Snow in Dixie 2014

Well, the forecasters got it wrong and we, not those south of us, got hit with ice and snow yesterday. Since only a "dusting" of snow was predicted, schools and businesses were opened as usual. But when it started snowing and the roads became icy, things got treacherous very quickly! We got 3 inches, which may not seem like much. But when ice becomes a factor, there's no way we're prepared to deal with that.

Our dog, wondering what this fluffy white stuff was

Thousands of motorists have been stranded on the highways since yesterday. But in the midst of all that, I'm hearing stories of generosity and unselfishness that warm my heart. People opening their homes to strangers seeking shelter, businesses staying open to allow people a warm place to rest, ATV owners ferrying stranded travelers to safety. It's heartwarming how communities can come together in times of crisis.

Since we homeschool and my husband works from home, we were already snug and warm at home. So thankful for that! But a flu-like virus struck on Sunday, taking down three family members, one each day. I'm the only one who's been spared, which I attribute to "mom immunity" and lots of handwashing.  The virus has lasted about 48 hours for each patient, so I've only got one "sickie" left. Hopefully by tomorrow, he'll be fever-free.

I've not gotten a thing done this week. My menu plan got changed to chicken soup for every meal. But it's okay. Because we're okay. We're safe and warm and so I'm counting my blessings.

The view from my front door

No Menu Plan for This Week

This week, I'm visiting my parents in  West Virginia, so no menu plan for me. My mom is a great cook, so it will be nice to eat some of her cooking. I'll help out where she lets me!

Hope y'all have a safe, fun-filled Fourth of July!

Jury Duty Report

On Monday I reported to my county's circuit court for the jury selection process. It took all day and part of the next. I was selected to sit on a criminal trial jury, which started on Tuesday. We wrapped up today, right around 5 o'clock.

Now before you think I'm divulging classified information, the judge assured that once the trial was over, all parties, including the jury, would be released from their oaths to not discuss it. She even said we could write a book about it if we wanted!

The case involved a conspiracy to commit robbery. Two parties had confessed and the other denied involvement. He was the one on trial. When all the testimony and evidence had been presented, there simply wasn't enough to convict him under our state's laws.

It took us about an hour to reach that verdict. I served as the foreperson, so I had to moderate the discussions and make sure we were following the parameters set forth by the law in order to make a determination of guilt. This is by far one of the most difficult things I've ever done. My gut told me this person was guilty. But we had to base our verdict on something other than gut feelings. That principle is the very foundation of our justice system.

I know we did our jobs as we had been charged by the judge. And I know it was the right verdict based on the evidence. But I didn't feel satisfied because I believed this person HAD been involved in the crime, it just couldn't be proven with the evidence provided and what we were allowed to consider as indication of guilt. Then after the trial the prosecutor told us the defendant had 13 more pending cases. Yes, that's right. 13.

So I feel that justice will eventually be served. I know that a person reaps what he sows. And sooner or later, a person's crimes will catch up with him.

In the meantime, I will be able to sleep in peace tonight. My fellow jurors and I did the right thing.

Thoughts on the Election and Where We Go from Here

The election's over and the guy I voted for didn't win. Thankfully, I wasn't putting my hope in Romney. Scripture tells us not to do that, anyway. "It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in princes." Psalm 118:8-9.

The biggest problem facing our country isn't economic. It's not a social problem, either. It's not equality or women's issues. It's not immigration or  welfare.

Recent polls and surveys suggest that more and more Americans don't believe in God. If they don't believe in Him, why would they obey His commandments to live holy lives? That's why I firmly believe that our country's biggest problem is spiritual. And no political candidate can solve that one. Only Jesus can do that.

As Christians, we need to be on our knees praying and on our feet sharing the Gospel. We need to stop looking to the government to solve our problems and start trusting in the Lord. We need to show our neighbors and community a better way by living out God's love on a daily basis.

So what's next? Well, honestly, I don't know God's plan for our great country. I know He can use whomever is in political power to accomplish His purpose. And so I'm going to trust Him to do that.

