In a dark place AKA Minnesota

Actually the sun is starting to creep back into our dark northern world, or rather daylight.  At this time of the year the sun is hiding - as local meteorologists say we can either have sun or warmth, not both. I want both - that's just how I roll.

Anyone else considering ditching Facebook and Lord Fauntleroy and his ugly Caesar haircut?

So much ugly happening in the world right now.  The true Russian fire hose of hate. They are spraying us with shit from every angle and it's hard to focus. What are you focused on now?  I should be pushing all my energy into climate change, but I find myself calling GOP reps and telling them what sickly cowards I think they are. Because my phone calls are really going to stop them from taking Russian money, right?

So what are you all up to? I bumped into a friend the other day, and we both agreed life is kind of boring right now and that's PERFECTLY FINE! No one close to us is dying. No one's parent's house needs to be cleaned out. Appreciate the lulls life gives you. Take some time to clean out your closets.

Peeking in

I still love my blog and this bloggy world.

Winter here in MN. Like the meme says - you must learn to find joy in snow. If you don't, you won't have any joy but still have the same amount of snow.

How to have a sparkling organized picture- perfect home

1. Have a crap-ton of money

2. Do NOT have children.  They will want to do all number of fun, educational activities like crayons, play do, blanket forts, and they track in acres of dirt.  Only a cruel nincompoop would deprive a child of any of this, so just don’t have them

3. Do NOT have outside interests. This results in extra shoes on the back porch, equipment in the garage, extra mailings and catalogs, and too much clothing. Just stay home and admire your clean house.

4. Do NOT have friends.  They give you gifts like food when you’re sick, and divided perennials for your yard.  And friends always lead to #3.

5. Cover your entire property with cement.  No messy gardening, or composting, or seed catalogs, or coupons for mower repair.  Clean cement with no patio furniture to lounge on or a fire pit to enjoy.  Woodpiles are sloppy! And no unwanted perennials from those friends you don’t have.

6. Don’t ever cook.  EVER! Eat out every meal, alone.

7. Don’t travel.  This means keeping unsightly luggage in your closets, souvenirs to dust, and memories that will interrupt the zen of your perfect home.

8. With your crap-ton of money, have other people come in and buff you and your home to a squeaky shine.

9.  Don’t ever celebrate any holiday. Now you have no need to keep wrapping paper or tape in the house. And two words: pine needles.

10. Don't have a pet. Who needs that unconditional love when you could instead have continuous reflective surfaces?

OR do like us and enjoy a full life with all the joyous mess it entails

Progression of my mornings

the night before ......
I’m setting the alarm nice and early.  I’ll walk for 40 min, meditate for 15, have time for a healthy breakfast and coffee, then shower, make the bed, pack a lunch and head out with 10 min to spare.

First snooze......
Damn! Guess I’ll walk after work.  I’ll even go to the gym

Second snooze.......
Ok, I’ll meditate after supper.  That’s better for sleep anyway

Third snooze........
So I’ll pop a bagel into the toaster and eat an apple on the way

Fourth snooze.......
Shower definitely but I can make the bed after work.  No one but us sees it anyway

Fifth snooze........
I’ll eat at Arby’s near work

Sixth snooze.....
Granola bars in the car are healthy, right?

Seventh snooze.......
Where’s my dry shampoo?


Will I ever become an adult?

And I'm getting older, too......

Photo credit : https://www.theodysseyonline.com/choose-joy-feeling

 

Oh, mirror in the sky
What is love ?
Can the child within my heart rise above
Can I sail thought the changing ocean tides
Can I handle the seasons of my life

Well, I've been afraid of changing
'Cause I built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Even children get older
And I'm getting older, too......

 

LANDSLIDE by Stevie Nicks

 

Been musing quite a bit on life, on growing older, on children leaving home.  My baby, my youngest, graduates high school this spring.  And thus ends my life as a Mom with kids at home.  I tried so hard to be present, just BE, for every second but still the years whooshed past. 

 

So this past Saturday I sat listening to her choral concert, knowing we have one more performance until I'm done being a parent in the audience.  The grieving thoughts started, and the empty hole grew in my mind. What does this next step hold for me? Someone who never had a clear vocational niche?

 

As if being whispered in my ear, the alternative view came.

