Crazy Busy Long Weekend

Let’s see: Thanksgiving Thursday, all together with family. Good meals, good company, good conversation. Later on, we had good leftovers and good naps.

Friday: No, folks, I didn’t venture into the craziness that is Black Friday. We went out for lunch and had New England Clam Chowder (Eating the opponent: Take that, Tom Brady!). I shopped online a bit. Amigo took off with La Petite for the weekend.

Saturday: Shop Small! We went downtown for Small Business Saturday. It was fun to see some of my favorite shops looking busier than usual. I hope the shoppers come back to these locally owned and operated stores and shop there regularly. I now have a new canvas tote that shouts “Shop Small”, a pin that announces the same, and a new mug that was free with any purchase at one of the shops. Readers, I’ll see if I can get my act together and share pictures.

Sunday: Chuck was working the football game. He spent the entire day and more at Lambeau Field. I drove southward to pick up Amigo and bring him home. La Petite took advantage of my minivan’s cargo space and bought a bookshelf. I realized I’d forgotten to pack my small hand truck, so we took a detour into the nearby Menard’s and bought one for her. She has moved annually for the past four years, so it’s actually a good investment.

Finally, Amigo and I found our way home, fed the bunny, watched the second half of the Packers beating the Patriots, and settled back into our routines. Never fear, readers. We didn’t miss any of the game;  we listened to the Green Bay Packers Radio Network on the highway.

I feel tired just reading this! What happened to weekends being restful? I’m glad to go back to school tomorrow and get into my own routine.

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Throwback Thursday — Dressing the Part

Win or lose, run or pass, Cheeseheads never lose their class.

Well, teachers who are also Cheeseheads (Packers fans), that is.


You might be a Green Bay Packer fan if you can dress like this for work, and not only is it considered completely appropriate, your boss compliments you on your new attire.

Ironic, isn’t it? I posted this several years ago. My boss at the time has been bumped up to an office in the same building in which my virtual school makes its “home”. My current cubicle is in a drafty part of an aging building, so the blanket style jacket is, well, perfect. The more things change, the more they stay the same – in Packers country, anyway. 

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Just call me Daisy MacGyver

It could have been worse. Much worse, I’ll grant you that. My coworkers shared their own related stories, and all were humorous – well after the fact. While I was in the midst of the situation, I was thinking, “Later, I’ll laugh. Later.”

I got locked in the bathroom this morning. Locked in. Chuck was in Minneapolis, Amigo was sound asleep at the other end of the house, and I had no phone or other means of communication. The doorknob had somehow disconnected from the latch, and no matter how much or how hard I turned, it wouldn’t open.

I solved this in the manner of many female problem-solvers over many years, decades, and even centuries: I broke apart a hair clip and picked the lock. I am woman, hear me roar!

Then I “fixed” it with duct tape and sent Amigo a text message so he would not close the door and get stuck himself.

And then I went to work. Early, as usual. I treated myself to an extra cup of Monday morning coffee, too.

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Ah, Multi-tasking Packer Fans

There’s too much on my to-do list to allow a relaxed Sunday afternoon in front of the TV. But when you have green and gold running through your system the way we do at the O.K. Chorale, the game will be on and will be central to our existence for a few hours. We do a little multi-tasking, though, just to keep life from collapsing around us. For example:

  • Make ice cream. Mix the ingredients, turn on the ice cream maker, and then watch the game until it’s done. Note to self: watch the real clock, not the football clock, for timing.
  • Laundry. Turn on the bedroom TV while folding.
  • Bake. I baked angel food cake today – just the thing to go with our Eating the Opponent dish, Norwegian Fruit Soup. Yum.
  • Clean a bathroom. Seriously. Apply cleaning solutions (or vinegar-water mix) during one commercial break. Scrub and rinse during the next break. Not recommended during a Super Bowl when the commercials are part of the entertainment. 
  • Shop online.
  • Blog.

Readers, can you add to the list? As the Packers keep winning, I want to watch every minute. But in reality, life intrudes. What other tasks can be multi-tasked during a Packer game?

 

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Daisy goes for a Train Ride

I spent part of last weekend putting the final preparations in place for winter in the backyard. That meant draining the rain barrels and tipping them over and transplanting Chuck’s blueberry plants so the spring garage construction doesn’t kill them. Anything else went on the back burner. There was a big freeze on the way.

Chuck, conveniently, was out of town at a model railroad show. He suggested by text that he might do one final go-round with the mulching mower, to which I responded “In the snow?” We got lucky and didn’t have actual snow – yet – but it was cold, very cold.

I know he didn’t forget me while he was gone. Look what rides on his tracks.

Look! I'm a boxcar!

Look! I’m a boxcar!

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More Winter Prep

Chuck had a day off in exchange for working mega hours on the weekend. He seemed to feel he needed to accomplish a few things at home. I was at school, so he sent me this email.

