I know it is gross

ok....I know it is gross, but I just had to share my Kitchen injury.



I sliced a big hunk out of my right index finger when using my brand new (and very sharp) mandoline slicer.


Matt said he need to hire me a "keeper" to watch over me when he is not around.


But I know he just loves it when I wake him up and say "Honey, I cut myself and I can't get it to stop bleeding"


I know...... I'm a mess!

Back to Work

Hubs saw his Surgeon yesterday. He has been released for full duty. He will go back to his old midnight shift on Monday Night.

That was an concerning, interesting, frustrating couple of months. But I am glad My Man pulled thru and we are slowly but surely getting back to our new normal.

Meet Hubs

I got this list from Susie at http://rabbitruncottage.blogspot.com

I thought it would be fun for you to learn more about Hubs:


1. He's sitting in front of the TV; what is on the screen?
The Military Channel, The Discovery Channel, The History Channel or Sci Fi Channel

2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad?
Thousand Island

3. What's one food he doesn't like?
Sweet Potatoes. Vegetables in general and he has got a weird thing about food texture too.....

4. You go out to the bar. What does he order?
Iced Tea or maybe the occasional Beer

5. Where did he go to high school?
Vandalia Butler

6. What size shoe does he wear?
12

7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be?
Guns, Guns and more Guns and any thing to do with Guns

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich?
Bologna, American Cheese and Tomato Slice

9. What would this person eat every day if he could?
Chips and Salsa

10. What is his favorite cereal?
Life Cereal topped with Honey

11. What would he never wear?
I don't think he would ever wear any type of costume

12. What is his favorite sports team?
The Detroit Tigers

13. Who will he vote for?
The Republican

14. Who is his best friend?
Bob
* It is my sneaking suspicion that he likes Bob more than he likes me!

15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn't do?
Worry so much about thinks I cannot control

16. How many states has he lived in?
Ohio and Texas

17. What is his heritage?
Irish and German

18. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind of cake?
Yellow Cake with Chocolate Icing. Has to be served COLD. Straight from the Frig.

19. Did he play sports in high school?
Baseball and Wrestling

20. What could he spend hours doing?
Playing with Guns, Shooting Guns. Looking at Guns, Talking about Guns. Guns, Guns and more Guns.

Talking to Bob

Happy Anniversary

Matt,

We have been through a lot in these 4 years. And here we are still in love.

I love you and I love the life that we have made together.

Happy Anniversary!

Carolyn

Jack

We had homemade milkshakes the other night.

Jack was very interested in Matt's empty cup.

So Matt tilted the cup to see what Jack would do..........

He stuck his head all the way into the cup to lick the bottom.

Too funny not to share!

Our Magazine

I found a fun web site where you can make a magazine cover. http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/

What do think of our Magazine......would you buy it???

A Mystery

I got a Mother Earth News Magazine in the mail yesterday. Whoooo Hooooo. I love that magazine!!

The thing is...... I didn't order the subscription. I asked my Mother in Law if she got it for me and she said no. I asked Matt if he got it for me and he said no. Who else would have ordered me a magazine subscription?!?!?!

Why do I bother?

Hubs decided to have some Homemade Bread with the Amish Butter today. Afterwards I asked what he thought of the Butter. He said he didn't like it because it wasn't as easy to spread as margarine. I explained he could wait for it to soften a bit or put a hunk in the microwave to soften it. But he said he prefers the margarine over the REAL Butter!?!?!

He also didn't like the bread because I used half whole wheat flour and half white flour. (Trying to get a few whole grains into his diet). He said he would like it better if it was just plain white bread!

I can tell this is gonna be a fight to get him to eat real, whole, good for you foods. Makes me wonder if it is even worth the bother of finding and cooking the good food if he isn't going eat it.

But I guess he will it anything if he gets hungry enough.

Flagpole

Hubs is a patriotic dude. Since we moved into this house he has wanted a Flagpole in the front yard.

We found a cool collapsible Flagpole at a home show recently and we brought it home.

We had a weekend project last weekend and now we have a Flagpole in the front yard.

