tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13770914643418316222024-03-13T13:13:03.749-05:00The Epic Adventures of Skarymop & Co.Creating chaos in my kitchen among other domestic frivolities.Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-42697771290965547522014-06-13T19:59:00.001-05:002014-06-17T00:23:56.508-05:00Ten Things1) It rarely rains in Yakima. I miss the rain. And I miss a good old-fashioned Midwestern thunderstorm. Today, however; it rained! Alot! I breathed in the glorious scent of fresh rain, and the kids played on a new-to-us playground in the rain. Triumph. <div><br></div><div>2) Rudyard Kipling, I am done with you. I have tried again and again to read your works, even as a 10 year old slogging my way through the wicked accents of Captains Courageous, and I have come to the conclusion that we were never meant to be. I cannot handle the roundabout-ness of it all. For the love of literature and all things sane, come to the point, man! You will not be a part of my life anymore, O Best Beloved.</div><div><br></div><div>3) Lucy threw up in the car on the way to Seattle. I caught ALL OF IT in a plastic grocery sack. We were in the middle of the Wenatchee National Forest when this most unfortunate event occurred. The conversation before, during, and after this occurred went a little something like this:</div><div><br></div><div>Lucy: "Mommy, I sick!!"</div><div><br></div><div>Me: "Oh no. I knew this was going to happen. Steve, I'm going in."</div><div><br></div><div>*Mary climbs into the back seat while Steve is flying through the mountains at 75 mph.*</div><div><br></div><div>Mary: "Here, Lucy. Let Momma help." *opens bag*</div><div><br></div><div>Lucy, shaking her head violently and crying: "NO NO NO!!"</div><div><br></div><div>Me, probably louder than I should have been: "LUCY. YOU HAVE TO THROW UP IN THE BAG."</div><div><br></div><div>She did. THANK YOU, LORD. You are too good to me.</div><div><br></div><div>Me: "Uh oh. The bag is starting to drip. I need to get rid of this thing!"</div><div><br></div><div>Steve: *slams on the brakes and pulls over*</div><div><br></div><div>*Mary jumps out of the car and because we are in a national forest and cannot, in good conscience, just leave the bag ($500 fine, anyone??)<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> turns the bag upside down VERY CAREFULLY and proceeds to trail the contents out in the grass. Mary ran back and forth a few times doing this, then opened up the back of the van to find the mother lode: An entire stash of gift bags in various sizes that were destined for Goodwill, but had not yet found their way there. Procrastination to the rescue!! Mary placed the ick bag in two doubled up gift bags, rolled the tops over, stuck them in the back of van, disinfected her hands, and got back in the van.* </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">We proceeded to make our way to Issaquah, Washington (um, GORGEOUS little place) without further incident. We stopped to have lunch at Chipotle. This was an event of truly epic proportions, because sadly, there is no Chipotle in Yakima. As we approached the restaurant with great anticipation and reverence, Steve walked over to a large dumpster. He was holding the puke bag(s). The dumpster was marked for PAPER and PLASTIC. Steve tossed it in there. Boom.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">And THAT is how it's done, folks. (Never mind that it was most likely a violation of biohazard disposal. Don't burst my bubble.)</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">4) Cherries are now in season in Yakima. If I ever had an inkling of a doubt about being here, it has been thoroughly banished by the consumption of local cherries. My head is spinning with the possibilities. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">5) All I want to eat lately is roasted cauliflower. With an egg on it (naturally). You must, must, MUST try this roasted cauliflower recipe. The onions caramelize so sweetly, and the garlic turns into this wonderfully mellow, yet rich, savory delight. And the cauliflower? Don't even get me started. I've been eating more vegetarian meals for lunch the last few months because I have been finding that eating heated up leftovers (as delicious and healthy as they may be) makes me quite sluggish for the remainder of the afternoon. Sluggish is not an option for me these days, so bring on the veggies, fruits, and protein. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">6) The children; they are growing so fast lately, it seems. I am working on being a more patient momma these days. It's actually kinda working. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">7) Would you just look at these little ladies?</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-mFDeILAf_D8zBtAGQy4SPHBhthnkJF-BELN3M5eEabI98_B88TEBUq55BB8DmU-_s2SyVFdHFTWvFBG9hwjcgX7rp0h02mYA3hndNhkUDcXwn5s8YeeWIwqyShAmEaZsQMP8lNMq0uA/s640/blogger-image-532978689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-mFDeILAf_D8zBtAGQy4SPHBhthnkJF-BELN3M5eEabI98_B88TEBUq55BB8DmU-_s2SyVFdHFTWvFBG9hwjcgX7rp0h02mYA3hndNhkUDcXwn5s8YeeWIwqyShAmEaZsQMP8lNMq0uA/s640/blogger-image-532978689.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> "Can I have some of your apple, Lucy?