Ordinary Sarah has asked for more insight into the life of a grade school lunch lady and being the faithful blogger I am, I must answer. Just keep in mind that my entire lunch lady experience boils down to 2 days of subbing.
First of all, I did not have to wear a hair net. I'm not sure why, and I didn't really want to ask. I've worn them in the past & they make me CRAZY!! If it gets to the point where I have to wear something, I'm pretty sure I'll invest in some rocking bandannas or a baseball cap or two. I did pin my hair back out of my face with a giant bobby pin....does that count?
I got to wear an apron (much to the amusement of my youngest child). Unfortunately it wasn't a pretty one. Since the aprons & towels come through a laundry service, basic white is the only way to go. Guess I can deal with that & it is nice to not go home with the front of your shirt covered in jell-o or 3 bean salad.
When I got there (at 6:30 am) Friday, Mary Jane (the other cook) was cutting out rolls for today's lunch. It's normally a job done by Alice (the cook I was subbing for) and it's something I look forward to learning to do. My roll making skills are scant at best. I got to work quartering 200 + oranges for lunch that day. We also made three bean salad but the rest of the food was frozen & pre-cooked. There were chicken biscuits for breakfast & fish sticks & hashbrowns for lunch. I found it rather apropos that fish stick Friday was my first day on the job.
Yesterday I walked in to Mary Jane taking Christmas cookies out of the oven. They came pre-cut & frozen as well. She'd already been there an hour & a half & had browned ground beef for vegetable soup & had turkey roasts in the oven for today's Christmas dinner. I baked 6 jell-o cakes, helped with the soup, made toasted cheese sandwiches for 150 people, washed more dishes than humanly possible, opened cans of peaches the size of a small child, and served Tac-go's for breakfast (egg & sausage soft tacos).
In all, I'd say about a third to half of what we made in 2 days was frozen and the other half we made from scratch. It's a pretty decent balance especially when there are only 2 cooks feeding an entire pre-k through 8th grade school plus facility.
In all, I really enjoyed the work. You keep to yourselves in the kitchen for the most part. Teachers take care of the students in the cafeteria while you worry about the inner workings of the kitchen. You stay busy most of the day & have the flexibility to work in your own way as long as everything gets done. Of course I haven't had to touch the crazy mess of paperwork that comes with a state job. That may change my mind quickly.
Never in a million years did I see myself as a lunch lady, but then I never saw myself as a SAHM of 4 living on a farm with a country boy. Wonder what I'll learn about myself tomorrow?
Showing posts with label Ask FarmWife. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ask FarmWife. Show all posts
December 20, 2011
June 22, 2011
I bet you thought I forgot...didn't you?
I can't say I blame you. I nearly did. It's not that I don't love you all & I don't adore giving you advice by the barrel full, but this past week has tried it's darnedest to kill me. I kid you not. Well, maybe I kid you a little.
First of all, the pollen in Southern Illinois has been out to get me ever since our return from vacation. And when it's not microscopic flora attacking me, it's random wigged out weather pressure systems trying to make my head explode. Remind me why I've been waiting for Summer.
And in the middle of it all, these lovely, abstract yellow patches appeared on my bedroom ceiling. Ahhh, the joys of home ownership. Fix the leaky roof your darned self. Gahhh! So this week has been spent hunting roofers, prices, warranty info, and the like. How I love being grown up.
So now, in a desperate attempt at forgetting the water spots lurking above my head, I shall get to your most pressing questions.
Inkling starts us off with a political piece: Here's a serious question. Canadians observe that Americans tie religion and politics together, speaking boldly about their political leanings publicly in services at church, Christian radio programs, etc. A. Do you agree that Americans do that? B. Do you think it is a good thing? Why or why not?
Um, well, not to disagree with an entire country, but I cannot remember having been in a Church service where strong political leanings were preached from the pulpit. I have been in services when moral aspects that cross over into politics (abortion & same sex marriage being the two that jump to mind) are discussed, but never in a "you must vote for Candidate X" way.
I think it's probably much more prevalent in things like radio programs but since I don't listen to much talk radio, I cannot really weigh in on this.
That being said, I think that if you have strong religious beliefs, they absolutely must reach out into every aspect of your life. You cannot claim to be religious (or spiritual) if it doesn't permeate the way you live every part of your life. Our political leanings cannot be at odds with our moral values. I cannot say if Americans are alone in this, but I hope not.
Sarah at Ordinary Days wants to know my divine opinions on familial relations. What do you do about a family member that is a borderline stalker? And how about a family member that thinks you are their therapist but really you're just completely tired of hearing them whine all the time because you're trying to grow your fifth baby while raising the other four?
Oh wow! First of all, I do not envy you this problem. I used to have it, but then Inkling moved to Canada (I kid! I kid! Just had to take a jab at my cousin in retaliation for her hatred for my Facebook profile picture).
First of all, is this just a random aunt or cousin or distant in-law, or is it someone important like your mother, sister, mother-in-law? If it's one of them, sorry, you just have to suck it up, pull up your big girl pants & get over it.
I'm kidding. Stalkers are the worst (not that I've ever been stalked). You can try screening your calls, avoiding all contact with this lovely person, or hiding in your basement for days on end...or you can very politely say, "I'm sorry, but I'm horribly busy right now what with being a pregnant homeschooling mother of four. Can I call you back in about 18 years when I have a chance to sleep through the night and pee by myself?"
Unfortunately, relatives come with their own set of craziness. There's a reason God doesn't let us choose our families. I'm not sure what it is yet, but when I figure it out, I'll give you a call. I guess my best advice would be to firmly but gently establish boundaries (don't I sound all professional & stuff?!). If she (I'm assuming the female gender because we tend to be clingy like this) calls or drops by numerous times a day, tell her as much as you enjoy her company you really need to keep things quiet around the house so Sunshine can nap & you can spend quality time with the boys. Maybe schedule a visit with her sometime when you know you cannot be roped into staying for hours. Go to her house knowing you must be gone by such & such a time because you have a pressing engagement.
And when you tire of giving advice or being a sounding board for all her issues, the phrase, "I really don't know what to tell you. I wish I could be more help," could eventually steer her in the direction of someone more willing/able to dish out the massive amount of support she thinks she needs.
If that all fails, put a giant sign on your front door that reads:
I'm sure there's an answering machine version. In fact, I think I'm going to print one off & keep it by the back door for the next time my SIL comes by with all 3 of her kids at 8 o'clock (the FarmHands' bedtime) on a school night and won't leave.
I totally stole/borrowed (entirely not for profit) this truly awesome piece of artwork from musingsofasarcasticmind.blogspot.com. I wonder if it comes in a version that mentions the Zombie plague.....
June 13, 2011
Once Again.
I promised, and here it is. I'm opening up the comments for another round of Ask FarmWife. Send me your most pressing questions serious or not. I'm all over it.
In the meantime, I'd like to say a few words about Pixar. Pixar execs, you really need to find a new team to make your commercials. They're not great. In fact, with the exception of the new Cars 2 commercials, I've yet to see one that makes me want to see one of your movies.
When I first saw the Cars trailers I thought, "Wow, what a limited audience they're reaching out to. Who makes a cartoon only for Nascar fans? What about the rest of us?" And the original Wall-E trailers made me groan, "Not another robot movie. Ugh." Ratatouille? A movie about a rat? In a restaurant? Gross! Up? I had no clue what it was about.
But the movies, they are an entirely different story. I adore Pixar films. They are beautiful and touching and often bring me to tears and occasionally cause bouts of panic (Finding Nemo anyone?).
Today I heard some news that has made me very excited. Apparently Pixar has announced they're working on The Incredibles 2. I am so in love with the original movie, I cannot wait to see what comes of the Parrs. The 1950's design, the back & forth banter between Bob & Helen, the entire super-hero genre...it's one of my favorites. (As of yet, it's a totally unsubstantiated Facebook rumor that I'm giving full faith to in hopes that it's true.)
Up coming is also Monsters University, a prequel to Monsters Inc. and Brave, Pixar's first attempt at a fairy tale.
I'm pretty sure I'll be adding to my Pixar collection until I have grandbabies to share them with...but until then, my kids are still thrilled to watch them with me. Well, watch them & tolerate my presence....sometimes.
In the meantime, I'd like to say a few words about Pixar. Pixar execs, you really need to find a new team to make your commercials. They're not great. In fact, with the exception of the new Cars 2 commercials, I've yet to see one that makes me want to see one of your movies.
When I first saw the Cars trailers I thought, "Wow, what a limited audience they're reaching out to. Who makes a cartoon only for Nascar fans? What about the rest of us?" And the original Wall-E trailers made me groan, "Not another robot movie. Ugh." Ratatouille? A movie about a rat? In a restaurant? Gross! Up? I had no clue what it was about.
But the movies, they are an entirely different story. I adore Pixar films. They are beautiful and touching and often bring me to tears and occasionally cause bouts of panic (Finding Nemo anyone?).
Today I heard some news that has made me very excited. Apparently Pixar has announced they're working on The Incredibles 2. I am so in love with the original movie, I cannot wait to see what comes of the Parrs. The 1950's design, the back & forth banter between Bob & Helen, the entire super-hero genre...it's one of my favorites. (As of yet, it's a totally unsubstantiated Facebook rumor that I'm giving full faith to in hopes that it's true.)