More Frugal

More ways we are being Frugal:

I love clothslines! Nothing like the smell of sheets dryed in the sun. But in this day and age you hardly see them anymore. Then I started thinking about how we could save money by not running the Dryer so much. So asked Hubs to make a clothsline in the back yard. We went to Home Depot and got the supplies. Hubs strung the line from fence post to fence post and put in some little gadget that will allow us to adjust the tension in the line. And we can take it down when not in use. I ran a load of laundry and hung it out to dry last night. It worked great!Great Job, Honey. I love it.


As a reward to myself when I quit smoking, I got artifical nails. I have had them ever since (4 years ......Go me with the not smoking). But I was getting tired of always having to be careful so as not to break a nail or wrecking the polish. And the money I was spending each month...... On something that God gave me and that grow for free! So I had my acrylic nails removed. This one has been a little tough for me. I am so used to my nails being pretty and I like that. My real nails are jacked up and really thin and weak......And not so pretty! So I am struggling with this one. I just keep trying to think about how much money I will save in a month! And my nails will grow back thicker and healthier, I just got to give it time.

iPod

iPod. The little wonder by Apple. I wonder how much money they have made with the iPods because it would seem EVERYONE has one.


Here's a sampling of my Playlist:

Thank you
Ironic
Uninvited
You oughta know all by Alanis Morrisette
Like you'll never see me
No One by Alicia Keys
Rehab
You know that I'm no good by Amy Winehouse
Love Shack by the B 52's
Do Me by Bell Biv Devoe
Humpin' around by Bobby Brown
The Boy is Mine by Brandy
Go rest high on that mountain by Vince Gill
Not ready to make nice by The Dixie Chicks
No Ordinary Love by Sade
King of Pain
Don't stand so close to me by The Police
Buttons by The Pussy Cat Dolls
My Boo by Usher
Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice
And many more.........
( I would hate to think how much we have spent on iTunes. But for Hubs.......Music is a NEED!)

Do you have an iPod?

What is on your Playlist?

Being Frugal

Hubs and I are really trying to be more Frugal. Spending our money wisely and not spending money on things we don't need. That seems to be the biggest problem for both of us. We are both compulsive buyers. We have to keep saying " Do we NEED it or do we WANT it?" With our savings we are paying down bills and trying to save a little money.

One of the frugal things we did this past month was open the windows. Sounds easy enough... right? Ohio weather cooperated with us and we had some beautiful weather. We were able keep the temperature at a comfortable level just by opening and closing the windows. We probably only had the heat or A/C on than 3 or 4 times in May. We didn't really think of the savings until we got the Power Bill. We owe $40 for the month of May! Wow!

Another thing I did was investigate alternate food sources. I read some articles on how to save money on your food purchases. Both mentioned going to Dollar Stores (Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Big Lots and Dollar General and the like) for food items. While I frequent the Dollar Stores, I don't normally purchase food items. So I went to Dollar General the other day and checked out the food. I was amazed!!! I got a majority of the pantry items that were on my Grocery list and it only cost me $35.00!!!! Name Brand BBQ Sauce for a $1. Name Brand Pickles for $2. Stuffing Mixes for $0.85. Name Brand Cake Mix for $1. Name Brand Syrup for $1. I tried some 'off ' brand stuff too. Black Olives for $1.25 a can. Trisquit- Like Crackers for $1.50. Chili Sauce for Hot Dogs for $0.55. And a BIG thing of Liquid Detergent for $4.50. I was shocked and amazed!! The articles (and I) suggest that you check the freshness dates on all the products. I found all the products to be fresh and months away from "expiring". Needless to say I will be going back to the Dollar Stores for my Pantry Items! The money I will save will go towards buying meat to stock our freezer.

Anyone got any other Frugal tips for me?

Hubs is leaving me

Relax........It is only for a couple days!!

He competes in shooting matches and there is one this weekend in Kentucky. He and the Guys will be leaving Friday afternoon and returning late Saturday.

What shall I do with myself while he is gone?!?!?!

Hubs at the Range

Cool action shot of the Hubs out at the Range.

