Rainy days and Mondays....

maybe for Karen but not for me. Rainy days and  Monday's don't always get me down. Today is actually quite nice.

We first woke up to thunderstorms and the power going out around 2:30am. Thankfully it came back on. We can't sleep without a fan blowing. We need the white noise. We got up to see DH off at 7:00am, and then crawled back into our beds and piled on the covers. Another homeschooling plus!

We got up for good when our tummies rumbled, and noticed the rain still hadn't yet washed away the last of the snow. I'm hoping it will be gone by tonight. My baby Boxwoods seem to be trying to lift themselves back up after having 100 inches of crushing snow on them this winter.

We read from The Whipping Boy while listening to the soft thunder outside. Later I'm going to work on my ATCs and stamp carving.

Our weekend was off because DH had to work and I hurt my back. I didn't get the spring cleaning done, but I'm grateful the boys have been helping me pick stuff up from off the floor and bring the laundry basket downstairs to the washer. DS9, even with a bad runny nose, has been pitching in extra trying to earn money to purchase more cards for his Wacky Packages collection. I don't know exactly how I hurt my back, but walking is helping. I just can't sit too long or bend over.

Missing dad, we decided to drive in to meet DH for Sunday supper. We met at Laredo's, one of the best Mexican restaurants in Madison. My only complaint about the place is where are the women? The restaurant is all men, the host, the servers, the cooks. They do an outstanding job, but I have to wonder if they'd ever hire a woman to work there.

I had tortilla soup- so good!! Now I have to brew up a home batch because I keep craving it. We inhaled an entire jar of the complimentary salsa and chips. I love their house salsa. The cilantro makes it taste so fresh!

After supper we hit the used book store to score our 50% off coupon. DH found a great collection of scary Japanese DVDs. I found an old issue of Somerset's Memories magazine. DS12 found a Star Wars recipe book, "Wookie Cookies" but we decided to pass on it. It was regular easy recipes only with photos of Star Wars action figures.

I can tell I've been sitting too long. I have to get up now. Maybe I can carve stamps standing upright?

Hope you have a great Monday!

The Mist

Rating:	★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Horror

Why did I waste 2 hours of my life?!

I admit DH is more the Stephen King fan than I am, but I was looking forward to seeing this movie. I was really disappointed. It wasn't even a good cheesy scary movie. It was just a disturbing study on how fear turns people into lunatics. It wasn't even really a good commentary on that either.

The movie is bent- evil wins. Its not the first time King has ended a story this way, but it just really disappoints me when he does. I was left with the same anger and resentment I had after watching "Storm Of The Century." Granted I haven't read the print versions, but I can't help but feel so cheated.

What did I tell you!

Did I not predict more flowers were coming my way?! Hee, hee, 

Maybe it was because he was jealous of the Christmas cactus flower on Thursday night?

Maybe it was because I baked him kick butt cookies?

Or maybe its because he had to work today, and he missed me as much as I missed him!

Low Fat cookie chip cookies

I tweaked a recipe to try and make chocolate chip cookies less bad for you. I can't say they are healthy, but this recipe makes them less evil. My family expects a fresh baked, home made cookie once a week. With this recipe I feel less guilty, although I have to admit, this recipe makes less than my typical several dozen. Maybe that's a bonus too. Less cookies to consume overall!

Chocolate Chip Cookies- Low fat

1/3 C brown sugar
1/3 C white sugar
2 T melted butter
3 t vanilla extract
2 egg whites
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 1/4 C flour
1/3 C chocolate chips
1/4 C chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350. With an electric mixer, mix sugars, butter and vanilla until well blended. Add egg whites and mix 2-3 minutes on high. Add in baking soda & salt. Slowly add flour, chips and pecans. Drop by spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicon baking sheet. If you don't have these, use non-stick spray.

Bake for 10-12 minutes. Makes 18-24 cookies depending on the size of your spoonful. The size in the photo made 18. They came out very yummy considering there isn't very much butter in them, and they still tasted like typical chocolate chip cookies.

How I torture my children.....

(Ironic title given the previous blog post, I know, but it got your attention.)

I'm dragging their butts to craft stores! Mwa,ha,ha....

I plan on hitting Hobby Lobby first. I've been wanting to check them out, but I usually don't think of it until Sundays, the day they are closed. I haven't really shopped a Hobby Lobby before and there's a brand new store near us.

