DH apparently got mentioned in the Vanguard last week... I’m going to try to get my hands on a copy. The orchestra is looking for a new trumpet player, since he up and abandoned them. The big meanie. LOL I guess it's nice to know that you're appreciated, though. :)
C started with a runny nose today. I guess it was inevitable since A’s had one for several days. It doesn’t seem to be a serious bug though, just a typical cold, so I don’t think we’ve got too much to worry about.
Her prayers have taken a new turn… it’s sweet… she’s started listing all the things she’s thankful for. “Thank you God for houses, and clouds, and rain, and trees, and plants, and flowers, and foxes, and giraffes…” a ton of stuff. Tucked her in, said good night. A few minutes later she came running into our room – “Mommy, does God make volcanoes?” “Yes.” “Here?” “No, far away.” “In Africa?” “No, other places, across the ocean.” “Oh. OK.” “Good Night.” “Good Night!” (trotting back to her room) :)
Evenings just aren’t quite the same when I’m here by myself and the kids are in bed. Not that I want them to be up, mind you. The breathing space is quite nice, actually. But it would be nicer if I had hubby to share it with. 59 days til graduation. Then two more weeks til Christmas leave. *sigh* Not that long. But still, soooooo long. It’s a good thing I’ve found things to focus on, like losing weight, and getting some stuff done around the house… otherwise I think I’d go batty.
I took the kids to the mall today to get winter boots. Failed miserably – A’s feet are just not made for boots, they’re too chunky. C’s old boots still fit so I’m not really worried about getting her new ones, but if there had been a set at a good price then I might have. I did, however, get them each a new pair of sneakers for like $5.00 each at Zellers off the clearance rack. Nice ones, too, with the sparkly lights on them. And I got myself a pair of boots for 30% off :) I’ll start checking Frenchy’s – that’s where I got C’s boots when she was a baby, I had lucked out and found a pair that opened up wide enough to get her foot into.
Oh, I measured and weighed A today, she’s 31 inches and 28 lbs 3 ounces. She’s down over a pound in the last two months, but really hasn’t grown much at all. (Unless I was measuring her wrong before.) She’s getting the hang of this walking thing pretty quickly, although Gram says she walks like an old lady who’s had two hip replacements. LOL Very stiff and straight-legged, it’s funny to watch her. It won’t be long and she’ll be cruising around here. She’s already trying to pick up speed a little bit. What’s cute is when she walks to C with her arms out and they both tumble to the floor – they love it.
C’s talking a lot lately about moving to a new house and wishing winter would get here… today she made a comment about Daddy not living with us anymore, and I quickly reminded her that he's just at school and WILL be living with us again as soon as it's finished. She says she reeeaaaally misses Daddy. But it’s short-lived moments when she’s like that. Mostly she is still accepting things the way they are and coping quite well. Of course I have no idea what goes on inside that little head of hers. A lot, I suspect. Which is why I give her things to think about, like winter comes after fall, and that’s when Christmastime comes, and Christmastime is when Daddy will be home for a nice long visit. And reminding her that he's at school, not moved away.
I bumped into someone today who didn't realize DH had gone to basic training and asked what he was up to since closing the store. He said, “The Army?!?! Isn’t he a little OLD to be starting something like that?” ROFL
I had the first of the inevitable phone calls today asking whether we’d consider renting. I said “No. That’s just not an option for us, we’re relocating and we HAVE to sell it.” Sorry. I kind of wish we could... if we were in a better position then I'd love to be able to give someone else a hand-up like that and do a rent-to-own. But it's just too risky.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Recipe: 100% Whole Wheat Bread
http://www.preparedpantry.com/wholewheatbreadrecipe.htm
This is by far the BEST whole wheat bread I have ever eaten.
100% Whole Wheat Bread
The key to really great 100% whole wheat bread is to extract the best flavors from the whole wheat and temper the harsh tones that sometimes accompany whole wheat flour. Good whole wheat bread has an almost nutty taste without a bitter aftertaste. A long fermentation gives the yeast a chance to produce its own flavors and convert the starch to sugar. By refrigerating the dough overnight, you can make excellent 100% whole wheat bread.
