I'm Not Blogging at Midnight....

Isn't that funny, it's exactly midnight as I start this post. Exactly what I said I wouldn't do. I'm beyond tired!

I'm just gonna say this: Ree is delightful. She has a way that totally puts you at ease. I enjoyed her immensely.

Doesn't mean that my hands weren't clammy and that I wasn't about to vomit on her when it was my turn. I managed not to. Standing in line I began burping the Chicken Caesar Salad I had for lunch. I just kept imagining those little anchovy heads. *Gak*

I think she really took a shine to Aaron. Just look at that little face. He was so excited.

More to come later tomorrow......

But for now I leave you with...

Rocketdogs and Ree.

Yes, I have no socks on. I don't want to talk about it!

What Day is It?

I slept like a rock last night! In fact, so much so that I woke up a little disoriented this morning.

I seriously didn't know what day it was. I rolled over and saw 7am on the clock. 7am? What day is this? What day do I get the delight of sleeping in til 7?

Glen was gone. Couldn't be a Saturday.

I decided it was Monday, and that I'd overslept. I ran out and let the girls out, apologizing profusely.

It seriously took me a few minutes to realize that it was Thursday! But not just any Thursday...

it's

Pioneer Woman Thursday!

I'm belaboring over the following in preparation for the booksigning:

Why did I cut my hair?

I should have had a lot liposuction done.

Am I seriously going to stand in line all day for this?

I should have gotten braces.

I should have gone to college. (OK, I think that about everything).

Tell all your friends about it! A signed 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks" will be given away this weekend. All the sordid details of the booksigning, and lots and lots of pictures will be on the blog tomorrow. I think that MM and the boys will be at this signing, so I'll try an get a 'rear' view....nudge nudge, wink wink. I don't foresee getting home before midnight tonight...and I just ain't bloggin' that late.

Speaking of telling your friends all about it....you absolutely have to go to these two blogs. I'm completely humbled, thrilled, shocked, embarrassed and proud that the following two bloggers would feature me on their websites!

First is Cottage Instincts. This girl went to a LOT of work on her post today. She even interviewed my chickens....don't believe me? Check it out.

Thank you Cindy from the bottom of my heart. It was the highlight of my month, that is for sure!

Next is Granny Mountain. Joycee is a doll, and you will love her blog....check it out. Thanks Joycee!

I love blogging. I love the people I meet. I got an email from an 81 year old woman this week that said she is 'jealous' of my life. It reminded of her when she was first married and had a milk cow, a large garden and chickens. She ate her chickens though....*gasp*.

As always, thanks for visiting my little corner of the world. You all make it a better place.

It's Still Fall, Y'all

Hello....I'm Thanksgiving....remember me?

I really dislike how early Christmas starts every year.

I must confess, I usually get a good dose of the Christmas spirit sometime in September, but not this year.

I've made my mind up to not even think of it until after Thanksgiving.

My heels are dug in. It's still fall. We haven't had turkey and stuffing yet! There is no place for Christmas yet!

I'm still using fall colored sprinkles.

Aren't these the cutest?

Made them today while Aaron toiled over math......

Homeschoolers have it rough.

I'm still enjoying the fall colors, well, what's left of them....

Now...what are we making for Thanksgiving dinner?

Don't forget to check back in on Friday for the details of the giveaway....a signed copy of The Pioneer Woman Cooks.....if I survive the book signing!

The Pioneer Woman Cooks, Aaron Reviews

Here's the second installment of Aaron cooking his way through the Pioneer Woman's best selling cookbook, "The Pioneer Woman Cooks".

This is a lovely cookbook. If you don't cook, you'd still enjoy this book. Lovely.

We'll be going to Skokie, Illinois on Thursday for a book signing. I'll be having her sign two, and giving one away here on Friday! Make sure you all come back for that! I promise to give you the new one, not the goobed up one I have from cooking.

Jayme: Aaron...give us your review of Simple, Perfect Enchiladas.....

Aaron: I thought that they were good, but not amazing. Marmie thought that they were too salty, but I like things really salty.

Jayme: Were the intstructions easy to follow?

Aaron: In her book the steps go up and down, instead of side to side, and I got a little bit mixed up at times. She did forget to mention where the green chilies were supposed to be added, so I just put them in the sauce.

Jayme: Thumbs up or thumbs down?

