miss me yet? I'll be extending that sabbatical

I've been missing for a bit.  Working on some personal illness issues, and a few other things that have come up.  I'm going to be unplugging for a bit.  It's time for me to slow down again, re-evaluate where I'm at, and how that works with what road I want to be on.

Am I crazy?  Maybe.  I can't imagine not being online.  In fact, I don't even want to promise that I won't be here, facebook, or other blogs next week.  I just feel the need to back away for a bit.  I find myself sucked into the next best thing, every day.  I love all of the information that is out there and I want to implement it all into my life.  But, I've found that I'm "researching" more than I'm sharing.  My bookmarks are out of control, seriously, tasteology is dangerous.  I haven't the slightest idea what to write about for my next addition to Homegrown.org even though I've tried many new things since my last article.  I'm might take a break there too.

I feel burnt out.  My eyes hurt.  My brain hurts.  I probably don't remember half of the stuff that I've crammed in my mind over the last week.  But it's all been amazing, I'm sure of it.

Can I do it?  Sure. Will I stick with it?  Hopefully.  If anything, I can re-evaluate what's going on with me and just slow down.

much love -

tory

a new dinner plan

I've found a new, free menu planning site.  Say Mmm.... is my new go to and it's basic service is FREE!  It has features such as meal planning, creating lists, and recipe organization.  It's really easy to throw everything in one place and be able to print up your shopping list from your menu plan and your recipes-you can even adjust it for what's already in your pantry!  Below is this week's dinner menu plan, which is almost guaranteed to change at a moments notice.  

Day	Dinner
Sun 5/22	Keilbasa, Potato salad, &  rolls
Mon 5/23	Rice noodles w/ cabbage, Cilantro, & sprouts
Tue 5/24	Egg flower soup &  rice
Wed 5/25	Scrambled egg burritos
Thu 5/26	Chicken & veggie skewers -stir fry veggies
Fri 5/27	Pancakes/pizza - crepes
Sat 5/28	Leftovers/new recipe

 and sometime this week I'll start entering my recipes for the above mentioned dinners and have links that you can print from!  Oh, how dreamy and technologically advanced I'm becoming.  I know, I'm a little slow.  Hey, I've got dirt under my nails from digging in the garden -so much more satisfying than seeing my recipes on the internets, but I get asked enough and I do love to share.

I'm a mom. It's what I do.

Kids.  You got ‘em?  I do, just a few.  And one extra.   My kids are a lot like me.  They love to get outside.  They love to get dirty.  They love to see what they can do, how to do it, and how it will affect them and others. 


Sometimes they get distracted.

That’s alright.  I’m there to clean it up.  I’m a mom.  It’s what I do.

Sometimes they forget.

That’s alright.  I’m there to remind them.  I’m a mom.  It’s what I do.

Sometimes they don’t want to do it.

That’s alright.  I’m there to do it for them.  I’m a mom.  It’s what I do.

They love that we can grow our own food.  That we can bake our bread from scratch.  That we can eat as a family for dinner.  They love learning about conserving, reusing, recycling, reducing, sustaining.  Learning is what kids do.  I’m a mom.  It’s what I do.  

happy mother's day friends

More of the madness

but I'm making my way back

 natalie very proud of her seeds

 chives doing well after being transplanted in the raised beds

 Calendula and lettuce starts in the new raised beds

 lucy's artwork displayed in the front of the house

 Jaguar at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle

 baby jersey at Dungeness Valley Creamery

lucy & me at preschool

we've been busy...

 llama at the Olympic Game Farm 

 Lucy and Natalie's arm

 Mariah, Natalie, Lucy, and Zak ~March 2011

Happy Days!

my plans for the weekend -what are you doing?

I'm am super excited for the Seattle Tilth Edible Plant sale this Saturday.  I have managed to talk (no pressure) my mom and mother-in-law in to attending with me -both huge plant lovers, like me.  I've been drooling over the plant list for weeks and trying to figure out what I'll be bringing home.  I'm definitely going to have a hard time not bringing one or two of everything home with me!

This weekend we will be celebrating with family.  My son's birthday was yesterday(the 16th) and my eldest daughter's birthday is the 28th.  So, this weekend is when we can coordinate with everyone.  We'll be doing the usual, dinner out, then to my sister's place in North Seattle to enjoy ice cream cake and prezzies.  Then the next day is nothing short of epic.  We are going to the Pacific Science Center to see a special exhibit.... STAR WARS!!!  Everyone in this family is so excited and can hardly wait.

needless to say it has not been the frugalist of weeks for dinners.  We've had take-out pizza, and chinese buffet so far.  Tonight, seeing that it's St. Patrick's Day, we're having a very traditional -although, not special according to the Irish, Irish dinner.  Corned Beef and Cabbage with potatoes and carrots.  I totally cheated and bought my brisket at Costco as a packaged Corned Beef.  But I cut the damn potatoes, carrots, and cabbage myself!  Then, I threw it all in the crockpot.  

Happy St. Patrick's Day my friends!

missing menu, missing camera, missing my laptop, and missing you.

Better late than never, right?  Friday morning I awoke to a major disappointment.  My laptop was dead.  There is nothing.  I power it on, and it's black.  No noise.  Nothing.  Tears and sad clown faces.  That's how I feel.  So, what is an internet addicted mama supposed to do?  Steal her teenager's laptop.  Mah, she doesn't really need it.  She's at school all day, and when she's home doing homework, I'm usually in the kitchen.  It all works out eh?

I forgot about spring sports starting this week.  Really, I don't know how anyone can stick to menu planning when you have a preteen and teenager that are both in spring sports.  It's a good thing that we have one more year before the littles start spring sports.  I don't know how we'll do it then, but we might be taking some friend's parents up on those ride offers.  For now, we split dinner times.  Kids eat when they can -either before or after practice.

Sunday: leftovers
Monday: leftover sandwiches/pancakes/soup -Nice mashup?  Not all together, but don't put it past us
Tuesday:  Spaghetti
Wednesday:  Quesadillas -chicken/cheese
Thursday:  steamed chicken, brown rice, and broccoli
Friday:  drive-thru :) -heading out of town for the weekend
Saturday: eatin' out
Sunday: eatin' out

The week before last, the kids and I decided to try out a new cookie recipe.  Family Circle's Double Chocolate Cookies um.  Yeah.  These were great to work up with the kids - all four of my crazies helped out.    We made them exactly as the recipe said - no substitutions needed.  And they were great!  They were quick to put together and pretty darn good.  One comment was heard, but it was minor.  The big kids wanted chunks in their cookies.  So next time we make them, we'll definitely leave some of the milk chocolate in bigger pieces.  If you have trouble viewing the recipe link let me know, I have no problem writing it up.  Also, sorry no pictures.  They're on the missing point-&-shoot Nikon.  *sad face*