Thoughts on Being Sick

I don't like being sick. I just don't. I have so many more useful things I could be doing. Like cooking for my family. It's one of my favorite ways to show my love for them.

This week I've been laid low by a virus. I feel like crud. Every time I think I'm getting better, I try to do a little more than I should and then I'm right back in bed resting. Will I ever learn?

The answer is probably no. I'm stubborn and want my own way too much.

Isn't that how we all are, honestly?

I'm trying, though. Trying to be still. I can hear my Father's voice whispering to me through the frustration I feel.

So I'm striving to take this week day by day. Not worrying about what needs to be done tomorrow - or what didn't get done today. It will get done eventually.

In the meantime, I'm going to rest some more. I'll see you next week!

My Darkened Kitchen

It's been really hot this week. Well, duh...it's August!

But our downstairs AC has been on the fritz since Sunday. The repair guys are supposed to be coming today to fix it.

The hottest room by far has been the kitchen. See, we have this skylight that allows direct sunlight into the room. It's great when it comes to providing light. I rarely turn on the kitchen lights during the day.

But that wonderful skylight also allows a great deal of heat into the kitchen. So today my husband put a sun shield up to block the heat....and light.

Although it's still warm, it has made a difference in the temperature. I don't know why we didn't do it sooner. I guess we kept hoping the repair guys would show up.

Still hoping.

UPDATE 8/3/12: No one showed up yesterday either, nor did we receive a call saying why. Because we have to go through our home warranty's contractors, we basically have no choice but to wait. It's been a very frustrating week.

Olympic Opening Ceremonies - mixed reviews

So, did you watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics last night? We had some friends over for fish n'chips (which we ended up buying 'cause I wasn't going to fry THAT much fish!). I think we enjoyed each other's company more than the ceremonies themselves.

Here's what we liked.

The Queen is a Bond girl! Who knew? Although she didn't look very happy when she walked in, we certainly enjoyed her skydiving with Daniel Craig. Best royal entrance ever.

Chariots of Fire - Mr. Bean playing the keyboard with an umbrella was hysterical. And then his participation in the beach running - I had tears of laughter running down my face.

The scenery change - We thought it was clever to have the industrial revolution workers tear down the agrarian sets from the previous scene. And the smokestacks emerging from the stadium floor was pretty impressive.

The cauldron - Each country bringing a "petal" was unique. We were impressed with the whole thing, though in past Olympics the cauldron is highly visible. It seemed to us that unless you were actually in the stadium, you wouldn't be able to see it.

And what we didn't like:

The commercial for National Health Care. The whole hospital scene was a little screwy to us. What were those creepy black things hopping from bed to bed? I hope none of those kids who participated had nightmares after that! But we all felt they were trying to get a political message across about national health care and how wonderful it is. Just didn't like it.


The technology bit was hard to follow. We thought it was awesome that the director wanted to celebrate technology, but the inclusion of all the music and dancing didn't make sense to us. It was like they threw it all together just to get some British music in there. And how did the guy who found the girl's phone call her if he had her phone?

The IOC's decision not to commemorate the Israeli athletes killed in 1972. The IOC claims to be neutral, but not having a moment of silence in honor of those who were murdered by terrorists in Munich was a bad move. We all agreed that had it been any other country's athletes, there would have been a mention of it. We were glad to hear Bob Costas make note of it, though.

All the commercials! Why? I understand the network's need to make money, but the ceremonies were long enough as it was! Then we had to play "catch up" every time they cut back to the ceremonies. Didn't like it.

So, what did you think of the opening ceremonies?

Getting Back on Track

I have a confession to make. During the past few months I've found myself relying more and more on convenience foods. You know, like frozen chicken filets (they're not THAT bad, right?) and poptarts - it's so much easier to grab one of these than to make breakfast, ya know? Knowing all the time that making those choices weren't good for my family.

I've come to the conclusion that what we (as a society) eat is literally killing us. Obesity is at an all-time high. Heart disease, diabetes, cancer, you name it. All of these illnesses are actually on the rise. And all of them are linked to diet. Yes, genetics plays a factor in those diseases, and always will. But we're making the problems worse by what we eat.

