Sucker Punched

This week I was sucker punched.

Sucker punched by a monster fever.

A 103* monster fever.

This is where I spent most of my time.

I could barely sit up.

I did no reading.

No blogs. No books.

I did not drink any beer. Or wine.

I entered the kitchen for juice.

And drugs.

My drug of choice: NyQuil.

NyQuil is an excellent cocktail substitution.

I subsisted on hot & sour soup.

Oatmeal.

Toast.

No vegetables.

One Dr. Pepper float.

My children love me.

They took the words "eat whatever you want, just be quiet" to heart; A week-long run of lunches consisting of SunChips, fruit snax, and juice boxes was the result.

My children hate me.

This was evidenced by the vast quantities of dishware needed to serve SunChips, fruit snax, and juice boxes. Along with the number of daily wardrobe changes. And toy props that littered every room of our home.

I watched Bull Durham at 3am while waiting for the next NyQuil dose to kick in.

Nanny McPhee seemed to be on at all other times. Every single day. I'm not sure if that's my fever memory or true reality.

I finally had a legitimate excuse to put off folding laundry. I'm still milking that one.

Our cats started to mistake me for some sort of human pillow. I would wake with one camped out on my back. My stomach. My chest. Snuggled in my arm pit.

Purr. Purr. Purr. I'm still not a cat person. But they make OK bed partners in times of fevered delirium.

In my delirium, I kept dreaming that I made a slew of inappropriate posts on Twitter and Facebook. Turns out, I'm not a sleep-Tweeter. Or sleep-status updater.

I might not have made inappropriate updates, but my spelling and overall grammar did not fare well.

As my delirium continued, I wondered if I'd been made into a horcrux.

The Girl is now the favored child. I woke up more than once with her rubbing my feet.

The Boy needs to understand that asking a woman if she's going to "make herself look good" when sick will one day get him punched in the face.

I am his mother. I used self control.

I spent a lot of time looking for subtle signs of the monster fever's next victim.

The Mr. was convinced he was the next to go. All that anniversary canoodling was sure to come back to haunt him.

My fever broke late Friday night.

No other victims have succumbed to its destruction.

I celebrated last night with a non-NyQuil cocktail.

And today I made my bed.

{♥}

Eleven years later and I am still unabashedly smitten...



Thank you for making life sweet, my love.

You are without equal.

♥,
Me

Make this and then ask for jewelry...

It's *that* good.

The Mr. proclaimed it to be "the best stuff...ever". Then, he became putty in my hands.

I'm not much for jewelry.

Instead, I got help washing dishes and folding laundry.

You start with some plums.

Cut them in half and remove the pit.

Lay the plums flesh side down in a pan and mix the topping.

You might need help stirring.

Bake until golden, then let cool.

Sound good?

Here's how it's done:

Plum Cobbler

2 lb plums, halved and pitted
1/2 cup + 2 Tbs plain soy yogurt
1/4 cup water
1 Tbs apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
1 cup flour
2 Tbs cornstarch
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350*.

Prepare the plums and lay flesh side down in a pan that has been coated with non-stick spray.

Mix the soy yogurt, water, and apple cider vinegar in a medium sized bowl until it is smooth. Add the sugar, vanilla, and almond extract. Stir until the sugar is mostly dissolved.

Add the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir until a thick batter forms.

Spread the batter over the fruit. Sprinkle the top with cinnamon. Bake 30-40 minutes, until golden and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving. Or don't and let the chips fall where they may.

I was inspired by this recipe, making some minor changes here and there.

Some notes:

I used Nancy's plain soy yogurt. I like it because it's really thick and has a slightly sweet taste. I'm sure you could use a regular, plain dairy yogurt as well.

I have also made this with cherries. It was awesome.

Also on the list of fruits to try: apricots, peaches, apples, and strawberries.

Notice that there are no eggs or oil involved. And if you use a soy yogurt, it will also be dairy free.

Vegan? Yes. Can you tell? Hellz no.

I doubled the amount of batter for the cobbler I made because I like a lot of topping. I had some left over and baked up some plain muffins.

They were like little pound cakes, really dense and sweet.

