Category Archives: Food/Drink

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: June 29, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 29, 2015

Outside my window… dark. It was hot and humid today, humid enough that we were getting drops of water from condensation. I haven’t been in humidity like this since I lived in Ohio!

I am thinking… about plans for tomorrow and everything going on, especially getting my rental car if I can.

I am thankful… that we had a good first night of VBS and that Daniel gets to come with me tomorrow.

In the kitchen… we had pizza and build-your-own salad tonight at VBS. Tomorrow will be walking tacos and fruit kebabs.

I am wearing… my Momcat shirt and capri sweats.

I am praying for… a call for Jon, for my friend Krystin’s baby to be released from the NICU, for Krystin’s healing after emergency surgery, and for a bunch of special intentions. Oh yes… also for VBS to go well for Daniel.

I am going… to physical therapy tomorrow.

I am wondering… if I’ll have my rental car by tomorrow. (I kind of need it PDQ for VBS.)

I am reading… Ming Tea Murder by Laura Childs. I just finished up the Classic Diner Mystery Series by Jessica Beck.

I am hoping… I sleep OK tonight with all the congestion in my face!

I am looking forward to… singing with the kiddos at VBS.

I am hearing… various silly songs I’m checking out for VBS tomorrow.

Crocheting… Daniel’s big boy blankie and the amigurumi stuffed animal for my friend.

Around the house… silence. I’m loving it.

A favorite quote for today… “”When I pray for another person, I am praying for God to open my eyes so that I can see that person as God does, and then enter into the stream of love that God already directs toward that person.” — Philip Yancey

One of my favorite things… my kids laughing and getting silly.

A few plans for the rest of the week: VBS every night, PT tomorrow morning, and a special lunch on Saturday.

A peek into my day… One of the songs we did with the kids!

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

Answer Me This: Home Sweet Home Edition

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Answer Me This at CatholicAllYear.Com

When you are done reading my answers, go read what other people have to say on Kendra’s blog.

1. How long have you lived in your current home?

We’re living with in-laws and what we thought was going to be two months with them has stretched into a year while we’re in between pastoral calls.

2. How do you find out about news and current events?

Usually via Facebook and Twitter. 🙂 If I see or hear something that piques my curiousity, I’ll sometimes go to other news sites. We don’t have TV so that’s not usually an option and I don’t listen to any local radio stations.

3. Would you be able to make change for a twenty right now? For a dollar?

Nope. I keep very little cash on me out of habit more than anything else.

4. What’s the craziest food you’ve ever eaten?

Probably sea cucumber at a Chinese restaurant in San Francisco. The weirdest to a lot of people would be bison (it tastes like gamey beef) or sushi (I grew up in California so it’s a taste I acquired 25 years ago).

5. Which of the commonly removed parts have you had removed? (tonsils, wisdom teeth, appendix, etc.)

I’ve had my adnoids (1986), wisdom teeth (1998), and gallbladder removed (2005).

6. What’s your favorite sport to watch on TV?

Definitely baseball. Go Giants!

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: June 22, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 22, 2015

Outside my window… dark. It’s after midnight but I’m finally getting around to blogging. It was in the 90’s today and I’m guessing it will be similar tomorrow.

I am thinking… about new songs for VBS because we just changed the Bible stories that we’re using.

I am thankful… for my church which is committed to making Daniel welcome and who has found a way for him to attend VBS with me this year. One of the dads is going to be doing one-on-one with him and we’ll find more things with which he can help.

In the kitchen… eating leftovers from the barbecue on Sunday.

I am wearing… green shirt and black capri sweats.

I am praying for… a call for Jon and a bunch of special intentions.

I am going… to be practicing all of my hand motions for VBS during my mornings without Daniel this week.

I am wondering… about the timing of some financial things. It’s unnerving me to say the least.

I am reading… A Bad Egg by Jessica Beck. I’m working through her Diner series.

I am hoping… I can go grocery shopping at some point.

I am looking forward to… Bible study on Wednesday.

I am hearing… silly songs that I’m trying to collect for VBS.

Crocheting… same stuff as last week — Daniel’s big boy blankie and the amigurumi stuffed animal.

Around the house… silence.

