A Little Trisha's Table

I'm a big Trisha Yearwood fan. I have all her albums as CDs and ripped to my iPod (except the compilations they've made over the years mixing up the songs in different ways). I also own all three of her cookbooks. The latest, Trisha's Table: My Feel-Good Favorites for a Balanced Life, came out this month, and I've tried three recipes so far. One winner, one huge loser and one maybe-try-again.

The best one we've tried was the "Neat Sloppy Joes" -- made with ground turkey, beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, onions and peppers. The sauce uses tomato paste, vinegar and a touch of brown sugar that made it super tasty -- and it was a big recipe so we ate on it for a supper and two lunches!

The major flop was "Broccoli Slaw Chicken," which is a recipe without a picture in the book. That's probably a clue that it's not a true winner/maybe is just filler in the book. (Also the recipe is not on Food Network's website, another indicator it's a dud all around.) In any case the picante sauce mixed with broccoli slaw (broccoli, carrots and cabbage, which I bought pre-shredded) and cooked made for a disgusting bite. We barely ate the chicken the first night, and the leftovers sat in the fridge until I finally gave myself the grace to toss them out.

The maybe-try-again is "Raspberry Chicken." We didn't like it very much, although the sauce was OK. I would want to try again because I didn't have the mushrooms the recipe calls for. I bought them, but when I started making the chicken the mushrooms had gone bad in the fridge (my Winn Dixie's produce department is terrible and I should really get my act together and shop at the weekly farmer's market ... but that's another issue). It was edible, and I think we ate the leftovers too. Definitely not a favorite, make-every-week kind of recipe.

Related: I'm way late to the party, but I've just found Cook's Country and America's Test Kitchen on Amazon Prime/PBS and have gone down a wormhole watching those (with a notebook in hand to write down recipes and techniques as they show them). I'm going to be trying a few new things I think. Meal planning and cooking has become SUCH a chore for me. I hope this will infuse some new spark and make it more fun again...

Do you have any new recipes you can recommend?

Amazon affiliate links to cookbooks used. (Recipe links go to Food Network's website.) 

Remembering

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. I remember the lives lost, those who survived and those who are forever changed.

I was an eighth grader and in first period math class when the superintendent of our little school came in with the news. I think a TV was wheeled in and we were able to watch some coverage. My town is about two hours away from Oklahoma City.

A few weeks later our government (civics?) class took a field trip to the site, and we saw the building before it was completely demolished. I was caught up in my middle-school boyfriend/girlfriend drama (I vaguely remember that the boy I liked played a breakup song to signal we were through on this trip, but I could be mixing memories). But I do remember the awe of the devastation and all the stuffed animals and notes tucked along the chain link fence. Somewhere I have some prints of photos I took that day.

The memorial was completed before I left the state, but for some reason I have never been through it. I'm rarely in Oklahoma City proper, although I should make the time to visit it next time I go home.

Welcome Church Friends

I donated six hats to my church's silent auction, and I included a silvermari crochet business card with each hat. I don't think they all sold, but I know at least Grumpy Cat did. So, if you're checking out my site and are fellow member of St. John's UMC, welcome!

If you want to know more about my crochet, check out the crochet section. Otherwise this is just a site where I write periodically about things I'm thinking about, reading or watching. Hopefully I'm not too grumpy and there isn't too much that's completely embarrassing (to me, Shawn or Jane). It's a fine line to walk when you write about yourself on the Internet.

Let me know if you're reading!

A Painting Hangs

In time for Gran's birthday today we finally got the painting from her living room hung up in ours.

I love everything about it, but I would happily trade it to see it in her house again covered with family photos and her sitting next to it. (Painting by Great Uncle Dale McKinney)

A Stranger in the South

I'm not from the South. So I don't understand the value of making our kids say "yes, ma'am" and "no, sir" in every interaction with an adult. That's the style at Jane's school though. She doesn't bring it home or call me that, although she does tell me her teacher tells her to say it. Will she be in big trouble if I don't drill her in that social nicety? I do find myself falling prey to the "Ms./Mr. First Name" with people at church. That seems expected, although still weird to me.

