I Won!

I entered four photos into the fair photography contest, and two of them placed!  It was my first time ever entering anything, so I was stunned and delighted!

This one took second place (!!) in the "plant world, other" category:

This one took first place (!!!) in the "humorous" category:

Looking Back

This week has been an odd one, getting used to Jack being gone, and trying to get back into good routines.  The past two weeks were filled with much worry over JackJack and affected me more than I realized at the time.

Both of the other kitties have adjusted well to Jack being gone.  They, too, knew it was time.  I'm surprised at how much more peaceful our home has been this week.  That shows just how restless he was from pain and stress.  Knowing that has been confirmation of our decision.

I was so exhausted by Wednesday, after the vet on Monday and grocery shopping on Tuesday, that I skipped the noon Communion service.  I always feel a bit empty for the rest of the week when I do that.

This past week I:

• made delicious oatmeal cookies from this recipe
• moved three of four bookcases into our closet room, and began filling them with clothes
• added another three-drawer rolly thingee to the closet room and filled it with clothes from the dresser
• filled the empty dresser drawers with blankets
• began to organize my craft supplies and photo props on shelves my husband built for me
• read two books and listened to two audio books
• baked my favorite crustless quiche, using tomatoes, broccoli, cheddar and fresh herbs from Mom's garden
• began and finished The Frosted Pumpkin's Greetings from the Beach pattern

I think the pufferfish is my favorite.

A layer of cheese on the bottom makes a type of crust.  

Next week I would like to:

• Mop that blasted kitchen floor; it keeps getting bumped to the bottom of the list.
• move the last bookshelf to the closet room
• get all the clothes and blankets into their new places on bookshelves
• not miss a day taking photos (I've only missed two days this month and that was this past week)
• reorganize the kitchen cabinets, if Mom has time to help

I am thankful for:

• the support of friends and family during our difficult time with our vet
• books to read and the time to read them
• recipes that I can use successfully 
• a toaster oven to use when the big oven goes wonky
• a husband that will build shelves for me
• that touch of autumn in the air

Looking Back

I am replacing my "Friday Fives" with "Looking Back"; explanation here.

1. Took down the utility shelves from the former office, now dining room and moved them to the basement.
2. Set up new plastic shelves in the new dining room to be a pantry.
3. With Mom's help, arranged the new pantry.
4. Took a photo every day this week!  (Every day this month, so far!!)
5. Completed week four of The Frosted Pumpkin's Summer Sampler.

It is hard to pick a favortie from this particular week, but
it is probably this cranky marshmallow.

1. Homemade (by me, no less) chocolate almond pudding.
2. Made a wonderful crustless quiche with Mom's garden-fresh herbs and tomatoes.
3. A fantastic thunderstorm, enjoyed with my husband.
4. The delicious Indian spiced garbanzo bean dish I made.
5. Excellent close-out deals on craft supplies at Target.

1. The kitchen needs to be mopped even more, now!
   And guess how badly it needs it NOW!
2. Move the pantry to it's new home in the dining room, which requires a first step of. . .
   Done!
3. . . . taking down the utility shelves used in the former office so that the pantry shelves can be put up, which requires a first step of. . .
   Done!
4. Finding a new home, even if just temporary, for the things on the utility shelves in the former office.
   Done!
5. The bathroom needs an extra good cleaning, since this week was otherwise occupied.
   Done!
6. (bonus goal: be less cranky!)
   I think I was somewhat better this week. =D

1. Mop the kitchen!!
2. Move the unused bookcases into our "closet room" so they can become shelving for pjs, tee shirts and jeans, which first requires. . . 
3. Moving out the tiny dresser, which first requires. . . 
4. Moving the hermit crab tank to the larger dresser, which first requires. . . 
5. Taking down the un-sturdy mesh shelving that is currently housing the above (#2) clothing.

One of the photos I took this week; the baker's twine is
"Midnight Blue" from the Twinery.

