Lazy, Hazy Days of Spring

I can't believe that March is over. That Tuesday is April first and that summer vacation is two months, 43 working days away! Wow, time is flying by. I remember being a bit bummed at the beginning of the month because it seemed a very long time, work days, before summer break. Time fast forwarding doesn't really bother me too much, I just wish I had more to show for it!

I have waited for a couple years for a cabinet to be built in my master bath. Discussed it with a few people, even went so far as to layout a design with one, but it has never came to fruition. So during my 54 hours of freedom last weekend I made a command decision and bought the stuff to make my own!

Looks great, matches my two vanities and has lots of space! Maybe one of the best things I love about it is that the whole thing, three cabinets, 6 baskets and hardware to connect it all into a tower was $200. Happy dance.

So with that being said I have started on a couple more projects. Everything that has been, being stored, in my family room has now moved on to its new home. I have the boxes for the bathroom cabinets and a new fire pit box to haul off today to the dump and one last load of unwanted stuff to take to Goodwill. I do still have this extremely weird shaped puzzle, laying on the love seat awaiting a frame, that needs to be put up. Other than that my family room is livable again.

The front storage bedroom actually has a walkable path into it. Which is a very hard won accomplishment. Today before or after the dump, not sure yet, I will be running by the storage place I rented and measuring a camper mattress, for another project, and taking the large round oak table out of storage and delivering it to its new owner. I think there are two chairs in there too that need given back to their original owners also. With a chair in the attic I said I would give them. See, getting rid of more stuff! I love it. Anyway, once that damn storage building is empty I can start moving all (hundreds) of my boxes of books in the storage bedroom to the storage building.

Once I clean out that room I can put a bed in there and have two guest rooms! Then on to my old room in the attic. Clean it out and set it back up into a craft, sewing, yoga retreat area. By then it will be time to rip apart the family room, tile the floor, build more bookcases, put up the bar, wood one wall and turn that room into a library/pup ... Can't wait!

All that thinking and planning has made me tired just thinking of it! Lol But I can't wait for it to be finished.

While out about yesterday I was looking for a new cookbook/diet book from Hungry Girl. Never found it but I did run across this Wheat Belly Book. Never really paid much attention to the wheat free, gluten free craze before but since I have been reading up on GMO I have been wondering if that is the next step in my clean eating. I have been eating 85% clean for few years now and even my packaged stuff is very healthy. Can't seem to lose any weight and have felt too lazy to exercise, not sure if it is age or just being over weight but I have to do something to get back in shape. So ... After looking at the books yesterday I decided to buy them. Not from the bookstore that wanted $28 a piece for them but from Amazon.com. Bought Wheat Belly Cookbook and Wheat Belly 30 minutes or less cookbook, I also got Hungry Girl diet book all for $16 each no shipping!

The biggest thing that intrigues me about the wheat belly diet or cooking, I don't do diets anymore, I cook different, anyway, is that is says the modified wheat actually makes you crave and want more. Like an addiction. I believe I am like that once I eat breads and such. Then reading up on different stuff you would not believe what has wheat in it. Stuff you wouldn't even think of. Crazy! So cooking clean is all about cooking from scratch and it seems from a fast looky see that the wheat belly diet is a modified Atkins diet I should be ok. I need to read more because I don't think I want to give up all grains and I think this guy leans toward that. Time will tell.

Leaving ya with a picture of my little munchkin ... He is a sweetie and tons of fun!

 

 

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54 hours to do as I please ...

The week finally settled down at work and ended like it started with four folks out. But after the mini revolt of Tuesday, we got two new folks. Boss said they told upper management we didn't need anyone. Couldn't figure out why two showed up Wednesday at our door? By Friday is was clear. One of our other workers had asked to transfer out. So one replacement and the other is a part timer which actually we did need.

Enough about WORK after I vent for a sec on getting behind yet again because of working the floor and not my paperwork! In fact when Boss said we don't need anyone I replied, "Really, your TWO assistant managers aren't suppose to be working on the floor." We supervisor, watch and report, and yes it is as babyish as that at times, we are suppose to direct, instruct and do paperwork. Whatever, it is Saturday and no one is peeing in my corn flakes today.

