Sunday Scribblings-In the News

In the news

I hate the news. I tend to be a general tv-hater anyways, but I despise the news. I hate local news, national news, celebrity "news", any type of news whatsoever.
To me, no news is good news.
How then did I end up in a family of tv/media junkies?
My family loves the news,they would have it on 24/7 if I would let them. We'd watch the morning news, the noon news, the 5 o'clock news, the 5:30 news and then the 6 o'clock news. Before bed we'd flip between the 10 o'clock news on one local station and the 11 o'clock news that is broadcast at 10 on cable. Then we'd finish up with the 11 o'clock news on yet a 3rd local l station. In between all of these broadcasts we can flip between all of the various cable news networks that broadcast 24/7. They would do this, if only I would let them. I am constantly yelling at them "Shut that crap OFF!!" If its a local broadcast they'll whine, "I want to see the weather." Sometimes I let them, sometimes I tell them to a. watch the weather channel, b. get it online or c. look out the window.
I hate the news.
I try not to watch it. I wont watch it. I don't watch it.
Why/
Because it is nothing but doom and gloom and horror and mayhem.
Gas prices are up.
Egg prices are up.
This is up.
That is up.
This is down.
That is down.
This horrible thing happened here.
That horrible thing happened there.
Or is happening right now, as we speak/watch.
Its too cold, prices are going to go up.
Its too hot, prices are going to go up.
Its too dry, prices are going to go up.
Its too wet, prices are going to go up.

The sun still comes up in the morning and sets at night.
The plants still grow, the fruit still ripens, the chickens still lay their eggs.
The wind still blows, the rain still comes, we all still live and die.

Life goes on.

I figure if something that really,truly, happens that affects me, I'll know it.
I don't need some talking head on the tube to tell me about it.
I don't need some expert, sofa-quarterback talking expert heads on the tv to tell me about it and what it means and how I should feel and what I should or shouldn't be doing about it
over
and
over
and
over
and
over
and
over
and
over
and
over
for hours.

I don't know. I don't want to know. I don't need to know
and sometimes
I just don't care anymore.

Which one is worse?
Chicken Little carrying on about the sky falling?
or
The Ostrich hiding her head in the sand?

Sunday Scribblings #53- deepest,darkest

Sunday Scribblings


Deepest, Darkest

I don't tell anyone my deepest, darkest secrets.
I don't tell anyone my deepest darkest fears.
I don't tell anyone my deepest darkest hopes.
I don't tell anyone my deepest darkest dreams.
I don't tell anyone my deepest,darkest thoughts.
I don't tell anyone much at all.

I wonder if they really knew what went rattling through my brain most days what would they think of me?
Would they be surprised? Would they even care?
Would I?
Do I?
I do.

Sometimes I sit and look at people and think "If you only knew, really KNEW, what I think about you, feel about you, you'd probably slap me silly. Or hate me. You certainly wouldn't be sitting here talking to me, telling me all this inane blahdidy, blah,blah,blah that you keep going on and on and on about. I wouldn't have to sit here and be polite and smile and nod and make noises like I really,truly give a damn about whatever it is that you keep barfing out all over me.

Today isn't really April Fools Day...

Its my oldest sons birthday!!!!
(really, it is!)

He turns 18 today!! EIGHTEEN!

I can't believe he's 18. I can't believe I am the mother of an 18 year old. I'm just not old enough for this yet! LOL! I was 18 when he was born, now he's 18. Time just flies!!Here he is, the day we brought him home from the hospital. Now he's all big and tall and hairy! LOL!! Still cute as a bug and still as sweet as pie though. He's gonna be so embarrassed if he reads this! LOL! Thats ok, he'll always be my little punkin'.

18.
My other two boys are (almost) 16 and 14. The youngest will turn 18 the year I turn 40. Its kinda crazy, isn't it? I've been a housewife for 18 years now. My entire adult life has been spent here at home, with my kids. No complaints at all about that. Its been my complete and total choice to stay home and raise my babies. I've loved being at home, always have, always will.

Now I think of what on earth am I going to do once all my boys have flown the nest? I honestly have no idea. I suppose I'll go back to school, get some sort of college degree, even though I'll feel like a complete fool starting college at age 40. Who's gonna hire an old broad like me anyways? Get a job, earn more $$. Eh. For what? A fancier house? More stuff? *ppffffftt* Who needs it? I've never been into that sort of thing anyways.

I'm sure things will all work out.
God willing, I've got time to get it figured out.
Until then I'll just savor every minute of this crazy life of mine and wish my 1st born

HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY!!!!

