Whining

I sat in the floor and cried. I cried until there wasn't anymore tears left.

Colton used to have a hamster named Lil Bitty when he was about four. She wasn't named that because she was teeny tiny. She was named that because she was just that... a bitty.

Bitty had the same routine. Every night she would get up, go to her litter box (yes, she was potty trained), roam around inside her cage until we noticed her; then, I'd put her in her ball where she traveled aimlessly for an hour around the house. She would then bite me or at least try, as I put her back in her freshly cleaned home and she would eat, then go to sleep.

My life is a lot like Bitty's was. I get up, go to the bathroom, travel aimlessly for about an hour (drive to Springfield), then eat and go to bed. The only thing is, I have no one to clean my house. I have to do it. Lately, I haven't had time and this morning I'm just feeling was overwhelmed.

Steve left mad at me. Evidently, I'm a negative person. I'm also a smartass. He's fed up with all of it!!! I started to text him after he left and ask if that made me a negative smartass but I let it go.

Colton is sick. Heaven help any woman that ever marries this child. He is the most humongous baby when he is sick. I have to take his temperature at least every 15 minutes. And when he says the word, Mom. He sounds just like a baby calf. I have told him that at least 100 times in the last day. I keep asking where the baby calf I hear bellaring is.

On top of this, he is missing practice today. I figure I have a few families totally whizzed at me over that. Too bad.

Dad started cutting hay this morning. We're all hoping that we don't have any pop up showers. Colton is worried he won't be able to rake on Monday.

I'm beginning to think I should have taken the summer off.

Paden broke Mom's toe last week, on top of everything else. Broke it clean in half. He's such a little brute.

Somedays, I just feel like I'm only around for laundry, cleaning and cooking. Today is one of those. I think I know how the house slaves used to feel. I told Colton, I should just get a real good tan and an apron and he could ring a bell and could start answering all of them, "Yes, Master". Or maybe in Paden's case, "Yes, your Royal Highness".

Steve doesn't help. He sits around and watches television. Gripes about the house being a wreck. Gripes if I miss a couple questions on a test. Gripes if there isn't any money in the checking account.

Somehow, he has developed this thing that I shop all the time. I do seem to shop a lot lately. The thing is, I don't enjoy anything I have been shopping for. I guess maybe I should start shooting that muzzle loader, rifle, and shotgun. I guess I should be the one going to Colorado Elk hunting this fall. I guess I should be the one getting all the new hunting crap.

I'm ready to be through with school. I want to start having a paycheck where I can buy my own truck. One that I actually want. If I want to spend money on something, it'll be my money and I won't feel bad for spending it on me.

Me, well, I'll quit whining now. I have a load of laundry to fold and I think I may have built up a few tears that need to be shed.

Blue Plate Monday ~ Vegetable Salad Recipe

It's Monday and we all know that means Blue Plate Monday at (un)Deniably Domestic. Kelly has cooked up a beautiful cherry pie and it has the most gorgeous crust on it. Please follow her link and go check it out.

I have a couple friends that follow my blog that I sincerely wish would join us for Blue Plate Monday. I know that one in particular could produce recipes for some wonderful homecooking for the hectic lifestyle. By hectic I mean, farmers. Dairy farmers, to be precise. There are four lady dairy farmers from here in Buffalo. They are some wonderful, talented ladies and I am so honored to have them in my life, though I don't get to spend as much time as I would like visiting with them. I very much respect each of these wonderful ladies. Each has something that they are very good at and together they make the most awesome team and family.

Now, onto the story of my recipe...

I can remember my grandma making this every summer. In July we always had the Wing Family reunion that we went to, which was my Grandma's mothers side of the family. This salad was a popular dish and she would make up a super large bunch of it because she would never have leftovers and we liked it at home too.

Today, her sister makes this dish a lot and takes it to many church dinners and also to what is left of the Wing family reunion.

I was craving this salad this weekend. I barbequed for the boys on Saturday and made Grandma's Potato Salad, Vegetable Salad, Corn, and Baked Beans. We had fresh leaf lettuce and radishes from the garden to round out our meal. Yes, I know that sounds like tons of salads but it is the time of year that I keep a couple made up in the fridge. This always makes dinner so much easier if you are in rush too because you only have to worry about the meat to go with it.

