In addition to Christmas, we were invaded last week by a vicious flu. A vicious, vicious flu that slowly made the rounds through us all; myself, EG, and the Spousal Unit were first and hardest hit, but FB had a milder case that left him in bed all of Thursday and part of Christmas Eve, and PC had a middlin’ case that really only served to make her both more energetic than the rest of us combined and whiny. This, by the way, is not recommended – having the youngest member of the household feeling the best.
Now that I’m finally emerging from the haze, I’ve been working on finalizing my goals for 2011. I started working on them fairly early in the month of December, which has given me appropriate time to tweak and modify. In the end, I have goals in fifteen distinct categories. Granted, I break things down considerably, and others would likely group some of my categories into a single category, so it’s not quite as gruesome as it sounds. My categories, though, are the following: health; weight; exercise; running; knitting; food (as it relates to money); food (as it relates to nutrition); spending & budgeting; moving; homeschooling; parenting; birthdays; holidays; online life; and books. Some of the goals aren’t really the type that I would share online, but there are a few for which accountability is a positive thing, so I thought I’d share them here.
Running: My goal here is to complete twelve races (5K) in the year, for an average of one per month.
Knitting: My main goal is to finish at least two projects per month. I have a lot of subgoals, mostly related to specific projects. That may become a separate post.
Food (as it relates to nutrition): A late, dark horse entry made itself known for this category just over a week ago. I think we’re going to have to do a trial of gluten-free, at least for the girls. This is going to be a significant hardship, and one to which I am not looking forward.
Books: One of my main goals here is to read any unread books in the house, or to take them to the happy place in Chattanooga, McKay’s. Additionally, I want to maintain a backlog of no more than 4 unread books at a time. As it stands now, I have one book I’m reading, two books that are waiting, one book I’ve decided not to read (McKay’s for it), and a couple of books that I have borrowed. I’m feeling pretty good about this one.
I’m pleased with the way my goals look; I’ve been able to break a number of them down into easily measurable monthly and weekly goals. I’ve also convinced Spousal Unit to join me in working towards some of them. Now the new year just has to show up so I can get started. That, and I have to get rid of this cough that’s still lingering.
Showing posts with label what's for dinner?. Show all posts
Showing posts with label what's for dinner?. Show all posts
6.11.10
Thankfulness, Day Thirteen
I know that this may seem a bit like jumping the gun; after all, aren't we all thankful for food and the harvest on Thanksgiving Day? I'm specifically thankful for the farmers' market, though.
Each week, on Saturday morning, I get up, throw some clothes on, and head down to the farmers' market. Usually FB comes with me, unless he's staying at his grandparents' house. Together, we navigate the utter awesomeness that is our local farmers' market. It's a lot of fun to see some things change throughout the year; spring greens and strawberries give way to cantaloupe, blueberries, and okra; summer squash is omnipresent, starting in mid-June; in late August and early September, the last of the summer's berries and melons yield to sweet potatoes and pumpkins; and then, as cooler weather descends, the greens return, accompanied by acorn squash and turnips. Throughout the weeks of the market, other vendors vie for space – the local dairies, the local bacon and sausage producers, the dog biscuit bakers, the German pastries, the local honey. We return each week with a basket bursting with fresh food.
Of course, we live in a city and a state where the seasons do change, and winter is approaching. Sleet fell in my backyard yesterday, which is admittedly quite early for us. Accordingly, my beloved market will disappear in just two more weeks; the Saturday before Thanksgiving will be, somewhat appropriately, our last chance to partake of the local harvest.
And while I did not freeze or can as much food as I intended, I do have jars of strawberry jam and bags of frozen strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. I have bags of raw and roasted garlic cloves tucked snugly in my freezer. While we've partaken of meat throughout the summer, I have portions of a cow (including plenty of roasts and stew meat) reading, along with plump chickens (and one not-so-plump stewing chicken). In other words, the proverbial larder is full. And so - I am thankful.
Each week, on Saturday morning, I get up, throw some clothes on, and head down to the farmers' market. Usually FB comes with me, unless he's staying at his grandparents' house. Together, we navigate the utter awesomeness that is our local farmers' market. It's a lot of fun to see some things change throughout the year; spring greens and strawberries give way to cantaloupe, blueberries, and okra; summer squash is omnipresent, starting in mid-June; in late August and early September, the last of the summer's berries and melons yield to sweet potatoes and pumpkins; and then, as cooler weather descends, the greens return, accompanied by acorn squash and turnips. Throughout the weeks of the market, other vendors vie for space – the local dairies, the local bacon and sausage producers, the dog biscuit bakers, the German pastries, the local honey. We return each week with a basket bursting with fresh food.