We had her Easter party at school this week, and I got to observe the other moms of kids in the 2-year-old classes. Most knew each other, and knew each other well. Basically I got the impression that the typical mom fits the cliche "good Christian woman." It was the same recipe -- blown out hair, cute matching ensembles and multiple children in their arms also dressed up in smocked outfits and giant hair bows for the girls. And they all speak so sweetly, even though I could feel the undercurrent of "bless your heart" pulsing in that sweet talk. I didn't feel totally out of place, since Jane was there and she fits in great despite her decidedly un-smocked wardrobe and lack of giant hair bows, but it is very obvious that I am different. That may always be so...

Spring Flowers: Scenes from Our Yard

Some Things of Late (or My Lack of Luck)

Driving to pick up Shawn in New Orleans after a week of him being gone, a big SUV speeds up behind me as I'm passing another car. It's going so fast - 90+ - that I don't notice it until I am signaling to get over after my pass. I shake my fist at the driver who then pumps his brakes, acting like he will swerve into my lane and run me off the road. I also had a thought he would shoot me if I did catch up with him, so I slowed down. Then he sped up and was off again. I didn't actually see the driver, but what a dick move. And scary. Moral: don't shake your fist at drivers.

On this same trip there is a marsh fire near/on the Bonnet Carre Spillway and there is backedup traffic for 5+ miles in both directions. There is no obstruction on the actual roadway -- completely rubbernecking. So frustrating and added an extra hour to our travel time.

Jane has been sick since Wednesday evening. Her very first tummy bug that has lasted more than a few hours. Fever, vomiting, extreme fatigue, the whole nine yards. She is finally better, but it really put a cramp in our style. We were basically trapped at home for two full days while Shawn was out of town, and then she had to power through while we picked him up. She wouldn't eat so she is all kinds of skinny now, and not in a good way. She started eating almost normally today so I'm sure she'll bounce back. She never stopped drinking water so I didn't fear dehydration. We missed a day of school (so a few hours of Mama time for me), Art in the Park, church, soccer practice, a special family church service with a play, and today's library story time. I've got to find some babysitter I can call for something like that so I could go out and get supplies. Madness!

I am a web servant at church, meaning I work on the website content, social media, sermon videos, weekly email blasts, etc. One thing I do is remind our pastor to write every week, although sometimes there's no inspiration so no letter. I can think of all kinds of topics for HIM to write about, but clearly I can't come up with much for myself, given I haven't written here in more than a month.

A slight positive in my world - the azaleas are blooming and Baton Rouge looks beautiful. My favorites are the light pinks (I'm assuming those are azaleas too). There are flowers everywhere and it's gorgeous. My eyes have been hurting so maybe I have seasonal allergies (which would fit with my luck these days).

Wishing you better luck now and always. (And a little luck for me in the coming weeks too...)

Preschooler Eye Drop Tip

So, I googled around for advice on ways to make eye drops for preschoolers/toddlers easier. I did find one tip that seems to work:

Have your child lie on his back and shut his eyes as tight as he can. Place one to two drops in the inner corner of each eye. Tell him to relax his eyes. The liquid will seep into the eye without tears or fuss! Wipe off the excess with a clean cloth or tissue.

I've used this with Jane, and she still fights the drops, but it's easier to do (takes fewer hands to hold flailing limbs, pry open eye lids and squeeze the drops in). Thought it was a good one.

There's also this funny post I found on Today's Parent (but it has an ad wall before it will show you the post, just FYI).

Parenting Wobbles

SHE IS SO BEAUTIFUL!

The refrain when we were at a church leadership retreat meeting on Saturday was overwhelming. Everyone commented on Jane's physical beauty and adorableness.

It's true! She's a precious little moo-hoo who is also very pretty.

But I forget! I know she's beautiful, inside and out, but in the frustrations of life with a "threenager" I can look past her beauty and only feel the frustrations and see her disobedience, defiance and willfulness. Everything feels so hard.

This week she has been sick. Started with a cough on Sunday evening, so I'm guessing she picked up something at church -- passing the peace is NOT my favorite, but especially during cold and flu season. (But partly my fault because I didn't get the hand sanitizer on her hands or make her wash her hands before we took her to the nursery/Sunday school -- I would think they would wash their hands in Sunday school before a snack, but they do not.)

