My lonely dinner watching a netflix movie--pretty good flick.


Fried purple potatoes with/greens (kale, mustard greens, and all other matter of greens) with a poached egg cracked on top. AWESOME!!



So-this is just a photo of what Jeff eats every day for breakfast. I eat oatmeal with pecans, vanilla milk and a banana EVERYDAY for breakfast. He eats this on a regular basis and he isn't fat....what the heck is up with that!! In my next life-Gonna be a 20 year old male--forever -gonna totally ROCK the sleeve tattoos (these I don't have BUT if I did come back as a male-oh...the tattoos I would sport!!) ANd I would just eat the french toast!!

Do I have a moral to this story??? No--I guess I would just say-if you are a 20 year old male-GET SOME TATS! If you are a 20 year old female (this if for my girls--thank GOD for your good genes--you won't be fat, cranky or mean BUT you may drink too much wine-I am monitoring this STEPH-fear not) AND let's see ...smile more, fear less and live like every minute matters!

What a bad blogger I am!!

I am not sure why I have not posted anything in awhile...hmm...nope, I got no excuse! I guess I just get sidetracked on a pretty regular basis and... Jeff and I have put our house up for sale! We have talked about it AND TALKED ABOUT IT but for the most part that has been about it. We live on the river and that makes the house in that "upper end" real estate that is currently not selling in Fairbanks. (according to the realtors that we have spoken to) Hence, the Craig's list and Alaska list adds!

Aside from the fact that we live on the river--We are NOT river people. Now, I do like a boat-on a lake-with a fishing pole and a sandwich but racing up and down the river...EEK-Not a fan!! This is our second house on the Chena. Both times the houses have kind of fallen into our laps and we have loved both houses but it is just time to move on. So-if you need a house on the Chena-call my people! (no, I don't really have people but if I did...you could call them. Otherwise, check out Alaska list)

UPDATE: the S diet.
What an easy thing for me to follow!! I am pretty much the queen of this diet. Remember the rules?
no snacks
no sweets
no seconds
EXCEPT for days that start with S (Saturday, Sunday and Special Days)

Oh, YA! This has been the easiest thing in the world for me to follow. Not sure why but....I like it. Have I lost ANY weight?? NO!! Not a pound. So, I have to ask myself ....why?

Maybe it is the EXTRA large breakfast, lunches and dinners I eat now. Yes....that could be it! I now eat two pieces of bread with dinner because the only rule is that it has to fit on a normal size plate (there has been no info on how high the plate can be stacked)

Previously, I never ate bread or BUTTER! God Forbid you eat the butter! But with the no S diet.......eat all the damn butter you want!! I can only say "Thank you JESUS"

Did I mention there is no limit to wine????! You know this is the diet for me!!

When I hit the mark on the scale at the gym that makes you "move the heavy thing" up a notch- I may go back to calorie counting (I call this death by number but that is only my take on it)

BUT-until then....the NO S diet is going quite well thank you.

I will leave you with a few parting pictures of Saturdays dinner. Sorry, tonight is left over minestrone-not exciting at all.



Broccoli Salad



Marinating Chicken Breast



Salsa made with the tomatoes and avocados that came in the CSA box NUMMY!!



Grilled chicken sandwiches w/swiss cheese/onion/sprouts and Grey Poupon!!

Pad Thai, Dumplings and boxed wine!!

Here is the ground up chicken for the dumplings--I ran chicken tenders through the food processor because I didn't have ground pork--it worked WELL!!



cooking dumplings!






Dinner!!

My day off nursing puppies has not turned out quite as I had hoped for. According to the Dr.s at the clinic--these two little turds cannot play together for 10 Days! Seriously!! This is going to be .....hard. I have been home with them now for about 8 hours and this is not working out so well. Of course, Bosely-had a little snip here, a little snip there--he is doing GREAT!! Abby--"must not play, must not be have contact with 'Bosley' (the evil male)".

