Here's to recognizing what we have, hoping things get closer to "normal" soon, and looking forward to what's to come!
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
Back to the Real World
After being home for more than two months, working on a little card table with a view out the window, I'll be going back to work in the office next week. This has been stressful and wonderful and so very strange. Everyone wears face masks at the grocery store now and when I don't have one on, I feel like I'm doing something wrong. Everyone stands in the checkout line at a distance and when someone stands only two feet away from me I feel like they're crowding me and doing something wrong. When Shelly and I dropped off groceries for Grandma Sue we chatted but kept our distance. No hugs anymore. And I'm so very grateful that I live in this home with four other people who can never get enough hugs and high fives and cuddles. And sad for those who don't have that.
We're all done with school for the school year - I declared that we'd be done because the endless worksheets and writing assignments just don't seem worth the anxiety they're causing. We wrapped it up a week early and Eli and Shelly played made-up games outside to pretend it was Field Day and came back in sweaty and exhausted and smiling. Archer took his final exam for his last math class at 2:00 this morning and now we're officially done. And as the kids wrap up school and I go back to the office, it seems things are finally starting to get back to normal, a little bit.
I'm going to miss the bird, squirrel, bunny watching out my window. I'm going to miss the stream of non-stop hugs all day long. I'm going to miss wearing slippers while I work. But I'm really looking forward to the kids getting their summer adventures started, and getting back to the office with my colleagues so I can chat with them throughout the day, instead of working alone and seeing their faces only once a week on a video call. Somehow I feel like a vacation is ending, even though I've been working this whole time. At the same time, vacation is just beginning for the kids. And the grandparents are already making plans for some fun!
Here's to recognizing what we have, hoping things get closer to "normal" soon, and looking forward to what's to come!
Here's to recognizing what we have, hoping things get closer to "normal" soon, and looking forward to what's to come!
Monday, June 1, 2020
Peach Cobbler Delight
Ok. I made this ONCE. But it was SOOO good, I'm keeping track of the recipe in case I ever decide to make it again. It's kind of intense - lots of steps and sort of time consuming but perhaps someday, when I have all the time in the world and I've run out of laundry and dishes and books to read... A girl can dream, right?
Original recipe is from a Martha Stewart show, watched many years ago and the recipe scribbled down on a scrap of paper.
10 ripe peaches, pitted and sliced
1/3 cup sugar
1 Tbsp lemon juice
3 Tbsp cornstarch
2 Tbsp brown sugar
Pinch Salt
1 tsp fresh ginger (optional)
Biscuits:
2 cups flour, plus more for topping
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup butter, chilled and sliced
1 cup + 2 Tbsp heavy cream, plus more for topping
scrapings from 1 vanilla bean
2. Add cornstarch, brown sugar, salt, ginger, mix together. Put peach mixture into glass pie pan.
3. Biscuits - Mix flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, butter until all combined and mushed together.
4. Add heavy cream and vanilla to biscuit mixture, mix together, work fast, should be crumbly
5. Flour your counter, roll out dough into 1/2" thickness. Cut with cookie cutter to make rounds, lay onto peach mixture in pie pan.
6. Spread biscuits with heavy cream, sprinkle with sugar.
7. Bake on the middle rack until top is golden brown and juices are bubbling (55-70 minutes).
Original recipe is from a Martha Stewart show, watched many years ago and the recipe scribbled down on a scrap of paper.
Peach Cobbler Delight
Ingredients
Filling:10 ripe peaches, pitted and sliced
1/3 cup sugar
1 Tbsp lemon juice
3 Tbsp cornstarch
2 Tbsp brown sugar
Pinch Salt
1 tsp fresh ginger (optional)
Biscuits:
2 cups flour, plus more for topping
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup butter, chilled and sliced
1 cup + 2 Tbsp heavy cream, plus more for topping
scrapings from 1 vanilla bean
Instructions
1. Filling - Mix peaches, sugar, lemon juice. Preheat oven to 375.2. Add cornstarch, brown sugar, salt, ginger, mix together. Put peach mixture into glass pie pan.
3. Biscuits - Mix flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, butter until all combined and mushed together.
4. Add heavy cream and vanilla to biscuit mixture, mix together, work fast, should be crumbly
5. Flour your counter, roll out dough into 1/2" thickness. Cut with cookie cutter to make rounds, lay onto peach mixture in pie pan.
6. Spread biscuits with heavy cream, sprinkle with sugar.
7. Bake on the middle rack until top is golden brown and juices are bubbling (55-70 minutes).
Why we love it
Warm and sweet. I don't actually remember who liked it and who didn't, but when I make this someday, I'll update the post with some stars.The Best Pretzels You've Ever Had - Savory & Sweet
A savory treat from my mom, original recipe from Bampa's brother Kim. These never sit around for long when they arrive from Grandma's treats stash.
12 oz butter flavored oil
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Cajun seasoning
1 oz packet powdered Ranch salad dressing mix
2. Whisk together the oil, ranch dressing, garlic powder & cajun seasoning
3. Pour the mixture over the pretzels in the pan and stir to coat
4. Sprinkle w/ grated parmesan cheese and stir
5. Bake for approximately 3 hours, stirring every 15 minutes
Next Up...
