True Confessions

a. There's something that smells really rank in my kitchen.
And I can't figure out where it is.
Ever had that?
A serious investigation needs to ensue.

b.I think I'm coming down with a cold.
Ug.
I had the achy-breaky flu two weeks ago.
(hence the lack of blogging)
I'm just not ready to face another virus.
(break out the echinacea tea)

c. I hate hot flashes.
Especially when you live in the desert.
'Nuf said.

d. I seriously hate my new dishwasher.
(i can hear gasping from my daughters!)
It's gorgeous.
in all it's stainless steel finery.
It has sufficient space for the dishes if...
You are a widow lady who lives with a cat.
Who never cooks.
And uses paper plates mostly.

But I cook.
And I make messes with pots and pans and beaters.
And we eat off real plates.
And drink water with real glasses.

So off to Sears I went yesterday.
Nearly two hours later....
The new dishwasher will be delivered within 48 hours (business days)

Ok-I think that's enough whining for one day.

When It Rains, it Pours

My lot in life these days.
Last weekend it was clogged sinks and the garbage disposal went down.
This week it's the demise of the dishwasher.
Heaven help us, I hope it's nothing more serious next week!

(so what's up with the craziness of blogger??? new way of downloading photos???)

Ugg

Description of my evening last night:

Fall asleep on the couch watching BYUTV.
Wake up and decide to start reading and waiting up for youngest offspring.
Youngest offspring arrives.
Keep reading.
And reading.
And reading.
Finish book at 1:30 am.
Finally fall asleep sometime 45 minutes later.

Description of my morning:

can't.wake.up.
cobweb brain.
was finishing the book worth it?
probably not.

P.S. 
It was "The Last Song" by Nicholas Sparks
First of his books for me.
I knew how it was going to end.
Surprisingly enjoyable read.

I know, I know, it shoulda been the scriptures on Sunday.
Then I would have gone to sleep earlier.
Bad me.

Random Blathering on Wednesday Morning

I've got too many projects I want to do and not enough time to do them.....
Working on one right now..
But I can't share cuz it's a gift!
But I promise I will soon.

Music on blogs kinda drives me crazy.
But..
Sometimes I go Kerin's blog on purpose several times a day.
Just to listen to her playlist.
Because I love to listen to it.

It rained last night!!
Hip hip hooray.
The thirsty desert soil is soaking it up.

I'm kinda obsessed with healthy eating.
(my kids are saying-duh-right now)
I probably should share more stuff about it.
Because it does take up a lot of my mental time.

I always get kinda depressed at the end of July/August.
I think it's kinda of like the gloominess people feel
who live in the Northern climes
and have cabin fever.

My house was full of people yesterday.
It was really fun.
But boy howdy...
I'm feeling it today.
I think I'm getting arthur-itis.
Ug.

The wedding invites are piling up again.
It seems like we are busy every weekend.
With stuff.
Maybe another vacation is in order?????

I have the cutest grandkids in the universe.
One sentence pretty much covers that thought.

It's time to clean out the refrigerator.
I have no fresh fruit to speak of in the house.
Except the brown bananas.

And that's all.

More Information than You Wanted to Know

Yesterday was Sacred Hair Day.
Yes, It is a sacred and inviolate appointment each month.
So that know one knows that I have perfectly white hair, with a little gray sprinkled in.
(now everyone knows)
Every four weeks.
Color & Cut.

I have very coarse hair.
And my lovely stylist loves to texture the heck out of it.
Which I am happy about of course.
Since I like to look like a sassy middle-aged-lady.

So when I get home,
There's little hair bits everywhere.
Doesn't that just drive you nuts?
As careful as my lovely stylist is to remove all extraneous bits of fly-away hair.

There's always a little left over.
There was even a little hair bit stuck.between.my.teeth!
And I spent a good half hour trying to lodge it free.
Now, doesn't that make you want to go have a nice hearty breakfast?

Listening to Your inner Voice-Part 2

I shoulda listened.

It would have saved me some grief.

It's not a big deal.

It's just that now I have another thing on my list of things to do.

You see, I've wanted a new bedspread for a loooong time.

It has to be just the right one.

Not a heavy comforter.

Because we live in AZ.

I like the color red.

Just because.

I could never find just the right one.

Until I was surfing the internet last week and I saw one that spoke to me.

I had received an unexpected refund from a medical bill.