Yesterday and Todays Outfits

This was what I wore Friday (above).
This is what I have on today. I really liked how this went together. I read somewhere to put together an outfit using "threes", rather than just a skirt and shirt you should add one more item, shirt,skirt and sweater. Adding that 3rd element makes it look more put together than just the 2 items. Today is the first I've tried this and I really like how it looks!

The cardigan is a Liz Clayborn that I bought at Goodwill for $1.50! At that price, I can have a different sweater everyday. :) I like the black piping on it. I usually would have worn my brown ankle boots with this, but since the sweater has the black on it, I think I can get away with wearing my comfy black shoes today instead.

Thrift store finds

'Twas a slow thrifting day yesterday.


You all are probably going to laugh at this, but I love it. Pure,vintage thrift! Do you know how much something like this sells for on Ebay? Around $10 + shipping. I got it for $2.99. Its in mint condition, I don't think its ever been worn and its got to be as old as I am (vintage 70's LOL). It totally reminds me of something my mom or maybe my grandma would wear. Definitely something Carol Brady would wear, LOL! 100% puuuuuuure nylon too! Its like wearing your own sauna around the house. I don't dare wear it in the kitchen, good heavens, I go up in flames like a piece of charcoal! Too bad I don't use hair curlers! Until I work up the nerve to tackle that vintage robe sewing pattern, this will have to do.
The entertaining book is from 1969. The pictures are just great! Folks sure did know how to set a colorful table back in the 60's!! LOL! The Home Ec book is from 1937. I paid $3.00 for it. This is my favorite buy of the day. I just love this little book. I spent most of last night reading it. Its just swell! I was kind of surprised to find several recipes that I'd like to try and there are some sewing instructions, complete with photos that I know I'll use.
100% silk Ann Taylor cardigan sweater for $1.99 - 25% off. The flash washed the color out on this one. Its much more a cadet blue color than the grey it looks like here.

Didn't find what I was looking for at all. I need a little lamp to put on a table in my "reading corner" of my sewing room. Better luck next time! I did enjoy the afternoon. The sun had come out and it warmed up considerably. I got to spend a couple of hours with Son#1, who is turning 18 on Sunday. EIGHTEEN. When did that happen? I still can't believe my baby is going to be 18.

Outfit of the Day

Its a rather boring outfit today, favorite jean skirt and a basic black long-sleeve tee. I was looking at it thinking "How can I make this prettier and more fun?"
TA-DA!!
I love these shoes! Just love them! I don't wear them often, but I should. I really love how the socks repeat not only the color of the shoes, but also the flowers. Fun,fun,fun!

I also took the effort to comb my hair back into a neat and tidy ponytail (its usually a messy ponytail), put alittle bit of makeup on and I even put earrings in my ears. My mom won a pretty pair of earrings at the ladies retreat this weekend. Her ears aren't pierced, so she gave them to me. I really like dangly earrings. I need to add a few to my jewelry box. I have a roundish face and I like how the long earrings help add some "length" to it.

So, I feel all pretty and put together today. I'm leaving to go thrift store shopping here after lunch, wish me luck! If I find anything good, I'll be sure to post it!

1. Get my sewing room set up
2. Pick out fabric and at least start sewing a new dress
3. Smile more. Smile more. Smile more.
I'm so bad at this. You would not believe how my husband and sons respond if I make the effort to grin at them.
4. Watch "I Love Lucy" daily, as inspiration for beautiful, feminine, vintage dressing! :)
5. Remember to wear my new aprons when doing housework.
(my mom bought me 2 pretty new aprons this weekend. I just LOVE them. I put one on and I magically feel like cleaning! LOL!)

mama drama

My mom could have choked to death last night in the hotel room.

It was about 11pm, we had brought some snacks up to the hotel room and were eating and talking and getting ready to go down the stairs and get some ice from the ice machine for our drinks and then we would settle in, watch the late news and go to bed.

My mom was eating Triscuts as we were just about to open our room door and walk out into the hall. All of a sudden she stopped and turned around, her face was white and her eyes were HUGE. She just looked at me, and was waving her hands around. She wasn't making a sound. It took me a second or two to figure out what was going on.

"Mom, are you all right?"
No answer.
"MOM, whats wrong?"
Still no answer.
"OH MY GOD! ARE YOU CHOKING???"
She finally nodded, still silent.
"OH MY GOD YOU'RE CHOKING!!!"