Up coming is also Monsters University, a prequel to Monsters Inc. and Brave, Pixar's first attempt at a fairy tale.
I'm pretty sure I'll be adding to my Pixar collection until I have grandbabies to share them with...but until then, my kids are still thrilled to watch them with me. Well, watch them & tolerate my presence....sometimes.
October 13, 2010
Paper & Polish
Once upon a time I told you I'd post pictures of my dining table after I got all the wood cleaned & polished. I promise I didn't forget. My digital camera died a few months back so I had to wait to use up the rest of my film, drop it off for developing, wait a week for it to come back, and scan the pictures. I'd nearly forgotten what life was like before we went digital.
Can you imagine what your life would be like today if you unplugged your computer, hid your digital camera and turned off your cell phone? This actually leads me to my topic for today. Zann snuck a question or two into the Ask FarmWife inbox last week.
Do you miss the days of paper letters? I know you and I use to write via paper mail but now I find it hard to put pen to paper because I feel so busy and it is oh so much easier to read your blog or FB. But occasionally I miss the excitement of going to the mailbox and finding a letter. Do you think the post office will eventually go out of business or bankrupt? And while we are on this train of thought do you think newspapers and paper/ non-electronic books will survive?
Yes. Yes I do miss actual paper letters. I miss the thrill of finding something in my mail box that isn't addressed to FarmWife or Current Resident and isn't a bill. I miss catching up on the lives and thoughts of my friends. I miss stationary and penmanship. But I also miss sticking that stamp on the corner of my carefully addressed envelope and sliding it into my mail box. I miss putting pen to paper & feeling the ink flow along with my words. There's something very tactile about letter writing that you don't get with a keyboard & monitor.
I love Facebook & my blog. I love the instant gratification they provide and the mass distribution they involve. I like knowing that my mother can catch up on our adventures at the same time as my junior high youth minister's wife. But I do so miss actual correspondence. I do fear for the future of our postal service but not to the extent of it closing....after all, how would people get the packages they've ordered on line if the USPS is gone?
The most sobering thought of all is the possible end of actual, non-electronic books. I adore books. I love the smell of them. I love the feel of them. I love having a bundle of paper tucked into my purse that has the power of transporting me out of the doctor's office waiting room and into Elizabethan England. Sure, part of me would really love a Kindle, but it would look a bit funny perched on my book shelf next to my collection of Jane Austen novels. It would be lovely if BabyGirl could carry home a small electronic device instead of the 27 pounds of text books she currently totes, but I would miss the sound of pages turning as she searches for the answer to her geography questions.
No, I'm sorry, but I need books. I need libraries. I need paper.
*I'm tucking the pictures I promised into this post. I wish they'd have turned out better, but I hope you can see the difference in the chairs before & after they were cleaned & oiled. The darker chair hadn't been touched. If they're hard to see, you can try clicking on the pictures to blow them up a bit. I can say I fully recommend and will endorse both the Arm and Hammer degreaser and the Citrus Polish I used.
October 7, 2010
Ask FarmWife IX: The revenge of the FarmHands
OK, so I have no idea how may episodes of Ask FarmWife I've hosted. And no, the FarmHands have yet to unleash their revenge upon me (although I expect it at any moment much like Prince Humperdink. "I always think everything is a trap. That's why I'm still alive."). But my friend Vic hit me up on Facebook again with a new question.
I thought I would answer hers and open up our celebrity manned phone lines to get your questions. OK, so there aren't really any celebrity manned phone lines, but there is a nifty little comment box that gets no where near enough use...hint, hint, hint.
Vic wants to know: Have you turned on your heat yet? Is there a certain date that you wait until? Do you bundle up as much as possible until you can't take it anymore?
Ahhh, the many tiered answer of our heat. I'm considering moving to a tropical region so we never ever have to have this argument again...but then we'd all just fight over the AC instead.
Yes I have turned on our heat a few times. Mainly in the early mornings as I'm dragging 3 out of 4 unwilling FarmHands from their cozy beds to face the day. Thus far I've flipped the thermostat back off after 15 minutes or so. I really hate buying propane, but I hate freezing in my own living room even more.
We have a fireplace in our living room so the furnace doesn't need to run full time just yet. I try to keep a fire going on the cold days so we can keep the damp & chill out of the house, but it's kind of tough to control the amount of heat with a fireplace. Yesterday, when the temperature was going to hit the upper 70's, I let the fire burn itself out. Today we haven't needed it.
The longer I can wait to turn on my heat full time, the happier I am. But I do not have a problem kicking it on to warm things up a bit if it's needed. It doesn't help that I live amongst nudists. It makes me crazy when the kids lay in the floor in their underpants crying that their cold. Put. On. Some. Clothes. Little weirdos. Ugh!
And then there's BabyGirl who tried to get me to turn on the AC when she went to bed Monday night.....it was 52 degrees outside. Yeah, that's not happening.
And now for your questions. Ask away, dear readers.
I thought I would answer hers and open up our celebrity manned phone lines to get your questions. OK, so there aren't really any celebrity manned phone lines, but there is a nifty little comment box that gets no where near enough use...hint, hint, hint.
Vic wants to know: Have you turned on your heat yet? Is there a certain date that you wait until? Do you bundle up as much as possible until you can't take it anymore?
Ahhh, the many tiered answer of our heat. I'm considering moving to a tropical region so we never ever have to have this argument again...but then we'd all just fight over the AC instead.
Yes I have turned on our heat a few times. Mainly in the early mornings as I'm dragging 3 out of 4 unwilling FarmHands from their cozy beds to face the day. Thus far I've flipped the thermostat back off after 15 minutes or so. I really hate buying propane, but I hate freezing in my own living room even more.
We have a fireplace in our living room so the furnace doesn't need to run full time just yet. I try to keep a fire going on the cold days so we can keep the damp & chill out of the house, but it's kind of tough to control the amount of heat with a fireplace. Yesterday, when the temperature was going to hit the upper 70's, I let the fire burn itself out. Today we haven't needed it.
The longer I can wait to turn on my heat full time, the happier I am. But I do not have a problem kicking it on to warm things up a bit if it's needed. It doesn't help that I live amongst nudists. It makes me crazy when the kids lay in the floor in their underpants crying that their cold. Put. On. Some. Clothes. Little weirdos. Ugh!
And then there's BabyGirl who tried to get me to turn on the AC when she went to bed Monday night.....it was 52 degrees outside. Yeah, that's not happening.
And now for your questions. Ask away, dear readers.
September 28, 2010
And now for something completely different.
OK, not really. Actually I do this fairly often....or did this very often & am trying to get back in the habit. Enough rambling. It's time for FarmWife to answer your most pressing queries.
Vic (who asked for another installment of Ask FarmWife Day) sent me her question on FaceBook. Is there a certain age young girls should shave their legs? Is their a magic number or just when you need it. Do little girls even care?
Ahhh, growing up. It's tricky. I'm constantly asking myself these kinds of questions. When I found out my oldest niece was starting to shave I was shocked. She seemed really young to me...until I thought back to how old I was when I took up a razor. She was going into seventh grade (I think) so that would make her 12 years old. To me just seeing the number 12 means you should still be playing Barbies & dress up & riding bikes & watching Disney cartoons. But such is not the case.
I was in sixth or seventh grade the first time I snuck out my mom's razor & took a swipe down my shin. That's it. Just one pass of the razor about 6 inches long right down the middle of my shin. Then I panicked and put it away. A day or two later, QM noticed the bald spot on my leg & decided it was time to get me my own razor & shaving gel before I made a mess of things.
Being a brunette, my leg hair was pretty obvious even before it started growing as puberty set in. In middle school we had to change into shorts for gym class. That's when I started getting a little self conscious about it. It's about the only category in which I was not a late bloomer.
I'm hoping my girls won't get on the bandwagon too soon. I don't think there's a magic number but I do think girls pay more attention to that kind of stuff than we think they do. My biggest hope in that area is that my girls will broach the subject with me before they take it up with Lady Bic....but I'm also hoping they'll wait until they're at least out of grade school. I don't want them growing up & feeling that kind of pressure too soon.
Next, Penny asks about my meal planning & canning. Do you plan menus for your week? Since you have 4 kids and a hubby who works a not normal daily schedule...how do you plan meals? I know Kork does lots of canning and preserving, do you?
I would love to say that I plan out our weekly menu before ever leaving for the grocery. But sadly that is not normally the case. I try to have an idea of what I want to cook for the week, but I often find myself at the grocery with 1/4 of a list & no clue what I need. I try to plan for at least one major meal every day all week long & the rest is left overs or small stuff.
I can tell you that our "big meal" of the day is lunch. With Husband working nights & the kids gone, I normally make a full meal at lunch time so he can have enough to eat before he leaves & left overs to take with him. At dinner time the kids & I eat smaller, simpler meals. Often sandwiches or mac & cheese or even breakfast for dinner (that's their favorite).