1. My camera.
2. Recipes I can follow.
3. Cards from friends.
4. Spices!
5. Audio books.

In an effort to reflect more positively on what I accomplish and to plan goals more reasonably, I'm going to start writing out and looking back on my weekly goals.

My Friday Fives (a day late)

Good grief what a week!  The fact that this is a day late. . . well, let's just say that the fact it's posted at all is pretty amazing!

My husband had the week off and we did quite a bit around the house; we are exhausted!  I've been an extra trial to him, on top of the work, by being cranky most of the week.  I should add "be less cranky" to my goals for next week!

St. John is now 11 months old!  He is finally slowing down and beginning to show some lazy cat-like behavior!  He was napping right before I took these, but he tends to show that pretty white tum to lure me in, so he can eat my hands when I try to pet it!

Doncha wanna pet my belly?!?!

1. Moved the couch out of the living room and into the "sun room/Florida room".
2. Moved the office out of the dining room and into the former living room.
3. Moved the dining room table out of the Florida room and into the the dining room.
4. Made a chocolate pie for my husband for our anniversary.
5. Still miraculously managed two doctor's appointments, grocery shopping, a vet visit and one load of laundry!

1. Mom's homemade copycat Frosty--yummy!
2. A trip to the hobby store.
3. A free birthday iced, half-caf, soy vanilla latte from Starbucks!
4. A free birthday (turkey) burger with freckled fruit from Red Robin!
5. Five rolls of Washi tape picked out by my husband for me!

1. Move office to living room area.
2. Move couch to "Florida room".
3. Move dining table to former office.

We completed the only three goals I set for this week, and I am quite proud of our efforts!

1. The kitchen needs to be mopped even more, now!
2. Move the pantry to it's new home in the dining room, which requires a first step of. . .
3. . . . taking down the utility shelves used in the former office so that the pantry shelves can be put up, which requires a first step of. . . 
4. Finding a new home, even if just temporary, for the things on the utility shelves in the former office.
5. The bathroom needs an extra good cleaning, since this week was otherwise occupied.
6. (bonus goal: be less cranky!)

big yawn from Jack

1. Family that loves me, even when I struggle.
2. sweet kitties
3. tomatoes
4. books to read and. . . 
5. . . . time to read them

In an effort to reflect more positively on what I accomplish and to plan goals more reasonably, I'm going to start writing out My Friday Fives.

Brownies!

With  Mom's help today, I combined some recipes and made Marbled Cream Cheese Brownies.  It was my first time ever making homemade brownies(*see note), and I couldn't believe how easy they are to make.  I'm embarrassed that I ever used a mix!

Another first was that, to keep from heating up the kitchen, I baked them in my toaster oven.  A blogger I follow  had made brownies in her toaster oven once, and I was rather startled.  I thought it was just an appliance for melting cheese on nachos and toasting bread!

(Imagine my surprise when Mom informed me that she has been making her biscuits and cornbread in her toaster oven for quite some time.  Where have I been?!?!)

They turned out perfect in the toaster oven, the kitchen didn't get too hot (except for when Mom insisted on washing the dishes and heating up the kitchen anyway) and my recipe chimera turned out fantastic!

Chimera Brownies

Here is our version of the recipe; I used gluten free flour and added a dash of xantham gum (which I have been reliably informed equals 1/8 teaspoon).

Marbled Cream Cheese Brownies

1/2 cup melted butter

1 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1/2 cup flour

1/3 cup cocoa

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

Mix butter, sugar, vanilla; add eggs.  Mix well with whisk.  Mix dry ingredients; add to wet ingredients.  Put half to three-quarters of the brownie mix in the bottom of a  9 inch greased pan.

1/2 block softened cream cheese (save some just in case)

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1/4 tsp vanilla

Mix all ingredients together with electric mixer until well blended (add more cream cheese if needed to thicken--I needed a bit more to balance off my large egg); pour on top of brownie mixture.  Marble in remaining brownie mixture.