Just take a look at the ingredient list on a box of crackers. Try to pronounce them. Yeah, those unpronounceable chemicals are making us fat and unhealthy. There's no substitute for whole foods - whole grains, lean meats, veggies, fruits, and nuts. These are the foods we were designed to eat. Not all that processed stuff.

So, why do we make the choice to feed ourselves something that's bad for us? Well, I can tell you why I did. Cost and convenience. Simple as that, and the food industry knows it. They hide ingredients, renaming the bad ones so we don't catch on. But in our busy, busy lifestyles, the industry knows we have to choose between cooking from scratch (which takes a lot of time) or grabbing a frozen pizza that's ready in 20 minutes with no effort on our part. In our rush to get to the next activity, we rely on convenience. But that convenience comes with a price.

I consoled myself by clinging to the fact that I was making some foods from scratch. I made chicken nuggets for my kids instead of purchasing frozen ones. I made my own pizzas. But can I make them healthier by using whole grains? Sure. Can I eliminate other harmful things like processed sugars? Yes, but I like my sweets. Interestingly enough, after using some natural sweeteners like honey and agave syrup, granulated sugar tastes way too sweet to me. So really, it's a matter of retraining my body and taste buds!

So I haven't been posting a whole lot of recipes because I've been trying out some new, healthy ones. I've been revamping some of my tried-and-true favorites to get rid of processed sugars and flours. I've added whole grain flours like buckwheat and oat flour to my repertoire of ingredients.

And I've learned just how dependent my family was becoming on the snacks and packaged stuff. I've heard some complaints about having nothing to snack on, then pointing to the fridge where the carrots and apples are. I've had to manage my time more efficiently. It's not been easy. The Triscuits in the cracker aisle have literally called my name!

But I am determined. We are going to get healthier. Want to join me? Do you have a healthy goal in mind?

A Few of My Favorite Things

Okay, not a few. Forty-two! Cause I'm 42 today. And on your birthday you're allowed to post long lists of nonsense.

I'm not going to list my family, because they're people, not things. And I think it goes without saying that they're my faves. I love them deeply, after all. These are just some random things I love and enjoy, in no particular order.

My Bible, a gift from my parents
John Wayne movies
Freshly baked bread
My Kitchenaid mixer
Yellow roses
Disney's Beauty and the Beast
Soup on a cold day
West Virginia Mountaineers football
Patriotic music
Biltmore estate in Asheville, NC
Hummingbirds
Reese cups
Once Upon a Time (TV show)
My slow cooker
Sunday afternoon naps
Warm chocolate chip cookies
Cheese fries with bacon
The Internet!
Candlelight
Historical fiction
Cape Hatteras lighthouse
Online shopping
My Nook tablet
Holding hands with Charles
Fuzzy bathrobes
Medium well steak
Green apple Jolly Ranchers
Lemonade
Hazelnut creamer for my coffee
Cheesecake
Stained glass windows
Walt Disney World
Pizza with bacon
Netflix
Cruise control
4th of July fireworks
Collecting seashells
Autumn leaves
Pumpkin spice lattes
Whole Foods
Mexican cuisine
Poetry by Robert Frost

And now you know more about me than you probably care to. Did anyone notice that food showed up on this list a great deal?

Hope y'all have a great weekend.

Emotional Rant Ahead

This week has been rough on me emotionally. Not because of anything happening to me or my family. We have our share of difficulties, to be sure. But this week is okay in that way.

I'm sure by now you've heard of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal. Joe Paterno, long-time coach who was widely respected for running a clean program, ended up losing his job. And I completely agree with the board's decision that he had to go.

Because in 2002 Joe Paterno was made aware of an assault on a child that took place in the very showers his own players used. The perpetrator was well-known to Paterno. Jerry Sandusky had been a defensive coordinator for Paterno for years. He'd also been investigated for similar allegations in 1998 involving minor boys and showers. Sandusky retired the following year, leading many people to believe that the shower incidents were the reason. So basically, Joe Paterno know he had a sexual deviant coming into his facility and bringing young boys with him.

