Day 6….Thankful for my Kids….
Day 6… I am thankful for ALL of my kids. I gave birth to 2 of them, but I have 5.
To my first-born: You were a surprise… I loved you with all of my being, you were a lot like me, but a bunch of your Dad thrown in. Somewhere along the line, you became your own person, with a bunch of I don’t know what thrown into the works. While you and I don’t see eye to eye, I tried with you Maybe not as hard as I could, but I did what I could with what I had, I just didn’t expect you to fight me as much as you did. I also did not expect you to hurt me as much as you have.
To my second one born: You were the apple of my eye. I know a Mother is not supposed to have favorites, but I guess I kinda did. You have been through a bunch during your years, and I still treasure the way, you call me up and just want to “talk”. You are a special person, and I am proud of the man you are becoming. I’m glad that you have found a purpose in life, and are truly starting to be happy.
To My Oldest Son …I am truly thankful, that You came into my life. You are a truly awesome Young man. While we have had a “different” relationship, I am truly proud of the man you have become, and now that you are starting your life with a Wife, I wish nothing but happiness for both of you.
To My oldest daughter….There was a reason I never gave birth to girls, I wasn’t sure how to act with girls. I have loved you since I began dating your Dad. You and I have had our differences. I have loved you though, more than if I did give birth to you. I have been allowed to be your friend first, your step-mother second, and while we’ve had our “ups” and “downs”, I have truly been honored to be a part of “your” family. I say “your family”, Because not only do I have you, but your husband and your 2 boys as well. You’ve allowed me to become a Grandmother to your 2 boys, and that seriously rocks…
To My Youngest daughter….I have watched you grow up into a young woman, from a very young girl. I have spent countless vacations with you, and watched you blossom. We too, have had our “ups & downs”, but I hope you know how much I love you, and also how proud of you I am.
To all of you, each and every one of you have Blessed my life in one way or another. While I may not have always been the “best” Mother, I’ve tried my best. I am thankful for each of you, in different ways. But I want you all to know, I love each and every one of you.
Day 5….
Day 5, I am thankful for my Parents. I am 51 and still have both parents. A lot of people my age have lost one or both. I am Thankful that I still have the Farmer and Momma.
From all the memories I have growing up as a child, Thank you Dad! From all the memories I have after Momma came into the Family, thank you Momma!
To both of them, thank you for everything you have taught me, and continue to teach me.
To the Farmer, Thank you for being the BEST Dad, a girl could ever have, and thank you so much for the deep friendship that we share now. Although at times, it seems like role reversal, and me yelling at you for sneaking candy bars, and also for tracking on the floor, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
To Momma, while I wish you were your former self, without PD, I do see signs of you in there, particularly, your sense of humor, and the twinkling of your eyes.
Family, Giggles, and Good times….Part 1…
Well, here it is Monday evening, and I’ve been flying under the radar. To be truthful, my outlaws have been here since Friday, and will be leaving Tuesday morning.
I can’t begin to tell you how much I’ve missed them. Simply for the fact, when we all get together there is so much laughter, my sides hurt. We have outdone ourselves with meals. My MOL (Mother outlaw) and I have cooked together in my tiny little kitchen since Friday night together, and it has been a blast.
I will probably do a couple of episodes to this post, simply because there is just too much to tell in one shot.
Friday, I received a call from the Electrician, while I was at the Farmer’s, it was about 1:15, and I was in the middle of getting Momma up and bathed and dressed. He advised me that his parents were here, and what time would I be home. I told him 2:30. I finished getting Momma up, bathed and dressed, and gave her some meds, double checked everything I had done, and flew down the road.
I got home to see a strange car in my driveway, and came flying in the door to be told “sshhhh, Pa is sleeping”. I came downstairs and gave my Mol a huge hug, got a cup of coffee and sat down for one of those “chat sessions” her and I are famous for.
