cabinet, I got down on all fours, emptied out cabinet, crawled up into the cabinet ... no skillet.  Hmmmm.  

The search was on.  I searched every cabinet in the kitchen.  I was climbing up on chairs and looking in all the upper cabinets, I looked in the pantry, I even emptied out the long cabinet a second time and climbed back into it.  Still no skillet.  I started to feel a little panic setting in.

I sat on the couch and thought about it.  It has probably been 3 years since I made cornbread. Once the oldest moved out I stopped cooking like I used to when all of us were here.  If the skillet was not in the kitchen, then it was hidden from the last time certain relatives visited.  I always hide the skillet during their visit after an incident from years ago when they found my skillet and I had a week in hell as they misused my perfectly seasoned skillet and glass topped stove. 
 
So the question then became where did I hide it that last visit.  I went to the most obvious place.  The closet where I hide my tequila.  I searched and searched. No skillet.  My heart started to beat a little harder as the panic started to really set in over my skillet.

Back to the couch, more thinking.  Oh, yes, I had hidden it under my bed some years.  I rushed into the bedroom.  I looked under the bed.  A table, some picture frames, an autoharp, some of Raymond's things, no skillet.  CRAP!  Now I was really upset.

Back to the couch to calm down and think again.  It must be in with the tequila.  I went back to the closet to do a more do a more thorough search.  No skillet.  I was ready to cry.

I went back to the couch.  I thought about their last visit.  It was sometime in the first six months of 2010.  They were only here a couple of days.  Where could it be?  I remembered that I almost forgot to hide the skillet.  I was pretty sure I put it under the bed, but maybe I put it under the bed on the opposite side of where I would normally hide it.  I picked up a flashlight, went into the bedroom, and moved the bed out to the middle of the room a little and crawled on my belly between the bed and the bookcase.  I turned on the flashlight and there it was, my wonderful perfectly seasoned cast iron skillet.  

I made my cornbread after Loni came home and I enjoyed it very much with some margarine and honey.




Glorious Day

Today was just a glorious fall day.



The morning started with the youngest making a batch of his delicious pancakes for breakfast.  

After breakfast Loni, youngest and I headed out for Huffhines Art Trails.  Saw Laurie there, I hope she had as much fun as I did.  I do wish that some of the artists had some newer stuff, but I was still able to find a couple of things.  I bought the youngest a print for his collection, and I added the 4 dot bell to my 6 and 5 dot bells from Windsongs.  I also picked up a couple of pieces from Shooting Star, and another turtle from the Arkansas lady. 


On the way home we stopped to stock the youngest up on food for the week and Loni and I stopped at Fashion Bug to take advantage of the 40% sale.  

Lunch at Joe's Bistro, then home for the day.

I planned on working on quilting projects all day, but it was just too pretty.  I spent the day on the porch swing reading my kindle and listening to all my bells and chimes.  

A truly glorious day.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Accomplishments #240-#292

Even though I hate blogging about it, I have kept my promise to myself to accomplish something new every day.  Sometimes it is a lot of accomplishments in one day, other times it is just moving one thing from one place to another just to say I did something.

The accomplishments that have been the most helpful since I last posted on this subject:
  • Deleted old payees out of my online banking account. I had a lot of doctor's in the payee list from when I was paying off Raymond's and Mom's medical bills.  That is all done now so I was able to delete those along with some companies I no longer do business with and accounts I have closed.
  • Cleaned out some old files and destroyed old documents, leaving me room for new files and no need to purchase another filing system.
  • Reorganized my bedroom cabinets and drawers.
I did discover one bad thing about my accomplishments to date.  When the weather turned chilly this week I realized I had given away all but about three of my long sleeve shirts when I was cleaning out my closet.  That bummed me out.  Guess I will have to do some shopping.  I HATE SHOPPING!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Skunks

It has been a night of skunks. 

John worked on the west side of the house until after dark.  As he was going to his truck a skunk ran in front of him out to under the greenhouse.  (Not to be confused with the green building.)

