The dogs got me up. So I ate breakfast and now I feel awake. I'm going to go with it because it'll make getting up early tomorrow easier. I'm making some Orange Pekoe tea. I really like the orange pekoe. I guess I have expensive tea tastes! Well, maybe I have versatile tea tastes. I like Lipton and Bigelow just as well! I also really like my orange teapot. I got it in North Carolina when we went to visit BIL and his wife. There's a store called A Southern Season. It has all sorts of neat things and I got my teapot there. It is orange and I love orange but the best thing about it is that the holes from the body to the spout are small enough that the tea leaves won't go through it. I hate picking tea leaves out of my cup. I still prefer the convenience of bagged tea but when I have time, the looseleaf with the teapot is nice.
I got my first seed catalog for 2010. It's from Vermont Bean Seed Company. I have a thing for dried beans. I'll go to the store and get a bag of all the different dry beans (except garbanzo. I hate garbanzo.) and dump them into this big glass thing I have. Then we have mixed bean soup. It is yummy. I would love to grow my mixed bean soup at home with all the heirloom and traditional beans. The only problem is that I can't grow them all together and also save seed because they'll cross pollinate. I will have to grow a whole bunch of one kind each year and just rotate I guess.
Guess what just happened; I poured my tea and got a couple of leaves in it! Gotta love the law of irony.
I was just looking at the Seed Savers Exchange Catalog and it says I need to separate my bean varieties by at least 25' but preferably 100' to keep them from cross pollinating. I could grow one variety in the front yard and one in back! Ooh! And maybe a crop of one in the beginning of the season and one at the end. Bush beans have a shorter life span than pole beans so I could theoretically have two crops. That makes 4 kinds of dry bush beans each year. Cool!
I've been trying to plan my garden. This year I have a ton more seeds than ever before thanks to the seed swap I did. It's hard to pick what to grow in my limited space. In the spring I'm going to grow lettuce, cabbage, peas, and radishes. I didn't like radishes growing up but tastes change and I'm willing to try them again. Also, DH has never had one and I think he might like the spicy hot flavor of them. Besides, they're really good as companion plants. I have a book called Carrots Love Tomatoes by Louise Riotte. She was from southern OK and was an amazing gardener and she put all her knowledge about companion planting veggies in this book. It is very useful.
Sometime this winter when it's warmish I'm going to put up a fence of sorts around my garden. Tuvok really likes to be in the garden and I can't have him in there smushing all my plants. So I've got some 1x1s and some garden twine. I have some cotton thread and thin metal wire when the twine runs out. I'm going to make a fence with that and grow the vining plants up the fence. In the spring I'm going to sucession plant peas all around the fence. When the first side of peas is done, I can start in with my summer vines. The big issue for me right now is how to make a gate. Theoretically, I can stick a 4x4 in the ground and hang something on it with hinges. But how deep of a hole do I need? Can I get away without concrete in the hole? I need to do more research.
Another issue is how many tomatoes to I want to make room for? I'd like to leave at least 3 feet between each plant because they need lots of breathing room to do well. You can put shorter plants between them but hardly anything I want to grow is short enough. Oh wait. The watermelon is short enough. Ok, so now space is the only issue. The corn and okra are going to take up most of the room between them. Then there's the bell peppers and eggplants. They like to grow with okra. I need a bigger garden. Next year maybe. I wish I had lots of energy so I could do all this right away.
I think I'm done thinking for a while! My brain hurts. :^)
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
I'm drinking some looseleaf Yunnan tea that I made in my teapot. Erik made some coffee in his new french press and is listening to the kindle read the newspaper. It is a nice morning! I feel happy and content.
If the roads are ok, I might go to the Gourmet Yarn Company and peruse their sale. Froggi (BFF) and her mom want to go. SIL (Sister in law) might want to go too. I wish Mom could be here to come along but the roads are too bad. I miss her and want to share the yarn store with her. Soon.
I'd like to find my snow pants. If I do, I'll take my fancy new camera and a broken down box to the park. The camera is for taking snow pictures. The box is for sledding down the giant hill in the park. :^)
I would take Tuvok too but I'm not comfortable with him being out in the cold snow that long. He has very thin fur. He needs boots and a coat to handle these temperatures.
Along with the camera, yarn, and cookie scoops, I got some Estee Lauder Pleasures Intense perfume. I lost my perfume in the move 3 years ago and haven't gotten any since then. But now I have more and that is nice! I got an amazon gift card and a visa debit gift card. That's a relatively small amount of items compared to the rest of the family but the camera is like 4 big items put together! DH actually told FIL to use part of the money they would normally spend on him to get me the camera. He's the best husband in the whole world! I love him so much!!