Came home from work last night ate a box of Good & Plenty, yes the whole box, but no dinner so even Stephen. Drank two Guinness and watched three prerecorded movies. One dating back to Halloween, one to Thanksgiving and the other a couple weeks ago. I have two more then my DVR will be freed up again for more goodies.

Got up early this morning went to four soccer games. One win, two ties and one loss. Took my camera card to get some pictures developed, bought a green tea and headed home. Laundry is almost finished. I still need to dust, sweep and vacuum. Put clean dishes away and figure out what dinner is going to look like tonight. Oh, and remake the bed when the sheets come out of the dryer. Exciting times!

I also stopped by the storage building to look for my DVD player and there wasn't even a box in the building? I probably looked like I was doing a drop and run. Back to the drawing board there, I think when someone moved out they packed up my DVD player ... They said they would look as they handed me two things from about 6 years ago that they had borrowed and couldn't find until they just moved out of their place.

I am going to venture out again some time today to buy a bathroom scale. The one I have is possessed. I want it dead. I bought myself a gift the other day, and it came today, that is going to be incentive on losing some weight. 20 pounds and I can have said gift. I love it just like I thought I would so ... I need a scale to start and calculate my new goal.

I am also going in my damn kitchen and grab Hungry Girls 200 under 200 dessert book and find something small and sweet for each evening. Planning is half the battle. Laying in bed last night I realized that I could get 6 cups of veggies, good for you veggies in every day. A couple cups of fruit. One maybe two servings of grain and protein. Portion control is the theme for this 20 pounds. And some sort of flippin movement.

Well my free time is dwindling away so I better get busy on chores so I can vegg some more.

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Excitement with a capital E

My reading for this morning was titled ... Make a decision to be excited every day. So I read it, let it sink in and then contemplated on how I was going to approach this challenge. Then I posted to my Facebook page my mantra for the day "Today is another day that has been given to you ... Make sure you take time to enjoy it."

Coffee in hand I headed, out to the car, for work. When I pulled through the gates I noticed there were no cars in the lot I park in. Strange. I pulled into my slot, looked around, then glanced at the dash board clock. 7:12. Usually there are at least 4 or 5 cars already here. They are all people that work with me. Where were they? The other assistant manager was missing, the head cashier wasn't here, both of these people are at work before me unless they aren't coming...

There are 24 of us and I see 2 cars. My boss's up at the building and mine. There is no way we can accomplish our mission with two people. Is it a Holiday and someone forgot to tell me? At 7:21 just as I was seriously thinking about sitting there in my car and calling in sick another car pulls up, then another ... Till all but four people are there! Thank you. My first bit of excitement for the day.

Finishing up the first assignment of the day and there comes an uproar from the cafeteria floor. Has to be a fight. Keep on finishing up and the noise gets louder and more excited. Not good. Go around the corner and peek out onto the floor and my second bit of excitement happens. There are kids, teachers and police standing on the tables. There is yelling, food throwing, tasing, ripping off of clothes, fighting, pinning down, handcuffing, etc ... You get the picture. Total disarray.

They call all male staff to get things under control. They finally do and haul everyone off. Breakfast is over and we are officially on lock down. More police arrive wearing flack vest and carrying big bug can sizes of pepper spray. Rumors start spreading there has been a shooting and parents keep calling to get there kids. Finally things calm down and about half of our 2400 kids leave early and go home. So ... Lunch is now an interesting mission.

With folks out I worked a specialty line on the floor after having cooked, my second assignment of the day, for a totally different line before lunch. I would venture to say that there was some small amount of excitement in that. Though I did make a pit stop at my desk during my lunch and read my serenity prayer ...

“Give me the peace of mind to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

It made me smile and realize there wasn't anything I could do but keep on doing ... So I did.

Coming down to the end of the day and I have this new area that I am not use to cleaning to clean. I empty the soft serve machine and as I am rinsing out the three compartments I am disposing of the liquid down the sink drain. All goes well until the person next to the sink goes back for the mop bucket. They return as I am just finishing up my machine. They gasp, gripe and inform me you can't dump stuff down the drain. What the hell is the damn drain for? I see the huge puddle pooling on the floor in front of the sink. The sink has some sort of shut off button and they had shut it off before they left to get the mop. Again, what the hell!

I semi clean up excitement number four, the mess, and finished dismantling the machine. Only to pull the head off and have another two streams of water shoot out and hit the floor ... I consider this FIVE ...