Next on the list is the serious craft store, where most likely I will drop my serious cash. Its a 30 minute drive, but I love shopping the Nasco factory outlet store in Fort Atkinson. They give a homeschooling discount too! They have two outlets within one block and if you don't see what you want in the store, they will hand pick your order from their warehouse. I love Nasco!  We usually make an event of it and grab lunch out.

I need this craft store shopping pick me up after yesterday's snowfall. Its so depressing to look at my swing and realize its going to be out of commission for even longer. Look at my sad flower boxes too. :(  The snow should melt this weekend, but then it will be rainy.

Last night I got another Christmas Cactus flower from a nice homeschooling family that comes to the pool for lessons. Isn't it beautiful! I walked in the door last night and DH's first words were, "Who gave you that!" Ahhh...jealousy. Hmmm... I wonder if more blooms will be in my future?  I told him it was from a homeschooling family. They are really great kids and really great swimmers. I think in a few years they will be ready to become teachers themselves and they'll be my co-workers!

DS12 has a sleepover tonight. :( My gut reaction of course was- ITS FAMILY FUN NIGHT- but I have to let him go. He's growing up. So it will be DH, me and baby (DS9) makes 3. We'll watch the Badgers win and eat finger food for supper. For some odd reason, DH is craving Tator Tots. I don't think I've had these since I was a kid.

I'm sure after the victory we'll watch Corneil and Bernie cartoons. DS9 got several DVDs in his Easter basket. (Gotta love shopping Preplayed for used DVDs!) Hopefully tonight I'll be carving away at stamps too.

Have a great weekend! Peace and blessings!

This is a tragedy...

I just knew when I first heard about this story, I was afraid you'd find the mention of homeschooling in there somewhere. Sure enough, its there.

To all non-homeschooling people, I want to say- We are not all like this! I take my children to the doctor every year for wellness checkups. When they show signs of illness, I take them to the doctor. As a Christian I do pray for them, but I also believe God blesses us with talented doctors and life saving medicines!

The fact this girl was homeschooled has nothing to do with her death. If she would have been attending school, I'm sure her parents would have called in sick for her.

The overwhelming majority of homeschoolers are not hiding their children away, abusing and neglecting them! The media just loves to point fingers when an alternative family has a tragedy.

I'm praying for this family and I hope you do too. I just have to wonder if they were in denial she was that ill.

click here
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http://www.charter.net/news/news_reader.php?storyid=14509490&feedid=248

What am I going to do with this cat?!

I almost bought a Japanese Peace Lily today. They had them for $12.99 at the Piggly Wiggly, and there was a beautiful plant over 3 feet tall. I was very close to grabbing it, but then I wondered if they are poisonous to cats. Came home and Googled. Yup. No Peace Lily for us.

Yumi most definitely would try to eat it. She's an indoor kitty, but she constantly tries to get outside and the second she does, she eats grass. I have grown kitty grass for her inside, but she eats it so quickly it never really flourishes.

Last night she tried to break through the window and attack the Tom cat visiting on the back deck. She completely freaked out, howling and clawing at the window. Goofball! I don't know what we'll do when its warm enough to open the window. She'll probably claw through the screen. DH thinks we can never bring another cat home or she'd rip it to shreds. 

I discovered last night I need to create a book wish list and keep it in my organizer. I get this kind of amnesia when I enter a book store. I can't remember any of the books I want! I'm like a deer in the headlights. I had a 40% off coupon for Half Price Books, and I had 30 minutes. I caved and bought a Kingfisher ancient history book for our homeschooling stash. It is a cool book, covering each continent, but I probably could find something like this at the library. I'll have a chance to redeem myself on Sunday. I have another coupon for 50% off on that day.

We're heading out to homeschool gym class and then to hang out with homeschooled friends. It will be a nice break from the Posse Rat crew this week. Its been spring break in our town and the word is out we have Super Smash Brothers. This week has reminded me I need to make summer plans or my house will be over run.

Rain

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Music
Genre:	Other
Artist:	Joe Jackson

DH was more the Joe fan than I was in high school. He's kept track of him over the years and he's picked up tickets for us to see his Milwaukee show coming up soon. He also ordered Joe's latest CD, Rain. I have been listening to this non stop, every morning. I'm hooked! It makes me want to sell the kids and buy a piano! Maybe in my after mom life, I will take up piano again so I can play along with Joe. :)

This may just work....