I had a little saved from the measly paychecks I receive for transcribing doctor reports.

And I thought, hey....just go for it.

But then I hesitated just a little bit.......

And I forced myself to push the purchase button.

Because it was high time I got a bedspread.

And I needed to just be done with it.

The UPS man rang my doorbell the other night.

In anticipation, I went running, opened the box and laid the bedspread on my bed.

My heart sank.

I just wasn't feeling it.

I took a picture with my cell phone and forwarded it to some of  the female members of the family for her opinion.

The response was all a guarded, well....yes, it's nice.

I could tell they were trying not to hurt my feelings.

Finally the statement,

"It just isn't you exactly."

Even TL kindly said it was fine with him.

I even asked Steve's girlfriend her opinion.

She liked it.

I think because she wants to please me.

But they were all right.

It wasn't me.

Too country.

I like toile, just in smaller amounts.

So there you go.

Listen to the inner voice.

Now I have to trot down to the mall 20 miles away to return it.

And start my quest for a bedspread all over again.

I shoulda listened.

A Slice of Life from the First monday of 2010

I've been super busy with this for the last week.

And the forecast is for more busyness this week.

I've pretty much de-Christmas-ized my house.

Except that it looks nekked.

I'm going to put some lamps on this table; we need more light.

P.S. Jen, I took this photo with no flash, iso 800, f/2.8!

Evidence that I still drink green smoothies.

Except I've fallen off the wagon this last couple of weeks.

We're starting a new project.

More details later.

We're hosting the Winter formal dinner here this weekend.

The first one was cancelled due to the High School State Championship Football Game.

(which they lost)

My garden is a jungle.

This is the "tuce" patch.

Most of this is destined for the compost since the greens are too bitter to eat.

Trying to get the cooking mo-jo back.

By gaining inspiration from some cookbooks.

Okay, now I got to get back to the 29 1/2 things on my to-do list.

Oh, 28 1/2 things.

Whazzzup?

Just checking in to report that:

I'm washing the 15+ tablecloths from the latest party.
(I didn't know that being the Relief Society prez included being a wedding/party planner and tablecloth washer).

And Santa's workshop is in full swing today.
Except that I'm sorta making things up as I go.
In duplicate, triplicate, quadruplicate........
I work well when I have a pattern.
But when I don't....
It's a tad stressful.

And then I go on the internet and see something and think,
OH, I gotta make that for Christmas!!!
And completely overestimate my time/energy/money demands.
Or I see Heather Bailey's new fabric line, Nicey Jane,
And I must head out to get me some.

And I got my new Williams Sonoma catalog.
And I pretty much want everything in it.
Except I already gave TL my Christmas list.

And I'm trying to get Alaska boy's missionary Christmas package
Off today.
And I'm not quite done with that.
It's hard getting "wow" stuff for a missionary with limited space
And shipping costs.
And missionary rules.

And I've been listening to poor Alyssa hacking and coughing.
Feeling sorry for her.
And hoping I don't get it on Christmas Eve.
(P.S. Rubbing Vicks Vaporub on your feet and chest reaalllly works good!)

And shopping with Jessica @ ToysRUs.
Having a hilarious time.
And getting to give kissies to her baby boy.

And feeling completely relieved that my Sunday lesson
In Spanish.
Is OVER for a few more months.

And....
That's pretty much it for now.

The Men's Room

Today, for lack of a better topic, I'm going to introduce....

"The Men's Room"

the shed located in the nethermost regions of my back yard. It was dubbed "The Men's Room" because there was a vague promise of the installation of a big screen TV with sound system, a place where the men of the family could escape to watch ballgames and "guy" movies. Somehow this never happened, because today "The Men's Room contains...

The beloved chop saw-very useful for all honeydo jobs.The 327 ice chests that we have collected over the years....The saddles for the horses that we have not had for well over 20 years...

The great-grandfather's trunk, which I think is actually very cool, but it's encrusted in dirt and full of horseshoeing tools (for the horses we don't have)......The organized tool wall, which only took me three years of nagging to accomplish. Doesn't it look nice?Important stuff.And the sacred toolbelt, which is always strapped on prior to any "honeydo" jobs.

I have a love/hate relationship with this edifice.

I hate it because it took up the space for some trees/chicken coop/or kid playground for the grandkids.

I love it because there is a place for all the important man stuff that hangs out here so I can have room in my garage to park my car.