Somehow, I turned her around, got behind her and started trying to do the Hemlich maneuver on her. I've never done that in my life, ever. I had NO idea what I was doing or how I was doing it. I squeezed and squeezed and squeezed.
Nothing. Not a squeak from my mom, not a cough or a wheeze, nothing. She was in my arms and I started to feel her legs give out from under her.
I looked at the door. We were up on the 3rd floor, the halls were silent, nobody would hear me if I went out and started to yell for help.
I looked at the phone. Did I even try to 911? I didn't have time. I knew she would never last until help arrived. I thought "Oh my God, my mom is going to die in front of me in this hotel room."

I squeezed her HARD one more time and prayed out loud, "Oh Jesus, please Jesus HELP ME!!"
She started to make a horrible,horrible,horrible sound. But at least it was a noise, if she could make some sort of sound, hopefully there was some sort of airflow.
One last big HARD squeeze, OMG, I thought I was going to break her ribs and she finally, finally, finally, started to gag and retch and FINALLY cough. THANK GOD!! I knew if she was coughing she would be ok.

At that point, I collapsed in a heap in the doorway between the bathroom and hall. Somehow, we got ourselves put back together, although it took about half an hour for me to finally stop shaking.

That was the most terrifying moment of my entire life so far.

The evening had started out alittle tense between her and I, but not after that.
I swore later during my bedtime prayers that I would never, EVER, EVER, complain about my mom again.
Even when she woke me up at 3am with her snoring, I just thanked God that she was breathing.

Even when she was back to her ol' self again, bright and early this morning!! :)

Life is precious, Life is short. In an instant, things can change, you could lose a beloved one. In an instant. One breath, we're laughing and teasing and worrying about tomorrow and the next breath, we're fighting for our lives, or worse.

New Vintage

Bought 2 more vintage patterns off of Ebay. This is getting addictive! Fortunately, they are not expensive. I think I paid $5 a piece, that's including shipping.


How cute is this? I don't know which version I like better, the slim or the full. I'll just have to make both!


Love the long robe! Love, love,love it. I am a robe-addict! Do you know how hard it is to find a nice, loooooong robe in the stores that is attractive, feminine and doesn't cost a small fortune? All I can find around here are short robes either in terry-cloth or in the slinky, sexy, boudoir version. Neither of which I like. I want something to put on over my jammys and be able to wear in front of my teenage sons w/o embarrassing me and sending them straight to therapy!

I'll make the long robe up in something light and pretty for summer and something cozy and flannel for this winter.

I've not posted since Monday because we've been dealing with an event here that has knocked the wind out of me for the past couple of days.

My husband was in the running for a different job within the company that he works for. He had his interview Monday afternoon and came home so positive and upbeat and feeling really,really good that he would get it.

This was the break that we all were praying for. It would be a move up for him, a better, more challenging position and, yes, more $. Quite a bit more $ actually. We were praying, the kids were praying, our friends were all praying for us.

He didn't get it.

Bad enough that he didn't get it, the person that they did choose over my husband is a not-so-nice man.

It was bad enough to see my husbands hopes and dreams defeated, it is a very,very bitter pill to swallow that he was beat out by the likes of this other man.

Honestly, this has rocked my faith, which has been rather shaky here lately to begin with, more than I want to admit.

Tuesday, I cried. All. Day.
Yesterday, I was angry most of the day. I really am tired of being angry. I wasn't an angry child, but I certainly was an angry teen/young adult. I don't know if its because I'm nearer to 40 than to 30 these days or what, but I am tired of being angry. It just wears me out, and tends to hurt my beloved ones.

Everyone keeps telling us that when God closes a door, he opens a window.
Yes, I know that. I hope so anyway. I hope this happened for a reason and a purpose. I hope the Lord has something better in store for my husband, my family.
I hope, I hope, I hope.
That's all I've got to cling to these days, hope.
And some days my grip on it isn't all that strong.

Monday Night Chicken

Cost analysis-
Chicken thighs and legs 3 packages @ $1.30/pkg=$3.90
Apricot Glaze (jar of apricot preserves $1.69+bottle of Western Dressing $1.97+1 envelope dry onion soup mix .40= $4.06. I should have only used 1/2 of preserves and dressing, live and learn!)
1 bag of frozen stir-fry veggies .79
Rice- I'm going to just say the rice cost .25. because that will give me a nice even grand total amount. We buy it in bulk and I'd have to go figure it all out and I don't want to but I know its just probably pennies per serving.
Grand total= $9.00
Cost per person= $1.80

It would have been much less if I would have halved the glaze ingredients. I poured alot of it down the drain afterwards. I wouldn't have thought that the glaze would cost more than the meat.

And just for fun, I was playing around with the photoshop.