When a grad assistant - one of Joe's former players and currently an assistant coach at Penn State - told Joe about the sexual assault, Joe reported the incident to the VP and the athletic director. Then he did nothing. Knowing that Sandusky had a history of this behavior, Joe Paterno didn't contact the police. He washed his hands of it. He thought his obligation to that poor child ended when he told some higher-ups, even though he knew that no legal steps had been taken to investigate the abuse.

So why does this bother me so? I'm not a Penn State alum. I'm not even a Penn State fan.

But I'm a mom. With a 10-year-old son. The same age as the boy in the 2002 assault. And I can't fathom how so many adults could so totally fail to protect innocent children when they knew Sandusky was a pervert. How could they turn a blind eye to the abuse?

My emotions have run from anger to sadness to disappointment to downright rage this week. I'm drained. My heart breaks for those poor boys who could have been spared if just one person had done the right thing. I can't help but think, what if that had been my child who had been abused then forgotten by people who could have helped him? And I really, really want to hurt someone. Maybe that makes me a bad person, but I want to hurt the man who violated those children, and I want to hurt the people who ignored it.

Pity Party Post....or how I spent my Saturday

I spent it in the hospital. Doing nothing. And I'm exhausted!

Okay, let me back up. I went to bed around 11:30 on Friday night. I began having terrible pain in my upper back, left side. It moved around swiftly to my chest. I tried not to panic, thinking that maybe I had pulled something in my back. After an hour, the pain was just as intense and I thought that perhaps I'd better get checked out, just in case.

You see, recently a friend of mine lost her 15-year-old son to an undiagnosed heart condition. He had a massive heart attack and was gone. Also, my best friend's dad was diagnosed with a heart problem that if he hadn't sought medical help when he did, he might not be here today. So I woke Charles up, and he took me to the ER where I was admitted right away. Hey, tell them you've got chest pains, and the usually slow intake process speeds up considerably!

I had an EKG and was given a host of meds. Blood was drawn, an IV was placed, shots were administered. I got a shot right in my abdomen, beside my belly button. Ouch! The pain started to subside and I was made comfortable. Well, as comfortable as you can be with bright lights shining down on you and medical people poking and prodding you. About 4am I was given a room so I could be kept for observation and have a few more tests. I got no rest there, either, as every few minutes someone came in to do another blood draw or check my vitals. A hospital is the worst place to get sleep! Ha ha!

Thank the Lord for good friends like my dearest friend Suzanne who took the children so Charles could be with me. I know she had other things planned for her Saturday, but she voluntarily gave them all up to help us. She's a nurse, so she was able to give me some good advice (like, don't check yourself out of the hospital AMA because your insurance might not pay anything). Yes, that option was very attractive when 5 hours after the last test (a stress test), I still had not talked to a doctor about being discharged. Every blood test, EKG and ECG had come back clear, but no one had read the stress test! Okay, I know checking out against medical advice is NOT a good idea so don't fuss at me. But that shows you how much frustration and exhaustion can mess with your thinking processes! LOL

Around 9 pm, I finally sent Charles to get the kids who were worried about me, because despite being told I was fine, they couldn't understand why I was still in the hospital. The hospital is for people who are sick, right? Why would people who were okay be kept there for no reason? Good question, little ones!

Finally at 10 pm, I went to the nurses station and demanded to talk to a doctor. Now lest you think I was ranting and raving, I was actually very calm and rational. And desperate to get home. The nurses were sympathetic, and I have to say, they were the saving graces of the entire thing. Every nurse or technician who came into my room during my incarceration....er, stay, was cheerful and professional and very kind. But this whole idea of the doctors being too busy to read stress test results and give discharge orders for someone whose other tests came back fine is ridiculous!

God bless the nurse who finally said enough was enough and called a doctor. Within 15 minutes I had discharge orders in hand. Twelve hours after the last test I was finally allowed to go home! Oh, and the stress test was normal.

