Rainy Day

Once again it's a wet, miserable day fit only for snuggling up under a fuzzy blanket with a cup of hot tea and a good book.....and that's exactly what I've done today. I sat out in the sun room, listening to the rain gently hitting the roof (and dripping into the bowl....never install a skylight in your sun room) and watching the birds while between pages. This would not normally be my routine. Yesterday Dr. Rauch told me I have bronchitis, prescribed an antibiotic Z medication and cough syrup with codeine, and told me to REST and drink lots of fluids. I'm glad it's raining because it would be hard for me to stay down otherwise. Tomorrow I'll be back to my routine, whether I'm ready or not.

I hope that you are all able to do something comforting today.

shel

p.s. Our lawn was dried and cracked, so I can't really complain about the rain. I planted grass seed in the back a few days ago so this will really help it take off. The tomatoes are ready to be picked again, but I don't want to go out in the damp air. I hope they don't start to crack due to the excess moisture.

Busy Times, Sleepy Times

Oh, how I wanted that ADM job. Guess it wasn't meant to be, as I received a "Dear John" e-mail from them last Friday. Man, how I wanted that job. I had already ruled out the Community Action job as it was past the deadline for receiving their call.

I was really bummed for a few days, feeling totally worthless and loser-like. Max was definitely NOT supportive. He headed downstairs as soon as I teared up (as in my voice went up an octave and my eyes started watering.) A few days later I got a call from Community Action...I got the job! I will start on Monday, October 5. I'm kind of nervous, but I plan on giving this job 100%. (Happy Dance is inserted here!)

Right now I'm coughing like a hyena on pepper. I can't stop. I've been coughing so hard that my jaw pops out (I have TMJ) and my head hurts. I made a Dr. appointment for tomorrow afternoon. I am guessing Bronchitis (is that spelled correctly?) or pneumonia. Today was the first day I ran a temperature. I haven't changed any plans thus far, but I'm worried that I won't feel well enough to go on Jaden's field trip to Weldon Springs tomorrow. I took Ady when she was in preschool, so I was hoping to continue the tradition with Jaden. It would be a blast.

When I haven't had Gabe, I've been asleep. Usually sleep is the only way that I can heal. It doesn't seem to be working this time as I am still coughing constantly. I haven't even been able to do the work-out video CD thing.

The Sears repairman came to the house on Monday. He wasn't able to fix the lawnmower completely, however. I didn't go outside (Max was on vacation again, so he went out) but from what I understand he didn't order enough parts. We're another $80 in the hole for the repairs, and I still can't mow. It's frustrating. He ordered the part and told Max how to install it. That REALLY worries me!!! What can I say...he's not the most mechanically-inclined man by far.

The Sears representative read my blog and called to talk to me last week about my disappointment in the design of the Craftsman Anniversary Edition mower. It felt good to air my grievances, even thought it probably won't make a difference in future mower designs. He did offer to send me a Sears gift card. In that aspect, they are trying to make things better.

There have been so many things happening this week that I just can't remember them. (Well, that and the fact that I'm doped up on NyQuil and ready to nod off.

It's my parent's anniversary today. I need to hang up here and give them a call. Having dial-up sucks....having only one phone line sucks, too.

Happy autumn (I hate autumn)
shel

Today's Interview

Well, today was the big day...I had my interview at ADM. It was quite interesting, and somewhat fattening. We taste-tested everything from chocolate chip cookies to peanut butter, smelled cotton balls, and drank questionable liquids. I don't consider myself a picky eater, but I'm really not crazy about chocolate milk or Cheese Nips. That's right...we tasted and compared different brands of both items. Ugh.

The best part was a sample test. I guessed correctly that the last cup of dark m&m's matched the first cup. The word "dark" printed under the 'm' was a clear giveaway.

The HR people will call Friday afternoon if they are interested in me. If not, I will get an e-mail Monday afternoon with the usual Dear John letter. Sixty-seven people applied for 12 positions (plus two more for another department). Keep your fingers crossed that I'll be chosen, okay? I would really like this job.