I've only made this a couple of times but we all loved it. I've vowed to only make this for group events because I don't want us to eat the whole delicious batch ourselves, it's just so rich!
Original recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe
2 Sticks butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
18 oz semisweet chocolate chips (1 and a half 12 oz bags)
Sea salt
2. In a medium saucepan on medium heat, add the butter and brown sugar. Once the mixture starts to bubble, set a timer for 3 minutes and allow to simmer without stirring. After 3 minutes, pour the hot caramel mixture over the pretzels in back and forth motion to cover the pretzels. A few bare spots are ok, it'll all bake together in the end.
3. Bake for 5 minutes, then spread the chocolate chips evenly over the pretzels. Put the pan back in the oven to help the chocolate melt. Once it's all melted, remove from oven, sprinkle with sea salt.
4. Refrigerate until set. Once it's all cooled, break into bite size pieces. (After it's set, you don't have to refrigerate any further.)
No Bake Savory Pretzels
Ingredients
30 oz pretzels12 oz butter flavored oil
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Cajun seasoning
1 oz packet powdered Ranch salad dressing mix
Instructions
1. Spread the pretzels evenly on a cookie sheet2. Whisk together the oil, ranch dressing, garlic powder & cajun seasoning
3. Pour the mixture over the pretzels in the pan and stir to coat
4. Sprinkle w/ grated parmesan cheese and stir
5. Bake for approximately 3 hours, stirring every 15 minutes
Why we love it
I can't EXACTLY explain it, other than to say - once you start, you just can't stop. These leave us grabbing for just one more, and licking our fingers and sad when they're suddenly gone. How did they all disappear QUITE that fast??? Next Up...
I've only made this a couple of times but we all loved it. I've vowed to only make this for group events because I don't want us to eat the whole delicious batch ourselves, it's just so rich!
Original recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe
Irresistible Chocolate Toffee Pretzels
Ingredients
Half a 1 lb bag of mini pretzels, broken into pieces2 Sticks butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
18 oz semisweet chocolate chips (1 and a half 12 oz bags)
Sea salt
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, cover with a layer of the broken pretzel pieces.2. In a medium saucepan on medium heat, add the butter and brown sugar. Once the mixture starts to bubble, set a timer for 3 minutes and allow to simmer without stirring. After 3 minutes, pour the hot caramel mixture over the pretzels in back and forth motion to cover the pretzels. A few bare spots are ok, it'll all bake together in the end.
3. Bake for 5 minutes, then spread the chocolate chips evenly over the pretzels. Put the pan back in the oven to help the chocolate melt. Once it's all melted, remove from oven, sprinkle with sea salt.
4. Refrigerate until set. Once it's all cooled, break into bite size pieces. (After it's set, you don't have to refrigerate any further.)
Why we love it
Buttery, crunchy, salty, sweet. Of COURSE we love it! Baked Pasta
This one was something I wanted to make on Saturday but trips to Hardware Store, home, the Other Hardware Store, home again, sidetracked plans for dinner. The Deck Project is keeping me running!
Sunday I planned ahead and made this at 9:30 in the morning, tucked it in the fridge and then warmed it up in the oven at 5 when we were ready to eat. Yay for planning ahead, even if I was a day late. :)
Original recipe is here
1 lb ground beef (or sausage)
1 large onion chopped
1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
a bunch of diced garlic
1 large jar marinara sauce (about 32 ounces - I tried to use a regular 24 oz jar but this wasn't enough - you definitely need the 32 oz jar)
a bunch of shredded cheese (recipe says mozzarella, we used parmesan)
1 cup ricotta cheese (I used 1 pkg cream cheese)
2. While you're waiting for the pasta to cook, cook the ground beef & drain off the fat.
3. Add the chopped onion and saute for a little bit, letting the onion get soft
4. Dump in a bunch of Italian seasoning, the garlic and the marinara sauce to the meat. Bring it all to a simmer.
5. Put about half or 2/3 the sauce into a casserole dish and add the cooked pasta. Stir it all together. Add dollops (ricotta) or little pieces (cream cheese) to the casserole dish.
6. Pour the rest of the sauce into the casserole dish, sprinkle shredded cheese over everything, and cover with foil.
7. Put in the fridge and save for later, or put it into the oven at 350 and bake until the cheese is melted and the top is slightly browned.
8. If warming up after it's been in the fridge, it takes about 40 minutes at 350. Take the foil off halfway through.
Note for next time - make this 1 large batch, then split it in half into 2 square pans, freeze one, make the other for today.
Sunday I planned ahead and made this at 9:30 in the morning, tucked it in the fridge and then warmed it up in the oven at 5 when we were ready to eat. Yay for planning ahead, even if I was a day late. :)
Original recipe is here
Baked Pasta
Ingredients
1 lb pasta (recipe says ziti, I didn't have it, I used some other tube shaped stuff)1 lb ground beef (or sausage)
1 large onion chopped
1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
a bunch of diced garlic
1 large jar marinara sauce (about 32 ounces - I tried to use a regular 24 oz jar but this wasn't enough - you definitely need the 32 oz jar)
a bunch of shredded cheese (recipe says mozzarella, we used parmesan)
1 cup ricotta cheese (I used 1 pkg cream cheese)
Instructions
1. Cook the pasta2. While you're waiting for the pasta to cook, cook the ground beef & drain off the fat.
3. Add the chopped onion and saute for a little bit, letting the onion get soft
4. Dump in a bunch of Italian seasoning, the garlic and the marinara sauce to the meat. Bring it all to a simmer.
5. Put about half or 2/3 the sauce into a casserole dish and add the cooked pasta. Stir it all together. Add dollops (ricotta) or little pieces (cream cheese) to the casserole dish.