This is one of our favorite bread recipes. Yeasts perform differently at low temperatures. In this recipe, the dough is mixed the day before and refrigerated. The acids and enzymes produced by the yeast at lower temperatures temper the harshness of the whole wheat and develop wonderfully complex bread flavors. It’s no more work than other recipes; you just mix the dough the day before.
Bakers note: This bread should be very light and fluffy, not dense. The secret of making it so is to make sure that the dough rises fully both in the first rise and in the pans. The dough will fill two 5 x 9-inch loaf pans and should be very soft and puffy before baking. If you let it over-rise, you may see a blister or two in the dough. Poke the blisters with the point of a knife and hurry the bread into the hot oven.
Ingredients
5 to 6 cups fine-ground whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons wheat gluten (optional)
1 teaspoon dough conditioner
1 seven gram packet of instant yeast (or two teaspoons)
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons water
1/2 tablespoon salt
1/3 cup brown sugar
4 tablespoons melted and slightly cooled butter
Directions
1. Place about three cups of the flour in the bowl of your stand-type mixer. Add the yeast. Carefully measure 2 cups room temperature (80 degrees) water. The water should feel cool to the touch. Mix the water with the flour with a dough hook for 30 seconds or until the yeast is dissolved and the ingredients begin to combine.
2. Add the salt, sugar, and butter and continue mixing. Add most of the remaining flour, the wheat gluten, and dough conditioner and continue mixing at a medium speed for at least four minutes adding more flour as needed to reach a soft dough consistency. (It is important that the dough be mixed for at least four minutes to develop the gluten.) The dough should clear the sides of the bowl but will be soft, not firm, to the touch.
3. Once the dough is mixed, place it in a large greased bowl, turning once to coat both sides, and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight or for up to three days.
4. On the day that you would like to bake your bread, remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it warm to room temperature--about three hours. The dough should rise to nearly double in size.
5. Once the dough has risen, form the loaves. Coat your hands with flour and gently form a loaf by pulling the dough around itself to create a slightly stretched skin. You may need to coat your hands several times if the dough is sticky. If necessary, pinch the seams together on the bottom of the loaf. Lay the loaf gently in a well-greased loaf pan and cover with plastic wrap. Repeat with the second loaf. Let double again in size, about 11/2 hours.
6. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Once the dough has doubled (the loaf should be very puffy), place the two loaves on a shelf in the top half of the oven, well-spaced so that air can circulate between the loaves. Bake for thirty minutes or until done. The interior of the loaves should register at least 185 degrees when an insta-read thermometer is inserted through the bottom crust. Remove the bread from the pans and cool on wire racks. Let it cool completely before cutting.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Today was full. This morning A had her one-year checkup and shots. The doctor didn’t have much to say, he laughed and said he wasn’t going to answer me when I asked (rather tongue in cheek) whether he was concerned about her losing some weight. LOL Picked up lunch at Wendy’s then home to finish up some work. Waiting on client confirmation.
C had dance class at 4:15, we were borderline late getting there, all my own fault, I was dawdling on Facebook. Whoops. Anyway… hoping she doesn’t catch whatever bug this other little girl was carrying. The teacher has a policy that anyone arriving sick will be sent home. Apparently this other mom didn’t read that, or didn’t care, or figured her kid could stay under the radar. When we were back to pick the kids up she was asking her daughter if she felt better enough for so and so to come over, and the girl was saying maybe if she went home and had a nap first, and her legs were tired, and she needed to be carried… then the mom looks at us and says, “I think she might be coming on with something, I don’t know.” Grr. Anyway, I scrubbed C’s hands with sanitizer and I’m hoping for the best.
