Archive for » 2006 «

Tiling: Day 1

22 Oct 2006 by

It was decided that the dining room carpet must go. Food falls to the floor quite more often when kiddos are seated around the table and the carpet certainly had something to show for it.

We had a few remaining tiles left by the previous owner from when she tiled the kitchen and bathroom. Seeing as there weren’t enough to finish the dining room and the brand of tile was no longer carried by any supplier, we would have to go with something different. We decided on the tiles below with the idea to cut the old tiles and lay them out as “dots” in a diagonal pattern.

Tile Package

The carpet is up on Friday night.

Dining Room with no carpet

On Saturday morning Ryan and his friend Justin came out to help get me started. Justin loaned me his wet saw and gave some great pointers which is outstanding. With the three of us working we made great progress cleaning up the floor, squaring the room, marking the pattern, and laying down some tile. Unfortunately, they had to leave early afternoon so I was on my lonesome to continue the task.

Adam Tiling

I hadn’t gotten as far as I hoped, but it’s looking great.

Category: Family, Work  One Comment

In the Garage

22 Oct 2006 by

You know a garage is a garage, when it has one of these:

Tool chest

My toolset had outgrown the bookshelf and it was time to get it in a safer location from grabby little fingers. I found this guy on Craigslist from a mechanic in need of an upgrade himself. Yes Dad, it is a Craftsman.

Category: Family, Work  2 Comments

Dirty Jobs

14 Oct 2006 by

So “someone” peed on the floor and who does my honey call to clean it up…ME!!!!!!  What’s up with that? 

I was pleasantly surprised to see Danielle Bean‘s recent post about a mother’s job.  And her link to the show, Dirty Jobs was too funny not to pass along.  (If you go to the Dirty Jobs’ website, make sure you look at the video–the song’s hilarious! Enjoy.)

Category: Family  One Comment

MPG

13 Oct 2006 by

It’s been almost a year since we brought the xB home and as you may recall one of the reasons we went with the Scion was the mileage. So, how are we doing after a years worth of driving?

2006 Scion xB MPG

It appears we’re hovering around the high 20s/low 30s with an average of 30.4. The estimated mileage for the ’06 xB was 30/34 so we seem to be right where we expected.

Category: Automotive Care  Leave a Comment

Butternut Apple Soup

08 Oct 2006 by

Here’s another squash recipe (from cooks.com) to add to your fall meals!

Ingredients: 

  • 4 1/2 lbs. Butternut squash (3 sm.)
  • 4 1/2 lbs. Jonathan or Granny Smith apples (9 lg.)
  • 9 c. water
  • 2 tbsp. sugar
  • 1/8 tsp. cloves
  • 1 1/2 tsp. salt (optional)
  • White pepper (optional)
  • 2 tsp. curry powder (optional)
  • 3 c. half & half (optional)

Cut the squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds and fiber. Cut in half again, lengthwise, and pare off the outside shell. Cut the squash into cubes. Quarter, core, and pare the apples. Cut them into cubes also. Place the squash, apples, water, sugar, cloves, salt, and pepper (add curry later) in a large stockpot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer 30 to 45 minutes or until the squash and apples are extremely soft and beginning to form a puree.
Puree the mixture (including the water) in a food processor or blender. The soup may be stored in the refrigerator at this point. Before serving, stir together the squash-apple mixture, curry powder, and cream in a saucepan. Bring slowly to a simmer and taste for seasoning. Should the soup be too thick, add a little water.
 

**I put “(optional)” by a few things that I didn’t use.  I made a simple batch that was absolutely yummy without the extra sodium or fat. I also made half the recipe and used the same about of cloves.

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Celebration of Marriage

08 Oct 2006 by

The reading from the Gospel of Mark (chapter 10) at today’s Mass included these words of our Lord Jesus Christ in regard to marriage, “From the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together,no human being must separate.”

This weekend we had many opportunities to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage.  We had two sets of friends who were married yesterday, Devin and Katie Rose, and James and Shana Nicholson.  As Devin and Katie were married in New Mexico, we went to James and Shana’s wedding here in town.  It is such a blessing to see the Sacrament of Marriage celebrated by two faithful Christians who embrace the Church. Congratulation to you!