Time flew by, and we decided to get Dinner started. (Here is the back story for this one.) A couple of weeks ago the Electrician and I were watching Food Network, and a recipe came on (the program was The Best thing I ever Made), for spaghetti and meatballs. Well…we all know the Electrician loves spaghetti and meatballs, and so does my Fol. I printed off the recipe, made sure I had all the ingredients, and away we went.
My Mol and I followed the recipe to a T. After about the 2 hours of cooking time, her and I were laughing, because well…. The sauce, did NOT thicken like it was supposed to, and we had some really good tasting meatball soup going on. So, we strained off some of the liquid, and then made it our own, by adding this, that and everything else. Between the 2 of us, it was pretty darn good.
The Nursing student came over (Fisher dude was at work), and brought Cam-man who REALLY got the party started. The Nursing student had bought the garlic bread, and I threw it in the oven. Hey in my defense, I usually make my own, so I thought I followed the instructions. (Enter flashback of driving to the wedding here).
We put everything on the table, and took the bread out of the oven, who knew I was supposed to take it out of the foil and let it cook? Yea, apparently everyone but me. So, we ended up nuking it and it still came out ok. We scarfed most of it up, and gave the rest to a Tupperware container for the Fisher dude when he came home from work.
The first night was a success, and we all laughed so much (which usually happens when we get together). We went to bed, because we had a big day planned for Saturday….
Cookies….dunk or not….
When I was a kid, my favorite thing that I remember was going to Grandma’s house and fresh-baked cookies. Chocolate chip were my favorite.
As I have grown older, I’ve made cookies. I made cookies for my kids, and I actually have never bought cookies at the store. To me, it was always cheaper to buy the sugar and flour and other ingredients, and put my time and love into them.
When the Electrician was on the road, I made a double batch of cookies every Sunday afternoon, and he took them to his crew on Mondays. They all loved the cookies, because it was like a little piece of home for guys that did not get to go home on the weekends.
Since he’s been home, I still make the cookies, whenever we run out, I make more. It’s funny because the Electrician is kinda hordish with his cookies. If the kids are coming over, he hides them. But, unfortunately for him, they know where he hides them and they find them and eat their share.
I know this simply for the fact, the other day I got a call at the Farmer’s and the kids had been by the house, and the Electrician told me, Cam-man had 2 cookies, the Nursing Student had 3 and the Fisher dude had 5.
It’s a heartwarming feeling to me to know that my cookies, make my family happy. The Farmer has me make him cookies usually at the first of the month, that’s when he goes to get his hair trimmed, and his Barber Kenny (BFF of the Farmer’s) get’s the 1/2 batch of the Oatmeal raisin cookies that I make.
Seeing as how we are now in the fall season though, cookies will still be made, but now I am being pestered to make my Grandma’s Apple pie. The Farmer and I can attest to how good in the tummy this pie makes you feel.
It’s funny isn’t it? Some of the best feelings in the world are associated with the foods that your parents/grandparents made that make you feel oh so special and a warm feeling inside? I am so blessed that my Grandma spent time in the kitchen with me, and taught me how to make a decent pie crust, and how to put that little bit of love into everything I make.
So, I guess my question is do you dunk your cookies in milk? The Electrician likes to crumble them up into his ice cream, the Farmer just eats them, the kids will sometimes dunk them.
Forgive me for being silly tonite…K?
Orange juice, vitamen’s, drugs, and kleenex…
Well, after spending yesterday, totally down and out, sleeping a bunch, sweating a bunch, coughing a bunch, and a few other things a bunch. I feel a tad bit better today.
I am going to stay drugged until the last possible moment, carry my box of kleenex with me, and put makeup all over my “Rudolph” nose.
Wish me luck!!
This is short, because I am multi-tasking at a snail’s pace, and we’ve gotta get moving. Plus, I’ve had some e-mails asking me where I was.
I’m still alive, just not moving at that “fart in a whrill wind speed“, like normal…..
Inspiration, and a Happy Birthday!!!
This is me with The Electrician‘s Mom, last Summer. What a Lady. Today is her birthday! Happy Birthday Mom!
