This was originally posted on 02/14/09
Let me preface this with a little explanation. My sister is mean. Yes, it’s that simple. As a child, she was constantly torturing my brother and me; throwing spiders on us, putting crickets in our beds, catching frogs and chasing us with them. I can even recall an incident with a dead snake and a box. Eventually, my brother grew up and learned to ignore her, but to this day, I am still frightened by small creeping critters.
Now to preface the next part of the story-
As you all know, my great-grandmother hasn’t been doing very well lately. As such, my sister has been staying with her at night. Mostly to make sure she’s eating regularly and to see that she doesn’t fall. Since my grandmother has been ill, there has been a flurry of activity going through her house.
It’s an ordinary house, really; 2-bedrooms, hardwood floors, plaster walls and a kitchen booth with corner windows behind it that overlook the lawn. You know the kind of house I mean; something straight out of the 1950’s. The kitchen table is the same one that countless people have eaten from for the last 60 years- both complete strangers and family alike. In fact, it’s the same table that they purchased when they moved into the house. The house has seen so much activity over the years, that if the walls could talk, they’d have some incredible tales to tell.
But up till just a few months ago, the house had no toys strewn over the living room floor, no pop-guns on top of the refrigerator, no errant shoes hiding under the bed… it was very orderly because the kids weren’t there regularly enough to make those messes and because my grandmother lived there alone.
Well… a few days ago, I was sitting in the booth chatting and I noticed a large, very realistic, toy lizard on the table made of some sort of soft squishy silicone-like plastic. It’s brown about 8-10 inches in length. Even though I’m not sure who purchased it for them, it obviously belongs to one of my children.
I have no idea what got into me, really I don’t; but as I eyed the lizard, inspiration suddenly struck. With a devilish grin, I picked it up, took him into the spare bedroom where my sister has been sleeping and put him under the covers. The bed sits on the left wall of the room and I assumed she’d been getting into bed from the side closest to the door. It’s the side I’d get in if I were staying there. So I pulled the sheets back and put the lizard just under where the pillows would be. That way, the lump it would make wouldn’t be so conspicuous.
As I did it, I pictured in my head the scene: she’d be in her pajamas with a book tucked under one arm, pull back the blankets, and WHOA! She’d be startled, let out a little yelp as she jumped sky-high and then she’d quickly realize it was my kid’s toy lizard. She’d laugh to herself thinking the children had put it there. At any rate, it would make her smile. I came home that night proud of myself that I’d finally gotten her back for the years of critter-torture I’d suffered at her hands.
I called later that night after I was sure she’d already gotten into bed and innocently asked how she was doing. She laughed and asked me which child had “done it”? I laughed a little and asked her what she meant and she began to explain what had actually happened.
It was eerily similar to the scene I’d pictured, but I never could have predicted one little detail- she didn’t get into bed on the side I’d put the lizard. She gets into bed on the opposite side. So by the time she noticed the lizard in bed with her, she was snuggled down reading her book. /snickers
She said she glanced over and all she could see was about 6 inches of brown tail near her arm. She threw the covers back, jumped out of bed, and was down the hall nearly to the bathroom before she realized that she’d have to deal with the lizard herself. /giggles
She actually hit her toe on the dresser in her haste to get out of the bedroom, but she didn’t notice it until she got back into bed much later. Talk about your delayed reaction! /snorts
The only thing that would have been more perfect is if the lizard had fallen down behind the bed so that when she went back into the bedroom, she couldn’t find it. /smirks
As she was relating the story to me, I was laughing so hard I had tears streaming down my face. My stomach muscles were on fire from the laughter. I couldn’t stop laughing. I nearly hurt myself laughing so hard. When I finally did catch my breath and was able to speak coherently, I claimed credit for the deed. She said she couldn’t believe it was me! She said she’d had the fleeting thought that it was me, but quickly dismissed it because it didn’t seem like something I’d do.