Then back home, quick supper, and A’s birthday festivities at 6:00. Mom and Dad came over with D, Gram and Gramp came for a while, and DH's mom came later on with B. Mom and I both had little presents for C, but she was much more interested in A’s! A got a baby doll and a set of musical maracas from us, a doll with crinkly bumblebee wings from Mom, a musical night-time Winnie the Pooh “from D”, and an electronic/musical toy phone from MIL, SIL and B. And let me tell you, she KNEW that those toys were HERS. No way was she willingly going to let C cart them off. It was kind of funny, actually. Then we had cake – I gave A a little one to play with while I took some pictures, then cut her off a piece of it to actually munch on. She made a mess, but that was the point. Messy frosting makes cute birthday pictures. :) I had a chocolate swirl cheesecake for the grownups. Yum. And it was just the right size that we each had a little piece and there were no leftovers for me to eat tomorrow. :P
A has a little bit of a cold again – I don’t think it’s going to develop into anything though. Mostly just a runny nose, and a little cough sometimes. But between that and her needles this morning, I gave her a dose of Motrin at bedtime. So far she’s handled all of her shots really well, but at a year they give two so it could be a little more bothersome. Our previous doctor gave three, he gave the chicken pox vaccine as a matter of course. But our current doctor doesn’t. When I booked the appointment the secretary told me that if I wanted that one he’d do it, but it was one that I needed to ask for. I didn’t ask for it. I’m pretty much indifferent to whether she has that shot or not, so I didn’t bring it up.
I'm watching the bailout debate in the US with some interest, and the economic situation as a whole. I have to say, I totally agree with the caller who phoned in the other day, either to Glenn or to Rush, and said he’d rather see the country go through another depression than saddle the coming generations with such a massive debt. I agree with that completely, and with the view that this is making responsible people accountable for the mistakes and poor decision-making of others. Like making us pay the mortgage on a neighbor’s house, but letting them still live there so we don’t get anything from the property we’re stuck paying for. It just seems really wrong.
And then there is the matter of them limiting executive compensation. I’ve heard it tossed around as part of this deal, that they want to limit how much someone can make. That makes me just sick. Talk about tearing the guts out of capitalism and the free market. Now don’t get me wrong, I think there should be something in place to keep people from taking 22 million dollar bonuses out of their company while it’s circling the drain. But I don’t think the government has any business telling executive XYZ that he is only “allowed” to take home this many dollars. Some people are aguing for it, saying, “Why should some guy be making ten times more than you when he’s sitting in an office somewhere and you’re out there working?” And I guess I understand how someone could feel like that's an injustice. But it's part of the deal... if you want to have a free economy, where people are free to pursue their business, set their own prices, etc etc etc, I don't think it's reasonable or even safe to try to impose limits on people's income. Unless, like I said, it's a situation where someone is taking money out of a company that's failing, or in the case of a payroll that is taxpayer-supported.
The "big storm" was pretty much a non-event here. They were giving some bad forecasts, but the storm wobbled westward as it approached and Shelburne ended up taking the brunt of it. Yarmouth lost a couple of trees – one big one on that sharp corner by the hospital, in particular. A couple of signs came down, and a lot of branches. A big old barn up here in Port Maitland blew down, too, but it was abandoned years and years ago from the look of it. Nothing happened here at all except for one little power flicker. The kids were in bed early, then woke up later on. Got them back into bed, Cara was grouchy and A put up a fight, but eventually they both went back to sleep, and they were both in their OWN beds. A slept in her bed til past 4:00. Woohoo! Tonight they were both in bed at a little past 8:00, again in their OWN beds. A’s had a few little bouts of coughing but hasn’t woken up yet.
I realized tonight that in some ways this could be a good experience for me. I’m taking the time to focus more on losing weight and eating healthier, I’m paying a little more attention to what needs to be done around here, I’m trying to be a little more efficient with my time and get routines in place… I miss him like the dickens, but maybe having some time where I’m the only adult will help me to develop a little more discipline. I’m so not looking forward to the next stage of training, though. That longer separation of minimum five months makes me a little queasy.
This was DH's first "leave weekend" where they can actually leave the base. Hopefully things went well and no one on the platoon did anything on the weekend that will reflect poorly on the group as a whole. Apparently there are guys in St Jean who like to to beat up new recruits. So much for my little happy bubble of delusion where I think training is nice and safe. *sigh* I know, “safe” and “military” don’t really go well together. LOL
Oh - and he got his first performance evaluation today :) Everything was acceptable or 'improving' so he's doing well.