The Mr. and I considered getting out a couple of spoons, starting at opposite ends, and meeting in the middle.

That would be uninhibited, cobbler debauchery.

Tempting.

But then how would I get him to do my bidding the next night?

I Dig This & Miss That

A long-overdue list of randomness that tickles me pink...

*Help in the kitchen.

The Boy is finally old enough to provide actual help. The kind that isn't help in theory, but in reality. Of course, now he's not nearly as eager like in days passed. Funny how that works.

*Vegan chocolate chip cookies from Whole Foods.

I told The Mr. that he had to stop being sweet and bringing them home. They are the size of a saucer and I have no control around them. Lord only knows how many calories are in one of those things.

*These popsicles.

We have (at least) one every day.

They are so yumz that I use them as leverage for good behavior.

*Little painted toes.

With pink sparkles, no doubt.

*Crossing books off my reading list.

I *loved* the The Hunger Games, times ten. It was completed in less than twenty-four hours. I have delayed reading the other two books in the series because I want them to last longer.

*New Blog Land friends.

Kim, Erin, and Janelle.

These ladies are funny, sarcastic, blunt, thought-provoking, and admit things that you aren't supposed to admit, especially in Blog Land.

You won't find cutesy. You won't find crafty.

You will find real life.

And you won't feel like a total loser-crappy mother just because you don't have children that never argue and only hug. And that you might, on occasion, raise your voice at them or use cuss words in front of them.

Or that you don't sew or knit all their clothes with fabric and yarn that you wove yourself. Or that you don't grow your own organic food all year long but instead, dare to step foot in a grocery store.

Or that your house isn't completely furnished with incredible thrift store finds. Or that it's a total pipe dream that everyone picks up after themselves without being asked. Or that you aren't married to someone that *can* read your mind so you get pissed off at him on a fairly regular basis.

Or that you are simply human.

I can't wait until we can share some drinks in person instead of getting sloshed together on Facebook and Twitter. Seriously. We are a motley cyber crew.

*Tufts.

That's what we call them.

This is Les. He thinks he's Mufasa.

*Working out.

I've never been a big yoga fan, but it's starting to win me over. The Mr. is being really supportive, but I think it has more to do with the downward facing dog position than actual health benefits.

I'll admit to not being quite as disciplined the past couple of weeks. My workout partner, shown above, has really been on my case.

She has been watching way too much Jillian.

*Set lists.

Especially when they include one of my favorite songs.

*Strapless tops.

It's hot. I have a tan. I don't have to wear a bra.

*Jeans that fit.

They aren't too tight. They aren't too baggy. They don't show my ass crack when I bend over.

*Face wash.

It removes all my make-up. It doesn't dry out my skin or make my face oily. And it smells awesome.

I've used it as body wash more than once.

*Rudi's bread.

This is the next best thing to homemade, and I don't get flour all over the counters.

Sold, sold, sold, and sold.

*Mike Vallely.

He's a skater from my generation.

He has aged very well.

*Heidi Swanson.

She is the wonder behind 101 Cookbooks, which has solved my "what to make for dinner" dilemma more than once. Both of her cookbooks are excellent. I've yet to make something that isn't worthy of being made again.

But most of all...I love her photography. It's perfect. Every little thing from her use of light to the subject matter is beyond reproach.

"I take photos of my day-to-day - places I visit, people I meet, little moments I want to remember...I've also found that photography is a good indicator for me - when my life is nicely in balance I shoot more photos. If I find my favorite cameras collecting dust, it's usually a sign that I'm over-extended in one way or another and I try to adjust. My hope is that photography continues to be something that inspires me throughout my life - not just the process of observing and taking pictures myself, but also appreciating the work of others."

Brilliant.

*Beer.

I've really been enjoying Shiner's Ruby Redbird. It really is a perfect summer beer.

*The Girl's vocabulary.

She still has some words that she mispronounces. I find it difficult to correct her because it's so sweet...and fleeting.

Some of my favorites: swim-soup (swimsuit), toe-food (tofu), hoga (yoga), and pasquito (mosquito).

*Visiting Austin this summer.

It's where my heart is.