As for canning & preserving, I really love to do that but haven't had a good run with our garden the past 2 years. In fact, I didn't put anything up this year. We only had enough corn to eat with a few meals & my green beans withered & died without producing enough to fool with. There's nothing I love more than to look in my freezer & see bags & bags of corn that we grew & put up...but lately that hasn't worked for us.
I hope I've helped & haven't rambled on too much. And now for something really & truly different...and if you're weak of stomach or cannot handle the thought of blood, you might want to stop reading right now.
Last night I shut the back door over top of my big toe. To say it did not feel good would be an understatement. When it happened I felt something give way. I looked down in horror thinking I'd ripped the skin off my toe or broken it. Instead everything looked normal...except for the blood seeping out from around three sides of my toe nail. That's when I realized I had just ripped off my toe nail. This entire though process took about 3/4 of a second. The reason it took that long is because the nail didn't actually come off...it just detached from the nail bed entirely.
I hobbled into the bathroom where the 3 youngest were supposed to be bathing, wrapped my toe in a cold wet cloth & called Busha. I was pretty sure there was little to be done about it, but though I should ask someone, anyone, and try to fend off going into shock by talking to a grown up.
Busha told me she didn't think they'd do anything at the ER if I went & asked if I needed her to come over. I told her no & realized I should have called Rachie since she's an RN & might know something about it. Busha thought that was a good idea. I called Rachie & told her what was up & she gave me her expert medical opinion.
If I could get the nail off, that would be the best thing. Then clean it, put on some triple antibiotic ointment & ice it down. I was OK with everything but the clipping. That though made my stomach roll. After a few minutes I realized there wasn't much feeling left in my toe & that might be the best time to tackle a nail removal.
15 minutes later I was down to about 1/4 inch of toe nail left just at the base. It's not actually attached but I couldn't get it cut down that far. I smeared some Neosporin on some gauze, wrapped it up, and spent the rest of the night with my foot elevated & my toe on ice. At bedtime I took a vicodin left over from having my wisdom teeth taken out.
That helped until Bitsy decided she was done sleeping at 2:30 this morning. That's when we headed to the living room to sleep on the couches & that's also when the nausea hit like a freight train. I spent the next 30 minutes hugging the porcelain god & praying to the Real One that I could just vomit or fall asleep (which I'm pretty sure I did a few times while hanging my head over the toilet bowl...that's a rather precarious position to be in).
This morning my toe is very tender & walking is a bit of a task. The thought of putting on shoes makes me sick to my stomach (as does the thought of vicodin). This could be a long couple of months before my nail grows back. Bitsy is sporting matching gauze on her index & middle fingers of her left hand. She has sucked them so much she's broken down the skin. They're a mess. I've greased her up with Aquaphor & put on a mitten or sock, but that doesn't last long. So I've moved on to Neosporin & gauze taped on. I'm hoping they'll heal & she'll give up the finger sucking.
This week can end now.
Vic (who asked for another installment of Ask FarmWife Day) sent me her question on FaceBook. Is there a certain age young girls should shave their legs? Is their a magic number or just when you need it. Do little girls even care?
Ahhh, growing up. It's tricky. I'm constantly asking myself these kinds of questions. When I found out my oldest niece was starting to shave I was shocked. She seemed really young to me...until I thought back to how old I was when I took up a razor. She was going into seventh grade (I think) so that would make her 12 years old. To me just seeing the number 12 means you should still be playing Barbies & dress up & riding bikes & watching Disney cartoons. But such is not the case.
I was in sixth or seventh grade the first time I snuck out my mom's razor & took a swipe down my shin. That's it. Just one pass of the razor about 6 inches long right down the middle of my shin. Then I panicked and put it away. A day or two later, QM noticed the bald spot on my leg & decided it was time to get me my own razor & shaving gel before I made a mess of things.
Being a brunette, my leg hair was pretty obvious even before it started growing as puberty set in. In middle school we had to change into shorts for gym class. That's when I started getting a little self conscious about it. It's about the only category in which I was not a late bloomer.
I'm hoping my girls won't get on the bandwagon too soon. I don't think there's a magic number but I do think girls pay more attention to that kind of stuff than we think they do. My biggest hope in that area is that my girls will broach the subject with me before they take it up with Lady Bic....but I'm also hoping they'll wait until they're at least out of grade school. I don't want them growing up & feeling that kind of pressure too soon.
Next, Penny asks about my meal planning & canning. Do you plan menus for your week? Since you have 4 kids and a hubby who works a not normal daily schedule...how do you plan meals? I know Kork does lots of canning and preserving, do you?
I would love to say that I plan out our weekly menu before ever leaving for the grocery. But sadly that is not normally the case. I try to have an idea of what I want to cook for the week, but I often find myself at the grocery with 1/4 of a list & no clue what I need. I try to plan for at least one major meal every day all week long & the rest is left overs or small stuff.
I can tell you that our "big meal" of the day is lunch. With Husband working nights & the kids gone, I normally make a full meal at lunch time so he can have enough to eat before he leaves & left overs to take with him. At dinner time the kids & I eat smaller, simpler meals. Often sandwiches or mac & cheese or even breakfast for dinner (that's their favorite).
As for canning & preserving, I really love to do that but haven't had a good run with our garden the past 2 years. In fact, I didn't put anything up this year. We only had enough corn to eat with a few meals & my green beans withered & died without producing enough to fool with. There's nothing I love more than to look in my freezer & see bags & bags of corn that we grew & put up...but lately that hasn't worked for us.
I hope I've helped & haven't rambled on too much. And now for something really & truly different...and if you're weak of stomach or cannot handle the thought of blood, you might want to stop reading right now.
Last night I shut the back door over top of my big toe. To say it did not feel good would be an understatement. When it happened I felt something give way. I looked down in horror thinking I'd ripped the skin off my toe or broken it. Instead everything looked normal...except for the blood seeping out from around three sides of my toe nail. That's when I realized I had just ripped off my toe nail. This entire though process took about 3/4 of a second. The reason it took that long is because the nail didn't actually come off...it just detached from the nail bed entirely.
I hobbled into the bathroom where the 3 youngest were supposed to be bathing, wrapped my toe in a cold wet cloth & called Busha. I was pretty sure there was little to be done about it, but though I should ask someone, anyone, and try to fend off going into shock by talking to a grown up.
Busha told me she didn't think they'd do anything at the ER if I went & asked if I needed her to come over. I told her no & realized I should have called Rachie since she's an RN & might know something about it. Busha thought that was a good idea. I called Rachie & told her what was up & she gave me her expert medical opinion.
If I could get the nail off, that would be the best thing. Then clean it, put on some triple antibiotic ointment & ice it down. I was OK with everything but the clipping. That though made my stomach roll. After a few minutes I realized there wasn't much feeling left in my toe & that might be the best time to tackle a nail removal.
15 minutes later I was down to about 1/4 inch of toe nail left just at the base. It's not actually attached but I couldn't get it cut down that far. I smeared some Neosporin on some gauze, wrapped it up, and spent the rest of the night with my foot elevated & my toe on ice. At bedtime I took a vicodin left over from having my wisdom teeth taken out.
That helped until Bitsy decided she was done sleeping at 2:30 this morning. That's when we headed to the living room to sleep on the couches & that's also when the nausea hit like a freight train. I spent the next 30 minutes hugging the porcelain god & praying to the Real One that I could just vomit or fall asleep (which I'm pretty sure I did a few times while hanging my head over the toilet bowl...that's a rather precarious position to be in).
This morning my toe is very tender & walking is a bit of a task. The thought of putting on shoes makes me sick to my stomach (as does the thought of vicodin). This could be a long couple of months before my nail grows back. Bitsy is sporting matching gauze on her index & middle fingers of her left hand. She has sucked them so much she's broken down the skin. They're a mess. I've greased her up with Aquaphor & put on a mitten or sock, but that doesn't last long. So I've moved on to Neosporin & gauze taped on. I'm hoping they'll heal & she'll give up the finger sucking.
This week can end now.
September 27, 2010
Food, Fun, and Fall
First of all, what is it about David Hasslehoff that makes people want to watch anything with him on it? That man has been creepy since 15 minutes after Kitt kicked him to the curb. Ugh.
Now, on to other, more interesting things. It's Fall Y'all! Finally. Now if only the rain would visit for a day or two. The summer heat hung on a bit too long for my taste, but at the moment I fear a good solid spark could permanently mow my lawn...and our shed....and possibly the woods by the house. I know the farmers are flying through the fields in a marathon harvest before rain hits, but I think they could use a few days off while my lawn gets a much needed drink.
Yesterday we had one of the missionary couples our church supports come visit. They talked about the work their doing in Mexico and we finished up with a fellowship dinner. Lots of time to visit, laugh, chat, eat GOOD food, and spend time with grown-ups. It was wonderful!
After church, Bitsy, B.B. & I headed to Uncle E's to see NM & A Starry Night's wedding pics. 800 wedding pictures! They were beautiful. Some were positively breath taking. If you're in our area & need some good pictures, drop me a line & I'll send you the name of their photographer. She was wonderful!
And now on to more important matters: One more shot at Ask FarmWife! My friend Vic asked me yesterday when I was going to have another round because she promises a great question. Anyone else want to play? What do you want do know?
