Eeek A Mouse!

Today I started working on a new estate sale.  Our client lives out side of town in the country, lots of land and trees. She has a big shed which holds 30 boxes of stuff she hasn’t seen in seven years and couldn’t remember for sure what was in them.  Since it was a nice day we decided to start out there.

As I started to dig into the boxes there was a tell tale sign that each box has had renters staying in them…. traces of critters.  We figured mice, considering the area we weren’t surprised.  So, carefully we dug into the boxes not to run into something died or alive.  It was sad, so much had been ruined by these little critters.

I picked up this big box and lifted the flaps up ready to start digging when low and behold I saw a tail moving around.  I quickly put the flaps back down and ran the box outside and tipped it on its side.  Out rain the little varmint.  I decided to shake the box just in case there might be another little guy.. so out ran another then another.  In the end there were five little mice running in the cold snow.  They would stop and look back at me.  I could just imagine what they were thinking.   Ohhh nooo this snow is so cold on my little feet.  I kind of felt bad for them .   They were so little, and cute.

I am glad that my other friend that helps with the sales wasn’t there. I am afraid she would have passed out.  She really hates mice.  Actually, I have a lot of friends who have a fear of those little critters.

My grandma had a great fear of mice.  She would be the first one to jump on a chair if she saw one.   My grandma was a very brave lady, but for some reason those tiny weeny little mice would frighten her to death.

I myself don’t mind them.  I am not sure I would have been excited to have put my hand in the box, not seeing them moving around in there and have one crawl up my arm lol… but I am not afraid of them.  I think the tiny ones are cute.   I have a feeling this box held five little babies.  I am not sure where their mommy is .. hopefully not in another box I get into next time I work out in the shed.. lol

So, folks.. you have have a peek into my exciting life! lol

Until tomorrow… take care

Ticking Away Time

This weekend seemed to be a little bit of a long one.  I spent nine hours Saturday and Sunday waiting for a film shoot to get done.   That's not counting the four hours I waited on Friday lol..

Because of my daughter's health issues I am her taxi driver.  She has Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy  which makes it very hard for her to drive; especially long distances.  Since she never know when she is going to have a flair and with the side affects of medication it just makes it easier for me to chauffeur her around, which I really don't mind.

She has been going to a film college in Grand Rapids MI and this weekend they were filming their theses project in Saugatuck MI, which is a small resort town near the lake.  Needless to say Saugatuck in February is pretty much closed up for the season.    I had thought about possibly spending the night just so I would have someplace to hang out during the day but most every motel was either closed or booked.  Sooo that left me in the car figuring out something to do.

Mother Nature was very kind to me this weekend.  It was unseasonably warm and made it much more comfortable sitting in the car.  I did bring a few photo albums of my mom's to tear apart to get ready for scanning.  I also found a Burger King that had internet so I hung out there for a bit too, (until the battery on my computer died).    I found one antique mall that was open both Saturday and Sunday so looked though half on Saturday and the rest Sunday.  It was interesting checking out the prices on items that I have.  You never know what kind of treasure you might own!

Sunday the shoot took a bit longer because they had to pack up all the equipment.  I had the entertainment of watching the guys racing around moving the camera stuff to the drive way so they could pack it all up in the huge tailor.  I am sure by the time the guys got home they were ready for bed!

It was a three day film shoot to make a 25 minute movie.  It sounds like they might be entering it in some film competitions.  It was a dark comedy called Dead & Breakfast.  It was shot at a bed & breakfast.. hence the name lol

So much excitement for one weekend... back to my dull life.. 

Until tomorrow... take care..

The Best and Lightest Food Network Recipe Book Review

The Best and Lightest 150 healthy recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner from the editors of the Food Network Magazine.

I was very excited to open this cookbook and find something to make for dinner.  The pictures are colorful and print is large enough so it makes it easier to read.  Each recipe has a beautiful displayed plate of what you have to look forward to when done.

The one problem with this cook book is that it’s not for the average middle class family house hold.  I found that most all the recipes had ingredients that no one would have on hand.  You have to make a list and go to the store before you can make most of these recipes.  I am one who likes to grab a recipe book and be able to find something I can make with the ingredients I all ready have on hand.  I think that most of the recipes in this book are on the more costly end.  I am always trying to watch our budget and most all these recipe really aren’t practical for us.  This is a cookbook I am afraid will be collecting dust on the shelf because of this.

But on the other hand if you are a gourmet cook this book is for you!  It has very unique recipes to make and with the colorful picture of the finished meal you should have no problem replicating it!

Like the title states the recipes for the most part tend to have healthy ingredients. I am sure everyone will enjoy using the book.  I am just a simpler cook.

