I don't know my source. I scribbled this off a blog and didn't note where I stole it from. Sorry to whoever. But its so good I think I should share anyhow.
2 cups milk
2 T canned pumpkin
1 heaping T of sugar
2 T vanilla extract
1/2 pumpkin pie spice (or in my case a dash of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves)
1/2 cup very strong coffee
Combine milk, pumpkin, and sugar in pot and cook on medium heat until steaming. Remove from heat, add vanilla and spice. Process in blender for 15 sec (or in my lazy case, whisk frantically for 30 sec.) Pour into 2 large mugs and add coffee.
Mmmm.
Friday, October 30, 2009
vacuum advice
wishing I had a vacuum advisor tonight. Mine is not working. No suction. I thought it had been getting worse for awhile. Even with a brand new bag in it, the button flips over to full every time I turn it on. My carpet looks really awful right now.
So, I picked up one that was 40% off at Ian's favorite store. Dirt Devil Vision Power Pak Canister. Looked good - HEPA filter and it says POWERFUL on the box. It also said #1 consumers choice. But, then before I open it, I go looking for reviews online. I find only a few, and they are not that great. I'd really like to vacuum my carpets right now. I'm sitting here beside a box, wanting to open, but not so sure anymore, and wishing i had a vacuum advisor. Maybe I just should have just vacuumed instead of investigating.
UPDATE: Amy, funny that I tried a friend's Dyson from next door just after I wrote this. After that trial, I would have liked to get one until I looked into the price. If we were keeping our carpet, I might have felt more like investing. Since we are hoping to go to hard floors soon, I opened the Dirt Devil and found it actually works great too. Someone else told me after that according to Consumer Reports, there are other very comparable vacuums to the Dyson that are not as pricey. The Dyson was pretty awesome though - I especially loved the swivling head that made it super nice to vacuum the stairs.
So, I picked up one that was 40% off at Ian's favorite store. Dirt Devil Vision Power Pak Canister. Looked good - HEPA filter and it says POWERFUL on the box. It also said #1 consumers choice. But, then before I open it, I go looking for reviews online. I find only a few, and they are not that great. I'd really like to vacuum my carpets right now. I'm sitting here beside a box, wanting to open, but not so sure anymore, and wishing i had a vacuum advisor. Maybe I just should have just vacuumed instead of investigating.
UPDATE: Amy, funny that I tried a friend's Dyson from next door just after I wrote this. After that trial, I would have liked to get one until I looked into the price. If we were keeping our carpet, I might have felt more like investing. Since we are hoping to go to hard floors soon, I opened the Dirt Devil and found it actually works great too. Someone else told me after that according to Consumer Reports, there are other very comparable vacuums to the Dyson that are not as pricey. The Dyson was pretty awesome though - I especially loved the swivling head that made it super nice to vacuum the stairs.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
a little fun around here
I couldn't choose just one of Kellen the Artist. He doesn't often spend this much time on "art". A couple scribbles on the page and he's gone. This was fun to watch him work so intently and to have a story to tell about this bird he painted. I loved it! So, sorry for the many pictures of this event.
And here I display some of my work from today. I did make my bread. I think this will be a new habit, so I might as well go purchase a couple more bread pans, although round bread in pie plates is kind of fun.
I don't know how to take good pictures of cards. Well, I don't usually do it, seems an odd thing to do. But I really liked these ones I whipped up the other night and the camera was sitting there.
I wish I also had some new pictures of my kids in the beautiful oranges, yellows, and reds at the park. It was on my list of things to do today, but it was so cold, rainy, and dreary that plan didn't get carried out.
And here I display some of my work from today. I did make my bread. I think this will be a new habit, so I might as well go purchase a couple more bread pans, although round bread in pie plates is kind of fun.
I don't know how to take good pictures of cards. Well, I don't usually do it, seems an odd thing to do. But I really liked these ones I whipped up the other night and the camera was sitting there.
