1. The hallway is nearly all painted. I have yet to paint the ceiling, though it is primed, as is the woodwork. Painting woodwork is not my favorite. The walls are a light beige and it really looks so much better! I even painted one kitchen wall too. I figure the hall bathroom or the laundry room will be next. It's amazing what a coat of paint will do. The house is dark because of how it sits long-wise easty/westy. I would love to go with more jewel tones but there's just not enough light for that, especially in the hallway but accent walls make me happy too.
2. Rachel has an orthopedist appointment on Wednesday. Supposedly they will cut off her cast, re-X-ray her and we'll go from there.
3. I spent last Friday afternoon with the kids at school.
4. Jeremiah left mid-day Friday with 3 students for Mo. for a welding competition. No one metaled but they did each receive $500 scholarships. Believe it or not, he takes another group of students this coming Friday too. We've got high hopes for their placing. I think he goes to Tulsa next month and there is a welding competition in April in his shop. I don't know how many schools are being invited. The school year is busy!
5. While I go through cycles of very poor and very good sleep, I NEVER slept well as a married gal in the city when Jeremiah was away. Put me in the country while he's away and I sleep. Funny how one can feel safer when people live farther away than right on top of ya.
6. We expect new babies in about 6 weeks and will be kidding from mid-March all the way to June! We've had such great weather I almost kick myself for not breeding sooner...but, hindsight is 20/20. The girls due first should start wearing signs on the front and rear end that read, "WIDE LOAD". About 2 months prior to kidding if you position your hand right, you can feel little goat baby kicks. It's exciting.
7. It's supposed to be 60+ degrees the next three days. This weather is SUPER bizarre. Jo called last night, they had just made it in to the border in Alaska. They said it was -61 degrees the day before. That is not bizarre, that's absurd!
8. I am ready for spring in some ways, but in others there's still lots to be done and it can hold off a while longer. We've been collecting plastic containers for planting in and I hope to start seeds real soon. With all that's been going on, I doubt we'll be getting a green house together in time so the plan this year is just to do cold frames...which is more than what we had last year-little by little.
9. We do have the wood for a chicken coop though and I will be ordering chicks come mid-February. Knowing my luck winter will decide to set in but never you mind because I have a good brooder for them and heat lamps. So, this will force us to get this chicken coop done sooner rather than never.
10. I watched a good documentary 2 nights ago. If you have time to watch it before Wednesday, Feb. 1 (when it no longer is free to watch), I urge you to: http://action.freshthemovie.com/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=6608
11. I keep meaning to take the camera out with me to the barn in the morning when I do chores. One of the kittens follows me out as does the dog-when he's not left out there overnight-and some of the things she does are so funny. She has no fear, that's for sure. Th goats can't figure out what she is but she would like to make friends with them. They would not. She likes the barn quite a bit and hangs out there some days. Friday she climbed up to the top of the posts and sat there, out of reach of the dog who was quite perplexed and thought it was a game.
12. It's been a long while since I've seen deer run through the property now that the electric fence is up, but the other day while raking one of the younger girls did an about face and looked intently into the pasture. A buck and a doe went leaping by. King was not out there with me that day, those deer would have gotten a run for their money!
13. I am intent on buying a semen tank this year so that I can artificially inseminate this fall...not myself mind you, my goats. I have all of the other equipment and the know how. Keeping as many bucks and/or buying new really is not cheaper in the long given my location the lack of what I like.
14. Last year's spring break job was to replace all the fencing around the property- which, incidentally, took a lot longer than a week but it was the removal of the old fence that took the longest!-. This year we'll be digging trenches for water and electrical line(s). I need to water to each of the 4 pens, and the new pen that will be erected some day attached to the buck's pasture. I also need water to the garden area and future orchard. We'll rent a ditch-witch. I won't be digging those trenches by hand.
15. Believe it or not, it is warmer in Yellowtail, Montana right now (45 degrees) than it is here in Hutchinson, Kansas (28 degrees)!
16. As of this second we expect rain Wednesday and Friday and snow on Saturday. Give it a few seconds, they're sure to change their minds on the forecast. I'd be happy for rain and snow. Wait, what? I did not just say I'd be happy for snow. Providing it's not a huge storm that dumps tons of snow, I don't mind little bits of it here or snow that doesn't stick at all. This year has been SUCH a far cry from last year where it seemed they were spraying the roads every other day with de-icing solution! I haven't seen the "storm trucks" ONCE this year. Good riddance.
17. I went to bed feeling sick last night. I woke up feeling sicker- must be a cold. My head hurts from sinus pressure. Getting out this morning will make me feel better, believe it or not.
18. Rachel's 4-H projects this year are fiber arts (knitting was her choice though it includes crocheting, cross stitching and another that doesn't come to mind.), cooking/baking, dairy goats and reading.
19. She broke her leg at a 4-H project meeting for fiber arts! Go figure! Jane: "Rachel, how did you break your leg?" Rachel: "At a knitting meeting."
20. I have taught her how to cast on. I tried to teach her the knit stitch yesterday, she hated it. She prefers the cast on only. I told her she can't complete anything by only casting on.
21. I only learned to knit about 3 weeks ago so I am barely staying one step ahead of the egame. I did not like the purl stitch until literally yesterday. Change of needles and yarn makes all the difference for a novice.
