Introducing...

Beasley! She is our new little kitty and we already love her.

For your own sanity, please turn OFF sound. The camera is making a very annoying clicking noise throughout the video.

Not Such A Bust!

Turns out, the Farmers Mkt was not such a bust after all. I made homemade applesauce with the 5 for $1 apples that I purchased. WHY, WHY, WHY did I not get 25 of them?! I only got 5, but with those I made about 2 cups of applesauce. I am kicking myself for not getting more apples, and for not getting photos of the apples, the process, and the finished product. Here is a little of the process and the finished product...

Pan after scooping out each batch. I used this Weight Watchers scooper because it measures 1/2c.

I put each scoop in the Majic Bullet blender with 1/4 tsp flavored sugar and whhzzzz, done!

How To:

I cored and peeled the apples (you don't have to peel, but I did) and boiled then simmered until soft in JUST A LITTLE water. The apples release water as they cook, so too much of it in the pot is NOT GOOD. I read this, then poured out water a couple times during the early stages of cooking. Then I cut the apples with a knife, just right in the pan, so they'd be smaller and fit in the scooper. I scooped out in 1/2 c increments so I could try my different flavors of sugar.

Looks way better than the individual cups of Motts, huh? and I'm bettin it's cheaper, and knowin it is more environmentally friendly! :) Verdict=I love it, Stephen...not so much. So, I'll be eating it all myself!

Saturday Such n Such

So much to say...

My new job, which I started Tuesday, promises to be very much like my old job. Different unit, different people, but essentially the exact same job. I'm happy about that. I loved the other one, and hope to love this one as well. I was so tired all week just because I'm not use to the schedule, yet. Oh, and because I had a night meeting for Stephen's unit, a social type thing, but still...it was on my first day of work and was 7-9pm, and then I had to drive home in the rain. :( But I was driving my sweet new ride, so it was all fine.

Today I did some errands.

1-exchanged some shoes because the ones I got Monday were not as comfortable when I got them home as they were in the store. So, I went to Payless, and they did have some others, ones they didn't have Monday, but not in my size. The very nice lady called the store at the mall, and they held them for me.

2-went to the Farmers Mkt. It was a bit of a bust. No canteloupe, and that's what I really wanted. So I got 5 apples for $1. We'll see what I can whip up with those. (maybe going to try some applesauce).

3-got some coffee and a bagel at the littel coffee shop in town. It's supercute, about closet-sized, just two ladies in there going 90 to nothing with their gallons of milk, flavor syrups, whipped cream cans and coffee makers!

4-Going toward Manhattan, I stopped at the place we got the car to get the new radio put in. That took about 10 minutes, and then I moved on to

5-the mall. And that's where it all got crazy! It's been so long since I've been in a mall by myself with nothing but time. I got the shoes, and some $5 sunglasses! and then just looked around. I walked into the Merle Norman store. I really was just looking. But I ended up with a face full of makeup, after my complimentary steam facial, and walked out with just a couple of items.

So, I was going to show you a picture of the heavy make up the lady put on, but in finger-combing my hair, I captured a great shot of the RIDICULOUSNESS of this static electricity situation! Check it out!

and then here is the make up close up. It's a LOT of makeup!

that's about it for now. I wish you a happy/fun-filled/restful weekend! :)

A Two-Car Family

We got a second car today! SO excited!!

Seeing Red

I'd tell you I took this photo, but that'd be a lie. It is much better than any shot I could hope to get by running around the house trying to find the camera while this image vanished. So I don't even try. When I go to the back door to open or close the curtain, --that is to clothespin the sheet up or release the pin--I usually linger a few minutes. Just to watch the 1 billion crickets jump/fly in and out of the weeds and wildflowers, to scan the treeline for that bunny I saw our first week here, or to peer to the right to see if any other neighbors are out doing anything newsworthy. The last 3 or 4 times, I've seen at least one cardinal perched in a tree or flying tree to tree. I guess they are getting ready for the winter. As you probably already know, I am no fan of the bird species. But I can't help by smile every time I see that brilliant red against the dark green/yellowing leaves.