I'm sorry that I can't post a picture of my salad. I still haven't picked up that camera battery. My Wal-Mart doesn't carry it and I forgot to stop in Springfield. I also refuse to buy another one at Radio Shack if it's not going to last longer than a couple weeks and a handful of uses.

Alice's Vegetable Salad

1 can Shoe Peg Corn (white)

1 can French Style Green Beans

1 can Peas and Carrots

1 cup celery, diced fine

1 small onion, diced fine

1/2 to 1 cup green pepper, diced fine

1/2 cup red pimento peppers

2/3 cup vinegar

1/3 cup oil

3/4 cup sugar

Mix vegetables together, then add oil, vinegar and sugar.

Refridgerate.

One other thing...

The Miley Cyrus song that plays...

Well, I was asked why I have Miley on my blog and the answer is this. It's not that I particularly care for her. It's the song itself. I couldn't stand it when I first heard it. Then I listened to the lyrics the next time I heard it. I'm not sure that it fits her to sing it, I think it should be an slightly older singer singing it but the lyrics are what I love. It really hit home and I have made it my theme song.

I fight that stupid voice inside my head telling me that I can't make it all the time and I just keep my head high and keep trudging on. My life most days feels like an uphill battle but I keep climbing and that's why this song is on here.

Hope that clarifies everything for the person that asked.

Two

Two weeks. Two weeks? When did that two weeks go into fast forward? I went through my second set of pre-semester jitters Friday. I went to campus for a little bit and came home a laid on the couch sick. I took some Excedrin and in a few hours I was better. Steve reminded me that I done this before Spring sememster also.

I look around and I have two, yes two room left to clean. Colton is on his own at this point but Paden and the living room definitely have got to have help. Colton sprung two laundry baskets of laundry from his room on me. Where did all that come from? I have done laundry almost daily for the last two weeks. Not over the top, throw the baby in the washing machine to stomp it down so you can get more in, laundry. Just regular loads. You know, daily towels from showers for one adult, one pre-teen, and one little person. And the little person tries to never wear anything but underwear so he usually don't dirty too much. He does like to change underwear almost everytime he goes but he's getting better. I let him do it. At least he has clean undies.

My kitchen is pretty sparkly and even after cooking a few meals I have kept it clean. I'm amazed!

I've decided to read two chapters in each of my two classes that I am taking this summer. I think that would be reasonable. I've never had summer courses so I don't know how many chapters we will actually cover during a class period but I'm sure I'm going to learn tomorrow.

Colton is at YHEC practice. He was going to practice two disciplines today. When I talked to Steve he was working on his compass and orienteering. He's pretty handy at it and if I was lost in the woods, I'd trust him to get us home with his compass.

We have approximately two weeks until his State YHEC contest. We practice two times a week with the group.

I have been farming today on FarmTown on Facebook. I got to upgrade my farm. This is my second upgrade in the last two days. I am hoping to upgrade again in two more days.

I have gotten back into contact with so many high school friends since joining Facebook but in the last two weeks I have really gotten to find a whole bunch and my friends list has more than doubled.

Well, I better go and clean my two rooms, so I can read my two chapters in each of my two books before my two wayward fellows return home.

Everybody check in tomorrow and see what I've cooked up for Blue Plate Monday with Kelly at (un)Deniably Domestic. I won't be creative with pictures because I am minus a camera battery. Mine went kaput. It's on my list of things I need to pick up at the store for Thursday.

See ya tomorrow!

RITZ Broccoli Casserole recipe at Kraftfoods.com

RITZ Broccoli Casserole recipe at Kraftfoods.com

Shared via AddThis

Just Rambling...

I have a lot of things I can talk about but none that is really important. I have been so busy this last two weeks but I feel as if I have accomplished nothing.

I started cleaning last week and so far I've only made it through two rooms. My kitchen is looking mighty Spic n Span. (pun) My bathroom is clean and tidy and so many things that needed tossed in medicine cabinets and makeup drawers are now gone. I found a new cleaning solution by Mr. Clean that I absolutely love and as soon as I get my camera battery tomorrow I will put a picture on here.

Paden's mess has been moved into the hallway and into the living room. Well, I should say most of it. I really thought I would get his room finished and I have got to by Sunday night. Somewhere between shooting practice on Saturday and shooting practice on Sunday I have to get that done.

