Leftovers

This post reminds me of leftovers.

There's not enough of any one thing for a whole post. So I'm stringing a bit of this and a little of that together in hopes of having something worth reading.

*The Girl has taken to sleeping under her bed.

Not all night, mind you. This is where she usually retreats after getting in trouble. I'll find her when the silence raises my suspicions.

I take comfort in the fact that there are no "marnsters" under there.

*I have children that are part fruit bat.

I don't need to plant a garden...I need an orchard.

I'm not complaining. I am simply in awe of the amount of fruit these two go through in a week.

They will even complain if I tell them I'm using some of their bounty for baking purposes.

Weird fruit bats.

*Ready-to-go garlic cloves are ace.

I have always hated cooking with fresh garlic. But not now.

In fact, I'm not the most kissable soul since I started using these little wonders. I use copious amounts in just about everything.

Luckily, garlic cancels garlic. *wink*

*I can live on tacos.

I'm thinking of having taco week. Nothing but different types of tacos for a week.

Brilliant.

*Pitchers of iced tea are disappearing from our house at an alarming rate.

It's Texas. It's summer. The temps are mad-high. Iced tea is a magical elixir that can cool you on the hottest of days.

I'm especially fond of iced green tea.

*I started a sewing project.

I'm making a tank top. In theory.

I have chosen the pattern and fabric and have cut all pieces from said fabric. Of course I started this project about 11pm and I think I cut it out with the fabric folded the wrong way. I say I think because it was one of those things where you double check and are sure you are doing it right, and then look again after it's done and think, "Oops...I don't know if I folded the fabric like that...".

So I'm not entirely sure.

I have yet to stitch it together.

*I am having grandiose thoughts of making another quilt for our bed.

A queen size quilt.

I swore I would never tackle another quilt that big. Or I'd at least wait a good ten years to do so.

It's been less than two years. I'm wanting a change.

I can tell you it will be a multitude of solid color fabrics in various hues of greens, oranges, reds, mustard yellows, blues, and browns laid out in a smaller rectangular block style.

It's still simmering in my brain, but I am planning to post through the whole process and not just a finished product. You will be seeing this brainchild come to fruition.

*I feel like a flake of a mother during the summer months.

The Offspring swim in the pool every day. Lots of times that suffices for a bath. But then I forget the last time they had a proper bath.

Don't worry. They don't stink.

It is also the time I make those "well-child" check-ups at the doctor.

I forget. Until it's too late and there are no appointments during the summer months and then it gets put off until fall. But then school starts and they need certain immunizations to enter the public school system.

I have no idea what shots my kids need and when. Frankly, there are too dang many, in my opinion. But we are a slave to public school and inoculate our children we must.

Part of the problem is that we are a healthy bunch, more or less. It took the swine flu to bring us down this past year. I don't think about choosing to go to the doctor.

We only go when we are near death.

So, beware of The Offspring. They may or may not have had a bath and might not be immunized.

*The Offspring have been spending a lot more time playing in their rooms since school let out.

There is a direct correlation between the amount of destruction and the time spent in a particular location, especially where younger children are concerned.

I've had to raise the white flag. Doors are shut until my OCD screams.

Confession: Today I bribed them with...*gulp*...McDonald's.

Perfect rooms=artery clogging, hydrogenated goodness.

I couldn't stand it any longer and I didn't want a fuss. I had spent all my energy in an attempt to be laid back. In my defense, they were allowed the burger, but had to go with the Apple Dippers sans caramel sauce.

There are limits to my bribery.

*I got to go to one of The Mr.'s shows last weekend.

We had an impromptu kid-free night. It was like Christmas in July.

Of course, the music was great. But I found myself distracted buy a very intoxicated, large breasted girl, wearing a satin, aqua blue, bubble-skirt.

Really? What year is it?

I'm not a fashion maven, but I'm pretty sure the whole bubble skirt trend has long since passed.

I'm just sayin'.

I'll get to go here for another one of their shows next week.

There is a no bubble-skirt dress code in effect.

*I've come to the conclusion that the only pair of shorts that will fit my body properly are a pair of ill-fitting jeans that have been cut-off.

Since I'm dissing people's fashion sense I thought I'd show how little I know about the topic.

But at least now I have one pair of shorts to wear in this sweltering heat.

A relief my lower half hasn't experienced in three summer seasons.

*I'm finally getting the drunken flower tattoo covered.

I've had my inspiration for years.

I'm considering this a late birthday gift to myself. Redemption from previous mistakes.

*I've started crocheting a sweater.

Because it's only 100+*.

*Sleeping arrangements.

They are at each other's throats all day, but this is what I find in the morning.

I love it. It won't last much longer.

Or it will be creepy.

That was a lot of leftovers!

Thank you for partaking.

Melancholy

The day drags on.

I think about what was.

What will be.

What could be.

What is.

I listen to The National's Boxer on auto-repeat. All day.

I'm not hungry.

I'm hungry. But only for ice cream.

Disappointment.

Confusion.

I want to run. Fast.

I want to sleep. Deeply.

I've read the same sentence six times. I still don't know what it says.

Automatic pilot.

I call my mom. "Everything's fine."

I call my friend. "Everything's not fine."

I stare off.

I do not cry.

I hate crying.

My mind races. About nothing.

I'm on edge.

I want to be alone.

I'm lonesome. I need company.

A long hug. A long, tight hug.

I'm lifted. If just for a moment.

Ten On Ten: July

July 10th.

Ten pictures taken over ten hours.

Buttering.

Stowing.