So what was my diagnosis? Well, considering I never actually talked to a doctor, I really don't know. But I will be seeing my family doctor later to follow up. It's most likely a fluke. I've known two other women with almost exactly the same symptoms and test results, my mom and our assistant pastor's wife. Both had the terrible chest pain, both had clear test results. Both are fine today. So I know it's entirely possible that there might not be an clear cut answer for the what caused the pain. I'm okay with that.

On the plus side, I've gotten lots and lots of extra hugs and kisses from the kids. We're a pretty affectionate family anyway, but Mr. Lego and the Princess have been especially considerate and helpful. Charles and I have giggled several times at how loving they've been. Sweet babies!

And so you don't think I'm a total whiner, I am grateful that nothing was seriously wrong. I'm thankful to live in a place where medical help is readily available and so thorough. And you know how couples often complain they don't spend enough time together without the kids? Well, Charles and I got several hours of togetherness with no children. Just a lot of medical professionals. See, I didn't lose my sense of humor.

Warning Labels

I recently got a new hairdryer after my old, well-used one bit the dust. As I was reading the manual that came with it, I found this warning : Do not use while sleeping. Really? That actually had to be put in writing? I'm sure there has to be a funny story behind that one!

I know that manufacturers are simply responding to lawsuits and trying to limit their liability, but have we really lost all common sense? Do we really have to be told that hot coffee is hot and that rotary tools shouldn't be used as dental drills? Seriously?

Here are some more head-scratchers:

For external use only (on a curling iron) - I can't even imagine

Do not drive with sun shield in place (on a car sun shield) - you mean not everyone has X-ray vision?

Do not use orally (on a toilet brush) - what else are giants supposed to use to brush their giant teeth?

Shin pads cannot protect any part of the body they do not cover (on a pair of bicyclists' shin guards) - you mean someone really expects them to?

For use by trained personnel only (on a can of air freshener) - I totally missed that class in college

Please store in the cold section of your refrigerator (on a bag of grapes) - are there any other sections in YOUR refrigerator?

Warning: knives are sharp! (on a sharpening stone) - If there was ever a time to use the word, "Duh!" this is it.

Warning: this product has been found to cause cancer in laboratory mice (on rat poison) - Didn't the words rat poison give this one away?

Please remove infant before folding for storage (on a baby stroller) - has anyone ever tried to fold up a stroller without a baby in it? It's not that easy. With a baby, impossible.

Do not drive a car or operate machinery (on children's cough medicine) - hmmmm, who got sued for this one?

May be harmful if swallowed (on a box of hammers) - how else are we supposed to get our recommended daily amount of iron?

Not dishwasher safe (on a TV remote control) - okay, fess up! Who washed their remote this way?

Have you ever seen any funny warning labels? Share them in the comments!

He Thinks I'm Wonder Woman!

Charles surprised me with this apron a couple of weeks ago from this Etsy shop. It even has a place on the "belt" for a Lasso of Truth, which I don't have. I'm going to be on the look out for one, though, because that would come in really handy!

For a long time, Charles had the theme song from the old 70s Wonder Woman TV show as my ringtone on his phone. We bought the entire series on DVD a few years back. As I watched those old episodes, I remembered how much I wanted to be Wonder Woman as a kid.

Now my husband has made it possible. I hope his expectations of me don't go up as a result! LOL!

Where have I been?

I just realized I haven't posted since Sunday! Oops!

So what have I been doing?

Reading....resting.....enjoying time with my husband. See, my kids are on vacation. Without us. And I've realized just how very much I need their chatter and noise to make my day complete.

Oh, I've enjoyed the time to myself. When they return, I'll be ready and recharged!

While I'm missing them, they are hanging out by the pool and eating Cheetos.


And hiking through the West Virginia wilderness.


Not to mention eating some good food!


I'm glad they're having so much fun and making some great memories. Now I'm just counting down the days until they get home!

Strawberry Picking!

This is how I spent my morning - picking delectable, juicy strawberries! The Princess and Mr. Lego ate as many as they put in their buckets, I think. And we still ended up with three full buckets!

Freshly picked berries are so sweet and delicious. I'll be sharing some yummy recipes as I use up these wonderful red delights - strawberry cobbler, strawberry pie, and freezer jam, too!