In the past, the inlaws have asked for wish lists and then deliberately not gotten anything on the list. Don't get me wrong, I am not materialistic and I am thankful that they want to get us gifts. But why ask for a list only to ignore it? That can be very disappointing on Christmas day. This year I didn't put the camera on the list on purpose and had a very small list with inexpensive items. I was expecting at least a couple of things not on my list but they got all the things I really wanted! And really, I don't want to sound like a spoiled kid. I am very thankful for their generosity each year. But there's something awesome about opening up so many things that you've been wanting for so long!
Anyway, what to do today.... I think I'll spend some time on amazon.com. I need screen protectors for my camera. I'm not sure what else I'll get with the gift card. We'll see.
If the roads are ok, I might go to the Gourmet Yarn Company and peruse their sale. Froggi (BFF) and her mom want to go. SIL (Sister in law) might want to go too. I wish Mom could be here to come along but the roads are too bad. I miss her and want to share the yarn store with her. Soon.
I'd like to find my snow pants. If I do, I'll take my fancy new camera and a broken down box to the park. The camera is for taking snow pictures. The box is for sledding down the giant hill in the park. :^)
I would take Tuvok too but I'm not comfortable with him being out in the cold snow that long. He has very thin fur. He needs boots and a coat to handle these temperatures.
Along with the camera, yarn, and cookie scoops, I got some Estee Lauder Pleasures Intense perfume. I lost my perfume in the move 3 years ago and haven't gotten any since then. But now I have more and that is nice! I got an amazon gift card and a visa debit gift card. That's a relatively small amount of items compared to the rest of the family but the camera is like 4 big items put together! DH actually told FIL to use part of the money they would normally spend on him to get me the camera. He's the best husband in the whole world! I love him so much!!
In the past, the inlaws have asked for wish lists and then deliberately not gotten anything on the list. Don't get me wrong, I am not materialistic and I am thankful that they want to get us gifts. But why ask for a list only to ignore it? That can be very disappointing on Christmas day. This year I didn't put the camera on the list on purpose and had a very small list with inexpensive items. I was expecting at least a couple of things not on my list but they got all the things I really wanted! And really, I don't want to sound like a spoiled kid. I am very thankful for their generosity each year. But there's something awesome about opening up so many things that you've been wanting for so long!
Anyway, what to do today.... I think I'll spend some time on amazon.com. I need screen protectors for my camera. I'm not sure what else I'll get with the gift card. We'll see.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Christmas
Today was an adventuresome and ultimately awesome Christmas.
As this last week progressed, the weather predictions kept getting scarier. As we approached Christmas Eve the weathermen predicted more and more snow each hour. In Oklahoma, you don't know whether to believe the forecasters. Sometimes they're right on. Sometimes it's worse than they think. Sometimes it doesn't do anything. So, we prepare for the worst of the weather models and then just wait and see what Nature decides to do. This time she gave us a blizzard! Here's a timeline of my experience.
Dec 23: I ask about the work policies on snow days before holidays. Normally, you have to work at least 4 hours the day before and the day after a holiday in order to recieve holiday pay. This policy prevents people getting "sick" around the holidays. I get two answers. 1. I'll have to ask. 2. It isn't going to snow; don't worry. Not helpful.
Dec 24, 7:30am: It's raining outside and the temps are above freezing. I go to work.
7:45am: I get to work just as the rain changes to sleet.
10:30am: The bosses let me go home since I have to drive across I-40 (one big giant bridge/overpass). I'll get paid for Christmas because I showed up and they're the ones that let me go home.
11:00am: I get home just as the sleet changes to snow.
Dec 24th, afternoon: DH and I sit and watch the continuing news coverage of the blizzard, white out conditions, cars piling up by the dozens, cars being abandoned in the hundreds, wreckers and emergency vehicles getting stuck in the snow, interstates closing, airports being snowed in, and the like. I measure our front yard snow at 3.75" and still falling. Tuvok won't go out without being pulled and dragged. He won't do any business at all and stares at me like I'm the most horrible human being ever (while the wind blows snow into his eyes and nose).
Dec 24th, evening: the news stays on and the newscasters are stuck at the station and at the airport. Transit buses are being sent to pick up stranded motorists, the National Guard is dispatched to help as well. The snow moves out, leaving a completely unprepared and paniking state in its wake. The news dubbs it the worst blizzard in OK since we started keeping records. The most snow in 24 hours ever. The most snow in December ever. The governer declares a state of emergency. I'm sure Minnesota is laughing.