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvGr1RY9_grf_GzWWzaPWmlTnePmP1nzoq2ftrJYRfLHsV6W1JKD4D_VCr8a1ZWNbepf0ULpHXOEOOlRj3pVC773ljIcGCEqrDMhkNbiSINIIpO7Yi5e03K89GzyGkI1znBqxBT9GOuV_/s640/blogger-image--889194848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvGr1RY9_grf_GzWWzaPWmlTnePmP1nzoq2ftrJYRfLHsV6W1JKD4D_VCr8a1ZWNbepf0ULpHXOEOOlRj3pVC773ljIcGCEqrDMhkNbiSINIIpO7Yi5e03K89GzyGkI1znBqxBT9GOuV_/s640/blogger-image--889194848.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> "Please? I'm looking right at it. I can do this."</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3D_YFySyqQNpu7Ar9FnFFadj5yIFifmaf4RSOqsjwhsRyZa5RcF4MHbVxoAdS25mFAR39b0Ko7aRwrCeAdzuhSIVKF8oZ7WjO09SMbSM-gmiUvlGfWSJRr853uYsnjdZX4JDLOG3MmKD/s640/blogger-image--19623701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3D_YFySyqQNpu7Ar9FnFFadj5yIFifmaf4RSOqsjwhsRyZa5RcF4MHbVxoAdS25mFAR39b0Ko7aRwrCeAdzuhSIVKF8oZ7WjO09SMbSM-gmiUvlGfWSJRr853uYsnjdZX4JDLOG3MmKD/s640/blogger-image--19623701.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> "Oh, very well; then I'll just lick your arm."</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In other news, I would like to make an earth-shattering statement: GIRLS ARE SO DIFFERENT THAN BOYS. This has been a public service announcement. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">ANYWAY.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">7) The big boys are playing flag football. The coaches keep adding tiny variations to the schedule, which is basically slaying my soul. However, the boys are having a great time, so let's focus on that, shall we?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">8) Tillamook Oregon Blueberry ice cream is a revelation beyond revelations (hi, Jenelle!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">9) We are going to California! In August! For Steve's grandma's 90th birthday! Right by the ocean! Steve is going to have to swim after me and drag me out against my will. Now, if we could just avoid Lucy getting sick on the drive down or back...*prays*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">10) House hunting is an astoundingly emotional process. We are having quite the time finding something that suits our needs best, and it's getting a bit discouraging, to be honest. But sometimes, when you think a decision is going to be difficult to make, God just sort of settles it for you. I had been agonizing over this one gorgeous older home which Steve and I had taken a look at back in November and decided against it because the basement was a bit of a freakish dungeon. Well, I needed closure. I needed to see this lovely home again. Maybe it could work! *idiotic optimism* So Steve very graciously set up another showing. We walked through the house, and I could sense almost immediately that I was "over" it. But we both knew that the basement would be the clincher. We walked down. I immediately smelled something very, very wrong. Something was...dead. Sure enough, there were dead mice...AND MAGGOTS. We cleared out fairly quickly after that. And so, sometimes it's nice when a decision has become GLARINGLY OBVIOUS to oneself. Even if it involved dead mice and maggots! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So there you have it! But let's end on a slightly more positive and less grotesque note, shall we?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My new friend Layci and I are in the official planning stages of putting together a mini-homeschool co-op for our boys in the fall, and words truly cannot express how excited I am. This girl; she is a true visionary. I am just feeling insanely blessed to have met her. My dear Wisconsin girls, I am in good hands. You'd love her. And on that blessed note, goodnight, dear friends. May you sleep well and may your basements be free of all unwanted creatures.</div></font></div>Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-81503737768888751032014-05-06T18:05:00.001-05:002014-05-06T18:05:45.358-05:00A Rather Strange Series of Vignettes, Part TwoI don't really know where to begin. I shall make a list! A list doesn't really count as a vignette, but I DON'T CARE.<br />
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1) Poor Lucy had the stomach flu pretty bad this week. After having five kids, I am so, so past the point of freaking out, waiting in agony to see who will get it next. We've all had it so very many times that I now think nothing of a child running to the bathroom to make a deposit. "You all right there, pal?" *sniff sniff* "Yeah-huh." At one point during Lucy's bout with the flu, I was in the process of changing an atrociously atomic diaper. The following conversations/events occurred:<br />
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Me: "Oh boy. David, please get me a big towel from my bathroom. Quick! Lucy's diaper is a complete disaster!"<br />
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*David trots (hee hee) off to get a towel. Or at least, that's what I thought.*<br />
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David returns, panting, and holding a sock: "Here you go!"<br />
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Me: "I said a big towel. From my bathroom. Please get me a big bath towel from my bathroom."<br />
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Does this make any sense?? I thought it did.<br />
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*David runs off*<br />