I wish I also had some new pictures of my kids in the beautiful oranges, yellows, and reds at the park. It was on my list of things to do today, but it was so cold, rainy, and dreary that plan didn't get carried out. So, that is the only recent fun from our lives that my camera captured. I really need to take more pictures. I don't even have one from our wonderful visit from Grandpa Gerry and Grandma Lorna last weekend. I'm hoping to have some pictures of a newly painted entry way and a "surprise room" soon. Paint was purchased, now I just have to find some time. Ohhhh, what color, you wonder? What room? Hee,hee - the suspense, eh? I should also have some pictures of an adventure to the cabin next weekend!
crazy late night
The bread turned out absolutely wonderful. I hope I have time to make it again tomorrow. If I don't forget the molasses again, it might even be better. I am really, really looking forward to my day at home tomorrow.
I loved, loved the Food Secure Saskatchewan conference I attended the last 2 days. I sometimes feel that I won't learn anything new at some conferences, but this was not just the same old. I did learn some new things. A practical thing - The Green Ranch that runs a CSA for Weyburnites. They are from Osage and I did not know about them. If you live around that area, you should check them out here.
We just finished pureeing a mound of tomatoes, I think we must have done almost 15 L.
I bought paint today for the porch. I'm itching to get at it now, I can't wait to see if its how I envisioned it. I hope its not a disappointment. I hope I'm posting pictures of that soon.
Why, oh why, is there not more time in the day? And why am I up so late again?
I loved, loved the Food Secure Saskatchewan conference I attended the last 2 days. I sometimes feel that I won't learn anything new at some conferences, but this was not just the same old. I did learn some new things. A practical thing - The Green Ranch that runs a CSA for Weyburnites. They are from Osage and I did not know about them. If you live around that area, you should check them out here.
We just finished pureeing a mound of tomatoes, I think we must have done almost 15 L.
I bought paint today for the porch. I'm itching to get at it now, I can't wait to see if its how I envisioned it. I hope its not a disappointment. I hope I'm posting pictures of that soon.
Why, oh why, is there not more time in the day? And why am I up so late again?
Thursday, September 24, 2009
crazy bread night
I'm up for another 40 minutes. Waiting for the bread to come out of the oven. Yep, homemade bread, mmm. Thanks to Kristal for inspiring me to make bread when she talked about making it every Saturday morning. Hmm, thanks or no thanks, I'm not sure. I read the recipe (Dietitians of Canada cookbook, of course) and decided it was so easy, I should just do it tonight. Sounded like a good idea at 7:30, but my eyes are really heavy and I'm wishing I could just go to bed right now. Since I can't, I'm here rambling. Sorry.
I was listening to CBC radio last night. Some guy is just finishing his 50 jobs in 50 States in 50 weeks adventure. It sounded pretty cool so I was listening closely (thank goodness). I thought being a surfing instructor, working at a winery, and other things sounded pretty cool. When he asked what one job stood out to him, I never expected (in fact, I almost fell over) to hear being a dietitian! Seriously? In fact, I feel funny telling this story because I think I must need to replay that and check that fact. He said something about with the obesity issue, its a complex, interesting job (I was still recovering from the shock of what he said, that next line is kind of fuzzy). I always thought my job is pretty cool, but to hear that just made me really happy.
Sunday morning I had a little adventure. After playing with the kids downstairs for a bit, I went up to make us some oatmeal for breakfast. I got it on the stove and since things were still so quiet and peaceful downstairs, I started doing a few other things. Then, it dawned on me that maybe things were too peaceful. When I headed downstairs I saw the front door wide open and the bike that had been sitting in the porch was gone. Once outside, I quickly realized they were long gone, out of our quiet bay. I wished I had time to put some clothes on, but decided against it. Grabbed a sweater and and sandals and went running down the street in my pajamas with my crazy morning hair flying. I headed one way, then decided to turn around and try the other way first. I was worrying I was wasting time going the wrong way. Luckily a kind, old lady stepped out of the house and pointed me down the street and around the corner. Rounding the corner, I saw my 3 and 1 year old in bare feet and their pajamas. One riding his bike and the other one pushing a fire truck. Still running away from me. How far would they have gone if they had the chance I wonder? They both spent some time crying on their beds and Kellen did not get to play with his trucks the rest of the day.