C had dance class at 4:15, we were borderline late getting there, all my own fault, I was dawdling on Facebook. Whoops. Anyway… hoping she doesn’t catch whatever bug this other little girl was carrying. The teacher has a policy that anyone arriving sick will be sent home. Apparently this other mom didn’t read that, or didn’t care, or figured her kid could stay under the radar. When we were back to pick the kids up she was asking her daughter if she felt better enough for so and so to come over, and the girl was saying maybe if she went home and had a nap first, and her legs were tired, and she needed to be carried… then the mom looks at us and says, “I think she might be coming on with something, I don’t know.” Grr. Anyway, I scrubbed C’s hands with sanitizer and I’m hoping for the best.
Then back home, quick supper, and A’s birthday festivities at 6:00. Mom and Dad came over with D, Gram and Gramp came for a while, and DH's mom came later on with B. Mom and I both had little presents for C, but she was much more interested in A’s! A got a baby doll and a set of musical maracas from us, a doll with crinkly bumblebee wings from Mom, a musical night-time Winnie the Pooh “from D”, and an electronic/musical toy phone from MIL, SIL and B. And let me tell you, she KNEW that those toys were HERS. No way was she willingly going to let C cart them off. It was kind of funny, actually. Then we had cake – I gave A a little one to play with while I took some pictures, then cut her off a piece of it to actually munch on. She made a mess, but that was the point. Messy frosting makes cute birthday pictures. :) I had a chocolate swirl cheesecake for the grownups. Yum. And it was just the right size that we each had a little piece and there were no leftovers for me to eat tomorrow. :P
A has a little bit of a cold again – I don’t think it’s going to develop into anything though. Mostly just a runny nose, and a little cough sometimes. But between that and her needles this morning, I gave her a dose of Motrin at bedtime. So far she’s handled all of her shots really well, but at a year they give two so it could be a little more bothersome. Our previous doctor gave three, he gave the chicken pox vaccine as a matter of course. But our current doctor doesn’t. When I booked the appointment the secretary told me that if I wanted that one he’d do it, but it was one that I needed to ask for. I didn’t ask for it. I’m pretty much indifferent to whether she has that shot or not, so I didn’t bring it up.
I'm watching the bailout debate in the US with some interest, and the economic situation as a whole. I have to say, I totally agree with the caller who phoned in the other day, either to Glenn or to Rush, and said he’d rather see the country go through another depression than saddle the coming generations with such a massive debt. I agree with that completely, and with the view that this is making responsible people accountable for the mistakes and poor decision-making of others. Like making us pay the mortgage on a neighbor’s house, but letting them still live there so we don’t get anything from the property we’re stuck paying for. It just seems really wrong.
And then there is the matter of them limiting executive compensation. I’ve heard it tossed around as part of this deal, that they want to limit how much someone can make. That makes me just sick. Talk about tearing the guts out of capitalism and the free market. Now don’t get me wrong, I think there should be something in place to keep people from taking 22 million dollar bonuses out of their company while it’s circling the drain. But I don’t think the government has any business telling executive XYZ that he is only “allowed” to take home this many dollars. Some people are aguing for it, saying, “Why should some guy be making ten times more than you when he’s sitting in an office somewhere and you’re out there working?” And I guess I understand how someone could feel like that's an injustice. But it's part of the deal... if you want to have a free economy, where people are free to pursue their business, set their own prices, etc etc etc, I don't think it's reasonable or even safe to try to impose limits on people's income. Unless, like I said, it's a situation where someone is taking money out of a company that's failing, or in the case of a payroll that is taxpayer-supported.
The "big storm" was pretty much a non-event here. They were giving some bad forecasts, but the storm wobbled westward as it approached and Shelburne ended up taking the brunt of it. Yarmouth lost a couple of trees – one big one on that sharp corner by the hospital, in particular. A couple of signs came down, and a lot of branches. A big old barn up here in Port Maitland blew down, too, but it was abandoned years and years ago from the look of it. Nothing happened here at all except for one little power flicker. The kids were in bed early, then woke up later on. Got them back into bed, Cara was grouchy and A put up a fight, but eventually they both went back to sleep, and they were both in their OWN beds. A slept in her bed til past 4:00. Woohoo! Tonight they were both in bed at a little past 8:00, again in their OWN beds. A’s had a few little bouts of coughing but hasn’t woken up yet.