Now, on to other, more interesting things. It's Fall Y'all! Finally. Now if only the rain would visit for a day or two. The summer heat hung on a bit too long for my taste, but at the moment I fear a good solid spark could permanently mow my lawn...and our shed....and possibly the woods by the house. I know the farmers are flying through the fields in a marathon harvest before rain hits, but I think they could use a few days off while my lawn gets a much needed drink.
Yesterday we had one of the missionary couples our church supports come visit. They talked about the work their doing in Mexico and we finished up with a fellowship dinner. Lots of time to visit, laugh, chat, eat GOOD food, and spend time with grown-ups. It was wonderful!
After church, Bitsy, B.B. & I headed to Uncle E's to see NM & A Starry Night's wedding pics. 800 wedding pictures! They were beautiful. Some were positively breath taking. If you're in our area & need some good pictures, drop me a line & I'll send you the name of their photographer. She was wonderful!
And now on to more important matters: One more shot at Ask FarmWife! My friend Vic asked me yesterday when I was going to have another round because she promises a great question. Anyone else want to play? What do you want do know?
September 24, 2010
A few early morning answers....like really early morning.
Like way too early in the morning. Bitsy can't sleep. I have allergy issues & am all out of Zyrtech. So here we are watching season premiers on the DVR & blogging. I figured my sleep deprived state was a great way to start off this episode of Ask FarmWife.
#1- Sarah at Ordinary Days is going to start us off with one bound to send me off on a marathon stroll down Memory Lane. Where was your favorite place to play when you were little?
I was an only child until I was nearly five years old. That meant I had to learn to entertain myself & I'm pretty sure I was good at it....you can ask QM, she may remember differently. We lived in a little house built in the 1940's (I think) for most of my early childhood. There was a small brick pad in the back yard that, to the best of our knowledge, may have been the top to an old well. Thinking back, it may have not been the safest place to play, but that one spot drew me to it like a magnet. It may have only been 2 feet by 2 feet and was partially grown over by grass, but I loved it. It was under the big tree in our yard & I could spend hours a day playing there.....I wonder if it's still visible. I wonder what it was about that small spot that fascinated me. I wonder if Sarah expected me to be quite that specific.
#2- Kork, after a snarky comment or two, continues the thread with: In addition to your favorite place to play, WHAT was your favorite thing to do/play when you were little?
And that is all I have to say about that.
#1- Sarah at Ordinary Days is going to start us off with one bound to send me off on a marathon stroll down Memory Lane. Where was your favorite place to play when you were little?
I was an only child until I was nearly five years old. That meant I had to learn to entertain myself & I'm pretty sure I was good at it....you can ask QM, she may remember differently. We lived in a little house built in the 1940's (I think) for most of my early childhood. There was a small brick pad in the back yard that, to the best of our knowledge, may have been the top to an old well. Thinking back, it may have not been the safest place to play, but that one spot drew me to it like a magnet. It may have only been 2 feet by 2 feet and was partially grown over by grass, but I loved it. It was under the big tree in our yard & I could spend hours a day playing there.....I wonder if it's still visible. I wonder what it was about that small spot that fascinated me. I wonder if Sarah expected me to be quite that specific.
#2- Kork, after a snarky comment or two, continues the thread with: In addition to your favorite place to play, WHAT was your favorite thing to do/play when you were little?
You name it, I played it. Princess, Little House on the Prairie, School, Church (there's a story for a little later in this post), Ballerina....but the one that stands out in my mind was when a friend of mine (who happened to be a really cute boy a few years older than myself) got a fedora & bull whip for his birthday or Christmas. If you don't know what's coming next, shame on you. We played Indiana Jones all day one day while our parents visited. I think it was a one time only thing, but it stuck in my head like glue.
I played He-Man with my boyfriend who lived down the street. We met at the bus stop on the first day of kindergarten and remained a "couple" until we were split into different classes in third grade. I think the relationship lasted as long as it did because he lived on the next block & he had Castle Grayskull & a Teela figure. Ahhh, young love.
Oh, and then there was the on going game of V (like the sci-fi TV series from the early 80's) we played on the playground at school in first grade....and the on going game of Voltron in 4th grade....and G.I. Joe later that same year. Yeah, I was really into television adaptations & playing with boys.
As for the Church story: Mama overheard me in my room one afternoon when I was very little. The only thing she heard was me shout, "Jesus Christ!" and she couldn't figure out where I'd heard such language....until she peeked into my room & discovered I'd lined all my babies up & was preaching to them. I don't remember that, but I do remember serving them communion consisting of marshmallows & water in my Tupperware play cups.
Finally, Miss Layla Dear will round us out for this evening with a great question, asking us to ignore her typos. I seriously had a 20 minute argument with my boss today about how Iron Man is obviously superior to X-Men, and how Transformers could have been SO good, if they hadn't give the Autobots such stupid voices (with the exception of Optimus Prims) so my question to you is, do you still like me after knowing how incredibly nerd alert I am?
First of all, I would still like you even if you had an unhealthy fascination with Anime...and that's saying a lot for me. Secondly, did you forget what a massive Geek-out I had when Optimus Prime called my house?!
And now I must address a serious problem I have with your question, Layla. How exactly is Iron Man superior to the X-Men? Have you recently suffered a head injury? Tony Stark is a glorified tech geek. The X-Men are the next step in genetic evolution. Who would Stark be without his daddy's money & his tiny Arch Reactor? Jean Gray would so kick his butt...especially if she went all Phoenix on his hiney. And don't even get me started on what Magneto could do to that shiny suit of his. Nope, the X-Men would totally win that fight.And that is all I have to say about that.
September 23, 2010
Come out, come out, whomever you are.
I am horribly un-inspired in the blogging department of late....as can be seen in my last mindless post about Netflix, HBO, and my DVR. I fear I may have bored my audience of 4 to death with that one....except for Kork, but then Kork always has a response to my drivel.
So I have decided to momentarily re-open that old favorite- Ask FarmWife Day. If you're new here or need a refresher, you can click on the label at the bottom of this post to find past versions of Ask FarmWife.
Hit me with your best shot!!
(Oh, and this would be a great time to de-lurk...hint, hint, hint.)
So I have decided to momentarily re-open that old favorite- Ask FarmWife Day. If you're new here or need a refresher, you can click on the label at the bottom of this post to find past versions of Ask FarmWife.
Hit me with your best shot!!
(Oh, and this would be a great time to de-lurk...hint, hint, hint.)
April 1, 2010
I know you've been worried
But fear not, dear readers, I am still here. The weather this week has not been conducive to blogging. Neither has my nap schedule. I'm having issues sleeping at night, so I've been crashing out in the mid-afternoons of late.
I promise I did not forget that I opened up the phone lines for another installment of Ask FarmWife, so here goes:
Kork starts us off with a potty question. I'm practically the patron saint of potty training, so this one is a breeze. Why is it that a 4-year-old boy can suddenly "forget" how to go poop in the potty?
Yeah, I have no idea. What I want to know is how a 5 year old boy can suddenly "forget" how to wipe his own butt. I think it all boils down to that age old adage about little boys. They're gross.
In reality I should spout something insightful about how Capt. is probably reverting to a younger stage to get more attention now that he has a new baby sister to compete with (and she gets lots of attention by pooping in her pants), but I'm going to stick with my "Boys are gross" theory.
She also wants to know: Are boys somehow less equipped than girls to play by themselves?
I'm not sure that's really the case at our house, but then, I'd never really know if it were. BabyGirl was first, so #1 Son always had someone to play with. And then 15 months later, B.B. arrived, so there's really not much alone time around here. B.B. does have issues playing alone when Bitsy is napping & the big kids are still at school, so maybe that is true. And maybe it's a first born thing. He had Mom & Dad to himself for a (short but important) period of time & now he has to share attention with 2 girls. Not only do girls have cooties (it's a scientific fact, just ask Ryan. He knew a guy once who was touched by a girl & his face melted off....OK, I'm sorry....it's just this strange person on Facebook who has the same friends I do although I've never met him & we have an ongoing argument about girls & cooties that takes place on other people's status updates), but they steal your parents & get cuter clothes.
Needlefingers ends our questions with ponderings about her future. What do I want to be when I grow up? Because I have no idea, and I was kind of hoping you would. :)
I'm all over this one. You want to open a yarn/book store & call it Gathering Wool. You can surround yourself with fabulous fibers, needles, patterns, dies, spinning accessories and the like as well as good literature. Then you can spend all day teaching newbies to knit, reading the latest & greatest, and gather ideas for the novel you can work on during slow times (not that you'd ever have slow times with that fabulous of a shop). And you can hire me to work for you when Bitsy starts kindergarten. Oh, and it should have a coffee/tea bar for refreshments. I'll learn to make Biscotti for you to sell.
Next time, on an all new Memoirs of a FarmWife: How to build a wooden play structure for your children in a few simple steps.
I promise I did not forget that I opened up the phone lines for another installment of Ask FarmWife, so here goes:
Kork starts us off with a potty question. I'm practically the patron saint of potty training, so this one is a breeze. Why is it that a 4-year-old boy can suddenly "forget" how to go poop in the potty?