I've been watching the "I Can Make You Thin" show on the TLC channel featuring Paul McKenna. Once I got over the irritating, infomerical style of the program, my ears really perked up for his message.

The first show covered the 4 basics;

Eat when you are hungry

Eat what you want

Eat consciously

Stop when you are full

This sounds too easy right. Well, I've been trying it. It seems to be working.

I wait for true hunger, not emotional hunger. True hunger comes on after some time, emotional hunger is instant. I eat what I'm craving, only I've completely changed how I eat it. Eating consciously means you slow down, (really slow), eat without distractions, chewing each bite 20 times. You place your fork down between bites.

The first thing I noticed was its hard to chew oatmeal or soup 20 times. The second thing I noticed was distraction was everywhere! If the TV was off, I was still looking around for something to read, something to stare at and study. So I decided to either close my eyes or stare at my food. I can't chew oatmeal 20 times a bite, but I could hold the food in my mouth a little longer, really tasting it.

What also surprised me is it doesn't take very much food at all before you can feel full! From that very first breakfast, I was stunned I was full after eating maybe 5 or 6 bites. I could always finish an entire bowl (1/2 c) of oatmeal, but now I was asking myself, do I need to? I was full. If I get hungry again later, I'll make more oatmeal.

After a few days of feeling bad about the food I was leaving on my plate, I decided to take smaller portions to start with. I also switched to smaller bowls. I no longer eat past the point of being full because of guilt or even because if I don't, I'll be hungry later. So what. Getting hungry later will be a good thing because I can then eat something different!

Eating slower has really awakened my taste buds too. Have you tried to really keep a piece of donut in your mouth for very long? It doesn't actually taste very good after that initial sweet. Same with french fries. Chew one 20 times and you'll see what I mean.

The second program dealt with emotional eating. This is huge for me. I was eating when I was not only sad but also when I was happy! I had fooled my body into thinking feeling emotion meant eating. Finding your true hunger takes a little practice after years of eating when emotional.

Paul suggested using a tapping technique when you get stressed. Its kind of strange, but it does work. You tap your cheek, tap your collar bone, tap your cheek, tap your hand, close your eyes still tapping, look down right, look down left, circle your eyes, hum a tune and count to 5, hum again. Something is suppose to happen in your brain to relax you. Personally it just distracts me from feeling the stress.

His next show is this Sunday night at 8:00pm. I'm going to keep trying it and hope the rest of my family gives it a try too.

I Am Legend

Rating:	★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Science Fiction & Fantasy

If the creatures were actors in makeup, I would have given this movie 3 stars. I'm done with CGI. Hollywood needs to go back to using real actors, with real hearts and souls. I felt like the creatures were copied from the screaming mummy guy in "The Mummy." Think how scary "28 Days Later" was! Why didn't they use real actors? How can I be afraid of a cartoon monster?

And I had trouble buying the fact this man was intelligent enough to survive the end of the world while working in a basement lab, researching a cure, but not intelligent enough to stop from walking directly into a trap.

I think I liked the version with Vincent Price better. I'll have to watch Omega man soon.

Ran-dum thoughts....

I want more time to read my book.

I need more time to make my ATCs.

I want to set up bird feeders and play in the yard.

I want to call my mom.

She's not answering her cell.

I still have laundry... and dishes.... and a cluttered kitchen.

My closet looks like its thrown up because its choking on winter clothes even though my heart wants to hang up my capris and short sleeve shirts.

I have to pay bills, but I want to go shopping.

I should run to the grocery store, but I don't know what to make for supper.

If I feed them leftovers will they know I love them?

I have to carve stamps and write Letterboxing clues.

How many more days until my workshop?

The Posse Rats are here.

I should try that tapping technique I saw last night on "I can make you thin."

I have to move my art supplies off of the table.

I still have one more ATC to make.

Maybe I should brew another pot of green tea?

It was decaffeinated. I swear!

Have I brushed my teeth today?

Maybe I can find a little more creative juice to finish up that last card now.

Atonement

Rating:	★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Romance

I'm being generous giving it 2 but 1 seems mean. I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but I really didn't like this movie. Maybe seeing the perfume ad ruined it for me. Maybe she needed to drink a milkshake or two? Maybe Mr. Tumnus really isn't sexy? I just couldn't get into it.