  • Got house windows all sealed up.
  • Air Conditioner cover on.
  • Aprilaire Humidifier tweaked for winter.
  • Big snow blower tuned-up, running, ready to go
  • Started cleaning garage.
  • Found kindling and put it out by pile of firewood.
  • Built a wind break out of scrap wood for the wild bunnies living under our deck.

What was that last one?

He sent me a picture.

He sent me a picture.

Next thing I know, he’ll probably be feeding the little furry creatures.

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Throwback Thursday – Packers and their fans

You know you’re a Green Bay Packers fan if:

  • Your favorite starting quarterback has a streak of incomplete passes – 3 in all.
  • You buy Christmas gifts at the Packer Pro Shop for out-of-state relatives.
  • You imagine the visiting teams saying, “We came, we saw, we lost” on their way out of Lambeau.
  • Your favorite field goal kicker is considered in a slump if he misses. That’s misses one field goal.
  • Your weekly superstitions continue, even though you know the team doesn’t need your help.
  • You have a cheesehead that sports the words “NFL Owner.”
  • Your decorative ceramic seagull wears a Barbie-doll size cheesehead.
  • Instead of rushing into laundry to prepare for game day, you just take out another piece of Packer-wear because you own enough to last through the playoffs — and indeed, the Super Bowl.
Readers, I’m looking at encore posts for a Throwback Thursday theme. Feel free to join me on your own blogs – or just stopping by to check on my Thursday posts. Regular readers might even say, “Hey, I read this the first time!” 

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Looking back at early fall

It’s all part of the preparations for winter. I had these on my camera for a while, and now they’re outdated. I thought I’d share anyway.

the last farmers' market

the last farmers’ market

At one of the last farmers’ markets, we picked up all of the above goodies. The honey (front, left) is still in the cupboard. The soups and salads from the downtown deli are long gone. I used the bell peppers in…I can’t remember. I did cook them. The small bag of lettuce became my lunches for the week. I shared a little with Buttercup the bunny, of course.

Meanwhile, we used up the tomatoes as they ripened.

Tomatoes!

Tomatoes!

Remember these? I’m down to a few yellow pears now. We’re almost done eating and cooking the last batch of tomatoes.

I’m looking ahead, though. I’ve moved my stakes to a temporary home under the lilac bush, and the supplies for starting seeds are tucked under a table in the basement.

Tomato Stakes in all shapes

Tomato Stakes in all shapes

That’s snow in the background. Not much, but snow.I think we’re almost ready for it. Maybe.

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Prepping for Winter

Prepping for winter at the O.K. Chorale means – well, I’ll show you rather than tell you.

Firewood on the deck

Firewood on the deck

Chuck moved the entire pile from beside the garage to the deck. This accomplishes two goals; it clears the side of the garage for our spring construction, and it moves the firewood closer to the house for the winter. I predict a few Packer Sundays next to a roaring fire. Cozy, eh?

last of the green onions

last of the green onions

The mess in the colander is not seaweed, my friends. It’s the last of the walking onions. They started coming up again in the cool spell of August, and I pulled them as the autumn freeze approached. The bulbs, small though they are, went into the freezer. The greens boiled and simmered along with a little garlic for a delicious soup broth that never made it into the freezer. I used it up too soon.

Bunnies take shelter

Bunnies take shelter

The ceramic bunnies are huddling with a souvenir cup, ready for snow. As ready as they can be, I guess. See you next spring, little bunnies.

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Eating the Opponent Research

We’ve been eating the Opponent for a few years now. For some teams (Chicago, for example) we have a go-to signature dish. Papa Murphy’s makes our favorite Chicago-style pizza, so that one is almost too easy.

It was Philadelphia this week, and we considered the basic Philly cheesesteak on French bread. We’ve had it in the past, and Chuck makes it well. We got adventurous instead and looked up scrapple recipes. It was okay – we all ate our portions, but no one wanted seconds. If we make it again, we’ll look for a different recipe or resource.

Meanwhile, our tradition spurred discussion on Plurk and Facebook. both Amigo and Chuck nixed the idea of having marshmallow Peeps. Friends and family were shocked. No Peeps? Really? Then an old friend from college commented, “Peeps are made in Bethlehem, not Philly!” He did admit, however, that Bethlehem Pennsylvania is part of the greater Philadelphia area. I’d compare it, perhaps, to my hometown being part of the greater Green Bay area – but the greater Green Bay area covers most of the state of Wisconsin!

Next week is Minnesota. We all agree that lutefisk is a no-go. There’s not quite enough Norwegian blood running through our veins to handle the codfish. I’ve been pushing for fruit soup, and Chuck isn’t quite sold. Amigo (he does his own research and does it well) suggested a Minnesota style hotdish from Mr. Food’s Test Kitchen.

Chuck will be traveling for work next week. His destinations include Madison (state high school football) and Minneapolis (Packers vs. Vikings, of course). He can Eat the Opponent while he’s on site. We’ll do the hotdish and fruit soup. I’m ready!

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