Yeah, I have no idea. What I want to know is how a 5 year old boy can suddenly "forget" how to wipe his own butt. I think it all boils down to that age old adage about little boys. They're gross.
In reality I should spout something insightful about how Capt. is probably reverting to a younger stage to get more attention now that he has a new baby sister to compete with (and she gets lots of attention by pooping in her pants), but I'm going to stick with my "Boys are gross" theory.
She also wants to know: Are boys somehow less equipped than girls to play by themselves?
I'm not sure that's really the case at our house, but then, I'd never really know if it were. BabyGirl was first, so #1 Son always had someone to play with. And then 15 months later, B.B. arrived, so there's really not much alone time around here. B.B. does have issues playing alone when Bitsy is napping & the big kids are still at school, so maybe that is true. And maybe it's a first born thing. He had Mom & Dad to himself for a (short but important) period of time & now he has to share attention with 2 girls. Not only do girls have cooties (it's a scientific fact, just ask Ryan. He knew a guy once who was touched by a girl & his face melted off....OK, I'm sorry....it's just this strange person on Facebook who has the same friends I do although I've never met him & we have an ongoing argument about girls & cooties that takes place on other people's status updates), but they steal your parents & get cuter clothes.
Needlefingers ends our questions with ponderings about her future. What do I want to be when I grow up? Because I have no idea, and I was kind of hoping you would. :)
I'm all over this one. You want to open a yarn/book store & call it Gathering Wool. You can surround yourself with fabulous fibers, needles, patterns, dies, spinning accessories and the like as well as good literature. Then you can spend all day teaching newbies to knit, reading the latest & greatest, and gather ideas for the novel you can work on during slow times (not that you'd ever have slow times with that fabulous of a shop). And you can hire me to work for you when Bitsy starts kindergarten. Oh, and it should have a coffee/tea bar for refreshments. I'll learn to make Biscotti for you to sell.
Next time, on an all new Memoirs of a FarmWife: How to build a wooden play structure for your children in a few simple steps.
March 28, 2010
Happy (sort of) anniversary to us
13 years ago today, FarmBoy asked me if I'd like to go on a date. I'm really glad I said yes.
To celebrate, we took the FarmHands to see How to Train Your Dragon. OK, so taking the kids to the movies really had nothing to do with our anniversary. In fact, I forgot the date until Husband reminded me after we left the theater. I thought today was the 27th. Oh well.
The kids loved the movie. I thought it was pretty good myself....but I may have been a bit more excited about the previews. Toy Story 3 & the fourth (and final?) installment of the Shrek series. I'm really only 8 years old inside.
Ewwww....dog fart. Can't even tell which one since Buddy Joe is under the table at my feet & Lilly May is laying behind my chair.
I'm looking forward to this week. The Weather Channel's website is promising me sunshine & warming temperatures. I need both. If I don't get it, is there someone I can write a letter of complaint to?
To start this new week off, I think I shall open up the lines at the Ask FarmWife hot line. What are you pondering this week?
To celebrate, we took the FarmHands to see How to Train Your Dragon. OK, so taking the kids to the movies really had nothing to do with our anniversary. In fact, I forgot the date until Husband reminded me after we left the theater. I thought today was the 27th. Oh well.
The kids loved the movie. I thought it was pretty good myself....but I may have been a bit more excited about the previews. Toy Story 3 & the fourth (and final?) installment of the Shrek series. I'm really only 8 years old inside.
Ewwww....dog fart. Can't even tell which one since Buddy Joe is under the table at my feet & Lilly May is laying behind my chair.
I'm looking forward to this week. The Weather Channel's website is promising me sunshine & warming temperatures. I need both. If I don't get it, is there someone I can write a letter of complaint to?
To start this new week off, I think I shall open up the lines at the Ask FarmWife hot line. What are you pondering this week?
March 21, 2010
FarmWife Answers the rest of your questions
Wow. I can't believe it's taken me most of the week to finish up answering your questions! This has been so much fun, and this won't be my shortest post this week.
Inkling wants to know: If you were going to make up an OPI color's name, what would it be?
I need a purplish/brown color to hide the dirt stains that get under my fingernails all summer long (not to mention the stains from peeling apples, picking greenbeans, shucking corn....you get the drift) and I think it should be called FarmWife's Garden Party. I'd wear that.
And her final query: If you were going to have a surgery again for any reason, what drugs would you request to aid your recovery (or at least make you forget that you are a mother with dishes to wash and laundry to do and noses to wipe upon recovering)?
I know there are some really good drugs out there that can keep your pain at bay. When I had Bitsy, the anesthesiologist gave me some kind of time released morphine based drug that I think was put in with my spinal block (not really sure about this one as most of that morning is a bit of a blurr). He said it would kick in just as my spinal was wearing off (after about 4 hours) and keep the pain down for 24 hours. It must have been good stuff. After B.B. was born, I was in a drugged haze for 24 hours & still suffering. After Bitsy was born, I had grilled cheese for lunch & a steak for dinner....sitting up on the bed.
I know I liked Vicoprophin after having my wisdom teeth out. I really liked it. It made me fuzzy and warm and happy. I know I hated Lortab when I had an abscessed gum. It made me queasy.
Ang asked a few: What is your weekly "grocery" budget for your brood?
I don't really have a set budget. I'm not sure that's a good thing. But recently I've been trying to tighten our belt a bit. I don't do separate grocery & necessity trips. I make one trip to town a week & have to come home with a 40 lb bag of dog food for the outside dogs and a 50 lb bag of multi-species stock feed for the rest of the critters along with our toilet paper, toothpaste, dryer sheets, etc., and food for the week. I work really hard to keep all that under $200 a week. Lately I've been doing a pretty good job. I hope I can keep it up.
Has BB's run improved from penguin status?
Oh yes! I think the penguin waddle was pretty well gone after the end of his first week. Thursday night the last of his steri strips came off & Friday night he lost his last stitch. Come Wedensday of this week, all his restrictions are lifted. He's been running & jumping about like a monkey for the past week. He goes back to school on Monday (much to his chagrin). He has recovered very, very well. We have to go back to see his surgeon on April 9th for his post-op & I'm hoping we can then put this entire chapter behind us.
And her last question: What is the latest thing you've done to make yourself a "hot momma"?
I actually saved this question for later in the week because Friday I cut about 4 inches off my hair & colored it a bit darker. I've got a layered bob & I'm pretty sure I like it. I'm not quite sure I love it. The stylist did a great job. She gave me the exact cut I asked for, so it's not a technical issue. It's a taste issue. I think next time I may go with a graduated bob instead. But even if I don't love my new do, it has helped me feel a bit more like a hot mama than a ponytailed baby sitter.
Kork finishes up the questions this time with: Ummmm...if the world of Facebook suddenly blew up, and was not ever going to come back to life, what would you do with all your newfound free time?
First of all, I'd have to be put in a chemically induced coma until I stopped suffering from withdrawals. Then I might start sewing more. I haven't really made anything lately, but that's more because of the craziness in my house than my Facebook addiction. To be honest, I've not spent nearly as much time on FB as I had been even 2 weeks ago. I'm only playing Mafia Wars a few times a week as opposed to everyday & I'm only logging on for a few minutes at a time. In fact, yesterday I scrubbed down the entire North side of our house instead of piddling on the computer all day. Go me!
Inkling wants to know: If you were going to make up an OPI color's name, what would it be?
I need a purplish/brown color to hide the dirt stains that get under my fingernails all summer long (not to mention the stains from peeling apples, picking greenbeans, shucking corn....you get the drift) and I think it should be called FarmWife's Garden Party. I'd wear that.
And her final query: If you were going to have a surgery again for any reason, what drugs would you request to aid your recovery (or at least make you forget that you are a mother with dishes to wash and laundry to do and noses to wipe upon recovering)?
I know there are some really good drugs out there that can keep your pain at bay. When I had Bitsy, the anesthesiologist gave me some kind of time released morphine based drug that I think was put in with my spinal block (not really sure about this one as most of that morning is a bit of a blurr). He said it would kick in just as my spinal was wearing off (after about 4 hours) and keep the pain down for 24 hours. It must have been good stuff. After B.B. was born, I was in a drugged haze for 24 hours & still suffering. After Bitsy was born, I had grilled cheese for lunch & a steak for dinner....sitting up on the bed.
I know I liked Vicoprophin after having my wisdom teeth out. I really liked it. It made me fuzzy and warm and happy. I know I hated Lortab when I had an abscessed gum. It made me queasy.
Ang asked a few: What is your weekly "grocery" budget for your brood?
I don't really have a set budget. I'm not sure that's a good thing. But recently I've been trying to tighten our belt a bit. I don't do separate grocery & necessity trips. I make one trip to town a week & have to come home with a 40 lb bag of dog food for the outside dogs and a 50 lb bag of multi-species stock feed for the rest of the critters along with our toilet paper, toothpaste, dryer sheets, etc., and food for the week. I work really hard to keep all that under $200 a week. Lately I've been doing a pretty good job. I hope I can keep it up.
Has BB's run improved from penguin status?
