Oh drat!It only just recently occurred to me that if you’re reading my blog you see lame-o, ugly fonts.So sad.However, if you’d like to see what I see you can download them from here.Not only does she have wonderful FREE fonts she is also very creative.This particular font you’re not seeing is called Jacks n Matty.
While I have you here, I just want to say-for the record-I wish our teenage neighbor would go inside and stop bouncing his basketball at 9 pm...for the second night in a row.Raarr.
Talk about timing.You’ll know that we’ve had our bout with fleas lately because of my earlier post.And when I finally dragged myself off the couch Tuesday night, scratching away at my left leg I thought for sure I too had become victim to those un-crushable little buggers.
Let me back up a smidge.Monday night, as I was leaving the chiropractor’s office, I got a massive case of the chills.In the car I couldn’t get the heat high enough.When I got home I told hubby I was really cold and that I was just going to lay down for a few minutes under a blanket to warm up.
An hour and a half later-three blankets, a head wrap, thick socks, and a cranked-up wood stove-I finally got warm.I can’t remember ever having the chills that badly in my life before.The shaking-near convulsing-painful chills.My first thought, how on earth could I be sick again?!But wait, I felt fine...with the exception of those chills and well, now I was running a temp of 101.3.
After lots of hemming and hawing that night about heading into work the next day I decided to just head to bed and suck it up, especially since it was the last day before Thanksgiving break.
When the alarm went off in the morning I told myself I was getting up to go to work, even though I didn’t feel right.The thermometer was still sitting next to the alarm clock so I grabbed it quickly and sat in bed waiting for the beep.101.8.Um, okay okay...I’ll go write sub plans.
Since it was the last workday before a holiday I had to make it into the doctor’s office.Hubby packed me in the car and off we went.Long story short, the doctor diagnosed me with another virus.Clue number 2 should have been what the nurse said to me. “You shouldn’t be running a fever on an antibiotic.”Yup, I was still taking an antibiotic to get rid of an ear infection.What was clue number one?Oh, the fever and chills without any other ailments.
So, now back to Tuesday night...and the little bumps on my leg and my itchy arms and chest and even an itchy face, strange.Did a load of laundry washing our entire bedding set and couch blankets.I put everything back together, scratching all the while.A little hydrocortisone will do the trick and off to bed I went.
Wednesday I was tired, still had the fever and chills, and was still a bit itchy.Stupid fleas.But, and this is a big but, I couldn’t just lie around, we were hosting Thanksgiving.Long story short, later that night (while hubby was away at a gig, of course) I happened to see a few more red spots on my skin.There is no way that this could be a fleabite.So, against my better judgment (I really had to talk myself into calling the on-call doctor-I understand that they are at home with their family on their time) I called the on-call center because now I was getting more convinced I was having an allergic reaction.
You know that saying, “Listen to your instincts”?Yes, you should listen to your body.I had actually questioned this antibiotic twice while I was taking it.Argh! Anyway, the on-call doctor confirmed my suspicions; yes I was reacting adversely to the meds.
Thanksgiving Day arrived and I had a few more red bumps...nothing my clothing couldn’t cover.However, I felt a bit yuckier in the morning and was getting worried about hosting for the day.I popped an allergy pill and a couple hours later I was feeling muuuuuch better.Thanksgiving was great! (okay okay, I segue a lot)
It’s Friday morning in my world (Black Friday in most other’s worlds) and you should see the present I woke up with today!
During the holiday seasons are when I seem to do the most Internet recipe searches.I like to try new recipes for the same old dishes and this year I went in search of one for cranberries. Yes, I could buy a canned version and watch my guests chisel away at the cylindrical blob-with of course, that slightly disgusting slurping sound that ensues as you slide your spoon through the form-blech.
Last night I came across my winner.Just look at those crimson jewels, succulent.
But seeing as though I am taking from the virtual penny jar I shall also leave a penny.Here’s a recipe for literally the best eggnog I have ever had!It’s my mother-in-law’s recipe and I only make it on Thanksgiving and Christmas-which makes it extra special.
Ingredients:
1 C. egg substitute (Egg Beaters)
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
7-7 1/2 C. milk (I use 2 percent)
1 tsp. vanilla
Directions:
Beat the sweetened condensed milk into the egg substitute.Add the milk and vanilla.