The cough progressed and added a runny nose and leaky eye, which is usually her first symptom of a cold. No fever though, and still she hasn't had one. She went to school on Tuesday and I got a call to pick her up after a couple hours. Her eye was hurting and the school said she had pink eye. We went to the doctor -- possibly our first (second?) sick visit in her 3+ years. Doctor diagnosed an eye infection (so yes pink eye?) and prescribed drops.

Wrestling a 36 pound preschooler (who is 3 feet, 4 inches tall!) to get a drop in each eye is a really difficult thing. I'm going to attempt my first solo drop placement after lunch. It's going to be impossible, as it's really a struggle even with Shawn helping. Ugh.

She is some better, but still sneezy and coughy and tired. So we decided to have her stay home from school today. It is fine, but I'm so disappointed and sure that it's the wrong decision. She'd be having a better, more engaging time at school. When I called the office to tell them she's staying home the secretary seemed to be trying to talk me into bringing her in, because she isn't contagious re: pink eye once she's started her drops, if that's even what it is. But it was too late (to get her together to go and I'd already texted her teacher and asked a friend to bring her Valentine cards by after school).

Yeah. Jane's missing her first class Valentine party and card exchange. She won't get to make her card box craft or celebrate love with her friends. I'm way more disappointed than she is, and it's definitely FOMO (fear of missing out), which I happened to read about on Mommy Shorts this week. But decision made, we're missing out, etc. I know my regret and unhappiness with the decision will fade (probably by this afternoon even).

I also am missing out on alone time for myself, and next week the school is closed for Mardi Gras, which is pretty much the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Oh, and I'm teetering on the verge of being sick myself -- sore throat and just tired, part of it worry about her and lost sleep from getting up in the night again with her from the coughing.

TIBTIL: Chi Shampoo & Conditioner

I first saw Chi Infra shampoo at Ross in Danville, but I knew I didn't want to weigh myself down with extra liquids on the flight back no matter how good the deal. I have loved the smell of Chi products for a while, since a couple haircuts ago when the stylist used Chi Iron Guard 44 and I was swept away by the smell. Since I knew I could find a deal on it and I needed new shampoo I thought I'd shop for it locally.

I first tried my Ross here, but they are a real run-down, ramshackle store with no real beauty section. Later I tried TJ Maxx and score, they had the shampoo and conditioner (called Chi Infra Treatment). Unfortunately they only had giant, 32-ounce containers, but they were only a couple dollars more than the much smaller 8-ounce containers you can find at CVS or Target. I was in a snit mood anyway, so I dropped the cash am loving the smell of my hair ever since.

I had been using Trader Joe's tea tree oil shampoo, which was OK but didn't keep my hair clean very long. And my hair does not do well being washed too often. This Chi stuff gives me several days of clean-enough hair and smells fantastic. Have I mentioned I love the crisp, clean smell?! I know it's just chemicals and just as bad for me as a floral or something but my nose knows and I love it. I wish there were a curly product -- like mousse -- so I could have my hair smell great no matter the style.

I also think I would like a Chi perfume. THAT's how much I love this smell.

Amazon affiliate links used throughout.

it's MARI time

A friend of Shawn's came across this and sent it. She's even wearing purple..

Your Three-Year-Old: Friend or Enemy?

Your Three-Year-Old: Friend or Enemy by Louise Bates Ames

I didn't actually write a review on Goodreads, but I'm stealing their formatting for links and the cover image. This book wasn't that helpful, but I was drawn in by the funny title. I was looking at parenting books at the library and saw this one. I am such a frustrated parent much of the time now. It's like I am the tantrum-prone toddler with trouble controlling my emotions (or at least I have my moments, with and without Jane around).

The book was published in 1985 and the advice is funny. There are several sections that talk about Father not understanding -- expecting too much of his children's table manners so better for the 3-year-old to eat supper alone in the kitchen before the family meal. LOLOL.

A running theme is: PUT YOUR CHILD IN NURSERY SCHOOL FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING. They write a lot about how people who are not the child's mother can get better results with a 3-year-old so take advantage of that. Also they say several times to find a local high school girl to babysit. (I don't think that flies now since high school girls are probably overscheduled with after school activities, college prep and dates.)