Bake in non-preheated oven on 350 for 20-25 minutes.
----------
*note:
Mom says she remembers me making brownies in my teens, particularly Texas Brownies, the ones that use strong coffee.  I remember baking many things from scratch: bread, cakes, petit fours, pies, cookies; just not brownies.  Mom's memory is to be trusted on this, and I've no doubt that I did make brownies.  In an embarrassing confession, I'll admit that as a result of my current medical difficulty, I experience hulking great chunks of lost memories (past and semi-present).  This happens to be one of them.  So, while I have obviously made brownies from scratch in the past, I have not made brownies from scratch and this was my very first time.  Hopefully that makes sense.

Summer's Blessings

I gripe a lot about the heat during the summer, because I hate the heat.  And because I hate the heat, I hate the summer.

But then there's this:

I guess if God can put the dratted heat of summer to good use, maybe he does have a plan for me?

Cookies and Tapes

I can mark off two things from this week's to-do list, and it's only Tuesday!

Yesterday, I tested and reviewed Pamela's Gluten Free Sugar Cookie Mix for the Amazon Vine Program.

I followed the directions explicitly and made the bar cookies. They were much more like shortbread in both taste and texture.  I was wowed by the biscuit mix by Pamela's that I tested, but these I could take or leave.  I scored the mix a 3 out of 5. If I am going buy a packaged mix for a sweet treat, I'll stick to Namaste brand brownie mix.  Those are quite yummy.

They make a great photo, though!

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Today, I swept the cobweb colony out of the corners of the living room, cleaned the ceiling fan and decorated it with Washi tape.  It looks as awesome as the bedroom!

 I used these three.  The bottom two are from Target; I prefer to use my Target Washi on big household projects because I know I can replace it easily.

The top one is Martha Stewart's Paper Tape.  Let me tell you a little about Martha Stewart's Paper Tape.

It is terrible.

First off, this is not Washi tape.  It doesn't say it is, and that is the one thing in it's favor.  But, naturally one assumes it is as many Washi tapes are referred to as "paper tape".

Well, this one is not.

Washi tape, for the uninitiated, is like masking tape.  It is pliable, it is transparent, it can be pulled up and restuck numerous times, and it can be written on. Masking tape is my go-to item and I use it all over the house, from cross-stitching to labeling boxes to holding cords up in the kitchen.  Love the stuff.

Washi tape is masking tape wearing a frilly dress.  It has all of masking tape's excellent qualities, plus exquisite beauty.  You can use it for pretty crafts as well as practical things.

Martha Stewart's Paper Tape is not any of those things mentioned.  Well, it's pretty, but that's it.

It has the texture of wax paper and so is too slick to be written on.

It has been my experience that Washi tapes sticks to everything perfectly, even after several reuses, except sawdusty wood (and a little wood glue fixed that).  This paper tape doesn't stick well the first time; you can forget a second time.  

Worst of all, this paper tape doesn't want to smooth out well.  It could just be my rolls, but it is pushed out on the roll at the top and bottom--yes, on the roll, before I even got it OFF the roll--and when I go to use it the top and bottom tend to curl up.

It has been a dismal disappointment.  Avoid it, but rush out to Target and buy as much of their tape as you can get your hands on and enjoy taping your entire house--like me!

Father's Day, and This Week in Review

In honor of Father's Day, here are two very important Fathers.

Me and My Dad

I never met my Father-in-law, and don't have a photo of him with my husband, but here he is at Fort Jackson, S.C. in the early 1950's.  He's the handsome man smoking a pipe, behind the desk. 

------------------------------------

About this week. . . .

This week has been a bit out-of-the-ordinary, so I'm behind on my spring cleaning schedule.  I'm not stressing over it, well I'm trying not to, because that's life!