Make sure you’ve mixed well and chill thoroughly.
Stir before serving.
Top with homemade whipped cream and a dash of nutmeg or cinnamon.
I think I heard it on a commercial recently.A few guests are coming and then another group joins in and then before you know it the whole crew is crashing your party.How does that happen?Oh wait, I can answer that one.
My husband plays in a band and this is the giggin’ time of year.So, I emailed my mom to say we don’t really want to travel for Thanksgiving because hubby has a gig the night before Thanksgiving and the night after and that we’d just do something for the two of us.
In her return email she compromised and suggested we host Thanksgiving for us, my mom, dad, and grandma and they’d host Christmas.Talked it over with the husband and he agreed-since it would be small.So replied to mom “sure” and that makes five.
And then I got thinking we should invite the in-laws and my sister-in-law and her babe.So that makes a total of nine.Okay, nine, I can do that.
Through another email my mom shared that my aunt and uncle (who live not far from us) weren’t going to do anything because their kids/grandkids were heading up north now instead of hanging around.Okay, plus two more.That makes 11.
Paper-saving me sent out an evite invitation (as usual) for our gathering and had forgotten to check the RSVPs for a couple of days when low-and-behold my aunt and uncle’s response: “Change of plans, the kids aren’t heading north after all. Would it be okay...” You get the picture.Plus five.Yes, a family of five.That now makes 16.
So our small, just-the-two-of-us, Thanksgiving has blossomed into another family affair.And secretly, I’m glad it did.
Voila!Here are the pumpkin muffin photos.I did under bake them from the original recipe (by 15 minutes) and they came out fragrant and moist...And yes, they ARE delicious!
Okay, so it’s not so much stealing as it is loving and sharing.Baking is something I so enjoy and I recently came across this blog.She has the most delicious recipes.There’s “Cinnaspin Cookies” and (OMG!) Holla petit fours and even Cranberry Orange Bread.I’ve only listed the top three mouth-waterers.I do recommend that if you peruse her site, you do it on a full stomach.
Anyway, her latest post was for some yummy pumpkin bread.Tis the season for pumpkin anything!And well, I have an all-day meeting with some gals I don’t often get to see-at one time-and I thought...mmm, pumpkin...mmm, those tall muffin papers, hmmm, cream cheese (ala pumpkin roll) center.Oh too good to be true.I’ve taken a few photos of the process but the muffins are still in the oven.And boooy, do they smell delicious!When they’re done, I shall post.
So, we’d been really lucky, with Codie avoiding any fleas.And then one day Codie met Daisy.A super duper cute puppy-you know the sort—pudgy, scruffy fur, overzealous nibbles…The day after Daisy left we noticed Codie squatting and scratching her shoulder blades and biting at her belly.Sure enough, fleas!We quickly took her to a local pet store and got her a flea bath followed by a dose of flea meds.Still the fleas persisted.Hubby took Codie back two days later for another flea bath. Still fleas.In the meantime, I was washing everything that would fit in the machines.
Not wanting to overdose our little girl we backed off for a few days.This morning, hubby post late night show, I scooped up my girl and we went for a ride to the vet.I plead my case to the receptionist and she mentioned having a pill that would start working instantly.Instantly?Riiiight.But I bought it anyway along with a spray to use on our furniture and gave the pup her brown round pill—munch munch.
When we got home hubs was still upstairs snoozing but Codie was too excited.She ran up the stairs and bound her way onto the bed and woke up her papa.We both snuggled and scratched her furry little belly when I looked on the duvet cover.UGH!Grody! Fleas…dropping off her like flies.But wait, dead fleas.I wouldn’t have believed it had I not seen it.The lady was right.The fleas are gone!Off our girl anyway.We’re still working our way through the house.
The best 16 dollars I’ve spent in a long time.Thanks Patterson Vet Hospital!
Inspired by Carrie’s adorable dinosaur t-shirt, my mom and I worked busily this Sunday on a modified version.Let me clarify, my mom told me what to do and got me going on each part but I actually did most of the work.This is quite an accomplishment considering I CAN NOT sew.
After my lesson I think I can proudly say that I can do it again!Next I think I’m going to do random-sized polka dots floating around the onesie.I even have the polka dot fabric picked out.