Of course, we live in a city and a state where the seasons do change, and winter is approaching. Sleet fell in my backyard yesterday, which is admittedly quite early for us. Accordingly, my beloved market will disappear in just two more weeks; the Saturday before Thanksgiving will be, somewhat appropriately, our last chance to partake of the local harvest.
And while I did not freeze or can as much food as I intended, I do have jars of strawberry jam and bags of frozen strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. I have bags of raw and roasted garlic cloves tucked snugly in my freezer. While we've partaken of meat throughout the summer, I have portions of a cow (including plenty of roasts and stew meat) reading, along with plump chickens (and one not-so-plump stewing chicken). In other words, the proverbial larder is full. And so - I am thankful.
19.5.10
Summer Break, But At Least It's Still May
We have officially finished our one hundred eighty days of school for the 2009-2010 school year. Huzzah! Days 176-180 were completed on our trip to Washington, DC, last week. I need to write an entire post about the trip, but suffice it to say that I love that city and am having withdrawal symptoms. The kids thoroughly enjoyed it. EG's favorite thing was the National Cryptologic Museum. FB wanted to take home a pair of ruby slippers just like Dorothy's.
We did come home to the news that our neighbor has decided not to pursue buying our house. We had hoped this was a viable possibility, especially since it would ensure our having to move only once (instead of possibly twice, after finalizing the sale of this house but before finalizing the purchase of the new house). It also means we do have to do those final staging projects which we were hoping to escape. So far, I've been mostly paralyzed by the thought of how much more I need to pack and rearrange, but I haven't exactly had copious amounts of work time, either. Maybe I'll feel more energized after we start.
I should probably also warn you all that I will probably blog extensively about food over the summer. Luckily, everyone alive more or less likes food, and everyone is required to eat it, making food quite possibly the most universal subject about which to blog. Except breathing. I'll devote a post to breathing, maybe.
We did come home to the news that our neighbor has decided not to pursue buying our house. We had hoped this was a viable possibility, especially since it would ensure our having to move only once (instead of possibly twice, after finalizing the sale of this house but before finalizing the purchase of the new house). It also means we do have to do those final staging projects which we were hoping to escape. So far, I've been mostly paralyzed by the thought of how much more I need to pack and rearrange, but I haven't exactly had copious amounts of work time, either. Maybe I'll feel more energized after we start.
I should probably also warn you all that I will probably blog extensively about food over the summer. Luckily, everyone alive more or less likes food, and everyone is required to eat it, making food quite possibly the most universal subject about which to blog. Except breathing. I'll devote a post to breathing, maybe.
3.5.10
In Which I Share My Overwhelmedness
"How often does FB's greenhouse thing have to be watered?" my mom asked when she visited recently.
"I'm not sure," I answered vaguely. "It couldn't hurt to water it."
"Why don't you check? The directions are sitting down there." This was, in fact, true.
"Because if I'm the one that reads it, then it suddenly becomes my responsibility to make sure it's watered as needed."
My mother laughed a little, and I smiled a bit to take the edge off my words, but I wasn't joking. I'm so tired of bearing the sole responsibility for everything. Lately, I've felt like I'm drowning, to be perfectly honest. We still have about 24-36 hours' worth of work, not including painting, that has to be done before we can put the house on the market. Most of this work, I've been putting off, since the nature of my house is that what I do, someone else undoes. I'm nearly finished planning our next school year, but as you all know, nearly finished is not the same as done. I'm busily preparing for our upcoming trip, and suddenly it's the beginning of the food season, too.*
I'm tired and overwhelmed, and so when I went online this morning to register EG for a class I wanted her to take this autumn, and it was full, it seemed... like something was out to bring me down, at the very least. If I can't get her in this class - there is a waiting list, and another section may open - then I will have to teach her, and it's a teacher-intensive class. I don't know if I can add an additional teacher intensive class to my schedule next year. I really don't. All of FB's work requires me to be right there with him. EG is independent, more or less, for mathematics and science, but our language arts is heavily teacher intensive, and most of her other subjects involve some amount of my involvement. Adding this to the list? Feels like the proverbial straw, this morning.
It doesn't help, of course, that I'm short on sleep, as thunderstorms rolled in around 3:30 am and didn't abate until about 5 am. I had trouble falling asleep last night, as I could feel the weather changing. I didn't just hit snooze a few times, I have no recollection of my alarm sounding this morning!
Standard Disclaimer: Yes, I know. First world problems. There's always someone who has it worse. I get it. I'm still allowed to feel overwhelmed and tired at times.