Oh yes! I think the penguin waddle was pretty well gone after the end of his first week. Thursday night the last of his steri strips came off & Friday night he lost his last stitch. Come Wedensday of this week, all his restrictions are lifted. He's been running & jumping about like a monkey for the past week. He goes back to school on Monday (much to his chagrin). He has recovered very, very well. We have to go back to see his surgeon on April 9th for his post-op & I'm hoping we can then put this entire chapter behind us.
And her last question: What is the latest thing you've done to make yourself a "hot momma"?
I actually saved this question for later in the week because Friday I cut about 4 inches off my hair & colored it a bit darker. I've got a layered bob & I'm pretty sure I like it. I'm not quite sure I love it. The stylist did a great job. She gave me the exact cut I asked for, so it's not a technical issue. It's a taste issue. I think next time I may go with a graduated bob instead. But even if I don't love my new do, it has helped me feel a bit more like a hot mama than a ponytailed baby sitter.
Kork finishes up the questions this time with: Ummmm...if the world of Facebook suddenly blew up, and was not ever going to come back to life, what would you do with all your newfound free time?
First of all, I'd have to be put in a chemically induced coma until I stopped suffering from withdrawals. Then I might start sewing more. I haven't really made anything lately, but that's more because of the craziness in my house than my Facebook addiction. To be honest, I've not spent nearly as much time on FB as I had been even 2 weeks ago. I'm only playing Mafia Wars a few times a week as opposed to everyday & I'm only logging on for a few minutes at a time. In fact, yesterday I scrubbed down the entire North side of our house instead of piddling on the computer all day. Go me!
March 19, 2010
One more time!
Yet another installment of FarmWife answering your most pressing questions. You are simply tingly with excitement, aren't you? You can tell me, I promise not to spread it around....much.
Ordinary Sarah says: I'm on the hunt for the perfect capris and sandals for this summer. Help me, FarmWife!!
Aren't we all, honey? Last summer I snagged a pair of wedge like brown flip-flops with really cushy soles & cannot wait for it to get warm enough for me to expose my toes. I found them at Wal-Mart. Really hoping they have the same ones out this year. I need a pair in black...and pink...and green....OK, enough of that. I think Sarah needs some pink, supergirly sandals/flip flops to celebrate the birth of her little pink bundle of squishy Sunshine (Seriously, pictures of her baby make me want to bury my face in baby neck folds).
As for capris, I'm really loving these right now. One thing I've noticed is that a flair at the bottom of a capri can make your legs look oddly bell shaped. Stick with a straight leg or a more fitted style...why would you need your capris to be boot cut anyway?
But if you want to look a bit classier, a bit less frazzled mom & a bit more hot mom on the go, I'd pick these. Super cute! I think Stacey & Clinton would approve.
Inkling, who asked me 7 questions, will finish out this post with a few. The first being: How is it that children can survive on small amounts of food, still sport those round tummies, and not feel the need to eat the food you laboriously prepared? How do they not simply waste away?
I'd love to know the answer to this one myself since B.B. has decided he currently hates everything except Go-gurt, Coco Puffs, and Pop Tarts. Somehow he channels this complete lack of nutrition into massive amounts of energy (sugar induced, possibly), a super fast learning curve, and an ability to bounce back from surgery with lightning fast speed.
I think it may relate to the fact that pregnant women can gestate fully formed babies while surviving solely on Mars bars, Coke, hot dogs, onion rings, and Salisbury steak TV dinners.
Next she asks: Why is it that I've suddenly found it nearly impossible to get out of my pajamas before 4 p.m.? Do you have this problem too, or am I just odd all by myself?
It may be genetic as I'm having the same problem. But if I'm truly honest, I rarely get out of my pajamas at all. Unless we're going outside to play, I rarely leave the house, so I figure why get dressed & add to the already overflowing pile of laundry my family generates? I do get dressed to go to town or if we're expecting company....but it's not unusual for me to strip off my PJ's, shower, and climb into a fresh pair. If Husband were the kind of man who noticed what a woman wears, or how she looks, things might be different. I sometimes wonder if he'd notice if I cooked dinner in a prom dress.
And finishing up for today: If you could participate in any Olympic winter sport, what would it be and why?
Keeping warm. That's an event, isn't it? I really don't do anything that involves snow or ice, so I think I'm pretty much out of the running for Olympic gold...but the curling team is more than welcome to come practice in my kitchen. I figure all that sweeping needs to be put to better use.
Ordinary Sarah says: I'm on the hunt for the perfect capris and sandals for this summer. Help me, FarmWife!!
Aren't we all, honey? Last summer I snagged a pair of wedge like brown flip-flops with really cushy soles & cannot wait for it to get warm enough for me to expose my toes. I found them at Wal-Mart. Really hoping they have the same ones out this year. I need a pair in black...and pink...and green....OK, enough of that. I think Sarah needs some pink, supergirly sandals/flip flops to celebrate the birth of her little pink bundle of squishy Sunshine (Seriously, pictures of her baby make me want to bury my face in baby neck folds).
As for capris, I'm really loving these right now. One thing I've noticed is that a flair at the bottom of a capri can make your legs look oddly bell shaped. Stick with a straight leg or a more fitted style...why would you need your capris to be boot cut anyway?
But if you want to look a bit classier, a bit less frazzled mom & a bit more hot mom on the go, I'd pick these. Super cute! I think Stacey & Clinton would approve.
Inkling, who asked me 7 questions, will finish out this post with a few. The first being: How is it that children can survive on small amounts of food, still sport those round tummies, and not feel the need to eat the food you laboriously prepared? How do they not simply waste away?
I'd love to know the answer to this one myself since B.B. has decided he currently hates everything except Go-gurt, Coco Puffs, and Pop Tarts. Somehow he channels this complete lack of nutrition into massive amounts of energy (sugar induced, possibly), a super fast learning curve, and an ability to bounce back from surgery with lightning fast speed.
I think it may relate to the fact that pregnant women can gestate fully formed babies while surviving solely on Mars bars, Coke, hot dogs, onion rings, and Salisbury steak TV dinners.
Next she asks: Why is it that I've suddenly found it nearly impossible to get out of my pajamas before 4 p.m.? Do you have this problem too, or am I just odd all by myself?
It may be genetic as I'm having the same problem. But if I'm truly honest, I rarely get out of my pajamas at all. Unless we're going outside to play, I rarely leave the house, so I figure why get dressed & add to the already overflowing pile of laundry my family generates? I do get dressed to go to town or if we're expecting company....but it's not unusual for me to strip off my PJ's, shower, and climb into a fresh pair. If Husband were the kind of man who noticed what a woman wears, or how she looks, things might be different. I sometimes wonder if he'd notice if I cooked dinner in a prom dress.
And finishing up for today: If you could participate in any Olympic winter sport, what would it be and why?
Keeping warm. That's an event, isn't it? I really don't do anything that involves snow or ice, so I think I'm pretty much out of the running for Olympic gold...but the curling team is more than welcome to come practice in my kitchen. I figure all that sweeping needs to be put to better use.
March 18, 2010
FarmWife Answers a few more....
Back to answering a few of your questions! This time we're not delving into the world of modern male fashion....thank goodness!
Mama Brown asked: Do you plan a spring, summer or fall garden? If so, what do you plan?
Yes, Mama Brown, we plant a vegetable garden (or 3) every summer. To be honest, there's not a lot of thought put into it by yours truly. That's Husband's realm. Odd, since I'm the one who does the canning, freezing, and cooking, but his job is the actual growing so he gets the biggest say.
Somewhere near the end of April, beginning of May, we take a stroll through Rural King & the lawn & garden center of Wal-Mart. Sweet Corn, green beans, peas, zucchini, and a few tomato plants are usually in the mix. Last year Husband & B.B. added a few strawberry plants that I'd like to have moved to their own raised bed this summer. A watermelon patch is a must have for the FarmHands every summer. I like the baby seedless ones because they're so easy to cut in fourths & pass out on a hot summer afternoon. Last summer Husband went a little sunflower crazy planting most of a 50 pound bag of birdseed in the yard (thank goodness for 10 acres). This year I think we'll scale them back a bit, but I did love watching the birds play in them. Oh, and my favorite from last year, although non-edible, was the miniature Indian Corn we put out. It was so pretty & we shared it with family & neighbors for decoration in the fall.
I'm hoping this is the year I'll be able to turn the FarmHands loose a bit & get my hands dirty in our garden. Husband doesn't believe in weeding. I always have good intentions & big plans, but end up hunting my bush beans out of a weedy mess in August.
Needlefingers asked: what was the nature of the obviously traumatic incident that rendered George Lucas incapable of writing dialogue? :)
I can't say I'm 100% sure of the cause behind Mr.Lucas's decline into the monosyllabic, but I'm hoping it was some sort of unreported head injury. Either that or his dog died & he was so depressed he forgot how to script brilliant lines like, "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy," and replaced them with things like, "Wesa got a grand army. That's why you no liking us meesa thinks."
And finally (for today) one more question from my darling cousin, Inkling. After nursing for extended years of your life, do the tips of the udders ever go back to normal after weaning, if you know what I mean?
