Friday 5: Broken Blogger and Mmmmm…. brownies!

1. Blogger has been broken when it comes to making comments (or even reading). So if you haven’t heard from me and you usually do, that is probably why! It’s not for my lack of trying to comment.

2. It drives me crazy to not be able to comment on your posts! I’ve read some great ones and Blogger renders me “speechless.”  Grrrr…

3. The house is still for sale. We haven’t had anyone in to look in the past 12 days.  Frustrating doesn’t even begin to cover the feelings I’m going through.

4. It’s definitely been a week for comfort food.

5.  Betty at http://glimpseintomidlife.blogspot.com/ asked me to share my homemade brownie recipe. Here it is:

4  squares (1 ounce each) of unsweetened baking chocolate
1/2 cup of shortening (a little more if you like really fudgy brownies)
2 tsp. Vanilla
4 eggs
2 cups of Sugar
1 cup of flour
1 cup of chopped nuts (optional — I leave them out)

Using a large saucepan on the stove, slowly melt chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, add vanilla and eggs (stir quickly so eggs don’t cook!) then the sugar. Sift in the flour to avoid lumps, stir thoroughly. Add nuts if desired.

Transfer batter into a 9″ X 13″ X 2″ greased pan. Bake at 350°F for approximately 30 minutes, or until it tests done with a toothpick. Let cool before slicing with a sharp knife. Brownies should be moist and fudgy (esp. if you are a bit generous with the shortening).

What is your favorite comfort food?

“Pssst! Phil, it’s not worth it!”

They closed school this morning for freezing drizzle, so I put myself in a 3 hour time-out until I could safely be around children. They had school last Monday, then no school the rest of the week. They had school yesterday (Monday) and right not it isn’t looking promising for tomorrow. We live in the path of the ice storm.  (I just got back from this week’s emergency milk run.)

If the groundhog sees his shadow tomorrow, it will be due to camera lights and flash bulbs.

Coping during the holidays

In actuality, I’ve got a lot going on and a few things worrying me.
In reality, I’m praying.  Chocolate may be involved.
But I needed something light-hearted today, so I’m taking you with me on a little shopping spree — free of charge!

Today’s shopping tips come from CatalogFavorites.com and a little idea called “better living through chemicals”. Come on in and enjoy some fun shopping.  It might just make you feel better.  🙂

Benjamin Franklin -- what a guy!

A pillow upon which to rest your weary head (or to hide behind)

Since I already have a black t-shirt with the Ben Franklin quote, I’m wondering if buying this one would be overkill?

Lest you think I’m a cynical alcoholic – drug addict (I promise that I am not any of those things), I’ll leave you with a few others to make you smile.

the friendly doormat

The stores don’t let us forget

Christmas is coming
Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, too
Days pass by quickly

Musical Monday: Midterm mania

I *might* be a cynic when it comes to politics…

“Same old story, same old song and dance”

Cynicism does not equal apathy.  I mailed my ballot last week.
For those of you with elections tomorrow, don’t forget to vote!

Come back tomorrow for a Rally to Restore Sanity post!

Snapshot of my morning

Names have been changed to protect the — ….who am I kidding?!

—–Original Message—–
From: kcinnova
To: SuperDad
Subject: EB was required to wear a dress shirt, tie, and slacks today

Well!!

After suffering through 2 arguments about dress clothes, EB ate
breakfast, put in the last derogatory word, and got out the door in time
to catch the bus. He even wore black shoes and socks! (I was NOT arguing
over the footwear — I told him that if his black shoes didn’t fit, go
ahead and wear his running shoes.)

His tie remains untied, but hopefully someone will help him out or at
least he will tie a knot in it haphazardly. I couldn’t do much about the
lint he’d already managed to get all over his [BRAND NEW] black pants.

(“Dress clothes are impractical,” said EB.)
(“Vacuum your room more often,” retorted the mother.)

He looked very nice, and I told him so! But sorry, no picture: that
would have created another argument. I’d like to know whose idea it was
to have the athletes dress up whenever they have a home meet.
His preferred choice of khaki pants and a short-sleeved button-down
plaid shirt would have pleased us both and saved us from the arguments.
(Bonus: the lint wouldn’t have shown so badly)

*sigh*

Note to self: buy the kid a L/S shirt and tie combo that works well with
khaki pants.
_____________________________________

From: SuperDad
To: kcinnova
Re: EB was required to wear a dress shirt, tie, and slacks today

I love and support both of you kind, gentle, people.
________________________________________

Clearly, SuperDad has a firm grasp on irony. EB and I butt heads more often than bighorn rams. For an accurate picture, hit replay multiple times.

Weekend Reflections: End of Summer

First, one is lulled into a sense of peace and well-being. Roses are still blooming, but the temperatures begin to cool and life is good.

…And then they arrive en-masse…

Stinkbugs.

How many do you see in this photo?

What are the chances?

I spoke (wrote) too soon. Or rather, what was true this morning is true no longer. Apparently, the AZ contingent is now at the ER with probable pulmonary embolism(s).

**head**desk**

You’d think that 2 people who’ve been divorced from one another for nearly 30 years wouldn’t be sharing this kind of experience… albeit in different states.

[shakes head sadly]

Out of my mind … back soon!

We are in the final 6-week stretch of school, and things are ramping up to the insanely busy level. AP exams are this week and next so I will be shuttling kids to school early, plus all of the other activities scheduled this week.  Oh, and I get to pick my husband up at the airport at suppertime on Tuesday. I’m pretty sure this is at the same time as a band concert, but at least it doesn’t conflict with the Cinco de Mayo blood drive or the silent auction/dinner…
My Google calendar makes me dizzy to look at, but at least it gives me pop-ups to remind me of what is happening next! If only I was home long enough to see them, I could accomplish a few other tasks, too.

I’ve got a post scheduled for tomorrow but I don’t know if  I’ll be back around again this week.

Assessing the Damage

The winter storms were hard on some of our plants and trees. My husband is concerned about this tree (bottom photo, above) that separates our yard from a neighbor who keeps a junk pile going in view at all times.
I confess to being sad about the smashed lavender and freeze-dried rhododendron.  There’s little doubt that the rhodie is over and done for, but I hope someone can help me save the lavender.
Still, it could have been so much worse –after all, we aren’t having to replace our roof –so I’m filing this under  “Thankful Thursday.”

Any suggestions or experience with plants?