The Road Ahead

She closed the door and glanced over at the pile of items sitting on the passenger seat beside her.  A jumble of thirteen years worth of memories.  Gripping the steering wheel tightly in both hands, she rested her forehead between them and pondered the step that had just been taken. 

She had been running on auto-pilot most of the day.  Going through the usual motions and duties associated with her job.  And now that her shift was at an end, she had time to finally process it.  She was gainfully unemployed for the first time in many years.  By choice.  And the concept was both terrifying and exhilarating, all at once. 

One moment her heart sank to the very pit of her stomach, weighed down with fear and uncertainty.  "What if this was all a big mistake?", she thought.  The implications of this change in her life swept up and over her, making her feel overwhelmed.

But in the very next moment she soared, lightened of the burden of the responsibilities and stress of the past years of employment.  She had an endless expanse of possibilities out in front of her.  There were new things to try, and new memories to make.

She smiled to herself as she put the car into gear and pulled out onto the road.  Knowing that change is never easy, but nothing can happen without it.

NOT A Hard Boiled Egg

Perhaps someone did it on purpose because they thought it would be funny. 

Or maybe the carton currently being filled was topped out and someone was just too lazy to get out another one, so they just found the first carton with an empty space and use it. 

Maybe someone just didn't care which was the freshest, currently being filled carton and just grabbed one and stuck an egg into it. 

Whatever the circumstances were, they led to this.

This morning, I pulled out my stash of hard boiled eggs to shell a couple of them for my breakfast.  The first one cracked as usual and peeled easily.  The second cracked easily - and began to seep raw egg all over my fingers and the napkin I was peeling over.  That was NOT a hard boiled egg. 

To say the least - it took me by surprise.  To be more accurate, I was frustrated and annoyed due to a) the waste of a perfectly good egg, and b) having to clean up the mess. 

A Little Privacy, Please

This morning I went to see how generous The Girls were feeling (aka: check for eggs).  This is what I found when I opened the nesting box:

The Girls have a total of three nesting boxes available to them.  Which should be more than a sufficient number for 6 chickens according to all the research The Man of the House did before building the hen house.  And the other two boxes were both completely empty at the time.

So, why in the world these two hens felt the need to crowd into one box at the same time is completely a mystery to me.  Apparently they are not familiar with the concept of personal space. 

Who Threw Away The Opossum?

Yesterday morning, the Man of the House noticed something was amiss in the garage.  The recycling bins were a bit askew.  And the lid was off one of the big trash bins.  Which appeared to have no bag in it.  Although he knew he had put fresh bags in after his last trip to the recycling center.  Odd...

Perhaps the bag slipped off and was down inside the can.  He took a look-see.  Yep, there it was.  Along with another little surprise.

A opossum had somehow gotten down into the trashcan!  And was now trapped there.  Best guess is that it was messing around the recycling and trash, found the lid loose or off, and in the process of investigating the bin, fell inside only to be trapped by the high walls.  Who knows how long it had been there?  I personally am amazed that it didn't raise enough of a fuss to alert us that something was messing with the trash! 

Now, how to get it out??  The Man of the House dragged the trash bin out into the back yard, stood behind it and tipped it over.  We figured the ugly little marsupial would make a dash as soon as possible.  Wrong!  It stayed tucked inside the trash can.  Until The Man of the House picked up the bottom and dumped it out onto the grass.

At this point it did finally attempt to make a mad dash - right back toward the garage!  The Man of the House had to place himself between the beastie and the garage door and shoo it away from the house.  And all the while I am having fleeting images of him being attacked by this creature and ending up needing rabies treatments.

Fortunately when it realized the human male was in the way, it changed course and waddled off down the yard and into the ditch by the road.  Hopefully never to be seen again.

Although it has left me wondering - Are opossums recyclable?

Make That 6 Things

Six things I would really, really like to find.  I thought of something to add to the list:

1) A pair of jeans that fit
2) Underwear that fit.
3) A good (and simple) bread recipe
4) Time to sit down and really get lost in a book
5) Scissors that run on some sort of motor

AND...