I guess there is room in everyone's life for a "Men's Room." So I gave up my chicken coop/trees/playground

But I still like the TV idea.......

Life

Ah's just plumb wore out today.

Sick Day

For the record, I took a sick day yesterday.
Because inbetween all the partying and doing and stuff (most of which I haven't even blogged about)
I have felt absolutely awful.
Like sweats in the middle of meetings.
Achy body.
Feeling like throwing up after every meal.
Scratchy throat that never develops into a full blown sore throat.
Except that I haven't felt sick enough to go to bed.

Until yesterday.
I said enough was enough and I declared the day an official sick day.

I answered a minimum of phone calls.
Took a nap.
Didn't wear makeup or contacts.
Went to the myopractor----some blessed relief.
Ditched out on the Trunk or Treat last night......I decided to take off the "relief society president" calling and not go even though there were many members and investigators who attended.
Actually watched tv on the couch last night. (which is rare)
In between dozing off I caught up on
The weather (warming up after today)
The latest slime that Jon & Kate are throwing at each other (I quit watching their show-ug)
Some really funny episode of Everybody Loves Raymond, except I can't remember the plot.
Some stuff on HGTV-somebody from Utah buying a mansion in Mexico and some crazy young couple tearing up a room to make a play room.
Enough late night tv to last me for awhile, in between sleeping.

But I did do about 6 loads of laundry.
Worked on a new photo book of our trip to California.
Vacuumed all hard surface floors in the house.
Did my dictation.

So I guess all was not lost.

Do I feel better?
Maybe.
I better.
I'm taking some nice ladies to the temple in about 30 minutes.
And I woke up this morning listening to poor Steve in the bathroom.

I think he's taking a sick day today.

P.S. Please don't tell me how lucky I am that I can take a day off and be sick without kids. Trust me, been there done that......

I Thought This Kind of Stuff Ended with High School

Sunday morning we woke up to this:

I'm the mother of a very attractive, albeit poor, single, available RM.

So either someone has a secret crush, or it is all a joke instigated by his numerous male friends, probably the latter. At any rate, I'm secretly pleased-because of course I think he is cool and cute.

Aww. we love Steve too and he rocks our socks.

Now come back and wash off my driveway.

P.S. You'll note that there are no flowers in the front. I lied on Sat. Flower planting didn't happen. My body told me....no planting happening today. Plus the fact that it was over 100 degrees on Sat. Ug.

Things I've Learned this Past Week

Making your own compost REALLY works!

Last summer I added a bunch of grass clippings to the garden, and recently while tilling it up in preparation for our new fall garden, TL told me that the soil in the box that had the clippings in it was the softest and easiest to work. This has fueled my enthusiasm for resuming our composting, (besides the fact that I dearly love our early morning 60-ish degrees)

Don't forget to recharge your camera battery.

Yes, the team photographer forgot last week and the battery died just after the first race (probably because I had been taking so many pictures of my new grandsons)

New babies smell really good.

I've been able to snuggle and kiss the two newest members of the family lots this last week and they are sooooo delicious! I know, I know, more pictures.

If you have sugar issues, don't use juice in your smoothies!

I went to one of "those" dr. appointments last week, you know the yearly one we so love, and received the results of some recent tests I had undergone. (that could be a whole 'nuther blog post topic) So here's the story.....I had been feeling all righteous because of all the nutrition I was gulping down every morning in my green smoothies. Come to find out that my blood sugar was slightly elevated and the dr. told me not to put juice in my morning smoothies, add protein and more fiber, like ground flax. I'm still trying to get used to the taste of my new smoothies.

Listen to your body.

I heard some of the results of those same tests and found out that some of my hormones are completely depleted, you know, the ones that help you function every day. I've been wondering why I've been so exhausted.....now I know. She tells me this is the result of stress. Stressed? Me? So what can I get rid of to eliminate stress? My family???? of course not. My church calling? Nope..... My work? I work hardly enough to make a dent in any bills..... What? She suggested I change my way of thinking and reacting to stress.......Any suggestions out there???? It's been a tough week. So I'm trying to rest when I'm tired, go to sleep at night when I'm sleepy, eat when I'm hungry, eliminate more toxic food, you know, the good stuff like chocolate and brownies and ice cream............

You get answers to prayers at the most unexpected times.

Like listening to conference talks. Bam, out of the blue, here comes an inspiration.

As soon as you think your day is organized, it gets all topsy-turvy.