These are The Electrician’s parents aka my outlaws…:) They have given me a bunch of Inspiration. You see, They took care of The Electrician’s Gramma until she passed away at age 96. Gramma Mary lived with them and they cared for her. Gramma Mary couldn’t see, could barely walk and didn’t hear very well and forgot to put her teeth in A LOT.
They are the one’s who have given me Inspiration, advice and tons of support in my quest to help My Mom. They always ask after her and listen to my stories and giggle with me and sometimes cry with me. They have also given me ideas, and exercises and other stuff to try.
So For My Mother-In-Law…Happy Birthday and Thank you for Everything!
Happy Birthday to the College Student
Today is the College Student‘s birthday. This is a letter from me to her:
My darling daughter,
While you were only 4 when I met you, you were a force to be reckoned with. You are a beautiful woman now. But you were oh so cute when you were little too. I didn’t know how to react to you at times, for you see, your Mother was in your life, and you did not like to share your Dad with me.
But somehow, through the years, we managed to find a bonding. We have fought on occasions, and we have cried on occasions, but I have always loved you. 
Things may have seemed bleak lately, but they are not. Nothing has changed, and you are still the “baby” of the family. While today, you have reached your 22nd birthday. I would just like to let you know, a couple of things.
1. I Love you.
2. Your Dad loves you, as well as your brother’s and sisters.
3. I am so proud of the woman you are becoming, I could shout it from the rooftop.
4. I may not be your Mother, but I am still your Mom, and friend for life.
5. I am very proud to call you my daughter. (Even if I’m the Step Mother, and the wicked one at that.)
6. The world is your playground, and you embrace it and enjoy each and every day.
7. While I giggle when you call and say “it sucks to be a grown up”, I’m proud of the way you are handling it.
8. To have you come home, and then spend a couple of hours just laughing with your sister, and watching you with Cam-man, those hours are priceless to me. 
9. We still have the note you wrote to your Dad and I on the fridge, the day you left for college. And Boo-Bear, Your Welcome.
10. I Love you and am oh so proud of you Girl! 
I could go on and tell some embarrassing stories “Octo-Mom” with one kid, but I think you know what I mean.
Thank you Boo for being in my life, for calling everyday, and just being you! Happy Birthday little one, and I love you!!!
Signed,
“The wicked Step-Mother”
hehehe
Happy BIRTHDAY!!! To My Electrician..
While yesterday was the Birthday party for my two Birthday peeps, today is actually the Electrician’s birthday.
We stayed up kind of late last night, so we slept in this morning. While we were cuddled up snoring, Ms. Baby decided she would come in and sing “Happy Birthday” to her Daddy. Normally, she usually comes in and jumps on my side of bed and peers into my face meowing, then proceeds to kick me with her back legs. I guess she knew it was the Electrician’s birthday, because although she jumped up on the bed on my side, she gently stepped over me and peered into his face and “meowed“, then promptly kicked him with her back paw. Me ? I slept for another 10 minutes, then jumped out of bed.
The Electrician was just waking up, so I went and got us both a cup of coffee, and then I sang Happy Birthday to him. Now, for those of you who follow my blog, you know, I don’t EVER cook this man breakfast. This morning, I cooked French toast and 2 eggs “over-easy” just the way he likes them. I even served his breakfast to him on a decorated tray, so he could eat, while he replied to everyone that wished him a Happy Birthday, on the computer.
We’ve had phone calls all day from various kids, and people calling to wish him Birthday greetings. We had a hilarious call from my “outlaws” and his sister, and we were serenaded by all three. I had to laugh though, because when it came time to say “Happy Birthday to” they all 3 inserted “Happy Birthday to Oink”, “Happy Birthday to You“. Apparently when the Electrician was just a wee little dude, and his sister. who is 3 years younger, tried to say his name it always came out as “Oink”.
We’ve had a very relaxing day, and for those of you that know me, we have 2 computers in the house. The main computer (which I normally use) at the desk and then we have the laptop (which he usually uses). Today, I have given up my computer time and let him use the desktop.