My husband was on vacation Monday and Tuesday, and everything falls by the wayside when he is on vacation.  I spend the next day catching up on dishes, as I tend to just sit around with him when he is home.  I'm lucky in that I married my best friend--if the only downside is a messy house, so be it!

Mom came over Wednesday and gave me a hair cut.  I have naturally curly hair, and all my life it's been a trauma trying to find a professional to give me a decent cut.  So, for most of my life, Mom has cut it for me and done a darn good job.  We are living close together again after about 10 years, and after several years of lazy, long, just-pull-it-off-my face hair, I had her cut it into a stylish bob for me again.  It looks SO much better.  It feels better too--my hair is so thick and heavy, that it took an hour to thin it out.  There was probably a pound of hair in the trash can.  Every time I lifted the lid, my heart stopped!  It looked like a corpse was crammed in our trash can!  Anyway, my hair is so much nicer now; I'm so grateful that Mom is willing to take the time to cut it!

On Thursday, I was going to run errands, but slept late.  (I don't generally go to sleep before 3 a.m., and often later, so sleeping late can end up being quite late!)  Turned out to be a good thing, though, because a rare tornado came through our county right at the time I would have been out and about.  I was glad to be home; if I had been out, I would have been so worried about the cats!

Friday was errand day--just a quick trip out and back with time to work more on sorting books.  I'm trying to get them all ready for my husband's shelves.  I am disappointed that I didn't do more than daily dishes and sweeping (I haven't even cleaned the bathroom this week), but it was a short week and there is always next week.  It's not like the house is going anywhere!

Saturday we went for a lovely drive into the next county for fresh produce.  We got tomatoes, cucumbers, cantaloupes, Vidalia onions and apples.  I sure do hate hot weather y'all, but I sure do love the fruits of a growing season!

A road trip for us generally means taking cameras and stopping to snap any interesting thing we see.  That is one of my joys in life, and I'm so lucky he shares that pleasure too!

Mom's garden has already produced it's first mess of green beans.  They were yummy too!  I'm hoping her cucumbers will produce enough for me, too, as I never can get enough!

first fruits of Mom's garden

I've not been cross-stitching much this week, as I've been reading more than crafting.  I am still working on the frames for the Frosted Pumpkin's Summer Sampler, but I've not been working as steadily on it as I would like.  The first patterns will be released on June 21st, so I'd better get a move-on!

Uh-oh

Found this in our bedroom floor tonight.

Someone, somewhere, is missing a femur.

Did I mention I have a kitten?

---------------------------------

In other news, I visited two libraries today and checked out books at both.

The best part?  Neither library knows I have a relationship with the other.  *nod and wink*  Shhhhh. . .

In Which St. John Has a Big Week.....

and I have a low one

St. John
This week was a big week for the kitten!  He caught a lizard, a mouse, a roll of toilet paper and a snake.  Sadly, I was only able to save one of them, and it wasn't the roll of toilet paper!  I found the mouse the morning after it's demise (so that's what that noise was in the night!) and the lizard quite some time after his fatal ending.  I felt especially sorry for him--he had lots of tooth-marks in his soft self.  I think his passing might have been painful.  

We call them "lizards" (pronounced "lisssurd"), but I think they are actually Plestiodon skinks (the ones with the blue tails, but not "blue-tailed skinks" because I just now discovered that those only reside on Christmas Island; we are not residents of Christmas Island; so, if A = B, then C means that those skinks aren't "blue-tailed".  Or that we're due for another flood.  I'm not good at math.). (I am also, apparently not good at grammar, despite my claims to the contrary as I just ended that sentence with two, count 'em: two, periods.)

Sadly, we never see one with its tail to know for certain. However, we do sometimes see tails on their own, so perhaps we have skinks with blue tails and lizards without blue tails; we may even have originally tailless reptiles and reptiles that look like tails!  Who knows!