First Day of Spring....

Ahhh.... Such a lovely first day of spring! We don't need tulips and daffodils. Why would I want to feel grass between my toes? Isn't it more fun to pull on snow boots over two layers of socks?

Actually I feel really bad for the migratory birds that have already made their way this far. They are probably so confused right now. "Did we fly the right direction?"

I'm staying in today baking chocolate chip pies to stuff my family members with at Easter celebrations. The good thing about today's storm is it should be over by tomorrow. I'm also grateful it's hitting us on Good Friday. DH is home from work! Yeah!

More great news! The Badgers won last night!! I had to stop watching at the half because I was scared they'd blow it. The boys and I retreated into the bedroom to watch Shredderman. After the game DH and the boys headed to the boycave to celebrate the victory with a few rounds of pinball on the Wii. I passed out asleep.

DS12 has decided to write a book and doesn't want to use the PC. He wants to use my old typewriter. He says he likes the feel of the keys and their strike on the page. (I can't help but remember he's recently watch Misery with DH.) He has decided to write it with the chapters in chaotic order, for example, chapter 17 first, then chapter 3, then chapter 21 etc. This sounds really ambitious. I don't think I could write this way. I'd have to write the book in order and then rearrange them. It will be interesting to see if he is successful, but one thing is for sure. It will teach him more about writing.

Well the rest of my crew is now awake. I'm off to heat up the oven and get the pies baking.

Schooled

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Childrens Books
Author:	Gordon Korman

DS12- Its a really good book. I would recommend it to others. But the only bad thing about it, is the ending.

DS9- 2 stars- I thought it was kinda of lame because an 8th grader drives a bus.

Me- 2.5 stars- I would have enjoyed this book much more if I hadn't read the last chapter. It sells out big time! I had expected the homeschooling stereotypes, but this kid is not just homeschooled but isolated from almost all other people. Most homeschoolers we know, ourselves included, are very much out and about, socializing with all kinds of people of many different ages. The main character in this book, Capricorn Anderson, is made into a completely naive, innocent creature. He doesn't know he's being picked on.

He does become the hero of the story, but the last chapter is so terrible, it ruins the glory.

I think DS12 enjoyed it because it gave him a look into what middle school life is like. The clicks, the bullying, the stress... it was all very factual. But what happens in that last chapter is completely out of character for the main character's grandmother.

I got the feeling, even after pointing out the many disadvantages of institutionalized education, the author didn't want to offend it. After painting such a truthful picture of school, he didn't really do the same for homeschooling. Homeschooling, even though it equipped Capricorn Anderson with the skills necessary to survive a drastic change in lifestyle, the author couldn't bring himself to write a better solution for Cap in the last chapter. It doesn't make smart sense to abandon what has worked out so well, and choose an option that has proven otherwise.

My hearing is now coming back....

The concert was brilliant! As you can see, I scored a pick! I have the body damage deserving of it too.

My ears still a have a little ring. In all my excitement, I had left the ear plugs in my jacket pocket which was left in the car since we were so close to the stage door. In fact, we scored a parking spot right next to the tour bus! I was almost geek enough to knock on the bus door and play groupie, but DH reminded me it was 2008. I was now 39, not 26.

More proof I'm 39 is the fact I pulled a calf muscle jumping up and down. My other injury is my forearms. I have bruises from where I was up against the security rail. Yes, we had prime, up front, almost can touch the band, positions! I was even hit with sweat! LOL!!!!

We met some interesting characters. There was Mario. He said he had purchased late lead singer Shannon's Galaxy convertible on Ebay. He offered me a ride in it. I passed.

Then there was drunk Emily. She has just now gotten over Shannon's death. (12 years ago). She was in Jr. High when he died. When I told her my name, she thought I was a hippie child.

The opening band was Rufus Trees. They were pretty good. Their mikes weren't the best but from the few lyrics I could make out, I thought they may be a Christian band. I checked on the internet and they are. I was directly in front of the lead guitarist, and I think he's attended Jack Black's School Of Rock. Once I got over his characteristic guitar moves, I grew to appreciate his enthusiasm. Be free to rock dude! Don't care how you look!

I followed his lead and when Blind Melon took the stage, I let my rock Goddess out. I'm actually surprised I didn't end up with a neck injury from my head banging. I hope I get the chance to rock out again soon!