Photo credit:
Copyright: Mario Belanger (EOSF1) (23469)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-10-18

I GOT

a JOB!!!! woohoo!

It is an FRSA job, same job I had in Germany...with a RAISE! :)

Southern Cookin'

I don't know what's come over me. But I LIKE IT! Today I went to the farmer's market and to a little grocery store in town. I bought the usual at the farmers mkt: okra, corn, cantaloupe, eggs, and a few new things: onions, green beans, mustard and turnip greens. Surprisingly, I spent more than I planned at the grocery store, but I was pleased with the prices. So pleased, in fact, that I bought a lot of items that were not on the list!

When I got home, I made a HUGE pot of greens. Turned out to be about 3 or 4 cups. I'll be eating those tomorrow with some cornbread...mmm, mmm GOOD!

Then, I made a delicious dinner for myself, my husband and our houseguest*. Chicken fried steak with cream gravy, homemade (as in not from the box) mashed potatoes, and fresh corn on the cob. It was DELICIOUS if I do say so myself! and I do! :)

Finally, I cleaned and de-stemmed the strawberries and set the beans to soak overnight. Tomorrow is beans, greens, cornbread and FOOTBALL!

*houseguest
We have a soldier staying with us for the weekend. He has not been able to find a place to live yet, so when he reported to the unit at 3:45pm Friday, and his plan for the weekend was to sleep in his truck, SB of course invited him to our house. He called me about 30 minutes before they got here, and I was so glad that the guestroom was guest ready (except for curtains, so I stole the extension rod from the kitchen window, and threw over a sheet.) It's no bed and breakfast, but it's better than the Chevrolet room! There was a time we were in a town with no place to stay, and a couple let us stay with them. It was just after we got married, and we had to outprocess from a unit SB belonged to, but wasn't working in. George and Lindsey opened their home to us, and SB told me that's just how the military worked, sometime we might be in the position to do the same for someone else. And now we are. That's what it means when they say the "military family." He's from Wisconsion, so I'm happy to show him some Southern hospitality and goooood cookin!

Job/Home Front

On the Job Hunt!

I have had one interview for an FRSA position on post, and have a second interview scheduled Monday. This is the job I held for almost 2 years in Germany. I also interviewed for a part-time teller position with a bank in town. There would be some positives of working there (near the house, not full time so I could still do the things I like to do at the house) but not enough to go with it (low pay, EVERY Saturday...). So, please pray I am placed in the job for which I feel very well suited!

and

On the Home Front!

Most all the boxes are unpacked and kind of organized. I have done some purging and feel good about that. What I really need is a scanner to scan some things I'd like to have digitally so I can share them with people. I have cards and letters I'd like to get in a scrapbook, too. But I'll get to all of that one day. The rooms are set up in degrees. Downstairs and kitchen look the best because these are the most used. Our bedroom is pretty okay, as are the bathrooms. The guestroom, living room upstairs and "office" are not so squared away...little by little, they'll get there. I am sure that just as we get settled in it will be time to move again!

That Small Town Feel

Today, I went to do some errands. I wasn't crazy about doing it, but it needed to be done. One of the errands was to go to the dreaded Wal. I know. Saturday on a payday weekend, what was I thinking?! But this is the day I can have the truck, go by myself, not worry about needing to get back with it if SB needs it for work or whatever.