A favorite quote for today… “I have learned that faith means trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse.” — Phillip Yancey

One of my favorite things… sleep.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Daniel’s rescheduled dentist appointment on Thursday and whatever else comes up.

A peek into my day… The Hippo Song which I am learning.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: More on Water Restrictions, House Fires, and Hobbes’ Adventures in Tampa

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a7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Apparently, the rich are different. For those who came back this week after my snarky post on the drought and water restrictions, I have a somewhat funny story for you: after Gov. Jerry Brown (all hail!) called for serious water restrictions, usage in the rich enclave of Rancho Santa Fe actually went *UP*. The reason: residents are of the opinion that “we’re not all equal when it comes to water.” I find it funny in a “you can’t make this up” way, not in a humorous way. The joke is on them, however, because serious water restrictions will be enforced on them starting on July 1st. I think I’ll have to grab a cooler, some snacks from Trader Joe’s, an iced vanilla latté, and go watch peoples’ heads explode when they realize how much water they have to cut that day. And because I’m going to have to turn in my liberal ID card if I don’t post this [/sarcasm], here’s an opinion on this from the Daily Kos.

— 2 —

Excuse me while I puke. Rick Santorum used the shooting in Charleston to try and score some political points. I’ve heard a few people excuse it saying that he was speaking broadly about assaults on religious liberty in this country but I’m not buying it unless he wants to add on shootings at a Sikh temple and a mosque onto it. Besides, the gunman very clearly made statements to the people in the church about how it was aimed toward them as African-Americans.

Seriously, co-opting this to score “religious liberty” points sickens me. It’s highly inappropriate and it devalues the deaths to the family members.

— 3 —

Hot weather food. As I’m sitting here eating my sushi from Trader Joe’s because it’s too hot to cook, I’m wondering what y’all do for “hot weather food”. Mind sharing in the comments? Please and thank you. 🙂

— 4 —

Hobbes tours Tampa’s airport without Calvin. A boy accidentally left his stuffed tiger at the Tampa airport and the airport staff took it on an adventure.

— 5 —

I swear that I am not making this up. Last Monday, a house around the corner from my parents caught on fire and when I was googling the link to send to my in-laws, I found this story. The title (“No Joke: Doctors, Realtor, Pastor Go For a Run, Extinguish House Fire”) sounds like the opening to a joke but it’s legit.

— 6 —

Because I am a COPS junkie! During that house fire in my parents’ neighborhood, various streets were blocked off (including the entrance to ours) due to the fire trucks present and this meant that people couldn’t get between two major streets. (The street with the fire goes between them and a lot of people take it at warp speed to shave off a few minutes. It’s why there are a ton of traffic cameras and speed traps on it, considering that it’s a pretty quiet residential street otherwise.) Anyway, a woman tried to shoot between two fire trucks and got pulled over. She then decided to argue with the cop. My mom was standing on the corner with some neighbors watching the fire and happened to catch this exchange and she told me that said cop took his sweet time running all of her information and getting back to her. I’m kind of bummed to have missed it because I would probably have been sitting there with some granola (it apparently took place around 8 a.m.) and watched the drama unfold. Then again, it’s probably better that I wasn’t there because Daniel would have been with me and both of our lungs would have been pretty irritated by the smoke. (We took a walk after the fire was out and I realized halfway through that I needed my inhaler pretty badly… because I have absolutely no common sense. Mr. Preemie Reactive Airway, thankfully, was fine)

— 7 —

Prayer request. Could you please pray for a special intention? Please and thank you!

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: June 14, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 14, 2015

Outside my window… dark. It was foggy this morning and got up to 84F this afternoon which is not too bad.

I am thinking… that the takeaway messages from my church’s VBS later this month are going to be that God created hippos and penguins drink tea.

I am thankful… for the awesome food at the Practice the Tithe picnic today.

In the kitchen… leftover brisket that was thawed out.

I am wearing… charcoal v-neck from Old Navy and black capri sweats from Target.

I am praying for… many many things.

I am going… to the dentist with Daniel tomorrow. Denti-Cal is refusing to just give me a peds dental consult for Daniel so we have to see a regular dentist first. I’m really not thinking this will end well.