About The Author - Food Network Magazine is a joint venture of the Hearst Corporation and the Food Network.  It is America’s best selling culinary magazine.

For more information on the Food Network you can go to www.foodnetwork.com

 "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Valentine’s Day ..Big Deal

I have never understood the whole Valentine thing.  As a kid I remember picking out valentine cards to hand out to classmates and friends.  Thinking back it seems like it was a sneaky way for kids to bully.   I remember picking out certain cards for certain people.  You made sure the people you liked best got the ones with the most glitter or cuteness.  Then when you open your cards and see how many ugly ones you get.. hmmm

As a single adult you watch all your friends around you get flowers and candy while  you just sit on the side lines wondering what is wrong with you.  Another way to torture yourself.

Dating brings out a whole new monster.  Will this person remember Valentine’s Day and send flowers, or will it be like any other day and get totally forgotten. And if they don’t remember.. maybe they don’t like me after all.   It can be a whole new crap shoot.

Then you get married.. maybe this person was the type to do something for Valentine’s day but after a couple years, just another day.

My husband has never been a romantic person.. and I knew this going in.  One year he had a friend at work who pushed him into doing something for me for Valentines Day.  He got him to buy me a little bear with a heart and a flower.   Think it might have come from the gas station but it was the thought that counts… even though it took two people to get it done.   No big deal I don’t really care.   It is just another Hallmark day lol

Looking at Valentine cards now a days are not what they use to be.  I remember them being cute and glittery.  They would have sweet little animals or kids and lots of glitter!  Now they are ugly.  I don’t think many send Valentine’s though the mail anymore .. we have internet cards now.

And that stupid ad for those giant Vermont bears!  Please don’t get me one of those big huge bears that would take up a whole room.  I would much rather have you spend $99. not counting shipping, on some jewelry, flowers or even candy.  I don’t care what the ad says!  And the guy at the end of the commercial.. he is so creepy, kind of perverted..  And those women that just love getting the bear.. oh my..

So I hope you all had a special day with your loved ones and you got those flowers, candy and breakfast in bed… and if you really wanted one.. a Vermont bear..   Me.. it was just another day…

Until tomorrow…  take care

Coffee..Make Mine Unpolluted Please

Most of my friends know that I am a plain coffee drinker.  Nothing fancy .  Just plain old black coffee works for me.

I am not one to go to a coffee shop and order  coffee with this that and the other thing in it;  then to pay $5.00 a cup to me that it crazy.  I could go out for lunch for that!  And the calories that so many of those specialty coffee drinks have.   I would much rather eat a yummy desert then to drink a specialty coffee.   Those coffee drinks can sneak up on you with out even thinking about how many calories are in it.   It is just coffee..

I don’t like cream or sugar in it either.  Just plain black coffee works for me.  I don’t do flavored beans very often either.  I have to be in the right mood.   There are a few flavored beans that I do like.  I like vanilla, hazelnut, and Traverse City Cherry.   I am game to try a new flavor once in a while too.   But I still like it with out cream and sugar .. yuck.

I don’t care what brand of coffee it is either.  I usually buy what is on sale or Aldie brand.  I can’t afford anything to expensive.   Folgers is what I am drinking right now.  Good old “Folgers in the cup” as the old ad use to sing. lol    I can pretty much drink any coffee.  I find Star Bucks very strong.  Reminds me of the days when I worked in a factory and drank ARA vending machine coffee.  After 15 years of drinking that stuff you can drink anything!  It would either be so strong a spoon would stand up in it or so weak that it was pretty much hot water with a little yellow tinge.

Another thing I don’t understand, is how coffee gives you energy.  I can drink a whole 12 cup pot though out the day, and it doesn’t seem to bother me.  I can drink it before I go to bed, and still go to sleep with no problem.  Maybe my body has adjusted to it after all these years… who knows. lol

Yup, just give me unpolluted coffee.  No sugar , no cream.. just plain old coffee.  Nothing like a nice simple cup of coffee for  me.

Until tomorrow… take care

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Fast Food Maniac by Jon Hein Book Review

Jon Hein is host of the Fast Food Mania on Discovery TV and also host of The Wrap UP show.  It only seems natural that he would write about fast food.  What I didn’t know is just how many fast food restaurants he has visited!

One of the things I enjoyed in the book was the history of each fast food restaurant he listed.  I would have loved to seen a bit more of that.  It was interesting to read about how each business got their start.

One of the first thing that Jon Hein wrote was the criteria for a restaurant to be considered a fast food restaurant.  One of the rules was no sit down place settings.