No. Sorry. You have to come to terms with trading in nicely formed....tips...for having bosoms that even a 3 year old is sure you possess. :) (Sorry folks, it's a family joke. If Inkling ever starts blogging regularly again, she can explain that one.)
Mama Brown asked: Do you plan a spring, summer or fall garden? If so, what do you plan?
Yes, Mama Brown, we plant a vegetable garden (or 3) every summer. To be honest, there's not a lot of thought put into it by yours truly. That's Husband's realm. Odd, since I'm the one who does the canning, freezing, and cooking, but his job is the actual growing so he gets the biggest say.
Somewhere near the end of April, beginning of May, we take a stroll through Rural King & the lawn & garden center of Wal-Mart. Sweet Corn, green beans, peas, zucchini, and a few tomato plants are usually in the mix. Last year Husband & B.B. added a few strawberry plants that I'd like to have moved to their own raised bed this summer. A watermelon patch is a must have for the FarmHands every summer. I like the baby seedless ones because they're so easy to cut in fourths & pass out on a hot summer afternoon. Last summer Husband went a little sunflower crazy planting most of a 50 pound bag of birdseed in the yard (thank goodness for 10 acres). This year I think we'll scale them back a bit, but I did love watching the birds play in them. Oh, and my favorite from last year, although non-edible, was the miniature Indian Corn we put out. It was so pretty & we shared it with family & neighbors for decoration in the fall.
I'm hoping this is the year I'll be able to turn the FarmHands loose a bit & get my hands dirty in our garden. Husband doesn't believe in weeding. I always have good intentions & big plans, but end up hunting my bush beans out of a weedy mess in August.
Needlefingers asked: what was the nature of the obviously traumatic incident that rendered George Lucas incapable of writing dialogue? :)
I can't say I'm 100% sure of the cause behind Mr.Lucas's decline into the monosyllabic, but I'm hoping it was some sort of unreported head injury. Either that or his dog died & he was so depressed he forgot how to script brilliant lines like, "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy," and replaced them with things like, "Wesa got a grand army. That's why you no liking us meesa thinks."
And finally (for today) one more question from my darling cousin, Inkling. After nursing for extended years of your life, do the tips of the udders ever go back to normal after weaning, if you know what I mean?
No. Sorry. You have to come to terms with trading in nicely formed....tips...for having bosoms that even a 3 year old is sure you possess. :) (Sorry folks, it's a family joke. If Inkling ever starts blogging regularly again, she can explain that one.)
March 16, 2010
Can I just say, I adore you all?
Well, I'm going to say it just the same. You have given me blog fodder for days. Now I remember why I instated Ask FarmWife Day to begin with. I'm going to try to spread your questions out over a few days, but I must, must, must start with Inkling's "manpri" query.
How do you feel about "manpris", as in capris / crop pants for men? They are all over metro Vancouver, and I'm not feeling the love. Specifically, would you think Farmboy was hot if he wore them?
This is one of those times I thank the Good Lord that I live in the middle of nowhere & have never laid eyes on manpris. So, being the good, Internet addicted FarmWife that I am, I googled them. What did I find? This:
If a picture is worth a thousand words, I'm pretty sure this picture is enough four letter words & to land me in time out for the rest of the millennium. Ugh. (Thanks to the ladies at Gofugyourself.com for the lovely image.) According to the Urban dictionary, manpris is gay slang. I think that's enough in it's self to keep FarmBoy far, far away from them.
I really think the image of Carrot Top wearing them should be enough to keep any man away from them, but apparently that's not the case.
They put me in mind of K-Fed. He must be seriously ahead of the times since he's been rocking these beauties since he became Brit's boy toy.
To answer your question about FarmBoy in manpris....my man would be hot in anything. That being said, I wouldn't be seen in public with him if he were sporting cropped pants and crocs....unless it was Halloween. Then I'd been seen in public with him dressed as a pirate.
For anyone who's never met my husband, FarmBoy adheres to a strict dress code: Relaxed fit blue jeans (not dark wash, not light wash), pocket T-shirts, Hanes socks, and Nikes. If it's cold out he'll toss on a flannel shirt. If it's hot, he swaps out for a plain men's tank top & relaxed fit jean shorts. I've tried to expand his horizons, but if this is the direction men's fashion is taking, I'll buy stock in Wrangler & Fruit of the Loom.
March 15, 2010
Help! I am officially uninspired.
Yes, this is a total cry for help & attention. I am at a loss. Facebook has taken over my life & I've discovered it's becoming more difficult for me to think in blog posts as opposed to status updates. I have a flash of brilliance I want to share with the world, but then realize my brilliance won't even make a full paragraph. I credit this to late onset Mommy-brain.
So I'm asking my darling readers for help; re-instituting the old favorite, Ask FarmWife. What would you like to know about me? About the FarmHands? About my feelings on the three newest Star Wars movies? About fixing things with duct tape & bailing twine?
Hit me!
So I'm asking my darling readers for help; re-instituting the old favorite, Ask FarmWife. What would you like to know about me? About the FarmHands? About my feelings on the three newest Star Wars movies? About fixing things with duct tape & bailing twine?
Hit me!
January 5, 2009
Just passing time.
I still have more than an hour before I hear how Grandma B fared with her procedure, so I thought I'd blow some time on line. Thus far I've chatted with one of Bubba's oldest friends via facebook, sent a bunch of flair on facebook, agreed to be friends with an ex-boyfriend on facebook (don't worry, he's the nice one), read a few blogs, rejoiced for Ang because of her wonderful weekly weigh in today, and given a bit of though to my long lost wild self (thanks to Kork). In a few minutes I have to load up Bitsy & B.B. & head in to pick the older two FarmHands from school & grab a gallon of milk or two at "the sucker store" as they call it.
Since the holidays are over & I'm fully recovered from my tooth extraction, I thought I'd reinstate Ask FarmWife Day today. I am warning you though, I've put some thought into this & I've decided I shouldn't have to do all the work. This week, Ask FarmWife will run as usual. Next week (I think) we'll change things up a bit. You see, there are a few of you who's stories I only know bits & pieces of, or who know things I'm curious about. Brace yourselves because next week, I plan on asking you all to answer some questions for me. They'll be specific to you & not everyone will have a question, but consider yourself warned.
So, what can I do for you?
Since the holidays are over & I'm fully recovered from my tooth extraction, I thought I'd reinstate Ask FarmWife Day today. I am warning you though, I've put some thought into this & I've decided I shouldn't have to do all the work. This week, Ask FarmWife will run as usual. Next week (I think) we'll change things up a bit. You see, there are a few of you who's stories I only know bits & pieces of, or who know things I'm curious about. Brace yourselves because next week, I plan on asking you all to answer some questions for me. They'll be specific to you & not everyone will have a question, but consider yourself warned.
So, what can I do for you?
December 23, 2008
FarmWife Answers: Christmas Edition
Welcome to the first every Ask FarmWife: Christmas Edition. I'm here to answer all your holiday questions! Zann begins the fun with a wonderful question: if you could choose a celebrity chef to cook your Christmas dinner and desserts who would you choose?
Hands down, no doubt about it, Alton Brown. I love Alton Brown. He is, by far, my favorite 
"celebrity chef." And to top it off, he's southern. A southern boy who can make his Nana's biscuits. I'm all about that. I would love to spend a day watching him whip up wonderful, home cooking in my kitchen while he' explains all the technical aspects of corn starch to me.
"celebrity chef." And to top it off, he's southern. A southern boy who can make his Nana's biscuits. I'm all about that. I would love to spend a day watching him whip up wonderful, home cooking in my kitchen while he' explains all the technical aspects of corn starch to me.Inkling starts off with: What story intrigues you more about the origins of our Christmas trees and Yule logs....Boniface or Martin Luther? Why? Do you believe one more than the other?
Um...yeah...what? OK, this is when I admit, I know little about either. Heard the names before. Can't say I've ever heard the Christmas tree credited to Martin Luther. I'm off to google. Be back in a jiff.
*Pause*
OK, I'm now up to date on Christmas Tree Legend. I have to admit, Boniface has the better story. According to one telling he stumbled upon a group of pagans (Thor worshipers) about to sacrifice a child in front of a sacred oak tree. In his anger he (this is where the story differs a bit) either knocked the tree down with a single blow or was assisted in toppling the giant oak by a strong, miraculous wind. As soon as the tree was down, an evergreen sprung up in it's roots & Boniface made the connection between an evergreen & everlasting life.
Martin Luther, on the other hand, was wandering through a woods on a snow Christmas Eve. He was dazzled by the snow on the branches & starlight shining through so he went home & erected a small evergreen in his home & decorated it to show his children.
Boniface has it all. Child sacrifice, a dark night, pagans, a rescue, miracles, the works. Martin Luther's is a much tamer legend. Can't say I really believe either one were the definitive way Christmas trees came to be used to celebrate the birth of Christ. They had been used by non-Christian cultures for years to represent eternal life. I think they are a fitting way to symbolize the birth of the One who has given us the promise of eternal life with God...but I also figure it was a way to "Christianize" a pagan ritual much like having Christmas in place of Winter Solstice & Easter in place of Spring Solstice (although with Passover being there to mark the actual time of the Resurrection, I'm pretty sure it's happening at the right time each year).