As the youngest was leaving tonight he came back in and said that he was not going to leave after dark again because there was a skunk in the garden as he was trying to carry his clean clothes out to the car.  

John wants to start shooting them.  Since I haven't shot a gun since before boys were born, I don't think I will be trying to eliminate them in that fashion.

However, I am going to have to come up with some plan.  


"You Can Quote Me on That"

The youngest has been in fine form this weekend.  Extremely chatty, very interested in what I have been doing, asking me questions about things, funny, helpful, etc.

Today, and excuse me but with my mind I cannot remember what brought us to this conversation, I told him he was spoiling my fun.  He replied with:

When children are young it is the parents job to spoil their fun, but as the children become adults it is their job to spoil the parents fun.  And, you can quote me on that.
It has been a wonderful weekend and I am looking forward to next weekend when we go to the Huffhines Art Trails.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Youngest Cracks Me Up

My youngest son is always cracking me up.  He is 17. Today he told me what he hates most about driving..."it is the knowledge that his peers are out on the road too.  Who gave them a license?" 


Thursday, October 13, 2011

I Didn't Know

I didn't know I was supposed to remember what I learned in college after graduation.  That's okay, I'll just go to Father Guido Sarducci's Five Minute University.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Water Soothes My Soul

When we went to Austin we crossed several bodies of water, and the Trek Women's Triathlon was out at Lake Travis.  Seeing the river and Lake Travis really calmed my soul.

Growing up I was always around water.  I went fishing almost every weekend except in winter with my dad, either on a river bank or in a boat on the lake. 

When we moved to Kentucky we lived on the Lake Cumberland.  I woke up every morning to the sun glimmering on the water.  At night I would look out at the lights from across the cove flickering on the lake.

Some day I hope to live on the water again.   When Raymond and I would travel to Arkansas I would
pick out homes I liked on the different lakes in Bella Vista.  I still get on the real estate sites once in a while to see what is available.  

Running Out of Bricks

There have been several new "skunk holes" around the foundation.  I keep filling them with bricks.  Unfortunately, I am running out of bricks. 

John starts working here again on Friday.  I think I will ask him to bring back the trap. 

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Jobs I Could Do: Pick Out Art for Hotels

Thanks to Mina's generosity, I had a suite to myself in Austin for the Trek Women's Tri.  It was fabulous. I was able to stay up as late as I wanted, come and go as I pleased, have half a "nekid" day, and take up the entire couch with my quilting. 

It was because of my quilting that I realized just how horrible the art was in the living area of the suite.  I was watching a movie and hand quilting leaves on my table runner when I just felt as if something was looking over my shoulder.  I looked back and there it was! 

Embassy Suites idea of comforting

I can feel those fangs just sinking into my shoulder.
Why would you put something like this in a hotel room?  Loni and Mina had it in their room too.  The bedroom had a beautiful watercolor print of bluebonnets.  

Loni tried to convince me it was artwork from Magic, the Gathering, or that the shiny thing in the background was the Enterprise shooting lasers to kill the thing.  I didn't buy it.  

I think it looks like a giant spider getting ready to sink its fangs into whoever is sitting on the couch.  

After looking at this painting for two nights, I decided that I could definitely get a job as the art buyer for Embassy Suites. 

Monday, October 10, 2011

How I Spent Part of My Weekend

I fell in love with this panel and made a table runner out of it.  This table runner may be going up for auction.  They are not great pictures because I was taking them so late at night.  I need to take more when there is daylight

Christmas Table Runner/Stonehenge Panel

Close up of Christmas Table Runner/Stonehenge
Back of Christmas Table Runner/Stonehenge Panel

Sunday, October 9, 2011

GO AWAY!

I woke up with a massive migraine around 5:30 this morning.  I tried to go back to sleep but that was a no go as wave after wave of nausea hit me.  I finally decided to get up and try a very hot shower hoping it was a sinus issue.  The shower felt good, but did not help.