Bandit is making himself right at home and has fit in with Shadow, Hank & Frank quite nicely. I take that back. He has fit in well with everyone but Hank. Hank, he's kind of an outlaw. He really doesn't like anybody. Yes, I have four dogs during the day. Mom or Dad will bring the Bassetts over and put them in my yard during the day because the lober heads are like any other Bassett and have a mind of their own and don't listen, so they get to spend the day in my yard cause it's bigger than their pen.

My desk needs a thorough cleaning. I have piles here. Piles there. I have acquired things that I'm really not sure where they came from. I'm keeping all my notebooks from my first semester. Two of the classes I take this fall build on two of the classes I took this spring and I figure I might refer back to these notes.

I have discovered Facebook. I have had such a joyous time hooking back up with my high school classmates. Most of us still live around here but we never run into each other. I have became a FarmTown addict on Facebook, too. My brain is going to turn to mush if I play it much more.

Steve is out of town until sometime Sunday, most likely late Sunday evening.

Now, the news is talking about hugging being a problem in schools. What is the deal? Why can people not hug? This is stupid. Do we not, as a nation, have other things to focus our attentions on? Is hugging so wrong? Why don't the schools focus their attention on providing an above average education to the students and not worry about who's hugging who in the hallway? Is the issue at hand, someones going to feel they are not getting the appropriate amount of hugs?

Tomorrow, I have seven stops to make in Springfield. I'm going to work on whittling those all down. I have five I must make. The bike shop and going by Cox may have to wait. That's all on the south side of Springfield and otherwise I just need center city or eastern Springfield.

I also need to read at least a couple chapters in each of my classes so that I will be prepared for Monday. I may do that later tonight. I watched Marley and Me last night. It wasn't as good as the book, but what movie is? I started crying about 30 minutes before the dog ever died because I knew what was coming. I went to bed all red, puffy eyed, and sniffling. I woke up with a stopped up nose because of it but it went away soon after waking up.

I need to help find six more people to make up a Hunter's Ed class for this weekend. Anybody that's interested let me know. Remember your child must be 11 years old. It will be in Fair Grove if we can find enough people.

Now, that wraps up my hectic life. How is everybody in blog land?

Blue Plate Monday-Shepherd's Pie

Good Memorial Day Monday!!!

I was happy to see Kelly over at (un)DeniablyDomestic posted her Blue Plate Monday special last night. Come on and join us as we dig in the recipe boxes and find some scrumptiouly good meals to serve to your loved ones that we serve to ours.

Here's how my day went:

I went to Bass Pro today and fought all the tourists to find Colton some stuff he needed for YHEC and a new pair of hiking boots because his foot is growing so fast.

We stopped in Fair Grove on the way home and Steve got a new dog. He's a Blue Heeler named Bandit. He was a pup out of one of our friends dogs' and they had not been able to give him away so Steve decided he needed him. He seems to be pretty laid back and has slept all afternoon since he had a bath in my bedroom floor by Steve's side of the bed. I'll post pictures later but if anybody would like a little female they have one left.

So, anyway after spending way over the alotted amount at Bass Pro, Steve has to take leftovers for a couple days until payday. So, I was going to make Alabama French Toast for dinner but that changed. Instead, I made a Shepherd's Pie.

Colton, really enjoyed this and it should be relatively easy to pack and reheat for lunch tomorrow for Steve. I like making dishes like this because everything is almost all in one bowl. You just have to serve with a salad and dessert and you're finished.

I have made Shepherd's Pies before and basically I just made this one up as I went. So here it goes.

Gina's Shepherds Pie

2#'s Ground Beef

1 onion, chopped

Salt and Pepper, to taste

1 can each

Green Beans

Peas

Carrots

Corn

1 box Garlic Roasted Mashed Potatoes

1) You brown the hamburger and onions. And you fix the potatoes, at the same time in another pan.

2) Then, I greased a 9 x 13, casserole dish. I put the ground beef and onion mixture on the bottom of the casserole dish.

3) Then, I layered the canned vegetables.

3) I placed, the mashed potatoes on top and placed it in the oven at 350 degrees.

4) I cooked this until it was bubbly and the potatoes were starting to brown. If you want browner peaks you can broil for the last couple of minutes but I have a gas oven and I hate to use the broiler.

5) Yell, Dinner's Ready!!! Watch the troops head for the kitchen.