Shining.

Scrubbing.

Sitting.

Vacuuming.

Stacking.

Cutting.

Showering.

Eating.

Drinking...

Which was followed by talking, listening, and laughing.

A lot of it.

A handful of images captured throughout the day...

The morning and afternoon were spent spiffing-up the house. Then we had some good friends over for dinner.

Friends that you can stand in the kitchen noshing on chips and salsa while a steady stream of conversation flows.

It's nice.

We can discuss the musical progression of The Mountain Goats while pausing to scold a child. Numbers for tattoo artists are exchanged along with private contractors. The merits of a sealed concrete floor are considered along with a shared disdain for granite counter tops.

It's a perfect blend of old school with the here-and-now.

Adulthood makes this common blend harder and harder to find. So we are considering starting a commune of like-minded souls.

If you count the pictures carefully, you'll notice there are eleven instead of ten.

My ten hours were up before the fun began.

It can't be Ten On Ten without the fun.

So this month, it's eleven on ten.

Apricot Bars

1 stick unsalted butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup dried apricots, chopped
1/4 cup apricot jam
1/2 cup finely chopped almonds (optional)
pinch of salt
3/4 cup all purpose flour

Heat oven to 350*. Grease an 8x8 pan.

Melt the butter. Transfer to a large bowl and beat in the sugar until smooth. Then add the egg and almond extract, jam, apricots, and chopped almonds (if using).

Add the salt and gradually add the flour. Pour into the prepared pan and bake until just barely set in the middle, about 20-25 minutes. Cool on a rack before cutting.

I found this recipe via the Mark Bittman iPhone app I linked to here. It is an all-purpose bar recipe. You could add just about any sort of mix-in.

These accompanied us to the bro-in-law's for the 4th.

None of them returned home.

They must be good.

I Got Nuthin'

I'm in the mood to write.

But I got nuthin'.

I don't have any gourmet magic.

I haven't embarked on any significant crafty endeavors.

The Offspring are the only ones being creative these days.

Anyway, their work blows doors on mine.

This has been such a strange summer...

Motivation is not part of my vocabulary.

I have been so very...lazy.

The clean laundry sits in the basket and reaches perilous heights.

Dishes are left in the sink.

Grocery shopping is put off until "tomorrow".

I have declared it to be Commando Night because we are out of clean underwear.

My plants silently shriek for water.

Trust me...the list goes on.

This is not my usual modus operandi.

I read this at Tree Fall a couple days ago: "It's all go around here at the moment...Which is exactly when I find the ideas flow the fastest. The more you have to do, the more you want to do."

That must be my problem: There is less I have to do, so there is less I want to do.

I don't want to cut out patterns. Or measure fabric. Or organize the pantry. Or start making Christmas gifts. Or clean every nook and cranny in the fridge. Or whipstitch a million granny squares.

Or...anything really.

I just want to be.

The funny thing is...I'm OK with it. I'm not fighting this strange feeling of not giving a rat's ass.

For the first time in a loooong time, I'm relaxed.

And that's somethin'.

The 4th

America knows how to throw a birthday party...

The rain that we had been experiencing all week departed.

The clouds lifted. They took (most) of the humidity with them.

There was even a gentle breeze to cool our sun-drenched skin. Four hours of White Trash Pool-fun will leave its mark.

We went to my bro-in-law's place for some quality time.

He's a master with the grill.

Truly. He's genius.

The kids love to visit their aunt and uncle and cousins.

*They* have a swing-set.

And *they* have a cool house.

And *they* are always nice.

And *they* have lots of Barbies and tennis shoes with sparkles all over them and a pink bedroom.

You see, we are ogres that live in a cave, so it's a real treat to visit civilized folk.

I love to visit because all I have to do is sit while the bro-in-law casts his BBQ spell upon various meats.

*They* have patio furniture that's not made of vinyl and folds-up.

We ogres need to get some for the cave.

If you come-over, Conga Bird will even chat with you.

Ribs, chicken, and brisket.

The bro-in-law is a master, I tell ya.

He even makes his own BBQ sauce.

It will make your body tingle. In a good way.

We squeezed some vegetable matter in there so all bases were covered.

I proceeded to eat my weight in meat.

A strong BBQ buzz soon followed.

The only cure for a meat coma: A cold beer.

Check this out: The bro-in-law even cleans-up.

Shoos us from the kitchen, God love him.

The Offspring played outside...

...and inside...

...with toys that are "much more better" than the ones we have at home.

Or so I'm told.

We headed outside.

Chillaxin'.

I love this picture.

We R Fireworks.

Mwah!

The Mr. is playing it so cool. "Oh yeah. Chicks dig me."

*So* rock-and-roll.

The perfect July 4th dessert.

The Boy is a watermelon fiend.

Watch your fingers when grabbing a piece.

As the sun set, it was time for pyrotechnics.

The Offspring have been so conditioned to never ever play with matches or fire that it took quite a bit of coaxing to get them to have a go.

The Girl decided that the Barbies inside were more to her liking and politely excused herself.

The Boy finally gave it a try, with encouragement from his favorite uncle.

Happy birthday, America!

I'm honored to be on your guest list.

When the sparks faded and the smoke had cleared the air, it was time to head home.

We rounded up The Offspring.

This was not an easy task.

Goodbyes were said, hugs given.

Extra thanks for a great celebration.

The Offspring concur.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Since I know he reads, I'll give an extra shout-out to my rad bro-in-law.

I'm so happy that your family is my family.

You guys always treat us right.

Peace out, brutha.