December

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Quiet Blog

Lots of time with family. More vacations planned. Tiling the basement. Relaxing at home. Working. Little blogging for the week.

In the meantime, check out this dog!

A Moment of Distraction

If I were 7 again I would....
Be jumping in the leaves

If there were an extra hour in the day...
The year would be longer - and I would read more

My junk food indulgence of choice is...
Ice Cream

The color yellow makes me think of...
my bedroom walls

The most used item in my kitchen is...
spoons, that seem to be decreasing in number

your turn... :)

A Story about Leaves

CHAPTER 1: Trees
Leaves grow on trees. Trees are nice. There are lots in our yard. We like it. We like the shade, insulation, protection and beauty. And the wood they may one day provide. I like to climb them.

Wikipedia says "A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance."


CHAPTER 2: Fall

Fall is a lovely season. The temperatures become brisk. Leaves on the trees change colors. Just the other day I was in awe of how some leaves turn brown, others purple and other brilliant yellow.

Later in Autumn, the leaves begin falling off the trees and into our yards, streets, fences, window wells, etc.

CHAPTER 3: Raking
After the leaves fall, some people like to rake them into piles and dispose of them. There are many different ways to dispose of leaves. Mulch and turn them into ground cover. Use them for "black gold" (as my Dad calls his composted soil.) Bag them and let the garbage truck take them. Or rake them into piles, shovel them into a trash can, load by load take them outside the fence and dump them into a mountain. That's right, we use our snow shovel for leaves more than snow.

You may have guessed, we chose the latter method this year. We'll see what our mountain looks like next spring and decide where to go from here. I do plan to use some as ground cover for my veggie garden.

a little perspective on the size of the mountain.

CHAPTER 4: Fun!

And there you have it. Leaves. Lots of 'em.

Menu plan Monday

Due to some crazy schedules, I planned from Sat through Fri this week.

Saturday: Burgers on the grill, fries
Sunday: Turkey, Mashed potatoes, corn
Monday: Marinated Carribean Chicken
Tue & Wed: Work during dinner
Thursday: Turkey Enchiladas
Friday: Working during dinner again

Hilarious

I was laughing out loud (in a room by myself) at this earlier today.

Then I found this and laughed louder.

Funny stuff if you like words/grammar/English etc.

Random Photos

I was glancing through the images on my camera this evening and thought they made an interesting collection.

For some reason I took a picture of all the books I returned to the library one day. Don't remember the reason. But I love books... and libraries (thanks Mom!:)
Priming the basement walls!! Yay for painting this weekend - hmm, maybe we should pick the color soon.

Camden doesn't like baths. So I have to put him on his leash and drag him into the bathroom. Then get Ryan to help lift him out of the corner into the tub. Ryan was so nice and tried to make him comfortable by offering him some water to drink. Haha. It sort of worked.

The only fun part of the bath is licking the soap once I lather him up. Crazy dog.

The after bath routine is as follows; he jumps out of the bathtub and shakes while I try to be prepared with a towel to throw over him. He shakes a couple more times and I try to wipe him off a bit. But he's considerably eager to get out the door. The moment I open the door he runs out into the living room to the carpet. Ryan was smart and rolled up the rug this time, so all Camden had was this little towel (that kept sliding all over the floor, darnit) to do his little thing. Yep, that thing... however it helps.

And check out what I got at the store today for $4! Have I enticed you to start couponing?
So those have been the picture worthy events in my life the past few weeks. Really??
Plus the O'Hare airport.

Just so you know...

"Today there is a new president, but Jesus Christ is still King"

I heard this on the radio this morning. Simple, true and a good reminder of where my priorities and allegiance are with everything going on in this world.

Menu Plan Monday on Sunday

After doing meal plans for only three weeks I really understand why people like it and do it. Here's the top reasons I like menu planning.

• Organization
• I'm more likely to cook something
• One well planned trip to the grocery store.
  
• By knowing what's for dinner tomorrow sometimes I get started on it the evening before; time saver, and just another reason to actually make the meal!

Here's the plan for this week.
Sunday: Scalloped Potatoes and ham
Monday: Pasta & green beans (one of my favorites, right Schism?)
Tuesday: Beefy Tex-Mex stir-fry
Wednesday: Leftovers on the run
Thursday: And again, leftovers on the run
Friday: Homemade Calzones; this was my inspiration, but I plan to change it quite a bit.

Check out others at Menu Plan Monday.

My favorite one

It deserved its own post.

Scenes from an airport

I took my little camera to Chicago this week knowing I wouldn't use it during training, but one just never knows when she'll want to capture an image.

The hotel was actually in Rosemont (nice watertower - get it - roses i realize its a bit unclear in this picture) My room was on the ninth floor.

Training finished early but the airline I was flying didn't have an earlier flight. So I just bummed around the airport for a couple hours, hoping security wouldn't find me suspicious while taking photos.

