Crocheting while watching a movie

It was a busy Sunday. We sanded, swept, vacuumed & sanded some more. I went on a solo excursion to Menards to get the ceiling texture stuff, came back, cooked dinner, Ken applied the texture stuff, did dishes, laundry, swept. swept again, showered. Once all that was done it was time for Ken to hit the road and for myself to whip up a pear smoothie and watch "Amish Grace" on LMN. http://www.mylifetime.com/movies/amish-grace What a great movie! No, not only because I like to learn about the Amish, but because it really made me think.

It's based on a true story. In 2007 a gunman went into a one room Amish school and opened fire, killing and wounding children. The gunman was upset/angry with God because his baby daughter died. The Amish forgive, no matter what needs forgiveness. The story and movie followed one woman's journey into forgiving the gunman.

If someone murdered your child, would you be able to forgive? Now, I don't have kids but, I love my pets as if they were. I also have nieces and nephews and the thought of anything happening to them sickens me. I would be mortified, and downright angry. I'm going to definitely watch it again and really think about it.

I crocheted this baby sundress, headband and dress shoes while I watched the movie.

By candlelight

We spent our Earth Hour last night making our way through the house lit only by candles.

We played three games of Yahtzee at the dining room table. Ken was fortunate enough to get a Yahtzee.

And by golly, so was I!! Which, really, is a miracle.

We did this all in our jammies, messy hair, no makeup, only lit by candles, in our "under construction" dining room.

Ken took a video of the candle lighting. I made a make shift lantern with a canning jar, water, oil and cotton yarn. It worked and provided us much more light than the candles did.

I think we need to practice Earth Hour more often than once a year. How about turning out your lights, your television, computers, phones, etc at least once a week? I know I'm game. This was fun.

Earth Hour

On Earth Hour hundreds of millions of people, organizations, corporations and governments around the world will come together to make a bold statement about their concern for climate change by doing something quite simple—turning off their lights for one hour. In the U.S. where we are already feeling the impacts of climate change, Earth Hour sends a clear message that Americans care about this issue and want to turn the lights out on dirty air, dangerous dependency on foreign oil and costly climate change impacts, and make the switch to cleaner air, a strong economic future and a more secure nation.

Participation is easy. By flipping off your lights on March 27th at 8:30 p.m. local time you will be making the switch to a cleaner, more secure nation and prosperous America.

Stay tuned to see how we participate in Earth Hour and what changes we have made and are hoping to make.

Did you participate in Earth Hour? What did you do? What changes have you made or are making to ensure a healthier Earth for future generations?

Our McKenzie Elizabeth loves to chillaz on the couch. Yes, we allow our pets to sit on the furniture. She just had surgery on the 23rd to have a growth on her neck removed. I dunno about you, but this doesn't look too comfy to me.

"My true friends dont mind if the dogs bark at them, the dogs drool on them, the dogs jump on them, when they sit on the couch they get hairy, the dogs drop slobbered toys in their laps, the dogs lick them on the lips, the dogs have bodily functions in their presence, and most, my true friends dont mind the sign on the door.. DOGS LIVE HERE... IF YOU DONT LIKE IT .... GO LAY BY YOUR BOWL!
The Dog"

We are so happy our sweet sweet girl is going to be alright and is recovering nicely. =)

Food Inc.

Ken & I watched Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution on ABC tonight & holy WHA!!! The crap our school systems are being fed is absurd. I will never eat another chicken nugget. Ever.

After watching that, upon recommendation of my friend, we rented Food Inc. on Demand....Holy flippan skittles!! I suggest you rent it. Today. It's a real eye opener.

I would consider myself somewhat aware and a conscientious food shopper. Of course I make some less that swell choices, but I am learning as I go. This movie opened my eyes even more so. I am thankful that our butcher provides us with free range Amish chicken. I have a veggie garden and am hoping to secure a plot at our community garden as I mentioned before. Our town has a great Farmer's Market in the Summer and Fall that I frequent once or twice a week. We've come to know several of the vendors. There is one family there, we call them the hillbillies...coolest family. Ever. They have a huge honkan garden and live off of what they grow. Maybe this summer I'll take a picture of them (with their permission of course.)

Anytootles, check out the movie. Believe that you can make a difference. Eat healthy, cook at home, feel good.

Foodie Friday: Pizza Crust

It seems we never get a picture of what we make anymore. The fact that it doesn't stay on our plate that long is a good thing. The recipe I'm going to share is for pizza crust. We like homemade pizza with a thin, crispy crust. Ken gets the credit for this recipe. He found it online and then made his own adjustments and additions which gave us the best crust. Ever. This is a no rise crust and if rolled thin enough, you will have two crusts. One for now, one to freeze for a later date...unless you're really hungry or have a big family.

.25oz packet active dry yeast
1/4tsp sugar
3/4 cup 110 degree water
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2tsp salt
Garlic powder
cornmeal

Dissolve yeast and sugar in water, allow to rest for 8 minutes

In a separate bowl : combine flour and salt

Pour yeast mixture over flour mixture and mix with a heavy spoon.

Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead for 2 minutes

If you want a very thin crust split the dough in two. If you prefer a more hand tossed crust use the whole thing. We like a thin crispy crust so we split the dough & freeze the other half for a later time.

working from the edges to the center, press dough into a 12 inch circle. We even use a floured rolling pin to get it thin and even

lightly grease the pizza pan, sprinkle lightly with cornmeal and place dough on top. Sprinkle lightly with garlic powder. (we believe everything tastes better with garlic)

Spread sauce over crust (we use our homemade, home canned stuff) and top with toppings

Bake at 500 degrees for 8-12 minutes, or until edges are golden.

ENJOY =)

Over or under? Before or after?

The never ending dilemma is do I vacuum before or after I dust? What is the proper protocol? I posted this as my facebook status today to see what my fabulous friends do.

In my home I vacuum first. I do this is because we have 5 indoor dogs and two indoor cats. The dogs track in dust & dirt & the cats I am sure have traces of litter on their paws., even though we use clumping litter. When I vacuum dust gets stirred around and lands on my end tables, etc. It would be absurd to dust first and have the vacuum stir up dust.

What do you use to deodorize your carpet and rugs? I sprinkle baking soda on my carpet, let it sit for about 5-10 minutes & then vacuum it up. To freshen the couches, drapes and other fabrics I make my own "Febreeze" mixing 4 parts water to one part liquid fabric softener & two tablespoons baking soda. I would love to replace the fabric softener with an essential oil or other fragrance. I don't want to damage our furniture, drapes, etc. Do you any of you know of a natural, non chemically, yummy smelling deodorizer? Keep in mind, we have pets.

We are in the middle of remodeling the whole back part of our house. Once we are finished there will be NO carpeting on our main floor. I'm pretty stoked about that. Poor Ken has allergies up the wazoo. Both seasonal & pet. Bare floors will be so much better and easier to clean. Carpet traps in so much dirt...even if you are an avid vacuum-er like myself.

One more thing that has to be a certain way in my home is the toilet paper. It must, and I mean MUST be dispensed in the over position. Never under....NEVER. In fact, if I go to your house or anywhere that I use the ladies room I will change it to the proper position. No, I won't look in your cabinets and be a snoop. But I will change the roll.

My reasoning for this is....we all know why we go to grab the tp.....why would we want it on the wall!!! By having it in the under position you are being forced to touch your bathroom hands on your wall...DISGUSTING!!!

One more thing to add to the previous one more thing...sprinkling the bathtub with baking soda and then spraying with vinegar gets out all those hard water stains, disinfects & leaves everything all sparkly and fresh =)

p.s. I hope you don't leave your toothbrush on the sink...Where is your toothbrush? Perched on the bathroom sink? Then let's hope you don't mind brushing your teeth with toilet water. Not to gross you out, but, check out the May issue of Prevention, they reported on 16 alarming, germ-breeding spots that are a whole lot nastier that you might have imagined.

Take your commode: There are 3.2 million microbes per square inch in the average toilet bowl, according to germ expert Chuck Gerba, PhD, a professor of environmental microbiology at University of Arizona. When you flush, aerosolized toilet funk is propelled as far as 6 FEET, settling on the floor, the sink, and yes, your toothbrush. Shutting the lid, of course, is probably a smart move, but at the very least, put anything that goes inside your mouth behind closed doors (your medicine cabinet will do just fine).

On that note, I am off to clean.

This happened in Escanaba

Last Friday, which was March 19th Ken & I ventured into our local Walmart to pick up pet food & other necessities. When we came across this:

They were all set up for the release of New Moon. They even played up the whole, who's team are you on? Team Edward or Team Cullen. I have never laughed so hard. There were actually a handful of teeny bopplet girls camped out, sitting on the floor, holding Twilight memorabilia...at 4pm!!! Ken made the comment that he'd like to tell those girls that the store had a list you had to sign if you wanted a copy & that the list was full!! He obviously was joking bus seriously...can you imagine if he'd said that to them? LOL!!

We enjoyed the movie & knew it was one that we were going to add to our library of movies we own. I refused to stand in line for such nonsense though. Just the thought of cooing girls getting all emo over fictional characters makes my skin crawl. Before you think I am a prude, keep in mind, the biggest thing for me was New Kids On The Block. I ONCE was one of those emo teeny bopper girls. Had NKOTB came to my area I would have spent DAYS waiting. But, this is Escanaba, MI. Most people don't know we exist. Anytootles, Ken & I jumped in the truck at 5 till midnight, made our way to Walmart and found this:

My cousin's wife was in line!! I caught her on camera while she talked on the phone.

Even this older woman, whom I do not know was standing in line...at midnight for her copy!! Someone should have given her a Kleenex...or at least told her there are video cameras and a goofy 30 something year old taking random pictures!! EWWWWW

We were at the very back of the line.

I can't believe I stood in a line...for a movie....at midnight. The line went fast and we got our copy, stopped off at McDonald's for a Shamrock Shake and went home. We got home at almost 1am & were too tired to watch the movie.