22. I keep calling yarn, "thread". Must be the seamstress in me!
23. Drew is a Cloverbud this year. A child must be at least 7 years old to participate in 4-H but there are often many younger siblings who want to be part, so they get to be Cloverbuds. During the "meat and potatoes" part of the meeting (i.e. last meeting minutes, a.k.a. "the boring part"), the Cloverbuds get to go to another room and do something more fun. Drew's first meeting was a few weeks ago. He didn't want to go. He had fun and he'll get used to it, but this is a good experience for him as he is not as outgoing as Rachel is. He needs these types of things for social skills.
24. Rachel gives her first presentation in May in front of her 4-H group. She will be nervous but she also needs theses types of experiences for good social skills and it will help when she is older not to be painfully scared when speech class becomes necessary. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that she does not see these people all the time and therefore is not nearly as comfortable as she'd be if she knew them all well. I figure that if her talk is about goats and we hauled a baby goat along, the audiences attention will be more on the goat than her which may help her not feel so self conscious. We'll see how that turns out. Baby goats visiting the school is always a hit and kids keep asking me when I am going to bring more. Who couldn't love a baby goat anyway?
25. Jeremiah is half way finished with his Masters!!! The summer of 2013 is also the summer we intend to give his own welding school a trail run.
That's all the randomness for now. Out to do chores and hang out clothes.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
My Grandma's Noodles & Chicken-Noodle Dinner
It's as much a recipe as it is a memory...
Nothing screams home cooking and stick to your ribs more than homemade noodles...come to think of it, nothing screams those things more than chicken and gravy and mashed potatoes and peas either. My husband would object, he doesn't like them. There are few times when I can say he doesn't know what's good (mostly because I make 90% of what he eats and I can say, if you don't mind, that I am a fabulous cook and he loves my cooking which is evident by the fact that he comes home every night), but whatever, not my problem...more for the kids and I.
Don't expect dumpling-like noodles. There is no soda or powder in these and they are boiled, not steamed cooked.
Warning: As with most of my recipes, if you are the measuringnazis police, please leave. I don't measure! I guesstimate. And based on the fact I have been cooking more of my life than not, nearly the last 10 of those years exclusively...every single night and sometimes 2-3 times a day. So, if you need measurements, I do the best I can. If that's a problem, seek professional help.
FoodNazis police need not apply. In fact, if you are the food police, just click the "X" in the upper right hand corner now.
First off, you'll need to plan ahead a bit for this meal. You'll need to simmer a chicken with onions and celery (or pressure cook it) in advance (I add herbs too- sage, oregano, basil, etc.). My Grandma uses a whole chicken, or did, when we were growing up. Now, she just uses (fattier) pieces (thighs, for example, as she usually is not cooking for so many people any longer.). You want some fat in the broth. If you're looking for a low fat version, seek professional help and/or follow the "Food Police" directions above and have a nice day.
To make the noodles, start out early in the day. Morning is best as the noodles will need much of the day to dry out. This recipe may differ a tiny bit from my Grandma's original, but the ingredients are the same. She never measured for these. On more humid days the noodles will take longer to dry and may need less milk.
How many you are feeding will determine how much of everything you use. For a family of 3 (3 being one Mama and 2 young kids), I use one egg. For a larger family 2-3 eggs should do.
For one batch:
In a large bowl, crack your egg and beat. Add approx. 2 cups of plain white (bleached or un-bleached) flour, a small palm of of salt (small palm = about a tsp. or so and I only use Kosher salt but whatever you've got is fine) and enough milk to form a not to wet dough but not too dry either, maybe about quarter cup?
On a floured surface, roll out as thin as you like. My Grandma rolled them out pretty thick, 1/4" I'd say. My Mom likes to roll them out thinner, maybe 1/8". I like them both ways. For as long as I can remember, my Grandma always rolled the dough out on a big piece of left over formica counter-top and cut them with a knife. My mom rolls them out on her quartz counter top and cuts them with a pizza cutter. Either way works. After cutting, they'll need to sit out. Sit out, you ask? Isn't that kind of like a bacteria wonderland? If you are asking me that, you are the foodnazis police. Have a nice day, goodbye.
Yes, so, these noodles made with raw eggs and raw milk (if you use raw milk) need to sit out, all day, preferably in a warm place, loosely covered if need be, to dry. Putting them on a cookie cooler type tray works. My Grandma let hers dry right on the piece of formica she cut them on. I roll and cut them on the counter, then transfer them to a Silpat and set them by the wood stove in the winter. I recommend NOT cutting them on the Silpat. Ask me how I know. If you want to ruin one, that's about the quickest way! Can you say, "CRAP! THOSE THINGS ARE EXPENSIVE!"? Yeah, lesson learned. Oddly enough though, I was cutting pizza when I cut the mat (which incidentally I make only in cast iron now, but that's besides the point).
After drying all day -and admittedly, I have made them later in the day and they weren't all that dry come cookin' time which goes against everything my Grandma told me to do with them (sorry, Grandma). They came out just as good, maybe a little bit different in texture, but for the sake of following Grandma's orders (big grin), start them early, okay?-, come evening you'll want to start your broth a'boiling. I like to remove the chicken and cooked bits of celery and onions once cooled a bit. We shred the chicken, give the bones to the dog, and set the meat aside (in the fridge if it will be a while before you cook the noodles) to add back in later. And yes, we give the chicken bones to the dog. King wanted to be sure I mention to you that he says chicken bones are fine for dogs and says your dog will love you more if you give your dogs chicken bones too.