6) A really good peanut butter substitute! 

Ever since discovering the potential allergy, all things peanutty have been off limits.  Now, it's bad enough I can't have even a Reese's cup, or fries from certain places because they are cooked in peanut oil.  But y'all... I miss my peanut butter sandwiches most of all!  (yes - I said "y'all".  I live in the south, get past it) 

Those stick to the roof of your mouth tasties have been a big part of my personal diet since my elementary school days when they made regular appearances in my lunchbox.  (Holly Hobby if you must know)  And some days not even coffee could get my day started the way a piece of peanut butter toast could.  Now, there are some days I just crave a good peace of peanut butter toast, or a peanut butter sandwich.  Not just in a "man, I sure would like a peanut butter and banana sandwich".  But more like in a - it's all I can think about, I want one so badly I can actually almost taste it - sort of way.  I miss a good pb&j so, so much.  It's just sad.

The Man of the House keeps pointing out products such as soy butter and almond butter to me.  But honestly, I'm just scared.  I don't want to purchase a jar of something to replace my peanut butter and find it's actually a jar of crap.  I don't like crap.  And I'm pretty sure a c&j sandwich would not do it for me. 

So, if anyone out there with a peanut allergy, or a peanut allergy stricken loved one, has a suggestion to share of a delicious peanut butter substitute that will actually trick my taste buds into believing I am enjoying my much missed peanut butter - please, Please, PLEASE let me know!

5 Things I Would Like To Find

I've been thinking about some things I would really, really use; and I have chosen to compile a list of those in order to share them all with you.  (because I know you are just so darn interested in such things)

1)  Jeans that fit.  I mean really fit.  Not - fit for the first hour you put them on after washing, but then get all loose in the waist and baggy in the butt.  Not - fit just fine, if you can get through that hour of not being able to breathe deeply when you first put them on after washing.  Not - fit in the hips and thighs, but are a little big in the waist - or tight in the waist.  Or fit in the waist but are a little tight around the thighs.  And most definitely NOT sit so low my crack peeks over the waistband, or sit up under my boobs like an old lady nerd! Oh... and I also do not want to spend a fortune for these jeans.

2)  Underwear that fit correctly. Without sliding down my hips so I have to find some way to discreetly pull them up.  Or slide up into the unmentionable places so I have to find some discreet way to pull them out.  This would also include finding a bra which fits well - keeping the ladies at a comfortable height and position without cutting off circulation to my torso  or leaving dents in my shoulders.

**and yes,seeing it written out like that worries me that perhaps the lower part of my body is oddly sized or shaped - but that is perhaps fodder for another post in the future**

3)  A good (and simple) bread recipe.  Like one of those 5 minute prep deals.  One that doesn't take hours and hours to prepare, or the arm strength of a Scandinavian wrestler to knead as required.

4)  Time to sit down and really get lost in a good book.  A whole afternoon would be nice.  Or even just a few hours.  No interruptions.  Not right at bedtime as I'm falling asleep like usual.  Maybe somewhere warm and sunny (but in the shade).  Just me, a book, and some peace and quiet.  Of course, if I had this time I would probably just end up using it for one of the other many things I wish I had time for as stated in my recent post: Not Enough Hours

5)  Scissors run by some sort of motor.  Seriously... I think I am getting carpal tunnel from these darn pinking shears!

I don't really think I'm asking too much here.  Just a few simple things that would make my life just that much easier and more comfortable.

What is something YOU would really like to find?

Until We Meet Again

Oh my.  Oh my GOODNESS!!

If you read my blog with anything resembling a regular basis you already know I have a fondness weakness obsession with all things jellybean.  If you are not aware of this, you can catch up by reading My Favorite Addiction.

Now, just as Easter was winding up - I discovered a new delight:  Spree Jellybeans!

Yes, chewy Sprees in jellybean form.  On one hand - I bemoan that I discovered them Easter weekend and now must wait an entire year before I can get more.  On the other hand - it's probably a good thing I discovered them Easter weekend and now have to wait an entire year to get more.

