Surprise!

I love unexpected, good, surprises. 

The first.  I was asked to sit at a booth representing my workplace at an event.  The event was on Sunday, I said sure and then almost immediately regretted it.  Tying up several hours on a winter Sunday? Was I nuts? But, I went, sat, spoke and smiled and had a generally okay time.  

My surprise came near the end of the event.  I had not taken the time to walk around as I was seriously not that interested in what else was on display but, a booth started to dismantle late in the day, opening my view up a bit across the room.  Looking past the dismantled booth I saw a familiar little face of a friend of my youngest.  Someone I hadn’t seen in a few years...at least, I thought it was her.  I sat there for a bit and thought, gee, she looks more grown up than when I last saw her.   Her hair a bit different but those are her high cheekbones and I’ll know her gorgeous eyes and smile when I get closer.  Now, its risky to walk up to a young person and say “Hey” as they may turn a blank stare to you...it’s happened.  But not this young lady, she grinned and gave me a big hug.  I was so glad to see her and it was so unexpected.  Made my day. 

The day got even better when I returned home and found hubs had put a pot of chili on the stove and totally cleaned the kitchen.  Oh my word, what a treat, and also unexpected.  When you come home every day to cooking and cleaning up, sorta, the kitchen, to walk in to a meal already underway is divine.  To also have a clean kitchen, golly.  

I hope you have equally good surprises this week! 

To be, or be what?

Using the right word or phrase is such an amazing and tricky concept, isn't it? Finding the right words to say, the right phrasing, the way to put together a sentence so that you aren’t misunderstood.  Its a gift for some and a challenge for others, to be sure.  

I often am misunderstood, and misunderstand, both the written and spoken word.  Sometimes, I scramble to apologize or explain.  Sometimes, I struggle to make it through the end of the sentence before I blow a gasket...only to find, phew, I’m glad I didn’t react as I was headed down the wrong path to the meaning behind the words.  

I wish I had a nickel, as my dad was fond of saying, for everytime I misunderstood someone’s intention behind a word or words.  As difficult as it is to understand the spoken word at times, it is even more so to grasp the meaning of the written word. 

My example for today? I have been checking out blogs and websites this morning and came across an entry I thought I would be interested in as we approach spring...”Tips for the distressed curvy dresser”.   Cool..that describes me and my fashion sense!  I could use some advice, a tip would help me understand straight legs vs. boot cut maybe, or how long (or not) my sweater should be.  I am perfectly distressed over some of the decisions I have to make every day! This is awesome! 

Nope, refinishing an antique chest of drawers, folks.  

Iowa, anyone?

Rewind to a couple weeks back when I posted about my vegetable dicer thing...I had done up some vegies I had on hand and browned some hamburger and placed in a freezer bag for making soup later.  I had seen a recipe on a website (which I linked for you).  Made the soup yesterday and it was very, very good.  I can see why it won the contest.  I made it pretty much as the directions outline...no tweaking of the recipe for me but I did use parmesan cheese at the table.  I also had gotten a little carried away with my dicer and had enough for two batches so the rest remains in the freezer for another quick meal - which I find myself having to rely on more and more frequently these days. 

I have started a list of things I would like to do.   I am not calling this a bucket list so much as things I just want to do list.  To me the bucket list, from the movie, is comprised of things you just feel you must do or life will not be complete and that’s not what my list is.   My list is more dynamic than that, I hope.  An item that is hovering around on my list is quick trips..you know, to just anywhere I can get to in a day.  Stay for a day or two and home.  I think this may speak to a certain level of boredom with my surroundings.  I know I am in trouble here as its only January.  What am I going to feel like in March?  

We use to travel a little bit in the winter months, thanks to customer incentive trips that were scheduled through hubs’ work and we miss those trips.  Traveled with some great people to some great places.   We also had a bit more discretionary spending money in those days so while we didn’t do it often, we could just take off if we wanted.  Day trips usually.  My goal for 2012 is to return to those kinds of trips, places we can get to without having to take out a loan and enjoy a meal in a different city.  

I have been presented with an opportunity.  Husband wants to attend a two day auction of his particular interest in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  Seriously? I am not familiar with Council Bluffs but he invited me to go.  At first, I was reluctant as um, well, it didnt’ seem too oh, metropolitan, lets say.   Besides, he has a group of fellow collectors that he attends auctions with and I don’t want to rain on his parade,  and most certainly I do not do the fifth wheel thing well.  But, I do want to get out of Dodge for at least a day.  

So Council Bluffs it is,  folks.  Not Cancun or Ocho Rios, but, I’ll take it.  Discovered that Council Bluffs is right across the Missouri River from Omaha, so I’m getting two cities, two states, in one! I’m looking forward to a bit of travel and something other than what I know, and the opportunity for some night life and a steak! 

    

Painting.

After putting it off for a very long time, I think I may actually paint the living room this winter/early spring.  I have had a color picked out for a while but we have not set the time aside to do the deed.  We also have not always agreed to a time frame.