For us Jane is in preschool a couple mornings a week, and we love it. I was very resistant to it at first, but she's really liked getting to make friends, which is something that I am so bad at. It's also given me a little time to work on projects myself. BUT I also respect the choice to keep kids home for as long as possible (or even home schooled). I have fears of her picking up bad behaviors from other kids, but for us I think that's a trade off we're willing to accept for the socialization aspect (since I'm lacking in that area -- or something like that). She's also learning a lot and having experiences that don't include me, which have to happen eventually, no matter how weird it seems to me.

The book also advises against feeding your kid food dyes, since they've been linked to behavioral changes in kids. They say if you and your kid are reasonably happy with their behavior you don't need to change anything, but if there's "deviant" behavior that you can't figure out look to the diet and eliminate foods with dyes. That's not to blame for Jane's behavior (none of which is deviant, all of which is typical 3-year-old stuff, however much I dislike it in the moment), but I will still do my best to keep food dyes out of her body. (That's another mark against going to school because she's fed crap on a somewhat regular basis ... although they say they're "treats" it doesn't seem so much because it's so regular. I'm especially not happy with the King Cake that will be part of next week's lessons -- green, yellow and purple food dye are the main ingredients in the frosting ... not to mention the sugar, which is another thing we really limit in Jane's diet.)

There's got to be an up-to-date parenting book for preschoolers, and maybe I'll stumble across it or seek it out. (If you have a recommendation, let me know!) For now this was fun enough to read and probably gave me some insight into child development, at least as understood in the 80s (which is when I happened to be a 3-year-old myself, and my mom said it was the worst age!). I'm going to keep on loving my girl and do my best to keep my own emotions in check.

Haircuts and Page Views

I got a haircut yesterday -- reminiscent of shortest curl from Bumble & Bumble, but still not as good. Probably shorter than I was planning, if I even planned at all. It's so hard for me to talk about what I want for my hair. I don't care about my hair and yet I am deeply critical of others' efforts to tame/cut/style it. This looks nice and bouncy, although full of product and took a while to diffuser dry, something I would rarely, if ever, do. She also took two stabs at cutting it, as the first try left very full sides, so it was like two puffs on either side of my face. Not exactly triangular, but not flattering either. This is good enough for me, and I'll see how it looks straight. I wish I could find someone who knows how to wield a razor to get the choppy, razored ends I like so much.

My Blogger stats are showing a weird anomaly. On Saturday 1/24 it says I had more than 2,000 page views. Ridiculous. My Google Analytics, also installed on this blog/site, show no such spike. I searched and maybe Blogger stats count bots or something, but I'm surprised the disparity would be so great. Also when I drill down to look at the page views in the Blogger stats widget the high number doesn't exist, even when the time frame includes 1/24. Lame and annoying, but no big deal since this is a vanity site with no real purpose.

Fitness Follies

A high school friend is some kind of online personal fitness coach now. I think it's great, but her posts on Facebook crack me up. She's started posting mini clips of her workouts -- as motivation and incentive (for herself? others?) to stay on track. She has perfect form, is cute and small -- so I'm not laughing AT her or even really that she's putting herself out there. I think I laugh mostly at the idea by extension: What if I started doing that? How many laughs could I get? A whole humor blog of mini clips of me huffing and puffing my way through exercises. That is terrible, and I'm sorry but I had to laugh it out.

Fitness Blender is the bomb dot com if you're into fitness videos you can do at home -- maybe during the snowstorm set to hit the Northeast this week. I've been using the site a lot. I love their all-in-one videos and have also started "blending" my own with the shorter workouts plus warm up and cool down videos. Jane loves Kelli and Daniel, the instructors.

Vignettes of Annoyance

Pop Art image found on Google Images labeled for reuse

I am a very gripe-y, complainy person. To wit, some things I'd like to bitch about:

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I am a shit negotiator. As in, I don't negotiate at all. I guess I need William Shatner to help me ... I've agreed to a freelance job for nearly half my "normal" rate. Normal being what I've been paid on my last job, which is actually a lower hourly rate than some other project-based work I've done, although that was so lucrative it felt criminal to accept the agreed-to amount. (I did though. Oh, I did.) I don't want to feel cheated or like I have a reason to slack. I'm very rules-oriented, so I'll track my time and be above board on everything. But I'll always have this little niggling doubt asking -- what if you'd suggested a higher number, still lower than my top, instead of trusting that she was offering the best she could do. TERRIBLE biznass ladee, although I haven't actually signed a contract so I guess I could still just say "no thanks" to the project entirely. I won't do that though. My word is good. Hrmph.