I love this time of year!

No Brown Bag Lunches?

In a stunning overreach of authority, a school principal banned children from bringing lunch from home. According to the principal, this is to encourage nutrition and healthy eating. We're just now hearing about this policy, but did you know that it's been in effect for six years? That's right, six years! So why are parents just now speaking up?

I've eaten school cafeteria food, as I'm sure many of you have. There's no way it's healthier than what I could send for my child to eat. Most of the school food is bland and gross! Some children who are picky eaters choose to go without rather than eating it. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of providing nutritious meals if they're so unappetizing the students won't eat them?

And seriously, does anyone really believe this is about nutrition? That sounds like such a noble thing, encouraging children to eat in a healthy way. But is that the responsibility of the school or the parents? Ummm, yeah. Let's take a minute to think about who really should be making those decisions.

Did you know that most schools receive funding based on how many lunches they provide? So this school is getting money from the government for 100% of their enrollment! I know I might sound cynical, but that seems like a pretty good motivator to ban all lunches brought from home.

In full disclosure, I homeschool my children. We eat home-cooked food, usually leftovers from the night before, every day for lunch. If not leftovers, then something simple like sandwiches or quesadillas. Even pancakes. Stories like this make me thankful that homeschooling is an option. I wouldn't want a school telling me I couldn't send lunch for my own children, especially when I know that I could provide a healthier lunch than the school.

So what do you think? Should a school be able to ban students from bringing lunches? Maybe just soda and junk food? Where do we draw the line?

Tell me what you think.

It's not all about winning

A friend sent me the link to this video about a young woman whose injury after hitting her first ever home run was going to prevent her from running the bases. Players from the opposing team demonstrate compassion and sportsmanship even though it cost them the game. Amazing!

Spring Morning

Isn't that a lovely bouquet of daffodils? I love how delicate the centers are and the contrast of colors. The Princess picked these from our backyard, and there are tons more! Spring is here!

Spring is also the time for birds to build their nests. See that tiny little wren sitting on my windshield wiper? Sorry for the blurry pic, but I was taking this through my kitchen window.


That little bird and its spouse have been trying desperately to build a nest under the hood of my minivan for the past two weeks. Apparently the space between the hood and the windshield is prime real estate.


Every morning I look out and see them busily stuffing all kinds of debris into their chosen space. And every morning I go out and remove it, leaving the hood of the van up to discourage their building endeavors.


We've tried using a rubber snake on the hood to scare them away. It worked for a day. Then they started pecking its head. So back to clearing out the nest daily and leaving the hood up.

Please note: I love birds and would greatly enjoy having them build a nest elsewhere. But I use my van almost every day and can't stand the thought of harming little tiny eggs should the mama and daddy succeed in setting up residence. So these birds are going to have to find an alternate place to live. What else can we do to encourage them to do so?

What I got for Christmas!

I forgot to tell you what hubby got me for Christmas!



A new bowl for my Kitchenaid mixer - this comes in handy when I'm baking a lot so I don't have to stop what I'm doing to wash the mixing bowl. This one is shiny, too, so you can see the reflection of my legs in the pic!

A new mixing blade complete with side scraper - love it, but there's a tiny gap between the rubber scraper and the blade. As a result, the ingredients at the very bottom of the bowl don't get mixed in well. The sides, however, do.

A Deal or No Deal Wii game - love the gameshow, but there's no money given out when you win this one! Also, the characters that you select to play the game sometimes take the Lord's name in vain - something I really don't care to hear. Even my kids were shocked by that. We did have fun, but will be turning down the volume next time we play.

This was all purchased with no input from me. Guess hubby knows me pretty well! Although he does claim that we were in Target and I saw the Wii game and said I wanted it for Christmas. I have no recollection of that, so I was still surprised when I opened it.

He's great - I think I'll keep him around.

Seen from the Kitchen Window

We've been visiting my folks in West Virginia. Here's a view from my mom's kitchen window last week. The kids were delighted to get such a close-up look at these beautiful animals.