So--I COOKED!! My answer to all stressful situations. I would have much rather made cookies but it was not to be. Jeffrey get your butt home and eat your dumplings, your Pad thai and for God's sake- grab yourself a glass of boxed wine!!

Valentines Day and Pizza

When I was a kid (growing up in Tok, AK) we did not have restaurants to eat at. Yes, there was lodges but not the kinds of places that you just went and grabbed something for a quick dinner. This is what made the trips to Fairbanks such cool events. It did take 4 hours to get there and 4 hours to get home BUT there was restaurants--and lots of them!!

The biggest problem was picking one that we all could agree on. Now, there was only four of us but it you knew us...this would not be a surprise. This was NOT an easy feat. The father ALWAYS wanted steak and martini's (usually we didn't spend the night so that wasn't an option). The mother just wanted to eat and get grocery shopping. The sister just wanted whatever NO ONE ELSE wanted-she would wait until a decision was somewhat reached and then say "no-I hate that" and I pretty much just wanted Pizza Hut. I thought it was about the coolest food EVER! Thin crust super supreme!!!!!!!! Fantastic!

When I moved to the big city (AKA=Fairbanks) I continued this tradition of my favorite dining out spot. My Kids thought that all eating out involved the Fred Meyer deli or Pizza Hut.
As they grew and we could afford better fare, we switched it up to Taco Bell. But, deep down I am still devoted to the thin crust super supreme.

Flash forward to 2010 and the Saturday before Valentines day! Jeff and I spent the day jumping on the bed-well, actually we were mattress shopping. We bounced from bed to bed and finally decided upon one at Sadlers. Being a pretty fancy place -the bed was in stock! Yippe! Another night would not be spent on our broken down slab of springs and wire.

Being in a celebratory mood we decided that eating out may be in order! But...eating out is really not all THAT exciting..we could order in and watch a movie....hmmmm, what should we order?? Chinese??? No...Fancy Pizza from College town???? N0.....I know, PIZZA HUT!!

It was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Soil Block Makers-Very Cool!

So, daughters--I know that this will not be cool to you but I am so EXCITED!! I just ordered two sizes of these soil block makers and now I cannot wait for them to come in! When I was out at Calypso Farms this summer I noticed that this is what they used for seed starting. I use flats for really small seeds but use peat pellets (the expandable kind) for seeds that I don't want to transplant or disturb the roots. If these work they would be soooo much cheaper and face it---just way cooler! You plant the seed-it never gets root bound (according to the sales pitch-which I have fallen for hook, line and sinker!) AND you can put the really small ones directly into the larger one for an instant transplant!!!! Just doesn't get easier than that.

The only problem MAY be getting the soil mixture right. There is much discussion and disagreement among the seed starting population online. Some say if it isn't perfect-flat out won't work. They crumble, become mud and you are just S.O.L. But, others rave about the savings, the health of the starts and the fact that it is just....alot of fricken fun to make these things.

I like dirt-although I have to make these in my kitchen which will make the husband/father quite unhappy. He doesn't really get the whole thing but he is a good sport. Which is why he is making me a seed starting shelf this weekend!!! Gone are the six foot tables with lights supported by stacks of cookbooks (adding or removing books as fast as the little green shoots can grow). Although....with as many seed packets as I have ordered, bought at Fred's, picked up at Holm Town, I think I may need the tables AND another shelf!!

No S diet

I found this diet reviewed on a blog that I happened upon the day before yesterday. The whole diet (you don't even need the book--hard for me--I ALWAYS NEED the book!) is summed up as



* no sweets

* no seconds

* no snacks

EXCEPT on S days (Saturday and Sunday) and Special Occasions.

How interesting.....So, I can eat anything I want at meals but I just cannot eat before breakfast, before lunch, eat while I am cooking or scarf down chocolate chips before bed.

YES!!

I had to wonder what kind of life this would be...??? Could I really do this...???

YES!!