Once the broth is boiling, add your noodles, loosely cover and cook for approx. 20 minutes. Add your shredded chicken back in to warm. Serve the broth over mashed potatoes with peas and noodles on the side. You may not serve this with anything else. It HAS to be mashed potatoes and peas, okay? Drew and my Grandma smash their peas. They say the peas are easier to pick up with a fork. I prefer to mix them with a bit of the potatoes and gravy myself.
I forgot to mention how much broth to use. Usually for a 2 egg batch you'll need the entire stock pot (or pressure cooker's) worth of broth (approximately a gallon or more). From my pot of chicken, I get half a gallon of broth for soup another time and there's enough broth left over for cooking the noodles in. In measurement, you'd probably need, in my opinion, about a half a gallon of broth to cook a one egg batch in. Too much broth and there won't be enough flour on the noodles to thicken it to a gravy, too little and it's like cooking pasta without enough water. You can always thicken up the broth once the cooking is nearly done with little flour and water so it's better to have too much, than too little. King is much appreciative when I make too much.
Your plate may need salt once it's all served up. Our family normally left the salting up to the owner of the plate.
Sorry, no photos of the cooked meal. I normally only cook this on nights Jeremiah won't be home for dinner so I was single parenting it and to be perfectly honest with you, I wanted to eat more than I wanted to take a photo of the finished product.
Enjoy!
Nothing screams home cooking and stick to your ribs more than homemade noodles...come to think of it, nothing screams those things more than chicken and gravy and mashed potatoes and peas either. My husband would object, he doesn't like them. There are few times when I can say he doesn't know what's good (mostly because I make 90% of what he eats and I can say, if you don't mind, that I am a fabulous cook and he loves my cooking which is evident by the fact that he comes home every night), but whatever, not my problem...more for the kids and I.
Don't expect dumpling-like noodles. There is no soda or powder in these and they are boiled, not steamed cooked.
Warning: As with most of my recipes, if you are the measuring
Food
First off, you'll need to plan ahead a bit for this meal. You'll need to simmer a chicken with onions and celery (or pressure cook it) in advance (I add herbs too- sage, oregano, basil, etc.). My Grandma uses a whole chicken, or did, when we were growing up. Now, she just uses (fattier) pieces (thighs, for example, as she usually is not cooking for so many people any longer.). You want some fat in the broth. If you're looking for a low fat version, seek professional help and/or follow the "Food Police" directions above and have a nice day.
To make the noodles, start out early in the day. Morning is best as the noodles will need much of the day to dry out. This recipe may differ a tiny bit from my Grandma's original, but the ingredients are the same. She never measured for these. On more humid days the noodles will take longer to dry and may need less milk.
How many you are feeding will determine how much of everything you use. For a family of 3 (3 being one Mama and 2 young kids), I use one egg. For a larger family 2-3 eggs should do.
For one batch:
In a large bowl, crack your egg and beat. Add approx. 2 cups of plain white (bleached or un-bleached) flour, a small palm of of salt (small palm = about a tsp. or so and I only use Kosher salt but whatever you've got is fine) and enough milk to form a not to wet dough but not too dry either, maybe about quarter cup?
On a floured surface, roll out as thin as you like. My Grandma rolled them out pretty thick, 1/4" I'd say. My Mom likes to roll them out thinner, maybe 1/8". I like them both ways. For as long as I can remember, my Grandma always rolled the dough out on a big piece of left over formica counter-top and cut them with a knife. My mom rolls them out on her quartz counter top and cuts them with a pizza cutter. Either way works. After cutting, they'll need to sit out. Sit out, you ask? Isn't that kind of like a bacteria wonderland? If you are asking me that, you are the food
Yes, so, these noodles made with raw eggs and raw milk (if you use raw milk) need to sit out, all day, preferably in a warm place, loosely covered if need be, to dry. Putting them on a cookie cooler type tray works. My Grandma let hers dry right on the piece of formica she cut them on. I roll and cut them on the counter, then transfer them to a Silpat and set them by the wood stove in the winter. I recommend NOT cutting them on the Silpat. Ask me how I know. If you want to ruin one, that's about the quickest way! Can you say, "CRAP! THOSE THINGS ARE EXPENSIVE!"? Yeah, lesson learned. Oddly enough though, I was cutting pizza when I cut the mat (which incidentally I make only in cast iron now, but that's besides the point).
After drying all day -and admittedly, I have made them later in the day and they weren't all that dry come cookin' time which goes against everything my Grandma told me to do with them (sorry, Grandma). They came out just as good, maybe a little bit different in texture, but for the sake of following Grandma's orders (big grin), start them early, okay?-, come evening you'll want to start your broth a'boiling. I like to remove the chicken and cooked bits of celery and onions once cooled a bit. We shred the chicken, give the bones to the dog, and set the meat aside (in the fridge if it will be a while before you cook the noodles) to add back in later. And yes, we give the chicken bones to the dog. King wanted to be sure I mention to you that he says chicken bones are fine for dogs and says your dog will love you more if you give your dogs chicken bones too.