Next step was to take Exedrin Migraine and sit still and quiet on the couch as the sky began to turn light outside.  That didn't help.  Now I wasn't only nauseous, but I was running back and forth to the bathroom for the lower half of my body.  Not a good sign.

We had family breakfast scheduled for Mimi's Cafe at 9:30 and I started wondering how that was going to go down.  I decided I might have to send the youngest and Loni off by themselves.  

Around 8:30 the migraine had slacked off enough that I knew I needed something in my stomach.  I decided to go to breakfast after all.  A regular coke with a light and fit breakfast was tasty and settled my stomach some.  

We ran a few errands and then came home.  I settled in to finish reading a book I have been struggling through and then quilt.   I made it through the book and I managed to trim the table runner and was just punching in the calculations for the binding when BAM! - migraine  moved back into full force mode.  

Now my face is numb on one side, I am nauseous, etc., and I am trying to keep myself busy so I won't think about it.  I would like to take a nap, but I can't find a comfortable position.

Hopefully, the pain will die down again in a few minutes and I can try to get through the day.  

At least I finished the book.  

Friday, October 7, 2011

You Want Me to do What????

I am a very lazy person, therefore I value efficiency.

I also try to be a responsible person.  I obey most laws - speed limits are just a suggestion - right?

It is because of my efforts to be efficient and obey laws that I almost passed out at the Trek Triathlon when the volunteer handed me a cup of water and told me just to toss the cup on the ground when I was done. WHAT?????

There were hundreds of cups on the ground around the water station and volunteers bending over to pick them up.  My head almost exploded from how inefficient they were being.  All it would have taken was a low bin of some sort for people to toss their cups into.  Even if some of them missed, my guess is there still would have been less work for the volunteers.

I admit I carried my first cup until I saw a trash can.  

At the second water stop the volunteer gave me two cups of the lukewarm nasty tasting water.  CRUD! Now I had to carry two cups!  I have to admit I did not make it to a trash can with those two cups.  I waited until I saw several cups stacked together on the side of the road and added mine to the stack.  At least that was efficient.  The volunteer would only have to pick up a stack, if no one came along a threw their cup on the ground.  

Of course, then I was bothered the whole way to the finish line about littering.  It is just so wrong!

Monday, October 3, 2011

Monday, October 3, 2011 - Traveling Day - Austin to Dallas

Mina, Loni and I got up this morning and had breakfast at the hotel before heading back home.  I have to say my eggs, ham and cheese were cooked to perfection.

We hit the road after breakfast and headed for our first stop.  "The Sewing Basket" quilt store in Salado.  The girls had been there before but I have only been to their booths at quilt shows.  I found some great fabric, picked up some more fat quarters from the Quilt Across Texas collection, and found 3 patterns.  Loni found a kit, panel and some fat quarters.  Mina knows her upcoming schedule does not allow time for her to quilt, so she restrained herself. 

Our next stop was Collin Street Bakery for lunch and to pick up a fruitcake for Mina's aunt. 

We hit the road again and headed towards Waxahachie so we could stop at Common Threads Quilt Shop.  As we went north on I35 Loni kept talking about the weird cloud in the sky, which we kept watching.  It wasn't until we came closer to Waxahachie that we realized it was smoke. The lady at the quilt shop told us that there was a massive chemical fire that had been burning since earlier in the day.

Magnablend Plant burns in Waxahachie, TX.


Mina decided to stay in the car and read while Loni and I went into the quilt shop.  I found a pair of polka dot green scissors and stencils, and Loni found a pattern and pillow case fabrics.   

Once we finished at Common Threads, we headed for home.  Mina went on to get her nails done once we arrived at home and Loni and I caught up on some television 

Dinner was at San Miguels and then home to rest and watch television. 

It was a grand weekend!

Sunday, October 2, 2011 - Triathlon Day

Sunday I got up early to eat my designated food that I knew would not upset my tummy and wait for the girls to be ready.  We hit the road at 6:30 a.m.  The girls stopped at Taco Cabana for breakfast, then it was off to the triathlon.

