Something I Miss

The end of the school year is right around the corner.  We just got a list  huge packet  with all of the fun things happening in the next two months for seniors (Alex is a senior in High School).  I have been reading through the packet and checking things off the list.  Signing permission forms.  Marking dates and putting reminders on the calendar.  It's all very exciting to see the fun things that they will be doing these next two months.

But...then...  I realize he will graduate High School in May.   And, all of the Mom feelings bubble up.

I miss the hugs and cuddles.

I miss holding him and carrying him around.

I miss his chubby little hands.

I miss his head of curly hair (although, sometimes he lets it grow out).

I just want a Groundhog Day moment where I can go back in time and do it all over again.

But, I can't.


Yes.  I have one who is older.  I felt the same way when he graduated.

Vegan Diaries - Cauliflower Fried Rice

It's been awhile since I've posted a recipe.  I haven't totally committed to being vegan, but, I do try to avoid dairy and eggs whenever possible.

I had a head of cauliflower and I wanted to try a new recipe.  I found a Cauliflower Fried Rice recipe and thought I would give it a try.  We like fried rice.  All that's different is substituting the cauliflower for the rice.  Great for people trying to avoid too much rice/starch. 

The recipe is (A LOT) easier to make than regular fried rice.  I feel like I didn't dirty as many pots and pans.  I substituted a little rice vinegar and I think that helped take out the bite (tang?) that cauliflower has when cooked.  

Here's the recipe:

Cauliflower Fried Rice

ingredients:

vegetable oil

1 head cauliflower

1 TBSP grated ginger

1 cup chopped green onions

1 cup green peas

1 cup corn

1 cup carrots, finely chopped

1 TBSP rice vinegar

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 

soy sauce (to taste)

3 eggs, scrambled, cooked, chopped (optional)

tofu  browned, cut in small cubes  (optional)

directions:

Cut out stem and remove leaves from cauliflower.  Cut Cauliflower into small pieces and place in food processor.  Pulse until resembles rice.  You might want to do this in several steps to make sure all of the cauliflower gets chopped up.

Heat 2 TBSP of oil in large skillet on medium heat.  Add onions, garlic and ginger and carrots.  Cook until softened.  Add cauliflower, 3-4 TBSP soy sauce and rice vinegar and let cook.  I put the lid on the pan and let it cook for a little (10 minutes).  Check and stir often so doesn't stick.   Add peas and corn.*  Also, time to add egg or tofu.  Cook for another 10 minutes.

Once thoroughly cooked, season to taste**   

*If using frozen peas and corn, this step might take a little longer.  You will have to check the mixture and make sure that the peas and corn are heated through. 

*Might want to add a tad more rice vinegar or soy sauce at this point.  

What's great about this recipe is that you can throw different vegetables in depending on what's in your refrigerator.  Broccoli, mushrooms, spinach or onion.  You get the picture.

International Women's Day

First celebrated in the US in 1911.

I'm glad women persisted.  We now have the right to vote.  We can hold any job we want, we can get an education and work in any field we choose.  We have property rights, reproductive rights and the right to work for equal pay.

Unfortunately, there are some countries where women do not have all of these rights.  They are not able to get an education,  married before they turn 18, some are killed because they are perceived to bring shame to their family.  The list goes on and on.

We have come so far as women.  It's hard to believe what we have done.  It's also hard to believe how much more work has to be done.

The theme this year is #pressforprogress .

How will you #pressforprogress?

Maintain a gender parity mindset?
challenge stereotypes and bias?
forge positive visibility of women?
influence other's beliefs and actions?
celebrate women's achievements?

taken from Internationalwomensday.com *

 Let's see what we can do this year to improve women's rights throughout the world.

*need some more info?  check out this link

My Weird Dog

Springtime brings lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of rain.  Because of the tremendous amount of rain, our yard (sometimes) floods.  If it's not flooded, then it's REALLY muddy.

On wet, rainy days, we can't let Pippen out in the yard for long periods of time.  I'm sure I've mentioned his psychotic behavior  territory issues.  Pippen is afraid another dog will walk by and take over our yard.  He acts like a mad dog  runs back and forth trying to bite the dog walking by  along the fence barking.

We are quite well known in the area.  Yes.  The neighbors (and neighborhood) just love us.  Sometimes, in order to give us privacy, they go out of their way to avoid walking by our fence  and ferocious beast .  Most people walk their dogs on rainy days.  This means there's ample opportunity for Pippen to get some exercise and terrorize the neighbors run around the yard and get muddy.  So, we try to limit his time in the yard.

This morning it was raining when I let Pippen outside.  I wasn't planning on having him out for very long.  Apparently, due to the rain, Pippen decided his time outside was going to be cut short because he didn't want to get wet.  I knew he had to visit the yard so I tried shooing him off the deck.  I tried telling him to go and do his business.  He wasn't interested.  I ended up taking my socks off and walking outside in the cold rain and having him follow me down the stairs to the patio.  He finally decided to go and do that thing he does when outside.

I think he figured if he had to suffer in the cold rain, then I had to suffer along with him.

We will be setting up a Go-Fund Me page for Pippen so we can purchase booties, raincoat and an umbrella for his outdoor excursions in spring-like weather.

Advice my Parents gave me that stuck

When I first started driving, (obviously) my parents told me to be careful.  I think all parents say that to their children .  Especially the new drivers taking the car out by themselves for the first few hundred times.

The one thing my parents told me (way back when) that has stayed with me is:  Drive very carefully when someone else is in the car.  When you are by yourself, you can do whatever you want.

So, in other words, when someone else (one of my parents) is in my car, I have to be very careful when driving.  If I'm by myself, I can drive around like a maniac.

To this day, I remember those words.  I'm very careful with the kids in my car, or another passenger.  But, when I'm on my own, Look out!  I'm all over the road.  Taking chances.  That crazy driver that tried to run you off the road?  That was me.  Driving by myself.  Hey!  My parents told me I could drive crazy when driving alone.  That could be my plea, right?

Famous Birthdays

Did you ever search your birthday to find out what famous person shares your special day?

I know people who share their birthday with singers, actors, presidents, Nobel Prize winners, famous inventors, etc.

My brother shares his day with Dr. Seuss.

Alex shares his birthday with Albert Einstein.

RT shares his day with Shaquille O'Neal.

And then, there's me.....

Yea.  Go ahead.  Search my birthday.  It's today.  March 4.  And tell me how many people you recognize.

None, right?

It kind of goes along with finding your name on one of those keychains.  I never find my name on those things.  People tell you that you are special if your name doesn't appear on a keychain.

Maybe everyone that is born on this day gets to share their special day with me.  Yea.  That's the reason.  I'm the special person today!

Go ahead and have a piece of cake today to celebrate my birthday.

TV

We have an older television that we use.  This television was given to us.  The previous owners used it quite a bit.  I guess it really isn't that old, it's a lot newer than the one we have in the basement.  I think it's because it was used a lot more.

Anyway....

Lately, we have been having some slight problems with the TV.  If you turn it on, it takes a good 3-5 minutes for the TV to be completely on and ready to go.  It goes through several minutes of where the TV turns on, but its a black screen.  The TV shuts off, turns back on and the screen is yellow and fuzzy.  Turns off and back on to a green fuzzy screen and a REALLY LOUD screeching sound (that's always pleasant).  You get the idea.

By the way, it doesn't matter where we put the volume before we turn off the TV.  When it gets to that screeching sound, it's at maximum volume.  I think Pippen has gotten used to it.

We don't watch a lot of TV, but, when we do, we have to add in a good five minutes just to get the TV warmed up.