What's For Dinner- Amazing Scrap Stew and Egg Pizza

Tonight I'm going for something different and easy that we haven't had in awhile- Egg Pizza. I'll be adding cottage cheese to it as I happen to have a container that is close to the use by date.
I'll steam some veggies and add bread and butter to the table.

Yesterday I was completely flummoxed on what I should make for dinner. So I do what always works and I started pulling out stuff that was getting old. And then I decided to make a skillet stew.

I heated a wok with two tablespoons of butter and tossed in:

One chopped onion
One large sweet potato cut into small 1/2 inch pieces
Three small potatoes cut like the sweet potato
One carrot sliced into thin coins
One stalk of celery chopped into little pieces
Handful of broccoli
Two chopped garlic cloves
Half a bag of veggie crumbles
Four cups of water
One bouillon cube, some pork seasoning (I think it has thyme and sage in it), lots of salt and pepper.

I cooked it all until the liquid was mostly gone and the carrots and potatoes were soft. It was delicious. Next time I'll add more sweet potato. Even the picky 5 year old liked it.

Now I must go and actually make the egg pizza.

What's Flying Around Here

I'm working on gathering more donation stuff for yet another charity pick up. My goal is to at least have the same amount going out as I do coming in the door.

I'm hanging a load of laundry each day. I do use the dryer on days when I have more than one load. Like today when I had three. Someone got so upset over their math homework last night
that they got sick on their bed. Sometimes homeschooling seems like a great idea.

I started walking my dog everyday for at least 20 minutes so I can start getting into shape. Plus, she's so much happier when she gets out and about.

Flylady has been on my mind a lot lately. I always feel better about my house and myself when I do her program. So, today I listened to a podcast while I put away laundry. Dragging around the laptop is a pain though and it makes me want an mp3 player.

I have to run now and go poop scoop the back yard and hunt for broken toys to throw out.
It's a glamorous life and I know you are all jealous. All two of my readers, anyway.

My Life Right Now- In Pictures

I spent some of my birthday money on a metal drying rack.

I donated a bunch to the charity thrift store. This is just one load of a few.

I used some of our jack o' lanterns to make pumpkin puree. I froze four pies worth and made bread from the rest.

I tossed the rest in the backyard for compost and critter snacks.

Here's my kids trying on their Halloween costumes. Grandma bought them last year from the 90% off rack.

Everything is pretty good. My Mom is doing ok. Her last cancer scan was clear. However, her Dr. seems unconvinced that she is no longer terminal. But, I am a firm believer in the power of positive thinking and also that doctors are not infallible.
The kids are doing well in school. Little Guy is blossoming in Kindergarten and Big Girl is ahead in reading and doing better at math.
Hubby's work travel has slowed down a bit and we've been spending more family time together.
I am content with my lot. And am ready to enjoy the full offerings of November. This morning I told my daughter we weren't even going to think about Christmas until after Thanksgiving. I'm ready to relax and be thankful.

Cat Nipping Our Litter Box Aversion Problem In The Bud

I bought this expensive bottle of herbal cat litter attractant online. When I took my first whiff I knew the first ingredient was cat nip. Which I already had on hand. Which is much cheaper to buy as plain old cat nip.
But, guess what? It seems to be working.

I Went Through Some Stuff. Literally

Last week I loaded up the back of my car and dropped off a load at the charity shop. On Friday, I took two totes to the consignment store to sell. I ended up bringing most of that back but I made $25. I'm still nowhere close to the $1000. In truth I probably won't even come close to breaking $500. But, I'm still going to send the check for whatever I make to our mortgage company.

Our visitors left yesterday and my house is in that sweet spot between getting cleaner and getting messier. And I feel fairly motivated to keep going with the decluttering and deep cleaning.

My dog is back at home with me again. So glad to have her happy furry butt back. But, I can already see how much easier it is to keep the house clean without her bringing in bits of dirt and shed shed shedding her sheddy hairs all over. The price of dog love is a good vacuum, many lint rollers and frequent sweeping.

I wish I had something more exciting to write about but at this juncture right now I'm about cleaning and decluttering. And that's not particularly exciting to anyone except maybe my Husband.

Big Girl stayed home sick today and I must go. The kids are waiting on breakfast.

Be Gone Foul Specks (and cat urine)

Oh how I wax and I wane over the internal garage sale or donate debate. I had planned on doing a garage sale yesterday. Which is crazy because we are very busy right now. But, I could have fit it in between soccer games, seeing old friends, and cleaning for visitors. I could have.

Do you know what I did instead? I took my daughter to garage sales. I was prudent(ish) in my shopping. I let her buy a few things with her money with the caveat that she would get rid of stuff when we got home. (She did) I bought a few items of clothing her that she needed. (Brand new, tags still on Arizona jeans for 50 cents apiece!) I bought a Spam cookbook for a quarter that's going to be a Christmas gag (and barf) gift for Christmas. I bought a brand new Yankee candle for $2 (and threw out my Yankee store coupons when I got home). Do you know what? I realized by paying so little for that stuff that having a garage sales is a waste of my time. People want your stuff for nothing. It's much easier to donate and a take the tax deduction.

Today I am filling totes for consignment and filling bags for donation (including the toys Big Girl gave up). I want it all gone. And I want to keep getting rid of stuff until there is nothing left. I want moving from this house to be an actual possibility and not a complete dream because we have so much stuff to deal with.

On a completely different and way more frustrating note- my cat keeps peeing. And not in her litter box. I have taken to scooping the litter daily. I signed an agreement with the rescue group that I would return her if I didn't want her anymore and that I also would never make her an outside cat. It's just not conscionable for me to give her back knowing that this behavior will continue for another person. I'm almost positive that this is the reason she was given away in the first place. I don't really want an outside cat anyway. And other than the urine capers, I adore this cat. What am I to do????
I'm so not getting another cat. My beloved Fusty is 15 this year. He will leave a giant hole when he's gone. But, I cannot let myself fill it with another orange fluff ball. I think. My history has proven me wrong.

I'm Going Through Some Stuff.

I've got a running tally in my head of all the stuff I need to get done before we have company. I've been preoccupied.
Also, I've been addicted to catching up with the tv series Bones. I just started the 6th season. I don't know why I find it so refreshing. Probably because it's not a fluffy show and it's also not completely dark and depressing. It rides that line. And also I enjoy the quirky characters.

I have been practicing the exact opposite of frugality lately. I splurged on a new fall wardrobe and bought two new pairs of jeans, some accessories, and a few shirts. Even with coupons, I spent over $200. I also splurged on new make up, cat litter stuff for our behavioral peeing problem and some Christmas presents for the kids. No worries though. My credit card bill has been paid.

This past weekend was my 2oth high school reunion. I chose not to go and doing so has left me both relieved and sad. Almost everyone that I would actually care to see did not attend so I don't think I missed much. But, having grown up in a fairly small town with the same people and having the burden of my memories, I feel like I missed out. I can vividly recall what a lot of those people looked like with missing front teeth and Rainbow Brite and Hulk t-shirts. In a way I feel like I should have paid homage to that. So, in spite of the new infuriating changes Facebook has made I will keep my profile. It's a small way of keeping them a part of me.

Tomorrow is my 39th birthday. I don't know how I got here so fast. I still feel like a teenager so much. And yet I can totally see myself as a grumpy old lady on the front porch yelling at the whipper snappers. I have one more year before I know I will be a total old lady. My apologies to anyone over 40. I'm sure I'll feel differently once I pass that hurdle. Right now I'm fighting it tooth and nail.

And now onto that pile in the hallway that I've been ignoring for months. Yes, months.