Sugar Rush

Growing up there was always sweet tea. We never called it that because with parents who hailed from 
The South, there was no other kind but sweet.


I loved it when my folks would have guests over. Like a good little hostess I would offer iced tea, then 
stand and watch purely for the pleasure of seeing their eyes get wide as the sugar rush enveloped them.


Take that Nebraska!


Never made sweet tea before you say? Well here's how:


Sweet Tea (makes 2 quarts)
1.
Fill small saucepan 1/2 full of water and bring to a boil.
2.
Remove from burner and immediately drop in 6 regular (3 family) sized tea bags.
   (Never boil tea, it gets bitter) Set aside to steep for five minutes.
3.
Fill your pitcher 1/4 full of cold water.
Add 3/4 sugar, then add the hot tea. (Adding hot tea directly to sugar can make it taste scorched) 
Stir to dissolve sugar then finish filling pitcher with cold water.
4.
Enjoy over ice.

Gasp... Hand Wash Only??

Are you kidding me?


I'm of the school of thought that you toss it in the washer and hope for the best. 
If it doesn't make it through, it wasn't meant to be.


So imagine my horror when I noted my new summer top said hand wash only. 
OMG, it's cotton for goodness sake.


So I tossed it in and hoped for the best. 


I pulled out a wad of cloth two sizes smaller and a handful of beads. 


Are you kidding me?

So mom... Happy Mother's Day, late :-)

So mom... do you think she should have said that 'cause I really don't 
think she should have said that...


Sheesh mom... did you see that hat? I expected her to lift off any moment...


You're right mom... you can never have too much banana cake or 
coke on ice...


Mom rides shotgun when I'm tooling around town. And I'm talking about the "stylin" mom, the "girlfriend" mom you bounce ideas off, the one in a photo from 1940 striding arm-in-arm down the street with her girlfriends, her quirky smile in full bloom, ready to reek havoc on the unsuspecting.


It's usually when I'm deep in thought that she makes a point of speaking up. 
I nod, I smile, I pretend to agree.


I absolutely love to hear her take on things. It gives my life perspective.


You know Kris... if that woman would just stand straight and swing her hips a little she'd look five years younger and ten pounds lighter by the time she reaches the mall door...


You know Kris... every woman has an arsenal. It's not her looks it's her wits. And honey, they can be lethal if need be.


Mom died a few years ago. But she is with me every single day. So when you see that lady next to you at the stoplight who is laughing like crazy or talking to herself. Don't get nervous, it's just me and my mom, ready to reek havoc on the unsuspecting.

Crowd control

So it's Sunday morning and I'm going to get ahead of it today. 


I'm out mowing at 9am (earliest respectable time to do it, right?). Then on to a little gardening when I determine that the rabbits have just about rendered my Hostas nonexistent. 


No problem, I bought some stuff last fall that the garden center guy PROMISED would repel the  critters. 
I just never got around to using it.


I spray the hostas, day lilies, columbine... heck I spray just about every emerging plant I can find. 
And being on the roll that I am I decide to go get some more flowers to plant. 


The place is packed!! 
But as I walk among the bedding plants I notice no one is crowding me. 
In fact are people actually steering clear of me? 
(maybe this would be a good time to mention my allergies have been acting up and I can't smell a thing?)


Lesson learned...
Just why is that rabbit repellent so effective? The main ingredient is Fox urine you say? 
Yes, that awful urine/poop fragrance IS coming from the overspray on my shoes.


Enough said.

Things I found out at Easter dinner

1. 
A convection oven is a marvelous thing if you forget to take the pork roast out of the freezer.


2. 
The cat LOVES pork roast and next time I'll put the leftovers away before 
walking company out to their cars.


3. 
Some kids only like the soft part of the dill pickle spear. (I discovered this after finding 
pickle rinds tucked under dishes when clearing the table.)


4. 
Toddlers LIKE the taste of jellied cranberry sauce, 
but they LOVE the "squish through your fingers" factor.


5. 
Refer to #2 but think deviled eggs.


6. 
There is never enough chocolate covered anything.

Family Meal Rules

I come from a long line of talkers. No, let me amend that... I come from a long line of southern women (same difference). A topic touched upon quite regularly was the evening meal. I thought they were nuts, but over the years I can see they were on to something. 

Here's  my mom in, yep you got it... apron and heels fixing dinner as a newlywed.

1. 
Set the table every night. Knife and spoon on the right, fork on the left. Even if you are just eating leftovers or fast food, it makes the meal important.
2. 
Weeknight meals are those that can be on the table in 30 minutes or less. 
3. 
Why say something out loud if it isn't interesting? That's just a waste of breath. So create interesting conversation. "What happened today that was amazing, gross, exhausting, etc?" and lots of "What would you do ifs ?" 
4. 
Remember it's not just the food that's important. It's the joy of sitting together around the  table, the only distraction being the outrageous comment my mom could always come up with if things got to dull. 


Don't get discouraged, it takes time and a lot a grumpiness till things fall in line.

The Two Dads

Getting my cart at Target Saturday morning I saw two dads with their daughters. 

One coming in and one going out.

Dad 1: 

"Love your boots, Katie. They go great with your hoodie."

Dad 2: 

"Yeah they go great once we found the blue hoodie."

"But hey Sarah, I like your hair back in a band like that, way cool."

Dad 1: 

"Oh man, you should have seen it without the band. 

We couldn't have left the house like that."

This continues as the dads stop traffic in the doorway and the girls 

frantically tug on their hands go make them go.

As I walk away to do my shopping my mind is now 

trying to wrap itself around MY dad in that situation.... 

Nah, that would have been in the 50's. 

That would NEVER have happened :-)