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*Daniel, not David, returns. He is holding a nebulizer mask.*<br />
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Daniel: "Here you go!"<br />
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Me, incredulous: "I said a BIG TOWEL from my bathroom. PLEASE. What is going on? I AM LOSING MY MIND."<br />
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*David returns. He is holding the base of the nebulizer.*<br />
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Me: "What is going on? I don't understand this. Go upstairs. Walk into my room. Walk into my bathroom. Grab any large, hanging towel and bring it to me. If there are no hanging towels, open the white cupboard and grab a towel from the cupboard, and BRING. IT. TO. ME. PLEASE."<br />
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*David and Daniel sprint away and return, bringing a very damp (but large!) towel. I gladly accept this, because at this point I am perilously navigating a small river of waste.*<br />
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And Steve wonders why I am losing my mind. Every day, I go a little more crazy. But that's okay. Today is definitely one of those days (Just bein' real here), but I often say out loud throughout the day, "They are little only once. They are little only once." And then I screw up 108463985686 more times before I got to bed. Oh well.<br />
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Thus ends the story of the towel.<br />
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2) The weather here is so, so, so fabulous; I can't even begin to describe how glorious it is to this life-long Midwesterner. It was 84 degrees TWICE last week with almost no humidity. We died a thousand deaths of bliss. Tomorrow we go on a hike with some wonderful new friends.<br />
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3) There are teeny-tiny coffee stands all throughout Yakima, and a couple of days ago, I tried the closest one to my house. It stands astutely in the parking lot of an adorable little flower shop. I tried something I've never tried before. They call it...The Pegasus. What might this concoction be, you ask? I shall tell you. It is a LAVENDER Italian soda with a small bit of coconut milk drizzled over the top. It's purple. It's beautiful. It's bizarrely delicious. I will be back for more.<br />
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4) Kate turned nine months yesterday! Oh, my widdle pwecious Kit Kat; my Katie blue eyes, my Katie Jane, my baby Katers...<br />
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She is hilarious and sweet. We all adore her. </div>
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Thus closes Part Two of a Rather Strange Series of Vignettes. And now, if you would excuse me, Daniel has decided to wash his shoes. Good day to you all. </div>
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<span id="goog_1474170346"></span><span id="goog_1474170347"></span><br />Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-11847337462075595112014-03-23T18:32:00.001-05:002014-03-23T18:32:33.008-05:00A Rather Strange Series of Vignettes- Part OneSometimes, when I wish to write, I have so much to say and so much to remember that it's nearly impossible to organize my thoughts in a cohesive manner. That means it's time to just. write. And so, with my apologies in advance, here is Part One in a Rather Strange Series of Vignettes that will hopefully convey some happenings in our life here in Yakima lately.<br />
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I tried out a new chiropractor this week, and if you know me, you know that I am fiercely devoted to my bi-monthly visit to the beloved chiropractor. But as I mentioned, this was my first visit to this particular chiropractor. I thought of it as a bit of a "test-drive". So off I went. I parked in the back parking lot, and because I'm a genuis, I walked around the building to enter in through the front door. I opened the door, and at first I wondered if they were closed and had forgotten to lock up. There were no lights on, and nobody at the receptionist's desk, but there appeared to be light coming from an exam room down the hall, so I ambled down only to find myself at the back of the building where I had originally started out from. There was the chiropractor, adjusting a patient, so I sat down in the waiting room, filled out my paperwork, and waited. Soon enough, it was my turn. We chatted for a bit about my medical history, and he seemed pleasant enough. He was very enthusiastic and spoke in a very smooth, melodic voice, and was quite excited when he found out I was a former gymnast. He exclaimed,"Oh, I LOVE adjusting gymnasts!" Um, okay. Weird. Moving on...I laid face down on the table, and he procured a strange-looking device that somewhat resembled an iron, as in something to iron your clothes with. Except this "iron" looked like it had a small, green, leather jacket on. It turned out to be a massager thingy. So he diligently "ironed" my back and shoulders for a few minutes at an alarming rate of speed, telling me the whole time it was going to relax my muscles before the adjustment. Fine. I'm relaxed. Kind of. Then it was adjustment time. He proceeded to adjust every single muscle, joint, cartilage he possibly could, and very aggressively. He then tried to pull my head off of