Once the broth is boiling, add your noodles, loosely cover and cook for approx. 20 minutes. Add your shredded chicken back in to warm. Serve the broth over mashed potatoes with peas and noodles on the side. You may not serve this with anything else. It HAS to be mashed potatoes and peas, okay? Drew and my Grandma smash their peas. They say the peas are easier to pick up with a fork. I prefer to mix them with a bit of the potatoes and gravy myself.
I forgot to mention how much broth to use. Usually for a 2 egg batch you'll need the entire stock pot (or pressure cooker's) worth of broth (approximately a gallon or more). From my pot of chicken, I get half a gallon of broth for soup another time and there's enough broth left over for cooking the noodles in. In measurement, you'd probably need, in my opinion, about a half a gallon of broth to cook a one egg batch in. Too much broth and there won't be enough flour on the noodles to thicken it to a gravy, too little and it's like cooking pasta without enough water. You can always thicken up the broth once the cooking is nearly done with little flour and water so it's better to have too much, than too little. King is much appreciative when I make too much.
Your plate may need salt once it's all served up. Our family normally left the salting up to the owner of the plate.
 |
| This is half of a 1 egg batch. Separate them a bit once cut, they'll shrink up too. |
Enjoy!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
And the Army life keeps rolling along...
Wednesday's orthopedist appointment had Rachel leaving in a cast. It's just as well, she's less fragile this way.
She's been getting along better on her crutches. The school has a wheelchair that they are happily allowing her to use. Which is a good thing, because being on crutches all day would tank! Except, the wheelchair needed to see the inside of Daddy's shop on Tuesday evening because (we joked) it had been in an accident. Hey, the humor HAS to keep coming otherwise we'd hang ourselves! So, a little bit of screwdriver-ing here, some banging, a little bit of jumping on it there, and we're all set!
Thursday the UPS man showed up with a lovely package for Rachel. The Mischlers, Rachel's 4-H project leader(s) for fiber arts, sent 'get well' flowers. How sweet.
Included are also some belated birthday photos. On Monday, we went down to Wichita, and drug our broken legged daughter to the movie theater. It's always amazing how (seemingly) little things can really change the way one does things! But, all in all it was a very good time. I am normally not a fan of 3-D movies, but Beauty and the Beast (even though we've all seen it a million times) was really REALLY good in 3-D. Drew will deny it, but he was sitting on my lap and literally jumped at one particular point. I chide him about it.
Thursday I got a call at home half way through the day saying that Rachel's cast was bothering the back of her leg. Before they put the fiberglass wrap on, a cotton mesh sock goes on, then gauze. The gauze is folded over the wrap at the top and bottom and then more wrap is applied. The gauze and netting makes the top and bottom plush. On occasion, the fiberglass wrap is applied too high and there isn't enough gauze and netting to fold over. Such is the case on the back of her leg. So, down to school I went to apply some moleskin to the back so it wasn't slicing into her skin. I thought surely this had to be the end of chasing and we can get back to life as we know it with a broken leg! By the way, I went down to take care of her leg at 1:30, if I had had the time to just sit down there until the end of the day I would have. But I don't! I am already taking Jeremiah to work too and so my day is literally starting about 2 hours late and I am loosing another hour and a half in the evening! More on that later...
Negative on being the end of it all. Yesterday (Friday), I was working away and the phone rang. I am beginning to dread that dang phone! It's the school's secretary/part-time nurse/part-time cashier (a woman with many hats). Rachel fell in class and her leg was hurting. "Awwwww crap!", I think. I talked to crying Rachel. I calm her down and she wants me to come. What other choice do I have? THIS is the exact reason I do not work outside of the home and it's beginning to look like, until the kids are married, that I will not ever! SOMEONE has to be their for the babies. So, back down to school I went. Apparently she had decided (which was actually my idea) to try the crutches for a while instead of the chair and she was getting ready to sit down in her class chair when she either hit it with a crutch or it (somehow) moved away from her and she sat down on the ground. I really don't think it's as bad as it sounded over the phone and I am sure it scared her and her medication was late in getting to her yesterday so who knows. She probably added another year on to that cast's wearing life! UGH.
I pulled Andrew out of school early at 2 and we all just headed home. After everyone was situated, I fell onto the couch and napped. If you know me, naps are few and far between. I just won't take them. But if my nap yesterday was any indication of how my week went, that should say a lot! I was not about to turn right back around and have to lift Rachel in and out of the car just so he didn't have to come home early. I was ready for that week to be over.
Oh, you're wondering how my day goes now? Well, let's see...because the big truck is a diesel, cold temperatures mean things work a little differently. First off, the truck has a heater, it gets plugged in. We forgot to do this Monday evening so it refused to start on Tuesday morning. Jeremiah was supposed to drop the kids off at school but at the last minute I had to throw on clothes and get Rachel settled and explain to half a million people the issue, fill out medication releases so the school can administer it, blah blah blah blah. However, there's the issue of getting her up and dressed and all of that!
Wake up: Wake up isn't much different. She is able to get up to standing on her own and usually uses the crutches to get down the hall either to the kitchen table or living room where she eats and gets dressed. Her toothbrush is brought to her and she pretty much does everything from the couch.
Getting her dressed: What does she wear? Well, I've taken to cutting a leg off thick knit tights and putting her in a dress. She has a pair of pants that would probably fall off her waist if they weren't held up by her cast and a pair of PJ pants that work well too. One must get creative! The weather has been so darned cold that it's been difficult to figure wardrobe out!