A this point I am sick of looking for excitement and just want to go home and sit on my couch and have a beer. Which is exactly what I am going to do after I finish this post.

I was suppose to give blood today, well actually for the past three work days. I tried Friday they were closed. Yesterday I was too tired from a sleepiness night and worried the blood won't flow fast enough, been there done that, so I decided to just go today. Well I am going to try again tomorrow. The place will probably close early or something...

Have a great day and I wish you just a little excitement and not too awful much more.

 

 

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e*clec*tic

On my way home this morning from a night spent with some awesome friends. I noticed how eclectic my neighborhood was. Then I realized that and the innate charm of my house is probably what drew me to this street. It makes me happy and this time of year there is a week or two that my street is the most beautiful place in the world. All the trees pop out in blooms around the same time and the Camilla bushes still have their blossoms so there is just a riot of color and texture assaulting your senses as you drive down the road. Reminds me of the 4th of July.

It is a rainy day. Last night the moon was 99% full and beautiful. It looks like there won't be an encore performance tonight. I think the other day Weather Bug predicted a few days of rain. I try and not worry to awful much about what the weather is GOING to be and instead focus on the day ... Well the day has come and it seems they were actually right this time. So I'm thinking lazy day.

When I got home this morning I went to start the brisket but realized I needed the big crockpot and it was in the guest room behind the residing guest's dog cage ... So change of plans. I didn't want to wake either one up since said guest had been out last night also with a different set of friends and I wasn't sure when they were headed back north today.

No problem, in fact it worked out better making the Irish Stew today because that recipe actually doesn't call for a crockpot. So said stew is stewing away and I will start the Irish Soda Bread in about an hour. The recipe say it takes two hours. An early dinner on Sunday is nice. I'll get everything together to do the brisket this afternoon and just pull it out of the fridge and set it to cooking when I leave for work in the morning.

Ok, I made the olive, bacon cheese bread. G liked it, I was disappointed. To be fair I didn't completely follow the recipe. It called for 2 1/2 cups of all purpose flour ... In eating clean, all purpose flour isn't on the list ... So I substituted 1 1/2 cups of all purpose for whole wheat. Not sure how much of a difference that made since I did shift it. The other change was ... lol ... I used Cabernet Sauvignon, red wine, in place of white wine. That was all my fault, I grabbed a Merlot for a dinner and I grabbed a white or what I thought was a white and was the Cabernet for the bread recipe. So when I uncorked it and measured it out ... SURPRISE, red. It made the dough darkish and kind of creepy. Lol ... Again that could have been all in my mind, but it sure didn't look like the picture. Would that have changed the taste that much? Who knows. It never specified a certain kind of white wine and there are plenty I don't like, I do on the other like Cabernet Sauvignon.

Bread is in the oven. It has to cook for an hour then sit for another half hour to cool off. There is a step or direction in the soda bread recipe that states ... "Once it's out of the oven, let it cool. This is an important step! The gluten proteins need to set, so the bread is fluffy (not gummy) when cut." Hmmm. Maybe that is what happened to the Olive, Bacon & Cheese Bread...?

 

“May you always have

Walls for the winds,

A roof for the rain,

Tea beside the fire,

Laughter to cheer you,

Those you love near you,

And all your heart might desire!”

 

Taste testing the stew it is soo yummy can't wait to eat!

e*clec*tic ; a combination of many different individual elements of the styles, themes, mediums or inspirations pooled from many sources. I love this word. If you were privy to my Facebook page under Religious Views you would see the word, Eclectic. If you every had the chance to stop by and visit you would say my house has a very eclectic style. Inside my head is filled with thoughts and images that are extremely eclectic. If you looked my name up in the dictionary the definition would be eclectic. I am this word!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Braised Brisket, Colcannon and Guinness Draught

Actually got to catch up on all my work AT work today. Feeling accomplished, happy and hungry. I wish this thing had smell because my house is smelling pretty good right now as my dinner bakes away in the oven. Figured I'd blog a bit to while away the 90 minutes ...