my body, not once, not twice, but three time. I was just about to say, "Yeah, that's attached," but mercifully, he stopped. Then he pulled out the iron again, and ironed away, chatting all the while about my muscles. Then he tried to pull my legs off, but to no avail. He then procured another tool, and this nifty little gadget resembled a rather small jackhammer. He hammered away for a bit and I nearly kicked him after it hit a reflex area in my back. I almost burst out laughing at this point, but I was determined to see this adjustment through, due to the fact that it was turning into one of the most bizarre doctor's appointments I had ever had in my entire life. He continued to chat away about my muscles and how one of my legs is shorter than the other and that was because of my hips, etc. And then, just like that, we were done, and he was continuing to chatter in a soft, almost hypnotic, tone of voice about hiking trails. He disappeared for a moment and reappeared with a piece of paper and a pen. He began to draw, if one could call it that, various maps and directions to trails. He talked almost nonstop and scrawled away in what appeared to be ancient Sanskrit. "Yes, this trail is very nice, you go up to Englewood, turn right, go up the hill," he cooed, "and you can park right here, and the trail is off to your left," and here he made an abrupt stop, looked straight at me, and said in a completely different tone of voice, "Snakes." "Snakes?" I queried. "Yes. There are occasionally rattlers." "Oh, my." I said, because I didn't know what else to say. He then launched right back into daydream mode, took 10 minutes to draw three more trails (which I did appreciate, and I even saved the paper, even though I can barely decipher it. It's the thought that counts.) I said thank you, paid him, and walked back to my car. That was Friday. As I type this, it is Sunday afternoon, and my body is telling me that I need to try a different chiropractor. Preferably one that doesn't use a small jackhammer. </div>
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Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-24482666369100668822014-02-19T00:37:00.000-06:002014-02-19T00:37:02.177-06:00The Outer Limits of Sanity, Part TwoI promised I would be back, and I am a woman of my word. Except when centipedes are involved. Then you're on your own, bub. As I write this, however, I am sitting at my new desk area (!) in our "new" house (!) in Yakima, Washington, without a centipede in sight. And so, WE MADE IT!! WE REALLY MADE IT! I am still in a state of shock that we actually did it. I am still in a state of shock that we took five small children on a plane (granted, it was only 4.5 hours) and managed to survive. Many people have asked me how the flight went. I'll tell you how it went. Other than Lucy screaming for the last 3 hours of the flight, Kate screaming during the descent, Daniel getting up to pee no less than TEN TIMES, Lucas falling asleep and peeing on his seat cushion, and David requesting snacks every 20 minutes, it went great! The way I see it: Nobody threw up. That automatically qualifies as being a good flight. But I'm getting a bit ahead of myself here. I need to tell you about December. I need to write about Kenosha in a way I've never really written before, except that one time I entered a Real Simple writing contest about "Life Lessons" and "What's The Hardest Lesson You've Ever Had to Learn???". (sadly, I lost the essay when our old computer crashed. It was pretty darn good, too.)<br />
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And so, December.<br />
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It started out great! I went to a Christmas tea, we put our house on the market, we had showings almost immediately...things were going SWELL. And then, about halfway into the second week of December...<br />
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I got the flu on Thursday. The REAL flu.<br />
I got mastitis on Friday.<br />
I got laryngitis on Saturday.<br />
I coughed almost non-stop for the rest of the month.<br />
I struggled with complications from the flu for the rest of the month. Bronchitis, etc.<br />
I struggled immensely to just wake up and get out of bed. I had never been more exhausted in my entire life, not even with newborn babies or 5 pregnancies. My boys would have to wake me up every day, and I would hear the girls crying for me. It was horrible. Really, really horrible. And during this entire time of illness, life went on. The house was still being showed. Preparations were still being made. People came over and brought meals and were so very good to us, and somehow, by the grace of God, we made it through. I also decided to stop being a stubborn cuss (yes, I just called myself a stubborn cuss) and go to the DOCTOR, of all things. And guess what else I had during December? Mono! Oh, yes indeedy. That would explain the immense exhaustion. Oh, my dear friends...never take your health for granted. I am far from original in my declaration, but never, EVER take your health for granted.<br />
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Talk about the outer limits of sanity!<br />
