A Productive Day

We replaced 9 (nine!) lightbulbs today, just in our own house. It's especially nice to see my clothes while I'm inside the closet.

Also, we love the truck.

Making Yogurt... and plans.

My yogurt turned out so well last batch that I can't resist having it again, fast! Since we ate up the last of the last batch last night I'm cooking up a new batch today! Wow, I sure hope it's as great as the last one. High expectations for this batch!

As for the plans... I am going to the Air Force base next week and I think we're actually going to buy a truck! Those are connected, you may not see, by me. I have to go along in order to drive one of the vehicles back. Probably the car, if you get my drift. No more renting big U-haul trucks to move, no more wishing for a truckload of free local mulch (I know I know), I just love thinking about having the ability to haul our own stuff around! I better make plans for an early Autumn camping trip too. Size matters, we're only looking at truck that are big enough to haul all of our projected children around, well, most of them anyway... We'll be safe if we stop at three but if we space them out then my stepson will be driving too and maybe he'd drive one or two of his little siblings around. :) Just dreaming here. Just think of all the friends we'll be able to help when they need to move now... just ask!

Best of all my stepson is a 5th grader this year and so we'll be going to his first ever football game next week! So many wonderful Fall things are happening! I love the Fall best of all!

Tough Guys Are The Sweetest Guys!

Mr Erik Matthew, you are a cute little charmer with big brown eyes and a great big heart. You're always bursting with energy and zest for life! You're a tough guy with a sweet heart and that makes you so easy to love!
Erik, when you were born we were all so amazed by you. You made so many little sounds and noises and you were such a handsome big boy. So Big! I had never held such a big and strong newborn. When you got even bigger we got to know how patient and persistent and tough you really are. You are a fighter! You are an over comer, Erik. You can stand your ground against the toughest odds and I am so proud of you! I am so happy you are mine. I love you awesome dude!
Happy 8th Birthday!

Love, Aunt Amy

Fried Eggplant

My dear friend came to visit the other day and arrived bearing gifts from her garden, and from the produce department as it turns out. Gifts of jalepenos, limes, grapefruit, and ... eggplant! I love eggplant yet I rarely purchase the stuff. So it sat, looking like treasure, in my fruit basket for a day or two until today, when I was inspired to fry it.

I wanted to try this without getting my hopes up. I wanted to see what would happen if I wasn't shooting for spectacular. So I tossed together some whole wheat flour, some italian seasonings, garlic, and salt. I sliced the eggplant very thin, splashed it into some egg and dipped it in the flour mixture. Once it was in the skillet I left it just long enough to cook the breading and to crisp up, then I piled it on a plate and sampled the results. After that I sang the Hallelujah chorus and called in my resident taste tester who agreed that it was delicious.

1 Eggplant, sliced thin - approx 1/8 inch slices
1 c whole wheat flour
1/4 c pizza or Itallian seasoning
1 t garlic - more if you love it
Pink Himalayan salt, use your best guess here since I didn't measure the salt.
2 eggs, beaten
Coconut Oil for frying - I didn't deep fry it, just enough to pan fry.

Now then, put your eggs in a bowl and beat them, next to that put your flour mixture on a plate or in a bowl, use about 2 teaspoons of oil for a med skillet. Between batches I wipe my skillet out with a folded paper towel to keep the burned crumbs from making the next batch gross.

Happy chomping!

Happy Birthday Jimmie!

The first memory that I know I know of my little brother is from when he was around 9 or 10 months, I think. I know there are others, I remember knowing he was around but this memory plays like a movie in my mind, my sister and I must have been right at 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 and we were feeding him baby food. We must have had some practice on our dolls but I remember how much fun it was to feed a real baby real food! He was sitting in his highchair and we'd take turns getting something fruity into his baby mouth. I am sure we only had a chance to give him a bite or two in the short time Mom had her back turned because I also remember that we took a bite or two, too! I kept thinking he'd start to cry or yell at us but he didn't seem to mind, he must have thought it was ours and we were sharing with him! Silly baby!
Now that blond haired, blue eyed, cute little boy is 28 years old. Though he's still got that blond hair and those blue eyes, and still as cute as can be, he's not such a little guy! He's got his own little set of three to make his family of five, just like we were. He and his beautiful wife have two precious princesses and their own little prince charming.
My brother, with whom I spent hours playing cars, Lego's, and Lincoln Logs, as well as a few good high speed (foot) chase occasions over a stolen book or maybe a game lost on Nintendo, is the best brother anyone could have. I love to watch him be a husband to his wife and dad his children and to love his family more than himself. I am so proud of him and I love to be his sister.

Happy Birthday Jimmie, and in case you ever read this, thanks for not beating me up once you realized you were big enough, love ya.

123 Days!

Until.... Christmas! Whooo hooo!

Christmas Countdown 2011 - Find out how many days until Christmas 2011

Comment and tell me if you've already started your Christmas shopping... or at least your shopping list?

One of Those Days

The light drizzle of rain outside, the coziness of watching the drops race down my window, the perfect temperature to venture out and sit under the dry protection of the porch, and the joy of watching the green grass get a much needed soak.

I love the rain. I love the sharp look of the rain drops as they slice through the air from cloud to ground and the ping sound they sing as they land on my roof or windows.