I was playing with this empty frame with Ms. A. She was holding it while I took her picture. I decided it was too big for what I was going trying to achieve. When I laid it in this pile of leaves though, I really was drawn to the image it made. Just wanted to explain….
You must celebrate with me. I fixed a problem I have been having for over two weeks.
Remember how we changed internet providers? Then suddenly I went a week without any internet? Once it was fixed I could not get my router to work. This caused me to be limited to just my Windows computer – no laptop, no favorite Linux computer. Very frustrating.
My Dad tried to help me, but everything looked good to him. I was busy, so I just did the best I could with what I had. But today was it… I wanted my laptop back!
So I called my provider. He was so nice and helpful. He took me through several steps but we couldn’t get my router page to open. The computer was almost freezing. He decided at this point it would be best to send my call to my router’s company’s help line. But before he transfered me he told me two things. One – the setting I needed to be in on the router page, two – to shut of my modem and router once it is done for about 15 seconds and all should be reset. Notes taken, call transfered.
And then it all went down hill. This man did not speak English clearly and was having trouble understanding me. He took some details and the serial number off my router. While waiting for something on his computer he asked me what I needed, I informed him, and he said that would be an easy change. Great!
But wait… here is the conversation that went on:
Operator: “Mrs. ____, I see here that your warranty has expired. In order for me to help you today you will need to pay $29 for one time help or for $39 for six months.
Me: So you’re saying that I need help resetting one seemingly little thing because I changed providers and unless I pay you money you will not help me?
Operator: Yes ma’am.
Me (and this is my father coming out in me): No thank you, goodbye. CLICK
At this point, dinner was needing my attention and after, the boys wanted to watch a movie with us (girls are sleeping over at Grammie/Papa’s house). So I thought. Good night to the boys and I headed to my computer.
First I restart my computer (restarting fixes everything, you know). Then the router page would open! One step closer. I make the changes my wonderful provider tech told me to do. I restart modem/router/computer. All computers up and running!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So there to my router company. I didn’t need you at all.
Awana Can Food Drive -
Rich took a pie in the face for the winning team.
Then he got two more just for fun!
I needed something easy this week. But I really wanted something yummy. I was looking through my cook books and came across one my mom gave me years ago. It is called I Love Chocolate! Cookbook, by Mrs. Fields. You know that girl the cooked through Julia’s book… I should bake through this one!
I choose one that I’ve not made – sadly, that is a lot of them in this book. I need some ramkins – some of those she has in the book look so yummy – but you need ramkins. Onward to the recipe. It is quick, easy, and I must say… sinful! I was totally expecting a chocolate pudding and it is more like fudge. Mr. J was quoted as saying “it is to die for!”.
This should be called Heaven!
The Really Easy Chocolate Dessert
- 7 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 large egg, well beaten
- 2 tea vanilla extract
- sliced bananas, whipped cream, and chocolate sprinkles for garnish, if you wish
In a medium saucepan, melt the chocolate with the cream, stirring constantly. Whisking constantly, stir in the beaten egg and cook, continuing to stir, until bubbles appear on the surface. Remove from the heat.
Pour mixture into a blender, add the vanilla, and mix on high speed for 1 minute.
Pour the chocolate cream into dessert cups or glasses and chill until ready to serve. Garnish with banana slices, whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles.
Yield 4 servings (I stretched it and got 6… and I’m so glad I did – it is so rich!)
I think next time I’ll try it with dark chocolate. And I was working so fast I didn’t see that I was supposed to beat the egg first… but it worked – no scrambled egg in my dessert!
Don’t forget to head to over to Stop and Smell the Chocolate!
One night a week my husband works late. On these days I choose for my menu something simpler to have since it is just the children and I. My goal is to try not to dirty a lot of dishes and I make sure it’s something everyone will like. One we tried recently was pretty good – homemade chicken nuggets AND homemade juice!
The chicken nugget recipe comes out of a Taste of Home little book (you know the kind they sell at the check out line). The kids got involved in the shaking part and they all seemed to like them. I do make another one that I think is better, but I like to try new things.
The juice I saw while watching the Food Network. Sunny Anders
on made it and I thought that it looked good. After buying the ingredients I would tell you to wait till the raspberries are in season. Save on the cost. Also, I didn’t add any sugar and thought it was fine. The children wanted sugar though so we added a 1/2 cup. The recipe is called Raspberry-Apple Juice Twist. Just a note on this recipe. In the end, I just wrapped the cheesecloth around the remaining pulp and squeezed the rest of the juice out. It was *almost* cool enough to do this! I got 64 ozs. of juice.
Chicken nuggets
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tea seasoned salt
- 1 tea poultry seasoning (I didn’t have this)
- 1 tea ground mustard
- 1 tea paprika
- 1/2 tea pepper
- 2 lbs chicken breasts
- 1/4 canola oil
In a large resealable bag, combine the first six ingredients. Flatten chicken to 1/2 inch thickness, then cut into 1-1/2 in pieces. Add chicken, a few pieces at a time, to bag and shake to coat.
In a large skillet, cook chicken in oil in batches for 6-8 minutes or until no longer pink turning frequently.
That night I even made them a special dessert! We made s’mores in the oven. You just top graham crackers with mini marshmallows, mini chocolate chips, and drizzle with caramel sauce. Bake at 350 for 5-7 min or until marshmallows are nice a toasty. And to save myself clean up I covered the pan I cooked them on!
I have beautiful wood floors in my home. They are original to the house. I really love them.
But I also have a problem with them. So I thought I’d come to my readers to see if they have any suggestions.
A sweeper/vacuum is what I need. We’ve tried:
- a dry mop… found that just pushes dirt around
- using my carpet vacuum with a special attachment… hate lugging it up and down the stairs (only downstairs has wood) and it is a real pain to use – too bulky
- tried a plug-in “sweeper” which my parents had an extra…. I’m not sure that did much of anything and it loses its charge quickly (kind of like this one)
- just a broom and dust pan…. this works, but then you have “fly-aways” – ya know?
What I’m really looking for is a vacuum that my children can use to do a good job sweeping up the floors. We found one model we thought would do well, but they don’t sell it anymore (I think it was by Electrolux).
So tell me… if you have wood floors, what have your found to be the best way to keep up with them? Oh, and my main problem (besides dust bunnies) is pet hair.