 

As I have always believed, everything we do in kindness or love creates karma that balances the bad.  Each act sends an "invisible bubble" of perfection into the air of our collective human consciousness.  Each phase of life offers us unique chances to create bubbles.
Each kiss.
Each kind word or wish.
Each tear shed in grief.
Each donation.
Each laugh.

All send up "bubbles" of love and joy that surround us and our fellow earthlings. This thick layer of love is insurance against the hate and anger.  So the next step, as every step before, is to find as many opportunities as possible to make bubbles!  Perhaps I found my niche after all.

 

 

President elect Trump

OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD OHMYGODOHMYGOD OHMYGODOHMYGOD OHMYGODOHMYGOD OHMYGODOHMYGOD OHMYGODOHMYGOD OHMYGODOHMYGOD OHMYGODOHMYGOD
WE ARE ALL F####D OHMYGODOHMYGOD OHMYGODOHMYGOD WE ARE ALL F####DWE ARE ALL F####DWE ARE ALL F####DWE ARE ALL F####DWE ARE ALL F####D OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD OHMYGODOHMYGOD OHMYGODOHMYGOD OHMYGODOHMYGOD OHMYGODOHMYGOD OHMYGODOHMYGOD OHMYGODOHMYGOD OHMYGODOHMYGOD

 

Frank has a problem

I'm really tired of this hating on the poor, really really feckin tired.

I got into it with a friend. Let's call this friend Frank.  Frank gets his boxers all in a twist at the idea of food stamps, you know, the old "why do I have to work so hard to feed someone who's not willing to work?"

All Frank sees is lazy people all over America taking $20 bills out of his pocket to fuel their drug-addled existence.  Frank refuses to look at facts because they destroy his narrative.  The FACT is that most food and housing assistance folks are white, are working full time, have less than 2 kids, and are off assistance within 2 years.  Literally extending your hand to help a fellow American get back on his feet.

What Frank also refuses to see is the FACT that obscenely wealthy individuals and corporations are indeed taking $100 bills out of his pocket to subsidized corporate jets, off shore accounts, bonuses to failing CEOs, and vacation homes.

Only one of these facts makes Frank's blood boil.  Frank has a problem.

What the Kale???

If you are expecting me to say I've just been to busy to blog, you'd be wrong.  I've been way too lazy to blog.  I had literally 2 months off for foot surgery and didn't blog one single word.  Go ahead and judge me.

But as always, when I find a good recipe to share I go straight here.  Giving credit where credit is due, I found this on Pinterest and followed it here.

Since Kale is the latest hipster vegetable, and will be available by the truckload at midwestern farmers' markets, you need something delicious to make from it.  This is a big hit at my place.  For this and other Pinterest recipes I've tried go here.

KALE AND ARTICHOKE DIP

4 

ounces cream cheese, softened.  Lowfat would be just fine.

15oz can of artichokes, drained

6 

ounces greek plain yogurt or light sour cream

1/2 

cup shredded Parmesan cheese

1/2 

cup shredded Mozzarella or Swiss cheese, and a bit more for topping at the end.

1 

teaspoon garlic salt

6 

ounces kale, chopped (about 8-10 cups)

Mix it all together with a mixer - or by hand if you're stronger than me.  Then put it all in a pie dish or something similar.  The kale will cook down,

Bake at 400 for about 20 minutes.  Add more cheese on top during the last 5 minutes.

Serve with crackers, tortilla chips, raw veggies, compact discs, pencils, up to you.

You get what you need

You can't always get what you want, but sometimes you get what you need.

WANT a lot more money and economic security
GET a nice roof over my head, food in the house, and a healthy family

WANT someone to take care of me, make me toast, and mother me
GET a hubby who keeps the walls up, shovels the snow, lifts the heavy objects

WANT a youthful face with perfect makeup and no chin hairs
GET to be alive

WANT world travel
GET a great extended family and friends to visit, just a few hours away

WANT a well appointed home with fabulous art, expensive rugs, and all the little extras
GET a home with central heat, comfy chairs, and a cuddly cat

WANT great kids
GET great kids!

WANT a comfy new car with in dash GPS, heated seats, moon roof, and tinted windows
GET a pretty darned nice car with high miles that's paid for and cute to boot!