*Food Season: We aspire to eat locally and organically as much as possible. Currently, I'm co-coordinating a group purchase of quarters of local grass-fed beef, with pick-up around the first of June. The farmers' market opened on Saturday, and yesterday we went to the local u-pick strawberry farm, which means that I need to get some of the strawberries washed, trimmed, and in the freezer today or tomorrow at the latest. I also am trying to decide how many chickens I want to purchase from the local purveyor of pastured chickens. I already make a special trip each week to purchase milk and eggs from a local farmer. Sometimes I wish I didn't know so much, so I could be content with going to the supermarket for everything, not just flour, salt, and so forth. Then, of course, I feel guilty that I haven't found a local source for flour... or is it that I should feel guilty for not grinding my own wheat and baking my own bread? I can't remember.
"I'm not sure," I answered vaguely. "It couldn't hurt to water it."
"Why don't you check? The directions are sitting down there." This was, in fact, true.
"Because if I'm the one that reads it, then it suddenly becomes my responsibility to make sure it's watered as needed."
My mother laughed a little, and I smiled a bit to take the edge off my words, but I wasn't joking. I'm so tired of bearing the sole responsibility for everything. Lately, I've felt like I'm drowning, to be perfectly honest. We still have about 24-36 hours' worth of work, not including painting, that has to be done before we can put the house on the market. Most of this work, I've been putting off, since the nature of my house is that what I do, someone else undoes. I'm nearly finished planning our next school year, but as you all know, nearly finished is not the same as done. I'm busily preparing for our upcoming trip, and suddenly it's the beginning of the food season, too.*
I'm tired and overwhelmed, and so when I went online this morning to register EG for a class I wanted her to take this autumn, and it was full, it seemed... like something was out to bring me down, at the very least. If I can't get her in this class - there is a waiting list, and another section may open - then I will have to teach her, and it's a teacher-intensive class. I don't know if I can add an additional teacher intensive class to my schedule next year. I really don't. All of FB's work requires me to be right there with him. EG is independent, more or less, for mathematics and science, but our language arts is heavily teacher intensive, and most of her other subjects involve some amount of my involvement. Adding this to the list? Feels like the proverbial straw, this morning.
It doesn't help, of course, that I'm short on sleep, as thunderstorms rolled in around 3:30 am and didn't abate until about 5 am. I had trouble falling asleep last night, as I could feel the weather changing. I didn't just hit snooze a few times, I have no recollection of my alarm sounding this morning!
Standard Disclaimer: Yes, I know. First world problems. There's always someone who has it worse. I get it. I'm still allowed to feel overwhelmed and tired at times.
*Food Season: We aspire to eat locally and organically as much as possible. Currently, I'm co-coordinating a group purchase of quarters of local grass-fed beef, with pick-up around the first of June. The farmers' market opened on Saturday, and yesterday we went to the local u-pick strawberry farm, which means that I need to get some of the strawberries washed, trimmed, and in the freezer today or tomorrow at the latest. I also am trying to decide how many chickens I want to purchase from the local purveyor of pastured chickens. I already make a special trip each week to purchase milk and eggs from a local farmer. Sometimes I wish I didn't know so much, so I could be content with going to the supermarket for everything, not just flour, salt, and so forth. Then, of course, I feel guilty that I haven't found a local source for flour... or is it that I should feel guilty for not grinding my own wheat and baking my own bread? I can't remember.
25.3.10
I Lied
Uploading photographs to blogger when they are already on facebook seems redundant. Here, have a link to the Facebook album for FB's birthday.
Check out the last shot of the cake. It's a Coca-Cola cake. For those of you who are not from the southeastern region of the United States, a "Co'cola Cake" is only one of the moistest chocolate cakes you will ever have the privilege of eating. Always homemade, never from a mix, and iced while hot. We have about a piece and a half left. It's that good.
Check out the last shot of the cake. It's a Coca-Cola cake. For those of you who are not from the southeastern region of the United States, a "Co'cola Cake" is only one of the moistest chocolate cakes you will ever have the privilege of eating. Always homemade, never from a mix, and iced while hot. We have about a piece and a half left. It's that good.
4.10.09
Food, Glorious Fall Food
Breakfast is the same every day: quiche for EG, granola with milk for FB, oatmeal for the adults. Lunch is lentil soup.
What's for dinner...?
Monday: either kids eat free night at Moe's, or leftovers, as we have quite a few.
Tuesday: Roast, carrots, and potatoes
Wednesday: Black bean burritos
Thursday: Roast, mashed potatoes, vegetable from the week's CSA
Friday: ??? I'll have to consult Smrt Mama, since Friday night is Dollhouse & dinner.
Saturday: Oh, joy, oh bliss - we're going to Henry's!
Sunday: chicken and baked beans, fruit
What's for dinner...?
Monday: either kids eat free night at Moe's, or leftovers, as we have quite a few.