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Similar rule following -- I get irrationally angry at the other parents in carpool. One guy had a tiny toddler plus his preschooler, both out of their carseats and climbing all over his car -- out of the sunroof, in his lap, on the gearshift, etc. And then he's driving up in the line in this chaos. So unsafe. And another big SUV mom creates her own line of cars next to the building, which is supposed to be kept clear, per the rules, and basically jumps ahead of everyone in the real line as well as leading a bunch of other cars to do the same. Why does that drive me crazy so much?!?!?!

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Chasing a wayward preschooler through the aisles of Winn Dixie makes me mad. I wish I could better channel my energies and upset when things like that happen. After the race, catching her and then dragging through the checkout process (because I needed the snacks for her preschool class the next day) I just seethe. I try to talk to her rationally later about how scary that is for me and why she can't do it, although I don't think anything sinks in. Really all I feel like doing is strapping her to my body or forcing her into a cart for the foreseeable future. Three-year-old parenting is the hardest so far for me and accounts for the majority of my annoyances, and I'm a highly annoyed and annoyable person.

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Windows 8 is the worst. I needed to use Skype, but the OS forced me to change my login to be an @outlook.com account. I had already created a mariwalker@ account back when they very first started offering them, but for some reason it isn't mine anymore. At least silvermari@ was still available, so I re-made that, but still so mad. And now I have a different password for my computer login, which was something loving and calming. Now it's full of rage at Microsoft. It's the worst. I think there's a workaround and I can undo the login back to regular and download a different Skype software to use. Hate. hate. hate.

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iTunes is the worst. I have to use it for my iPod, which is my main music listening device. I can connect it in the car or wear it with earphones while shopping or walking. But my music on my computer is ALL EFFED UP. Duplicates of song files crop up, so that I have four copies of every song in a single Dixie Chicks album but other songs and albums disappear. And iTunes moves files around, from the organized Music>Artist Name>Album Name structure to a separate Music subfolder within the original Music folder, and then iTunes can't find the songs it's moved around. It is so frustrating and makes me rage. As Daniel Tiger says "When you're feeling frustrated ... take a step back, and ask for help." SO I'm going to do some things myself but have Shawn do the real help of uninstalling iTunes and seeing if he can do a reinstall that does not screw up the file management system. AAAAH!

Crochet Christmas Ornaments

The year Shawn and I got engaged I made a slew of crocheted Christmas ornaments with an engagement picture glued in them. I love seeing them on our family's Christmas trees when we go visiting.

This year Shawn's aunt asked if I would make her some more because she'd like to put pictures of Shawn's cousins on her tree too. No problem.

I have many of the plastic rings leftover, but I didn't have any matching red ribbon. I used what I had on hand. I also don't have the exact pattern anymore, although I know I made each ornament alike in 2007. For these four I just improvised. One looks very much like the original, with picots and ruffles. One is a simple scallop and the other two are hybrids of sorts. I'm happy with how they turned out.

I got them in the mail today. She'll have to add the pictures (I just affixed with hot glue, although you could half-glue a cardboard circle and slip a circle picture in the created pocket). I also didn't glue down the ribbon in case she wants to change it out. In the 2007 versions every bow was glued down to keep it from falling apart through the years. So far so good I think.

Monday Morning Quarterbacking

At a church meeting yesterday a woman only a bit older than me came up and said, "Oh, you look good!" It is weird because

1) I do not. I'm heavy, my face was mostly bare and my hair scraped back. I was wearing a sort of flattering black top and jeans, so maybe? and

2) she is highly coifed and put-together at all times: full makeup, always blond, short, stylish hair, so she knows "looking good."

There is the likelihood she's just being nice and it's something she says to everything. I don't have that knee jerk reaction usually. I do compliment people on beautiful clothes or new hair. Meh, I don't know.

