Have you ever wondered what goes on in my head. Raw and unedited.
Visit my other blog, Methodical Musings of an Unbalanced Woman, to find out.
I bare my soul for the world to see.
Makes one feel quite vulnerable.
I might liken it to leaving the house only to discover that you had forgotten to put any pants on...hours later.
Only on a more deep and serious level.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Attack of the flying bugs leads to desperate use of duct tape
Now, I'm not one to get squeamish about a few bugs here and there.
Yes, I kill spiders (even squish them with my hands or bare feet), I pick up praying mantis's, I'll hold a handful of rolly polly's while my 3 year old uses the bathroom at the park, but I do not....I repeat, DO NOT like infestations of any kind. You know...a large gathering of small-ish creepy things. It makes me feel vulnerable and itchy all over.
Among my least favorites are ants (now that's a good story for later), lice, maggots, and swarming winged ones of any kind.
That's why I spent some time this morning repairing holes in some window and door screens (and when I use the term "repair" I mean jimmy rigging things with duct tape because I don't believe in spending money on things unless I absolutely have to (exceptions being any sort of sugary goodness) because I have a pack of male rugrats who are determined to destroy anything in their path, so until they are grown and out of the house or we become millionaires and can afford to keep up on repairs I will continue to patch things up with a large roll of duct tape that cost me no more than $6 at old Walmart-O).
(Let's see...where was I?)
Right...so...in summers past, at night, when it would finally get dark enough to turn the lights on inside, we would get all sort of winged friends coming in to play. They'd enjoy swarming, particularly around the dining room light fixture, and then laying their bodies to rest (dying) on the table for us all to enjoy with our breakfasts the next morning.
But this year (I assume because of the wetter spring and the holes in the screens) we not only have them gathering in the dining room, but the kitchen, the windows throughout the house, and my bedroom ceiling. I swear I went to bed last night with nightmares of waking up to a "blanket" of bugs.
UGH! So disgusting.
So...the screen door got a bit of work done on her (notice the handle missing? Yeah...the kids broke that off two summers ago...so last year I jimmy rigged a "handle" down lower where they could reach it and, wouldn't you know, they'd rather just tear a whole in the screen and open and close the door with the frame instead...yeah...that's why I don't replace things). Now she's all patched and looking perty don't cha think?(We'll see how long it lasts.)
Yes, I kill spiders (even squish them with my hands or bare feet), I pick up praying mantis's, I'll hold a handful of rolly polly's while my 3 year old uses the bathroom at the park, but I do not....I repeat, DO NOT like infestations of any kind. You know...a large gathering of small-ish creepy things. It makes me feel vulnerable and itchy all over.
Among my least favorites are ants (now that's a good story for later), lice, maggots, and swarming winged ones of any kind.
That's why I spent some time this morning repairing holes in some window and door screens (and when I use the term "repair" I mean jimmy rigging things with duct tape because I don't believe in spending money on things unless I absolutely have to (exceptions being any sort of sugary goodness) because I have a pack of male rugrats who are determined to destroy anything in their path, so until they are grown and out of the house or we become millionaires and can afford to keep up on repairs I will continue to patch things up with a large roll of duct tape that cost me no more than $6 at old Walmart-O).
(Let's see...where was I?)
Right...so...in summers past, at night, when it would finally get dark enough to turn the lights on inside, we would get all sort of winged friends coming in to play. They'd enjoy swarming, particularly around the dining room light fixture, and then laying their bodies to rest (dying) on the table for us all to enjoy with our breakfasts the next morning.
But this year (I assume because of the wetter spring and the holes in the screens) we not only have them gathering in the dining room, but the kitchen, the windows throughout the house, and my bedroom ceiling. I swear I went to bed last night with nightmares of waking up to a "blanket" of bugs.
UGH! So disgusting.
So...the screen door got a bit of work done on her (notice the handle missing? Yeah...the kids broke that off two summers ago...so last year I jimmy rigged a "handle" down lower where they could reach it and, wouldn't you know, they'd rather just tear a whole in the screen and open and close the door with the frame instead...yeah...that's why I don't replace things). Now she's all patched and looking perty don't cha think?(We'll see how long it lasts.)
The other major repair was on the large kitchen window screen. Earlier this year I just happened to lock myself out of my car at Costco. Yeah...Rob was out of town with the three older boys so Mr. Golden Locks and I were stuck...really stuck. Luckily I have a good friend who was willing to break into my house (thank goodness I left a window open) and grab a spare set of keys. Unfortunately, those screens are extremely difficult to get out (which is a good thing otherwise any crazy might try to get in) and I gave her permission to bend it if she needed to. So she did...(no don't feel bad) and came to my rescue. Long story...well, long....the screen was bent and the bugs have had a super easy time getting in.
Until today...
With a little bit of muscle and, you guessed it, duct tape, the screen is back in place and doing its job quite nicely.
Now before you go on judging me, just keep in mind that these repairs, although somewhat "trashy" looking, cost me no more than $.15 cents.
How's that for "frugal" home improvement?
And, even better,...so far so good on lessening the amount of little buggies buzzing around my head right now.
That makes me happy....very happy.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Easy Granola Bars
I love this recipe. It's fast and easy and HIGHLY adaptable. I'm always on the lookout for something like this since we can't buy a whole lot of granola bars at the store (nut allergies in the house). This one is awesome.
Easy Granola Bars (Thanks Brandage)
adapted from allrecipes.com
3 cups quick-cooking oats
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk (can use fat free).
2 TBSP butter, melted (optional...I've never used it)
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup sliced almonds (again, because of allergies, we leave this out)
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 pan (I double the recipe and use a cookie sheet). In a large bowl, mix ingredients with your hands until well blended. Press flat into the prepared pan. Bake 20-25 minutes in the preheated oven, depending on how crunchy you want them. Lightly browned just around the edges will give you moist, chewy bars. Let cool for 5 minutes, cut into squares then let cool completely before serving.
**You can totally play with this recipe. Try adding wheat germ and or ground flax. Add a little whole wheat flour if you want. My kids LOVE the Peanut Butter Milk chocolate chip ones I make. Just add a large dollop of peanut butter, omitting dried fruit, and switch out the semi sweet chips for milk chocolate ones. They are super tasty. We've also used raisins instead of cranberries (more cost effective, ya know). Mix it up...have fun.
Please share any tasty combos you come up with. :)
Easy Granola Bars (Thanks Brandage)
adapted from allrecipes.com
3 cups quick-cooking oats
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk (can use fat free).
2 TBSP butter, melted (optional...I've never used it)
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup sliced almonds (again, because of allergies, we leave this out)
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 pan (I double the recipe and use a cookie sheet). In a large bowl, mix ingredients with your hands until well blended. Press flat into the prepared pan. Bake 20-25 minutes in the preheated oven, depending on how crunchy you want them. Lightly browned just around the edges will give you moist, chewy bars. Let cool for 5 minutes, cut into squares then let cool completely before serving.
**You can totally play with this recipe. Try adding wheat germ and or ground flax. Add a little whole wheat flour if you want. My kids LOVE the Peanut Butter Milk chocolate chip ones I make. Just add a large dollop of peanut butter, omitting dried fruit, and switch out the semi sweet chips for milk chocolate ones. They are super tasty. We've also used raisins instead of cranberries (more cost effective, ya know). Mix it up...have fun.
Please share any tasty combos you come up with. :)
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