Art's parents couldn't come up for Thanksgiving this year, because they are working. Stupid places that make people work on Thanksgiving. Anyway. His parents brought the turkey last year. This year? It was up to me.
And I was scared out of my tree.
I was always of the opinion that cooking a turkey was only something you did at the height of your cooking career. I thought I should have perfected many many many meals before tackling a giant bird.
So I just went slowly. I followed the directions exactly. I thawed it, washed it, basted it, put it in a pan, poured some chicken stock all over, and stuck it in the oven for 5 hours. And it was beautiful. And moist. And delicious. (And I started a tiny fire in the oven around hour three, but it was over in a flash. I just spilled some drippings. I'll buy some heavy duty oven cleaner soon.)
And then I made stuffing, and candied yams, and corn, and Mari made gravy and mashed potatoes, and we had dinner rolls..... It was THE perfect Thanksgiving dinner. And we made it all ourselves.
Oh, and the house is clean.
I know today is supposed to be a day of thankfulness, not bragging. But I'm just gotta say it: I rock!
Don't worry, I'm also thankful. For family. And food. And no fires or injuries. And help with dinner. And the turkey that gave its life so I could realize my full cooking potential. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
November 26, 2009
November 22, 2009
Change Is In the Air
Things sure have changed since Art started his new job. And they aren't bad changes. But I'm still definitely getting used to them.
He and I get up at the same time every morning, which I love. It's easier getting ready for work when I'm not tip-toeing around, dressing in the dark because I don't want to wake him by turning on lights.
And just the fact that he has a regular, predictable schedule. 7-4, Monday through Friday. (Also, the extra money certainly doesn't hurt either.) :D
Now that he's working during the day (as opposed to being home during the day), I suddenly feel compelled to cook, because I know that he isn't going to eat a small meal around 3:30 like he used to. So he's really hungry when he gets home.
It's good for me, because I want to become a better cook, and there's no other way to do that then to cook. It does make my evenings shorter though. I get home from work at 5:00, tidy up a bit, start dinner at 5:15, Art gets home around 5:45, we're eating by 6:00, I start the dishes around 7:00, done by 7:30, and any other cleaning that needs to be done, I try to get it done before 8:00. Art and I have an agreement that I won't do chores past 8:00 (because sometimes I start something late, and I get caught up, and I'm still going strong at 10:30, when I should be in bed.
So I'm done chores by 8:00, and from then on it's relax and unwind time. I'm trying to get through a book that Art really wants me to read (because it's due back at the library next week). It's called "Financial Peace Revisited" by Dave Ramsey. It's REALLY good stuff, and we definitely need it. It's helping us figure out how to be smarter with our money so that we can save quickly and pay off our debt quickly. But I'm not getting through it as quickly as I'd like, because (getting back to my daily schedule) bedtime is 9:30. So I read from 8:00 till 8:30, and then I shower, and then dry my hair, and then get ready for bed.
Yeah. Half an hour a day for reading won't get me very far very quickly. And, (as you've perhaps noticed) it leaves me no time for blogging (or pretty much anything else having to do with the computer). And I realize that feeding my husband, taking care of the house, and organizing our finances are more important than blogging or Facebook, but I do miss it a little. I guess that's what the weekend is for.
What I'm trying to say is, this is going to be the new trend for quite some time. I enjoy blogging, and I enjoy reading all your blogs, but I just don't have as much time for it. So there it is. There is going to be less Jenene on the internet from now on. I'll try to blog once a week, because the main purpose of this blog always will be for my family back home to keep up with my life. If I don't post for a while, I promise you're not missing anything. Unless you're REALLY interested in knowing how many dishes I wash each and every day. In that case, you're probably a stalker, and I don't blog for stalkers. I should make that into a bumper sticker.
I really will try to blog each weekend, because my weekends are always enjoyable. Friday night, Art I went out on a date. He insisted that we go somewhere new, so we tried a Thai restaurant that we had never been to. We shared an appetizer of chicken skewers dipped in peanut sauce and our main dish? Duck. Art is absolutely in love with duck, and know I know why. I don't love it as much as I love sushi (I could eat sushi every day for the rest of my life). But duck is so delicious. You gotta try it at least once.