Sunday Night Supper (posted on Monday morning)

I'm running behind, as usual. Here is what we had for supper Sunday night (last night)-





Pizzas- on sale $4/$10
(1 cheese, 1 supreme, 2 4-meat)
Salad- .79 (aldis)
Total $10.79
Cost per person $2.16

I know I could go ahead and make pizzas from scratch for less money and they'd probably be healthier too. I could, but I don't. Frozen pizzas and salad is one of my super-quick-and-easy meals that I like to do when I just don't feel like cooking up a storm. Frozen pizza's bought on sale are still a much cheaper option than picking up the phone and having pizza delivered.

I didn't count beverages, the kids had Kool-aid, grown-ups drank water. I also didn't count the salad dressing, croutons or bac-o's that we sprinkled on our salads. I'm sure that would add a few more pennies to the price.

Typing all this up just made me realize I forgot to take the chicken out of the freezer to thaw for tonight's supper. See, I told you I'm always running behind.......

Vintage Goodness!

I won my very first auction on Ebay tonight. I bought this little number.



This is my first venture in to vintage pattern sewing. We shall see how it goes. I'm a little worried that I'm in over my head. I can sew, I've sewn several simple dresses, a couple of baby quilts and when my boys were babies and toddlers I used to sew some of their clothes. This is certainly the most complex patterns I've ever attempted.

I'm now very hooked on looking at vintage patterns on ebay. I'm watching about 6 others and I found a sweet robe/housedress pattern for $5 on buy it now. I'll probably buy it before the weekend is over.

St. Patty's Day Sustenance

Corned Beef-$6.63
Cabbage-$2.29
Red Potatoes-$2.45
Carrots-.99
Meal Total-$10.27
Cost per person-$2.54

I had lots of veggies left over, I could have gotten away with only making half of them. That would have taken the price down quite a bit. Ah well, live and learn. Now what to do with the recycled veggies! :)

Goodwill had half-price Saturday today.
I bought 9 new shirts, 2 jumpers and 2 skirts for $23. I think I am going to ebay one of the skirts. Its an Oilily and it doesn't fit. :( That brand name seems to do pretty well on ebay, so I may just try my hand at selling. It cost me all of $1.50, surely I can recoup that!

I could have bought even more tops. I really needed some spring/summer tees, so those were a good find at $1.50 each. Skirts were $1.50 each and the jumpers were $2.50. Sometimes I can walk out of that store with the mother load and sometimes its nada. I love a good thrifting day!

Fish on Friday

Inspired by the Iron Chef Moms challenge running all this past week at Like Merchant Ships and MotherLoad, I decided I am going to spend the next couple of days doing my own cost analysis on my family's supper dishes.

Tonight was
Fish Almondine
Black Bean Compote
Buttered Noodles

It came to approximately $10.75, that fed the 5 of us, full. With leftovers. I have a couple of fillets left that I'm saving for a chowder later this weekend, about half of the beans and noodles that we can eat for lunch tomorrow or the next day. That totals out to $2.15 a plate, not counting the leftovers.

It breaks about like this, keeping in mind that I threw the fish wrappers away so I'm going off memory. I also didn't count EVERYTHING, seasonings, a slosh of olive oil, etc.

Fish- $6.50 (pollack that I bought on sale and froze. I don't remember how much it was or how much I'd bought. I had 5 packages of it and they were all priced at about $1.25 or $1.30 each, so thats just a guess-timate)
Almond topping-$1.00
Noodles- $1.00
Bean Compote- $2.25
(can of black beans .67
can of green chilies .66
can of diced tomatoes .50
butter, garlic clove, lime juice aprox. .25

Frugal Friday

This chair was priced $14.99 at the thrift store. The manager marked it down an extra 25% because I was taking it with me. I may try my hand at reupholstering it this summer. Although I do like it the way it is now, nice and vintage-y. Its going to be my "prayer chair". I finally have a corner in my bedroom where I can put this chair, a small table and lamp and use it to sit at to pray or read or write or just be still and know God.

After I dropped the boys off to work on the robot, I went and did some grocery shopping. Oh boy, it was nice to go shopping on a Thursday night rather than on a weekend. I usually have to wait until Fridays to shop, as that day is payday and sometimes the bank account is a little low by Thursday night. This week, I had extra $. At Meijer, I was able to find chicken legs and thighs for .69 a pound. I stocked up! 5 packs of thighs and 3 packs of legs, cost me about $8 and some change. Frozen veggies were a great deal at .78 a package. Cabbage (of course) was a steal at .25 a pound. We grew cabbage last year in our garden. If you would have told me before last year that cabbage could be sweet, I'd of laughed my tail off, but it is! I can't wait to get gardening. In fact, my grandmother always swore by planting her peas and potatoes on St. Patricks day. I may just pick up a package of pea seeds this weekend and give it a try.