6. Pour the rest of the sauce into the casserole dish, sprinkle shredded cheese over everything, and cover with foil.
7. Put in the fridge and save for later, or put it into the oven at 350 and bake until the cheese is melted and the top is slightly browned.
8. If warming up after it's been in the fridge, it takes about 40 minutes at 350. Take the foil off halfway through.
Note for next time - make this 1 large batch, then split it in half into 2 square pans, freeze one, make the other for today.
Why we love it
Easy to make, easy to make AHEAD, warm and gooey and LOTS of leftovers for the next day Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Strange Times
Right now, we're in the middle of something I never could have predicted, who would think that disaster would strike, sneak up on you and you can't even see it? I saw it starting in China - an entire city shut down, then an entire region and an entire country. News of a mystery virus in China that could not be stopped. How's it spreading? No answers and the ports in China started shutting down, no one in or out. America stopped travelers from China. I just kept saying, this is going to be so bad for their economy. It's going to be so bad. And then, of course, the virus, now known as COVID-19, started showing up elsewhere. One, two, three cases in the US. More in Italy. So many in Italy. Hospitals overwhelmed, people dying. Isn't it just another form of flu? How many people die of the flu in America every year? People are overreacting, aren't they?
In the meantime, Americans start to take notice of the rest of the world. People are panicking, what if it comes here and we get quarantined and will we have enough ___? The first question is Toilet Paper. And TP was the first thing to disappear from stores as everyone in the country started stockpiling - or hoarding? I don't know.
The numbers of cases in America are climbing and we look around the world to see other countries with their countless deaths and we start to panic. But we're probably overreacting, aren't we? The first I heard of it was December and three months later, Wisconsin's governor has ordered schools closed. My kids are staying home, no school. Try to do some "enrichment activities," read, take a walk or something. Of course I couldn't enforce any "do school stuff" rules because I'm not home, but the kids do their best to follow through. For one week they're home and I'm pretending everything's going to be fine. It's all normal, right? But when I go to the store there's almost no meat. No frozen veggies. Barely any canned foods left on the shelves. I've never seen this, I never imagined it could happen here in America, where there's SO MUCH FOOD. So much extra of everything all the time. Not now, it's picked over every time we go in. It's not because there's no food, but because the supply chain is not prepared for the big surge of an entire country "stocking up" (hoarding?) at the exact same time. We're all scared.
Last Monday Wisconsin's governor announced a Safer at Home order, telling everyone who possibly can to work from home, school work from home, just plain stay home. Restaurants are open for carry out only, all non-essential businesses are closed. Ads on TV are telling us how we can shop for cars from home and everything else you can imagine. Last week 6.6 million people filed for unemployment as businesses laid off employees because who can pay you when the stores are closed and you're not working? And now, I'm taken back to December when I heard about what was happening in China and I was concerned for their economy. Our economy is suffering as cities, counties, states are shutting everything down. Social Distancing has become the norm as we all attempt to stay home, stay away from other people and don't approach our neighbors for a friendly chat. We shout from one yard to the other or video call our friends because we can't get close to each other. Four, six, eight feet, keep your distance. Wash your hands 100 times a day. And stay out of the stores.
The news is only about COVID-19 and the army field hospitals that are being set up in Central Park, Seattle and elsewhere. There's not enough medical anything. Are we overreacting? Is there any TP or meat or CLEANING SUPPLIES at the grocery store today? Was it actually a good thing that I spent 2 months worth of grocery money to fill my freezer and cupboards to the brim with food? What if we really can't leave the house for four weeks and we don't have enough?
Anyway, here we are now. Watching the news for the latest numbers of people infected, people who have died and people who are laid off. I started working from home last Tuesday and have only been into a store twice since then. This week the school district announced their plans for us to start teaching our kids at home and so here we are today. Now I'm a work from home, homeschooling, disaster prepping mom. And we're doing the best we can.
Positives.
1. I now see all the wildlife that visits my yard every day, I sit at my computer with a view out to the patio and garden and see the bunnies and birds visiting daily. It's nice to appreciate the singing birds and blue skies right outside my window.
2. ALL the activities have been cancelled. Our calendars are 100% open. No Swing Choir, Judo, Chess Club, Scouts, Roller Skating, Dentist, Doctor, Anything. With the exception of Piano, which is done via video call and doesn't require that we leave the house.
3. Family dinners every night. Andy wow, we can cook. With no rushing to the next event, we're free to take our time and cook wholesome good food and eat it together, as a family. Wonderful.
4. Family Time. All the time, every minute of every day, here we are, together. Let's take a walk together, let's play a game together, let's watch tv together. It's pretty fantastic.