So, at day three of this new "diet" I have to say it is really quite refreshing. So little thought and planning involved. I read the website and started right then and there. Now, a normal diet plan for me includes a literal "start" date. This means that if the diet is going to restrict ANYTHING I must eat massive quantities of said food. Can't have pureed prunes on the new diet....?? EAT TONS OF THEM (does not matter that I don't like this tasty treat-I must get my fill before D-day)

Do I miss the large tablespoons of dry brownie mix that I partake of at all hours of the morning and night?

Yes!! But....not that much really. More of a habit than an actual enjoyment and while old habits are hard to break I think I may just be on to something!

Maddie--update

Maddie came home last night quite happy and hungry. She ate her dinner, took all her medicine and snoozed on the end of our bed all night. She is going to be okay!!

This morning she decided that she did not belong home with puppies-she in fact belonged at work with Jeff. She insisted on leaving with him and Sadie (the yellow lab that goes to work with him every day) and has pretty much been running the show all day. There is a good chance that now that she has discovered that getting in this vehicle ALSO includes a stop at the biscuit cart (AKA coffee cart) she may continue to be a "working dog" from this day forward. I will keep you updated on her long term goals--stay at home dog...or working stiff.

I will try and post again later--planning halibut and something (maybe purple potatoes and sauteed cabbage) but who knows what will sound good then!

Poor sick little dog.....

What a weekend! Charlotte and Sam came for a visit and what a visit it was!! They ended up buying a new vehicle (02 Yukon-so new for them). All very exciting!! But, poor little Maddie. She started feeling poorly on Thursday and it was just downhill from there. Charlotte took her to the vet and after blood work and an exam the vet really didn't have any answers. They gave her an anti-vomit shot and sent her home. By Sunday morning she was just not getting better-in fact she didn't even seem to be breathing right. Charlotte and Sam took her back to the vet and they promptly put her on an IV. After an ultrasound, the vet pronounced her "quite healthy" really--aside from the vomiting, diarrhea and shaking. They recommended an overnight stay and we didn't argue.

She is still currently at the vet's office with a little IV going. They are unsure at this point if she could have gotten into something or if it is a virus. If it is a virus....oh good LORD!! WE have had six dogs at our house this weekend. This could get ugly. BUT on the upside--no one else appears sick in any way, shape, or form.

But other than worrying about Maddie-our weekend was lovely. We cooked, ate, sipped the vino and played games with Sam's family. I STRONGLY discourage the playing of a game called "In a Pickle" with anyone you want to remain friends with! We threw in the towel early on and decided games that require less thought and makes use of a buzzer was more our style! (the fact that we had to pretend there was a buzzer didn't slow us down a bit-!)







View from my living room window



View from my kitchen (looking up into the living room)-I love to cook and look at the sunset!

I was given this lovely award by Gayle at The White House and then had to ask her what I was to do with it. Turns out that you can be nominated by other bloggers for awards! How cool is that! Thank you so much Gayle and ....here goes.


I am supposed to list 10 things that make me happy.

1.) My husband makes me happy! He is a nifty guy, gets me coffee, talks me off the crazy train when I get overly anxious (as happens on occasion) and is a wonderful provider.

2.) My three awesome chilibeans!! They actually still speak to me after all this time and for that I am quite grateful. The worst part about being a parent is that just about the time you think you may have a little insight-the wee-small people are gone and grown-ups have replaced them. I thank God daily that they grew up to be such wonderful adults- even with a marf for a mom!

3.) My puppies-enough said. Just check out the pictures on previous posts-little masked bandits, pooping and peeing and making me laugh.

4.) Chocolate chips--oh, how I love thee. But, alas, I am on the wagon....for now.

5.) WINE!!

6.) Gardening! Now, while this makes me happy-it also causes me much grief. I strive for the lush beautiful gardens in books and mine just never quite get there. I fear "color mishaps" because for some reason I CANNOT read a color wheel....just what do they do???? Is it supposed to be good to have colors close to each other on the wheel? Right straight across? Does it really matter??? (see sometimes I do get overly anxious)

7.) Crackling fires and a good book!

8.) Scrapbooking. I have really neglected this for the past couple of years. I think I actually like purchasing scrabooking supplies almost as much as I like scrapbooking. I plan on changing this.