Aaron: You will notice in the picture, that my thumb was slightly tilted. It's because I liked them, but I didn't love them. (My thumb is almost all the way down, I wouldn't make these again. Sorry Ree...)

Jayme: Thanks Aaron! What are you going to make next?

Aaron: The Marmalade Muffins

Jayme: Can't wait!

There you have it folks. Aaron's take on Pioneer Woman's 'Simple, Perfect Enchiladas'. Come back for your chance to win an autographed cookbook!

Por Favor?

Comments. It's the most fun part of this blogging business. I love the interaction, the perspectives, the heartfelt things you all say. I want to respond to them all! It would be so much easier to just be able to respond via email, and I could do that if....

If you have a Blogger account, and you reset your settings to show your email. It would just take a sec, and then when you leave comments on peoples blogs, they could respond to you. Trust me. It's fun. If you don't have a Blogger account, it just takes a couple of minutes to set one up.

I found this little tutorial on line.....

If you would like people to be able to email you back after you leave a comment, here's how you change those settings. Well, at least in Blogger. Those of you with WordPress and other non-Googly blogs will have to figure out things on your own. :)

1. Click on the Customize link in the upper right hand corner of your screen.
   
2. Click on the Dashboard link in the upper right hand corner of your screen.
3. Click on Edit Profile, which is on the left hand side of the screen next to your picture.
4. This will take you to the Edit User Profile screen.
   
5. Look in the Privacy section.
6. Check the box that says, "Show my email address".
7. In the Identity section, enter in an email address. (Paranoid users: create a new email address for this, if you want.)
8. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on Save Profile.
   

And there you have it. Interactive comments!

The Diary of A Mad Junk Woman

Ok, it's official. I'm a junker. Junk addict, freebie fanatic. I've always loved a good rummage sale, but somehow, somewhere, I've crossed the line. I wake up aching to go to Salvation Army stores in far away cities. I force Aaron into curbside escapades. I love me some junk. My heart rate increases on garbage day.

On the way to take Aaron to the tutor this morning, I could see him cringe as I pulled up in my oh so lovely 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It's a junk mobile. I'm not so much into car payments.

There was no where for him to sit.

Ahem.

A little Freecycle incident last night left about 20 windows in the Jeep, and a few strapped on the top. It was late, and we were tired. Oh, and then there were the shovels and pitchforks from my last free plant adventure. And there was library books, and vintage pyrex bowls, and various garage sale finds...well...you get the picture.

We rattled, literally, all the way to the tutor's house. I started hearing the theme for 'Sanford and Son' in my head. "Wa wa wa wawa...wa wa wa wawa wa wa wa"

I looked over at Aaron and I SWEAR he looked just like Lamont.

I was laughing so hard I couldn't drive. Aaron didn't find the humor in the situation.

I really want to make something like this out of old windows....tres chic, no?

Oh, and how I would love this old truck. Pink and all. Bring it.

Wa wa wa wawa....

My Beautiful Mother

Born November 12th, 1924 in the humblest of surroundings.

Helen Irene Dorsey

My mom.

She had a smile and laugh that would light up the world.

Fiercely loyal to family and loved ones.

More heartache than one woman should have to endure.

To honor my mother today, I curled my hair. She always set her hair in rollers, and wore a white scarf. I have that scarf, and I wore it today. I baked two Lemon Meringue pies. Her favorite. I thought about her all day, trying to find her in my face, my hands, my life.

I didn't have to look too far. She's passed to me a legacy of love and joy. I'm determined to keep my mom alive in my heart by daily choosing to love, choosing kindness, and choosing to be strong and faithful in the little things, which ultimately, are the biggest things.

Home.

Family.

Friends.

I've Gone Broody

Isn't that picture disturbing? Are those human hands knitting?

Well folks, it's official...I've gone broody.

It happens every few months after a period of intense busyness.

I never know when it's coming.

I'm fine one minute.

The next...

I'm broody.

I stay in my pajamas and eat marshmallows with chocolate chips right out of the bag.

I nap.

I don't answer the phone.

I wander around the house and wish I'd gone to college to become a Pharmacist.

At least I would have access to medication for this ailment.

I curse old houses and the lack of storage space that causes me to have to store extra rolls of toilet paper in such an unfashionable fashion. My OCD kicks in and I worry why I have just one red towel, and I plan it's demise even though it's my favorite towel. I put it in the Goodwill bag and take it out, over and over.

I inventory my spices and walk around for the next half an hour frustrated that the poppy seeds and the fennel are not in matching jars. I make a note of that.

