Stand Up and Be Counted!

Today is election day folks and regardless of your political views, it's the day when you stand up to be counted. As a woman and mother I can tell you that there is much at stake. It was not that long ago that we as women didn't have a say in what went on in our country. When all you could do to contribute was to whisper in your husband's ear and hope that your voice was heard.

Now we have a voice and we have a say .

We stand up for ourselves and for our childen.

Stand up today and be counted, VOTE!

This has been a public service announcement sponsored by GP's Mom, =)

A Quick Update!

I've been busy. Homechool is back in session, GP is up to his old tricks trying to weasel out of work and watching for the next holiday. I'm up before dawn and finding I need more time to play catch up. Oh, life is good. Busy hands are happy hands is what I say.

But it's not all work and no play around here. Last weekend I paired up with Ms Troublemaker herself, Lynn (Painting Thymes Needfuls), whom I just happened to meet in Blogland (and folks wonder why blogging is so much fun, duh! You meet people without leaving home, hello?!)

Anyway, we went on a Road trip out to the boonies, to a place called Country Mischief...and look what I found... (No, that handsome guy actually lives in my house. The cabinet, the cabinet's what I brought home!) Isn't it the bomb? GP was so happy with his new addition that he actually helped me carry it up to his room, without me having to resort to the "Mom is so old, she needs help" story. And now it's just waiting for a couple of toggles to make sure it doesn't pull the plaster right off the wall. It's wayyyy heavy.

Anyway, I have loads more to share but I'm running low on pictures. I really have to get better at taking pictures. I'll take pics of my new wood Fall decorations and post them soon.

Hope you're having fun too. The weekend is coming up and I'm heading to Rhode Island for another trip to Brown and Hopkins Country Store, OMG! Put that place on your destination list, and bring your spending $$$ because you're not likely to leave empty handed. I'm psyched!

Gotta run, but I'll be back soon! Have fun, B=)

Windows, Done!

Although the outside of my house is still very much in distress, the inside is beginning to look a lot like home. These pics were taken yesterday during the day in the hopes you would a have better view of the finished project. The shades are down to keep the glare out of the pics. But you can see the new twelve over twelve grid, can't you? Aren't they cute?
No painting or staining on the schedule. Still much cleaning to do in the office and the kitchen where everything landed clearing the way for the office windows. OMG! It's so bad it looks like an episode of Hoarders, and NO, there shall be no picture sharing of the "Work in Progress" zones, LOL!
We are now ready for another semester of Homeschooling. The Homeschool Zone is now Open for Business!
Electricians coming in tomorrow to work on the bathroom and the studio... another great big mess. UGH. Home Improvement is not for the faint of heart! More pics as I clear the mess!

Mayhem, Total Mayhem!

I want to blog, I really do. I also want to quilt, to sit and watch TV and I would love to go for a drive on this wonderful sunny day, but look at what's really going on in the Pumpkin Patch... It's mayhem, total mayhem. Day two of the New Windows Saga, now in progress... Day one brought water, mess and drama. Day two is off to a better start...if all goes well, I might have four new windows today and four more to go, LOL!

Eye Contact, Priceless!

As you may or may not know, when GP was young and very much non verbal we thought he was deaf. We didn't know he was autistic, we just thought he couldn't hear because A. He didn't speak and B. He didn't look at us when we called him. Little did I know that was just one of the first signs that something was amiss... Well, GP could hear us just fine. He just didn't want to look at us because eye contact is just not something that autistic children are comfortable with.
To this day, I am constantly reminding GP to "Look at Mom"...

it goes something like this:

Mom, "Gene Paul did you find your belt?"

GP (looking around)"mumble,mumble..."

Mom" Gene Paul, did you find your belt? Eyes to Mom!"

GP, "Yes, I have it on!" (as if I can see it under his untucked shirt, duh!)

And so it goes, it's like a sentence that signifies, "Social interaction is required". It's as if he totally forgets to look at you when he speaks, even when HE initiates the conversation!

It's like "Yes, I was talking to you eventhough I was looking the other way and speaking softly...what? You didn' get that?" LOL!

While at the beach earlier this week I called him (Blackberry in hand, ready to snap his picture) and when I said "Gene Paul" He lifted his head and looked straight at me, and smiled . I think my heart skipped a beat. I can't believe I actually snapped the picture. He looked straight at me without a prompt. This is sooo rare, and I am so grateful for this small blessing.

Eye contact, it tells me that he hears me. It tells me that he sees me.

It tells me "I am here, Mom."

Eye contact, positively priceless!

Sloppy Joe, It's what for Lunch and Dinner!

There is no such thing as Sloppy Joe for one so here's my recipe for Sloppy Joe. You can feed EIGHT, on one pound of beef, no kidding!

You'll need:

One pound ground beef, I use 95% lean but you can use whatever you like,

but please none of that chicken stuff, yuk!

Two Peppers, I use one green and one red. I've tried lots of pepper combinations, trust me, this one is the best.

One Vidalia Onion, nope yellow is not the same and the end result will prove it... trust me, I've been working on this recipe for years. hahaha

One tablespoon of ground mustard. You can use the liquid kind, but again...not quite as good (but then my favorite liquid one is French's so if you have a fancy one that might have more kick to it, go for it!)

THREE cups of ketchup, I know, I know...use organic if it makes you feel better but I heart Heinz!

Two packs of rolls or pita pockets

BIG, BIG pot...so your stove wont get all messy. =)

Procedure:

Brown the beef, mine has no drippings but if yours does, scoop them out...yuk!

Add everything, and I do mean everything...ketchup, mustard, onions, peppers, kitchen sink...oh wait, leave that out...

Cook:

As soon as you add everything in the pot, mix it all in till it's all pink from the Ketchup.

Lower the heat to LOW, and simmer for one hour (the longer the better...). If it starts to get too dry while cooking add a cup of water, it should look like stew or chunky spaghetti sauce.

It will thicken upon standing.

Let it sit for a while before serving (it'll be even better the next day and it will freeze beautifully!)

Serve: on buns, or in pita pockets for less WW points. =)

Enjoy... it's what's for dinner at my house, and as you can see...it's what we had for lunch!

Hooray, It's National Underwear Day!

I am sooo not kidding. I can't possibly make this stuff up. A company called, wait for it... FRESH PAIR (No, I am NOT kidding, the company IS named Fresh Pair and NO, GP is not the president) started celebrating NUD eight years ago.

Isn't that a timely celebration?

Dollars to doughnuts GP will ask for the day off, LOL! (If you are a new reader you should know that my son is Irish, Jewish, and Christian, depending on what holiday needs to be obseved... if there was a National Chicken Day on the calendar he would be a chicken and want the day off from Homeschool!)

I wonder if they're having a sale on White Fresh Underwear...HMMMM.

Better go check that out now, JIC! HAHAHA!