Music We Like: Barenaked Ladies Snack Time

I had no idea that the boys had come out with a new CD. I was killing some time in the library while waiting for K-'s preschool to be over and I spied the new Barenaked Ladies CD. Unfortunately, I can't figure out how to put the You Tube thingy in here, so I'll link it for you. I'm still new at this and trying!

It's a kid CD! Pollywog in a Bog is my favorite! K- loves all the songs, but she's been talking about one with popcorn. I haven't figured it out yet, as I've been busy having things break, leak or otherwise funk out at our house. (The latest is the humidifier that leaked in K-'s room, through the rug, through the sub floor and into the basement. We had to pull 1/2 of her room apart, flip the armoire/dresser on it's side so that it can dry from the bottom and UGH! All of this at 11 PM at night AFTER we came back from Hubs' Christmas Party.) So, I've been listening to the CD with her, but my full attention hasn't been on it. She does like 7-8-9, though.

I'm tired. I've just noticed one more that I need to watch. Good night!

If you need to find me . . .

I'll be down by the creek beating our clothes against a rock. Why? Because my washer took a big ole fat giant dump. It died. We knew that she was making a very loud noise that was only getting louder. We could only figure that it was the bearing. What is sad is that it is 9 years old. I don't think that is old for a washer.

I asked Mom if I can come and flip some clothes into their washer tomorrow. She said it is fine. We'll borrow my dad's dolly and haul the washer carcass to the road. Thank goodness that I haven't called for the big haul pick-up yet. See, I told y'all that there would be more to come. The neighbors are really going to think we're moving out now.

Don't worry. We'll just be replacing it with a general top-load washer. I've heard too many stories of stinking front loaders (literally smelling bad) and I just don't have that kind of money to lay out for a purchase right now.

Ugh. Off to the appliance store we go.

Such a hard worker, he is!

Hubs has had this week off. He found out that he had vacation time that was to the point of use it or lose it. He opted to use it. Look what he did:

Looking beyond our family of lit deer, there it is-- our tree lawn. My neighbor thought that I kicked Hubs out. His wife informed him that she was certain that I hadn't, that we were probably doing what they needed to be doing. Hubs decided to free the basement from 9 years of stackage from living here. Boy, we look so trashy right now. But hold on! I'm sure that there will be more.

I'm sorry-- you've seen the couch? Yes, well that fine piece of furniture was a reject from a rental property. It came with a baby black widow nestled into it. It took Hubs 3 days and an awful allergy attack, but he freed the couch from both the baby black widow and all of the funk that it beheld. My in-law's were mortified. They wanted us to buy a new couch. I could see why. This one was major ugly. It is brown plaid. We were engaged. I was still in college. Hubs was working for a plastics manufacturer while doing an internship at the National Park for a whopping 50 cents an hour. The couch was free and let's face it, it was all we could afford! That would be why I have kept a couch cover on it all of these years. But look! Almost 12 years later, it has a replacement!

Yes, it is a weird angle, but the lighting at night was kind of weird. We love it! It goes well with my Kilz Casual Colors of Papaya Smoothie (A12) and Sweet Potato (A10). No kidding, those are our wall and woodwork colors. I know that you are admiring the 1976 chocolate brown carpeting. One day we'll replace it, but for now we just keep it cleaned. Honestly, for carpet that old, the stuff has held up amazingly well.

But as with every Bailey's Leaf family story, there is always a glitch. The new car in the spring came with pock marks on the hood from rocks. The couch? Well, it came with this:

Can you say ouch? Well, the fabric is guaranteed for 10 years and even without, a technician is coming out on December 19 to see what they need to do. Personally, I see a new couch in our future. The delivery guy was mortified, but we weren't angry with him at all. Stuff happens and with us, it never surprises us. They'll fix it.

In the meantime, enjoy my new couch. Feel free to take a seat. Kick back and relax. Just know that I'll be having my friend recover those pillows as soon as this couch biff is fixed. They did come with that fabric that doesn't match anything in my livingroom. There were no other choices! So, be gentle with the pillows. We'll invite you back over to roughhouse with them later when they are in a more Papaya Smoothie friendly fabric.

Pudding Skin Singles, Anyone?

So Mark and I thought the same thing when this arrived in the mail. Pudding Skin Singles. You see, apparently I ordered this sample and forgot about it. When it arrived, I about died laughing. No offense to the Jello folks, but perhaps they should have brushed up on their Seinfeldism's before they created this. Here is part of the script, but I linked it so that you could read the whole thing if you wanted. It's not a script for the kids to read. My edited version is fine for family reading, though.

The Blood
Transcribed by: Juha Auvinen
Episode #904 Originally Aired: October 16, 1997

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Jerry: Maybe instead of trying to satisfy two of your needs, how about satisfying one of somebody else's?
George: Hey, speaking of which, I found a great way to separate the skin from the top of the pudding without leaving any around the edges; Exacto knife.
Jerry: I told you George, no more pudding. I'm starting a purification program. Keep all that kind of food away from me.
George: Well, I guess these would be out of the question. [pulls out two pudding skins in plastic bags.]
Jerry: What - - is that?
George: Pudding skin singles.

An Allergy Mom, A BIG Birthday and the Milk Challenge

Janeen over at Our Story is my husband's cousin (and a good friend to me!) Her little man has multiple life threatening food allergies. Tomorrow is the day that they have decided to do a milk challenge. This will be happening under the watchful eyes of the doctor, while in the doctor's office for 4 extremely long hours. She's asking for prayer. I would love it if Little Man could drink milk, as this would open up so many more cooking options. However, what my prayer is that he is kept safe. If he can't have milk, life will certainly continue. We just want this challenge to go well and not have any reaction. Please consider passing on some mama love to Janeen as she prepares for a long day tomorrow.

Edited to add: http://zumfamily.blogspot.com/2008/12/challenge.html HOORAY!

Friendship Bread: Safe Stuff or Ick?

Friendship Bread starter is sitting out on the community counter at work. Apparently, some of my 50 some permanent and seasonal co-workers have adopted this fermented baggie of goo as a project. I couldn't help but thinking aloud with a co-worker-- is this stuff safe? I have refrigeration and food keeping issues, so something hanging out on the counter for God knows how long being squished, smooshed, added to and divided a million times over frankly just flat out grosses me out. Completely. So I told her that I would go digging. I was curious. She was, too. So I found this article. It seemed to take me where I needed to go with the Friendship Bread thing.

I should also add that I don't have a friendly relationship with Friendship Bread Starter. As a kid, someone shared some starter with us. We followed the directions. What followed? A colony of ants. We were invaded. Needless to say, my memories are not so sweet.

So, what is your take on Friendship Bread/Starter? Are you pro or con? Do you find the idea as gross as I do?

Noggin

My nephew, Billy but affectionately called Noggin, is home. He was able to come home today at around 4 PM. Thank you again for all of your prayers.