Thoroughly Thursday

Quote of the Day: "Mom, you just killed that snake!".....followed by my frantic "What? WHERE????" It's a good thing I didn't SEE the snake before I ran over it or I probably would have had an accident when I commenced freaking out! I hate snakes! THIS is my number 1 reason not to garden in TX....when I tried it in San Antonio - I found SNAKES!

Step video this a.m. Alternating workouts is working well because the littles never know if I'm HOME (meaning they need to hang on my ankles while I work out) or if I'm at Curves. ::snort::

I've not said much about Jared's lawn business, but he's been trying to build it back up since our return from vacation. I applaud his tenacity. He spent an entire week knocking on doors without doing any lawns. He DID one yard yesterday and another today. He needed me to run him to Sam's for gas early this a.m. He's earned ALL the money he needs to attend World View Academy in the fall. We had said we'd pay 1/2 - but this is very good indeed.

Jamin's been saving his paychecks to go to World View Academy and the Writing for the Soul Conference hosted by the Christian Writer's Guild. This looks awesome. There will be some leading authors, agents, publishers, workshops galore. I'd like to attend...but the cost is steep. LOL Jamin is working to save the $ for this adventure. He called the admissions officer yesterday to tell them that he's been saving and had a question. He explained that he is a minor and that he'd like his father to attend any meetings he has with agents/publishers etc. He asked if there would be a discount for Michael to attend or if he'd have to register. OUCH. The admissions officer told him that he needed to ask his supervisors some questions because he'd never been asked these questions. They came back and said that they DEFINITELY want a parent with him when he interviews with publishers and agents. Mike or I can attend the keynote sessions and eat our meals at the Broadmore for $450 (a significant savings). Mike can also simply come to the meetings with agents etc. for FREE. THEN they said that they had checked with the Broadmore and they had a policy that a minor can't stay alone so if Jamin stays at the Broadmore Mike will need to as well. I was very proud of our introverted son for gathering the info. It's fun to watch the children mature into adults.

It IS a tad bit expensive, however, to tell your children to pursue their dreams! ::snort::

We THOUGHT we'd frozen our underground sprinkler system last winter. We tried to remember everything Michael wanted us to do. We've been blessed with LOTS of rain this year and haven't had to water the yard. BUT when Michael and Jared dug down to see what the problem was the found something broken that Mike wasn't sure he wanted to mess with. I'd been suspecting that we were paying for lots of water since we aren't watering...I mean we DO a lot of showers and laundry but I suspected. Check this out....the hole is full of water...

After a week of trying to get someone in here - it was fixed today. It was the master valve. WOW do we have water pressure now....

I made lots and lots of cookie dough today. We are in the process of freezing dough. I have no clue how much we'll end up with. I HAD five bags of chips. When it was time to use the chips I was missing a bag. We all looked everywhere.....finally noticing a quiet Miss sitting sedately in the window....could it be?

Yes - the missing chips!

Summer Exercise Challenge

I'm very late to enter this challenge as it is over 3 September....but I've been doing my own exercise challenge all year/summer and so I feel like I CAN participate in all good conscience. AND....mamabright SAYS I CAN! So there. ::snort:: You can click above or here to read more about this. WHY do I love these challenges???? Because they help me stay motivated....I post the tickers at the top of my blog so when I don't exercise I'm REMINDED! ::snort::

So....I need to adjust my ticker goals anyway as they were for the YEAR and I'm going to reach them before the end of December. I'll change them now to reflect where I hope to be by 3 September. Basically this comes out to be 3 Curves workouts a week and 2 Aeorbic workouts (biking, step video, or fast walking). Now I get to use the cool graphic and long time friends know THAT is what really motivates me....that and fitting into those blasted size 8 pants BEFORE I get pregnant again......

"Spaghetti Sauce"

This is a versatile sauce that can be used in lasagna, spaghetti, manicotti, linquine etc. Freezes WELL, makes about a gal - 16 - 18 servings. I triple or quadruple this and freeze it in quart bags (children's lunch) or gal bags ( family meal).

*1 lb sweet Italian Sausage

*1 1/2 lbs of Ground Beef Chuck

3 large yellow onions, peeled and minced

4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed

4 tsp sea salt

2 T oregano

1 T basil

1 tsp chili powder

1/3 tsp crushed dired hot red chili peppers

1 (8 oz) can mushrooms (or fresh)

1 (1qt 14 oz) can tomato juice

4 (6 oz) cans tomato paste

1 Cup Water

Honey - as needed to take away any BITE

Crushed fennel (opt - I add but it isn't called for)

Tips:

*I use 2 1/2 - 3 lbs of ground turkey, I also adjust spices as needed (usually more garlic and basil)

*I've tried various things to help with the fumes of all those onions - but nothing really works.

Saute meat, onions, and garlic. Drain. Mix remaining ingredients, simmer 2 hours.

1 Cup serving about 195 calories - 3/4 C serving about 175 calories

*Key Lime Pie Murder* by Joanne Fluke

This is the latest of my Summer Reading Challenge reads. I SAVED it for months until I was "ready" for a fun and easy read....and that happened after all the cleaning and organizing of the past few weeks. ::snort::

I continue to enjoy this series.

I AM finding the characters to be unrealistic, but that tends to be the case in most mystery cozies. Where else in America would a pudgy 30 something year old woman with frizzy red hair have TWO men fawning over her and content to live in a perpetual state of competition? I seem to be the only reader out there who thinks a good marriage makes for way more fun and interest in a series than ongoing dating. LOL Take the Benni Harper Series or the Bed and Breakfast series...and what are those classics with Jack and Nora....I still maintain it would be possible for this to be a great series if Hannah would simply choose Mike and get on with adjusting to marriage....THAT would be as funny as all the dating shenanigans in my estimation. ::snort::

My plan was to give this one away this week - but really I NEED to keep it until I've copied the recipes and the copier is out of toner. ::snort:: Maybe next week.

Yes, I do clothe my babies EVERY morning......
but then this happens...and it's simply easier in W TX to let them be cool.....