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Anyway, I started feeling better just in the nick of time, because before we knew it, the movers had arrived and were packing up our lives (I almost died three times when they moved my piano. Three times!!), and life in our sweet little house of 8 years was over. I was so very thankful to have had the chance to walk through the house slowly when they were done and practically see the past 8 years replay before my eyes. This house, this house with the beautiful woodwork that literally took my breath away when we first stepped foot into it, this house with the hardwood floors that put joy into my heart when the sun's rays fell just so over them, this house where I stirred up batch after batch of granola on those old, speckled countertops, this house where we started our precious family and brought 5 babies home to love, snuggle, and raise, this house where friends and family gathered to visit, eat, be loud, laugh, discuss books, scrapbook, and make the finest of memories, this house where I learned how to be a mom and a wife, and this house where we grew so much together and we loved and we cried and we fought and we learned and we forgave again, and again, and again. What. a. home. it has been for us. And I am in awe of God and His grace, and I will always be able to look back on my time in Kenosha as the most pivotal moment in my relationship with God. I feel as though I have come to know a completely different God than my perception of Him from my youth, and this is a good thing.<br />
When we were house hunting 8 years ago, I told Steve over and over again that I would never live in Kenosha. (yeah, about that...be very careful and NEVER SAY NEVER!!) I had just finished my degree at a university in Kenosha, I had two incredibly intense relationships that ended very painfully and with much drama during my time at college, and God brought Steve into my life at a time when I least expected it. I was sick of Kenosha and beyond ready to leave the past behind and get the heck out of Kenosha before we put down any more roots. I wanted to start somewhere fresh! New! Where nobody would know me!! Where I wouldn't be plagued by memories everywhere I went! Forget this town, man. I've got places to go. But, quite obviously, God had other plans. We ended up buying the house in Kenosha mainly because 1) we loved it. 2) it was a much better choice for Steve's commute to work. We took the plunge.<br />
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But then.<br />
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The housing market bubble burst with an incredibly swift and wicked vengeance, and when that bubble burst, man; it blew up in our faces. Gone were the hopes that we could pack up and sell in five years and MAKE A KILLING. Ha. Ha. *painful laugh* And so, I had a choice. We always have a choice. I could either:<br />
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1) Curl up like a baby and cry for years on end, OR:<br />
2) Try to get to know Kenosha in a way that would be new to me.<br />
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Well, I can't stand it when people mope around and act powerless to change themselves. So I embarked on Operation "Bloom Where You Are Planted". When I had finished teaching piano for the day, I would explore. Try to find little places/hidden treasures I had not known about before. I would end almost every expedition with some time spend by the lake. And I fell madly in love with the lake and tried to run by the lake as often as possible. I don't know about you, dear friends, but when I am by the water, I feel God's magnificence and an incredible closeness to Him. (I plan on retiring on a small island by Seattle. Hi Steve!) Before I knew it, I was enjoying my life in Kenosha because I <b>chose to see the good things. </b>God blessed me with the most incredible circle of friends, and we shared our lives together. And that, my friends, is a heck of a lot better than curling up like a baby and crying for years on end.<br />
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Why am I sharing this incredibly personal journey with you? I want to encourage whoever might be out there that it is more than possible to find your life right where you are. I want to encourage you to not lose hope, or give up. That "The only place in life worth seeing is the place of seeing God" (Ann Voskamp, 1000 Gifts. Read it. Be changed.) Because when you view life through His lens, well, things really aren't so bad.<br />
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And now I sit here, with everyone asleep above me, dirty dishes in the sink, and I think that I'm awfully glad that we are slowly leaving the Outer Limits of Sanity. If you know me, you've shared in the journey. Let life in Washington commence! The adventures will continue!<br />
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Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-10410931659595990502013-12-04T22:27:00.001-06:002013-12-04T22:27:58.918-06:00The Outer Limits of Sanity- Part OneThere has been an unfathomable amount of upheaval around here lately, and I've had many questions about WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON, and I am here to answer those questions for all those inquiring minds out there. This will probably be a ridiculously long post, but I shall strive to write my little heart out and make it worth your while. I might get emotional. I might scream. It is possible I will take a bathroom break or two. And so I sit here with a hot cup of Orange & Spice tea to tell you that Something Huge is happening in our lives. Something I've dreamed about for years. Something I'm thrilled about and slightly scared about and quite sad about, all at the same time.<br />