As I told the kids about it later, they cackled with glee. Then they started coming up with more ideas to scare Aunt Marcee. Through guffaws of laughter, Daniel remembered that we have a large remote-controlled tarantula and thought it would be hilarious if we put it at the foot of her bed so that she’d feel it with her toes before she actually saw it. Personally, I think the idea has merit. /wicked grin
While I was telling Daniel, I noticed that Christopher had a very contemplative look on his little face. Then his eyes twinkled and he innocently asked, “Mommy, can you help me catch a snake?” /breaks into uncontrollable laughter
Lordy, where DO they get these ideas? /looks around innocently
Showing posts with label A Day in the Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A Day in the Life. Show all posts
February 22, 2017
September 15, 2015
Pumpkin Spice Syrup - Take 2
Anyone who knows me at all knows that I love Pumpkin Spice anything. When asked what their favorite flavor is, most folks respond with, "vanilla", "chocolate", "mint", or the like. Not me! My response is always pumpkin spice. As a result, I'm always trying the latest pumpkin spice flavored something to come out.
Randomperson: "Would you like to try this cardboard?"
Me: "Beg your pardon??"
Randomperson: "It's pumpkin spice flavored."
Me: "Oh! Well why didn't you say that to begin with? Of course I'll try it!"
Yeah, I know. Sad, isn't it? LOL
I posted a recipe a while back for Pumpkin Spice syrup and it was my go-to recipe until recently when I decided to experiment a bit.
I needed a recipe for a larger quantity. The previous recipe only made enough for a couple of days and I rarely (see: never) shared.
Also, I wanted to try to make a syrup that was a little more "everybody friendly." Just because I like my PSL (that's Pumpkin Spice Latte for those who don't know) with cinnamon and bits of pumpkin floating in the bottom, not everyone does. As such, that recipe doesn't lend itself to many uses other than coffee.
This new one could be drizzled over pumpkin loaf or ice cream or the top of a cheesecake... oh, I could go on and on!
Suffice to say that while the old recipe is still delicious and is one I will make again some day, the following is so much better for so many reasons and is now my new favorite.
Thanks to my son, Christopher, and my dear friend, Rachel H., for being my guinea pigs!
Pumpkin Spice Syrup
6 cups white sugar
½ cup brown sugar
5 cups water
2 cinnamon sticks (see notes)
5 whole cloves (see notes)
½ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp ground allspice
1 tsp vanilla
4 heaping tablespoons of canned pumpkin
cheesecloth (see notes)
Cut a small square of cheesecloth and place the ground spices and cloves in the center. Tie the cheesecloth to make a sachet.
In a heavy-bottomed pot, combine both sugars and water. Stir until dissolved. Add cinnamon sticks and spice sachet. Bring mixture to a full rolling boil and cook for five minutes, stirring occasionally.
Turn off the heat and allow to steep for at least thirty minutes. (longer, if desired)
In the meantime, prepare four pint-sized jars (see notes) with lids in a hot water bath to sterilize the jars. Once steeped, bring mixture back to a full boil and cook for another few minutes. Turn off heat and remove the cinnamon sticks and sachet. Whisk in pumpkin* and vanilla until smooth. (Please see note regarding adding pumpkin!)
Remove jars, one at a time, from the hot water bath. Fill jar, leaving ¼ in. head space in the top. Wipe the rim clean with a damp cloth and place lid and ring on top. Turn ring just tight enough to secure it. Allow to sit undisturbed until the lid seals (lightly press the middle of the lid- if it pops back up, it isn’t sealed yet) and then tighten lid the rest of the way. Enjoy!
Makes 4 pints with approximately ½ cup left over.
NOTES-
*DO NOT be tempted to add the pumpkin while the mix is still boiling. If you do, the pumpkin will coagulate and you’ll end up with goopy, slimy “syrup” with a consistency somewhat like thick egg whites. (Just trust me- you’ll be glad you did.)
I like to use cinnamon sticks and whole cloves because I keep them on hand for other recipes. You can use 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon and ¼ tsp ground cloves instead; just add them to the spice sachet before you tie it off.
Don’t let making the spice sachet scare you! It’s actually very easy to do. You can also use a fine-mesh tea ball instead of cheesecloth. The end result will be darker golden brown syrup but the taste will be the same.