I made him a dinner he had semi-requested, the only thing, is usually on Sundays, I get everything together and he grills it. Today, I cooked everything in my kitchen, and just called him when it was time.
This is my beloved, sitting down to his Birthday meal.
This would be his place setting. Yes, that is a Ribeye Steak cooked to perfection, with some mushrooms cooked in butter, with some Worcestershire sauce thrown in and a couple of cloves of garlic, a baked potato, and also some roasted broccoli and cauliflower , and a bowl of salad (that he loves to smother with sunflower seeds, parmesan cheese, Colby/jack cheese and ranch dressing) .
After dinner, I told him to get lost and I would clean up the kitchen, but my Electrician reminded me of the agreement we made when we got married, oh so many years ago. You see, I HATE to wash dishes. I love to cook, but the clean-up, uhm, not so much. So, he washed and I dried and put away. My kitchen was cleaned up in no time, and we both came downstairs. Seeing as how we were both still tired and in a food coma, we both laid down for a nap.
Supper for us? we are both still kinda full from the feast we had earlier, so our supper will consist sharing a big hunk of cherry cheesecake.
I hope my Electrician has enjoyed his Birthday.
To Him, I say this. Thank you each and everyday for loving me and giving me the life I never thought I would have. I love you to the Moon and back and then some. Thank you for also teaching me all of the life lessons that you have. When we met, I was broken, you gave me faith, and healed me. You taught me not all men hit women, and that I will always be safe around you. You taught me it is ok to disagree, and to also work through any problems we may have. You taught me what it was to miss someone so much, but to know they were on the road working to save their family. You make me laugh, you make me smile, you make me so mad at times, I could strangle you, but then you give me that look, and I start giggling and it’s all good.
Thank you to my Electrician, for giving me and showing me what family was all about. Also, for the power of laughter, and knowing that no matter what we go through, we have each other, because YOU are my rock.
Happy Birthday “Oink”! and here’s to many more!
Family..to me…
Most people recognize family, as just that, family. Be it brothers, or sisters, Moms and Dad’s and the like. I have a different version of family.
I have realized that sometimes, even though you are blood, it does not make you a family. The reason I know this? I’m about to go into some personal issues, and they are solely my issues, but the end result is what I have learned in my OWN experience.
I had a birth Mother, whom I have never met. It was her loss, not mine. I was cared for by my first step-Mother, who did not share the same blood as I, but who loved me. She never had any children, and I was it. ( I believe I told y’all last night she died when I was 11.) Her family, My Grandma Kile, and all of the family, accepted me. They all loved me, and I spent a lot of summer’s at her house and then to my Grandma Ruth’s house.
My second stepMomma, the one I write about, married the Farmer, after I had left home. She dated my dad for a couple of years, so I knew her and loved her, and accepted her. She is my Momma, and has been my friend, in my “grown up” years.
I never had any “blood” brother’s or sisters. But I do have a lot of brother’s and sister’s. I was lucky enough to go to a Boarding School for my 10-12 grade years. London Central High School. Which, for those that don’t know, it was an American High School, which housed day student’s, 5 day dormies, and 7 day dormies. We were all American kids, on British soil, on an American Air Station. We all shared a common bond. We lived in a dormitory, we were away from our parent’s, and we were all family. The funniest thing about this, is that we are a group, we have all bonded from our situations. We are all friends, even people who went to the school after I graduated, to people who went to the school before I ever got there. There are some of those people, I call my brother and sister. I also know, that should I ever need anything, anyone of them would be there. I truly believe as well that after staying in contact after 33 years, means something.
I have met friends in my life, and I call some of them brother’s or sister’s. Because they love me and I love them. I’ve also met some people in my life that I do NOT call brothers or sisters, and their time in my life, was for me to learn something or another. The lessons were hard at times, but I learned them. I don’t take love lightly. I also have a close circle. Sometimes, I don’t always speak up, but I do a lot of thinking in the back ground. But, seriously, once I let you into my circle, you will be there always.
