Honey, if there ever was a time to NOT read a post, this is it! Take advantage of your free time and do something fun (and not read this post!)
I mean it! Leave now!
Ok....you were warned.
For those of you who have stuck around, I'm assuming you can relate to the title. Maybe there is a blanket hog in your life? You know, that person that steals the covers. The one that grabs hold of the covers and pulls them with him/her as they roll over. The one that gets into bed and creates a "seal" that can't be broken. That's when you tighten up the covers all around you, not caring if the person you are sharing a bed with ends up with 6 inches of blanket for themselves.
Maybe you are the blanket hog?
The dictionary definition of blanket hog:
blanket hog: n. a person who steals the blankets while you are sleeping.
I have to confess. I live with a blanket hog. I have to say, I'm good about the situation. I usually wake up in the middle of the night tossing covers off because my body temperature has reached 146 degrees. So, I don't complain too much. It's just those times when I wake up and I feel a little chill. I try to pull the covers over myself and realize that I am left with a half inch of blanket to try and cover my entire body.
Believe me, it doesn't work.
If I pull at the covers a little, the "blanket hog" sometimes gives in and lets me have a couple more inches of blanket.
I try to make do with what blanket amount that has been so kindly bestowed upon me. Sometimes, if I'm lucky, I am able to fall back asleep.
I had to get that out.
Wow. I feel so much better! It's like a load has been lifted from me. I feel so light. So relaxed. A little tired. Yawn. Sleepy.
I think I'll try to be the first one to bed tonight.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Vegetarian Diaries - Mediterranean Shells
Haven't done an edition of Vegetarian Diaries in awhile.
I'm still hanging in there as a vegetarian. Some days it's difficult when trying to find something quick to eat. I'm not a fast food person (never have been) so I can't just run out and grab something quick. Making meals from scratch is a lot better for you. They call it "slow food." It takes awhile to make and it's better for you.
RT has been good about my decision. He has been encouraging and is a great cheerleader. It does get frustrating. When you can't find something as quickly to eat or you are trying to be creative at a restaurant or the restaurant to eat at is based on what you can/will eat.
Luckily I enjoy cooking. Some recipes I have been making for many years and I can continue to make and eat them now.
Here's one that I would like to share. This is a spin on the spanakopita I made here. It has the same flavors and some of the same ingredients, but you use pasta shells.
Here's the recipe.
Unfortunately, I do not remember where I found this recipe.
24 jumbo shells (about 2/3 of a 12oz package)
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 medium size onion, chopped
1 10 oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 8 oz package of feta cheese, crumbled
1 8 oz package of ricotta cheese
2 Tablespoons of chopped fresh dill
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 large eggs
8 oz package of spinach (or vegetable) soup mix
About 45 minutes before serving:
Prepare jumbo shells as directed, but do not use salt in the water.
In pan heat olive oil and cook onion until tender. Remove from heat, stir in spinach, feta cheese, ricotta cheese, chopped dill, pepper and eggs.
Preheat oven to 375F
Drain shells, rinse with cold water and drain.
Fill each shell with 1 rounded tablespoon of spinach/cheese mixture.
Pour soup into a casserole dish and arrange shells in the sauce.
Cover and bake for 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
6 main dish Servings *
*there are 5 of us and we still have leftovers. And two of those eaters eat more than the normal person.
Let me know if you try the recipe.
I'm still hanging in there as a vegetarian. Some days it's difficult when trying to find something quick to eat. I'm not a fast food person (never have been) so I can't just run out and grab something quick. Making meals from scratch is a lot better for you. They call it "slow food." It takes awhile to make and it's better for you.
RT has been good about my decision. He has been encouraging and is a great cheerleader. It does get frustrating. When you can't find something as quickly to eat or you are trying to be creative at a restaurant or the restaurant to eat at is based on what you can/will eat.
Luckily I enjoy cooking. Some recipes I have been making for many years and I can continue to make and eat them now.
Here's one that I would like to share. This is a spin on the spanakopita I made here. It has the same flavors and some of the same ingredients, but you use pasta shells.
Mixing the spinach and feta cheese together
stuffing the mixture into pasta shells
Delicious!
Here's the recipe.
Unfortunately, I do not remember where I found this recipe.
Mediterranean Shells
24 jumbo shells (about 2/3 of a 12oz package)
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 medium size onion, chopped
1 10 oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 8 oz package of feta cheese, crumbled
1 8 oz package of ricotta cheese
2 Tablespoons of chopped fresh dill
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 large eggs
8 oz package of spinach (or vegetable) soup mix
About 45 minutes before serving:
Prepare jumbo shells as directed, but do not use salt in the water.
