All She Is

The plan for today was to take pictures of some cards I’ve mad recently, but the sun decided not to play. It’s a beautiful day outside, overcast, cloudy, cool, and sprinkling. Later we’re supposed to have thunder, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. The 90+ degree weather eats away at my sanity, even with fans going 24/7 I feel sticky and no so sweet. So instead of bemoaning the lack of sunshine for pictures, I’m taking the day to get things done. Rainy day errands, I suppose.

I finally went to the bank last week and changed my name, so I went in today to order new checks…after getting coffee and dropping by the grocery for a few things. Luck was on my side and I was able to find an organic sulfate free shampoo and conditioner priced reasonably well. Several weeks ago I called the manufacturer of my current shampoo to double check it was gluten free, and the woman on the phone was such a snot. She told me to read the ingredients and hung up. I decided then and there to switch as soon the bottles ran down far enough to justify buying more. Today was that day.

After words I finally made it to the public library and got a card. The branch I went to was not as large as I expected it to be, but I managed to find a sack full of books to bring home. Unfortunately the branch closet to my house is the downtown one, and you have to pay to park. Bleck! Since I’m frequently up on South Hill running errands and shopping I’ll just order in what I want from Downtown and pick it up where I can park for free. Never say I deny being lazy and cheap.

Chris leaves tomorrow morning, and will be gone until Friday… then home over the weekend, and gone again all next week. This pattern should continue until the end of August, save for the week of my sister’s wedding… when he will most likely be working in town before we leave. Part of me is happy to have the time to myself, I’ll get to role-play, and live in a silent house (he always has -something- on the tv or radio)… and you know what, speaking of role-play, I need to go off on a tangent…

I hate being made to feel guilty about not playing in the evenings and on the weekends. More than one, heck, more than two people have been snippety with me regarding the fact I haven’t been in the room much lately. One even asked me to “pencil her in” today… after I explained that I wasn’t spending much time online because I want to enjoy Chris while he is here… and you know what, I don’t have kids, and I’m not currently working… but that doesn’t mean I have to be here all the time. Yeah, you have the weekends off, or your kids are bed in the evening… but that doesn’t mean I don’t have plans then.

There are very few people I put Chris & our animals on hold for, just my family and secret squirrels girls, I love them so much I’m willing to ask Chris (sometimes) if we can postpone or reschedule. If you’re not one of those people, it’s rare I am going to “pencil you in” for roleplay, especially when I’ve just finished explaining my busy week, weekend, and plans for yet another busy few days. Get over yourself. It’s not a slight to you, or your roleplay, I just want to be with my husband and fur babies.

kthnxbai

Chris and I are babysitting tonight, trying to make a little bit of extra money to smooth out the next few weeks. I start work August 11th (unless I hear back with a yes, from the one company I truly cared about - then I won’t start till September), and both of us are greatly looking forward to having more than just enough. Complaining feels wrong, because we’re very fortunate that Chris has a job that pays all the monthly bills, buys groceries, and sometimes leaves us with extra.

We live a decent life, but both of us are looking forward to being able to pay off past debt, put money away in savings (a dedicated $600 a month will go straight to the bank) for the eventuality of children, buying a house, 4 wheelers, travel, and so on. Kids are the biggest reason we’re saving though. In time Chris will join a glazer union and his pay will sky rocket, but Washington doesn’t have one… and we’re not sure when or where we want to settle yet, so he’s going to have to be content with the dollar raise he should get at the end of the summer, instead of union pay. Until then we want to be putting away as much as we can for the future. Babies are expensive!

My best friend, N., is due the beginning of December, and I’m so excited. She’s having a little boy and every time I walk past the children’s department in a store I have to forcefully walk away in order to avoid buying anything for my first nephew. I love Heidi’s boy, and Mary Dawn’s kids are fantastic… but this December baby is different. He is my first nephew, N. is in all things but blood my sister, we grew up together, she lived in my house, called my parents Mom & Dad… and the thought of her having a little boy makes me tear up… and ovulate. Who knew ultra sounds could be such a turn on? She sent me a picture of it and I barely restrained myself from attacking Chris the moment I laid eyes on it.

Tonight while the girls we’re taking care of (Chris’ much younger cousins) were watching a movie, the oldest called me Aunt Rachel. It was almost as wonderful as I expect seeing the December baby for the first time will be. Aunt Rachel is a term I can get used too. A good prelude to Mom.

Before I get started, what do you think of the new look? It’s simple, but different… I really enjoy it so far.

This is my menu for the week. The swap is being held at Asparagus Thin.

Chris is going to be out of town starting Tuesday or Wednesday, so this menu is tentative, and revolves around what he likes as a send off. Of course he’ll be camping, fishing, golfing, and eating steak every night while he is away (he’s going out of town to work a job, he’ll be back on the weekends and then gone again M-F), but I still feel like spoiling him some.

We both went to donate plasma today to try and get some extra money, but even though I passed the finger prick for the first time ever, which is cause for celebration because it means my body is starting to absorb nutrients again, I still have to get a doctor’s clearance to give because of past issues with anemia. Chris has been very patient with me finding a job, and I just want to give him a lot of props… he works hard. So this weeks menu has a lot of his favorite things on it.

In addition to trying to incorporate this weeks ingredient, which is onions… I also focused on using leftover ingredients as much as possible to help cut down on our grocery bill again this week.

On to the menu!

Saturday: Fajitas, and then we had smoked oysters, salmon, and ribs out with the neighbors.

Sunday: Grilled chicken & onions, crash hot potatoes, and cabbage. (Dinner= barbecued hamburgers)

Monday: Roast, carrots, onions, mashed potatoes, and gravy.

