Adventures in the kitchen

This story actually begins last fall when the cucumbers were full and ripe and everyone was trying to get rid of all the extras.  Nick walks in with a bag full of cucumbers and Ben asks what are we going to do with all of them.  Being the every helpful Daddy he is, Nick started giving a list of things that could be made from cucumbers.  Of course pickles were on that list. 

So I've learned how to make pickles.  I found a recipe and how to online and two weeks later we had pickles, with quite a bit of pucker power.  For a spring break visit with my family, I took several jars and they were well received.  My nephew asked for a few jars for his birthday. 

 So first was to brine the cucumbers.  I found that the post thanksgiving day sales in the cooking section to be very helpful for this project, from the spice bags you'll see later to this brine bag, which has 12 cucumbers in it.

 Then cutting them up and putting them in jars with fresh dill and mustard seeds.  Figured a picture of me cutting wasn't needed.  I got one cuke per jar.

I thought this showed in the other picure but if not, here is my other project.  Homemade vanilla extract.  Remind me to relate the train that brought this one around. 

The spice bags I had previously mentioned.  The pickling mix has to be heated so needless to say, windows open! I did make two batches because I am trying to tame the sourness of the recipe but my nephew wanted some originals. 

 Filling the jars.

Then the water bath.  I've debated on getting a bigger pot so I can do more than 3 at a time but mostly decide it's not worth it for how often I would need it. 

 Some may not understand that little *pings* at this point are music to your ears, others are nodding their heads in agreement.


So in about another week, we will be able to pop the top on a jar and test to see if I was successful in taming the punch.  I did a little less pickling spice and swapped a third of the white vinegar for apple cider vinegar.  Won't know until you try right?

What's next for me

This spring and summer are turning out to be a time of change for me.  Life as it was is going to be making some big turns in the upcoming months. 

I turned in my notice at work a week ago so have one left of my 2, which isn't bad because it translates into only 3 working days.  I am glad I did it when the boss and I were not at a tense point in our relationship.  There wasn't any guilt trips or fits I was half expecting.  I am going to miss some of my regular clients but this is best for me. 

I'm still going to be doing my house call kitties so I won't be completely unemployed but I still only do that on a very part time basis, 2-8 cats a month.  On the other hand, I may be a fitness instructor before the summer is out.  Depending on the demand, I may have my own pole class.  

The kids will be home with me this summer and when school starts in the fall, Ayla will be joining Ben at the elementary school.  It kind of seems like all of a sudden I don't' have and little ones anymore.   

 

So we'll try this from my tablet for the first time.  I do have a blue tooth keyboard so it's kinda like a funny laptop.  

 I am discovering that I need to work on my patience for homework.  Ben has hit the point were he will hem and haw and do everything to (it seems to me) try to get us to either give him the answer or do things halfway.  I'll admit I'm having difficulty when it seems like I cannot be any clearer and he is apparently hearing something else.  The fun thought with this one is - It's just the beginning.

I have the opportunity to learn how to teach/lead my style of exercise class so will be doing that sometime soon.  It'll probably be a while before I feel I am advanced enough to lead but it is something I really like doing.  

Since I've talked about it and been deliberately vague, my exercise class is pole dancing.  I've dealt with some interesting opinions from those who learn that's what I do for exercise.  The big thing is I've never danced in a club and have no intention of starting (especially after 2 kids plus a little hail damage if you get my meaning).  But I've had people (I'll also add that some of them were part of a group suppsed to be supportive?) refer to it as my stripping and/or make jokes that make me kinda cock my head to the side.  I'm amazed at what some people will try to pass it off as a joke when I'm thinking that you don't know me well enough to make jokes like that and I don't like you enough to let you.  Yes, some of my friends will joke with me about it and what not, but the key words in that phrase are with me.   Sorry about the high horse, as you can tell it can be a hot button,

So I'll end this here since I do want to get out to the store before I have to pick Ayla up from pre-school.  I saw this recipe for vanilla honeycrisp applesauce and want to give it a try since my pickle adventure turned out pretty well. 

Two years, really?

I saw the dates and thought really?  It's been almost 2 years?  But then again time gets away from everyone every now and again.  Though with Facebook being as big as it is, I can see how blogs can get neglected.  It's just as easy to post pictures on the fly from your phone or send them to Instagram. 

For a quick overview of my last two years, I'll try to keep it in some sort of order. 