In pan heat olive oil and cook onion until tender. Remove from heat, stir in spinach, feta cheese, ricotta cheese, chopped dill, pepper and eggs.
Preheat oven to 375F
Drain shells, rinse with cold water and drain.
Fill each shell with 1 rounded tablespoon of spinach/cheese mixture.
Pour soup into a casserole dish and arrange shells in the sauce.
Cover and bake for 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
6 main dish Servings *
*there are 5 of us and we still have leftovers. And two of those eaters eat more than the normal person.
Let me know if you try the recipe.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Are you an art lover?
I found this great website called art-city.org . I have been checking in on the site every once in awhile to see what's new. Art-city.org has some great information about local artists and art in various cities. The site is still in the beginning stages so they do not have every city yet.
Art-city.org is a great site to check when visiting another city to find the local art scene. Some cities have art displayed on the sides of buildings , others have galleries, art museums or local art festivals to visit.
Do you like looking looking at everyday things and finding the beauty in them?
Do you like looking at and studying paintings or sculptures?
Art-city.org is looking for contributors. If you know anything about art, if you are an artist or maybe you want to write about the art in your town, check in on the website, art-city.org and click on the "Get Involved" tab.
Art-city.org is a great site to check when visiting another city to find the local art scene. Some cities have art displayed on the sides of buildings , others have galleries, art museums or local art festivals to visit.
Do you like looking looking at everyday things and finding the beauty in them?
Do you like looking at and studying paintings or sculptures?
Art-city.org is looking for contributors. If you know anything about art, if you are an artist or maybe you want to write about the art in your town, check in on the website, art-city.org and click on the "Get Involved" tab.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
"Turn on the heat"
We have been having problems with our furnace. We had someone come out to fix it, and after a huge amount of money was handed over, it was working. For about an hour. RT got it up and running again. Right before bed it seemed a bit breezy in our house. Turns out it wasn't working again. RT to the rescue again. I woke up at my time (4am) to get some water (I'm fighting a cold) and realized it was breezy again. RT ended up calling the company and letting them know whatever they did to our furnace, did not work.
A service technician was scheduled to come out to our house between 4-6pm (yea, a little wait). Our house was rather chilly. I thought it was freezing, but, I have a cold and have the chills anyway.
The chill in the air reminded me of a line from the Three Stooges. Yes, I'm a Three Stooges fan. It's from my favorite episode, "Uncivil Warriors."
Curly (who is a Major) is telling the "Colonel" a joke.
Curly: There were three men and three beds, only had two blankets, how did they keep warm?
Colonel: I don't know Major, how did they?
Curly: They turned on the heat! Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.
That seemed like the logical thing to do today, but, it wasn't possible in our house.
I did get a laugh out of it and watched the episode to laugh some more.
Take a look for yourself:
Why are Curly's clothes always to tight and short? It cracks me up.
The service tech (finally) came out. Before he left, he said the furnace was fixed and we shouldn't have any more trouble.
It didn't last too long. Maybe an hour? I think RT figured out the problem and I am keeping my fingers crossed that we don't have anymore trouble.
If we do, I can keep my sense of humor and watch some more Three Stooges episodes.
A service technician was scheduled to come out to our house between 4-6pm (yea, a little wait). Our house was rather chilly. I thought it was freezing, but, I have a cold and have the chills anyway.
The chill in the air reminded me of a line from the Three Stooges. Yes, I'm a Three Stooges fan. It's from my favorite episode, "Uncivil Warriors."
Curly (who is a Major) is telling the "Colonel" a joke.
Curly: There were three men and three beds, only had two blankets, how did they keep warm?
Colonel: I don't know Major, how did they?
Curly: They turned on the heat! Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.
That seemed like the logical thing to do today, but, it wasn't possible in our house.
I did get a laugh out of it and watched the episode to laugh some more.
Take a look for yourself:
Why are Curly's clothes always to tight and short? It cracks me up.
The service tech (finally) came out. Before he left, he said the furnace was fixed and we shouldn't have any more trouble.
It didn't last too long. Maybe an hour? I think RT figured out the problem and I am keeping my fingers crossed that we don't have anymore trouble.
If we do, I can keep my sense of humor and watch some more Three Stooges episodes.
Get out there and Vote!
We are given the opportunity to exercise our voting rights.
We have the power to put (or not put) a person in office.
We have the power to vote for or against proposed ammendments.
We are given this power at the age of 18 years old.
This is not something we should take lightly.
This is something that we as citizens should do to make our country better.
Your vote counts.
Get out and vote!
We have the power to put (or not put) a person in office.
We have the power to vote for or against proposed ammendments.