To me, a family isn’t necessarily blood relations. It is simply who chooses to accept me, who love me, and would do anything for me, as I would for them.
Playing with Chili’s and the “look”
Today dawned nice and sunny and with the promise the Electrician and I could sleep in. Unfortunately, Ms. Baby didn’t get the memo on that one and jumped onto the bed at 7 a.m. demanding for both of us to get up. So, I guess we both got to sleep in per se, the Electrician usually gets up at 4 am and me at 6am.
After drinking some coffee, and chatting for a bit, the Electrician went outside to “play” in the yard. Okay, maybe not play, he ran the lawn mower to knock down the weeds in our yard and the neighbors.
After starting some laundry, then stripping the bed, I looked on the Internet for some ideas for dinner involving Chicken. I recently took stock of my 2 1/2 freezers and found out, I must like chicken because that is what I have the most of in the freezers. When the Electrician asked me what was for dinner, and I replied chicken, he kind of groaned. After looking for a bit, I fell back on one of the Electrician’s favorites.
I decided I would make Green Chili Chicken Enchilada’s, with the last remaining bag of green chili from last year in my freezer. However, with August just around the corner, and my new shipment arriving about the second week of August, I can handle using up the last bag.
I went up into the kitchen and set up my pot to boil my chicken, I threw in some herbs, and the chicken, and uhm…a habanero pepper(AKA scotch bonnet), that I pricked with a knife. I let that boil away on the stove and got busy making Chocolate Chip cookies for the Electrician’s lunch this week.
The Electrician came in and scooped up some cookie dough, and then we took all of my “plants” (of the plastic variety) outside for a hosing off. It’s a known fact I can kill a cactus at 20 paces, thus the need for the plastic variety. Although, I do have 4 plants that I have managed to keep alive for going on 3 years now, but I’m not sure so much if it’s me that’s keeping them alive or the fact that the Electrician also takes care of them.
By now, my house is smelling yummy with the spices and chicken, so I turned the pot off and let it sit for 30 minutes, then took the chicken out to de-bone it. I strained out the chicken broth, and thought to myself, “hmmm, maybe I should taste it.” So, I sucked down a spoonful and coughed. Who knew a little pepper could make it THAT hot.
I chopped up my last bag of green chili after peeling it and seeding it, added a little garlic to hit and then tasted it. WOW, either letting it sit in my freezer since last September,made it hotter, or it was a really hot batch of New Mexico Hatch green chili.
So now, I’m thinking that while I enjoy the spicy HOT food, I really don’t want to kill the Electrician. So, I made this batch of enchilada’s a little different. Normally, I do not use Sour cream OR philadelphia cream cheese, but in this case I did. (It mellows out the spiciness.) After mixing my filling, I started rolling, and rolling, and rolling. 2 BIG casserole pans later, it dawned on me, why I don’t make enchilada’s for just me and the Electrician. I’m used to making them for the “family” (uhm, that would be 7 who has now turned into 10 + 2 lil one’s) So then I decided I would freeze one batch, problem solved.
I baked one pan, and told the Electrician it was time to eat, and asked him if he wanted any salad with the enchilada’s, to which he replied “nah, this is good.” Two bites into it and I started to sweat, and looked at the Electrician underneath my eyelids, he had turned a strange shade of red, coughed, and then stated “HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, JOANNE, THESE ARE HOT”. To which I replied ”Uhm, they just came out of the oven about 10 minutes ago”. And that is when folks, I got the “look”.
Well, I finished mine (although I did slather some Ranch dressing and lettuce on mine), and he ate half of his and said he would get the rest later. Fast forward (because that was about 3 hours ago), he has just finished the remainder of his plate, and stated that they tasted good the “spice” had settled down, and it was actually quite tasty. PHEW, that made me feel better, but folks I’ll share with you the facts about green chili, after cooking it, the longer it sits, and the more you reheat it, the hotter it gets.
I’m gonna have to figure out a way to re-invent this dinner into leftovers. Suggestions are welcomed.