Who knew my lil hometown that not many know exist would have a turnout like this...for a movie!!

In the garden

I'm a planner and a list maker. I have lists of projects that I have planned that have their own lists. I've addressed my somewhat compulsive list making many times.

Today's list is all about my raised garden box layout. I'm adopting the idea of square foot gardening, however, my squares are 1' X 16". After researching what plants get along with others, and which don't go hand and hand, I've come up with this layout:

This layout plan is not completely definite however. I called the MSU extension here in town and inquired about purchasing/renting a plot of land at our community garden. Each plot at our Community garden is 30' X 30' and it's only $25 for the season. That's including water!! I won't know if I have a plot until May 3rd though. If I am awarded a plot I will plant oodles upon oodles of tomatoes and corn, broccoli and cauliflower. In the meantime, I have to get the garden box ready. I know it still needs more compost. We'll be getting it this weekend. So, today I marked off my boxes and wrote on the inside of the box what will be planted where. I can pretty much see the veggies growing, picking a fresh garden salad, roasting ears of corn and popping a sun warmed strawberry right. in. my. mouth. There are no nasty chemicals used in my gardens. I won't be spending hours scrubbing waxy, filmy, pesticide, chemically fertilized veggies. Nope. The veggies and the flowers we grow do so naturally.

After I had fun in the back I ventured to the front garden beds. Daffodils and tulips are peeking up out of the soil.

Soon bright shades of yellow, pinks, purples, reds and oranges will be in full bloom.

The front side garden is perking up with sprouts too. Soon, the iris' and crocus' will be in bloom under the lilac tree.

Lookie here!! I'm not sure what this is called but it was at Ken's Nana's house. Nana loved this plant & she always said that after she passed away she'd like it planted at her grave. She had so much of it growing so we took a little slip of it to take home. If you look down by the base of the twiggy branch you'll see new growth just beginning to come up. YAHOOOO!!!

"I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden." ~Ruth Stout

A serious case of the giggle squirts

A good Bloggy friend, Melanie, recently did a post on laughter. I took it personally when she said she encourages you (in my mind, meaning me...)to write down what makes you (again, meaning ME) laugh. Remember, I took her post personally. She didn't come out and say, "Hey, Kat, write down what makes you laugh" But, I'm gonna do it...cuz I'm cool like that!! Beware: I laugh at some pretty bizarre off the wall things.

When my dogs fart. It gets me every stinkan' time!! Brayden runs up the stairs and loud pops come out of him, McKenzie is known to do big ole' stretches & let one rip. She then gives her butt a mean look, looks at me like I did something & goes back to sleep. I'm not even kidding, it gets me every time!!

I get the giggle squirts when people use silly words. Yes, I love grammar & find great joy in diagramming sentences. I even edited my friend's book. That's how much I LOVE grammar. I also like random, nonsensical ooberously sillified words that provide the most quirky run on sentences.

When Ken dances randomly. I'm not talking about a calm dance. I'm talking about when a song comes on when we're cooking in the kitchen and he wiggles his butt, claps his hands, does some sort of pelvic Elvis like thrust!! He's a nut!! He also does a pretty stellar impersonation of Urkel, Flipper and a cow's moooooo.

Kids. In general kids make me giggle. The way they look at their surroundings and the innocent ways they verbally respond to something. They are by far the most blunt, say it as it is, humans ever.

I sometimes find myself giggling at a project I'm working on. Or if I'm spinning yarn.

My pets. The way Arizona pounces on her toy with her front paws, the way Macey's whole body wiggles when she's excited, when Allison stares at the sky when we ask her where the birds are, McKenzie's awkward ears (we wouldn't have them clipped), Brayden being such a boinging boy. You'd swear he had a lil tigger in him. Our cats Buster & Betsey. Betsey trying to clean her belly, she's so darn chubby. Buster sitting up on his hind legs while rubbing his face with his front paws.

Old couples. No, I'm not laughing AT them, I think it's so darn tootan cute when elderly couples are still in love. You can see it in their eyes and their actions. I don't know how seeing that doesn't make someone doesn't get smiley when they see that.

My tortoise, Chloe. She bobs her head as if she's jammin to some reggae. I don't know why she does this, but when I say her name, she pokes her lil head out and rocks out.

The dog park in Chicago that we go by a couple times a week when we are on the road.

On a couple occasions I saw my fish fart. I know, another fart thing. But seriously, I had my face up to the tank watching it suck on the glass. It began doing it's "business". I should have removed my face from the glass but those sucky lips attached to the glass amuse me. Apparently I was infringing on his privacy & all of a sudden a poof of poo proceeded by bubbles came out of "that" area. I backed up, quickly telephoned Ken and told him I saw our fish fart!!

Hearing someone else having a good belly rolling, gut busting, loud, snorting laugh!!

I don't know about you but I'd be completely lost without my daily dose of laughter!! I double dog dare ya to make a list of what makes you smile or laugh. =)

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. ~e.e. cummings