Video Experiment

This is just me trying to upload a video. Hope it works!

"Drawers": A Poem

The drawers of pencils
pens
markers
scissors
forks
+ spoons
survived two boys
numerous play-dates
nieces
nephews
and random children
but it did not survive
Miss Lila
RIP easily accessible
pens
markers
scissors
forks
+ spoons
you are no longer safe
and neither are my floors.

Summer Reading

I think it's important to read to keep your brain fresh and to help you think about issues, people, and places that you usually wouldn't think about. I don't feel like people need to read above-level or even at-level books for this to work. Sometimes it's good to just read for enjoyment! The saddest thing to me is that so many students are turned off to reading entirely because they don't like the books they read in school. Summertime is the time to remedy that problem. I read all the books I've always wanted to read during the summer. I carefully chose the books I wanted to add for the English III summer reading list at EAHS. The one I am really excited about is Unwind by Neil Shusterman. It's a thought-provoking book about life after a second Civil War, which was fought over the issue of abortion. The book doesn't take sides in this ongoing debate but instead brings up multiple issues about the sanctity of life as well as the importance of choice and individuality. I also really liked the format and message of Crank by Ellen Hopkins but it was a little too intense for the summer reading list and has more inappropriate scenes. I recommend both for adults and older teenagers. Let me know if there are any books you read that you would like to recommend for my summer reading list!

Lila (almost) Age Two

Nostalgia

I think I have figured out why I love (most of) baseball season. I don't actually like baseball as a whole as much as I love everything it signifies. I like that it means spring and summer are on their way. I love that it means the end of school is coming soon. I love the memories of watching my oldest brother play baseball and then later being the batgirl for his team. I love the soft, fine, dirt of the baseball field, the cold of the bleachers on my legs, and even how clean you feel washing off after a summer night at the ball-game. I loved running back and forth to the concession stand. Usually I carried money I found under the bleachers, which had fallen out of various spectators' pockets. Neither of our boys are athletes at heart and both decided not to play baseball this year; I don't miss the hectic schedule and being out too late on school nights but I do miss the nostalgia I feel when I watch a ball game.

Crawfish Casserole

I am up and at 'em early thanks to a congested Lila. She couldn't suck on her pacifier because of congestion so she woke up at 4:15. I tried getting her to sleep in our bed which worked for a little while. Once the newness wore off she started getting restless so we got up. By 6:00 a.m. we'd had breakfast and done some laundry and cleaned some so now I am cooking some casseroles and she is playing with a basketball and a crawfish tray. I have doubled the recipe and am making one small casserole for us and one for a co-worker whose father passed away. This is what I'm cooking:

1 small pkg. saffron rice
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 cup chopped onion
1 stick butter (health nut here uses 1/2 stick-still tastes good to me!)
1 can Rotel tomatoes (spice to your liking)
1 lb crawfish tails
1 can cream of mushroom soup (use the lowfat--you'll never know)
grated cheddar cheese

Cook rice according to package directions. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Saute celery, bell pepper, and onion in butter. Add tomatoes and simmer 10 minutes. Combine cooked rice, tomato mixture, soup and crawfish in 9 X 13 casserole dish. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 325 for 30-40 minutes--until bubbly.

I have found that this is a recipe that you can just not bake right away and it will last in the refrigerator for a few days until you need it. I am not sure how it freezes; I don't always like dishes that involve frozen rice. I originally got the recipe from an old friend.

New Projects

Today I had the Stamping Ladies over for the first time in a long time. We made several cute projects at my Holly and Haunts class where I shared some good gift ideas and showed some new products that Stampin' Up! has. Some of these photos are better than others!