Run With The Fishes

One of the great things about living in the country is that when there are no clouds, the stars at night, are big and bright.

Unfortunately, I’m not so good at taking pictures of cellestial bodies.

A second shot of my walk home. This time with everything green and growing. Quite a change from way back in January. What you can’t see are the heat waves coming from the rocks in the 103 degree weather.

This is one of the coolest hats in our house.

A few years ago, Greg’s sister spent some time backpacking/biking through Ireland. She brought back this little hat for Nathan. He was about Alli’s age, and we used to make him wear it and try to sell us newspapers.

Have you ever walked into your house and felt like it was just going to cave in on you? Stepping in and seeing the mess was starting to drive me batty. Sure I made that mess, but weren’t there supposed to be singing animals that came in and cleaned up behind me?

I don’t think I have mentioned it yet, but we have made a few small changes in the way we have been doing things that are making a big difference. I am making our grocery list based on a meal plan (this is nothing new, I have been doing it for years). We are only buying what is on our list. I have mentioned this over on the food blog, but have also set myself a challenge to use what is in the pantry so that we make less trips to the grocery store. It seemed like each time we went, we ended up spending at least fifty dollars. We were going every other day, not counting the big trip we make every two weeks. It was breaking us. So far we are sticking to the plan and have only had to go back to buy milk and bread.

Another small change that’s having a positive effect is something I should have started sooner. The weekend before last, I took the time and really cleaned and organized the kitchen. Then I informed the kids that they would be doing the dishes twice a day. Once after lunch and once immediately after dinner. Nathan does them one day and Zoey does them the next.

I’m sure it’s on the site somewhere, but I forgot to mention that we do not have a mechanical dishwasher. Our house is pretty old and there is no real space to have one installed. Before, we would let them pile up all day long and then Greg or I would have to wash them all. It felt like so much more work. Greg or I still do the pots and pans, and I clean as I cook, so it isn’t too much for the kids. Just that little bit has made all the difference for me. It isn’t such a chore to do the dishes when we are all pitching in to do the work.

Have you made any small changes that have impacted you in a bigger way than you thought they would?

Nathan says he saw a mama bird acting like it was trying to teach her babies to fly. A few minutes later we heard LT barking like crazy at something.

The silly chick stood like a statue the whole time we were out there (about 5 minutes). Then we all (including the dog) took off so that its parents would come retrieve the baby.

I started reading a couple of excellent blogs a few weeks ago. Tomorrow one of the best friends of a writer is going in for brain surgery to remove a tumor. Send good thoughts their way. While you are at it, take a look at their daughter’s story. Be warned that you shouldn’t read it if you are at work, or around anyone you don’t want to see you cry.

Here’s what we plan on eating for the next couple of weeks. Menu is subject to change, purely based on whether I improvise something instead. We are throwing a birthday into the mix so I’m sure there will be another recipe for a cake sometime around… let’s just say August 5th.

Per usual, lunches are nothing fancy. Beanie Weanies, Mac & Cheese, Ramen Noodles, PB&J, and whatever leftovers we might have.

Dinners:
Ham & Cheese Frittata (Better Homes & Gardens, Best Ever Low-Cal Recipes, pg 17)
Chicken breasts w/ tomato basil and Gorgonzola & White wine sauce (as seen on Eating, Running, & Loving)
Chicken Lettuce Wraps version 2.0 (yes we liked them that much)
Tandori Chicken (Everyday Food, Feb 2005)
Spicy Three Bean Soup
Chicken Fajita Lettuce Wraps (Everyday Food, October 2004)
Sloppy Joes
Chicken Schnitzel (for the birthday dinner)
Fettuccini
Chicken Caesar Salad
Marinated Chicken & Naan Bread (I need to post this recipe, we have had it a few times now)
Chicken Enchilada Soup
Broccoli Salad
Falafel w/ Tzatziki (DK Children’s Cookbook)

If any of these sound good to you, let me know. Recipes are meant to be shared (unless they are top secret).

Disney mega/over marketed Miley Cyrus concert was on tonight. Zoey had picked up her 3d glasses weeks ago in anticipation.

I promise I have more things I am writing about so you may be lucky and get two posts in one day! Don’t get your hopes up too much though, maybe I’ll save something for over the weekend, and if you think I haven’t been doing things, that’s because you’re not checking out the Project 366 pictures (they could qualify as whole entries in themselves… why on why did I separate them?). Also, if you are wanting to know some of the things we have been eating lately, check out the Food Stuff blog (blaaawwwwgggg, strange word).

So, back to the question at hand. If you have a blog, which software do you use? Movable Type is decent, but I’m wondering if there is something even better out there. What are the good and bad things about what you use? Is it easy to modify to suit your own style? Is it a hassle to monitor/moderate comments?