This currently tailless skink/lizard, however, was definitely dead.  And I was sorry!  (Nothing dies in my house, and definitely not by my hand, if I can prevent it in any way, unless it is a mosquito or ant; in that case, I am Death personified.)

The toilet paper was literally snatched out of my hand as I was trying to utilize said paper.  I had to ask for it back, because, well, I needed it, but lost it again while getting a few squares torn off.  By that time, it wasn't usable anymore.  After that incident, I started hiding the toilet paper.  It's no longer on the spindle-holder-thingee, but hidden in a hanging bag.  He watches me, greedily, as I take out and put up the paper, but so far he hasn't actually gotten into the bag.  Once he realizes how easy it is to do that, all bets are off.  I'll have to start using sandpaper, or air drying or something!

As for the snake. ..

What you can almost see through the frosted bowl is a snake, about two feet long.   

St. John brought it up from the basement for me to see.  I heard a wet "plop" sound, and thought "oh, another lizard/skink", and peered around the corner to see him playing with a piece of black tubing.  I thought, "where in the world did he get th-- holy cow, that's a snake!"  

I had just gotten up from a nap; how glad I am I was not still in bed, for I have no doubt he would have brought it on the bed for me to see.  

That kitten loved his snake!  I wish I could have gotten some video of him playing with it, but I was too busy having a "holy cow, there is a snake in the house" moment and saying "St. John, don't pull it!  St. John, don't bite it!  St. John, don't hurt it!" to think of videoing.  He pulled that pitiful snake and dragged it around and I was just hoping he didn't pull it too hard, because the only thing I hate worse than cleaning up cat puke is cleaning up more cat puke blood.  Happily, I was able to put the bowl over the poor thing, and save it from too much St. John lovin'.

St. John was extremely upset that I put a barrier between him and his toy, and in the photo he is trying to get it out. At the same time, the poor snake is very upset that it's trapped between a glass bowl and a crazy kitten, and it's trying to get out to somewhere without either.   

At one point, all three cats were positioned around the bowl, watching it, but I never could get a good photo of them all.

St. John's big week also included helping with laundry:

Apparently, it's important to get the cat hair on the clothing as soon as possible.

He also found a paper lantern I left on my desk and "helped" with it too:

He had so much fun with it, that we've ordered four more for him to have as toys.  I just hope he has as much fun with them as he did with this one!

Me
My week was not quite as big and exciting as his.
I got mosquito bit more times than I could count and far more than can remember happening before while were enjoying the night, Tuesday, and had an allergic reaction (something to do with producing too much histamine) and that made an already low week even lower.  These days/weeks happen, and this was one of them.

I did receive 25 rolls of Washi tape from DownTown Tape, though.  I was SO excited!  I won it in a contest earlier in the month.  DownTown Tape has the nicest I have used, and lots of varieties   Here are my gorgeous new rolls:

I am especially in love with the music notes, and all the polka dots, but there isn't one I said "ick" over.  Isn't Washi a dream?!

I started two Frosted Pumpkin projects this week, but don't have photos yet: the frames for the Summer Sampler and the June firefly for the Woodland Sampler.

I struggled to think of the one good thing that happened at the end of each day, and I'm struggling right now to remember any of those good things.  Like I said, it was one of those weeks.  

Thinking. .. 

I remember: I made some excellent mac and cheese, with swiss and cheddar; we had a lovely visit with my parents last night; we have been working on building new bookshelves and they look great; I had ice cream; I read good books; there was sun and wind and rain; I saw a turtle; I took some nice photos; there were times when my husband or my cats made me smile; I spring-cleaned the bathroom; we got rid of the ants.  Good things happened, even though they seem overshadowed.  Now that I've written them down, I'll remember them. Of course, when I read about St. John's great week, I can't imagine how I found a moment to myself so as to have a low week!

Here's my photo from yesterday; I'm particularly proud of  it. Believe it or not, that key is one of our front door keys!  There are some benefits to living in an old house!