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We are moving.<br />
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2000. miles. away.<br />
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To WASHINGTON.<br />
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Yes, it's true. After waiting, and waiting, and WAITING for four, somewhat agonizing years, we finally know where we are going. It's been quite the experience. I will tell you that it is very, very difficult to pretend your life is not in limbo when it really is. Every decision you make concerning homes repairs, children's activities, etc., is constantly being weighed with, "Gasp! But what if something happens in the next few months with Steve's job??" I fully realize that life just happens sometimes, and there is not much one can do other than roll with those punches, baby, and wait for the fun to really begin. We've really run the gamut of possible relocations these past few years. At first, it was Iowa. Iowa Iowa Iowa for three years. Oh, yes. Most definitely. Once I really wrapped my mind around returning to a life in a cornfield, I was pretty okay with it. Sure. I can do this. I lived in the country my entire life before I met Steve-O. I did the small town thing. And while there are certain aspects of country living that I still miss terribly (THE PEACE. THE QUIET. Running around like a small, feral child. Wait; what? Never mind.), I've become quite accustomed to life in a small city, and I kinda like not having to drive 15 minutes just to put gas in my car. Plus, I like drive-thru coffee. ALOT. Anyway...I was all right with Iowa. BUT THEN...<br />
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Just like that, nope. No, you are not moving to Iowa. We've changed our minds. Um, okay. It's not like we've put our lives on hold for the past three years or anything like that. But I got over that pretty quickly because...<br />
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For two, glorious months, it looked as though we were moving to Minneapolis. Now THIS I could get into. My only stipulation was that I would need a coat that covered my backside COMPLETELY. And about 7 more pairs of<a href="http://www.cuddlduds.com/" target="_blank"> Cuddlduds. </a> But I could handle the cold, because it was MINNEAPOLIS, PEOPLE.<br />
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But it was not to be. I kind of felt like<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFdQpbVcdJs" target="_blank"> this</a>.<br />
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After a few more months of hemming and hawing, we had our answer. Yakima, Washington. After a whirlwind past few weeks which included a trip to Yakima for myself and Steve (Kate was our chaperone. :-) getting our hardwood floors refinished, and many, many nights of staying up until 1:00 am cleaning and organizing (as God is my witness, I'm done staying up until 1:00 am to CLEAN, ever again), here we are with our house on the market and me trying to keep a house with 5 kids ready for showing at any given moment. I have never been closer to becoming insane. I shall look back at this time in my life as existing in the outer limits of sanity. Nothing more can really be said of the matter.<br />
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Except.<br />
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I have more to say about living in Kenosha, WI for 8.5 years when I said I would never, ever live in Kenosha. It's been an extraordinary time of personal growth. It's been incredibly difficult at times. I want to share what I've learned, and I might actually be serious for once.<br />
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But you'll have to check back another time to find out. :-)<br />
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Stay tuned, friends. And thank you for reading.Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-53199434917593473232013-09-07T21:59:00.000-05:002013-09-07T21:59:01.498-05:00And then I turned ThirtyWell, it happened. I passed out of the <strike>most agonizing</strike> decade of one's life that is supposed to be simply wondrous and filled with all sorts of excitement and living life to the fullest and <strike>all of that other garbage</strike> do you know what I felt when I first awoke? Relief. Sure, there was a tiny jot of sadness that I'm no longer the youngest kid in the room, but really; I'm fine with that. A professor once told me that your 30's are far more satisfying because you know yourself far better than you did in your 20's, and you begin to "hit your stride". While this may not be true for everyone, I am finding this to be very true for myself. I think about when Steve and I were goggly-eyed newlyweds, and while those early days were wonderful in their newness and sweetness, I would not exchange what we've worked through and built together for all the honeymoons in the world. And so, goodbye, 20's. Even though I will remember you as the decade in which I graduated from college, got married, bought a house, had 4 (soon to be 5!) kids in 5 years, I will not miss the growing pains. I am genuinely looking forward to the adventures that my 30's will bring. Who knows what the future holds??<br />