This is an ongoing "issue" in our home maintenance and redecorating.  We discuss things to death.  Then we wait and see.  Think it over.  Take our time.  Then, not do it. There are many areas in our lives that hubs and I are the attracting opposites everyone has heard about.   Home decor is definitely one of them.  I get an idea and want to talk about it.  He takes a "wait and see" position and I have to remind him that I am not saying "Lets go to the store and get the stuff right now! I want to spend $100 of your money!"

I really do think that's what he hears as soon as I say "I've been thinking..." I think he really hears "Get in the car, let's go buy this or that."  If there is one thing I know about this guy it's that he doesn't want to go buy this or that.  But one other thing that I have learned about this guy is that he hears what wasn't said.

One thing I know about myself is that I like throwing ideas around. I also know I have a boat load of ideas. 

Isn't it funny how we hear things that weren't said? We get to write that sentence in our own mind? The painting of the living room is not one of those things, however.  I clearly announce I want the living room painted, now, and I suggest someone get the checkbook and start the car.   

Some other thing I like.

I put this fabulous recipe that youngest daughter came across for Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup together this windy New Year's Day and sat down to catch up on some news and things at the computer.  I came across a second soup recipe that sounded good as well and thought, wow, I have all those ingredients...rare. 

The first ingredient that it is super unusual for me to have is celery.  Celery is one of those items that got crossed of the "staples" list in 2011 as I never used a whole bunch of celery and would end up throwing away a huge portion of what I bought for one stinking recipe.  My mom had celery all the time in the fridge but I just can't for some reason.

See, 2011, for me, was the year of waste not.  There are a few items that rarely made it on to my grocery list unless I specifically needed it.  Snack crackers was probably the biggest loss.  I usually had at least one box of something or another in the pantry but again, I would throw away stale crackers by the half-box.  I had to try the latest and greatest cracker on the market, but, no longer do so.  It's the woven wheat cracker for me, and yes, now I buy the store brand.  But I do not stock them.  

In fact, I shop pretty much by a menu list now.  I don't stock extra soups, vegetables and tomato sauce like I once did.  I don't know if its economically wise but I don't care if vegies are 5 for $2.00 or whatever; I only need one can of corn this week.  I do not warehouse items although I do usually have a jar of pasta sauce, especially that four cheese roma, hanging out.  

So, it was surprising that I had the celery.  Anyway, a few years ago, on either QVC or a late night infomericial, and in one of the years of waste, I saw the Vidalia Chop Wizard.  I ordered 3...one for me and one for each of my girls.  Why I thought this was the greatest thing ever I can't really say but, I own one.  Today, it was a spectacular addition to my kitchen.  Take a look! 

I sliced the potato in half to get a flat side, which I find easier, and in some cases, I had to quarter the potato so it would fit on the grid. 

Also, if you try to put too much on the grid, the chopper is harder to push through.  Don't try too much as you will spend as much time pushing the darn thing as you will if you use 2 smaller pieces and have an easy push.   

Now, I know a lot of us have fantastic knife skills and think "I don't need no stinkin' chopper" and I can work a knife, don't get me wrong.  But, this little beauty really did a quick, even, nice job. 

The drawbacks.  Green peppers are a bit wonky in the chopper.  You have to be sure you aren't asking too much of the grid, but they also work opposite than you would think...flat side up.  You don't want to push against the tougher skin of the pepper; it should be against the metal so the skin side is being chopped first.  Same with tomatoes although they will still be a bit smooshy.  But, if you are doing tacos for a big crowd...shoot, this is the way to do tomatoes.     


If you are one of those folks that grow a few vegies and like to keep chopped green pepper in the freezer, well, this is your baby.  If you also are one to see the sale on green peppers at the grocery in the summer and think "Oh, I should buy a bunch of those and chop them up, freeze them."  


Me? I have thrown away many a slimy green pepper, all bought with the intention of freezing what I didn't use.  


Another drawback, and it is a bit of a pain, is the cleaning.  The chopper came with a little rake that has been a bit of a hassle to keep track of at times.  It should be stored in the handy bowl part of the chopper, that's what organized people would do.  The key is cleaning it right away and using cold water to get all the remnants out of the pusher side of the chopper and from the metal cutting grid.  If you use warm water after chopping onions for example, well, they are going to "cook" right on to that grid and in those little channels on the lid side (which is what the rake is for).  Best to rinse it and rake it in cold running water, let it soak a bit, rake it some more and then wash with warm water.  

I chopped up all that celery, onion, carrots and potatoes in short order.  I used the small grid for the celery and onion and the larger grid for the potatoes and carrots.  Isn't it purty?  


One more thing.  Youngest daughter gave me this great pyrex bowl with a lid.  The recipe calls for microwaving the vegetable mix to soften a bit.  I understand this is probably one of  the oldest products on the market but I didn't have one...so many open bowls but not much with a lid.  I love it and it was perfect for all those vegies in the microwave!  Here's the link to Vegetable Potato Soup.