Thursday, June 07, 2012

Like a ball of yarn.....unravelling

Ask any military wife and they will tell you that when their husbands are gone, something always breaks, falls apart or goes wrong.
It's not made up, it's not something we imagine, I think it's probably written in the cosmos.  When hubby deploys, things will act up to really test you.
And you know when those days are going to happen because it starts off small, like picking up a little corner of a ball of yarn and then slowly pulling, watching it start to unravel.

unravelling yarn

Not all in a big WOOSH, but little at a time, to make you really savor the moment LOL

So it was yesterday.

But before I tell you anything, why don't you come on in, I will make you some coffee or tea, whichever you prefer and I can even whip up some of those yummy Cinnamon Bun Pancakes I shared just below in the Cooking Thursday post.

I tried to put off mowing for a bit because it's not something I usually do due to my allergies.  Usually the hubster gets out there in the heat and sweats up a storm and whips that backyard into shape in no time.

I'm usually inside, looking through the back door, smiling, hoping to make him feel better just by having my presence nearby.  I'm such a meanie like that aren't I?

And then come days like yesterday where I can't let it go any longer, the grass is getting tall and I don't want to lose one of the pugs in that jungle cause you see, they are like our babies and I think my husband would kill me if I lost one of them.  Ha!

I get out there and I do the whole prime thing, you know, push the button in 3 times and then hold down the thingamabob on top and pull on that wire thingamajig really hard, which is a pain in the shoulder for me because I injured it many many years ago and still bothers me daily.  And wouldn't you know it, the darn mower didn't start????

It took me about 20 minutes to get it going, but by golly I did it, it started up and I began mowing.

Freshly mowed grass

Hey this isn't so bad.

Until I ran over a rock (which for some reason these yards here on base are full of), that thing shot up like a bat out of hell and whacked me on the shin.  So now I have a sore arm and I'm limping, I must have been quite the spectacle out there.

About 90% of the yard was mowed and then.  It dies.  The mower just stops.  Out of gas.  You have got to be kidding me.  I can't just leave that patch there.  So I pull out the weed whacker LOL  So now I'm mowing with a weed whacker in hand which by the way, died on me after 2 minutes, so I had to recharge it before I could finish the yard.

Before walking into the house though, I heard a chirping coming from the veggie garden, when I went to check I find a tiny baby bird who somehow managed to climb into my covered raised beds and couldn't get out, so I figured I would help him and went over to try but next thing I knew I am hearing a huge commotion with birds and chirping and flapping wings and look up to see 3 birds right on my face flapping wildly.

I kind of did a drop and roll thing on the grass.  I may have been waving my arms above my head and yelling out "Stop, darnit I was just trying to help"......I MAY have....not sure, it happened so fast.  Then did a semi crawl onto my knees and ran into the house, where I proceeded to stand there with my hands on my hips for 5 minutes while my kids laughed so hard they cried. 

I am so embarrassed to admit these things because I may have given a neighbor the best show yesterday morning LOL

Anyway.  I was hoping that would have been the end of the weird day for me, but it just got weirder as it went LOL

Truck

This is my husband's truck, which I drive. Remember he took my nice sporty car because it's more reliable for long trips.

Anyway, this truck is old folks, it's a 1998, still runs great but is slowly starting to fall apart.

The side panel on the driver seat has fallen off, the plastic thingy that holds the screw in broke so it just dangles there, which makes it weird when you're trying to drive and suddenly the seat is way up high and you can't reach the pedals and your knees are kind bent.

Story of my life.

Anyway, because the panel came off, it's draining the battery. Hubby is away and I had to fix it myself, so I finally thought of using a piece of hard cardboard, I cut a circle big enough to squeeze in the plastic panel, screwed the screw into that and then into the seat. PERFECT!

Until yesterday morning when the kids and I ran to the commissary and Jasmine decided to climb over my seat to get out and put her feet on the panel and knocked it right back out. *sigh*

So I spent another hour in the triple digit sun fixing the panel again.

Then came inside and went to take the dogs out, only to see a huge line of ants coming in through the back door, they were feasting on one of the pieces of dried dog food. Whatever.

I vacuumed them all up, and then realized I was out of vinegar but wanted to kill the scent trail, so I grabbed Febreeze and sprayed away, then decided that wasn't working as well as I wanted, so I removed the nozzle and poured the Febreeze onto the patio (I don't know what I was drinking or smoking yesterday lol).

I set the bottle down at my feet, went to turn to grab the nozzle and knocked it down pouring it all over my wood floor.

In the meantime, you have to understand that I was canning Salsa and one of the cans was refusing to seal properly, I had to redo that one 3 times and change lids out etc until it finally worked.

By the time hubby called on Skype, I was so ready for bed LOL

So I'm hoping for a quieter day.  I have laundry to do and housework, cookies to bake for the kids etc.

I'm sorry this was such a long winded post, I tend to babble at times.