Getting to the car (AKA The Explorer): Shewalks crutches out the front door and either Jeremiah or myself (usually me) carries her down the steps, sets her down where she walks crutches to the car, someone picks her back up and deposits her into the car, loads crutches, loads Drew, loads backpacks and off we go.
Back to the truck. Wednesday, the day of Rachel's orthopedist appointment, the truck started just fine but then quit after idling to warm up after about 5 minutes. Jeremiah can't get it re-started and we figure it's the biodiesel freezing. Biodiesel is good to about 20 degrees and we didn't think to mix it with regular fuel given the fact we had about a million other things on our mind and the previous weeks temps had hovered around freezing over night. Well above 20 anyway! It was probably 3 degrees out Wednesday morning so at the last minute again we all piled into the car, we dropped Drew at the front door and made it to work by the skin of our teeth! I got home, rushed out to do chores, hurried up, got a shower and Rachel and I headed out the door for her dr.'s appointment. We didn't get out of there until noon, ate a quick lunch and I dropped her back off at school. I came home, did 'house' chores (dishes, laundry, picking up, stoking fire) because I hadn't had time before. And then before I knew it, it was time to pick up the kids and Jeremiah...again!
We thought perhaps the fuel filter needed to be changed on the truck, as is often the case when you run 'bio'. The fuel filter does need to be changed more often so we picked up a new one on the way home and some regular diesel to 'cut' the bio enough to get it started and running down the road. Thursday morning, it's the same issue and he really had planned to take them that day so it was late. Back into regular clothes quick and in a hurry I go and out the door we zoom! I was really hating life at that moment.
Friday morning, against my wishes, Jeremiah said if he got it started, he will just leave. He thought that it was just so cold the fuel was freezing in the lines while it idled, which is perfectly understandable. It is cooking oil after all. But, I had said I already planned to take everyone, I was ready that day and me having to go was not coming as a surprise. I told him if he so chose to take the truck and it breaks down between here and the school, DO NOT CALL ME, Call AAA, DO NOT LET ME COME HOME TO FIND YOU HERE, PARK THE TRUCK WHERE I CANNOT SEE IT and let me go about my day blissfully unaware and while you're at it, find a way to get that truck home with YOU behind the wheel. I don't care if it's towed here or what, I DO NOT want to know about it! Capeesh? Capeesh. So, as it was, it drove fine, the fuel was probably freezing. We do have an injector going bad and it will need to be replaced but the source of the issue was this darn cold and the fuel. The problem has been solved by further 'cutting' the bio with regular fuel. I won't say lesson learned, we had other issues come up preventing us from doing what we knew needed done.
So, there's my week folks. Sounds like fun right?
The orthopedist wanted to see us back in 2 weeks where they will cut the cast off and re-x-ray it. He thinks it might be healed. Silly dr. didn't take in to consideration my daughter was going to fall though! I've got half a mind to call him and tell him to give it another week. That sounds awfully quick doesn't it? Yeah, I kinda thought so too but he's the dr. so whatever. 2 1/2 weeks of immobilization is good for me...we'll see!
I was more than ready for the weekend to start to say the least! If nothing else it means a short reprieve from having to do all the lifting and driving! However, one should always be careful what they wish for because...well, for one, it could always be worse (que broken leg) for two, next week may be even worse as I won't have the weekend to look forward to extra help because extra help won't be here! Jeremiah is scheduled to take some students to Mo. for a welding competition...leaving me here...alone. As usual, I am queuing Scarlet O'hara, as I so often do, and, "I'll thank about that tomorrow." One day at a time.
She's been getting along better on her crutches. The school has a wheelchair that they are happily allowing her to use. Which is a good thing, because being on crutches all day would tank! Except, the wheelchair needed to see the inside of Daddy's shop on Tuesday evening because (we joked) it had been in an accident. Hey, the humor HAS to keep coming otherwise we'd hang ourselves! So, a little bit of screwdriver-ing here, some banging, a little bit of jumping on it there, and we're all set!
Thursday the UPS man showed up with a lovely package for Rachel. The Mischlers, Rachel's 4-H project leader(s) for fiber arts, sent 'get well' flowers. How sweet.
Included are also some belated birthday photos. On Monday, we went down to Wichita, and drug our broken legged daughter to the movie theater. It's always amazing how (seemingly) little things can really change the way one does things! But, all in all it was a very good time. I am normally not a fan of 3-D movies, but Beauty and the Beast (even though we've all seen it a million times) was really REALLY good in 3-D. Drew will deny it, but he was sitting on my lap and literally jumped at one particular point. I chide him about it.
 |
| And yes, if you must know, it's wrapped in a bag. We bought several small knitting looms for her and given the fact she's immobile, it was the perfect gift to pass the time. We gave it to her on Sat. figuring, why wait? So it did not get wrapped. Tacky? I don't care! |
Thursday I got a call at home half way through the day saying that Rachel's cast was bothering the back of her leg. Before they put the fiberglass wrap on, a cotton mesh sock goes on, then gauze. The gauze is folded over the wrap at the top and bottom and then more wrap is applied. The gauze and netting makes the top and bottom plush. On occasion, the fiberglass wrap is applied too high and there isn't enough gauze and netting to fold over. Such is the case on the back of her leg. So, down to school I went to apply some moleskin to the back so it wasn't slicing into her skin. I thought surely this had to be the end of chasing and we can get back to life as we know it with a broken leg! By the way, I went down to take care of her leg at 1:30, if I had had the time to just sit down there until the end of the day I would have. But I don't! I am already taking Jeremiah to work too and so my day is literally starting about 2 hours late and I am loosing another hour and a half in the evening! More on that later...