I realized tonight that in some ways this could be a good experience for me. I’m taking the time to focus more on losing weight and eating healthier, I’m paying a little more attention to what needs to be done around here, I’m trying to be a little more efficient with my time and get routines in place… I miss him like the dickens, but maybe having some time where I’m the only adult will help me to develop a little more discipline. I’m so not looking forward to the next stage of training, though. That longer separation of minimum five months makes me a little queasy.
This was DH's first "leave weekend" where they can actually leave the base. Hopefully things went well and no one on the platoon did anything on the weekend that will reflect poorly on the group as a whole. Apparently there are guys in St Jean who like to to beat up new recruits. So much for my little happy bubble of delusion where I think training is nice and safe. *sigh* I know, “safe” and “military” don’t really go well together. LOL
Oh - and he got his first performance evaluation today :) Everything was acceptable or 'improving' so he's doing well.
I have found an amazing blog.
A Holy Experience
If you visit this site... be prepared to be moved to tears, to have your heart cry out, to be convicted, to feel hope, to be encouraged, and to be spoken to.
This lady has a real gift. Visit her site. Read it. Subscribe to it. Your life will be better for having met her.
If you visit this site... be prepared to be moved to tears, to have your heart cry out, to be convicted, to feel hope, to be encouraged, and to be spoken to.
This lady has a real gift. Visit her site. Read it. Subscribe to it. Your life will be better for having met her.
Friday, September 26, 2008
What's New?
DH has been gone to basic training now for a full calendar month. Today he had a parade test, earned his cap badge and had a performance evaluation, this weekend is their first "free" weekend so he's out with the boys tonight and looking forward to some extra sleep tomorrow and Sunday. He's also finally shaken off the miserable cold that's been dogging him for going on three weeks.
A is one year old tomorrow. Where did the time go? She treated C and I to her first real steps yesterday, and I happened to have my cell phone handy so I caught it on video :) She's 32.5 inches and 28 pounds, and a adorable bundle of spirit.
C is at a really interesting stage - she's thinking all the time and comes out with things that just amaze me sometimes. She's a ball of energy and loves being outside in the fall weather.
I am doing all right as a temporarily single mom - it has its moments, but thanks be to God that I have two beautiful girls who are accepting Daddy's career choice and going with the flow. Not to mention helpful family and some great friends who are really stepping up when needed.
And hey, we've already got a whole month behind us. Only two and a half more until Christmas vacation!
The house is officially for sale - list price is $135,000 with room for negotiation depending on appliances, oil, taxes, etc etc etc. If you know anyone who's house-hunting in the Port Maitland area, let them know there is a cozy 3br farmhouse with a great barn and ten acres just waiting for a new family!!
That's about it. Oh, and yes, as a matter of fact, I have lost weight. :P Thanks everyone who's noticed and commented, it's a great ego stroking. LOL
A is one year old tomorrow. Where did the time go? She treated C and I to her first real steps yesterday, and I happened to have my cell phone handy so I caught it on video :) She's 32.5 inches and 28 pounds, and a adorable bundle of spirit.
C is at a really interesting stage - she's thinking all the time and comes out with things that just amaze me sometimes. She's a ball of energy and loves being outside in the fall weather.
I am doing all right as a temporarily single mom - it has its moments, but thanks be to God that I have two beautiful girls who are accepting Daddy's career choice and going with the flow. Not to mention helpful family and some great friends who are really stepping up when needed.
And hey, we've already got a whole month behind us. Only two and a half more until Christmas vacation!
The house is officially for sale - list price is $135,000 with room for negotiation depending on appliances, oil, taxes, etc etc etc. If you know anyone who's house-hunting in the Port Maitland area, let them know there is a cozy 3br farmhouse with a great barn and ten acres just waiting for a new family!!
That's about it. Oh, and yes, as a matter of fact, I have lost weight. :P Thanks everyone who's noticed and commented, it's a great ego stroking. LOL
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