5. Connecting with more family in different ways. The kids are calling their grandparents and texting with their cousins more than ever before. It's wonderful to see those relationships stay strong, even as we have to physically stay away from everyone we know.
In the meantime, Americans start to take notice of the rest of the world. People are panicking, what if it comes here and we get quarantined and will we have enough ___? The first question is Toilet Paper. And TP was the first thing to disappear from stores as everyone in the country started stockpiling - or hoarding? I don't know.
The numbers of cases in America are climbing and we look around the world to see other countries with their countless deaths and we start to panic. But we're probably overreacting, aren't we? The first I heard of it was December and three months later, Wisconsin's governor has ordered schools closed. My kids are staying home, no school. Try to do some "enrichment activities," read, take a walk or something. Of course I couldn't enforce any "do school stuff" rules because I'm not home, but the kids do their best to follow through. For one week they're home and I'm pretending everything's going to be fine. It's all normal, right? But when I go to the store there's almost no meat. No frozen veggies. Barely any canned foods left on the shelves. I've never seen this, I never imagined it could happen here in America, where there's SO MUCH FOOD. So much extra of everything all the time. Not now, it's picked over every time we go in. It's not because there's no food, but because the supply chain is not prepared for the big surge of an entire country "stocking up" (hoarding?) at the exact same time. We're all scared.
Last Monday Wisconsin's governor announced a Safer at Home order, telling everyone who possibly can to work from home, school work from home, just plain stay home. Restaurants are open for carry out only, all non-essential businesses are closed. Ads on TV are telling us how we can shop for cars from home and everything else you can imagine. Last week 6.6 million people filed for unemployment as businesses laid off employees because who can pay you when the stores are closed and you're not working? And now, I'm taken back to December when I heard about what was happening in China and I was concerned for their economy. Our economy is suffering as cities, counties, states are shutting everything down. Social Distancing has become the norm as we all attempt to stay home, stay away from other people and don't approach our neighbors for a friendly chat. We shout from one yard to the other or video call our friends because we can't get close to each other. Four, six, eight feet, keep your distance. Wash your hands 100 times a day. And stay out of the stores.
The news is only about COVID-19 and the army field hospitals that are being set up in Central Park, Seattle and elsewhere. There's not enough medical anything. Are we overreacting? Is there any TP or meat or CLEANING SUPPLIES at the grocery store today? Was it actually a good thing that I spent 2 months worth of grocery money to fill my freezer and cupboards to the brim with food? What if we really can't leave the house for four weeks and we don't have enough?
Anyway, here we are now. Watching the news for the latest numbers of people infected, people who have died and people who are laid off. I started working from home last Tuesday and have only been into a store twice since then. This week the school district announced their plans for us to start teaching our kids at home and so here we are today. Now I'm a work from home, homeschooling, disaster prepping mom. And we're doing the best we can.
Positives.
1. I now see all the wildlife that visits my yard every day, I sit at my computer with a view out to the patio and garden and see the bunnies and birds visiting daily. It's nice to appreciate the singing birds and blue skies right outside my window.
2. ALL the activities have been cancelled. Our calendars are 100% open. No Swing Choir, Judo, Chess Club, Scouts, Roller Skating, Dentist, Doctor, Anything. With the exception of Piano, which is done via video call and doesn't require that we leave the house.
3. Family dinners every night. Andy wow, we can cook. With no rushing to the next event, we're free to take our time and cook wholesome good food and eat it together, as a family. Wonderful.
4. Family Time. All the time, every minute of every day, here we are, together. Let's take a walk together, let's play a game together, let's watch tv together. It's pretty fantastic.
5. Connecting with more family in different ways. The kids are calling their grandparents and texting with their cousins more than ever before. It's wonderful to see those relationships stay strong, even as we have to physically stay away from everyone we know.
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Corona Quarantine - All the Stuff
A week ago I wrote a very very long thing about the news and all that's happening. I kept it to myself, maybe I'll put it out there sometime but for now, I think it's best I keep my chaos to myself.
So, here's the shakedown. Schools closed on March 13 and my kids spent a week at home pretending it was an extra long spring break. They'd go back on April 6. A week later, the governor issued the "Safer at Home" order and everyone who could possibly stay home was stuck there. For a month. Ok, fine, I'll work from home. And here I am, working from home. Today the Stay Home instructions were extended through to May 26. So we'll all stay home a little longer.
Now, number one, I have to say, I am SO IMPRESSED with us. There have been NO major blowouts, meltdowns, freaking out about the world today. Of course we have our snippy moments here and there but SERIOUSLY. I have the awesomest family ever. The kids do some school work, take care of their chores, go for walks with me when I make them. David and I are taking turns cooking WONDERFUL meals now that we have time because we don't have All The Things every day of the week. These are such strange times but so very wonderful in a way that I couldn't have imagine - no going out? No visiting friends or going to the library? How's that going to be good? But we have Family Time. Every Minute of the Day Family Time.
So, here's a tiny little picture of Life Today.
My tea has been evicted from the cupboard and now sits shamefully in a paper bag on the floor in a corner. Make way for canned foods in the cupboard.