Negative on being the end of it all. Yesterday (Friday), I was working away and the phone rang. I am beginning to dread that dang phone! It's the school's secretary/part-time nurse/part-time cashier (a woman with many hats). Rachel fell in class and her leg was hurting. "Awwwww crap!", I think. I talked to crying Rachel. I calm her down and she wants me to come. What other choice do I have? THIS is the exact reason I do not work outside of the home and it's beginning to look like, until the kids are married, that I will not ever! SOMEONE has to be their for the babies. So, back down to school I went. Apparently she had decided (which was actually my idea) to try the crutches for a while instead of the chair and she was getting ready to sit down in her class chair when she either hit it with a crutch or it (somehow) moved away from her and she sat down on the ground. I really don't think it's as bad as it sounded over the phone and I am sure it scared her and her medication was late in getting to her yesterday so who knows. She probably added another year on to that cast's wearing life! UGH.
I pulled Andrew out of school early at 2 and we all just headed home. After everyone was situated, I fell onto the couch and napped. If you know me, naps are few and far between. I just won't take them. But if my nap yesterday was any indication of how my week went, that should say a lot! I was not about to turn right back around and have to lift Rachel in and out of the car just so he didn't have to come home early. I was ready for that week to be over.
Oh, you're wondering how my day goes now? Well, let's see...because the big truck is a diesel, cold temperatures mean things work a little differently. First off, the truck has a heater, it gets plugged in. We forgot to do this Monday evening so it refused to start on Tuesday morning. Jeremiah was supposed to drop the kids off at school but at the last minute I had to throw on clothes and get Rachel settled and explain to half a million people the issue, fill out medication releases so the school can administer it, blah blah blah blah. However, there's the issue of getting her up and dressed and all of that!
Wake up: Wake up isn't much different. She is able to get up to standing on her own and usually uses the crutches to get down the hall either to the kitchen table or living room where she eats and gets dressed. Her toothbrush is brought to her and she pretty much does everything from the couch.
Getting her dressed: What does she wear? Well, I've taken to cutting a leg off thick knit tights and putting her in a dress. She has a pair of pants that would probably fall off her waist if they weren't held up by her cast and a pair of PJ pants that work well too. One must get creative! The weather has been so darned cold that it's been difficult to figure wardrobe out!
Getting to the car (AKA The Explorer): She
Back to the truck. Wednesday, the day of Rachel's orthopedist appointment, the truck started just fine but then quit after idling to warm up after about 5 minutes. Jeremiah can't get it re-started and we figure it's the biodiesel freezing. Biodiesel is good to about 20 degrees and we didn't think to mix it with regular fuel given the fact we had about a million other things on our mind and the previous weeks temps had hovered around freezing over night. Well above 20 anyway! It was probably 3 degrees out Wednesday morning so at the last minute again we all piled into the car, we dropped Drew at the front door and made it to work by the skin of our teeth! I got home, rushed out to do chores, hurried up, got a shower and Rachel and I headed out the door for her dr.'s appointment. We didn't get out of there until noon, ate a quick lunch and I dropped her back off at school. I came home, did 'house' chores (dishes, laundry, picking up, stoking fire) because I hadn't had time before. And then before I knew it, it was time to pick up the kids and Jeremiah...again!
We thought perhaps the fuel filter needed to be changed on the truck, as is often the case when you run 'bio'. The fuel filter does need to be changed more often so we picked up a new one on the way home and some regular diesel to 'cut' the bio enough to get it started and running down the road. Thursday morning, it's the same issue and he really had planned to take them that day so it was late. Back into regular clothes quick and in a hurry I go and out the door we zoom! I was really hating life at that moment.
Friday morning, against my wishes, Jeremiah said if he got it started, he will just leave. He thought that it was just so cold the fuel was freezing in the lines while it idled, which is perfectly understandable. It is cooking oil after all. But, I had said I already planned to take everyone, I was ready that day and me having to go was not coming as a surprise. I told him if he so chose to take the truck and it breaks down between here and the school, DO NOT CALL ME, Call AAA, DO NOT LET ME COME HOME TO FIND YOU HERE, PARK THE TRUCK WHERE I CANNOT SEE IT and let me go about my day blissfully unaware and while you're at it, find a way to get that truck home with YOU behind the wheel. I don't care if it's towed here or what, I DO NOT want to know about it! Capeesh? Capeesh. So, as it was, it drove fine, the fuel was probably freezing. We do have an injector going bad and it will need to be replaced but the source of the issue was this darn cold and the fuel. The problem has been solved by further 'cutting' the bio with regular fuel. I won't say lesson learned, we had other issues come up preventing us from doing what we knew needed done.
So, there's my week folks. Sounds like fun right?
The orthopedist wanted to see us back in 2 weeks where they will cut the cast off and re-x-ray it. He thinks it might be healed. Silly dr. didn't take in to consideration my daughter was going to fall though! I've got half a mind to call him and tell him to give it another week. That sounds awfully quick doesn't it? Yeah, I kinda thought so too but he's the dr. so whatever. 2 1/2 weeks of immobilization is good for me...we'll see!