He's Too Clever for My Own Good!

The Little Man has some money he earned, burning a hole in his pocket.  Which is why I knew what he was aiming at when he was following me around like a puppy this morning and asked what my plans were for the day.  He wanted someone to take him to the store to pick up that new video game he is drooling over.  However, going out to the store was not high on my list of things I wanted to do on my day off.  Which I explained as I told him I had a lot of things I needed to get done around the house today.

As I finished up a post for my other blog, checked my email, did some exchanging of titles at the digital library and headed to fold some laundry - I was stopped in my tracks.  By the sight of the Little Man in the kitchen, doing the dishes.  Without being asked or told.  He was even washing the roasting pan by hand.

Now, I have to pause at this point and tell you (in case you are not already aware) - I am a list maker.  So when I refer to my daily To Do list, this is not figurative.  There is literally a small spiral notebook in which I make my daily list of things I hope to get accomplished before my head hits the pillow that night.  This list sits out in clear view of anyone who cares to look at it.

In his vast wisdom, the Little Man saw this list and has taken it upon himself to get some of those items marked off; shortening the list to a point where I will agree to give him a ride to the store and enable him to spend his money. 

He is also smart enough to do the job well.  And not to bribe me with doing the chores on the list IF I will take him.  Nope, he has silently set about completing some of those tasks.  Besides taking care of the dishes (including wiping down the counters and sweeping the floor!); he has now taken care of the daily recycling, and vacuumed the living room floor.  And left me completely flabbergasted!

I suppose this means a trip to the video game store is now added to my To Do list for the afternoon.

That's what I get for having smart kids.

Not Enough Hours

Let's face it - there just aren't enough hours in the day.  I personally could use at least 28 hours; but I also feel pretty sure even that wouldn't be enough.  There is just not enough time for all the things I need to do, and the things I want to do. 

Right now is a prime example. I need to straighten up the room I am sitting in right now and make the guest bed up for an overnight visit from my mother.  Instead I am sitting here blogging about how I should be doing that rather than actually doing it.  Need vs Want.  I need to clean. I want to write.

I need to clean the bathrooms.  I want to read.

I need to do laundry.  I want to paint my toenails.

I need to vacuum.  I want to google new recipes and crochet patterns.

I need to crochet.  OK.. that doesn't really fit because I kind of want to do that also.

It really doesn't seem fair that I should have to chose.  If I just had a few more hours in the day, I think I could get everything completed that I need to do and still have time for the want to's.  I could have clean dishes and an afternoon nap.  Imagine it.  Just...  imagine... 

But until the time when The Powers That Be decide to extend the day by several hours; giving all of us a little more time - all I can do is get as much finished on the To Do list as possible and hope I have a little time for the Want To Do list left over at the end of the day.

Busy Saturday = Lazy Sunday

Saturday was a busy one. One of those Saturdays for getting chores done and things accomplished. It didn't start out that way. I was pretty lazy for most of the morning. Enjoying some coffee, some time with the grandkid, some doing nothing. Then I got to work.


I laundered the sheets and remade the bed.

I several loads of laundry - hung on the line to dry out in the fresh air and sunshine.

I cleaned up the kitchen.

I rinsed down the chicken house and helped The Man of the House move it to a new location. Also cleaned out their water and food dispensers, and refilled them.

I weeded out the flower bed.

I considered transplanting the Irises growing next to the garage to somewhere they will be more visible.

I have straightened and reorganized the pantry and storage closet.

I cleaned the main bathroom.

Yep, it was a pretty productive day.  I even folded all that laundry (which is the worst part of any laundry day in my opinion), considered our veggie planting options, and started a list of things I want to get done around here this spring/summer. 

Which leads us to Sunday, which was the exact opposite.  It started out looking productive.  Church and a trip to Home Depot to buy some plants (a 50% off!).  That was about it.  The rest of my day was spent catching up on DVR'd shows and reading.  Lazy Sunday.