WANT hot coffee with half and half
GET hot coffee with half and half

SICK is my middle name

How in the world did I get sick so soon after my Holiday O'Influenza??!!
I'm down again, but this time I get aches so bad it hurts to use the potty.  And a fever of 102.  You could cook an egg on me, but please don't because every inch of my skin hurts.  I had read that Hot Toddies are good for this, so I mixed up a bit of tea, honey, lemon, hot water, and whiskey.  It tasted like compost juice, but I drank it down.  Just felt sicker and a bit stupid.

I've been laying on the sofa slipping in and out of conciousness.  Property Brothers and Mike & Molly have entered my sick dreams, where coworkers insist that I choose the granite for the new office space even though I'm clearly in my pajamas being arrested for smelling so vile.

I need a magic immune system bullet.

Pasta e fagioli chases away winter

This soup kicks winter's ass!

The photo was found here.

But this is completely my own recipe.

Good olive oil - 1 - 2 T
One onion, chopped
6-8 garlic cloves, chopped fine - add more if you like, it's a free country!
1-2 celery stalks, chopped
1-2 carrots, chopped
Italian seasoning - 1 or 2 T
Crushed red pepper - a pinch
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 cups chicken stock or Better then Bouillon mixed with water.
1 large can of crushed tomatoes
Canned white northern beans - rinsed
A small box of SMALL pasta - mine was 7 ozs
Parmesan cheese for grating.

Put a large dutch oven on, and heat the olive oil on med high heat.  Add the onions and cook a bit - maybe 3-4 minutes.  Then add the garlic, celery, and carrots. Cook for another 2-3 minutes.  Then add the seasoning, crushed red pepper, salt, and pepper.  Add the stock and the crushed tomatoes.  Bring this all to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer until the veg are soft - mine took about 30 minutes.

Then add the beans - you can add more stock if it seems low.  Then add the pasta, and cook until the pasta is done.  Serve right away with FRESH grated Parmesan.  Any left sitting will get soaked up by the pasta and it will become more like stew.  But still delicious!!!

Motherhood is not for weenies

If you think . . . .

you are a reasonably likeable person, with an adequate level of skills and talents. 

you have attracted some great people into your life because you are a good friend and enjoyable company.

you are logical and mature about life's problems, and have a good sense of what's worth a fight and what isn't.

you have reached a level of self-comfort and self-confidence in your place in the world


Then go ahead and raise some teenagers, because they'll let you know in no uncertain terms that you are completely wrong.

Cookie Day 2014

Cookie Day today!

Making my Mocha Chewies, Peppermint Kisses, some rolled cinnamon bun cookies I found online, and cream cheese Spritz cookies - if I can find my cookie press that is.  It's not as much fun without MG - but schedules didn't align this year.

Not really feeling it this year - probably because I'm still suffering the effects of influenza a week later!  Nasty nasty bug going around and it just sucks all the energy right out of it's victim.  Like hanging around with Dick Cheney on your birthday.

The NY Italians are coming so I'll be feeding 13 adults in the world's smallest kitchen.  Shouldn't complain.  My Grandma fed 7 kids and a hard working husband with no indoor plumbing, a wood stove, and barely any money.  But she didn't work 30 minutes from home all day long either.  So maybe Gram and I are even.

Comfy Beans

Beans, beans, the musical fruit . . . .

Here's a great crock pot recipe for those cold nights.  Unless your kids don't like ham, and they remind you of that in that snotty 15-year-old way.  Or maybe that's just me.

1 lb dry white beans
1 ham hock
2 t. onion powder
Salt and Pepper
6 cups of water

Rinse & drain the beans.  Put the ham hock in the crock pot and dump everything else on top of it.  Add any extra seasoning that strikes your fancy.  Cover and cook on low for 8+ hours.

Winter . . . again

I must be getting old.  The years are just flying past me at the speed of a Republican voting to repeal the ACA.  I haven't yet recovered from Spring of 2013, when it snowed into MAY, then the miserable Winter of 2014 and the polar vortex of torture.  Summer seems to last about a week in my world.  And now Winter is back, with snow and cold and it's not even Thanksgiving yet!  Today might top out at 21degrees - as cold as Joni Ernst's heart on her better days.

This week I'll make chili, ham & white beans, and beef stew to ease my shivering bones.

I truly love Minnesota, and MOST of winter.  But only between December 15th and February 28th.  Outside of that winter can bite me..... which it does . . often.

Mia Famiglia - when we won the 5K costume contest after Thanksgiving, by dressing as a blizzrd.