Tuesday: Chicken (leftover) and broccoli tacos, and refried beans.

Wednesday: BBQ roast (leftover) sandwiches, corn on the cob, broccoli salad.

Thursday: Taco soup with tortillas (leftover).

Friday: Hamburgers, home fries, and salad.

Saturday: Steak and eggs, with baked potatoes.

You looked at me and saw what I never could see
You made me feel more than I thought I could ever be
And when I needed a friend you were always there to lift me up
To make me strong
You’re not gone

You’re still here
With me all the time
You’re still here
When I close my eyes
I still see you
I still feel you
And we’ll never be apart
You’re still here
Still here in my heart
In my heart

Because of you I knew how it felt to be loved
You made me feel beautiful ’cause you believed I was
And I will never forget how you touched my life
You made me feel like I belong
You live on

You’re still here
With me all the time
You’re still here
When I close my eyes
I still see you
I still feel you
And we’ll never be apart
You’re still here
Still here in my heart
In my heart

All my life
You’ll be in my life
You’ll be part of me
I’ll just think of you and you’ll still be
You’ll still be here

Still here
You’re with me all the time
You’ll still be here
Still here
When I close my eyes
I still see you
I still feel you
And we’ll never be apart
You’re still here in my heart

You’re still…
I still feel you
And we’ll never be apart
You’re still here in my heart
In my heart
In my heart
In my heart
Still here

The words to tell you how I feel about passing my drivers test this morning are all inside me. Pushing around my stomach, they are desperately seeking a way out. As soon as my fingers begin to fly over the keyboard though, they die. Beautiful, descriptive words of freedom, liberation, independence, wonder, joy, pride, and much more just float off in the breeze created by my man. What was I going to say? The question ping pongs around in my mind as I stare blankly at the screen.

Oh well, it doesn’t matter. The words mean nothing, the feelings are important, and they don’t need to be written down. I am certain the moment my examiner said “pass” will remain in my mind forever. Tears welled up and threatened to ruin the makeup I don so rarely. It was beautiful. A once in a lifetime experience.

Much sweeter at 24, after years of relying on others, waiting for rides, asking permission to go somewhere… than it could have been at 16. The fact that I can legally buckle up and drive off without a worry, it has yet to sink in. My leg is bouncing in anticipation of driving to my interviews, to the store, to the lake, or better yet… just because.

Before I conclude this post, I want to say thank you to every person who ever trusted me behind the wheel. For many years I thought my ADHD would keep me from driving. I am so distractible, so easy to lose focus, my depth perception is wonky, as is my spatiality…Dad, Rodney (FIL), Karen (MIL), Becky, Rebecca, Chris… thank you.

And most importantly… Bill, my stepfather. I told you I love you yesterday for the first time, or was it the day before? It was strange experience, but when I called you today to share my news, I said it again… and it was good. You didn’t yell, you didn’t complain, you were patient, you gave me confidence, taught me tricks… and while I most likely spent more time driving with Chris than you, it was you who taught me I could do this - just like a good Dad would, and right now… I’m happy to consider you a part of the family.

Much love.

I found this cute little boy in a present box at a garage sale a few weekends ago. He was so cute, I simply couldn’t leave him there on the table. So home he came, and as soon as my ink from PTI arrived I stamped him up for a challenge at SCS! Can you believe this is the first card I actually used ink on? Honest, I must have stamped him about ten times before I got the right impression and clean lines. Practice will make perfect. The coloring is done with my pencils… no special blending or anything.

The kraft paper and colored paper is from Paperbilities, while the white paper is Georgia Pacific. The word celebrate (which you can’t see well, sorry) is from Alli Miles - Wedding Day set. I have had so much fun playing with this set she sent me as a blog candy win, I am using it to make a set of thank you cards for my sister’s bridal shower. She already sent out invitations or I’d be making those too.

I layered red and blue paper decorated with hand drawn stars behind the white ribbon for depth, and then drew the silver stars around the sentiment. This was my first time to use kraft paper for an entire card. My husband said to was “to simple”, but I love it. The dew drops are just random ones I have received from either Jessica or Mary Dawn.

Cheesy Corn Muffins
A gluten free corn muffin by Rachel Askay

1 ½ cups white cornmeal
½ cup rice flour
½ cup tapioca flour
3 tsp. xantham gum
1 ¼ tsp. baking soda
1 ¼ tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. garlic powder
½ cup sour cream
1 cup milk
3 cups shredded sharp cheese
6 tablespoons butter (room temp)
1 egg

Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees. Now let me tell you a secret. I am not a baker. Not one bit. Normally a recipe would tell you to mix all the dry ingredients in one bowl, beat the egg, mix the wet in another, and then mix everything all together… not me. I would apologize, but you know what, these muffins are so delicious I think it would be sacrilegious to do it any other way.

So just randomly dump all of your ingredients into a bowl and stir well. Then pack it all into a greased muffin tin (12 regular sized ones). You will have to pack it down to get it all to fit, I made these nice and dense on purpose. Cook for 23 minutes.

The first time I made them I was trying to come up with something edible to take to potluck, and didn’t use quite as much butter, no cheese, and instead of using a full ½ cup of tapioca flour I used ¼, and ¼ cup of sorghum flour. I also used less salt, no garlic powder, and ¼ cup of sugar. I was just trying to find something I liked.

Those 12 “muffins” didn’t last 24 hours. They were scrumptious, but I wanted something savory, not sweet, and decided to tweak my recipe a bit. I hope you enjoy these cheesy corn muffins as much as I do, they came out of the oven 30 minutes ago and I have already eaten two.