Dec 25th, 8:30am: We awaken to a beautiful, sunny, glistening white Christmas! The backyard is 6.5" deep and there are 4 foot drifts. Tuvok thinks snow without wind is the coolest thing ever.
The airport opens back up... sort of. There aren't any planes. There's one runway open and one gate open but a plane is blocking it and they have to dig it out of the snow.
10:30am: Father in law shows up to take us to their house for Christmas. We're supposed to go to the airport and pick up Brother in law and wife on the way.
11:15am: we get to the airport and the plane is scheduled to arrive at 12:20. We get food and wait.
12:15pm: we get word that the plane just landed... in Fayetteville, Arkansas. They still haven't gotten the gate at OKC opened up. New estimate is 1:45. We go to the in laws' house to wait and hang out in more comfortable surroundings.
3:00pm: The plane lands and FIL (Father in law) goes to pick them up.
3:45pm: LUNCH!!
Afternoon and evening: DH gets a kindle! I get nifty dishers and cool yarn and a new digital Rebel XSi!!!!!!! I hyperventilate. Not badly, but I was lightheaded for a while. :-)
Everyone liked the family pictures we took and the scarves I made. I wish we could have done more but the great thing about family is they don't care about that stuff.
So now we're back home. We moved tomorrow's celebration with my family to next Saturday. Too many people have too far to drive on these roads. I am much less stressed about everything.
DH is upstairs reading the newspaper for the very first time. Well, he would read it online I guess but now the Kindle is reading it to him and he'll get it automatically each day. He's so excited he's speechless. If you know my husband, you'll know how significant this is.
I'm tired and I'm going to go to bed. Merry Christmas!!
As this last week progressed, the weather predictions kept getting scarier. As we approached Christmas Eve the weathermen predicted more and more snow each hour. In Oklahoma, you don't know whether to believe the forecasters. Sometimes they're right on. Sometimes it's worse than they think. Sometimes it doesn't do anything. So, we prepare for the worst of the weather models and then just wait and see what Nature decides to do. This time she gave us a blizzard! Here's a timeline of my experience.
Dec 23: I ask about the work policies on snow days before holidays. Normally, you have to work at least 4 hours the day before and the day after a holiday in order to recieve holiday pay. This policy prevents people getting "sick" around the holidays. I get two answers. 1. I'll have to ask. 2. It isn't going to snow; don't worry. Not helpful.
Dec 24, 7:30am: It's raining outside and the temps are above freezing. I go to work.
7:45am: I get to work just as the rain changes to sleet.
10:30am: The bosses let me go home since I have to drive across I-40 (one big giant bridge/overpass). I'll get paid for Christmas because I showed up and they're the ones that let me go home.
11:00am: I get home just as the sleet changes to snow.
Dec 24th, afternoon: DH and I sit and watch the continuing news coverage of the blizzard, white out conditions, cars piling up by the dozens, cars being abandoned in the hundreds, wreckers and emergency vehicles getting stuck in the snow, interstates closing, airports being snowed in, and the like. I measure our front yard snow at 3.75" and still falling. Tuvok won't go out without being pulled and dragged. He won't do any business at all and stares at me like I'm the most horrible human being ever (while the wind blows snow into his eyes and nose).
Dec 24th, evening: the news stays on and the newscasters are stuck at the station and at the airport. Transit buses are being sent to pick up stranded motorists, the National Guard is dispatched to help as well. The snow moves out, leaving a completely unprepared and paniking state in its wake. The news dubbs it the worst blizzard in OK since we started keeping records. The most snow in 24 hours ever. The most snow in December ever. The governer declares a state of emergency. I'm sure Minnesota is laughing.
Dec 25th, 8:30am: We awaken to a beautiful, sunny, glistening white Christmas! The backyard is 6.5" deep and there are 4 foot drifts. Tuvok thinks snow without wind is the coolest thing ever.
The airport opens back up... sort of. There aren't any planes. There's one runway open and one gate open but a plane is blocking it and they have to dig it out of the snow.
10:30am: Father in law shows up to take us to their house for Christmas. We're supposed to go to the airport and pick up Brother in law and wife on the way.
11:15am: we get to the airport and the plane is scheduled to arrive at 12:20. We get food and wait.