I re-arrange my kitchen shelves for the 94th time this year. I just can't get it 'right'.

Help.

I'm quite positive that none of this bizarre behavior is related to hormones.

I really should have gone to college.

The end.

Perfect Moments

For me, blogging is capturing a moment that is otherwise overlooked.

Taking pictures.

Writing about it.

Immortalizing it.

Sharing that moment with everyone.

Hoping they feel it too.

This morning was a perfect moment.

My sweater was exceptionally cozy.

My coffee was exceptionally good.

My kitty was exceptionally flaccid.

The moment was exceptionally perfect.

Interview with a Homeschooler

Meet Aaron Snyder. Punk extraordinaire.

He is my nephew.

He is the apple of my eye.

He is 13.

He loves Starbucks.

Your prayers are welcomed.

I thought it might be fun to introduce him to you today, since I speak of him so much. We'll do an interview, to give you his perspective of homeschooling.

Good morning Aaron....let's tell the readers a bit about you.

When will you be 14?

December 19th.

What do you want for your birthday?

Wii Fit Plus, Wii Motion Plus, and the Lego Architectural Series, Frank Lloyd Wright 'Falling Waters'.

How long have you been homeschooled?

About a year and a half.

Who is your favorite teacher? :o)

Of course, Marmie. (Aaron calls me Marmie...it's from Little Women)

Please tell us a little about your public school experience.

Ok, hopefully Mrs. O'Neil doesn't read this.....well in third grade Mrs. O'Neil was a very rude teacher, not so much rude, just very strict. She had me so anxious that I began to pull my hair out. In 2nd grade I had a teacher named Mrs. Pyle that would call the kids losers and make fun of their parents. I liked my other teachers.

How did you do academically in public school?

I was slightly below average.

Why do you think you struggled so much in the public school system?

Between the pressure of getting everything done, and everyone talking, and all of the visual distractions and decorations I found it hard to concentrate.

Do you think you have ADD?

Yes.

Why?

I'm very easily distracted.

What has been your experience with homeschooling so far?

Very fun. I get to show up in my pj's sometimes! I like it because there is more one on one help. You get to read books, snuggle with cats, and I like it that I can spend more time outside.

How do you feel that you've been doing academically since you've begun homeschooling?

I feel like I am doing better, and the lowest grade I've gotten so far is a B+.

What subjects do you enjoy the most?

Gym, Art, & Science

What do you hate to do?

Math and some history.

Do you feel like your missing out on anything being homeschooled?

No, not really.

Elaborate.

I'm still in contact with my friends from school, so I don't miss them. I'm not into sports, so I don't miss that either. I have many friends at church, and I see them a couple times a week.

What don't you miss about public school?

Bullies, possibly getting shot, or being beaten to death by a two by four. The lunch food, I don't miss that. It looked like it could crawl off the tray!

Ok Aaron, I know we are close to Chicago, but do you REALLY think that violence could happen out here?

It is possible, one of the kids at school had to go to the hospital for internal bleeding because he was beat up.

Do you plan on homeschooling through Highschool?

Well, I would like to, depending on Marmie's state of mind.

Hardy har har har.

Do you know what direction you'd like to go in after school is over?

Well, it's between doing hair or architecture.

What are your interests?

I like nature, gymnastics, photography, cooking, and designing houses.

Speaking of cooking and photography, let's show the readers a few of your photos, shall we?

Aaron cooked dinner last night. We received our copy of 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks' from Amazon.com, and Aaron plans on cooking every recipe in the book (except the clammy crap), and reviewing here on the blog (except the clam crap). It's a lovely cookbook. We'll be having her sign our book on November 19th when she's in the area for her book signing.

Last night, he made her "Comfort Meatballs with Creamy Mashed Potatoes, and a Peach Crisp with Maple Cream Sauce." Oh, yum. It was so nice to have him cooking in the kitchen while I was resting my uterus.

We give all of those recipes a thumbs up! You can find them on her website www.thepioneerwoman.com.

Here's Aaron in action:

We weren't able to get an 'after' shot of the food. Blasted time change. It was too dark in the kitchen at 5:30, and we gobbled it up so fast there wasn't time to take a pic!

Here are a few of the pictures Aaron has taken. He really likes photography, and I think he's pretty stinking good at it.

As always, thanks for stopping by our little corner of the world.

It's time for Math now. :-)