(Ilex....did you notice the Detroit D!!)

Fruit for Lunch

The Hubs is taking a Tactical Rifle Class for work. He will be out at a Firing Range for 3 Days. Because the Range is out in the middle of nowhere, he has to pack his lunch and drinks while in class.
Following is a conversation we had about what to pack:

Hubs: I want to get Bologna and American Cheese for my Sandwiches.

Me: Honey...American Cheese is so processed! Why don't we get you some Turkey and some nice Swiss Cheese?

Hubs: No....I want Bologna and American Cheese.

Me: OK........ But how about we get you some fruit to take with you instead of a bunch of Hostess Snack Cakes?

Hubs: I was thinking Hostess Fruit Pies. There is fruit in that isn't there?

Me: I give up....................

Organic Milk

I am still trying to get the Hubs to eat better. It's a challenge but I keep trying.
I decided I would try some Organic Milk. I bulked at the price a little bit but it's better for me so it's worth it ....right?!?!?!

Conversation with the Hubs:

Hubs: What's with the Milk?

Me: What do you mean?

Hubs: It's a different container and it says Organic Milk.

Me: I know..... I thought we would try some. It is better for you. Remember.... we are trying to eat better?

Hubs: What does organic mean?

Me: It just means that the Cows are not feed anything they normally wouldn't eat and they don't get injected with hormones. They are free to roam in pastures and they eat grass.

Hubs: I don't want it.

Me: Would you just, Please, try it? The only difference is the Cows eat grass..... I swear!

He begrudgingly pours a small glass of milk..... and slowly takes a drink. (Mind you the whole while he is acting like I am making him drink battery acid)

Me: Well.... what do you think?

Hubs: I think I can taste the grass!!

Why do I even try????????????

Tigers vs Red Sox

Detroit Tigers vs Boston Red Sox

May 6 2008

Matt and I are Tigers Fans. Bob (Matt's Best Friend) is a Boston Red Sox Fan.

We thought it would be fun to go watch them play each other in Detroit.

So we went drove up to Detroit (a 3 hour Drive), watched the Game and drove back all in one day. It was a long day but a fun day.

The Red Sox beat the Tigers but we still love Bob anyway!

All though we did threaten to have him walk back to Ohio!

Matt and Bob with Mickey

Bob

Matt and Bob.

This is the first stop on Bob and Matt's Great Adventure.

When they retire, they plan on doing a Road Trip to see a Ball Game in all the

Great American Ball Parks.

Green is Good

Pretty Green Flower in my Bouquet

Just a quick note

Just wanted to let everyone know about my Day. The Garage Sale was a success! We made almost $150.00!!!

But now the bad news...... I came in for break to check on the Dogs and noticed Jack was acting weird. I bent down to pick him up and he yipped! I was checking him over to see what was wrong.
When I got to his hind quarters I noted an anal gland about to erupt!! I called the vet and was able to get him right in. I told Matt he was going to have to man the sale and I would be back when I could.

Meanwhile on the ride there.......the anal gland did erupt!!! My goodness did it stink!! (is this TMI?!?!?) I got him there and the Vet said that Jack would have to stay the day and get minor surgery on the area to lance and irrigate the wound. So I left my Baby Boy there to get all fixed up.

Then I come back home finish out the garage sale. Doing the happy dance because we actually made some money. Then closed up shop and packed things all up for AmVets to pick up. By this time I am TIRED and my Back is KILLING me!!!

Then the Doctor called and said he was working on Jack and noted that he needed his teeth cleaned. Some were infected and impacted and needed to be removed! So I gave him the go ahead to do it all. (He ended up having 4 teeth removed!!)

He called a few hour later to let us know that my Baby was ready to be picked up. So I got there and picked him up and went to pay the bill. It was $250.00!! What the *#%!...............

So I came home and told Matt about the bill. He said "So we had the garage sale to pay for Jack's ass."

Well.................true...............I guess we did.

P.S.- Jack is home and resting comfortably.

P.S.S. - I am TIRED and my Back is KILLING Me!!!!

Pretty in Pink

Pretty Pink Flower in my Just because Bouquet