12:15pm: we get word that the plane just landed... in Fayetteville, Arkansas. They still haven't gotten the gate at OKC opened up. New estimate is 1:45. We go to the in laws' house to wait and hang out in more comfortable surroundings.
3:00pm: The plane lands and FIL (Father in law) goes to pick them up.
3:45pm: LUNCH!!
Afternoon and evening: DH gets a kindle! I get nifty dishers and cool yarn and a new digital Rebel XSi!!!!!!! I hyperventilate. Not badly, but I was lightheaded for a while. :-)
Everyone liked the family pictures we took and the scarves I made. I wish we could have done more but the great thing about family is they don't care about that stuff.
So now we're back home. We moved tomorrow's celebration with my family to next Saturday. Too many people have too far to drive on these roads. I am much less stressed about everything.
DH is upstairs reading the newspaper for the very first time. Well, he would read it online I guess but now the Kindle is reading it to him and he'll get it automatically each day. He's so excited he's speechless. If you know my husband, you'll know how significant this is.
I'm tired and I'm going to go to bed. Merry Christmas!!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
The sun is out today and consequently I feel much happier. Yesterday I got practically nothing done. Today I'm working on several things. Those truffles I was supposed to do yesterday, wrapping gifts, and playing with the seeds for my 2010 garden. I'm not supposed to be doing that last one but I'm so excited I can't help it! There are so many veggies I want to grow that I'm going to have to put a lot of them in the front beds.
But I need to concentrate on baking and wrapping. I've got some white chocolate and mocha truffles in the fridge. I ran out of chocolate and so I'm debating on whether I should go to the store now or make some other stuff. I want everything to be as fresh as possible. The truffles are good for 2 weeks in the fridge. I guess I could make the molasses crinkle dough since it has to chill before baking. The apple pies can last for several days in the fridge too.
I need to call the family that's coming over for the 26th and get a menu going.
I guess at this point the best use of my time is to wrap gifts. I wish DH was awake so I could put on some Christmas music. That would help get me motivated.
But I need to concentrate on baking and wrapping. I've got some white chocolate and mocha truffles in the fridge. I ran out of chocolate and so I'm debating on whether I should go to the store now or make some other stuff. I want everything to be as fresh as possible. The truffles are good for 2 weeks in the fridge. I guess I could make the molasses crinkle dough since it has to chill before baking. The apple pies can last for several days in the fridge too.
I need to call the family that's coming over for the 26th and get a menu going.
I guess at this point the best use of my time is to wrap gifts. I wish DH was awake so I could put on some Christmas music. That would help get me motivated.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Today starts the weekend of baking and wrapping. Today I'm going to concentrate on truffles and wrapping things. But first I'm sitting here enjoying the fact that I'm not at work. There's nothing wrong with work but I've been feeling the need for a break. I get 3 short weeks in a row though and that should help a lot!!
In the greenhouse my peas and thyme and oregano have sprouted! I know it's the dead of winter but that's exactly the reason why I need to have things sprouting. It reminds me that winter is temporary. I got out my grow light and heat mat yesterday. I'm not sure what I'll grow with them yet but I have lots of options. Maybe some pansies! That would be nice- to have some pansies in the spring.
It is dreary outside. Another cold front is supposed to come through on Monday. It has been a pretty cold season so far. I wonder if it will continue? A cold winter is good for killing off bugs and things. But it is bad for us mammals who like to be warm. I've been thinking of the zoo lately and how hard it was for us keepers on days that the water never thawed. I would spend literally from twilight to after dark breaking ice and refilling water buckets. I didn't have time to clean and barely had time to feed everyone. On top of that, the animals needed fresh hay and the cold loving lynxes wanted to play and needed toys and enrichment. Winter is hard for the keepers. If anyone has a free day when it's cold, go to the Little River Zoo and help them out for the day. Even a couple of hours breaking ice in water buckets would be awesome. I think when I'm a housewife I'll do that on days where the water doesn't thaw.
I need motivation to start working. Meh. Maybe I'll do some of that internet research I'd been needing to do.
In the greenhouse my peas and thyme and oregano have sprouted! I know it's the dead of winter but that's exactly the reason why I need to have things sprouting. It reminds me that winter is temporary. I got out my grow light and heat mat yesterday. I'm not sure what I'll grow with them yet but I have lots of options. Maybe some pansies! That would be nice- to have some pansies in the spring.