Don’t skip the step where you allow the mixture to steep.
Some jams/preserves/jelly/etc recipes require further processing by putting the jars into a pot of boiling water for additional cook time- this recipe is not one of them. Once the jars are sealed, you're done.
Randomperson: "Would you like to try this cardboard?"
Me: "Beg your pardon??"
Randomperson: "It's pumpkin spice flavored."
Me: "Oh! Well why didn't you say that to begin with? Of course I'll try it!"
Yeah, I know. Sad, isn't it? LOL
I posted a recipe a while back for Pumpkin Spice syrup and it was my go-to recipe until recently when I decided to experiment a bit.
I needed a recipe for a larger quantity. The previous recipe only made enough for a couple of days and I rarely (see: never) shared.
Also, I wanted to try to make a syrup that was a little more "everybody friendly." Just because I like my PSL (that's Pumpkin Spice Latte for those who don't know) with cinnamon and bits of pumpkin floating in the bottom, not everyone does. As such, that recipe doesn't lend itself to many uses other than coffee.
This new one could be drizzled over pumpkin loaf or ice cream or the top of a cheesecake... oh, I could go on and on!
Suffice to say that while the old recipe is still delicious and is one I will make again some day, the following is so much better for so many reasons and is now my new favorite.
Thanks to my son, Christopher, and my dear friend, Rachel H., for being my guinea pigs!
Pumpkin Spice Syrup
6 cups white sugar
½ cup brown sugar
5 cups water
2 cinnamon sticks (see notes)
5 whole cloves (see notes)
½ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp ground allspice
1 tsp vanilla
4 heaping tablespoons of canned pumpkin
cheesecloth (see notes)
Cut a small square of cheesecloth and place the ground spices and cloves in the center. Tie the cheesecloth to make a sachet.
In a heavy-bottomed pot, combine both sugars and water. Stir until dissolved. Add cinnamon sticks and spice sachet. Bring mixture to a full rolling boil and cook for five minutes, stirring occasionally.
Turn off the heat and allow to steep for at least thirty minutes. (longer, if desired)
In the meantime, prepare four pint-sized jars (see notes) with lids in a hot water bath to sterilize the jars. Once steeped, bring mixture back to a full boil and cook for another few minutes. Turn off heat and remove the cinnamon sticks and sachet. Whisk in pumpkin* and vanilla until smooth. (Please see note regarding adding pumpkin!)
Remove jars, one at a time, from the hot water bath. Fill jar, leaving ¼ in. head space in the top. Wipe the rim clean with a damp cloth and place lid and ring on top. Turn ring just tight enough to secure it. Allow to sit undisturbed until the lid seals (lightly press the middle of the lid- if it pops back up, it isn’t sealed yet) and then tighten lid the rest of the way. Enjoy!
Makes 4 pints with approximately ½ cup left over.
NOTES-
*DO NOT be tempted to add the pumpkin while the mix is still boiling. If you do, the pumpkin will coagulate and you’ll end up with goopy, slimy “syrup” with a consistency somewhat like thick egg whites. (Just trust me- you’ll be glad you did.)
I like to use cinnamon sticks and whole cloves because I keep them on hand for other recipes. You can use 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon and ¼ tsp ground cloves instead; just add them to the spice sachet before you tie it off.
Don’t let making the spice sachet scare you! It’s actually very easy to do. You can also use a fine-mesh tea ball instead of cheesecloth. The end result will be darker golden brown syrup but the taste will be the same.
Don’t skip the step where you allow the mixture to steep.
Some jams/preserves/jelly/etc recipes require further processing by putting the jars into a pot of boiling water for additional cook time- this recipe is not one of them. Once the jars are sealed, you're done.
April 1, 2015
Because I Am His Umbrella
This blog post was sparked by the following post, originally posted by George Takei:
Severe Anxiety Explained
One of my sons deals with severe anxiety EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. of his life. He deals with social phobia the severity of which renders him homebound frequently. Meds help, but they don't completely "fix" the problem.