Then in the passageway to the other Concourse I saw some other tourists just snapping away. (not pictured)

Once in the concourse I found a nice open spot to sit, watch people and take some semi-creative pictures. Oh, and I was wearing my Chacos of course.

This plane was in this spot for a while. Not quite ready to leave for some reason.

After some ice cream and cole slaw, I moved to the ever appealing airport chairs near my gate.

Back at aforementioned favorite airport's economy parking (actually this was taken when I left, it was dark when I got back)

I heart KCI

I'm in Chicago for business training and I just wanted to take a moment to share how much I love the Kansas City International Airport. I feel blessed to have such a major airport yet so smooth in-and-out for my travels. In part I believe it's due to the fact KCI is not a connecting airport. So unfortunately, to ever experience the wonderfulness that is KCI, you will need to be going to or coming from Kansas City or surrounding areas. We'll accept visitors anytime! :)

A Dog's Life

It's a beautifully sunny yet windy fall day today. While washing dishes this afternoon I was gazing out the kitchen window. I saw Camden sitting with a straight back, ears perked-up just waiting for some squirrel to scamper across the yard so he could make a mad dash after it. Well, in the few minutes I watched him there were no squirrels. But I was considering what it would be like if I were so simple minded that the highlight of my day could be sitting on the deck, on guard for... squirrels. Okay, maybe not the squirrel part, but to just sit on the deck keeping watch over the back yard.
It may be simpler and more relaxing, but certainly not what humans were made for.

Ryan and I spent the afternoon priming the basement. Also fun and exciting.

The Last Berry

On the dogwood tree.

When did I start having so much to do?

I'm not one to consider myself a busy person. I've done quite well at balancing the down time and the active times and still do. But lately it seems like we've had a lot going on. Yesterday for example, I came rushing in the house after work feeling like I didn't have anytime to slow down. Ryan had helped me get supper started even. There are some weeks when Monday is the only evening we have completely free.

I do enjoy having a life! :) Just realized that blog posts may have become less creative and less frequent. But that is okay. While surfing some blogs today I found a scrapbooking site that proposed a "Week in the Life" challenge to take photos of things you do in simple, everyday life. Although I don't intend to make a scrapbook, I thought the challenge and subsequent blog posts were neat. Since I like pictures, or 'memories' as my family calls them sometimes, I just might accept that challenge. A week late, but oh well.

Another week of planned meals!

This feels like quite an accomplishment... two weeks in a row. I'm excited and having fun. Enjoy my story for Sunday...

Sunday: We're in a small group bible study that, over the past year or two has studied Acts & Romans. No good small group is without meals every once in a while (we call them feasts). We've developed this habit of eating food according to where Paul is on his journeys. We've had Greek/Mediterranean, Middle Eastern (Syria, Israel, etc) and Italian (Rome). Since Paul had planned to visit Spain, we are having a Spanish Feast today (Spanish, not Mexican). I'll make Vegetable Paella and Flan.
Monday: Creamy Spinach Chicken Dinner
Tuesday: Apple-Cheddar-Turkey Meatballs, mashed potatoes
Wednesday: Spicy Veggie Quesadillas
Thursday: Meal for one - whatever I want
Friday: Pizza - maybe BBQ chicken?
Saturday: Pasta al Ragu di Fungi or pasta, carrots and mushrooms with creamy sauce

Mittens!

I have a quirky fondness for mittens. It's still October. Still officially fall. Not even below 32 degrees. We haven't turned on the furnace. I still wear short-sleeves.


But I pulled out the mittens and wore them to work today! A few co-workers offered incredulous comments. No bother. Because I love my mittens, I just nod, smile and let them know my hands are warm!

Oh, and here's a few bonus photos from the day.

My first ever week-long meal plan.

Here's something new. Some of my friends who blog and other blogs I find while 'surfing' participate in Menu Plan Monday. I have glanced through others' menus a few times and today.... drum roll please... I actually have this week's menu planned. So I thought it would be fun to post.


Sunday: Dinner out with family at Red Robin. We had never been there before. I admit, I didn't want to go there at first, but I am glad we did. I had one delicious bleu cheese burger!
Monday: Turkey Enchiladas - Ryan wanted to try this one.
Tuesday: Grab whatever
Wednesday: Dijon Crusted Chicken
Thursday: Spicy Veggie Quesadillas
Friday: Potluck-y thing with friends. Probably making Suddenly Salad.

Saturday: Parmigiano-Reggiano crusted Chicken Piccata. From Everyday with Rachel Ray. Sounds fancy but I don't follow the recipe exactly.


So I hope "Grab Whatever" can be considered a meal. :)
Wondering if you will see a similar post next Monday...

PS. Blogger spell check wanted to change the spelling of 'quesadilla' to 'Cadillac'. Huh?

More fun.

Maybe I missed some big news five years ago... but I just learned about this and find it fascinating! Reminds me of the month or two back in high school when I thought I wanted to be a Civil Engineer.