This morning while drinking my coffee I dug through recipes for Irish dinner ideas and made out a shopping list for dinner the next few days. Bought stuff for Irish stew and soda bread with raisins & caraway seeds. Bought a brisket, cabbage, red potatoes and onions for the title dinner which I think I will do Sunday. The Irish stew can be crock potted so it will be ready when I get home from work Monday! Also bought the stuff needed for that awesome looking cheese, olive and bacon bread I figure I can do dinner with it one night and maybe use a slice or two with soup later. I can't wait to try it!

The yummy smell coming from my oven as I type is homemade baked beans. A couple ideas from a recipe and the stuff I use for my beans. I was somewhere not long ago, I was on the cruise, when someone told a story about a local BBQ place that makes killer beans, well really the sauce is killer. So I guess that has been setting on the back burner of mind for the past couple weeks. I woke up yesterday thinking about homemade baked beans. I grabbed my container of 13 bean soup mix and put a pot to soaking. Came home today after shopping and cooked them for about an hour while I concocted and cooked the sauce. Then I fried up some lean hamburger and polish sausage. Mixed all of it together and put it in the oven. I have corn bread mix ready to bake after the beans are finished. I can't wait.

Looking out my dining room at my, Mary Jane fogged, neighbors Mother's old house, I see all these vehicles that look a bit shady, in fact one pulled right up in the middle of the yard like a ... What is he up to now? He actually lives on my right facing the road. Hasn't worked in 15 years, is nice, but weird, wife left him years ago. Only child died a year ago in a one car accident, so I feel a little sorry. He is almost like Job but without the religion. One of his sisters stayed across the street with their Mom until she passed. She was older than old. So old that sometime before her husband died and that was 18 years ago ... I think. They ran a story in the local paper about her husband, my neighbors Dad, being the last living son of a Confederate Solider. Old. Anyway the day they buried their Mom the parent sitting sister went in the hospital dying of cancer. You can't make this shit up. Now no working Mary Jane loving neighbor and his other sister are semi fixing up the old folks place to sell. Cheap. God help us all. I live on a extremely nice street in the historical district of town. Please let someone decent buy that house!

Ok, gotta finish my Guinness, had to buy a four pack ... then change out of my uniform and make my cornbread. Can't wait to eat.

May your right hand always be stretched out in friendship,never in want...

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The curse of Mary Malone

I have two Irish sayings for today ... One is cute and cuddlie the other will result in the open mouth of the person who tips you over today ...


1. (Cute and cuddlie)- “Leprechauns, castles, good luck and laughter. Lullabies, dreams and love ever after. Poems and songs with pipes and drums. A thousand welcomes when anyone comes..." That is Ireland for you.


2. (A good cussing)- "May the curse of Mary Malone and her nine blind illegitimate children chase you so far over the hills of Damnation that the Lord himself can't find you with a telescope."


I can't wait to fit that last one in somewhere ... Lol
Well maybe I cursed myself. Work was a challenge today. 4 people out again. Enough said.
Brought today's paperwork home tonight along with Fridays again. I finished them both they are ready to be entered in the computer with all of last weeks. Tuesday and Thursdays are suppose to be for paperwork. We will see tomorrow.
Dinner tonight will be leftovers from yesterday. I am trying to use up everything I have before I venture out and buy more.

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Four of my favorite things

OLIVE, BACON AND CHEESE BREAD

Doesn't this sound wonderful? The only other thing I could add that I love would be salted caramel. Don't think it would taste good in the bread but for dessert ... Hell, yes!

INGREDIENTS LIST

5 fl oz of white wine

3 1/3 fl oz olive oil

4 eggs

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon of baking powder

5 ounces grated swiss cheese or cheddar

1 large onion

3 1/2 ounces bacon

7 ounces city ham, already cooked — Still on the bone, it’s better!

3 1/2 ounces black olives

3 1/2 ounces green olives

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

 

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the wine, oil, eggs and salt.

2. Separately, mix the flour and baking powder, sift and stir into the liquid preparation.

3. Chop the onion finely and melt in a skillet with a bit of olive oil (or butter).

4. Add the bacon to onions and cook for a few minutes then keep aside. Take care of draining the mixture to avoid a soggy dough.

5. Slice the olives and parsley and cut the ham.

6. Add all ingredients and grated cheese to the basic preparation and mix.

7. Pour into a buttered loaf pan, 9 by 5 inches.

8. Bake in the oven for 1 hour at 360°F (180°C).

 

Found this on Pinterest going to have to try it this week. Wondering if I could change the flour to whole wheat?