But I'll let you go, for now.  I'm off to get my day started.  :)



Cooking Thursday

Hi there, I can't believe it's Thursday already this week is just flying by, and I'm thrilled with it. 

Usually I complain that time is going to fast, but right now, given the circumstances, I am one happy girl LOL

Anyway, onto today's Cooking Thursday. 


cookingthursday
If you want to use the picture, just click here for the original.

I mentioned these pancakes the other day.  They are SO delicious, I can't wait to make them for my honey.



Cinnamon Bun Pancakes

Cinnamon Bun Pancakes


1 1/2 cups flour
3 Tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
2 Tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 cup melted butter
1 Tablespoon vanilla

Put all of the dry ingredients in a bowl.  Whisk the dry ingredients together.

Cinnamon Bun Pancakes

Add the wet ingredients and whisk together until well combined.

Cinnamon Bun Pancakes

Preheat a griddle or large saute pan over medium heat.  Cook until brown on both sides.


To make the frosting:
1 cup confectioners sugar
2 Tablespoons melted butter
2 tablespoons milk

Whisk the ingredients together until smooth and a pouring consistency.  If too thick add more milk, if too thin, add more sugar.

These pancakes are the perfect way to start a day.  Make some and share them with someone you love.







Wednesday, June 06, 2012

Day 8

::::  working in the kitchen
Homemade Salsa


:::: Canning Homemade Salsa

Homemade Salsa




5 steps back.......



5:30am found me wide awake, like out of bed and ready to just get this day over with, awake.

I thought that I would be able to sleep in and get some good rest while hubby is away, but forget that, it's like for one, I've completely forgotten how to sleep without him.

Happens every.single.time. he leaves.

What is that?   We sleep alone for most of our lives, until we get married, then if they're not there for a reason, we can't sleep.  Frustrating LOL

So we're doing ok, it's day 8 today but honestly, it feels like day 80 to me.  I don't think I'm cut out to be away from my husband, I never was and we both never were able to function 100% without the other.

We have Skype, which helps tremendously, it makes him feel like he's part of the day, he gets to see us all and even the pugs.  You should see him talking to them  Hahaha

Lola looks right at the camera and tilts her head when he speaks.  Bella takes off running around the house when she hears his voice and looks for him everywhere, it's pretty funny, but also sad, it breaks your heart to see the doggies so miserable.

Jasmine is doing ok.  I think being 13 she understands a lot more and is able to handle the separation a little easier, but she does say she misses him everyday and last night just out of the blue she said "I wish I could hug daddy right now, I miss his hugs".

Lump in the throat moment for me.

Nicholas is harder, he is 9 years old.  He gets it, he understands as well but he just doesn't like it or accept it and he is struggling.  He can't even look at a picture of daddy without getting teary eyed, he actually hides his face and the other night told me "I really miss my daddy, I love him so much".

Again, lump in the throat moment for me.

Oh I'm sure there will be many more for the weeks to come.

So, anyway, I've been keeping myself busy, housework, taking care of kids etc.  I do have to mow the back yard today and it's never one of my favorite chores, it's so hot in this place that being out there pushing the mower is plain hell.

And I think the mower may need gas, which means I may have to go and fill up a gas tank, which I really don't like doing, I'm paranoid like that, I'm always thinking what if I do something wrong and blow up the whole place LOL  Told you, paranoid! 

I also need to make a run to the commissary and pick up some tomatoes and some onions, I have a lot of cilantro that I just harvested from the garden and want to can a bunch of salsa.

Busy, busy, busy.  It's what I need.

Kids are still asleep, it's not even 7am yet, so I think I'm going to go ahead and get my Bible reading done while the house is still quiet.

I do hope you're all having a fantastic day.  God Bless.



whatcooking


Kids will be having some Mac and Cheese and some Apple slices with peanut butter for lunch.  For dinner, I'll be making Toasted Bacon and Egg Sandwiches.  (I have a menu all planned out but for some reason, it's all been switched around, oh well)

 

whatwatching


General Hospital on ABC
Haunted Collector on the SyFy Channel
Catch up on Amish:  Out of Order on the DVR
Watch last episode of Hatfields and McCoys on the DVR


 
whatdoing


Two loads of laundry
Changing bed linens
Vacuuming all the bedrooms and washing carpets
Mowing yard



On this day:

In 2006:  Tackle it Tuesday
In 2007: 
In 2008: 
In 2009: 
In 2010: 
In 2011:  Happy Homemaker Monday


Tuesday, June 05, 2012

Day 7

:::: early morning mommy time
Day 7

:::: fighting the greys
Day 7

::::  much better :)
Day 7

:::: new flowers blooming in the garden
Day 7

:::: watering the veggies
Day 7

::::  afternoon cappuccino
Day 7

::::  watching the venus transit with the kids, through the telescope.  Was able to snap this picture after an hour, just can't do astrophotography with my big canon camera, need a point and shoot

Day 7

:::: progress :)
Day 7