Karebear Central

I love the summer because its time for rummage sales, yard sales, garage sales, whatever you want to call them.  My best friend is having one before she moves back to California,  and she is selling her twin bed.  My hubby and I were actually thinking of buying it off of her for us.  We are thinking of converting our spare bedroom (which has a queen size bed) into a spare bedroom/office.  The only problem is, I think in our last rummage sale, she sold the rest of the bedding sets furniture. Oh well, it will be the spare room, so its not like the furniture is going to have to match!
The other reason I like rummage sales is because you can find stuff you want for really cheap. I have my mother on the lookout right now for a cheap fridge. We have a nice fridge, but its the side by side fridge freezer, which I hate. (It came with the house.) Andy and I like wine and juice and beer and soda, so that pretty much fills up the fridge. We are hoping to find a cheap fridge to put in the basement for our drinks to free up room for fresh vegetables and fruits. Also all our my friends and some of his are starting to have babies. Since we don’t have any yet, I want to find some toys for them to play with when they come over.

One thing I love about Memorial Day weekend, is there is a lot of time to do stuff around the house.  I got up and mowed the lawn this morning (first time ever in 2 years living in this house!)  I also weeded our flowerbed in the front of the house.  Right now, I am sitting on the patio blogging, while my husband works on a rabbit barrier for our garden (is that wrong that I’m blogging and he’s working?)  I also want to get the basement cleaned out and our closets.  Its time to clean up!  Tomorrow, I think, we are going to go pick up flowers for the flowerbed.  I never thought I would ever be the type to garden or like flowers, but I guess as people get older, they change. 

Here we are again with Four Foods on Friday.  I’m actually remembering!

#1. What’s your favorite white beverage? If you don’t have one, what’s your favorite beverage with something white in it?  Milk
#2. What’s your favorite white gravy, sauce, condiment, dressing or topping? alfredo sauce
#3. What’s your favorite white item from the refrigerated section? tartar sauce
#4. Share a recipe for something white. 
We are going to make this recipe next week, so I will let you know how it turns out:
Individual Clam Chowder Potpies
Ingredients 
1/4 cup butter, 1/4 cup chopped onion, 1/4 cup all purpose flour, 2 cups water, 1/2 cup whipping cream, 2 1/2 cup frozen mixed vegetables, 2 cups cubed potatoes, 2 cans (6.5 ounces each) chopped clams, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1 package 15 oz refrigerated piecrust

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat.  Add onion, cook until crisp, 2-3 minutes.  Whisk in flour, cook, stirring constantly about one minute.

2.  Stir in water and whipping cream. Bring to a boil.  Add mixed vegetables, potatoes clams, salt and pepper, mix well. Cook stirring frequently until mixture boils and thickens.  Remove from heat.

3. Place each piecrust on lightly floured surface.  Cut 6 rounds each 1/2 larger than the diameter of 1 cup overproof soup bowl, from piecrusts.  Reroll piecrust as needed to cut rounds.

4.  Ladle clam chowder into the six soup bowls filling each about 3/4ths full.  Place 1 piecrust round over each bowl, pressing firmly.  Cut slits in each round to let steam escape.

5.  Bake for 20-25 or until tops golden and filling is bubbly.

I think I have determined the cat is strange. Adi (the cat) has this issue, he pukes a lot–sometimes hairballs, sometimes his food. The vet said not to worry too much about it because he only really does it for about 3-4 days a month. Andy thinks its like the cat’s time of the month. The funny thing the cat does, though, is he will hide the puke. He will drag a washcloth, a towel, newspaper, anything to hide his puke. It’s almost as if he is ashamed of himself for doing it. I only wish we could train him to puke on the tile, because it takes a lot of cleaning with the Bissel to get the stain out of the carpet.

You know what I’m talking about–American Idol. Last night, I enjoyed David Cook a lot more than David Archueleta. Yes, I agree DA has better vocals, but David Cook has a lot more personality. I think David A is just too nice, its not natural. I feel like he’s acting. David Cook seems to be real. I almost wanted to through my laptop at the screen when Simon told David A that he probably won. That probably would not be a good idea, I would I have to get a laptop rental until I got the laptop fixed! I almost don’t want to watch the results tonight. But I am amazed I actually watched from start to finish. No matter who wins, I think they both will get contracts. So I guess it really doesn’t matter.

Today is my husband’s birthday. My niece asked how many number’s he was going to be–29. I tease him that he’s getting closer to 30 (he loves teasing his own father that he’s getting close to Medicare eligible age, so turnabout is fair.)  I was a nice wife getting my husband stuff for him and not for the house–a Hawaiian shirt, candy and a movie.  We are going out for sushi tonight (it’ll be my first time trying it, so I am kind of nervous.)  It is kind of sad because Andy has been waiting for awhile to have a birthday on actual weekend, and now that it is, he doesn’t want to take advantage of the drinking and having a day to recover.  Growing up–maturity–all overrated! 

This weeks Four Foods on Friday from Fun, Crafts and Recipes has made me really hungry.

#1. What’s your favorite beverage containing chocolate or chocolate flavoring? Chocolate milk (its nutrition in disguise.)
#2. What’s your favorite chocolate bar? OR Share a pic of your favorite candy, chocolate or otherwise.  Hershey Bars
#3. What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten that had chocolate in it? chocolate crepe. 
#4. Share a recipe using chocolate.  Take vanilla ice cream out of freezer, pour hershey syrup over it.  Right now, this is my favorite chocolate dessert.  I don’t know why but the most simple meals lately.

One of the best features of Betty (our Prius) is the smart key feature.  You don’t even have to take the key out of your pocket to unlock the door.  Plus, the car is a push button start so your keys never have to leave pocket.  The benefits of this were shown today when Andy was backing out of the driveway in the morning.  My husband realized he forgot his sunglasses.  Normally he would have to turn off the car because his house keys are on the same key ring as his car keys.  So I was able to sit and listen to the radio and have the air on too.  Now I want a smart key for the house!!!

I really hate that just my walking isn’t helping me lose that many pounds. I know people have told me that I need to do some cardio to really lose weight. Andy and I have a bet of trying to lose 30 pounds each by Thanksgiving. I just hope I won’t have to start looking at diet pill reviews in order to help me win the bet! I think I need to really start concentrating on what I am eating too.  We are adding vegetables every meal and I am trying to eat breakfast every morning.  I think the unhealthy snacks is what is keeping me at a steady weight right now. 

For Mother’s day, my sister and I decided to go in together because my sister lives in Chicago and didn’t know what to get my mom. My mom is always asking me if I have any books for her to read, so I figured this would be the best gift. Plus when she’s done with the books, then I can read them! I bought 15 of the books at a second-hand bookstore where you can return them for credit and get more books. So it is the gift that keeps on giving. See below: