The Florida Trip

We are back and recovered from our trip to Florida.  It went really well despite my worries about taking the trip by myself.  Other than the usual “kid” complaints, the car trip there and back went very smoothly. 

I am so thankful for the help and support I received while in Florida.  And, while this may seem common place to some, it is quite a change for me.  We are here, in Atlanta, without any family.  While it is our choice to be here, it is very easy to become accustomed to doing most things without any help.  So, having help on this trip was a nice departure for me.

It also gave me the chance to look at things very differently.   Too see things as I remembered them, but to see them in a completely different light.  I’ve grown since being in Florida. I grew up in Florida – spent the first 25 years of my life there.  And, as much as I remember specific landmarks or scenery, I SEE it completely differently. 

While there, I took quite a trip down memory lane – to the places and instances of being on the beach, eating at favorite restaurants, hanging out with friends.  I remembered the way old coastal buildings smell – like a mixture of the sea and aged timber.  It is a beautiful smell:  historic and encompassing.

The beach sand under-foot on the hard wood floors of our Bread and Breakfast room was reminiscent of days spent with family and friends at the beach; casual, laid-back and completely relaxing.  These were the days before bustling Destin or Seaside.  These were the days of Old Florida. 

Our B&B room was aptly named “Old Florida”.  It contained nostalgic pictures of the way Florida looked way-back-when.  The days when Weeki Wachee was the place you went on vacation, and going Wakulla Springs included a trip to see Big Al, the alligator.  Disney World was on the list, but that was saved for your “big vacation” later on, sometime down the road.

 

In Florida, nature is presented in sea shells and ground-level palm fronds growing among scrubby bushes.   The beach sand is actually white (!), and is wonderfully powdery.  Spanish moss hangs from ancient Oak trees and sways with the wind.  It is quiet, and you can see most all of the stars at night – especially at the beach. 

I am so grateful for this trip, for the help I received while in Florida, and for the opportunity to slow down.  I REMEMBERED! And, that is the best part of all. 

Congratulations to my sister and her husband!  Y’all deserved a special day surrounded by family, friends and beauty.  Oh, and, it’s about time you guys got married!

http://www.weekiwachee.com/

http://www.floridastateparks.org/wakullasprings/

The 100 Question Day

“Mommy, why are we going to Wal-Mart?” (Because we need things for our trip tomorrow)

“Mommy, can I have the Snoopy toothbrush?”  (Yes)

“Mommy, what is that movie?”  (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang)

"Are we getting it?"  (Yes)

“Mommy, why does Harry Potter fly on a broom?”  (Because he’s a Wizard, and he’s magic)

“Mommy, can I build a fort?” (Not right now)  This really means, "mommy, can you build a fort?"

“Mommy, why do we need batteries?”  (For your Leapster)

“Mommy, can I have some water?”  (One sec, buddy.  I’m taking care of your cheese and crackers first)

"Mommy, did you forget my water?"  (Sure did.  One more sec, buddy)  He got the water...finally.

"Mommy, what is this?"  (A nail hammered in the wood.  Someone left it sticking out a little)

"Why is it here?" (I don't know)

"Why is it sticking out?"  (I don't know that either)

“Mommy, is a T-Rex stronger than a car?”  (Yes)

“Why?”  (silence)

“Mommy….why?”  (Oh, my God….make it stop [to myself])

Today was the day of no-fewer-than-100-questions from my son.  I’m not even kidding.

I appreciate his curiosity, and have grown to expect lots of questions from him on a daily basis.  It means he's learning through observation.  It means he's analyzing and forming conclusions.  But, today….today really was over the top – even for him. 

It’s the third day into Spring Break, and man, I am ready to get out of here. We, obviously, all are.  I've purposefully not scheduled anything for the beginning of the week because we are going to Florida for my sister’s wedding tomorrow through Saturday.

I just have to make it through 6 hours in the car with Mr. QM (Question Machine) and his little sister.   She’s two and a half.  Did I mention I’ll be doing this by myself?

.....yep....all. by. myself.

Updates to follow - they should be interesting.

I'm Baaaaaaaack!

Hello all.  I'm back!  The Pantry Experiment is officially derailed.  It went pretty well....for about three weeks, then "life" happened....you know....kids, a husband, the church Consignment Sale (which I was in charge of), oh, and....officially....we are moving! 

Finally!

FINALLY!!!

We were one of the unfortunate families that got caught in the housing crisis of 2008.  We've stuck it out in our cramped townhouse for a long time.  We've adjusted and re-adjusted our (crappy) attitude toward our townhouse many, many times.  And, just when I thought this place would be our family home for many years to come....surprise.....God sent a blessing to us in the form of a Realtor named Allison.  She is now my BFF.  Seriously, y'all. 

With Allison, we found a new home.  An actual house!  With a big yard (front AND back), a basement, and four actual bedrooms!   It even has a formal living room and a dining room.  We are Big Time now! 

I'm so incredibly happy that I cannot even stand it.  And, through this process, I find myself wondering about the future - what will it hold?  How will our family adjust to the new surroundings?  Will the kids like the schools?   Will our neighbors like us?  Will we like them?  Will we truly get the two puppies my son is asking for?  (not if I have my way - one dog at a time thankyouverymuch!)

Know what else I've held in my thoughts over the last few months?  That I truly still need to write.  Writing is the one constant I've felt the need to pursue  no matter where I am or what is going on in my life. 

Sometimes, my thoughts race through my head so fast, I can hardly finish one thought before the next speeds into my brain and slams into the first thought.  The only way I can keep track of things is to write things down. 

Plus, I find getting things written down to be a cathartic process.  So, here I am - back to writing.  This time, it's just me and my thoughts.  Hopefully, I'll say something that reaches you.  Maybe, through my crazy life, I'll touch on a subject that means something to someone.  That's all I can hope for if I take my task seriously.

Week-End Wrap Up

I'm sick. 

We're off track, but not that far.

Hope your weekend looks better than mine.

Mid-Week Update (TPE)

Items used from pantry – week of 12/31

·         1 box Jiffy cornbread mix

·         2 cans cream of chicken soup, Hashbrown Casserole

·         White onions gone, black eyed peas

·         The rest of the bag of Tortilla chips

Mid-week update:  Well, it the official third day of “The Pantry Experiment”, and so far, we’re doing ok!  No complaining – from me or anyone else…so far!  In fact, I was even able to make a bonus item – a Hashbrown Casserole.   One for breakfast on New Year’s Day, and one for the freezer!  I EVEN got a little creative with one ingredient – the sour cream.  I only had about ¾ of a 16 oz. container, so I substituted the other ¼ portion with plain yogurt…and, it was good!  Check me out!

In addition to the bonus item, I also shared a portion of our NYE black eyed peas with a neighbor.   So that’s a bonus on top of a bonus!   I suppose I should also probably tell you that we spent part of New Year’s Day among friends at a Bowl Game watching party, so I did get a pass on last night’s dinner.  So, it looks, in the grand scheme of things, that I’m about even at this point – I didn’t get a dinner out of our pantry last night…but…I did get a breakfast out of the Hashbrown Casserole.

On revised menu for dinner tonight, Turkey Bacon Ranch Wraps (doing last night’s dinner tonight).  I even had some tortilla chips in the pantry that we ate with our wraps.  We finished the bag off!  Overall, it was really good – AND – J even ate ¾ of his wrap and liked it!  AM had her own thing going tonight…which, you will come to learn is about par for the course with her.

I’ll have to revise the week’s menu list – I’m probably going to take the Southwest chili out of the rotation.  It can wait until later…and who knows what will happen later on.  I think I’ll just save it in case I need it in a pinch!

Also, I posted this the other day Southern States Translations, A Reference Guide.  I will continue to write additional content as we go along.  It is my hope that, once I am finished with The Pantry Experiment, I will continue to provide you with content about …well….whatever I want.   I find writing to be quite cathartic – the perfect antidote to the thoughts that ping around in my head…all the time!  The easiest topic for me to write about is my family – they really do provide plenty of color to my life.  And, I love it!

So, stick with me – I hope I say something, at some point that resonates with you.  And, until next time, I hope all goes well!

Hashbrown Casserole

Ingredients

·         1 lb frozen hash browns, thawed

·         4 cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese

·         16 oz container sour cream

·         1 cup frozen onions

·         2 10.5 oz cans cream of chicken soup

·         1 tsp black pepper

·         Potato chips, plain

·         Half a stick of butter

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.

In a large mixing bowl, add thawed hash browns, cheddar cheese, sour cream, onions, cream of chicken soup and black pepper.  Mix until all ingredients are fully incorporated.

Transfer ingredients into a casserole dish.  I use (2) 8 X 8 disposable foil pans because I know that I will probably use one immediately, and freeze one for later*.

Topping:
Add potato chips to large plastic food storage bag.  Crunch.  You will want to get about 2 cups of crunched chips. 

Melt butter in a microwave safe container.

Add butter to chips in food storage bag.  Mix to coat chips.

Set topping aside.

Place your casserole in the preheated oven.  Cook for 15 minutes.  Carefully add the topping to the casserole and finish baking;  about 15 more minutes.

Check casserole – your oven may cook differently, and you don’t want to burn the chips.

Serve and enjoy!

*If you are freezing your casserole(s) – do not add topping.  Cover your pans with aluminum foil, and label.  Don’t forget to add the date.

Southern States Translations, A Reference Guide

I love living in the South.   We have our own way of life down here accented by hospitality and a slow, deliberate way of enjoying life.   The classic images of moonlight and magnolias, wisteria and jasmine….they are all perfectly fitting.   Add a front porch, a hot summer day, and some sweet tea to the equation, and you have the perfect mix of “Southernology”. 

We also have our very own special way of speaking and interacting with each other, too.  In case you need a little help understanding us, here is a general reference guide:

·         “Goodness Gracious”! – awww, that’s too bad (…for you…).

·         “Goodness Graaycious”! – you really should have known better

·         “Bless your heart” – when combined with “goodness graaycious” this means you really should have known better, but obviously you don’t.  “Bless your heart” = pity.  Sometimes this is sincere, sometimes it’s not.  If you ever receive an insincere “bless your heart” (and, yes, you will know), it's bad news.  And, sincerely, bless your heart. (see what I did there?)

·         “Ohhhhh, that’s so cuuuute”- no it’s not - the key is to listen for the exaggerated vowels.  You should go home and re-think your entire life philosophy starting with your wardrobe.  Don’t leave the house until you’re done thinking everything through.  It may also help if you make a list of all of your questionable choices.  Start with college.

·         “I swear to God”! – get out of the way because stuff is about to get REAL.  You may even want to say a quick prayer for yourself because God has, indeed, been summoned.

·         A conversation between two women:  Woman 1: “Did you hear…?”  Woman 2:  Nods head and purses lips, “I sure did…” – someone did something that is too heinous to even say out loud.  These women just had an entire conversation - non-verbally, in a split second - about someone (probably another woman) in which they fully discussed the understood transgression, judged “the culprit” two ways to Sunday, while simultaneously deciding to remove said culprit from their Christmas card list…permanently…

·         Speaking of “heinous” – this can be interchanged with “hideous”.  If your name is ever mentioned in the same sentence as either “heinous” or “hideous”, you should move.  I hear San Diego has beautiful year-round weather.

·         “Isn’t that sweet”? – this can either be sincere, or it can be a passive-aggressive verbal assault.  Either way, you’re on your own with this one.  Good luck.

·         “DAMN IT!” – if you got a Southern woman to cuss – move.  Out of state. Immediately.  I also hear San Diego has pretty beaches.  Be sure to take your sun screen.

·         “Heyyallhowyadoin?” – this needs interpretation?