-I hit 2 years smoke free on Aug. 16th.  Not as bad as expecting but still have these random thoughts/cravings out of the blue every once in a while.

-I am still at the same place though on an even less full time basis than I was.  I leave to make sure I'm home for school bus because

-Ben is in first grade now and loving it.  Ayla is enjoying Pre-K and will be joining him at school next year. 

- I started an exercise class that I love and am going on 1 year straight.  Though it's not mainstream like Zumba or pilates, I'm advancing well in my abilities.  

Guess I'll need to call this done for now since I'm meeting Nick for lunch.  Here's hoping it's not another 2 years before I get back. 

After a few months

It has been a while since I last posted.  I've gotten out of the habit of this really bad.  I can add a few things.  

I went to South Carolina in October and I did finish my certification.  I can now claim the title of Certified Feline Master Groomer, the first one in Indiana.  Of course this has led to the observation that I cannot stay where I am because I know I can do better than I am able to there with the products provided and the environment has become almost toxic.  So I will most likely be starting my own thing shortly.  We have to meet with some people so we have an idea where we are headed.  

On another note, it has been 90 days as a non smoker.  I know and realize that that is a huge thing but sometimes I just with for ONE.  But it'll never be just one, gotta think about it like an alcoholic does, one is one too many.  

 

My little summer journey

To start this story I have to go back to April/May.  At that point in time I had read about a different way to do eye shadow that I had never heard of, so of course I looked into it.  During my looking I found this website and it really got my attention.  That led to one of the basic problems that many of us face especially when we find something new that catches our eye, how in the hell am I going to pay for all this?  My answer was kinda simple really, quit smoking. 

However nothing is as simple as it seems most of the time.  I set everything up, got the patch and was ready to go.  I went 3-4 days with no problems, just the odd thought about going outside (since I've only smoked outside for years).  The Saturday after I quit was a whole different thing all together.  I started crying and couldn't stop and after a few days admitted I needed help.  I got into the doctor really quick and was put on Welbutrin and recommended a head doctor type.  The diagnoses on the insurance paperwork is Major Affective Depressive Disorder, single episode, moderate severity.  In other words I got thrown for a loop NO ONE saw coming.  Started smoking again and trying to deal with this issue now.  

After spending the summer seeing a counselor and trying to change things so I would have a different result, I decided to try again.  I can't very well step back in seeing her if I haven't quit so it was coming up on either quit or stop talking about it.  

I had my last cigarette Thursday the 16th at around 730 in the morning.  It would've been 10 or 11 Wednesday but Nick forgot to take them to work and I couldn't resist.  The rest however were flushed.  So at this point I have not had a smoke in 9 days.  

On Tuesday of this week, the 21st, I took the patch off for the last time.  I have been without any nicotine whatsoever for 4 days.  

So I think I can honestly declare I am a non smoker.  

I do recommend that for anyone considering quitting read a book by Allen Carr called the "Easy Way to Quit Smoking" I got a kindle version for less than $6.  It puts things in a different light than most of the sites you'll find out there.  

The plan now is to start tapering off my appointments, lets face it it can get expensive, and finish my cat grooming certification in October.  I've passed 2 of 4 written tests and have the practicals.  

Oh, and I have already rewarded myself.  Since this whole mess was started by make up, I got the Urban Decay Smoked palette.  Probably the only time I'll spend that much on eye shadow. :-)

Today started out like a normalish day and then Ben really got going.  He has taken to stealing things and lying about it.  I'm not sure how much more I can do to get it through that that is NOT o.k. and to not do it.  This morning he took my bluetooth and I asked him if he had it or knew where it was, the answer was no he didn't have it and didn't know where it was.  A little while later, after he was sentenced to cleaning his room and putting his toys away for something else, he comes out of his room with it.  The main event so far today was he got a hold of one of those big black markers, one of the ones that stick to high hell and some kids try to get high off of, and proceeded to draw on - the living room wall, the floor, the old couch (thank god, we just a new couch this week and he spared that one), some small markings on the aquarium stand and the fireplace (one of those space heaters/ fake fireplace things.) 


So now he's "cleaning" his room, honestly I don't care as long as he's in there.  I sounds like a horrid mother but at least I'm honest.  I have already informed Nick that his plans for this afternoon need to be changed or he needs to take Ben with him and cancelled our trip to Bass Pro Shops.  They have their Easter thing going this weekend and next and we were going to go for the egg hunt and a picture, but I can't see taking him there when he has been like this all morning. 




Until the Next Episode............................................................