He wrote about what each restaurant was famous for.  Such as A&W’s ice cold root beer, Kentucky Fried Chicken’s original chicken and biscuits,  and McDonald’s double cheese burger.

Another thing he listed was his favorite fast food mascots.  His favorite was McDonald’s Ronald McDonald followed by Kentucky Fried Chicken’s Colonel.  He also had a few more he liked.

Jon also wrote about what he felt was the best in each of the fast food places he ate at.  He even mentioned McDonald’s having the coldest ice.

In his book he listed over 40 national fast food chains and over 20 regional restaurants. He added how many restaurants each had in the country.

Another interesting thing he mentioned was that a lot of the chains have secret menu items.  He listed them for each of the fast food restaurants that offered them.  I was really surprised to read this.  I wonder if you go to one of them and ask if the order taker would know what you are talking about.

He also gave tips on which line to get into if you are going to eat inside.  One of the tips for inside ordering was don’t get in the line if there are two people working at the cash register.  That means a trainee.  He gave tips for the drive thru too.

The book was a pretty quick read.  It has 278 pages.  It also has great pictures of some of the older chains.  Like I said, I enjoyed the history of each chain but the rest of the book got a big dull.  I think this would be a great book for someone who is on the road and traveling all the time.  It would be fun to try and check out each of the chains he listed .  Perfect for a truck driver.

After reading this book I am going to try some of the fast food chains in my area that he listed and order some of his favorites.  Who knows maybe they will be mine too!

“I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.”

Published by Penguin Books

Until tomorrow… take care….

Ohhhh Nooo Not More Debates!

Great, I just read today that there are going to be two more Republican debates.  One is this Saturday and another is going to be in Detroit March third.   Good grief Charlie Brown, how many more stupid debates do they need.  All they do is say and do the same thing.  I am sure there will be more Democratic debates coming soon too.

I don't remember in the past this many debates.  What are they doing.. creating a new comedy series... the jokers are wild.    Or, maybe they are starting a new kind of traveling circus... move over Barnum and Bailey here comes the clowns!!! 

I am really sick of this dog and pony show that both parties have.  I am sick of the news moderators.  I am sick of all the lies.   I am sick of their bull.   You know that they are only giving the people ear service.  They are talking to the crowd saying what that particular group wants to hear.  Then they change their line for the next group.

I don't know about you.. but I am about to vote for Snoopy for president.  I am sure he could do just as good a job as any of those other dogs running.

Sorry for my rant...   just going a little crazy with this election year.  And to think we only have NINE more months to go.... Argggg

Until tomorrow... take care...

As Time Goes By

Have you ever wondered how much of your life passes you by while you are waiting?  I think of all the things I could be getting done instead of waiting ... and waiting.

Like going to the doctors.  How many times have you  waited for at least an hour in the waiting room and then finally brought back into a little cold room to wait some more!  So you sit there board because you forgot to grab a magazine and hoping it won't take to long.  You wait and wait and then... finally the door opens and it ends up being the nurse to get your information..  the information that they all ready have.   Then you wait some  more for that door to open.. and finally... finally the doctor comes in to spends five minutes with you if you are lucky.

Or, you are at the grocery store and ready to check out.  Trying to figure out what check out lane is going to be the quickest is a crap shoot.  So you think you picked the quickest cashier only to have the person ahead of you not able to figure out how to use their new debit card, or a price isn't right and they have to get someone to check it out.  

Then there is that fun wait on hold for that wonderful customer service person who of course you won't be able to understand anyway.  Sometimes if you are lucky you will be waiting a while and then get disconnected.  Great now to have to start all over again!

Another fun wait is road construction.  Miles ahead the sign says.. right lane closed in 3 miles.  So you move over to the left lane but you are about the only one to do so. Everyone thinks they can get a head of you by staying in that right lane until there is no more lane and now they have to cut in front of you.  But it isn't just one car.. but 20 cars because they ran out of road and have to get over so you and the people behind you that follow the rules are screwed.  Wait, wait wait... 

How about some of the other small waiting aggravations.  You are ready to go some where and you have to wait for the rest of the family to get in the car.   The wait for the bathroom.  Waiting for family is always a good way to waist time.

Or going to the beauty saloon.  Or on the other hand.. you work at a beauty saloon and have to wait for that slow family who are still getting in the car.

I could go on and on with all the time that gets wasted because of waiting!  I hate it .. because, as you know, I never have enough time in the day.  I would really love to get some of this time back.  I could really put it to good use!