I'll let you know how the bread adventure turns out.
I was listening to CBC radio last night. Some guy is just finishing his 50 jobs in 50 States in 50 weeks adventure. It sounded pretty cool so I was listening closely (thank goodness). I thought being a surfing instructor, working at a winery, and other things sounded pretty cool. When he asked what one job stood out to him, I never expected (in fact, I almost fell over) to hear being a dietitian! Seriously? In fact, I feel funny telling this story because I think I must need to replay that and check that fact. He said something about with the obesity issue, its a complex, interesting job (I was still recovering from the shock of what he said, that next line is kind of fuzzy). I always thought my job is pretty cool, but to hear that just made me really happy.
Sunday morning I had a little adventure. After playing with the kids downstairs for a bit, I went up to make us some oatmeal for breakfast. I got it on the stove and since things were still so quiet and peaceful downstairs, I started doing a few other things. Then, it dawned on me that maybe things were too peaceful. When I headed downstairs I saw the front door wide open and the bike that had been sitting in the porch was gone. Once outside, I quickly realized they were long gone, out of our quiet bay. I wished I had time to put some clothes on, but decided against it. Grabbed a sweater and and sandals and went running down the street in my pajamas with my crazy morning hair flying. I headed one way, then decided to turn around and try the other way first. I was worrying I was wasting time going the wrong way. Luckily a kind, old lady stepped out of the house and pointed me down the street and around the corner. Rounding the corner, I saw my 3 and 1 year old in bare feet and their pajamas. One riding his bike and the other one pushing a fire truck. Still running away from me. How far would they have gone if they had the chance I wonder? They both spent some time crying on their beds and Kellen did not get to play with his trucks the rest of the day.
I'll let you know how the bread adventure turns out.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
favorites
ok, just one more post tonight (I finally was getting a wack of pics off the camera). Here are just a few random favorites that made me happy.
Isn't it fun how boys want to be just like their dads?
Isn't this girl beautiful? And oh, is she ever strong willed and showing a lot of confidence lately. I love the way she struts around.
I really did pick up the knitting again. Here's the second project so far. I'm almost done the second leg warmer for Lanelle. The first one fits great! It is much more relaxing than trying to scrapbook when I'm up late.
Isn't it fun how boys want to be just like their dads?
Isn't this girl beautiful? And oh, is she ever strong willed and showing a lot of confidence lately. I love the way she struts around.
I really did pick up the knitting again. Here's the second project so far. I'm almost done the second leg warmer for Lanelle. The first one fits great! It is much more relaxing than trying to scrapbook when I'm up late.
combines
This summer Kellen asked me why Grandpa had a combine. When I told him to cut the crop that grew in his field, he looked confused.
K - But how does it get there?
M - you mean how does the combine get to the field?
K - yeah?
M - it drives there.
K - how?
M - on the road
K - oh! (surprised) Can it go super fast??
The conversation came out of nowhere. So, I put it on the priority list to get him out there to see how things work. Once we were there, Kellen was pretty nervous to get on the combine, so I had to ride with him and Uncle Tim for a bit until he would let me leave. Tim said I had better try and see if I could remember how to drive. Kellen didn't think that was a good idea. So, I did just so he could see that mom can drive mighty machines too. Kellen stayed out real late with Grandpa in the tractor with the grain cart. He came in dirty, happy, and a little more informed about the farm machines.
K - But how does it get there?
M - you mean how does the combine get to the field?
K - yeah?
M - it drives there.
K - how?
M - on the road
K - oh! (surprised) Can it go super fast??
The conversation came out of nowhere. So, I put it on the priority list to get him out there to see how things work. Once we were there, Kellen was pretty nervous to get on the combine, so I had to ride with him and Uncle Tim for a bit until he would let me leave. Tim said I had better try and see if I could remember how to drive. Kellen didn't think that was a good idea. So, I did just so he could see that mom can drive mighty machines too. Kellen stayed out real late with Grandpa in the tractor with the grain cart. He came in dirty, happy, and a little more informed about the farm machines.
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