Next Inkling asks: What one tradition do you work hard to keep going, even when you do Christmas away from extended family?
The Christmas Story read from the book of Luke. Even if we don't get to it until after the gifts are opened, I have to hear it read aloud every year. It just isn't Christmas without, "In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world."
And she finished off with: What do you do when you don't feel in the Christmas mood? What helps you get in the mood for celebrating the season? Do you ever fake it until you make it?
I'll start off answering the last question first. Yes, I often have to fake it until I make it. I've had many years when being away from family or illness or financial strain has kept me from really feeling the Christmas Spirit. There are a few things I do to kick start myself if even just to make the days happier for the FarmHands (but it usually rubs off on me). #1. Listen to old Christmas carols. Nothing new or contemporary. QM has enough Christmas music to play for days, so I've inherited some of that. I put on a CD & blare it while I clean the kitchen. #2. Bake something. It really doesn't matter what, but something with cinnamon in it helps. #3. Watch It's a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, or the Charlie Brown Christmas Special with the lights down, a big bowl of popcorn, a fluffy blanket, and the phone shut off. After all that, I'm usually in the mood...if that doesn't cut it, read that passage in Luke aloud, pull out your hidden bottle of Tabu & take a sniff, then have a good cry. You'll get there. I touched on this last year during a tough day.
Kork wants to know: If you absolutely had to choose, what would your Christmas dinner consist of, why, and this is absolutely a "bad-stuff" free meal - meaning, you could have whatever you wanted, and you'd have no ill effects from ingredients containing fat, sugar, cholesterol, etc...
First off, plates and plates of Grandma M&M's fudge, then lots deep fried turkey, roasted chicken, ham, and chicken and noodles, Mountains of mashed potatoes & sweet corn with butter floating in it, pans of cranberry salad, bowls of green beans with ham & onions mixed in, Beef House rolls, Apple salad, Aunt Anita's broccoli casserole, and blackberry cobbler with half & half, pecan pie, chess pie, apple crisp, and gallons of sweet tea. Now I'm homesick.
Art asks: What is your favorite carol and why?
I have to say I adore traditional carols. I could go Christmas caroling & never need a song book. There are very few I don't love. But there's one, and it's much more contemporary than I'd like to admit, that really speaks to me no matter how many times I hear it. I'll save some space & post a link to the lyrics here. It's called Still Her Little Child & it was written by Ray Boltz & Steve Millikan. The song talks about Mary & that no matter what Jesus grew to be, he was always her child. I was listening to it a few days ago in the car & started to cry. As a mother, it hits me hard every time I hear it.
Art's second question is a bit harder to answer. What is your favorite Christmas memory?
That's a tough one. I think in all fairness I have to admit to a few favorite memories. One I posted about 2 years ago. Another involves the other side of my family. Christmas day was normally spent at Busha & Bucka's when I was little. They lived 2 1/2 hours to our north. Things there were normally a bit more rambunctious than they were at Grandma M&M's. There were more cousins my age and more aunts & uncles & they are just a louder bunch in general.
One year my aunt (QM's little sister) had asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I think I was about 7 years old & my heart's desire was a wedding bouquet. She promised to make me one & much to my delight, there was a huge box under the tree with my name on it. Not only did she make me a beautiful giant silk bouquet, but she also made a smaller one for the bridesmaid to carry. After we all opened our gifts, she took me in the back bedroom & gave me her wedding dress & a bridesmaid dress from a wedding she'd been in. I could have died from happiness right then & there. My little seven year old heart was bursting.
I quickly wrangled all my cousins up & we spent the entire day playing wedding. We each took turns being the bride, groom, and preacher complete with some of Bucka's shirts, ties, and sports coats. I don't know how many weddings we had or how long we played, but it seemed like hours. At one point one of my cousins was hesitant to play the groom & Uncle Gick came out with an (unloaded) shot gun to persuade him to walk down the aisle. My main memory of that day is laughter & joy for everyone from the youngest to the oldest.
So that's it. I have now answered all your questions to the best of my ability. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
December 22, 2008
Ask FarmWife: Christmas Edition
I am pleased to report that the swelling is indeed coming down a bit today. The bruising has started so I look like I've been punched in the mouth, but it's not really that bad. And because the pain is pretty well gone (except the stiffness in my jaw) I'm off my pain meds meaning I'm not loopy & dizzy. At least not in a way I can blame on drugs.
And Christmas is very quickly approaching. The FarmHands have 2 days of school left. Today is BabyGirl's Christmas party & tomorrow is the annual Christmas talent show (read: time waster for last day of school) & #1 Son's party.
In the spirit of the season today will be a holiday version of Ask FarmWife. So, what do you want to know about Christmas, our traditions, the history of a particular Carol, my thoughts on Macy's commercials? Ask away!
And Christmas is very quickly approaching. The FarmHands have 2 days of school left. Today is BabyGirl's Christmas party & tomorrow is the annual Christmas talent show (read: time waster for last day of school) & #1 Son's party.
In the spirit of the season today will be a holiday version of Ask FarmWife. So, what do you want to know about Christmas, our traditions, the history of a particular Carol, my thoughts on Macy's commercials? Ask away!
December 2, 2008
FarmWife Answers
It's that time again! Time for me to answer your most burning questions.
Kork asks an NCIS question: Will the writers allow Ziva and Tony to admit their feelings for each other, perhaps even explore them a bit without either getting killed, transferred, or kidnapped BEFORE the end of this season?!?!?!?! PS - thanks to our TiVo, we are now 2 weeks behind on watching this season, so DON'T spoil the episode with "the mole" in it for me....
I fear that allowing Tony & Ziva to admit they have feelings for each other would be jumping the shark. Tony simply wouldn't be Tony with out his philandering ways & Ziva in love would soften that Mossad exterior too much. Anytime you break sexual tension in a television series, it's anticlimactic.
Unfortunately I've only seen the fifth season so I know nothing of the current state of affairs. When I last left Gibbs & the crew, Jenny was dead, Tony transferred, Ziva's time with NCIS ended & Gibbs given a new team. I'm itching to add the previous seasons to my Netflix Que & await season 6 on DVD. I'm not sure we get CBS, but if so, could you tell me when it comes on?!
Terri asks: have your ever given your first name out on your site? I feel very weird calling you FarmWife and would love to put a name to the person and avatar on your site.
If I have, it was a slip up. I do know it's been left in the comments once or twice, but I always try & delete it. When I began blogging, Husband's two requests were no names and no faces. As we have a rather unusual last name & my first name isn't all that common, it wouldn't be hard for any unfriendly lurkers to find us given that information. I know that the vast majority of people visiting my blog are friendly, I do know there are some scary characters out there. If I wasn't sure of it, my blog statistics page that tells me the key words people are searching to find me, cinched it. For a while I had a button in my side bar that said "Proudly providing Internet Entertainment that has nothing to do with porn." So I remain FarmWife.
And with that, I must leave you. I have sadly neglected my domestic duties for love of Jo, Laurie, and the other March sisters the past two days. Dishes are piled, a mountain of laundry waits to be folded, and I dread the state of the bathroom sinks. So until next time. I am
Kork asks an NCIS question: Will the writers allow Ziva and Tony to admit their feelings for each other, perhaps even explore them a bit without either getting killed, transferred, or kidnapped BEFORE the end of this season?!?!?!?! PS - thanks to our TiVo, we are now 2 weeks behind on watching this season, so DON'T spoil the episode with "the mole" in it for me....
I fear that allowing Tony & Ziva to admit they have feelings for each other would be jumping the shark. Tony simply wouldn't be Tony with out his philandering ways & Ziva in love would soften that Mossad exterior too much. Anytime you break sexual tension in a television series, it's anticlimactic.
Unfortunately I've only seen the fifth season so I know nothing of the current state of affairs. When I last left Gibbs & the crew, Jenny was dead, Tony transferred, Ziva's time with NCIS ended & Gibbs given a new team. I'm itching to add the previous seasons to my Netflix Que & await season 6 on DVD. I'm not sure we get CBS, but if so, could you tell me when it comes on?!
Terri asks: have your ever given your first name out on your site? I feel very weird calling you FarmWife and would love to put a name to the person and avatar on your site.
If I have, it was a slip up. I do know it's been left in the comments once or twice, but I always try & delete it. When I began blogging, Husband's two requests were no names and no faces. As we have a rather unusual last name & my first name isn't all that common, it wouldn't be hard for any unfriendly lurkers to find us given that information. I know that the vast majority of people visiting my blog are friendly, I do know there are some scary characters out there. If I wasn't sure of it, my blog statistics page that tells me the key words people are searching to find me, cinched it. For a while I had a button in my side bar that said "Proudly providing Internet Entertainment that has nothing to do with porn." So I remain FarmWife.
And with that, I must leave you. I have sadly neglected my domestic duties for love of Jo, Laurie, and the other March sisters the past two days. Dishes are piled, a mountain of laundry waits to be folded, and I dread the state of the bathroom sinks. So until next time. I am
Your friend,
FarmWife
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