Getting my life back, one scoop of dirt at a time.

Do you realize that I thrive on "dirt therapy"? I mean, I really like to dig, and plant and even weed.

Over the past few years our yard has become completely out of control. Too many injuries, too little time. We have also realized that fresh starts are more our style than maintenance. It has to do with our upbringing. Both of us.

This year Pat has developed a passion for taking back the landscaping. Last week he pulled out a bunch of bushes, weeds and other manner of detritus in the yard. We realized the shrubs he pulled out were hand-me-downs! Who ever heard of such a thing! They came from my parents’ house when they re-landscaped ten years ago and they just refused to die. They are gone!

Today the boys and I put in a nice bed of perennials. When Spencer and I were shopping, he was convinced I was buying too many plants. I assured him I had done this before and knew what I was doing.

I am thrilled with the result!

We have a winner!

Today Spencer competed in the championship round of the Geography Bee at school. He Won!!!

I am so proud of him. I am so geographically challenged that on more than one occasion he has had to give me directions. I am lucky to have him.

Congrats Spencer!

Busy weekend!

This weekend was probably the busiest weekend I have had in quite a long time.

Our church hired a new youth pastor over the summer. With new people come new ideas, new directions and new...paint! We spent the weekend transforming the youth area. It was quite an exciting project. The boys and I and one of Ian's friends went in on Friday afternoon to start. The room started out this color.

It ended up these colors!!



Yes, I know this looks quite scary and I must admit I was a bit sceptical when I saw the swatches, but it looks amazing! I will try to get a shot of the room. They completely rearranged everything and makes ME want to be in there!

After painting until 9pm on Friday, we came home and crashed. Then the boys and I got up and were downtown by 8:45 to walk.

As soon as we finished I headed back to the church to paint some more. Ian had his friend over to celebrate his birthday and then it was up early to sing this week at church.

Needless to say, I crashed for about an hour when I got home on Sunday afternoon.

Pat made it home safe and sound and now I am ready to start the week, although I really feel like I need a vacation instead!

Who's school project is this anyway?

Spencer is in the "structures" magnet at school. The highlight of the magnet is that they get to build (drumroll please...) a structure! Spencer originally wanted to build a Stuckey's model, but his teacher encouraged him to break new ground, so he decided that his newest love is diners.

Naturally, he decided to immortalize Rosie's Diner, a local establishment off US 131, Exit 101. (Now he is coaching me with directions as of course, I have no clue about exit numbers!) For those that are not local, Rosie's is the actual diner that the original Bounty paper towel commercials were filmed in and was moved to Michigan along with two other diners! If you would like to know more, you can check out their site HERE.

With the directions to use items currently found around the house, we discovered ourselves scrounging for boxes, shiny silver items and other supplies. I was pleased that the only item we needed to purchase for the entire project was in fact, silver spray paint.

I did my best to let it be Spencer's project and not mine, but boy it is hard! Ian helped as well with some creative input and much running around looking for supplies. Dad (wisely) was gone for most of the heavy project work!

Cooking class

Last Saturday I took a cooking class. It was fabulous! When I first saw the ad for the class, I was a bit bummed because it was for stocks and soups. Spencer doesn't like soup and I usually get stock from a can or box. (Since taking the class, using stock from a can or box seems like a sacrilege right now!)

I was amazed how much I learned. I wish I could post it all here! I think the funniest part was that what we made for stock was pretty much what I was serving for soup. Wow. Chef said that when you simmer for a while there should be no flavor left in the veggies, that you should strain out the veggies, throw them away and add in fresh veggies and the rest of your ingredients to make your soup. What a concept!

He also suggested making a big batch of stock and freezing it in containers to use in recipes later. That sure solves some problems too.

I am excited for the class next month!

pre-cooked veggies?

image courtesy of illiquid

We had corn on the cob for dinner. I set the pot of cooking water out on the porch after dinner so that it could cool and I could water some flowers with the water. Spencer and Ian were cleaning the kitchen when Spencer mysteriously disappeared!

When he came in I asked him where he had been. He matter of factly told me that he had watered the Z-bed with the corn water.

It was still hot!

We all got a laugh out of pre-cooking the veggies while they are still out in the garden!