Thursday, January 21, 2010

Oh My Gosh! I'm cooking...

Thanks to my wonderful friend Carolyn, I'm cooking. Since I got this wonderful cookware for Christmas, I felt like I really needed to put it to good use. I check out Carolyn's blog - www.carolyncooks.com and find the best recipes that are sooo good and easy to make.

That's my mom's feet and my feet on Christmas morning showing off my cookware!
Last night I made this awesome Creamy Crunchy Chicken dish - David loved it and it was so quick and easy. Tonight I'm looking for something to make with the hamburger I have already fried up and put in the freezer.

Don't know what I'd do without your recipes Carolyn - keep them coming, because I am just getting started!


Sunday, January 10, 2010

Somethings You Just Don't Have Any Control Over...

Saturday morning started out like most Saturday's - except it was crop day! And it was freezing! I wasn't sure anyone would show up for the crop - much less the Bible Study. I was somewhat right... no one showed for the BS, but a couple of die-hard croppers came for the crop. We stayed a couple of hours, got some pages done, then decided to call it a day.

I had several errands to run and wanted to see a friend (and fellow cropper) who had just come home from the hospital after having brain surgery. She is doing very well, considering, and I truly enjoyed the visit with her.

While talking with her I received a phone call from an "unknown number". Turned out to be Sterling House where my mom lives - apparently it got so cold during the night that a pipe burst in the ceiling and they were virtually flooded! Several wings of the building had to be closed and my mom's apartment was among those closed. Thank goodness she did not really get any damage - just a little water inside the front door, but the other units were literally under water!

This is the hallway coming out of mom's apartment. Those fans are everywhere and they are being used to help dry up the water in the rooms.
This is the hallway to the left of mom's apartment. It received the most damage. All the residents in this hallway had to be moved either to relatives or double up with some other residents. They have been working on getting the repairs done and everything fixed up almost around the clock.

Mom stayed with me last night and will be staying tonight. I will take her back to SH for the daytime when I'm at work - but we'll just have to play it by ear to see when she can return to her apartment to live.

I'm just so thankful that I live close enough that we can handle situations like this! We are having a good time, but let me tell you - she is ready to go "home". I guess the noise from the football game last night (GO COWBOYS) and just being away from her place makes her want to go home. That's a good sign in my opinion. I love my mom, but I'm glad she has a place she calls home.


Friday, January 8, 2010

It's Cold Outside


Okay - it's really cold outside. And in my office - it's cold inside!

Now don't get me wrong - I love cold weather! I love sweaters and hats and gloves. I really do. I wouldn't want to LIVE up north in Chicago or New York or Montana - but I would like to visit there in the winter. I grew up with seasons - you know those 4 times during the year that the weather changes.... Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter... with snow... ahhh, the memories...

But back to the cold office... I don't like being cold INSIDE! It's just not right. My office is a freezer - seems like the fuses go out every time I turn on the heater! And I have an office on an outside wall with a door going out on a 2nd story porch - old building - probably 100 years or so... today we used packing tape as weather stripping... hope no one needs to go out that door! It's taped shut!

There is talk about getting the problem fixed - we have had the electrician out 3 times in the last 2 weeks. But with the age of the building and the pull of electricity from the floor heater - it's gonna take more than a new fuse. That means $$$ and we don't have any.

By the time they get it fixed - it will be hot again...

My mamma always told me to layer - so that's what I'm doing... Looks like I've gained 10 pounds! I guess I will just be thankful that I have clothes to layer - there are definitely those less fortunate than me out there... in the COLD.