9.) Cooking and cookbooks!

10.) Sunshine in February. Preferably on a beach or on a cruise ship and Nora Jones on the ipod=Heaven.

I am now supposed to list blogs that make me happy. Gayle is an experienced blogger and has her answers linked to the site. I don't know if I can figure out how to do this. Here goes.

1) http://twopluseightblogspot.com/ I found Gayle's blog on Facebook. It makes me laugh to see her as a grown up(I babysat her when she was little) Can't wait to see how the gardens shape up this summer--you go GIRL!!

2.) http://cheerstomediocrity.blogspot.com/ This is my lovely daughter's blog! She has been away at college for three years and I love to see where college life has taken her. She has come a long way from the girl who was voted most likely to be killed first in a horror movie her senior year. Now we think she is the most likely to survive the longest and have the zombies laughing while sharing a cupcake with the aliens--she will be serving the tea.

3.) http://littlehousebytheharbor.blogspot.com/ This is my other lovely daughter's blog. She lives in Valdez and I love to read her posts (although she does not do this ENOUGH) My life has taken a bit of a nasty turn since she left. I have discovered that dishes do NOT wash themselves, laundry piles do NOT go away by themselves, and floors actually need to be washed. All this time I thought I was quite the housekeeper....I am not...it was my wonderful, organized daughter doing EVERYTHING. Thanks toots!

4.) http://sudsburyfamily.blogspot.com/ JO-my dear...I hope the pregnancy is going well and that you are no longer....urpy. Your blog makes me happy to see that all is well. You are going to be an awesome mommy.

5.)http://www.communicatinginastupidworld.blogspot.com/
Nicole! I met Nicole when I took Steph down to school. I thought she was so pretty and energetic. I plan on sharing a martini or a glass of wine with her the next time I am in Moscow-or better yet when she comes to Alaska for a visit!

And ...I have run out of time. I am on my lunch break and it is now over. So in keeping up with my typical half-A**ed behavior...I will end with half the amount that is required.

Now to see if my links are linked......

Newest Food book...because I just don't have enough

If you were to look at my wall of books, the books on the shelves in the kitchen, in my bedside table and stashed under my bed you would see a common element....murder and food. With a small push of a button my Kindle wakens and sure enough.....same thing, food and murder, murder and food.

The murder is strictly for entertainment (nothing like a good mystery!!) but the food books are ...complicated. I have ALWAYS loved cookbooks and I mean REALLY LOVE cookbooks. I don't even need pictures, just lists of ingredients and I am pretty much enthralled. But, along with the cookbooks there are many, many, MANY diet books! I've got them all and although they all seem to say the same thing (pretty much-eat less, move more) I just can't seem to walk away from the newest diet book.

This probably is why I have been an online Weight Watcher subscriber for YEARS. Now, this has made perfect sense because otherwise I would be VERY FAT.....or....would I??? So, this last year I decided to quit paying monthly for something that I never use. Yup, I subscribe but I wouldn't really want to list everything I ate...for Heaven's sake...that would never work!

Conclusion: Having spent $16.99 a month for at least 5 years (I paid the monthly fee before that for meetings that I never went to) I weigh exactly what I weighed 5 years ago-10 years ago for that matter. This amounts to $4,417.40. Good Lord-I guess I am a slow learner!!

Back to Michael Pollen--Food Rules. I have read his other books and enjoyed them..to a point. I don't like to have to think to hard and this little book is the ANSWER!! It is just a little handbook to give you the lowdown on healthy eating in America 2010.

The whole book can be summed up in these words: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

If your Grandma wouldn't recognize it as food..chances are it isn't really food.

Could it really be so simple?? What about eating for my body type, mastering my metabolism, cleaneating, southbeach dieting, weightwatchering.....could it really BE??

Tonight when I clean my cupboards throwing away all the items that have more than 5 ingredients, have ingredients that are unpronounceable or have just way too much sugar...I may miss the good old days when I could eat 20 points...of Oreos!!