I was more than ready for the weekend to start to say the least! If nothing else it means a short reprieve from having to do all the lifting and driving! However, one should always be careful what they wish for because...well, for one, it could always be worse (que broken leg) for two, next week may be even worse as I won't have the weekend to look forward to extra help because extra help won't be here! Jeremiah is scheduled to take some students to Mo. for a welding competition...leaving me here...alone. As usual, I am queuing Scarlet O'hara, as I so often do, and, "I'll thank about that tomorrow." One day at a time.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Life with kids
As I am sure you may already know, Rachel has broken her leg. I am sure as time passes this will become less of an issue and more of a plain old inconvenience. For now though, it's an issue. I am sure as time passes Rachel will become more and more adept at using her crutches to get around and I will feel more comfortable letting her but just like it's hard to let a child do things on their own so that they can learn to be independent, sometimes it's just quicker to do it yourself. I fight this urge because she has to learn how to do things herself as she is. I have no idea exactly how long this may take to heal but the latter end of it seems so very far away! When I bounce back to reality it doesn't seem very far at all so I'll hold on to that thought. The dr. said 3-4 weeks, we're planning on 6+. We'll see.
I have to call tomorrow (Tuesday) to make an appointment with the orthopedist on Wednesday. I am hoping a hinged brace can be found (if a small enough one is made for her), otherwise a cast may be necessary. Right now it's covered in gauze, then 2 cast like popsicle stick splints were applied (one on the front of her leg, one on the back molded to the contour of her bent leg once the splints were moistened and dry), then it was wrapped in an ace bandage.
Because it happened over the weekend, a 'real' cast could not be applied. She may not need a real cast either, it all depends on how well she is able to keep her weight off of it. Granted, it's only been 2 days (at the time of writing this) so it still hurts to much to put any weight on it but the more weight she can keep off, the less of a chance for a cast. And not that one would be all that bad, it would definitely have it's pros but it would definitely have it's cons too. The break is on the tibia, just below the 'heart' (as I think of it0 portion of the top of the bone, where the joint it? She probably shouldn't have use of her knee and the hinged brace would probably be stationary anyway but it just would, I feel, make life easier. Maybe I am wrong though.
She was given Tylenol with Codine for a painkiller but yesterday (Sunday) she woke up at 9 AM looking like death and feeling just as bad after taking a whole pill at 4 AM. She had a tangerine and a banana to eat and that didn't stay down at all. We've concluded that she can have half a pill at night with dinner on a full stomach just before bed which should keep her all night and we'll go with Mortin during the day. The Motrin does not last as long (4 hours) and she has to have it on schedule otherwise the pain is too much but this schedule should work and I hope that within a few days she won't need pain killers at all.
In the meantime, I doubt I'll be able to keep enough books around. She read Heidi in one day, off and on.
I am also scrambling to figure out what to do about clothing and dresses seem to be a good compromise. She has so few knit dresses that are easy to put on that I am ordering fabrics and hope to get some made this week and to get a few more knee high socks to keep her 'good leg' warm. Fortunately, the weather has been pretty nice and if it keeps up, a knee high sock may be all that's in order. If not, I'll have to buy some stretch pants and cut off the bandaged leg up to her thigh as pretty much no pants will go over. I could also make some PJ style pants and that may work.
On a more farm-y productive note, Jeremiah and I got into the shop yesterday (Sunday) and you wouldn't believe the transformation in there! We hauled off a huge load of stuff to the Goodwill. I know we sold off and/or donated a lot before we left Ca. and I still can't believe the amount of stuff we hauled out here and then I couldn't believe the amount of stuff we're really NOT going to use and hauled it to donate. Ugh, why all the stuff??? I have yet to to bring in all my deco items though I really should. I should stop saying things like, "One day we're going to remodel." Well yeah, one day we will remodel but in the mean time, I should just go ahead and paint everything anyway instead of waiting for the day we bust out walls, etc. I may never see my deco stuff at that rate!
We are working on taxes too- income, farm and business.Fun stuff! So, in between catering to Rachel, cleaning the shop and life in general, it's busy, as usual.
I have to call tomorrow (Tuesday) to make an appointment with the orthopedist on Wednesday. I am hoping a hinged brace can be found (if a small enough one is made for her), otherwise a cast may be necessary. Right now it's covered in gauze, then 2 cast like popsicle stick splints were applied (one on the front of her leg, one on the back molded to the contour of her bent leg once the splints were moistened and dry), then it was wrapped in an ace bandage.
Because it happened over the weekend, a 'real' cast could not be applied. She may not need a real cast either, it all depends on how well she is able to keep her weight off of it. Granted, it's only been 2 days (at the time of writing this) so it still hurts to much to put any weight on it but the more weight she can keep off, the less of a chance for a cast. And not that one would be all that bad, it would definitely have it's pros but it would definitely have it's cons too. The break is on the tibia, just below the 'heart' (as I think of it0 portion of the top of the bone, where the joint it? She probably shouldn't have use of her knee and the hinged brace would probably be stationary anyway but it just would, I feel, make life easier. Maybe I am wrong though.