I'd like to think that it's because I'm "beyond" appearances or don't pay attention to them and look at the real person, but no. It's mainly that I am oblivious and/or mean.

Christmas Repackaged

We put away our Christmas tree and decorations this week, after Epiphany marked the end of the season.

I spread out the tree ornaments on the table and took a picture. This is enough to decorate the front half of the tree. I will have more next year because my mom gave me a big box of ornaments. Maybe next year we'll put it in the window and decorate the whole thing (maybe not -- the corner is nice and it looks good against the red walls).

I also got 24 books wrapped for Advent 2015. I love the tradition of opening one book per night, and Jane really does too. We have enough Christmas- and winter-themed books to unwrap two a night I'm sure, but we can just look at the others as we feel like it. Our collection seems to grow every year too, as I usually buy her a new Christmas book or two. I just can't help it! (Or can I???)

I wrap the books in tissue paper, which I buy after Christmas. I don't use scissors, so sometimes the books are sort of wrapped twice. And usually you can see the title through the thin paper. But it's cheaper and less likely to give paper cuts. And 24 presents is a lot to open, even in 24 days!

So now everything's wrapped up, and it fits in two footlockers, three small flat Rubbermaid-style boxes and three bigger Rubbermaid-style boxes -- plus the tree, which is in its own bag. When we're getting it all out it doesn't feel like "enough," but it certainly feels like "too much" when boxing it back up. I still love the idea of special Christmas dishes and mugs, decor in every room of the house, etc. I'm still trying to rage against my natural clutter-y tendencies though and KEEP THINGS SIMPLE! (ha.)

My Stocking Stuffers

I wrote about what I mainly put in Jane's stocking this year, and I wanted to list what I put in my stocking too. I didn't actually fill a stocking, but I put my goodies in a tote bag that has Jane's picture on it. I got a sweet deal from Walgreen's on four of them (so Gingie, Grandma Dale and Shawn also got their own Jane tote!). They're all different, so we won't get confused if we're ever using them together!

• Jane wall calendar of my favorite month-by-month pictures from last year. (I also gave some of these as gifts.)
• e.l.f. nails 10-pack of holiday nail polishes -- something I also got for Beth but wanted one for myself. 
• Kraft paper note cards with a typewriter, hearts and "love" on them. Maybe to use as Valentine's? Got at Homegoods for $2.
• Couple packs of gum
• Custom notepad with my name and monogram on the top -- ordered for free/just pay shipping, I think from TinyPrints or another nice online stationery store.
• A makeup bag from DaySpring -- I'd actually wrapped it for Gran, but I got it back and added it to my goodie bag.

Nothing extravagant, but fun little things I like. I also spent some minor money on myself when I got to go to the outlet mall with my mom and sister this week (new skirt, new jeans and new hoodie sweatshirt -- all together less than $30). Shawn's gift of babysitting the kids so we could have that outing might be my favorite gift of the season! Ha.

Edited to add: also a Chi travel shampoo, conditioner, iron guard and serum pack from Walgreen's, bought on impulse during my flu shot. And I also bought PJ pants and slippers at the outlet mall and probably spent $50 all together on myself. Ugh to looking back at receipts...

Resolve

I'm not a very good at making resolutions. Or maybe I'm not good at sticking to them.

Read more?

Write more?

Eat less?

Exercise more?

Crochet more? (Ha.)

Go to work?

Organize things?

Get less angry/irritated/crabby?

I did make my 2014 resolution of not buying magazines (although not really because of all my subscriptions!). But otherwise I don't even remember what I resolved. I wrote 130 posts last year, which was less than the year before and the year before. 2011 was my lowest year, mainly because I did not blog about my pregnancy and that was all I wanted to talk about that year (plus morning sickness).

I don't have a "one word" for this year. I think I did that before too. (Probably "BABY" for 2012) Maybe CONTENT. Be happy with what I have without jealously coveting MORE, other people's stuff and successes, etc. Oh and it can work doubly if I read it as "content" -- producing good work through writing, editing, etc.

Typing this on my new bluetooth keyboard that was a Christmas present. Maybe having an additional way to easily blog will set my writing habit on fire? (Maybe not.)

Happy New Year 2015. Bring it.