Anxiety is real, folks. It's not something you can just "get over" or turn off like a light switch. It isn't something that you can control.
Its debilitating and crippling. Its frustrating and aggravating. It infiltrates a family and changes its dynamic.
It isn't a way to get attention. If anything, he wishes he could just disappear and not draw attention to himself.
Sometimes my son looks "fine" or "normal" (whatever that is), and he seems okay when he most definitely is not.
Other times, he's a fun-loving, carefree kid enjoying spending time with his friends like he's supposed to at this age.
The catch is: he never knows which it's going to be. There are triggers and we certainly try to avoid them as best we can, but he can't control the anxiety any more than he can control the weather.
The most frustrating thing for me as his mother is there isn't a lot I can do to help. God what I wouldn’t give if I could just take it from him and let it be me rather than him!
Instead, I am his umbrella.
I crawl inside his sofa cushion fort and ride out the anxiety with him.
I snuggle next to him and let him hide his face in my shirt while pretending I'm the one who needs a hug to keep him from being embarrassed.
I splash his face with cold water when he's in a full blown panic attack and can't catch his breath.
I clean up my car and help him change clothes when the very thought of having to be in an unknown situation causes him to vomit uncontrollably.
I patiently listen when he obsesses over perceived wrongs and continually repeats things that are bothering him; things that most people would simply shake off and then move on.
I get him the very best mental healthcare available; driving over a hundred miles round-trip to see the best child psychiatrist in the area.
I fight for him and jump through any hoop I need to in order to make his struggle a little easier.
I react immediately when he tells me he doesn’t feel right. I consider myself extremely fortunate that he’s self-aware and trusts me enough to come to me and tell me something is wrong. Some parents don’t have the chance to help their kids who are struggling before it’s too late.
If you're friend or family to someone who also suffers from severe anxiety, be their umbrella. Your kindness, understanding, caring, and love may be the thing that helps make their life a little easier today.
Severe Anxiety Explained
One of my sons deals with severe anxiety EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. of his life. He deals with social phobia the severity of which renders him homebound frequently. Meds help, but they don't completely "fix" the problem.
Anxiety is real, folks. It's not something you can just "get over" or turn off like a light switch. It isn't something that you can control.
Its debilitating and crippling. Its frustrating and aggravating. It infiltrates a family and changes its dynamic.
It isn't a way to get attention. If anything, he wishes he could just disappear and not draw attention to himself.
Sometimes my son looks "fine" or "normal" (whatever that is), and he seems okay when he most definitely is not.
Other times, he's a fun-loving, carefree kid enjoying spending time with his friends like he's supposed to at this age.
The catch is: he never knows which it's going to be. There are triggers and we certainly try to avoid them as best we can, but he can't control the anxiety any more than he can control the weather.
The most frustrating thing for me as his mother is there isn't a lot I can do to help. God what I wouldn’t give if I could just take it from him and let it be me rather than him!
Instead, I am his umbrella.
I crawl inside his sofa cushion fort and ride out the anxiety with him.
I snuggle next to him and let him hide his face in my shirt while pretending I'm the one who needs a hug to keep him from being embarrassed.
I splash his face with cold water when he's in a full blown panic attack and can't catch his breath.
I clean up my car and help him change clothes when the very thought of having to be in an unknown situation causes him to vomit uncontrollably.
I patiently listen when he obsesses over perceived wrongs and continually repeats things that are bothering him; things that most people would simply shake off and then move on.
I get him the very best mental healthcare available; driving over a hundred miles round-trip to see the best child psychiatrist in the area.
I fight for him and jump through any hoop I need to in order to make his struggle a little easier.
I react immediately when he tells me he doesn’t feel right. I consider myself extremely fortunate that he’s self-aware and trusts me enough to come to me and tell me something is wrong. Some parents don’t have the chance to help their kids who are struggling before it’s too late.
If you're friend or family to someone who also suffers from severe anxiety, be their umbrella. Your kindness, understanding, caring, and love may be the thing that helps make their life a little easier today.
March 28, 2015
The Peace of the Bathroom
Some people bake, some people knit, some people run... I write. It's what I do instead of stabbing people.