It's a river over a river. Actually it's a canal bridge over a river in Germany, but how cool! And supposedly this was first imagined almost 90 years ago! Read an article here with more pictures.

Yee... fun!

100% chance of rain tonight. I was standing in our back doorway convincing the dog to go out and thought the misty, dimly lit scene would make a fun picture. So I grabbed my camera and tripod and started playing with the shutter speed. Here's what I captured.

The light in the kitchen was on.


Then I shut it off.


Then I changed the white balance. I LOVE the brilliant green in this shot!

Oh this was so fun to get such fun pictures and actually use some features of the camera! These were all taken with about a 13 second shutter speed.

Look at the sky. I think there was a lightening flash in each of these.

My headless dog was in one photo, too. It was freaky looking. He was standing on the deck looking in both directions and that movement with the slow shutter speed made his head 'disappear'.

Random Photo

Chacos Adventures

Friday afternoon before I left, I spent some time reading in the back yard. I wore my Chacos out there and then took them off and used them to hold the book open.
Camden was out there too, generally chasing squirrels. Except for the moment he came and sat on my book (and Chacos)- still watching the squirrels of course.

Almost Midnight

Are you ever too excited to go to bed? For example, if you're taking a vacation, possibly getting on a plane early in the morning. Or taking a day off work because you can. Or taking a day off to start a mini-vacation to see one of your best friends and hang out with 4 girls all weekend!
That's me.
Annual Girls Weekend starts tomorrow!

It began two years ago at World's of Fun.
photo no longer available

Last year we took our dogs camping.
photo no longer available

This year we're headed out-on-the-town.

The group of girls changes from year to year, but it's always a reason for one of my good friends from college and I to get together.
photo no longer available



One other thought at this time of night, this is still a great book!!

And again

Road construction again tonight. But this time no crazy passers or rule followers. There was a dead skunk, though. Ew.

Construction Zone

On my way home from work today, I witnessed something that just made me smile.
I drive about 1.5 miles on a 4-lane divided highway, that at the end of that mile and a half splits and exits onto the interstate. There was a lane closure today at the split that had one lane of traffic backed up to where I get on. I pulled onto the highway and merged into that one lane, proceeding at 10mph although the left lane was still open. A car came speeding on by (or at least what looked like speeding while most cars were only going 10mph) in the left lane, passing all the cars in the right lane that were kindly obeying the 'Do Not Pass' signs. In my review mirror I saw another car approaching in the left lane, when the guy behind me proceeded to move into the left lane and continue driving as if he were in the slow lane. He was blocking the 'speeders' from getting by.
I admit I really like rules and I really like playing by the rules. To see someone make everyone play by the rules was great. I continued driving in the right lane for the next mile, watching that car behind me with a huge smile on my face.

Sand Volleyball!

My favorite sport! Good exercise. Fun with friends yesterday! Playing in a tournament today! Lots of exclamation points! It's true - I'm excited!
(Unfortunately no pictures)

Something new

I'm trying a new look with a photo at the top of my blog. For the fall it's sunflowers. Thanks Mom & Dad for stopping in Nebraska to take this picture of the Kansas state flower

CVS this week

Another week, another trip to CVS for some good deals.

Transaction #1
What I got
Aleve-D - $3.99
Excedrin - $3.99
Purex - $2.99
2 Glade @.99 each - $1.98
How I paid
$2/$10 CVS coupon
$1/1 Aleve-D coupon
$2/1 Excedrin coupon
$.50/1 Purex
$1/1 Glade
B1G1 Glade
$5 ECBs
$.90 OOP
ECBs received
$7.99

Transaction #2
What I got
2 Covergirl Lipslicks @$3.99 - $7.98
1 Covergirl Eyeshadow $2.99
How I paid
$2/$10 CVS coupon
B1G1 CG lip product
2 - $1/1 CG coupons
$3 ECBs
$.45 OOP
ECBs received
$3

My house smells like Apple Cinnamon now. :)

The Rain

It has been raining here for at least 5 out of the last 7 days and I'm loving it! I really do enjoy the rain. I took a short walk around downtown this afternoon with no umbrella or hood. It was great! Although, I enjoy it, rain makes the sky quite gray and the days a bit dreary, so I picked a few things from by photo albums that are not so dreary.

Happy baby

Mountains and bright blue sky.

photo no longer available

Dandelion :) and green grass

Dogs having fun in the pool.Christmas!!
And shoe golf, of course. :)

Wow! That was an interesting thing to do. There were so many un-dreary things to choose from.

Bikes and Balloons

The Huff N Puff hot air balloon rally was in Topeka this weekend. My parents came down and we went for an early morning bike ride that began with the 7am balloon launch and continued around peaceful Lake Shawnee.

Early morning launch

Reflections

This balloon pilot had skill. The basket skimmed the water for several hundred feet and floated back up just before hitting a dock.

Bikes and balloons. :)

The botanical gardens at Lake Shawnee