She was given Tylenol with Codine for a painkiller but yesterday (Sunday) she woke up at 9 AM looking like death and feeling just as bad after taking a whole pill at 4 AM. She had a tangerine and a banana to eat and that didn't stay down at all. We've concluded that she can have half a pill at night with dinner on a full stomach just before bed which should keep her all night and we'll go with Mortin during the day. The Motrin does not last as long (4 hours) and she has to have it on schedule otherwise the pain is too much but this schedule should work and I hope that within a few days she won't need pain killers at all.
I am also scrambling to figure out what to do about clothing and dresses seem to be a good compromise. She has so few knit dresses that are easy to put on that I am ordering fabrics and hope to get some made this week and to get a few more knee high socks to keep her 'good leg' warm. Fortunately, the weather has been pretty nice and if it keeps up, a knee high sock may be all that's in order. If not, I'll have to buy some stretch pants and cut off the bandaged leg up to her thigh as pretty much no pants will go over. I could also make some PJ style pants and that may work.
On a more farm-y productive note, Jeremiah and I got into the shop yesterday (Sunday) and you wouldn't believe the transformation in there! We hauled off a huge load of stuff to the Goodwill. I know we sold off and/or donated a lot before we left Ca. and I still can't believe the amount of stuff we hauled out here and then I couldn't believe the amount of stuff we're really NOT going to use and hauled it to donate. Ugh, why all the stuff??? I have yet to to bring in all my deco items though I really should. I should stop saying things like, "One day we're going to remodel." Well yeah, one day we will remodel but in the mean time, I should just go ahead and paint everything anyway instead of waiting for the day we bust out walls, etc. I may never see my deco stuff at that rate!
We are working on taxes too- income, farm and business.Fun stuff! So, in between catering to Rachel, cleaning the shop and life in general, it's busy, as usual.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Christmas with family in Mascoutah and bringing in the new year with friends
A very nice Christmas was had with family in Illinois. Saturday we took all the kids to the arch in St. Louis and Sunday had present time and a lovely meal later in the day. Lots of catching up and good stories, lots of laughter and fun.
I was not able to finish the children's new quilts in time, so they got what was finished with a promise to complete...someday.
The Drive Home...
Main St. Joplin
Last week while Jeremiah and the kids were off school the rental house was gutted. Now it's time for the electrician and plumber to get in there.
Jo, Frank and the kids came in Friday afternoon and it was sort of a lazy weekend for me. We always end up staying up too late and I'm up early with chores so I felt like I sat on the couch much too much. The boys got a lot of work done on both trucks. Our glow plugs needed to be replaced and the brakes on Frank's truck needed some work. The rental house needed some things tidied up with the electrical so that the thermostat could be tied back in and a few other things that could not wait for the electrician due to exposed old knob and tube wiring.
In true Amanda fashion, I fell asleep well before midnight. Jo and I got in to my sewing room and de-clutterd on New Year's Dayfrom all the scraps and second quality diapers I'd been hoarding or not had the time to post for sale. They'll go to good use to a Grandma who watches her grand-baby.
The soap Jo and I made several weekends ago (http://marmaladehollow.blogspot.com/2011/12/another-fabulous-weekend.html) turned out really well. If you'll remember, I was worried the brown sugar soap would leave the user sticky. Quite the contrary! It's awesome stuff and smells divine...like a cookie!
The weather, for this time of year, has been glorious- day time highs of 40s and 50 and a couple 60's have even crept in. I really can't complain. The nights have been hovering around freezing. Some mornings I have to break or pour off ice, other mornings I don't. The days usually just require a light jacket...a far cry from last year at this time! So, I am ever so grateful...though we still need moisture.
I was not able to finish the children's new quilts in time, so they got what was finished with a promise to complete...someday.
The Drive Home...
Main St. Joplin
 |
| Main St. , Joplin |
 |
East of town- ground zero. |
Last week while Jeremiah and the kids were off school the rental house was gutted. Now it's time for the electrician and plumber to get in there.
Jo, Frank and the kids came in Friday afternoon and it was sort of a lazy weekend for me. We always end up staying up too late and I'm up early with chores so I felt like I sat on the couch much too much. The boys got a lot of work done on both trucks. Our glow plugs needed to be replaced and the brakes on Frank's truck needed some work. The rental house needed some things tidied up with the electrical so that the thermostat could be tied back in and a few other things that could not wait for the electrician due to exposed old knob and tube wiring.
In true Amanda fashion, I fell asleep well before midnight. Jo and I got in to my sewing room and de-clutterd on New Year's Dayfrom all the scraps and second quality diapers I'd been hoarding or not had the time to post for sale. They'll go to good use to a Grandma who watches her grand-baby.
The soap Jo and I made several weekends ago (http://marmaladehollow.blogspot.com/2011/12/another-fabulous-weekend.html) turned out really well. If you'll remember, I was worried the brown sugar soap would leave the user sticky. Quite the contrary! It's awesome stuff and smells divine...like a cookie! The weather, for this time of year, has been glorious- day time highs of 40s and 50 and a couple 60's have even crept in. I really can't complain. The nights have been hovering around freezing. Some mornings I have to break or pour off ice, other mornings I don't. The days usually just require a light jacket...a far cry from last year at this time! So, I am ever so grateful...though we still need moisture.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
The "What" of Chilly Mornings
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| What I've been pouring off the buck's water buckets |
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| What the temp is INSIDE the milk room! |
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| What awaits me. |
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| What's on the gate |
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| What I see as I return to the warm house |
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