REAL Wedding Vows

After nearly 24 years of marriage, I've learned a lot.  

I've learned this is what people should be promising at their weddings . . 

I promise first of all to fully commit to this new family we are creating.  I promise to keep my vows and to view this promise as sacred.  I promise to look past all this fluff, flowers, and window dressing to realize I am promising that the rest of life will occur at your side.

I promise to watch out for the little problems, for they are what can wear us down.  I vow to watch for the magic of making you laugh.  I will marvel at the fact that you come home to me every night.  And when I find myself wallowing in the bills, the weather, the home repair, the groceries, I will take you into my arms and be thrilled that you are alive, and here to share this life.

I promise to realize that sadness, loneliness, anger, frustration and disillusion are a completely normal part of any adult life, and to not immediately assume it means our marriage is wrong.  I promise to look at my own behavior and attitudes for change, and not to blame all my negative feelings on you.  I also promise to remember that life changes frequently, and that our marriage can survive any storm if we decide it will.

I promise that our marriage will always be a priority - above my hobbies, my job, the car, and the house.  It will be more important than any material thing we own.  I will remember that keeping our marriage alive is the best gift we could give to any kids.

I promise to balance that priority with outside interests, because I also promise to HAVE outside interests.  I will keep my friendships strong and will work to cultivate my own world apart from you.  Because I will not expect you to fill my every need for companionship and entertainment.

I promise to defend you against my family, your family, or even our own kids.  I will tell the world that if you mess with one of us, you mess with both of us.  And when I can't defend you, I promise to let you know and why.  And together we will work it out.

I promise that when I'm ready to walk away, or have an affair, I will use that signal to enter counseling and take it seriously.  I will give our marriage every effort in world.  I promise to never destroy your dignity with infidelity.

As we age, I promise to watch our decline with loving eyes.  To remember that every winkle, every pound, every gray hair, is a symbol of our lives lived in the sun, raising children, laughing, smiling, and loving.

I promise to remember, day in-day out, all my life, that you have agreed to be my partner.  That you have put aside your freedom to stand at my side.  That you have chosen me.

Red beans and rice in the crock pot

"Oh Lordy, she's givin us another recipe.  Doesn't that woman have any actual THOUGHTS in her head anymore?"

Yes I do.  I think of all kinds of great posts while I'm in the shower or trying to get to sleep.  Don't judge me.

While you wait for my lazy butt to blog something of substance, how about eating something of substance?  And how about it's something easy to make in the crock pot? Even better, right?  Don't say I never give you anything.  This recipe was found on pinterest which led me here, because we should all give credit where credit is due.  My alterations are in red.

CROCK POT RED BEANS AND RICE
1 pound red beans - or more if you are going vegetarian.
7 cups water
1 green bell pepper, chopped - I used two because I'm a rebel.  And one of them was red.  I like to stick it to the man.
1 medium onion, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped - I didn't have any.  We don't need no stinkin celery!
3 garlic cloves, chopped or minced - I used 5 because 3 is nothing in my world.
2 cans Campbell's chicken broth - I used Better Than Bouillon and 2 cups of water.  Bouillon is one of those words I always have to spell check.
1-1/2 pounds sausage  - I used Turkey sausage in the ring, cut in 1" slices.  You could totally skip this and make it vegetarian.  I would add more beans.
2 tablespoons Creole Seasoning - this packs some wonderful heat. So take it to 1 tablespoon if you don't like spicy things
Hot cooked rice - for later.  I used brown rice.

Rinse the beans and pick out any stones.  And by the way, I've never ever found stones in my dried beans. Have any of you? Put them in the crock pot
Add everything else EXCEPT the rice.  Give it a good stir.  Cook all day on low.
Serve it in bowls, and let eaters add as much rice as they want.
TIME SAVER HINT - I cut up everything the night before and put it in a bowl in the frig.  Also the night before, I put all the water, seasoning, and Better Than Bouillon in the crock pot.  In the morning I gave the liquids a good stir, rinsed & added the beans, and added all the cut-up ingredients.

Microwave Polenta

Winter of 2014 has been one for the records.  Brutal cold, piles of snow, thick ice.  We need easy comfort food here in the Northwoods.  So tonight I made polenta, aka corn meal mush.   EASY polenta. Not the kind that has you standing at the stove stirring until your arm falls off.  Start warming up!