This year, I had the delightful experience of having my birthday occur during our family vacation, which, I might add, was disaster-free this time around! Praise be unto the Lord!! No ER visits! No visits to the walk-in clinic! No barfing children! Sure, there may have been two brown recluse spiders in the shower during our stay, but no one got bit, so who's complaining? Not I! Ah, but it was a glorious day. I drove ALONE into town with the WINDOWS DOWN and MY MUSIC playing as LOUD AS I COULD STAND IT because I COULD and darn it, I wanted to hear the music again. Do you hear me? I WANT TO HEAR THE MUSIC AGAIN. AND THEN... Brunch with my lovely sister Meg at Early Girl Eatery...surprise pedicures booked by my mama and little seester Angela...and just a fantastic time in Asheville, North Carolina. My love for North Carolina is no secret around here, and I was beyond relieved to see that the mountains were as beautiful as ever, the tea just as sweet, the foliage just as lush, and the pulled pork just as smoky as I remember. It is a grand thing to not be disappointed. To top off an outstanding morning, Steve and I were miraculously able to enjoy a date, thanks to the mad babysitting skills of Meg and her Ricky. A yummy dinner at Luella's Barbeque, followed by some wildly delicious ice cream and a most wonderful time of lazily wandering around one of the most amazingly astounding bookstores I've ever been to in my entire life. It was pretty perfect. And what's better than that? So take that, Thirty. I fear you not. Here's to embarking on another decade, even more adventurous than the last.<br />
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<br />Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-25067181034778679492013-09-07T21:43:00.001-05:002013-09-07T21:43:41.367-05:00Oh, Baby.Well, hi there. It's been a ridiculously long time, but I was busy bringing this sweet girl into the world...<br />
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Her name: Katherine Jane Johnson.</div>
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Born: August 5th, 3:11 am (yawn!)</div>
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Weight: 7 lbs, 11 oz.</div>
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Length: 20 1/2 inches long</div>
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And for the fifth time, we are smitten. Kate turned one month two days ago, and while this past month has been filled with sleepless nights, major nursing issues (sorry, gentlemen), figuring out life with 5 kids, homeschooling older kids with a toddler trundling around screaming and going all mafia on everyone else and a tiny newborn in tow, I totally can't imagine my life without her. I am grateful. </div>
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3 boys and 2 girls! I can only imagine the adventures we'll have. In the meantime, I will do my best to do a weekly post here at The Epic Adventures of Skarymop & Co. It will most likely be a little bit of everything. Food, recipes, pictures, and my rather useless musings on life, liberty, and the pursuit of sanity. Or something like that. Ahem. Thank you for reading, and enjoy the rest of your weekend!</div>
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<br />Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-60203944651109690432013-06-28T23:17:00.001-05:002013-06-28T23:17:28.992-05:00Well, why not?It's Friday. It's late. I should be sleeping. I've been desperately trying to capture a bit of creative time lately, which for me includes some form of writing. I'm 36 weeks pregnant (I think). I think I'll need hip replacement surgery after this sweet babe arrives. And tailbone. And feet. And, well, you know, pretty much everything. I made homemade bread this week. Why do I not make it more? It is so very wonderful and extremely therapeutic. I'm in the process of "sealing the deal" with potty training my youngest boy. Sorry if that was too much information for you. Oh, wait; nope. Not sorry. In the process, I'm quite certain he has relieved himself in nearly every square inch of my household. On the flip side, my floors and carpet are incredibly clean! I made greek yogurt this past month, and am now convinced that it's the only way making homemade yogurt is worth the effort. STRAIN THY YOGURT, I TELL THEE. STRAIN IT, I SAY! There are 4 dishes in the sink right now. To wash, or not to wash? I've been obsessed with Klondike Bars during this pregnancy, namely the dark chocolate covered ones and the mint chocolate chip. What would I do for a Klondike Bar? Probably far more than I'd like to admit. For no reason whatsoever, here are a few important things to remember about parenthood:<br />
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1) If you are naked, they will come. (sorry)<br />
2) If your modesty is compromised in any way, shape, or form, they will come.<br />
3) The odds of this happening are multiplied exponentially when there is only one bathroom in the house.<br />
4) Three small boys using one bathroom will prove to be a tipping point. At least it is for me. If this is not the case for you, congratulations on being a far more holy person than I.<br />
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I think that's all for now.<br />