Given today’s Gospel reading we also made a marriage cake.  “What’s that?” you ask.  Well, let me tell you.  Start with a two layer round cake.  Each layer represents one of the spouses.  The white icing in between is God in our marriage through the sacrament…and the two become one!  The icing around the cake is God’s grace.   The cake is great, and the icing is the best part!  The same is true in marriage.  We as individuals are great, but God and His grace are the best part–it’s what’s makes marriage so sweet. 

 

Category: Faith  Leave a Comment

St. Therese of the Child Jesus

01 Oct 2006 by

“I prefer the monotony of obscure sacrifices to all ecstacies.  To pick up a pin for love can convert a soul.” –St. Therese of the Child Jesus

Happy Feast of St. Therese!  Although it is Sunday and we give honor to our Lord Jesus Christ, we still are celebrating his great sister and God’s wonderful creation of love in the ‘little way.’ 

Being the feast of St. Therese, it is also our little Therese’s name day.  Today’s 9:30 Mass was offered for her.  I hope we will see the fruits of it very soon. ;)

I made a special “French” breakfast…Crepes filled with a cheese blend (cheese blitzes) and topped with a warm berry sauce.  Therese also chose her special treat of the day…homemade pumpkin pie.  We bought a pumpkin the other day and made it from scratch.  Here’s a yummy recipe:

So Easy Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/3 cup smooth pumpkin from a cooking pumpkin
  • 1 can sweet condensed milk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp ginger
  • 1/4 tsp cloves
  • 1 cup hot water** (I forgot to put this in and the pie still came out great)
  • 1- 9″ pie shell

Cut pumpkin in half without stem.  Scoop out seeds (and you can save to make roasted pumpkin seeds) and string.  Place cut down on foil lined baking sheets.  Cover with foil.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.  Cool. Scoop out flesh and mash.

For pie beat together 1 1/3 cup smooth pumpkin with all the other ingredients.  Pour in 9 inch pie shell.  Bake at 375 degrees for 55-65 minutes.  **If you forget the hot water, as I did, bake the pie for about 10 minutes less.  Like I said, it still came out great!

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

After removing  as much pulp as possible from the pumpkin seeds, place in colander and rinse thoroughly.  When the seeds are clean, drain them and place between two paper towels to dry. 

In a large skillet saute 2 cups pumpkin seeds with 2 tablespoons butter or 1 1/2 tablespoons safflower oil and 1 teaspoon salt (or season salt).  Stir 3 minutes until seed are well coated with butter.  Spread evenly on a cookie sheet and bake for 30 mintues on 250 degrees. 

Category: Faith, Family, Recipes  2 Comments

Not the Carrots

24 Sep 2006 by

As if celebrating the 6th anniversary of my 25th birthday this year wasn’t bad enough, I learned this week that my eye sight is getting better!  That’s right.  Despite my protests that it’s a result of all the carrots we eat, the optomitrist broke the news gently to me.  Apparently as we “get older,” we go from being near sighted to far sighted.  I suppose on the positive side, I’ll be sporting some new glasses soon.  I stepped outside of my comfort zone of the usual conservative metal frames this time around.  Even Adam will be surprised when I get them! :)

 

Category: Family  Leave a Comment

Baby Fire

22 Sep 2006 by

If you hear Therese mumble something about a baby fire randomly out of the blue, it’s because we had our first–and hopefully last/only–little baby fire in the kitchen. 

I thought I was being a considerate mom toasting some bread for Therese’s salad–because she likes croutons.  Adam was reading with Therese.  But then Fulton woke up crying and I had to get him.  Then he wanted to nurse…Then I smelled the bread start toasting…but I didn’t want to interupt nursing or daddy-daughter time.  So I waited and waited…then I thought about my toast that I burned this morning and figured I better check on it only to find a few flames in the toaster oven. 

I anxiously called Adam in to take care of it.  And he did in fact confirm that if you try to blow on a 4-6 inch flame it only gets bigger!  So he closed the door and tried to cut off the oxygen supply to the oven.  It eventually went out and I had him drench the tray in cold water. 

What’s the lesson here: it’s not worth it to make homemade croutons!

Category: Family  2 Comments

Avast!

19 Sep 2006 by

Today ye be callin’ me Pirate Butch the Off-White. Guess ye can’t take offense when yoor a pirate. Arrrr!

Category: Fun  3 Comments
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