Farewell, Newton

Thank you for your love.

Thank you for playing fetch with us.

Thank you for joining us in our little swimming pool.

Thank you for taking us on long walks (and teaching us to be more creative so we don't say the word "walk" or "go").

Thank you for all of the hair.  Especially when we were wearing black clothes.

Thank you for your love of chocolate (eating part of Nick's cake and the chocolate candy they got for Christmas).

Thank you for your love of cookies.

Thank you for taking turns sleeping in the boy's rooms.

Thank you for cleaning the floor.

Thank you for letting me polish your nails. (even though you didn't want me to)

Thanks for being the best dog ever.

And.........

Thank you for choosing me.

*for more on Newton, click here

Pick up after yourself

I did my part this morning.  On my daily walk, I picked up some litter that was left on the trail.  Not sure why people have to drop their garbage on the trail when there are garbage cans conveniently placed along the trails.

If you see some litter, pick it up.  If you have garbage to throw out, find a trash can.

Just trying to do my part.

Lemon Zucchini Bread

I'm growing zucchini in the garden.

Last year's zucchini didn't do as well.  In fact, the plant was huge and did not produce any zucchini.  I think RT ended up pulling it out of the ground.  < He quite enjoys that.

This year the zucchini plant is taking off quite nicely.  I've used zucchini in soups, stir fry's, cakes and breads.

I found this Lemon Zucchini Bread recipe on Lil Luna and thought I would share it.  It looked delicious and seemed like a tasty way to use some of my zucchini.

Here's the recipe:

Lemon Zucchini Bread

Ingredients:
2 cups cake flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
1/2 cup canola oil (I used sunflower oil)
1 1/3 cups sugar
2 TBS lemon juice
1/2 cup buttermilk
zest of 1 lemon
1 cup grated zucchini

Glaze Ingredients:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 TBS lemon juice
1 TBS milk

Mix flour, salt and baking powder in a medium bowl and set aside.
In a large bowl, beat eggs.  Add oil and sugar until well blended.  Add lemon juice, buttermilk and lemon zest to this mixture and blend together.
Add in zucchini until it is mixed well.
Add the dry mixture and blend all together until it is well combined.
Pour the batter into greased 9x5 loaf pan.
Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes.
While still warm, make glaze and spoon over the bread.  Let the glaze set up before cutting and serving.

*Yes, I did cut down the sugar to a little over a 1/2 cup.  I still thought it was good with less sugar.

I have to say that this is the best tasting zucchini bread.  I love the lemony flavor!  I'm looking forward to making this one again!

Enjoy!

Family Game Night

We had a family game night at work the other night.  (I work in a toy store, remember?)    Of course, just as game night was about to begin, there was a HUGE downpour so we didn't have that many families attend.

I was in charge of a couple of games.  I was standing by the door and the first family that came into the store, came right over and we started playing a game.  We went through a round of Headbands (an OK game) then moved on to "5 Second Rule."  If you haven't played 5 Second Rule, you don't know what you are missing.  There is a timer and you have 5 seconds to answer the question.  Examples:  Name 3 Desserts.  If you can't name three, play goes to the next person.  The next person has 5 seconds to Name 3 Desserts but they can not say any that the first person said during their turn.  It can get pretty crazy.

Getting back to my story....a card is read for the daughter (she's 9 or 10).  Name 3 honeymoon destinations.

Beach
New York

She couldn't think of a third and the timer ran out and her brother decides to help her and blurts out:  "McDonald's!"  We all laughed and I told him that he might want to rethink that destination when he gets married.

The next card was read for the son.  Name 3 Holidays that you would send a Hallmark card.

Christmas
Birthday
President's Day

I teased him the rest of the night and told him that I expect a card for President's Day next year.

Does your family do a game night?  What's your favorite game to play as a family?

Pool Time

Finally a beautiful day here today so off to the pool we went.

We have had quite a bit of rain the last month.  I think June was the rainiest (that's a word, I think) month in Illinois.  It's hard to find a nice day (when I don't have to work) to go hang out at the pool.  It's either raining, cloudy and going to rain or it's sunny and I'm working.

So glad I got to spend some time outside catching some vitamin D rays.

How was your day?

So, Nick has been working full time. He has been great at saving his money. He saved up enough money so he could buy a car. Now, he is just saving money (probably for repairs).  

A few weeks ago he asked me for some money to buy RT a Fathers Day gift. Apparently he couldn't use any of his money on a gift. I didn't lend him any money and he gave RT one of the gifts that I bought him. 

The other day, Nick comes home with an XBox. He said he got a great deal on it (its used). Nick carried it up to his room. He was quite excited about it. 

Five minutes later he is downstairs and asking me about the small TV. (we got rid of it).   After hearing this, Nick is now out the door. 

Thirty minutes later, in walks Nick with a small TV. 

That's right. He didn't have any money to buy a gift for his Dad, but he was able to sprig for a TV for himself. 

At least there will be less fights over who gets to use the XBox. 

Sleepin' on the Couch

I've been fighting a cough for years the last two weeks.  It was so nice of RT to share it with me.  The cough doesn't have a scheduled time when it decides to inflict pain show up.  I just start coughing and can't stop.  It really enjoys night time.  That's when I get a good two hours of uninterrupted coughing until I finally fall asleep...only to wake up and have to make my way back to bed.  I get a good two hours of sleep in bed then wake up and start coughing again.

As you have probably guessed, my two hours of coughing is being done while trying to sleep on the couch.  It's not the most comfortable couch, but it's far enough away from the bedrooms so I can suffer alone.

Last night, as I made my way to my new bed the couch, Nick popped in and asked, "Why are you sleeping on the couch?"  My coughing fit didn't provide a good enough answer, so I explained how I was trying to let RT get some sleep.  He then told me to take some Vitamin C.  I thanked him for this help.  I didn't want to mention that I've taken so much Vitamin C in the last two weeks that I might look like I'm addicted to it.

As I was settling down, Alex pops in and says, "Why are you sleeping on the couch?"

Nothing gets by these kids.  Mom sleeping on the couch is big news in our house.  I'm sure it hit all of the major newspapers and was the top story on the news.

I've been doing shots of ACV (apple cider vinegar) (when I remember), Vitamin C, gargling with salt water and sucking on lozenges.

I'm praying the coughing ends soon.  I'm looking forward to a full night of sleep in my bed.

Until then, you can find me on the couch.