In addition to no room for tea, there's also apparently no room for soy sauce because I keep finding it in various cupboards. Someone finds it, puts it some other random place.
And best of all - my desk (a little folding table with just one monitor) sits between our dining room and living room, giving me a view of our backyard. I have discovered that my yard is very busy every day with visitors from all over the neighborhood. Even while we're stuck inside our cozy hide-away, the birds are venturing out of their nests, the bunnies (babies even!!) are exploring their world. Makes me smile every time I see someone new venture within sight.
Last night we broke the rules and went to HC because Bampa asked to borrow some tools and when it came down to it, none of the 5 of us could resist going for a drive. It was a very big deal. We were Road Tripping and singing songs on the way. It's like we were on our way to a big vacation! And we got there and I hugged my parents for the first time in month and it made my whole week better. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, I guess? I just needed to see my parents so much, it was the very best thing.
And so we continue on to do our everyday things while the world is all shut down and everyone's afraid of everyone else's germs. Here in our little fortress, we're doing just fine.
So, here's the shakedown. Schools closed on March 13 and my kids spent a week at home pretending it was an extra long spring break. They'd go back on April 6. A week later, the governor issued the "Safer at Home" order and everyone who could possibly stay home was stuck there. For a month. Ok, fine, I'll work from home. And here I am, working from home. Today the Stay Home instructions were extended through to May 26. So we'll all stay home a little longer.
Now, number one, I have to say, I am SO IMPRESSED with us. There have been NO major blowouts, meltdowns, freaking out about the world today. Of course we have our snippy moments here and there but SERIOUSLY. I have the awesomest family ever. The kids do some school work, take care of their chores, go for walks with me when I make them. David and I are taking turns cooking WONDERFUL meals now that we have time because we don't have All The Things every day of the week. These are such strange times but so very wonderful in a way that I couldn't have imagine - no going out? No visiting friends or going to the library? How's that going to be good? But we have Family Time. Every Minute of the Day Family Time.
So, here's a tiny little picture of Life Today.
My tea has been evicted from the cupboard and now sits shamefully in a paper bag on the floor in a corner. Make way for canned foods in the cupboard.
In addition to no room for tea, there's also apparently no room for soy sauce because I keep finding it in various cupboards. Someone finds it, puts it some other random place.
And best of all - my desk (a little folding table with just one monitor) sits between our dining room and living room, giving me a view of our backyard. I have discovered that my yard is very busy every day with visitors from all over the neighborhood. Even while we're stuck inside our cozy hide-away, the birds are venturing out of their nests, the bunnies (babies even!!) are exploring their world. Makes me smile every time I see someone new venture within sight.
Last night we broke the rules and went to HC because Bampa asked to borrow some tools and when it came down to it, none of the 5 of us could resist going for a drive. It was a very big deal. We were Road Tripping and singing songs on the way. It's like we were on our way to a big vacation! And we got there and I hugged my parents for the first time in month and it made my whole week better. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, I guess? I just needed to see my parents so much, it was the very best thing.
And so we continue on to do our everyday things while the world is all shut down and everyone's afraid of everyone else's germs. Here in our little fortress, we're doing just fine.
Monday, April 6, 2020
Homeschool: Art Class
Draw what you see, take 28 seconds or 28 minutes, ready, go!
That sums up Art Class, we'll see what tomorrow's homeschool day brings 🙂
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| After much study and careful consideration of the balance of the piece, Eli captured the flowers' chaos quite nicely. |
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| Hand crafted with Shelly's special reserve pencils, saved for personal projects. |
 |
| Let's be honest, the plant looks like it's on its last leg. |
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| So detailed and carefully crafted, beautiful! |
 |
| See? Doesn't have to take long at all! Cranked out in a few seconds between work emails. |
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Longest Post Ever (Sorry)
I think it’s about time that I get this all down on paper
for posterity, or something. Before I forget all the gory details. I’ve been
holding off, waiting for the Happy Ending and that’s now in sight, so here we
go.
I tried out a new thing in May last year and I loved it – roller
skating. I loved it more for the people than my natural skill at skating.
Because honestly, we all know I’m not athletic, coordinated, any of it. But it
was still fun, I had more fun every time I’d go to another practice. I’d leave
practice on the natural high that comes from hanging out with great people
while we work hard, sweat, fall down (so much falling!), jump back up and try
harder. Somehow, I managed to fit in one or two practices a week, all while
also juggling the rest of the family activities we always have going on.
All was well, I only got hurt once, minor thing that bruised
up my back but I ONLY missed one day of work for it. For the record, my back
thing was when I fell backwards and landed on someone else’s skate wheels.
Right below my ribs, but maybe kind of on my lowest rib? It hurt to breathe for
a couple of days after that. It’s ok, I already had my injury, I’ll be fine
going forward. Plus I’m a better skater now than 6 months ago! All the while,
skaters around me dropping like flies. Broken hand. Knee is acting up again.
Shoulder issues tonight. More knee problems. You can see where this is going.