It is dreary outside. Another cold front is supposed to come through on Monday. It has been a pretty cold season so far. I wonder if it will continue? A cold winter is good for killing off bugs and things. But it is bad for us mammals who like to be warm. I've been thinking of the zoo lately and how hard it was for us keepers on days that the water never thawed. I would spend literally from twilight to after dark breaking ice and refilling water buckets. I didn't have time to clean and barely had time to feed everyone. On top of that, the animals needed fresh hay and the cold loving lynxes wanted to play and needed toys and enrichment. Winter is hard for the keepers. If anyone has a free day when it's cold, go to the Little River Zoo and help them out for the day. Even a couple of hours breaking ice in water buckets would be awesome. I think when I'm a housewife I'll do that on days where the water doesn't thaw.
I need motivation to start working. Meh. Maybe I'll do some of that internet research I'd been needing to do.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
The Jewelry party is done. Now I can concentrate on making and wrapping gifts. The making part is pretty easy: 2 more scarves and lots of baking. The wrapping might be more involved but we'll see. I discovered the wonders of double sided tape and now I can wrap lidded boxes waaaay easier.
Allergies are bothering the whole family. Even Tuvok and Lillibutt. I don't know what came down from the Arctic but us Okies are allergic to it!!
Allergies are bothering the whole family. Even Tuvok and Lillibutt. I don't know what came down from the Arctic but us Okies are allergic to it!!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Busy!!!
Busy busy busy busy busy!!!! Don't expect any worthwile posts until after Christmas! Things are going fine, there's just a lot to do.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
A nasty cold has been circulating at work. I can tell my immune system is valiantly battling the virus. I'm run down and I have some very very slight cold symptoms occasionally. But I've been taking a bunch of vitamin C and I'm doing ok. DH on the other hand... poor guy. Chemo really kills the immune system and the effects last the rest of your life.
Incidentally, I didn't get as much done this weekend as I wanted. Sleep has been very important. The kitchen exploded. I tried cleaning it a little but it still is messy. I got the big kitchen hole cleaned out and I'm about ready to wallpaper it. I got some textured paintable wallpaper that looks like wainscoating. Then I'll reinstall the floor of the shelf area (and the ceiling of the cabinet area) and wallpaper that (I think) or maybe just paint it. Then I have to install the framing for the shelves and paint all that and then I can put in the rope lighting and the glass shelves and it'll be done. Of course, that's a lot of work and I don't know if I'll get it all done by next weekend. I'd like to have it finished by the jewelry party.
I need to make a list. Lists are comforting to me. My brain isn't good at holding a lot of information and the list helps me keep my brain calmed down and organized and I can make sure I don't forget anything.
This week I need to finish the shelves and clean the house. I need to finish decorating too. There are some gifts I want to make and I'd like to get started on them. I feel overwhelmed. I don't have enough energy to get this done.
Ok. Enough pouting. Back to work!!
Incidentally, I didn't get as much done this weekend as I wanted. Sleep has been very important. The kitchen exploded. I tried cleaning it a little but it still is messy. I got the big kitchen hole cleaned out and I'm about ready to wallpaper it. I got some textured paintable wallpaper that looks like wainscoating. Then I'll reinstall the floor of the shelf area (and the ceiling of the cabinet area) and wallpaper that (I think) or maybe just paint it. Then I have to install the framing for the shelves and paint all that and then I can put in the rope lighting and the glass shelves and it'll be done. Of course, that's a lot of work and I don't know if I'll get it all done by next weekend. I'd like to have it finished by the jewelry party.
I need to make a list. Lists are comforting to me. My brain isn't good at holding a lot of information and the list helps me keep my brain calmed down and organized and I can make sure I don't forget anything.
This week I need to finish the shelves and clean the house. I need to finish decorating too. There are some gifts I want to make and I'd like to get started on them. I feel overwhelmed. I don't have enough energy to get this done.
Ok. Enough pouting. Back to work!!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Each year I tell myself I'm not going to be over-busy this Christmas. And then each year I'm over-busy again. This year is no exception. This week I'm mostly shopping online for gifts and planning the projects I want to do before my jewelry party next Saturday. Monday we had a family photo session with all three animals. It was a riot! One of my friends from the zoo and her husband just opened up a photo studio place and they came up did the session at our house. The cat was angry, the dog was trying to stay as far away from the cat as possible, and the bunny just wished he could go back to his house. But we have a sequence of hilarious photos and a couple of pretty good ones. :^) Tuesday I participated in a focus group for a market research company and I got $75 for it. And is was fun. Win Win. Wednesday we sat on the couch and watched TV and then today I regretted it because I had to go run errands and bake a bunch. But it's all done now and I'm going to bed. More tomorrow...if I have time.
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