homecation!

It's homecation time! We had Cesar Chavez day off  for state workers and I decided to pull a four day weekend- and get some spring cleaning and creating done! Today was my first day
My to do list is VERY VERY LONG... HERE IT IS:in no particular order:
*clean house- ugh and mop -double ugh- this includes laundry
*weed yard
|*clean up garage
*do the bills
*dye my hair...(Yes I have  about 10% white lets not talk about it shall we )
* do the  weekly grocery shopping
*send in the State taxes
*finish the seed planting
*clean my craft room ( Marks room hes hm next week from boot camp)
*make  a bunch of stuff for my 2 craft faires in April
*gather my materials for my April online class
*watch Church conference over weekend and have missionaries over for dinner
*start running for 5 k in may
*all this while playing and enjoying eva and of course, spending time with  the Man himself- Mr Frank.
I think I put a lot on my plate- I am starting to feel anxious-!
Today,  I did the bills. Went to lunch, hung out with my sister in law , took a nap and watched a movie with my daughter. we played in the garden, but I did not pick even 1 weed! It was sunny and glorious and I enjoyed every LAZY MINUTE OF IT. What did Scarlet Ohara say? TOMORROWS ANOTHER DAY!
On another  note:Watched Eat Pray Love last weekend  and it was ...alright I guess. The best part for me was when the Italian man told Julia ( I am so rich and bored I can vaca for a yr) that Americans feel guilt about too much instead of enjoying their lives - the simple pleasures in life. Basically, I am paraphrasing. I liked that part. I personally know no one who has money and time to leave their lives for a year to vacation and find themselves I found the movie insipid and sad. I could not really relate. Additionally, if that was me, I know the hot Brazilian would not be hitting on me - it would have been the toothless shaman-or the old dude hanging in India- and those of you who knew me when  I  was single probably said he already did ! Har de har har!!!
Plus, any mother out there knows THERE ARE DEFINITELY days when you feel numb. Exhaustion is what we call it. We do not just drop our babies and lives to find ourselves, but look inward and gather the internal fortitude to keep on going. I felt the Julia Character lacked internal fortitude.
Theres my two cents. Now I gotta go get my child some food. She doesn't Care about that movie either!

More sleep anyone?

So Frank had the last two days off spontaneously...we played hard yesterday- going to the park- going to dinner, watching movies- its so idyllic to spend time like this as a family - Frank threw the ball for our fabulous Clifford and I took pics of him, and of Clifford and of Eva who got all her wishing done by personally blowing - and pulling apart  EVERY DANDELION IN THE PARK!
I wore myself out. Went to bed at 11:30 pm and got up to the rudely blaring alarm at  gasp- 4:50 am...I hate the time change still since its only been raining and I havent enjoyed early light yet!
Today was to be a great visit with my elderly grands- they are 90 and 91 and have officially proven they have more energy than me- I fell asleep while visiting them! They continued to putter about doing what they do best: .reading a book and working on the computer .....while Eva and I slept away...it was actually really nice.
 I got my rest and honestly feel so great! Thanks Grands! I have some park pics! Here ya'll Go-

Happy St Patty's Day!

Eva refused to let me take her pic!

My sweet husband !

Clifford our wonder dog!

ComfortFood Night

One of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE things to do for comfort is EAT.  And as it happens, I love to cook. I have cooked since I was a young girl, and as a single young adult- I cooked often for my single friends. It was my way to nurture. I felt like I was feeding them more than food. Its really an extention of my love-

Feeding is even referenced in the Scriptures- to be fed the Bread of Life and drink of the Living Water-the Savior knew that many besides myself would understand the comfort that  symbolism represents. Ah, food. Its so much more  than the stuff that sustains.
The irony that I married a man whose dietary needs were and still are able to be met by frozen burritos, lean pockets and chips and dip- well- the irony is not lost on me. He enjoys my cooking though- and swears I make the BEST CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES EVER.   He has become more interested in food over the past 8 yrs! Even so, he works at night so I usually only cook simple dinners for Eva and myself.

So as its usually just E and I to cook for lately, I jump at the chance to feed others.   In my Church we tend to new mothers and the ill by making their families dinner- its so fun for me to cook for more than TWO.
I am so excited because TONIGHT I m bringing a friend  sourdough bread,  potato soup and all the toppings and for dessert: strawberries and warm brownies. Its pouring down rain, its nt that the perfect comfort food- warm soup and warm chocolate. And yes, I made a little extra for myself and Eva!
Hope ya'll enjoy this one!
Heres the Potato soup recipe -
My adaptations:
I used 6 large potatoes almost all peeled, used chicken stock instead of boullion and water  I did not add the bacon (that will be a topping) added 1 cup of chopped ham and sauteed the onion and celery in the bacon grease until soft-before adding to potatoes- adeded some thyme, parsley and ground pepper to the pototoes while they boiled
 oh and used heavy cream cuz I didn't have half and half- its fabulous- just wish my printer would upload the pics!