Tuesday: Roast, carrots, and potatoes
Wednesday: Black bean burritos
Thursday: Roast, mashed potatoes, vegetable from the week's CSA
Friday: ??? I'll have to consult Smrt Mama, since Friday night is Dollhouse & dinner.
Saturday: Oh, joy, oh bliss - we're going to Henry's!
Sunday: chicken and baked beans, fruit
28.9.09
What's For Dinner?
I'm trying something new this week, and linking back to Menu Plan Monday, which is going to give you (if you click on the link) a list of a lot of people's plans for dinner this week. Like I need new recipe ideas!
Monday: Meatloaf, sweet potatoes, and green beans.
Tuesday: Chicken pot pie
Wednesday: Leftovers of the two previous nights
Thursday: Lasagna
Friday: crockpot Sloppy Joes, sides TBD by what shows up in the CSA box this week!
Saturday: Either out or spaghetti marinara
Sunday: French bread pizza
Monday: Meatloaf, sweet potatoes, and green beans.
Tuesday: Chicken pot pie
Wednesday: Leftovers of the two previous nights
Thursday: Lasagna
Friday: crockpot Sloppy Joes, sides TBD by what shows up in the CSA box this week!
Saturday: Either out or spaghetti marinara
Sunday: French bread pizza
20.9.09
Holy Missing Menu Plan, Batman!
I think I managed to follow my menu plan once this past week. Eeek! In hopes of a better seven days ahead, here's my hopes for the coming week:
Monday: Asian-Style Beef Short Ribs, albeit with slightly different seasonings; rice; applesauce or green beans.
Tuesday: Sloppy Joes (also a crock pot recipe), baked acorn squash
Wednesday: Black beans and rice, cornbread, fresh CSA apples (I hope!)
Thursday: Santa Fe Chicken casserole
Friday: Spaghetti
Sides for Thursday and Friday are to be determined, based on what goodies I get on Wednesday in the CSA. Saturday is going to be a celebratory dinner for my other half's birthday, and he hasn't yet finalized his ideal menu. Sunday, we're going out to eat - my birthday falls just two weeks later, so we go out once in between them, in theory, but this weekend works best this year.
Emergency back up meal(s)? I have the stuff for corned beef hash pinwheels, frozen corn, and frozen fish from Trader Joe's, plus a ton more black beans, salsa, and frozen tortillas.
Monday: Asian-Style Beef Short Ribs, albeit with slightly different seasonings; rice; applesauce or green beans.
Tuesday: Sloppy Joes (also a crock pot recipe), baked acorn squash
Wednesday: Black beans and rice, cornbread, fresh CSA apples (I hope!)
Thursday: Santa Fe Chicken casserole
Friday: Spaghetti
Sides for Thursday and Friday are to be determined, based on what goodies I get on Wednesday in the CSA. Saturday is going to be a celebratory dinner for my other half's birthday, and he hasn't yet finalized his ideal menu. Sunday, we're going out to eat - my birthday falls just two weeks later, so we go out once in between them, in theory, but this weekend works best this year.
Emergency back up meal(s)? I have the stuff for corned beef hash pinwheels, frozen corn, and frozen fish from Trader Joe's, plus a ton more black beans, salsa, and frozen tortillas.
23.8.09
What's For Dinner?
I had to do last minute rearranging of my meal plans for the week, which meant an additional trip to the grocery store this evening. Instead of thawing flank steak, my other half brought in cube steak. Oops. So, with cube steak freshly thawed, we're changing dinner for the week. I am bummed, a bit, because I like cube steak, but we've already had it this month. Additionally, this is the last of the cube steak from our quarter cow. While we're definitely wanting a half (versus a quarter) next year, which will mean six packs of cube steak, late May/early June is quite awhile to wait!
Monday: Cube steaks in the crock pot, leftover mashed potatoes from Saturday, and green beans
Tuesday: Leftovers - bbq chicken, hot dogs, etc.
Wednesday: Hamburgers, baked beans, and some fruit
Thursday: Leftover cube steaks, fried okra (hopefully that's in our CSA box this week), and Annie's macaroni and cheese
Friday: Payday! We'll either still have leftovers, or we'll have pizza night or spaghetti.
Saturday: French bread pizza
Sunday: Rib steak, squash casserole, hot cinnamon applesauce
Monday: Cube steaks in the crock pot, leftover mashed potatoes from Saturday, and green beans
Tuesday: Leftovers - bbq chicken, hot dogs, etc.
Wednesday: Hamburgers, baked beans, and some fruit
Thursday: Leftover cube steaks, fried okra (hopefully that's in our CSA box this week), and Annie's macaroni and cheese
Friday: Payday! We'll either still have leftovers, or we'll have pizza night or spaghetti.
Saturday: French bread pizza
Sunday: Rib steak, squash casserole, hot cinnamon applesauce