Martins had a good sale on some store brand items, ketchup .59, baked beans .69, canned veggies 4/$1. They were limited amounts though, limit 2 and 4. I HATE that. I know I could go back a couple of times, but I do hate the hassle. If I have the family with me, I sometimes send each person through the line with the limited items, the store card (again, I HATE those things. I refuse to shop at Krogers because of it, but I caved to Martins.) and $$.

I'll be at Aldis later today. Friday isn't the best day of the week to shop at Aldi's, but I've found if you go over the noon hour, its not quite so bad. I won't be needing much from there today. Cereal, cheese, produce.

I'm hoping I can do a cost analysis of all of our meals this week and see just where all the $ is going and then I can figure a strategy to plug the leak.

I also bought a bottle of Sam-e from the health food store today. This is my last attempt to treat this depression naturally. If this doesn't work, I'm going to have to give in and call my doctor. I hate the idea of medication, I just hate it. I know lots of other people take it and have gotten much benefits, but personally, for me, it just feels like yet another way I've failed at my life. Totally irrational, I know. But that's how I feel even if how I feel is subject to change at any given moment. :)

and they called it Puppy Love

After 2 days of near 70 degree temps, windows open and not having to wear coats, we awoke to SNOW on the ground this morning.
Ahhhh, spring in the Midwest.


I finished my crochet ripple afghan a week or so ago. (Its the colorful one on the right.) I started a new one (the one on the right), its for my doggy-girl.

Go ahead, chuckle. I deserve it. Yes, I am not only crocheting a blanket for my pooch, I am doing it with colors that match her fur. Why? I don't know, the idea of it made me chuckle. My doggy loved my first afghan. Seriously, she loooooooved it. If it was left out on the sofa, she was nesting on it. If I laid it down just to get up and walk across the room to get the scissors or answer the phone, she was all over it. I figured since she loved it so much why not make her own of her very own? With that face, I could I resist?

Furballs

Why there is a Qtip laying on my sofa in between the two dogs, I do not know.

The cats are sisters. We rescued them from a barn when they were only a couple of days old. The farmers kids were throwing them against the wall. We were supposed to find homes for them once they got big enough to leave their mother. That was 5 years ago. :\
Cats, from left to right, Lily, Rosy, Violet.

I'm much more of a dog person. I tolerate the cats, but I LOOOOVE my doggy-girls! Both dogs were rescued from the pound where they were both scheduled to be put down.

Chrissy (left), was thrown out of a moving car at age 3 months. She had a broken back leg and was going to be put to sleep. Her foster mom saw her, laying in the cage. The pound workers (even though they weren't supposed to) just gave her to the foster mom and she snuck her out of the shelter in her coat. Chrissy occasionally as seizures. Nothing serious, she's doesn't need medication, we're hoping it stays that way.

Tootsie (right), was dumped off in a Wal-Mart parking lot. She was out of time at the shelter. The staff begged a lady ,who was there rescuing a collie, to take Tootsie so she wouldn't have to be put down later that day. Toots ended up with the same foster mom who had Chrissy. We found her via Petfinder.com.

Fridays Outfit of the Day

I love this shirt. I found it last week at Christopher & Banks. It was on the marked-down racks plus they were having another 20% of already reduced prices, so I ended up paying something like $7.99 for a $35 shirt! Something about the collar and cuffs just make it look so smart and crisp.

I'm wearing jeans today. As much as I adore to wear skirts, I don't feel the need to do it 100% of the time. Sometimes I just like to kick around in a good pair of jeans. These are a very good pair. I bought them at Lane Bryant. It just about KILLED me to go in there and shop for the first time. Walking in, I felt like I had a big red sign over my head "YES WORLD, I'M FAT!!".

I'm actually right in between a size 12 or 14, depending, of course, on the brand. Most 12's are a little too snug and most 14's are a little too loose. I go for comfort, so I bought size 14 jeans and a nice belt. These jeans ROCK! They've got a little bit of stretch and they're boot-cut, very nice to help balance out a *ahem* ample bottom region. So, I'm a woman, I've got hips! No kidding! These jeans actually accept that fact.

Those shoes are some really, really expensive brand whose name I can't remember, from Germany. I didn't buy them. They cost an OUTRAGEOUS amount of $$, especially for a gal who buys food at Aldis, shoes at Payless and clothes at Goodwill. I didn't buy them, my mom did. She didn't like them and gave them to me. Lucky me!! I've got bad feet and these expensive, well-made shoes make ALOT of difference.
Fashionable? Not really.
Happy, pain-free feet?
Yes!Yes!