Getting ready to head to lunch with some friends. I have framed my birthday painting and am excited to see if they like it!

It was a great success. The painting and the mini surprise luncheon. After we went for a couple drinks and now it is back to weekend chores. I have a couple loads of laundry and dinner to do before I am finished for the day.

Back to work tomorrow and I haven't even looked at my work I wanted to finish up. Lol oh, well life goes on.

 

 

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An Artsy Fartsy kind of day

Started out my day with my little Wooley green sheep cup. Thought real hard about adding a wee dram of whiskey. But I refrained because I was having breakfast with a couple little guys. Took them to IHOP for a day late birthday breakfast. They had some silly chocolate chip pancakes with whip cream smiles and cherry eyes along with chocolate milk!

I am not sure if my spinach omelet was any better but the coffee and conversations was great! While we ate we planned out our painting strategy for the day. Threw out some ideas, doodled up some samples on our placemats and and headed back to my house for our Artsy Fartsy Birthday Painting session.

Since the twins are total opposites it only stands to reason that they would pick opposing teams also. Their theme was football. One picked an abstract field and fans in the stands and the other a moment out of time. Both did a fantastic job for only being seven.

I painted a postmark of Adare, Ireland and a a special birthday gift for a friend.

 

 

A box of Good & Plenty's, a little tv ... Then bed.

The Irish Saying for today is ...

May you live as long as you want & never want as long as you live.

 

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Another rainy day outside of Paradise

So happy I cleaned off my desk today! Last week of January finished. The month of February put to bed. First week of March in my brief case to be completed this weekend. Maybe even after I finish this beer and blog post ...

I love the Irish ... Who doesn't like beer. Good beer. Tall, dark and tasty beer. I might have to have a beer or three every night for the next seven days to celebrate the beer holiday. St. Patrick's Day. The beer of choice tonight is a Saison. A Belgian farmhouse ale. It was brewed special for me last Christmas. I chose a dark and spicy brew. It was part of my gifts, for friends who enjoy a dark beer, during the holiday season. I held back a case for quiet times. It gets better as the weeks pass.

I might need to make a special beer run out of town this weekend to stock up for the Holiday. There is one large bottle of Irish Stout that was brought back from the mountains for me that I will save for next weekend.

Spent a week in Ireland last year. My second trip. It won't be my last. I love that place. Yeah, the beer, but mainly the country side and their laid back way of life. Awesome. Probably the closest I have come to that feeling in the USA is when I was in Vermont. Upper Michigan is beautiful and unpopulated. The state of Washington and British Columbia are artsy and beyond beautiful. Vermont is like stepping back in history. Everything everywhere is small town. England and Scotland, away from the big cities are like Ireland. Not many choices, just simple day to day living, no hustle and bustle. I think people live years longer. It is about quality and not quantity.

It is a peaceful nice feeling to be sure.

Isn't that a great analogy! When I read that it was a keeper. I am a visual and word driven person. And let me tell you ... When the written word paints a picture in a way I have never seen, heard or thought of ... WOW. I sit up, take notice and derive great pleasure from it. I have actually written authors before that tickled my fancy and let them know how much I truly enjoyed their work. It is just nice to step out of the box sometimes.

Time to enjoy my beer and finish up this weeks work.

 

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As you slide the down the bannister ...

For Lent this year I am giving up Gossip and Negativity – I will keep positive thoughts when it comes to other people. I will also minimize my contact with people who are negative and toxic and bringing other people down. If I can't find anything good to say I won't say anything. ... I really never was one to gossip and my glass is always half full, but the last couple years I have succumbed to short patience with certain people and issues and I plan to correct that nasty habit before it becomes a nasty trait.

Early morning day three and so far so good.

10 days and counting til St. Paddy's Day! So we need some good ole green Irish sheep to cheer us up. I guess I need to start drinking from sheep mugs for the rest of the month ... Today I will start slow and use my green Starbucks mug for ease of travel. I will pretend the little green lady is a wee bit of Faierie sprinkling laughter along my day mixed with her mischief.

Irish Blessing

As you slide down the bannister of life, may the splinters never point the wrong way.

Happy Birthday to TWO very special peeps in my life.

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