Six months. I’d been skating for six months. Loving it more
every week. Monday night practice rolls around, we get all geared up and off we
go. Skating on the oval, round and round, drills to practice this and learn
that. Super simple drill. No contact. Meaning, we’re not hip checking each
other or doing hip whips or blocking, no one is touching anyone else. We’re
practicing going around each other, with half the skaters standing still and
the other half skating up to someone, circling around them and then moving onto
the next stationary skater. No contact. Totally safe. Low key.
I do the circling around thing a couple times and then skate
up to Bulldog, she’s standing still, watching me coming. I circle around her
and as I get behind her, my skate tangles up with hers and in slow motion I go
down HARD. I curl up on my side with my arms in front of my face, I was
convinced she was going to come down on top of me. On my head. By some miracle
of athletic prowess, she somehow threw herself a different direction and landed
nowhere near me. But I couldn’t process that. I just laid there in a ball. I
may have said a few words not suitable for children. And there I laid. I
couldn’t get off the track, I couldn’t move. My ankle had been wrenched around
so badly that I was surprised, when I looked down at my leg, that my foot
wasn’t facing the wrong direction. This is probably around the time that I
started crying pretty hard. Good news, though! We have a sports medicine
specialist on our team!! She was at my side right away. I begged for an ice
pack but she knew better. She helped me turn onto my back and stretch out my
legs. She wrapped me up in a splint and as she felt my ankle and leg, I started
to calm down. My ankle hurt terribly, but I felt something shifting in my leg
as she was testing out my condition. I called David and asked for a ride. He arranged
for the kids to get a ride home from the current Scout event and showed up
within a few minutes. My skater friends helped me into his car and off we went
to the ER.
Of course you know how this goes. Hours of waiting. In
total, we spent about 5 hours there. I cycled between being able to hold it
together, and crying in agony as we did yet another x-ray and just turn your
leg this way, just bend your foot that way… So much swelling around my ankle.
And what about that thing with my leg? It hurts there too, and you haven’t
looked at that at all! More x-rays. Yes. Broken. Broken leg, dislocated ankle.
Ugly all around. Here are some crutches, go see a doctor tomorrow.
Tomorrow rolls around. I call in sick to work. David takes
me to the surgeon. I sit there, looking at the x-rays, listening to him explain
what I did to wreck my ankle and the surgeon’s voice starts to fade out. I
can’t understand what he’s saying at all, he sounds like static. I’m getting so
warm. Pay attention Amy, this is important! But I’m so hot. I can’t follow him,
what is he even talking about? I’m so hot. I interrupt him. I’m so hot – the
nurse helps me lay down on the exam table where I have a complete meltdown. I
don’t want surgery. I don’t want to go under general anesthesia. I don’t want
to go under. I don’t want to do it. The nurse gives me a drink of water. She
explains that I won’t be able to walk normally ever again if I don’t have this
fixed. It’s all very safe. You have to do this. It’s so safe. She calms me
down, I ask 100 questions, we schedule the surgery, we leave.
The non-sciencey explanation is that I twisted my ankle around so badly that it caused my fibula to break. The stress on the ankle and the tendon that connects my ankle to my knee was released when the tendon snapped my bone. My ankle was dislocated, all the pieces were separated from each other.
Now we wait. I lay on the couch with my leg up for a few days, Friday I go in for the surgery. I cry some more, there’s so much talking, the surgeon puts his initials on my left leg, smiles and abandons me. A few minutes later there’s a mask on my face and I’m being rolled into a room with a LOT of people. I see the people for about half a second before I’m out.
I wake up in recovery, lay there for a while and then I’m
taken to my own room where David is waiting for me. I still don’t really
understand what’s going on, there are instructions not to take the boot off,
don’t put any weight on my foot, and we’re sent home again. With a folder with
instructions.
What follows is many days of a strict medicine schedule, so
much sleeping, hobbling around on crutches. Friends coming to visit and
bringing gifts and company, and it’s all a blur. In the meantime, my family
continued on their regular lives. School, catch the bus, do homework, chores,
working, making dinner, etc. etc. It all feels like a fog when I look back on
it now. I was so out of it. I slept so much. I missed two weeks of work.
Fast forward five months. Skip over the time that I fell down and skinned my knee in the laundry room. Skip the other time when I got a little too brave on my crutches going down two steps and nearly gave Mary a heart attack as I launched myself past the step off her porch and LANDED! (How did I not fall flat on my face??) Forget about the time that I bent my crutch (and almost my leg, thank goodness for the boot) between the ottoman and the couch.
Remember with fondness the times that friends pushed me around in wheelchairs (skate practice, Chicago, everywhere!) or we scooted around the grocery store at top speed while going on a brownie run.
Right here let's talk about how AMAZING my family was. They brought stuff to me, constantly asked what they could do to help, listened to me cry over not being able to walk, not being able to carry anything, not being able to DO ANYTHING. And helped me some more. Those four people that I live with are so compassionate, generous, patient. I couldn't ask for a better family. And, my husband and parents drove me around in those first days, taking me for appointments and medicines and all of it. Everyone made the very best out of a very difficult situation. Thank you thank you thank you!