8 unpeeled potatoes, cubed

1 onion, chopped

2 stalks celery, diced

6 cubes chicken bouillon

1 pint half-and-half cream

1 pound bacon - cooked and crumbled

1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

1. In a large stock pot combine potatoes, onions, celery, bouillon cubes and enough water to cover all ingredients. Bring to a boil and simmer on medium heat until potatoes are with in 15 minutes of being finished.
2. Add half and half, bacon, cream of mushroom soup and stir until creamy. Add cheese and stir until completely melted. Simmer on low until potatoes are done.

IVE BEEN IN THE WEEDS

"Im in the weeds"- you know that feeling - there you are driving along the road of life and somehow inexpilcably, without your permission, your best intentions get waylaid. You'e in the weeds, or the "mud" or whatever it is that keeps you going along your merry path.
It sucks. I don't like being here. And I am one who usually spins her wheels long and hard to get back on my PATH.
I thought I' d pulled out a few weeks ago when I recieved some disappointing news  from work.
Its just work afterall...I have these other blessings my little family...and oh, they are so dear to me!
And God has a Plan. Oh YES HE DOES.
So, last week, I heard some negative stuff about me. I know. I couldn't believe it either! And it hurt. Wow. What makes people think that its ok to tear eachother down?
Gossip is bad for so many reasons. We know not how far reaching it is. This time- it got back to the source- me..AND IT THREW ME OFF MY PATH.
Bummer.
So I have spent the last 4 days in a funk. Fussy, sad and cranky with myself. Ever get one little criticism and all of a sudden- all your inner speak reminds you of EVERYTHING YOU DO WRONG?  Your house isnt clean enough-or prettily decorated enough- why cant you just make those cute things to decorate?  your child doesnt eat enough veggies, YOU DONT  eat enough veggies, you procrastinate, you have weeds- the real kind in your back yard, and there are a million things that need to be done- and there you are WASTING TIME SLEEPING.  Well, that added to my work stuff....made for a cranky Ruth. Ever feel so irritated with yourself-others start irritating you?
Yep. That was me too. AND YET HERES MY FAMILY'S REACTIONS:
 My husband helped me do craft projects , made me GO BACK TO BED  when I had a migraine and - by watching E gave me some time to myself.  Not to mention what happens to my spirit when he physically wraps his arms about me....I feel healed. Too bad I  cant take his arms with me to WORK! When E and I went shopping and she joyfully talked on her pretend cell phone about our shopping trip- and there is NOTHING  like your child wrapping their tiny arms around you telling you - in spite of your flawed self- you are the one they love. What irony. She who is so innocent and perfect- loves me ...sound familiar? She is a perfect example of Our Heavenly Father...but I digress....
I couldn't shake my fussiness. I figured it out. I prayed, I read the scriptures, I listened to my family's love and finally tonight I realized I needed to regurgitate  through words. I always felt better when I wrote it all down. And so I thought what better place but here on my little blog. 
So, even though I am not financially rich...I have SO MUCH RICHNESS IN MY LIFE .
MY JEWELS:
FAITH, FAMILY, LOVE, CREATIVITY, ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND AND TRULY HUMBLE MYSELF TO HIS WILL..(.WELL EVENTUALLY! ;)
My dear Husband has been worried. I am the happy hyper one in the relationship. The funk has gone on for too long. I have spun my last wheel- I am back on track ya'll- be prepared ..here comes some pictures of what I did this weekend!

a brooch I made a friend and chicken emchilada soup....yummo!

Life

Life gets in the way of my blog these last few weeks. I have had some disappointments and my faith has once again-CENTERED ME. My husband has SUPPORTED AND LOVED ME, my daughter has REMINDED ME . Are you BLESSED?  Do you honor your blessings?
Whatever happens in life if it is not uplifting you, don't let it change you. A Leader of my Church once said- Sacrifice is giving up something good for something BETTER. We do not know others hearts, we only know our own, we must choose the higher road.
That being said, I have been creative and as soon as I can upload my pictures...I will start my creation of the week- actually- it will be mass amounts of creations! I can't wait to share!
 Now: Go Do something for yourself

Still not up and running!

I know! I said I would be soon....but we are having technical difficulties in the Munger Household....I hope to have everything fixed this weekend! STAY TUNED!

leftover inspired Pasta!

SO ....felt uninspired...same ol boring food...could not just feed E or myself frozen burritos..Heres mytrain of thought stream of consciousness recipe!
.so I put the pot on to boil for  1/2 box leftover penne pasta...now for the sauce.....

I took 3-4 cloves of garlic, abt 4 tbs of sun dried tomatoes in oil and had 4 pieces of cooked bacon...that was just crying out to be eaten.....bacon should never be wasted!
I pulsed the above  in my processor til it was a paste ( go ahead add some olive oil...or more garlic...or whatever...)
Then I took good parm reggiano- you gotta use the good stuff...you will never wanna go back....
And shredded abt 3/4 cups
It was missing something...I had a lemon for the end, but I was looking, and found frozen chopped spinach~ thawed it, drained it and threw 1/2 box into a colander....poured the hot pasta and pasta water right over the spinach- instant cook!
Then added to now empty pot  a little olive oil on low heat add the tomato pesto... sauted like a minute - could have done longer- but did not want to burn precious garlic....topped with pasta and spinach mixture stirred in juice of 1/2 lemon and cheese...
IT WAS YUMMY....I  would even add red pepper flekes forr some spice but my dear daughter is three..and can be fussy! she loved it!