November 2, 2007

• Mexican Food, Firewood, and Thanksgiving

  My!  My!  Is it really Friday???

  This has been a relaxing week for me, although I've had an extra doctor appointment (for Luci) and Jesse has been out of his normal routine (not much grass growing these days!).   I've had a dumb headache (extremely rare for me) and haven't tried to do much of anything.

  Jesse invited me to join him for lunch today with two high school friends whose birthdays were October 15th & 30th.  He missed them both!  I figured it was a guy-thing and was surprised he asked.  Of course, if you invite me - you invite the girls!  The guys have a Mexican restaurant they enjoy in an adjoining city and I think that's the plan.  Luci has a 4pm appointment, so I have to pick her up (up the street from our house) at 3:30pm.  Until then, I'm a semi-free woman!

  We were blessed yesterday with firewood - and LOTS of it.  Jesse pays his helper weekly - regardless if they work a 5 day week or not.  Since lawns were caught up, he had the helper ride with him to he's brother's wooded area in SE Oklahoma where they loaded tree limbs (seasoned wood) on the lawn trailer, came back to the house, and cut it into fireplace-size pieces.  We ended up with 2 1/2 - 3 ricks of wood.  Plenty for this winter and maybe into next winter.  He figured it cost $70 in gasoline;  he took my Suburban, which has a tow package.  The cheapest price he's found in the city for a rick of wood is $90 and that's not guaranteed to be all seasoned pieces.  So we feel doubly blessed!  We had planned to go get the wood this weekend, but his brother's wife had an injury (another story) and isn't healing well.  I figured she wasn't up to company - which would include our 3 children.

  I am looking forward (not) to my dentist appointment next Tuesday.  The final crown is to be affixed.  My tooth, or gumline, is still very sore from last week, and I'm leery about having them poke around in that area, again.  Yet, I'm anxious to have the whole mess finished and my mouth healed before Thanksgiving.  I haven't eaten on the left side of my mouth since the tooth cracked back in June!  I'm surprised my whole face hasn't shifted to the right!

  I'm proud of myself, menu-wise, in my forever quest to save money.  I've been taking advantage of leftovers and creating new meals.  My "raw" chicken was boiled the other day to assure me it wouldn't kill or injure us; and I made chicken and noodles lastnight.  Thursday and Friday are the weekdays I come home late because of the girls' appointments & errands and an easy dinner is a must for me.  I only had to boil the noodles, then throw in the cooked chicken and broth with some leftover mixed vegetables.  There was a (very) small storage container left after everyone had seconds!  I put a loaf of whole wheat bread on the table and didn't mess with trying to prepare rolls.  It was a winner!

  Good news about Luci-Goosey.  Luci's been delightful to be with lately; cute and very funny.  We're so pleased with her progress.  Our prayers are being answered as we continually pray for her mind to be healed and normal.  I know she can't always control her outbursts - but she is trying SO VERY hard!  The doctor, who prescribes her medications, noticed a significant difference yesterday.  I took her to the grocery store with me after the medical appointment (something I wouldn't have attempted 6 months ago) and she was a model child.  Several times she protested that she needed another drink or had to go to the restroom (twice) and I acquiesced and had Rissy take her.  I never know whether to believe her or not (since she complains all the time about everything) and figured it was better to play it safe than sorry!  Not one temper tantrum from her, nor one teary whine!  Several times she asked for something she saw on the shelf (the girls aren't allowed to ask for things when we grocery shop - ESPECIALLY while standing in the check-out line) and she caught herself saying, "Oh yeah, when I shop with Mom I'm not supposed to ask for junk!"  Her huge effort made me smile.

  I read on the blog of  purpleamythest that Thanksgiving is three weeks away.  Eeeeeek!!!  That was the second time this week I heard "three" weeks.  I thought it was always the last Thursday of the month - so I thought we had four weeks.  Not that I'm going to run out and buy a turkey this week, but I need more time to plan this year and get used to the idea of cooking a big meal.  I think I'm up to it (physically) with Stephanie's help, but I feel slower and need the mental time to prepare.  I'll be keeping the menu minimal and just cooking the bare essentials that the family thinks they can't live without.  I asked Jesse what he felt he HAD to have for a Thanksgiving dinner.  He was so helpful: he said, "A turkey!"  He asked for a special fruit salad and when I told Stephanie to think about what things she just HAD to have, she agreed the fruit salad was a must.  I'll probably have her make that and a few other things that are easy.  She wants to be around when I put the turkey and dressing together so she can learn how I do it.

  LOL!  Jesse just walked in from the garage and through the room.  He's wearing combat-looking boots, camouflage pants, a black shirt that says, "Hate the sin, Love the sinner," and a dark knit cap.  With his full black beard and tinted glasses, I told him he looked like he was getting ready to rob a bank.  He quickly quipped, "I guess I shouldn't wear my full face mask, then?"

  On to bigger and more productive things!

  • 10:27 am
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