We went to Dairy Queen for dessert, because we're really classy like that. And it was cheaper than dessert at the restaurant. I remember when I used to think that couples who went out for a fast food date had no concept of romance. But now I realize that just intentionally setting aside time to spend with Art fosters romance. It doesn't matter where we go. Or even if we go out at all. Romance is not a fancy restaurant, or expensive new jewelry. Romance is making sure that, in all the busyness of life, we don't forget about our marriage and each other.
I'm glad I figured that one out. Otherwise, I would be feeling pretty unloved by now. Because we cannot afford fancy anything right now.
So. The rest of my weekend. Saturday I slept in. And then I got up and lounged around in comfy clothes all day. I love Saturdays. Then our friends came over and brought DDR. And we played that almost all evening. My calves are a just a little sore. And there was UFC, and I made delicious Beef and Broccoli... (Speaking of cooking, I have a new recipe to share with you.)
And then today, we went to church and put together Thanksgiving food baskets for various families in the area who struggle to buy even the most basic things, like groceries. The rest of today has been spent relaxing, talking to my mom, making Christmas gift lists. I also did a little baking, and I went for a walk to buy groceries. And tonight, I might learn how to crochet. I heard it's quicker and so much easier! I'm kind of excited.
Well, my friends are here, so I should get off the computer now. Have a great week!
He and I get up at the same time every morning, which I love. It's easier getting ready for work when I'm not tip-toeing around, dressing in the dark because I don't want to wake him by turning on lights.
And just the fact that he has a regular, predictable schedule. 7-4, Monday through Friday. (Also, the extra money certainly doesn't hurt either.) :D
Now that he's working during the day (as opposed to being home during the day), I suddenly feel compelled to cook, because I know that he isn't going to eat a small meal around 3:30 like he used to. So he's really hungry when he gets home.
It's good for me, because I want to become a better cook, and there's no other way to do that then to cook. It does make my evenings shorter though. I get home from work at 5:00, tidy up a bit, start dinner at 5:15, Art gets home around 5:45, we're eating by 6:00, I start the dishes around 7:00, done by 7:30, and any other cleaning that needs to be done, I try to get it done before 8:00. Art and I have an agreement that I won't do chores past 8:00 (because sometimes I start something late, and I get caught up, and I'm still going strong at 10:30, when I should be in bed.
So I'm done chores by 8:00, and from then on it's relax and unwind time. I'm trying to get through a book that Art really wants me to read (because it's due back at the library next week). It's called "Financial Peace Revisited" by Dave Ramsey. It's REALLY good stuff, and we definitely need it. It's helping us figure out how to be smarter with our money so that we can save quickly and pay off our debt quickly. But I'm not getting through it as quickly as I'd like, because (getting back to my daily schedule) bedtime is 9:30. So I read from 8:00 till 8:30, and then I shower, and then dry my hair, and then get ready for bed.
Yeah. Half an hour a day for reading won't get me very far very quickly. And, (as you've perhaps noticed) it leaves me no time for blogging (or pretty much anything else having to do with the computer). And I realize that feeding my husband, taking care of the house, and organizing our finances are more important than blogging or Facebook, but I do miss it a little. I guess that's what the weekend is for.
What I'm trying to say is, this is going to be the new trend for quite some time. I enjoy blogging, and I enjoy reading all your blogs, but I just don't have as much time for it. So there it is. There is going to be less Jenene on the internet from now on. I'll try to blog once a week, because the main purpose of this blog always will be for my family back home to keep up with my life. If I don't post for a while, I promise you're not missing anything. Unless you're REALLY interested in knowing how many dishes I wash each and every day. In that case, you're probably a stalker, and I don't blog for stalkers. I should make that into a bumper sticker.
I really will try to blog each weekend, because my weekends are always enjoyable. Friday night, Art I went out on a date. He insisted that we go somewhere new, so we tried a Thai restaurant that we had never been to. We shared an appetizer of chicken skewers dipped in peanut sauce and our main dish? Duck. Art is absolutely in love with duck, and know I know why. I don't love it as much as I love sushi (I could eat sushi every day for the rest of my life). But duck is so delicious. You gotta try it at least once.