Until tomorrow .... take care

Wedding Party Friends

When you are planning your wedding you ask the people who are close to you to be a part of it.  You ask your best friend or brother or sister to be the maid of honor or best man.  You good friends to be bridesmaids or groomsmen.  These are the people at the time, you think are always going to be around.  You have no idea that this will change.  You have been friends forever, do things together and are there when you need someone to talk to.

Well I have found this not to be so.  I think about this every once in a while.  As you get older it seems you see less and less of those you thought would be around.   Everyone that was part of our wedding, except my sister I hardly ever see or hear from.

It isn’t all their fault, I am guilty too.  Life gets busy and its easy to put that phone call off.  I have good friends I need to call or drop a line to but keep putting it off.

But really, it is sad that those who were part of such an important day of your life have totally disappeared.  Most everyone in our wedding has vanished.  There are only a couple people that I know where they are at right now.  Even family has disappeared.  I feel very sad that so much time has passed that we have all lost touch.

My mom was in contact with all her friends that were in her wedding.  They all would at least write letters to each other.  This is a custom hat has been lost thanks to technology.  It is to easy to pop a simple email to someone.  Letters would be more personal.  It would make you feel important.. that someone took the time to write and pop the letter in the mail.

I hope this year I can find the time to catch up with my friends.  Maybe even figure out where those who were in are wedding have gone to.  Friends are to important to loose, you can never have to many!

Until tomorrow… take care

Procrastinating Tree

Today is February 1st... and our Christmas tree is still hanging around.  I think it is starting to take root in our living room. 

I wasn't in the Christmas mood this year and could have cared less about having the tree up.  There isn't a lot of space in our living room and it would make it more cramped, but my daughter had to have one up.  She said she would put it up and take it down.  Fine, as long as I didn't have to deal with it. lol

Well.. it is February 1st and the tree is still standing next to my chair.  We have been busy and the tree is the last thing we think of.  It has been at the bottom of the list of things to do.  But, now we are into the second month of the new year.  Although, we could leave it up and then we wouldn't have to deal with it in December.... no.. don't think I can take it forever.  It is time to cut it down. lol

We do know someone who has his house decorated all year long for Christmas.  He is a huge collector and his Christmas things are vintage and beautiful.. not saying ours isn't nice... but a lot of his is from the 1800's.  Ours is more like from the 50's and 60's which is neat too.

My daughter hasn't been feeling well lately and I have been worried about her.  She said she would take it down today but I know she wasn't really up to it.   I told her to wait we will get it down later.  I could try and take it down but the problem with that is, the stuff on the tree is hers.   I am not  sure what or how to pack it up and she is pretty picky about her Christmas stuff.

Even her cat has been trying to help take the tree down.  Jakie will sit on my lap and lean over and start knocking the stuff off the tree.  That can drive me crazy he is such a stinker. 

So we will continue living with the tree until we get a chance to get it down.  I hope we aren't the only ones with their tree up.  Maybe sometime this week we can get it down.. in between everything else we have going on.  I really need extra hours in my day!

Until tomorrow.. take care

My Mom’s Hot Dog Casserole Gluten Free Too!

 It is amazing how you look at things differently as an adult.  As a kid you had certain things you liked to do or eat and as and adult it changes.

When I was little my mom would make all kinds of casseroles to save money.  She would make home made soup with cow tongue in it .. yuck!  I remember some of the meat pieces would still have bumps on it.  I would eat around the meat and stick to the non bumpy vegetables.  Don’t get me wrong.. my mom is a very good cook.  I just wasn’t a fan of cow tongue.  lol

Mom did make some casseroles that I liked,  one of them was her hot dog casserole.  I made it for dinner tonight.  We like it and it can be made gluten free!  It is easy to make and the ingredients are pretty cheap.

First you cut up about 4 or 5 potatoes depending on how big they are and if you like a lot of potatoes or not.  I tend to use 4 medium to large ones.  You will want to cut them into chunky pieces and boil them until they are soft but not mushy like for mashed potatoes.  Drain them and set them aside.

Next you will put about a half stick of margarine or butter in a sauce pan and melt it.  Them you will add slowly about 1/4 to 1/2 a cup of gluten free all purpose flour or regular flour.  Mix it into the margarine then you are going to add slowly about a cup of milk .. just enough to make a thick sauce.  After you make the sauce you are going to mix it with your potatoes.

Next poor a bag of thawed frozen peas into the potato mixture.. then cut up a whole package of hot dogs into it.  I cut the hot dogs into 4 or 5 pieces. Add about 1 teaspoon of salt and a 1/4 of seasoning salt if you like.   Mix it all up and put in the oven at 350 degrees for about a half hour…until warmed though.

Very yummy, easy and best of all CHEAP! lol

Until tomorrow…   take care