Hoping you're all enjoying your jobs to the fullest extent of the law!!
shel

Garden Gab

Today I picked fifteen of the most beautiful tomatoes I've ever seen. Unfortunately, like with so many humans, their beauty was only skin deep. I've eaten four tomatoes, and every one has been bland and tastes like a January grocery store version. I know that tomatoes like hot summer days and warm summer nights, so basically we're all screwed in central Illinois. On the bright side, my electric bill has been low!

I also picked four sweet banana peppers and two 'Chocolate Soldiers', which are black peppers (like green bell peppers, but black...they taste marvelous.) A few weeks ago I lost my favorite sunglasses, and today I found them among the tomatoes. I guess the fates were smiling on me today.

My asters are budding nicely, and some of the early mums are really showing off their colors. Everything else is just sort of limping along. I did get weed & feed put on the front lawn today, but ran out before I could get to the sides. Next week I am going to seed the back, where the dogs run wild.

Little Gabe just went to sleep, so I am going to brush my teeth and climb in bed with a good book. It's hard telling how long he'll be down.

Tomorrow I have my ADM interview. I'm very excited about the prospect of working as a taster.

Life is good.

shel

A Weekend Gone Wrong

Darn the luck!! I had SUCH an exciting weekend planned, but a bug hit, and with a vengeance. I spent Friday night at my sister Shannon' s house while they had a romantic evening away. Unfortunately, I was on the bathroom floor most of the time.

I haven't thrown up since about 6:30 p.m., so it's apparent I'm on the road to recovery. For now I'd rather go to bed and just dream about the blogs I'm going to type.

I hope no one catches my cooties.

shel

Computer Blues & General Update

Well, I've done it again. I tried to hook up Xanado to my computer (oh, how I long to be off of dial-up) and messed up my computer. After many hours of cursing, I was able to do a system restore to go back to the day before I hooked up Xanado. I am finally able to get online. Yippee!

The Sears repair man had bad news. My lawnmower is in bad shape. The last time Max put new blades on it, he didn't put them on correctly, so the star-shaped bumpy things that rotate the blades got worn off. The shafts need to be replaced. I had to pay over $200 up front, and will have to shell out another hundred when the repair man works his magic. I really miss having a lawnmower, and am regretting purchasing this Craftsman.

The same day the Sears repair man was here, the Dick Van Dyke guy came. My extra fridge in the garage is kaput. It would cost $150 to replace the two pieces that are burnt out, but in all likelihood they would burn out again because the compressor is probably shot. A new compressor would cost $500. It's just not worth it. I'm going to try to give it away on Freecycle if Chuck doesn't want it.

On the GOOD news side........
Shannon and Rick are going to a Winery for the night and asked me to babysit Phoebe. I'm so excited I'm giggly. Their place is like a spa...I can go there, sit in the sun room and read my book, take Phoebe for a walk, and drink hot tea all night while I soak in the tub. I love going there.

Bryan has been ill but is now feeling better. Darn cold! Little Gabe is sleeping on Max's chest right now. I don't' know which one is snoring louder.

The garden is actually starting to put out. I got ONE zucchini yesterday, and picked four tomatoes the day before. If I got out later on today I will probably get a dozen more tomatoes. They are finally starting to turn. They look beautiful, but still have that grocery-store taste. I never thought that I would wish for hot weather, but the tomatoes just aren't the same without it.

Last night I repotted Erin's peace lily (the poor thing will probably die as it was rather abused when I got it) and two of my three Christmas Cactus. I set the CC's outside so that they will bloom during the holidays. By putting them outside, they are subjected to the shorter days and cool night temperatures, which is required for bud formation.

Dad had surgery for his cataract. He's doing well. I will go over there Saturday to pick up their lawn mower. My grass is long and is in dire need of a haircut.

Oops, the cell phone just made the 'you have a message' noise, so I'd better sign off. Someone may be trying to call me on my home phone, and I have only one line.