We went to Dairy Queen for dessert, because we're really classy like that. And it was cheaper than dessert at the restaurant. I remember when I used to think that couples who went out for a fast food date had no concept of romance. But now I realize that just intentionally setting aside time to spend with Art fosters romance. It doesn't matter where we go. Or even if we go out at all. Romance is not a fancy restaurant, or expensive new jewelry. Romance is making sure that, in all the busyness of life, we don't forget about our marriage and each other.
I'm glad I figured that one out. Otherwise, I would be feeling pretty unloved by now. Because we cannot afford fancy anything right now.
So. The rest of my weekend. Saturday I slept in. And then I got up and lounged around in comfy clothes all day. I love Saturdays. Then our friends came over and brought DDR. And we played that almost all evening. My calves are a just a little sore. And there was UFC, and I made delicious Beef and Broccoli... (Speaking of cooking, I have a new recipe to share with you.)
And then today, we went to church and put together Thanksgiving food baskets for various families in the area who struggle to buy even the most basic things, like groceries. The rest of today has been spent relaxing, talking to my mom, making Christmas gift lists. I also did a little baking, and I went for a walk to buy groceries. And tonight, I might learn how to crochet. I heard it's quicker and so much easier! I'm kind of excited.
Well, my friends are here, so I should get off the computer now. Have a great week!
November 16, 2009
I Am a Walking Garfield Comic Strip
You know how Garfield hates Mondays? Because not only is it not the weekend, but Mondays also seem to do cruel things to people? Well, today is Monday, in every sense of the word/idea.
Yesterday, as Art and I were about to get in the car to go see some friends, I tripped over something in the dark, and thankfully, landed on my hands and knees (as opposed to landing on my face). My hands and knees were skinned and bruised last night, and this morning, they are skinned, bruised, and also swollen. It's a good thing my hands and knees aren't that important. It only hurts when I do anything.
We are also having some pleasant, hurricane-like weather right now. You know. Rain, and winds up to 60 miles per hour. I do believe that's standard highway speed, in case anyone needs a reference. I did an official survey, and found that this type of weather is enjoyed by approximately zero people. So you can imagine my unhappiness that we are experiencing this, especially on a Monday.
And I'm sure you can imagine my even greater unhappiness when I tell that these "sweet summer breezes" kept me up ALL NIGHT. If you are my friend on Facebook, then you already know this, because I updated my status at around 4:30 am. It was bad. I expected our roof to blow off every other half-hour. It sounded like mailboxes and garbage cans were just being flung about, willy nilly. Which they probably were. This does not make for a good night's sleep.
So I'm already injured and sore and slow-moving, and now I'm sleepy and groggy, and I can barely concentrate, never mind actually get anything done. I feel sort of like a cat who was made to dress up against its will.
Yesterday, as Art and I were about to get in the car to go see some friends, I tripped over something in the dark, and thankfully, landed on my hands and knees (as opposed to landing on my face). My hands and knees were skinned and bruised last night, and this morning, they are skinned, bruised, and also swollen. It's a good thing my hands and knees aren't that important. It only hurts when I do anything.
We are also having some pleasant, hurricane-like weather right now. You know. Rain, and winds up to 60 miles per hour. I do believe that's standard highway speed, in case anyone needs a reference. I did an official survey, and found that this type of weather is enjoyed by approximately zero people. So you can imagine my unhappiness that we are experiencing this, especially on a Monday.
And I'm sure you can imagine my even greater unhappiness when I tell that these "sweet summer breezes" kept me up ALL NIGHT. If you are my friend on Facebook, then you already know this, because I updated my status at around 4:30 am. It was bad. I expected our roof to blow off every other half-hour. It sounded like mailboxes and garbage cans were just being flung about, willy nilly. Which they probably were. This does not make for a good night's sleep.
So I'm already injured and sore and slow-moving, and now I'm sleepy and groggy, and I can barely concentrate, never mind actually get anything done. I feel sort of like a cat who was made to dress up against its will.
This guy is not impressed. He's wondering why the world hates him so. Also? Stuffonmycat.com is a pretty random and funny website. I may just spend the rest of the day looking at pictures of annoyed cats to make myself feel better.
And tonight I'm going to stuff my face with ice cream and settle in for another long, blustery night. Because apparently we're going to be blessed with this windy fury for a couple of days. Yay us!
And tonight I'm going to stuff my face with ice cream and settle in for another long, blustery night. Because apparently we're going to be blessed with this windy fury for a couple of days. Yay us!
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