I am wondering… if I have a sinus infection or if this is just allergies.

I am reading… A Chili Death by Jessica Beck. Vanishing Grace by Philip Yancey is still on hold.

I am hoping… to sleep well tonight because I have to get up at 6:40 tomorrow morning to get Daniel off to ESY.

I am looking forward to… my massage and TENS machine time on Tuesday.

I am hearing… stuff from Mission Bible Class that I’m doing for VBS.

Crocheting… all the same stuff as before — Daniel’s big boy blankie and an amugurumi stuffie for a friend’s baby.

Around the house… silence as everyone else is asleep.

A favorite quote for today… “Prayer is not a means of removing the unknown and predictable elements in life, but rather a way of including the unknown and unpredictable in the outworking of the grace of God in our lives.” — Philip Yancey

One of my favorite things… Vacation Bible School. I’ve missed helping with it. (It’s been 8 years since the last time I got to help.)

A few plans for the rest of the week: Daniel’s dentist appointment and ESY on Monday, PT on Tuesday, whatever errands come up the rest of the week, and possibly dinner with my parents on Saturday night.

A peek into my day… Here’s the rainbow that came with the apocalyptic storm that welcomed me back to southern California last week.

The rainbow that welcomed me home.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: June 7, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY June 7, 2015

Outside my window… dark but still warm. They claim it was 82F earlier but I don’t believe them — it felt like closer to 90F and it’s still hot in my parents’ house.

I am thinking… about the heat. It’s supposed to be 95F tomorrow and my parents don’t have A/C.

I am thankful… for a good visit thus far with my parents. I’m here until Friday.

In the kitchen… steak tonight. Leftovers tomorrow.

I am wearing… my Momcat shirt and capri sweats.

I am praying for… a call for Jon, for my father-in-law’s cancer, for a friend who is having marriage issues, and for a few special intentions.

I am going… to Costco and Target with Mom and Daniel tomorrow.

I am wondering… if Mom and Dad will finish the planting in the front yard tomorrow. They got rid of the front lawn, covered the area with bark, and are planting ground cover.

I am reading… Vanishing Grace by Phillip Yancey and The Cat Who Robbed a Bank by Lilian Jackson Braun.

I am hoping… the heat breaks soon.

I am looking forward to… cooler weather.

I am hearing… Game of Thrones — Dad is watching it.

Crocheting… the amigurumi stuffed animal but am working right now on Daniel’s big boy blankie which I brought up to San Jose with me.

Around the house… somewhat quiet other than Dad watching TV.

One of my favorite things… coffee with my friend Rebecca. We got to have coffee today after church.

A few plans for the rest of the week: walks, errands with Mom and Daniel, and whatever else happens before I head back down south on Friday.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

#FiveFaves: Miscellanea (XXXVI)

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#5Faves

One

Jenna. For those who don’t know Mary Lenaburg, she lost her 22 year old daughter Courtney at the end of December after 22 years of taking care of her through daily seizures and other medical issues. Jenna sent this to her.

Two

Trader Joe’s Greek Yogurt Spinach-Kale Dip. This stuff is freaking awesome! I love it for dinner with carrot sticks on hot days. It also works well on a baked potato when someone in your house has consumed all the regular Greek yogurt you bought. (Not that this happened this past week or anything…)

Three

This graduation video. My class was so bad during graduation that subsequent classes were required to come in their pretty clothes and only allowed to put robes on AFTER they were searched! I wish we had done something like this instead.

Four

My priest. At Bible studies with new people, she introduces me as follows: “This is Jen. She’s a Lutheran pastor’s wife but we claim her.” Adding onto that, Jon was supplying at the Lutheran church across the street from my Episcopal church and I went over after my worship ended to catch part of his. I stayed for about 3 minutes at coffee hour (known as the third sacrament for Lutherans) which led my priest to tease the pastor of the Lutheran church about her indignation that “[HER] Lutheran went to [HIS] coffee hour.” I love her.

Five

Jessica Beck’s writing. I fell hard for her Donut Shop mysteries… and enjoyed a donut for the first time in years while finishing the last one. I was less than enthused about the donut (too sweet) but her books are fabulous. I’m starting her Diner series next.

Go love up Jenna and the others.