So, we get it, Old Man Winter…you’ve huffed and puffed and blown us all in, literally. There’s approximately a foot of snow encasing our home on all sides, which is sure to make us homebound (auto correct on my phone made us “homegirls”). Its too cold to enjoy!! I spent 30 minutes getting the girls ready, layer after layer and searching for the right clothes because you know there will be pictures taken. Addie was ready first, so she went out first. Lillian and I took another 15 minutes to get ready, and when we went out to play Addie was already done, pouting by the door, having decided not to share her pretty smile. Lillian took her glove off while I was arguing with Addie to smile for a picture, shoved her hand into the snow, and when the iciness started attacking her fingers taking no mercy on this new, naïve butterball of warmth, she shrieked. Both kids now crying and begging to go inside, I drag them back in. Will they remember all that I have done for them on this day when I am old and decrepit? No. They will remember and tell stories about the time I lost it and sent the milk cup flying because I was being treated like a maid (“Mom, you have a whole mess of things going on in the kitchen, are pressed for time, and a crying baby, but you STILL haven’t put milk in my empty cup. I told you three times!”). This is surely one of those momentss when taking a deep breath and remembering that God made these times to appreciate the exceptionally good days, is necessary.
Or just slam things around, and rip pizza rounds open to make for dinner…
A couple of nights ago I awoke in the chilly wee hours to find something crawling around in my bed, beginning to find me under the covers. A woodpecker! How did it find its way into my tightly secured-to-keep-the-cold-out house? My dreams! Two woodpeckers to be exact. Doug and I were at Creekmore Park, having a picnic and I spotted a woodpecker in the trees, and suddenly one under my blanket coming up like it was a groundhog. Doug didn’t notice my freaking out because he was yelling and becoming angry at my brother, who was far away teasing him by pretending he was gay, holding hands with a random dude. (What this would mean if I were to decode my dreams, I have absolutely no idea and I’m sure I don’t really want to know.)
What really happened? The woodpecker from my dreams under the covers was actually Addie, having awoken from a bad dream about a woodpecker! The woodpecker!! He’s everywhere, haunting us Erbs. I am afraid to show Lillian the pages with birds in her books, for this very reason now. Having a 4 year old in your bed is interesting. I am laying there, awake, for oh say another hour and a half afterwards. She’s tossing, turning, breathing out of her good nose hole. I have this awful taste in my mouth, I think it might be…yes, it is definitely cheez-its. When did I eat Cheez-its? GASP, Kestan!!!! She drank the rest of my bottle of Little Black Dress (which is very good by the way, in moderation) and ate cheez-its, having decided to go to bed without brushing her teeth, indubitably inducing deep sleep where my crazy dreams can find me. We are not on speaking terms.
I saw this commercial for BlackPeopleMeet.com. Segregation at its finest? Feeling like you can’t be a part of something only makes you want to lash back bigger and harder. I will start a RednecksDrinkAndMeet.com. It will mostly take place in the back end of someone’s woods around a bonfire. This person may or may not know their property is being used for such dating experiences. We do not discriminate against missing teeth, fingers, or overall knowledge of the use of the word “kilt” (some will argue this is from a movie they once saw where a funny looking ginger-like man wore a special skirt and nobody kicked their ass, and some will argue it means they “kilt” a turkey last hunting season, but not in time for Thanksgiving dinner). Men to women ratio will likely be 5:2, though most women will be sloshed twice as fast as the men, because the cooler will start leaking and in an effort to save the beer they will be drank shotgun while the ingenuity to rig it with duct tape is still being sought out.“I’m Pretty Good at Drinking Beer” will be played on repeat. It will be good times. ONLY if you are redneck, which is of course, a special breed of American. End story.
I can’t hear very well. Since being sick, I’ve had this pressure in my head that really just disrupts my hearing just a little. Loud noises, like putting away dishes, the clanking noise really pierces my ear and feels amplified because of my invisible layer…much like what I believe it would sound like inside a drum. I’m trying not to complain too much about this, because really it’s a big relief to just deal with this! Without the pressure and headache, and needle poking behind your eye feeling. The only downside, is I’m unsure how loud my mumbles are. A mumble is a mumble for a reason, my dear :D I could be plainly stating what I thought I was sassily saying to myself.” I was putting you in your place in my head, but you could hear me, and I didn’t mean for that to…” Mechhh. Cabin Fever, it’s a real thing!!!!
Because we can’t just run out to the store right now, I’ve had to make do with the stuff we have here. No big deal! I found a great homemade macaroni recipe, and it turned out great. Its no Paula Deen, which my SIL makes on special occasion dinners, but its pretty good:
Mac’N’Cheese
8 oz uncooked elbow macaroni
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
½ cup grated parmesean cheese
3 cups milk
¼ cup butter
2 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons butter
½ cup bread crumbs
1 pinch paprika
Cook macaroni according to the package directions. Drain. In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in enough flour to make a roux. Add milk to roux slowly, stirring constantly. Stir in cheeses, and cook over low heat untl cheese is melted and the sauce is a little thick. Put macaroni in large casserole dish, and pour sauce over macaroni. Stir well. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add breadcrumbs and brown. Spread over the macaroni and cheese to cover. Sprinkle with a little paprika. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 min. Serve. (I didn’t have the time, the butter, or the breadcrumbs to spare so I just made the macaroni and sauce, stirred that together well and served. Good stuff.)
I made it with Rachel Ray’s chicken tenders “everything” recipe, and peaches. Easy and great dinner, everyone ate quite well :)
This is "Daddy", hanging out on Lillian's crib...is this not as randomly funny as I think? I mean, if it was just there, and you didn't do it yourself and therefore didn't know...
The dog won’t go into the snow to do her business. So she pees on the steps and walks through it. Awesome!!
Keslyn