*Eddie.

O.M.G.

He's at the top of *The List*, it's true...but even if he weren't, I would still love his Ukulele Songs. But since he is at the top of *The List*, it has been on repeat for the past seven weeks for hours (and hours) at a time.

Obsessed? Maybe.

Also on the summer soundtrack for 2011:
Beulah (365 day a year favorite)
The Belle Brigade
Reigning Sound
Tody Castillo
Fleet Foxes
The Mountain Goats
The Minus 5
The Decemberists
The National (another 365 day a year favorite)
Blind Pilot

Some things I'm missing...

*Skateboarding.

Since the temps are often in the triple digits, I have left my skillz by the wayside.

I'll roll again this fall.

*Smack talk.

I love it when someone can dish it *and* take it, but is still respectful and can give credit where credit is due.

I have some friends who are excellent shit-talkers. I salute them and their talents.

I also miss having something to smack talk about. Football season ended ages ago. Basketball season met a similar fate. Both of my beloved sports are more than likely going to be delayed or nonexistent due to lockouts.

I miss waking up and reading the sports page(s) on my phone while snuggled in bed. It made mornings much more tolerable.

*sigh*

*Teddy.

The Girl is getting older and she's aware of that fact. She knows big girls don't walk around a store or sit in a restaurant with a well-worn, stuffed friend.

So, Teddy has been spending more and more time in the car. And sometimes, is even left at home.

It's not that she doesn't love him or need him. She does. But still. It's proof that she is growing up.

I should be happy! I remember wondering how long she was going to drag that nasty looking bear around. Wondering how much longer I had to be nervous that she would lose him. Wondering if she was going to need therapy for an attachment disorder.

Now, I wonder if I'm more attached to Teddy than she is.

I think I'm the one in need of therapy.

Lots of simple randomness.

I feel as if I should buy you a beer...I would dig that.

If you are curious about some of the other things that make me smile, just type "I Dig This" in the little Google search box over to the side.

Boom goes the dynamite.

We are all about the tacos...

Seeing as how I never got around to posting a menu last week, and since this week is practically finished, I think I will focus on our favorite meal.

TACOS.

I don't think we've ever declared it to be our favorite. But I usually make it once a week.

And no one complains.

That says "favorite" to me.

I always start with a can of refried black beans. This is key.

It's like the glue that holds everything together. Because who wants a taco blow-out?

The fillings vary.

Our current favorite is a zucchini-squash mixture. I chop it small and add it to a hot skillet with some onion and cook until soft.

Other common fillers: sautéed peppers, shredded cabbage, avocados, salad greens, corn, tofu, and tomatoes.

I think you can put just about anything in a corn tortilla, add some salsa, and call it dinner.

And don't forget the sour cream.

Some words on sour cream: There are good dairy free versions out there. I like the Follow Your Heart brand. But you know...it's just not the same.

This is one of those areas where I break the rules. I use sour cream made from milk that comes from a cow. It just tastes better.

I've accepted the fact that I'm not willing to compromise on sour cream.

Salsa, however, lends itself to experimentation.

Go on. Get crazy.

*image stolen from a friend's Facebook page*

Tacos.

They bring people together.

Ten On Ten: July

July 10th.

Ten pictures taken over ten hours.

Sleeping...just a little while longer.

Drinking breakfast.

Wearing something new.

Smelling a stinky dog.

Sorting pintos and...

Soaking tomorrow's dinner.

Piecing together.

Refilling jars.

Bathing that stinky dog.

Cooling off and...

Soaking up sun...with Yoda.

Eating fast before they melt.

A handful of images captured throughout the day...

Brrrrrrr.

A cold front must have come through!

Look at that temp, yo. It's only 97*!

I was starting to think my thermometer was permanently stuck at +100*.

We spent the day enjoying the "mild" weather outside. We ignored the fact that the backyard is a dried up tumbleweed, that there was an empty Lone Star can on the porch, and that it smelled like a critter up and died under our deck.

The white trash pool no longer feels out of place.

Come back in August for another ten.

I won't be so sweaty and hopefully the yard will look better.

Happy TEN, y'all.