So, armed with my trusty list, I head out for the cleaners, post office, farmers market and Wal. The line for the cleaners was out the door. That means two people ahead of me. It's just a little shop recommended by someone from SB's unit. While waiting, I had time to read the pinned up business cards, flyers, and notices. I listened to the counterperson. She knew both patrons before me, called them by name, inquired about the first one's school schedule (because she could pick them up on her way home), and ran after the second with the change she forgot. When it was my turn and the 'how are you's were exchanged, she said, "oh, I'm fine, just a little tired, always so much to do!" I said, "me too, and I still have to hit the dreaded Wal!" She went on to tell me about the new HyVee that just opened, and when she asked when we needed the cleaning ready told me that she is always happy to support military spouses because they are the real force behind those men defending our country. You know...because we are the ones keeping them in clean clothes! :)

On to the post office. Another line out the door. But in line I met a lady (I didn't start it, the man in front of her was obviously trying to avoid her conversation), who kept me so distracted that the 30 minute wait flew by! She told me about the Blue Jay football team (Junction City High School. They made it to state last year!) and even told me about some job openings on post. She was mailing a digital photo frame to her daughter who is in college. She has 2 in college, one in HS, and her husband is in Iraq. There was more... I can't recall it just now. On my way out the door, the post office worker man called me back, "Heather? You forgot your pen!" So nice. Then, walking to the car I passed a lady on the street. "HI! It's a beautiful day, isn't it?!" I responded with, "it sure is! Have a great weekend!" "I will if it says like this!" she said.

Smiling all the way (two blocks) to the farmers market where I needed to see a lady about a canteloupe, I continued with my errands. I walked straight up to the table, grabbed the one I wanted and showed it to her saying, "I just need one canteloupe this week." She said, "oh, that's my mother-in-law's, MOM--how much are you going to charge this lady for that puny little canteloupe?" It was 50 cents. But I KNOW it will be so much better than the one they were selling at the Wal for $1.50! Her m-i-l retorted, "well, where are YOUR canteloupes??" initiating a short back and forth about keeping the chickens away from the produce and how this week she was not so successful. "See you next week," I said, ending our exchange.

Well, the morning has gone swimmingly, I think. Maybe I should just go home. Wal cannot make it better and will most likely make it much worse. Much to my surprise, it was not a completely unpleasant experience. My biggest issue was the overabundance of choices. That's the "culture shock" everyone keeps warning me about. I had a coupon for Pringles. There were about 42 different Pringle options! It was a lot to take in, but that stress was balanced by a quick phone call from my bff KC, and all the nice folks I encountered. The man working in kitchen stuffs asked what I was looking for when he could see me scanning the aisles and then assisted me in locating the crockpots; I was able to help a lady find the minnestrone soup she was hunting in a can that will feed her husband (not "these tiny cans of Campbells that cost twice as much as these larger ones of Progresso and Chunky" or something) and we coaxed it down from the back of the top shelf with a bottle of shampoo; the ladies behind me in the checkout line were impressed and told me so when I was checking over my list while waiting my turn. Then we all got a good laugh at the fact that this was probably not the best time to be looking to see what I may have forgotten. Once in line, there is no going back!

Man, that's a lotta errands, and I've done a good job. I should reward myself with a coke from the drive thru (I think). Well, there's the Taco Bell. So I pull in. "Good Afternoon, how are you?" hmm, that's nice! "I'm fine, thanks, may I have a large coke, please?" -- "Pepsi okay?" UGH! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! *heavy sigh* then, politely, "no, you know what? Let me just get one of those fruity freezes, pina colada, please." So, no coke. But the pina colada freeze was pretty good, and I've decided that's a serving of fruit. :)

Home, unload, make chili dogs, eat, write blog post. It's 3:15pm. I'm full, my errands are done and I'm feeling like Junction City might just be a little bit like another small town I know.

I LOVE That Man!

I made a LONG list this morning for the grocery store. I made plans to go to the commissary and then the dreaded Wal. Then, when Stephen woke up (he worked overnight last night, so he had to sleep a few hours today) I said, "so...I know you don't want to outfit our home with the food, and truthfully, I don't either...but..." and that's when he said...

"Then why don't we just go out for mexican food tonight, and we'll get the groceries tomorrow."

I LOVE THAT MAN!!! :)