MICROWAVE POLENTA
4 cups water
1 1/4 cups corn meal
2t. kosher salt
3 T. butter
Pepper

In a 2 qt microwave safe bowl, stir the water, corn meal and salt.  Microwave on full power for 12 minutes, stirring well at the 6 minute mark.  When it's done, add the butter & pepper and stir.  You can eat it right away, or spoon it into a loaf pan, let it cool, slice it, let it dry a bit, then fry in butter or olive oil.

We like it mushy, right away, covered with a bit of marinara and parmesan cheese.
It would be great with any savory topping - chili, pesto, cheese alone, salsa, etc
It's also great fried as slices, then covered with maple syrup.  mmmmmmmmmmmmm

Freedom is a rather messy thing

All Americans have the constitutional guarantee to freedom of speech.  This allows the KKK to march on public streets.  It allows that dreadful woman from Alaska to publish her inane ramblings in books.  It guarantees my right to any bumper sticker I want on my car and to say anything I please on my own blog or facebook page.  It allows that kook pastor in Florida to burn any Koran he owns.  And yes it allows creepy stars on reality TV to express their views.

BUT . . . . .

That reality show is a privately owned company.  And capitalism working the way it does, that company has every right to tell said star that they won't tolerate such words on their channel.    No one said he can't state his views, no one is accusing him of a crime.  Nobody says he can't write a book, or a blog, or letters to the editor.  But the folks that own A&E feel his words will hurt their bottom line, so out he goes, and THAT my friends is free speech and capitalism, all rolled up in one.  And sometimes that sandwich ain't tasty.

If I'm a waiter and I tell some customers they're fat and lazy for eating out, and really shouldn't be ordering the french fries, I'd probably be fired, agreed?  I exercised my right to free speech, meaning I did not commit a crime, but I will most definitely lose my job.  The firing is NOT an infringement of my free speech.

Remember how the right wing media and conservative voters were ready to tar and feather the Dixie Chicks for speaking THEIR views at their very own concert???  And how some country radio stations refused to play their music??  Where was their outrage over the Dixie Chicks' rights to free speech?  The Dixie Chicks suffered public backlash and a loss of commercial revenue because of their words.  And that is the very same capitalism/free speech shit sandwich.

Have your views, state them loud, but be a grown up and face the commercial consequences.  Freedom isn't always neat and pretty.

 

No Calorie Christmas Cookies

Did you seriously believe I'd make cookies without calories??  

It's just not the Holiday Season for me if I don't make an obscene pile of cookies.  Or as my daughter's call a large amount - a SHIT TON of cookies.  Last year I told you about Mocha Chewies - those I'm making later this week.

Today I made Chocolate Crinkles, those lovely dark chocolate sweets you roll in powdered sugar before the oven.  I may make spicy gingersnaps later.  But first was my absolute new favorite; Peppermint Sugar Kisses!  Make these - your cookie plate will be the hit of the year.

1.5 cups of powdered sugar
1 1/4 cups butter, at room temp
1 tsp peppermint extract - this is TOTALLY optional.  I don't add it and I think it would kill the cookie.
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup finely chopped Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses
Regular sugar
About 30-40 unwrapped Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses

Preheat the oven to 350.  Make flat space in your frig or freezer for ALL the cookies to cool.  The freezer really is best, or if you live in a very cold climate and have a table in your screened porch, even better.  I had to use the frig - the kisses melt a bit but they are still yummy.

In a large mixer bowl, combine powdered sugar, butter, extract(s) and egg.  Beat at medium speed, scraping the bowl often, until creamy.  In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.  Add that to the wet mixture and beat, scraping sides as needed.  Dough will be a bit crumbly.  Stir in the chopped kisses.

Shape dough into 1" balls, roll in regular sugar, and place 1 inch apart on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper*.  Bake for 10-12 minutes or until set - in my oven that takes 15 minutes.  As soon as they com out of the oven, press a Kiss in the center of each cookie.  Put them in the freezer/frig/porch immediately so the Kiss will set.

*If you do not use parchment paper, just start.  Seriously.  It's a must for cookies, but also for tuna melts, frozen pizza, etc.  Makes clean up so much easier.  And you don't need to buy the fancy-schmacy stuff at gourmet stores.  Get plain old Reynolds brand or store brand at the grocery store.  You'll thank me.