Rendition

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Drama

Stayed up late to watch Rendition with DH. It was worth the sacrifice of a few extra hours of sleep. It's really brilliant!

I'm on dessert....

At both upcoming Easter family gatherings, I'm assigned to bring dessert. I thought about baking chocolate chip pies, but realizing we're going to have so much food, I thought I'd make tiny pies or tarts.

I made a test batch, and DH loved them as much as a regular piece of pie!

The hard part of making them tiny was using my Grandmother's tart molds. The hearts came out well, but the other shapes I really had to bang those little tarts out. I used non-stick spray but they still stuck. If I make hearts do you think my family will think I'm stuck back on Valentine's Day? I wish I could call Mormor up in heaven and ask her how she used these molds without sticking.

Here's the recipe if you're interested. I must say the whole pie version is easier.

Chocolate Chip Pie

1 unbaked 9" deep dish frozen pie crust or a rolled, refrigerated unbaked pie crust
2 L eggs
1/2 C flour
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C brown sugar
2/3 C butter, softened (1.5 sticks)
3/4 C chocolate chips
1 C chopped pecans

Preheat oven on 325 F
- Beat the eggs until frothy
- cream together sugars and butter
-mix eggs with creamed sugars and butter
-add flour, chips and pecans

Pour into the pie crust, place pie tin on a cookie sheet and bake 60 minutes

or

Allow the refrigerated, rolled pie crust to come to room temperature and then unroll.

Cut out shapes and press into tart molds- sprayed with non-stick spray or greased

Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 30 minutes

Carefully remove cookie sheets from the oven and allow pie or tarts to cool 10 minutes or so before trying to move them

Warm pie is good, but we like it after its been chilled too! Since the frozen pie shells come two to a package, I often double this batch and make two pies. They freeze very well!

DS12's fact of the day...

"Hey Mom, Did you know a female cockroach can lay eggs without sperm?"

"What do you mean? Do they store the sperm? How are the eggs fertilized?"

"She can make babies with her own unfertilized eggs, only they will all be female like her."

"You're kidding me!"

DS12 has been reading A Field Guide To Household Bugs. I hope we don't have any roaches lurking about!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We're not really planning anything special today. I have to clean because the MIL is coming, and I'm helping out at work tonight. Tomorrow will be better. DH is off and we're heading to the Blind Melon concert!!!

Yesterday I scored at SuperWalmart. I normally don't shop there, but my first store of choice didn't have the Super Smash Brawl cheat guides. (Shhhh. Its an Easter present for DS12!) I found a mini trampoline on sale for $15!! I had been thinking of getting the boys something to bounce around on for exercise.

The legs screwed on pretty quick and DS9 says he really likes it. He's not coordinated enough to jump rope so this is the next best thing. He can bounce while watching TV or with a game controller in his hands.

We're trying to find more ways to get moving in our family. Our doctor recommended we take DS9 to see a nutritionist, but I found out its not covered by insurance. Obesity isn't covered but if he had diabetes, he'd be covered. That doesn't make any sense to me. You would think the insurance company would want to help us lose weight so we don't become diabetic!

I also found out seeing the speech therapist isn't going to be covered either. "Is his stuttering due to an injury or acute illness?" Are you kidding me? Not many people I know stutter because they've fallen down or have a virus.

Our library finds this past weekend- The 3 Hour Diet Cookbook by Jorge Cruise, Feed Your Family Right by Elisa Zied and Ruth Winter, The Art of Homemade Bread by Dan Lepard, Body The Complete Human by National Geographic, Athletic Fitness for Kids by Scott Lancaster and Radu Teodorescu, A Field Guide To Household Bugs by Joshua Abarbanel and Jeff Swimmer, and Star Wars Jedi Vs Sith The Essential Guide to the Force by Ryder Windham. I also checked out again, Mommy Millionaire by Kim Lavine.

Well, I better start cleaning.  Hope you have a great St. Patrick's Day!

RIP Chihiro...

Chihiro, our mouse, has left us to join her sisters in heaven. She was the most gentle of her sisters, Cheddar and Chocolate, and she lived the longest. The good old girl held out for the ground to thaw. We thought we'd lose her months ago.





We built her a bio-degradable coffin out of a Girl Scout cookie box. Her shroud was a paper towel, also bio-degradable. Our hope is that her body will nourish the earth and join with the tree. She would have liked that.