Hope you are all enjoying yourselves.

shel

Stoneless Soup

There's a children's storybook entitled 'Stone Soup'. It is about a wandering man with a sharp brain and an empty stomach. He tricks the villagers into making soup for him...his addition to the pot is a stone, and everyone else brings veggies or broth.

I recently attended a meeting with Dean Adams. He is always full of interesting stories. This time he told about his grandmother's soup which, in his opinion, was the best soup ever created. The secret? His grandmother always put ALL leftovers into a huge container in the freezer. When the container was full, she would empty the container into a stock pot and add a can or two of diced tomatoes and throw in a fistful of spices.

I decided that, in these hard economic times, I should give it a try.

My most recent pot of soup contained leftover pork chops that were fixed on the fire pit (I diced the meat finely), about a half cup of shredded beef, quite a bit of leftover roast chicken, part of a can of corn, two whole potatoes that were roasted with the chicken, some green beans, part of a package of Healthy Choice veggies (I think it was white beans and yellow carrots), a cup or so of pork fried rice, and some Mongolian beef. In my opinion a meal isn't a meal unless onion is on the menu, so I chopped up a small yellow onion to add to the broth. I also added the leftover chili and about two cups of tomato juice (leftover from making chili the day before.) To add even more flavor, I added sweet basil, fresh and dried garlic (no wonder no one ever wants to kiss me with all of the garlic & onion that I eat!) and some freshly ground black pepper.

I let the soup simmer on low heat for an entire day. When it was dinner time, I ladled soup into my Campbell's mug (I still think of Phyllis when I use it) and added freshly chopped onion for a little crunch. Instead of crackers, I like to tear up a piece of bread in my soup. MMMMMMMM. The soup was delicious, even without a stone!

I've had many meals off of it including breakfast!

Thanks to Dean for giving me the idea for this soup. It uses up leftovers (Max hates to eat leftovers) and is relatively good for me.

In the meantime, I have started another big Rubbermaid container. There's a few pieces of leftover steak from the fire pit and a bit of corn and green beans. By the time it's full it will be chilly outside and the stoneless soup will be a welcome treat.

Happy eating to all of my family & friends.

shel

Plight of the Bumblebee continued

I forgot to add that another reason for bee decline could be the excessive use of pesticides. I try to keep Round-Up usage to a minimum, but I tended to use more this year because of the rapid weed growth. I would never, ever spray if there is an insect present, but farmers don't have that option. Whether death by pesticide is the cause of the shortage of bees or not is hard to tell.

I avoid using insecticides outside as well. If there's a spider around an area where he shouldn't be I either move him with a stick or, if he's particularly evil looking, squish him. Otherwise I don't want to kill outdoor insects. (If I were to find termites, however, all bets are off...spray those bast#$&!!!)

shel

Plight of the Bumble Bee

My zucchini crop is nonexistent. The plants bloom beautifully, but that's about all happens. My hypothesis is that the blooms are not getting pollinated, therefore fruit does not develop.

I decided to do a little investigative work, so camera in hand, I toured the yard. After nearly 15 minutes I had discovered only one bumble bee and one honey bee. Usually the sedum are covered. Here is a picture of the bee on a morning glory.

In the spring the power plant had an infestation of wild honey bees that had swarmed on a portion of fencing. It was not in a location where people would be bothered by the bees, but the poor things were sprayed and killed anyway. How foolish the men were to have killed such helpful creatures! I have learned that it was not illegal for them to do so. Their reasoning was that it was better to loose the life of a colony of bees than for one bee to terminate the life of one allergic human. (Depends on the human!!!!)

Our wild colonies that were in the woods behind us are gone. I don't know if they succumbed to the virus that is destroying many of the colonies that beekeepers own, or if it was the extremely wet spring & summer that caused a fungus. There's no aardvarks or bears (supposedly) in the area so I have to rule out the natural predator thought. Birds just wouldn't be able to wipe out so many colonies.

I hope that I just picked a bad bee observing day. Since I will be outside painting the yucky fence in back...I hate that fence...I will keep my eyes and ears open for my buzzy friends.

Happy gardening,

shel