The name of our team was Mama N Chicks.  

First up for the morning was one of the chicks, Loni, with the 1/2 mile swim.  She was in the purple wave.  Once she was in the water, the other chick, Mina, headed up to the transition area to await her turn on the bike.  

Loni on way down to swim start.  10.2.11 Trek Women's Tri, Austin, TX

Loni finished swim! 



Once Loni had completed the swim, I took the chip and headed to the transition area.  The terrain was very rocky, and it was not for a person with planters fasciitis.  As soon as I hit the transition area, I turned the chip over to Mina and she was off on her bike.  (Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of this as we were trying to get out of the shoot.)

While Mina was off on her 12 mile, very hilly ride, Loni and I chilled in the transition area.  We had a chair and a sheet to sit on and we sat and cheered people on as we waited for Mina to return.  

When Mina returned to the transition area, I took the chip and headed out on the 5K.   I mostly walked the route, but there were times I jogged.  There were a couple of good sized hills on the route as well as parts that were not paved.  I wore my big floppy cotton hat to keep from being sunburned, but I had a deal with Loni and Mina to meet me before the finish so I could put on my pretty green hat.  Once I hit the finish, I was asked where my chicks were.  I knew Mina was down there with me, but I couldn't find her, and I knew Loni was back in the car resting her foot.  I picked up the medals for the team and headed back up the hill to get to the van.

Mama (Me) Singing as I climbed one of the hills on my 5K route.

1/2 Way Point

Mama has picked up the medals for the team.  Time to head back up the hill to the car.





My first medal ever!!!!!
We headed back towards the hotel and stopped at Panera's for lunch.  After lunch it was time for a hot, soapy shower.

After showers, Mina decided to take a nap to rest her back (still messed up from the ATV spill in Vegas), and Loni and I ran an errand and then went to see What's Your Number followed by dinner at Outback.   We grabbed a snack for Mina and headed back to the hotel. 

Mina was pretty much out for the night when we returned to the hotel, so Loni and I stayed in my room and played Split while watching a Criminal Minds marathon.  

We were all very pleased with our performances in our individual areas.  Since this was the first time for me to do a 5K, I was just hoping not to be in the last 3.  Here are our res

Congratulations TEAM MAMA N CHICKS!
Here are your results for the 2011 Trek Women AUSTIN Triathlon:

 

Swim 00:35:07

Bike 01:11:14

Run 00:51:59

Total 02:52:53

Our team came in 331 out of 344. Woohooo!!!
Mama N Chicks! We did it!



Saturday, October 1, 2011 - Austin Here We Come

Loni, Mina and I left for Austin around 8:15 A.M. on Saturday, October 1, 2011.  The purpose of the trip was to participate in the Trek Women's Tri on Sunday.

Once we arrived in Austin we went straight to the triathlon's expo to pick up our packets, shirts, chip, etc.  The expo had lots of free stuff like laundry detergent, sweet potato tortilla chips, a cool hat, walnuts, and other cycling related information.  We signed in, picked up our packet, filled our pack with freebies and headed out to find lunch.  

Lunch was at Marie Callendar's.  After lunch we checked into the Embassy Suites.  Mina was kind enough to share some of her hotel points and provided our rooms.  Mina and Loni shared, and I had a suite to myself.  Loni pretty much went into their room and conked out.  Mina studied.  I watched television and quilted in my room, and later ran some errands.  

It was a very pleasant day.

Friday, Sept. 30, 2011 First of Four Great Days!

I had a great day on Friday, Sept. 30, 2011. 

I spent the day at home catching up on my list and other things.
  1. I talked to my aunt for a couple of hours on the phone.
  2. Cleaned the bathroom from top to bottom.
  3. Did some laundry.
  4. Talked to a friend on the phone.
  5. Packed for my trip to Austin.
  6. Worked outside for a while.
  7. Sat on the patio and read my Kindle.
  8. Went out to dinner.
It was a great day!