Ear infections, a meeting you didn't know about, refreshments you didn't know you were supposed to provide, an unexpected bill.....need I say more?

Yes, I heard from my missionary son.

He says the MTC is fun.......ish. That word is SO typically him. Except he's having struggles with his companion. He says he is kinda lazy (I busted out laughing at that sentence) He's leaving for the Alaskan north on the 14th. He says he doesn't like cold. Too late now.

Don't buy Utah peaches at the end of the season.

Bleah.

I can't believe it's already Oct. 7th.

When did that happen?

Random Bits of Useless Information

I know the date says Tues, Sept. 29th, but due to the miracle of modern internet, as I'm writing this, it's Monday. And I have things on my mind, so I'm allowing them to spew forth.

I woke up Monday morning feeling like I'd been hit by a bus. Although in truth, I have never actually been hit by a bus, it just seems to perfectly describe my thoughts and physical-ness this day.

I didn't go to the gym-didn't feel like it.

I couldn't figure out how to start out Monday morning, so I washed towels.
It seemed the sensible thing to do. And brainless.

My new favorite green smoothie is frozen peaches, frozen blueberries, banana, OJ, spinach and now I'm even getting daring and adding a large stalk of kale. I love you, Utah peaches!

I listened to Spanish and spoke Spanish ALL.DAY.SATURDAY....alllll day.
By Sat. night at the Women's Conference, my brain was so tired that I confessed I had breast-fed one of my daughters until she was 18 years old.....yes, I know the difference between the word months and years in Spanish, it just didn't come out right. More hysterical laughter from the Hispanic group.

I did a sneaky thing on Sunday........
TL said to me, why don't you just ditch out on one of your meetings and go see Jen?
That seemed like the most wonderful idea! So I did.
I missed out on a Sacrament meeting and made the long drive to Phoenix where my daughter had chosen to give birth, and I spent an hour smooching and cuddling my latest grandson.
It was heaven.
Just so ya' know I'm not too much of a sinner, I attend 2 Sacrament mtgs every Sunday, for the last 4 1/2 years, so I only missed one.

I haven't heard from Elder Dan yet.
Sniff.

Our internet has been out for several days.
It seems like months.
I think I'm addicted to the internet.

I like giving my hubby a big smooch and a full hug in the morning after his shower before he leaves for work.
MMMMmmm.
(my kids are saying ewwwww)

I just bought a new rosemary plant and I'm going to try growing some lavender.

I opened the front door and left.it.open for the first time this season!
(Unless you've ever lived in Phoenix, Arizona, you don't get it)
The fresh air was heaven.

Bleary-Eyed

So all you young moms out there are waiting for the day when you can sleep all night? Tired of waking up every other hour to tend to babies and children who need a mother's touch?
Don't hold your breath.
Let me illustrate by sharing my story from last night.

I'm an early-to-bed, early-to-rise sort of person. I like the mornings.
I'm just weird that way.
So by 9:30 pm, my eyelids are drooping and I'm ready for dreamland.

Only to be awakened a couple of hours later by person-who-will-not-be-named who needed a bath because he was hot and sweaty and sore after playing basketball.

Hit the snooze button.

Only to be awakened a short time later by person-who-will-not-be-named who came strolling in after arriving home from whatever activity he was participating in. Of course he is immune to the midnight curfew because he is over 21. And then to relax he needs to check his Facebook and emails for at least an hour.

Hit the snooze button.

Only to be awakened by person-who-will-not-be-named who begins the round of middle of the night bathroom trips.

Hit the snooze button.

Only to be awakened early the next morning by princess-who-will-not-be-named who needs the perfect hairdo for the day and it must begin at 4:30 am in order to perfect the "do."

Forget the snooze button and get up.

So, I'm just sayin'.....

Random blathering with a photo Review

I'm brain dead this morning.

Probably because last night as I was stumbling around after a bathroom trip, I planted my face into the corner of a very tall dresser. My left cheekbone is very bruised.

Time + things to accomplish today.....an equation not working

I'm trying to figure out what to feed the missionaries for dinner and how to get it all done so I can go do some visiting tonight.

I have no fresh food in the house.

I need to buy small amounts of fabric to finish up projects. The stores are on opposite ends of my town.

I'm trying to figure out what to buy for my son who is going to be living in Alaska for the next two years. The letter from the mission home says: "just bring clothing suitable for winter weather." Ha-we wear flip flops and shorts most of the winter here.