I was working on a story several months ago that I got stuck on. I had the basic outline, I just couldn't figure out which direction I wanted to go so I put it down for a bit and moved on to something else.
I woke up this morning thinking about that one story and suddenly knew exactly where it should go. So I decided to bounce it off of Dan. I explained the whys, wheres, hows, and let him give me feedback. He was stoked. He said he really liked it and couldn't wait for me to finish it.
He gets really excited when I mention a story that I may have an ending to because I am notorious for starting one and never finishing it. I have what I jokingly call "OCED" or Obsessive Compulsive Editing Disorder. I can't seem to write a chapter and leave it be- I must go back and edit the bajeebus out of it.
Anyhow, I made a pot of coffee, grabbed my laptop, and settled down in the living room.
Dan turned on baseball and I thought, "Oh good, it's baseball; I can write with baseball on in the background." Then he flipped to recorded episodes of Jeopardy. I kinda half-heartedly watched some of it while I was re-reading what I'd already written. Five episodes of Jeopardy later, he asked if I would mind rehearsing his show with him.
I replied, "No I don't mind, but can I do it later?"
He said, "But I really need to get this memorized."
I said, perhaps a bit more abruptly than I intended, "I thought you wanted me to write! Do you or do you not want me to get this done? I thought you were excited about me possibly finishing something?"
He apologized and turned off the TV. Every few minutes, he would laugh and show me something he found on Facebook or ask if I'd heard of something that happened recently.
This is what happens when I go on a field trip with my kids and he doesn't see me for an entire day. It's good to know he misses me.
Finally, I got up and said I was headed to the bathroom. I'm currently sitting here with my laptop, typing this. No, I didn't need to actually use the facilities, I'm just sitting here. I'm fairly sure it's the only room of the house in which I can sit quietly and not be disturbed.
Meanwhile, I have exactly three new sentences written on the story that I saw so clearly in my head this morning. Three.
/sigh I haven't even killed off the main character yet.
Am I the only one who's ever wondered if a recliner would fit in their bathroom?
I was working on a story several months ago that I got stuck on. I had the basic outline, I just couldn't figure out which direction I wanted to go so I put it down for a bit and moved on to something else.
I woke up this morning thinking about that one story and suddenly knew exactly where it should go. So I decided to bounce it off of Dan. I explained the whys, wheres, hows, and let him give me feedback. He was stoked. He said he really liked it and couldn't wait for me to finish it.
He gets really excited when I mention a story that I may have an ending to because I am notorious for starting one and never finishing it. I have what I jokingly call "OCED" or Obsessive Compulsive Editing Disorder. I can't seem to write a chapter and leave it be- I must go back and edit the bajeebus out of it.
Anyhow, I made a pot of coffee, grabbed my laptop, and settled down in the living room.
Dan turned on baseball and I thought, "Oh good, it's baseball; I can write with baseball on in the background." Then he flipped to recorded episodes of Jeopardy. I kinda half-heartedly watched some of it while I was re-reading what I'd already written. Five episodes of Jeopardy later, he asked if I would mind rehearsing his show with him.
I replied, "No I don't mind, but can I do it later?"
He said, "But I really need to get this memorized."
I said, perhaps a bit more abruptly than I intended, "I thought you wanted me to write! Do you or do you not want me to get this done? I thought you were excited about me possibly finishing something?"
He apologized and turned off the TV. Every few minutes, he would laugh and show me something he found on Facebook or ask if I'd heard of something that happened recently.
This is what happens when I go on a field trip with my kids and he doesn't see me for an entire day. It's good to know he misses me.
Finally, I got up and said I was headed to the bathroom. I'm currently sitting here with my laptop, typing this. No, I didn't need to actually use the facilities, I'm just sitting here. I'm fairly sure it's the only room of the house in which I can sit quietly and not be disturbed.
Meanwhile, I have exactly three new sentences written on the story that I saw so clearly in my head this morning. Three.
/sigh I haven't even killed off the main character yet.
Am I the only one who's ever wondered if a recliner would fit in their bathroom?
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