Physical therapy, more x-rays, off
the crutches (six weeks I think?), finally out of the boot (two months? three? felt like forever!) and then. Skates. Skates!!! I get the ok
to skate. I go back, and it was better than expected. I was steadier on my feet
than I expected to be but I took it easy for a couple of weeks – no contact,
then a LITTLE contact, go easy on me. And now, last night, my first time with
full contact in our practice. I got to be a jammer for the first time ever and I
know you probably don’t know derby but this was my chance to skate fast, ram
into people, shove past people and sneak through the pack to score points. I
know everyone was going easy on me but it was SO MUCH FUN! Mayhem’s back!
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Broccoli Cheese Soup
Now that I'm getting older, I've started branching out a bit with the foods I eat. Just admitting it right up front. Cause, you know, I've not always been a fan of veggies. Whatever you do, don't tell the kids. I think they might already know.
Anyway, is it cause I'm so old now? I'm not old. Not even 40 yet, not for a few more months. I have no idea what's happening to me, but in the last couple of months, I finally got brave enough to try the feared Broccoli Cheese Soup. I gotta say. It's still not my favorite, but I do sort of like it. So here we go with a recipe.
Original Velveeta recipe is here, but it's seen some improvement in our house, the first time it was made by David and I followed his lead when I took a turn at making it.
1/4 chopped onion
2 Tbsp flour
2 1/2 cups milk
1/2 pound Velveeta, cut up
1/4 to 1/2 pound other kinds of cheese
8 to 12 ounces broccoli, cut up into tiny little bits (no stems! who even likes stems? this may or may not be a slight controversy in our house)
a little pepper, or a lot
2. In large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat, add onion and cook until it's soft. Add the butter and stir constantly until bubbling.
3. Stir in milk and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, constantly stirring. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 1 minute.
4. Add cheese, broccoli and pepper. Stir constantly until all the cheese is evenly melted.
5. Simmer for about 10 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
P.S. I suspect it would be improved by adding a little bit of red pepper flakes when the cheese is added, but I haven't had the opportunity to implement that yet. Maybe someday.
Anyway, is it cause I'm so old now? I'm not old. Not even 40 yet, not for a few more months. I have no idea what's happening to me, but in the last couple of months, I finally got brave enough to try the feared Broccoli Cheese Soup. I gotta say. It's still not my favorite, but I do sort of like it. So here we go with a recipe.
Original Velveeta recipe is here, but it's seen some improvement in our house, the first time it was made by David and I followed his lead when I took a turn at making it.
Broccoli Cheese Soup
Ingredients
2 Tbsp butter1/4 chopped onion
2 Tbsp flour
2 1/2 cups milk
1/2 pound Velveeta, cut up
1/4 to 1/2 pound other kinds of cheese
8 to 12 ounces broccoli, cut up into tiny little bits (no stems! who even likes stems? this may or may not be a slight controversy in our house)
a little pepper, or a lot
Instructions
1. After cutting up broccoli, put into saucepan with a little water and steam until bright green. Set aside.2. In large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat, add onion and cook until it's soft. Add the butter and stir constantly until bubbling.
3. Stir in milk and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, constantly stirring. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 1 minute.
4. Add cheese, broccoli and pepper. Stir constantly until all the cheese is evenly melted.
5. Simmer for about 10 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
Why we like it
Warm, creamy, cheesy (we're Wisconsinites! we love cheese!) and we can pretend that it's healthy because there are a couple of veggies in it. The warm creamy cheesy doesn't quite overcome the fact of BROCCOLI for two of us, so just 3 stars for now.P.S. I suspect it would be improved by adding a little bit of red pepper flakes when the cheese is added, but I haven't had the opportunity to implement that yet. Maybe someday.
Saturday, January 4, 2020
Family Field Trip
I woke up this morning feeling unhappy about not having anything fun to look forward to. I mean, besides laundry and watching tv and greeting my family members as we passed in the kitchen, etc. etc. So... Everybody up, we're going to a museum today. And you're going to have fun! Shelly was excused from the mandatory fun because she already had plans to go ice skating with her friends. We left her behind, and we were off!
Would you have guessed? The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum has the world's largest collection of these whimsical toys, and it is only 20 minutes from where we live! Off we go! We first stopped at the Scout store, then ventured to downtown Milwaukee. Some features of the museum - we learned the song which is now stuck in our heads and Eli has been merrily singing it for the last several hours. We saw the great diversity of athletes, presidents, and tv stars that have been honored by memorialization via Bobblehead. Eli completed a scavenger hunt and was rewarded with a sticker. Archer found a Roller Derby player from a local team. David was guide and photographer for our expedition. A nice little diversion on our afternoon.
After much discussion of what a Public Market is, and trying to explain it to Eli without succeeding, I decided we should visit Milwaukee's market, since I'd been there only once a LONG LONG time ago and the rest of my family hadn't been there at all. Well, Archer was with me many years ago, but he was too young to remember. Anyway, it's only 3 blocks that way, we'll just walk over there. And we start walking. And it's REALLY REALLY cold out and none of us are quite dressed for the weather. And I may have led the crew off in the wrong direction but walk faster! We'll be there in a couple of minutes! David went back for the van, the boys and I hiked on until finally it was in sight and we crossed another street and another and then finally we were inside the market. Whew! There was a huge crowd, and so much food and everything! It was nothing like I remembered - definitely more crowded and more vendors and so much food!!! Mexican, Italian, Avocado, Seafood (raw and cooked), Bakery, Butcher (raw and cooked), Florist, more Bakery, Wedding Cakes and Brownies and everything! We walked around a bit, met back up with David who had brought the van closer to the market so we wouldn't have to walk 3 or 10 blocks when we were done shopping. We didn't shop, but instead decided to come back later for food and treats.