We are given this power at the age of 18 years old.
This is not something we should take lightly.
This is something that we as citizens should do to make our country better.
Your vote counts.
Get out and vote!
Pay it Forward
A neighbor asked for my help.
Her aunt has been driving her son to and from preschool. My neighbor (and her husband) is a teacher in a different school district so her boys are at an in-home daycare in the neighborhood. Her aunt planned a vacation, so a driver was needed.
Here I am. The driver.
We weren't sure if the boy (I'm not going to give out his name) would go with me, so we set up a little play time (here) so he could get comfortable. I don't think he needed it. He just fell right in, started playing with legos, made something and was trying to give me a shot. (like a doctor)
I went to pick him up today at the sitter, worried that he might decide he doesn't want to go. I found him waiting patiently at the front door. I was told he had been waiting for about 20 minutes. (I arrived early, too) He hopped in the car, buckled himself in the car seat and we were off. It's about a 5 minute drive (depending on the traffic light) getting us there 5 minutes early. On the way there, and while waiting in line, the boy gave me a run down of what and what not to do for drop off and pick up. We will be bringing his brother on Thursday and I was given specific instructions from him on what to do and where to go. (I was also given the information from his mom, too) The boy's information was much more specific. Especially the part about how his aunt is always behind the line at pickup time (I was told she was the 3rd or 4th car in line).
We talked about the school pick up/drop off procedures, where to park, the playground, sand vs. wood chips and recess time.
I'm not getting paid (money) for my driving skills. I am getting paid in life lessons from a preschooler. What could be more precious and valuable than that?
Her aunt has been driving her son to and from preschool. My neighbor (and her husband) is a teacher in a different school district so her boys are at an in-home daycare in the neighborhood. Her aunt planned a vacation, so a driver was needed.
Here I am. The driver.
We weren't sure if the boy (I'm not going to give out his name) would go with me, so we set up a little play time (here) so he could get comfortable. I don't think he needed it. He just fell right in, started playing with legos, made something and was trying to give me a shot. (like a doctor)
I went to pick him up today at the sitter, worried that he might decide he doesn't want to go. I found him waiting patiently at the front door. I was told he had been waiting for about 20 minutes. (I arrived early, too) He hopped in the car, buckled himself in the car seat and we were off. It's about a 5 minute drive (depending on the traffic light) getting us there 5 minutes early. On the way there, and while waiting in line, the boy gave me a run down of what and what not to do for drop off and pick up. We will be bringing his brother on Thursday and I was given specific instructions from him on what to do and where to go. (I was also given the information from his mom, too) The boy's information was much more specific. Especially the part about how his aunt is always behind the line at pickup time (I was told she was the 3rd or 4th car in line).
We talked about the school pick up/drop off procedures, where to park, the playground, sand vs. wood chips and recess time.
I'm not getting paid (money) for my driving skills. I am getting paid in life lessons from a preschooler. What could be more precious and valuable than that?
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Danada Equestrian Center - Hayride and Bonfire
Our Daisy troop planned a little field trip to the Danada Equestrian Center for a Hayride and a Bonfire. It was a family event and we had good weather and a great turnout.
Bella and I sat in front by the horses on the hayride. Everyone was going towards the back, I thought it would be fun to sit up front and get a good view of the horses and the area around us.
The hayride at the Danada Equestrian Center was definitely a wonderful field trip for our Daisy troop. They do offer sleigh rides in the winter (I don't think you have to have a group of people if you go on the weekends). That might just be something Bella and I might have to look into this year.
Bella and I sat in front by the horses on the hayride. Everyone was going towards the back, I thought it would be fun to sit up front and get a good view of the horses and the area around us.
yea, nice view of the back of a horse :)
We learned that the horses are not pulling the cart, they are pushing it
I would have to say my favorite picture with my favorite little girl
(and, I took this one)
Trail picture, the horse is included so you get the feel of the hayride
looks like this one could be a painting
Bella on the hayride
The horse on the left was a little gassy
unfortunately, Bella was downwind
my artsy picture
taken while we were moving
Bella wasn't sure it would turn out. I like it
What do you think?
our troop after our hayride
warming up by our bonfire
We had beautiful weather. It was so clear. A little cold, but, the bonfire helped warm us all up. We made S'Mores. Some families brought hot dogs to cook over the fire. Somehow Bella managed to sweet talk someone (family) out of a hot dog (that's my girl). The hayride at the Danada Equestrian Center was definitely a wonderful field trip for our Daisy troop. They do offer sleigh rides in the winter (I don't think you have to have a group of people if you go on the weekends). That might just be something Bella and I might have to look into this year.
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