So here's my random photos:

First day of school yesterday for Steve. Doesn't he look thrilled? A nice scrapworthy photo.Jen sent me a ton of photos yesterday. I'm so beyond happy. Now I just have to get them printed and scrapbooked....I've got more pretty colors to play with, except I notice a complete obsession with polka dots.

Ok-time to get off the computer and get going.

Random enough?

Random Food Musings

1. Broccoli is my caffeine.

I know, I know. I can see what look on your face. It was the same look my brother-in-law gave me when I told him the same thing and asked him what was in it that made me feel so good. For whatever reason, whenever I eat steamed broccoli, I have lots of energy. The other night for dinner, I included some steamed broccoli with the dinner (which nobody ate but me) and I had so much energy that evening to clean up the kitchen and get things done. I wondered why, then realized I had eaten broccoli for dinner. It has to be steamed broccoli.

2. The Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde nature of my kitchen.

The dichotomy of the food that is contained in my pantry. The corn dogs as opposed to whole grains. The frozen pizza as opposed to organic spinach. I am really in to eating healthfully and feeding my family that way, but let's be real. I have teenagers. They must be fed food that I would cringe at so that they remain happy at home. I admit though, at times they sneak off to Burger King behind my back. (don't think I don't know it kids!)

3. Doesn't it feel grand when you know what you are having for dinner in the morning??

Today it's pulled pork sandwiches in the crock pot. But I admit, there are many frenetic days when I have no idea what to feed everyone and I refuse to go to the nearest McDonalds. My go-to meal is....soft tacos. Brown the hamburger, open a bottle of canned pinto beans, arrange the fixin's and warm the corn tortillas. It's a done deal and everyone's happy-as long as I have taco sauce and cilantro.

So what's your random food musing today, and what's your go-to meal?

So What's on the Madwoman's Mind Today?

**Kinda annoyed that the post options thingie isn't working-therefore, I can't make a batch of posts at one sitting.

**Had a special time in Utah at my uncle's funeral visiting with cousins. No pictures to share because dumb me left my camera sitting on my sister's kitchen table in SLC. {sigh}

**It's HOT. Just plain HOT. Realizing that this is my time of year to hibernate, stay inside and work on projects. Except there is no way I'm drinking hot chocolate or toasting chestnuts by the fireside. Oh wait-maybe I could roast the chestnuts by placing them outside my back door.......

**The sorry state of my garden. We seem to be growing an abundance of bugs, weeds and lots of leaves, but no produce. I'm thinkin' I may bag the whole thing for awhile-add some nutrients to the soil and wait until it cools off.

This morning's harvest. Jalapenos anyone?

**Wondering who is going to fix my undermount sink that seems to be coming detached from the granite.

**We are the party house. The branch sitting in the shade of the garden on the 4th. My kids and grandkids cooling off in the pool on the 4th.

It was already really hot at 8:00 am.

**Taking bits of fabric and making them into baby quilts for Jessica. I'm setting a deadline of Aug. 8th-her shower date. Wish me luck.

**Waiting for the arrival of the mission call-coming this week.

**That is all.

Just the boringest Life Ever

Nothing noteworthy to report.
I'm fresh out of scintillating titles & fascinating posts.

Just a few random facts:


It's hot-100 degree highs for over a week-this Sunday predicted high: 105
{sigh}

I had a conversation with Steve last night in Spanish in front of his friends and nobody understood us. It was awesome.
{giggle}

If you want to spend 45 minutes listening to something amazing, go here:
http://lds.org/broadcast/ces/0,7341,538,00.html.
{much food for thought}

Chillaxin'

I've always wanted to say that word.

Chillax......

(Mom-it's a combination of the words chillin' and relaxin')

But you know that if a woman of my certain age says that word,

Well,

It might just interrupt the time space continuum.
Because people my age don't say those words.
We are allowed to say words like,

Cool.

Because people of my generation sort of made up that word...

But I just couldn't resist.

I am barely allowed to say the words-
Lame or lame-ish or
Awesome.

But that's really stretching the limits.

So actually in real life, while you are reading this post, I am actually off "chillaxin" somewhere other than the comfort of my home.
Fooled ya' huh?
Because there are really "awesome" tools like "post options" on Blogger so I can fool everybody so that they think I am slaving away on my blog every day.

Whilst I "chillax" somewhere else.

Cool.