Next stop Milwaukee Trolley. I pictured something red. Like Mr. Rogers had? I don't know, but I've definitely heard a lot of hype over this trolley over the last couple of years. The politics, mostly. Anyway. We go stand outside at the trolley stop, realize we have 16 minutes before it's going to come and we are SO COLD so we go stand back inside for 13 minutes. Come out, freeze for 2 more minutes and then hop aboard the trolley. Which looks like a city bus, except it runs on tracks, and the seats in the back face backwards. I join David in the back, facing backwards, and we ride for a little while, till the end of the line. The trolley (feels like a city bus) stops. The driver (is he called an engineer on a trolley?) opens the door of the little room that was at the front of the bus, and walks the length of the trolley, greeting everyone as he passed, then opened up a door to a little room at the back of the bus. Which is now the front. Because after a moment or two, we started going back the way we had come from. "We're going the other way now," Archer said to Eli, and this was the moment I quit fooling around on my phone and decided to actually pay attention to what was going on around me. Sure enough, now David and I were at the front of the trolley, facing forwards. We had a nice little ride through Milwaukee, we passed City Hall and Cathedral Square. We got to the other end of the line, the driver walked back to the room at the other end of the trolley and we started back where we had come from. We got off in the same place we had started. All very cozy and warm, thanks to being a closed bus and not an open red trolley like Mr. Rogers had. Just saying...
We crossed a street and went to lunch at a nice little restaurant. I'd definitely go back there again, if we found ourselves in the neighborhood. We crossed the street, went into the Market to pick out some desserts, and we were off.
We arrived home about 20 minutes before Shelly got home from her Ice Skating field trip with friends, and now we're all snuggled safely into our separate corners of the house. Which is ok, I guess, since we DID end up having some Quality Time Together for a few hours today. It's just... What's the plan going to be for next weekend? Plan something, or see where the wind blows us?
After much discussion of what a Public Market is, and trying to explain it to Eli without succeeding, I decided we should visit Milwaukee's market, since I'd been there only once a LONG LONG time ago and the rest of my family hadn't been there at all. Well, Archer was with me many years ago, but he was too young to remember. Anyway, it's only 3 blocks that way, we'll just walk over there. And we start walking. And it's REALLY REALLY cold out and none of us are quite dressed for the weather. And I may have led the crew off in the wrong direction but walk faster! We'll be there in a couple of minutes! David went back for the van, the boys and I hiked on until finally it was in sight and we crossed another street and another and then finally we were inside the market. Whew! There was a huge crowd, and so much food and everything! It was nothing like I remembered - definitely more crowded and more vendors and so much food!!! Mexican, Italian, Avocado, Seafood (raw and cooked), Bakery, Butcher (raw and cooked), Florist, more Bakery, Wedding Cakes and Brownies and everything! We walked around a bit, met back up with David who had brought the van closer to the market so we wouldn't have to walk 3 or 10 blocks when we were done shopping. We didn't shop, but instead decided to come back later for food and treats.
Next stop Milwaukee Trolley. I pictured something red. Like Mr. Rogers had? I don't know, but I've definitely heard a lot of hype over this trolley over the last couple of years. The politics, mostly. Anyway. We go stand outside at the trolley stop, realize we have 16 minutes before it's going to come and we are SO COLD so we go stand back inside for 13 minutes. Come out, freeze for 2 more minutes and then hop aboard the trolley. Which looks like a city bus, except it runs on tracks, and the seats in the back face backwards. I join David in the back, facing backwards, and we ride for a little while, till the end of the line. The trolley (feels like a city bus) stops. The driver (is he called an engineer on a trolley?) opens the door of the little room that was at the front of the bus, and walks the length of the trolley, greeting everyone as he passed, then opened up a door to a little room at the back of the bus. Which is now the front. Because after a moment or two, we started going back the way we had come from. "We're going the other way now," Archer said to Eli, and this was the moment I quit fooling around on my phone and decided to actually pay attention to what was going on around me. Sure enough, now David and I were at the front of the trolley, facing forwards. We had a nice little ride through Milwaukee, we passed City Hall and Cathedral Square. We got to the other end of the line, the driver walked back to the room at the other end of the trolley and we started back where we had come from. We got off in the same place we had started. All very cozy and warm, thanks to being a closed bus and not an open red trolley like Mr. Rogers had. Just saying...
We crossed a street and went to lunch at a nice little restaurant. I'd definitely go back there again, if we found ourselves in the neighborhood. We crossed the street, went into the Market to pick out some desserts, and we were off.
We arrived home about 20 minutes before Shelly got home from her Ice Skating field trip with friends, and now we're all snuggled safely into our separate corners of the house. Which is ok, I guess, since we DID end up having some Quality Time Together for a few hours today. It's just... What's the plan going to be for next weekend? Plan something, or see where the wind blows us?
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