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Now here's some completely random pictures for you!<br />
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Well. They may crawl into the dishwasher, use the floor for a bathroom, take turns injuring each other, and magically go deaf when asked to clean, but they are my heart and my life. Here's to the everyday, and may you enjoy the sanctity of your own bathroom this weekend.Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-38186885018061203012013-06-14T16:50:00.003-05:002013-06-14T16:50:58.288-05:00The Art of Generally Paying Attention and A Most Rewarding Salsa (or two)I am a firm believer that one of the greatest skills you can cultivate in your life is the art of generally paying attention to the world and people around you. Not only does this bode well for functioning decently as a responsible human being, but my, oh my, does it make life far more amusing. Steve is often amused at how easily amused I am when I relate stories to him from my day with the kids.<br />
Me: "AND THEN...there was this man in a white van with a HUGE white beard! It was FANTASTIC!!"<br />
Steve: "Um. Okay, Mary."<br />
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Does this make me a simplistic person? THEN SO BE IT. You could miss out on a tremendous amount of marvelous things if all you strive to do is wildly careen from one task to another on your already-insane to do list. Slow down. Just sayin'.<br />
<br />
And now for something completely different. Story time!<br />
<br />
I went to Target the other day BY MYSELF (with thanks to my mother in law), and although I did my utmost to not waddle across the parking lot, I doubt as to whether I succeeded or not. My mission was simple: a new water bottle for one of the kidlets, and a basic t-shirt for myself, due to the embarrassing fact that I had spilled iced coffee from Dunkin' Donuts all over the front of my shirt in the car. AWESOME. I normally wouldn't have bothered, but I had to hit the grocery store after Target, and I was a bit of a coffee-scented mess. I waddled to the maternity section and found a decent plum-colored t-shirt that looked absolutely NOTHING like a maternity shirt (why. must. everything. be. skin. tight.), but I knew that resistance was futile, so I threw it in the cart and went on my penguin-esque way. I was nearing the end of my quest, and made a quick stop in the party supply section to pick up some plates for my youngest son (3! On Monday! I WEEP.) Two young ladies walked past me, then proceeded to have the following conversation VERY LOUDLY in the next aisle:<br />
<br />
Girl #1: "Oh my gosh; I just saw ANOTHER pregnant lady!"<br />
Girl #2: "Wow, that makes, like, FOUR pregnant people we've seen today!"<br />
Girl #1: "Yeah, and this one's about to pop, too!!"<br />
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They walked out of the aisle and were continuing to talk about this while looking directly at me. I threw them a look that said,"I'm pregnant. NOT DEAF."<br />
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Good. Grief.<br />
<br />
I waddled as indignantly as I could out of there, bought my stuff, changed into my "maternity" shirt, and then spent my first two children's college education at the grocery store. It was a good day. The End.<br />
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And now...<br />
<br />
Because if you're still reading this, you've been terribly patient with me...<br />
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For this, I give you salsa.<br />
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TWO. Salsas. Salsi? Oh, dear.<br />
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I went craving-crazy the other day and re-created a delicious, super-fresh pineapple salsa I had at Urban Burrito in Asheville, North Carolina when we went to visit my sister at the end of May (more of that adventure to come!!).<br />
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I rarely just throw a recipe together. I am fiercely devoted to recipes and measurements, but this just kind of happened. And it HAPPENS (bwa ha ha) to be delicious.</div>
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<b><u>Pineapple-Cilantro Salsa</u></b></div>
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By Mary J. Johnson, expert imitator of penguins</div>
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-One medium-sized pineapple, diced quite small</div>
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-1/4 c. chopped cilantro</div>
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-1 small green jalapeno pepper, diced very small</div>
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-1/4 c. red onion, diced very small</div>
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-Prepare all ingredients, then combine in a serving bowl. Allow salsa to sit in the fridge for a couple of hours to let the flavors develop and meld. You can certainly enjoy this with your favorite tortilla chips, but this would also be wonderful spooned over some grilled chicken. </div>
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After such a sweet and light salsa, you might feel the need for something a little more savory and spicy. Allow me to introduce to you...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxabKd-5j-BxnF7P9SYKsVZoKzq9Jmpc7WdOuxv76-uTKdP6RNHWsoCsmBPB_hOCKr8ridmNazn7qh5Xntj224UlNdLVD4gfQdo7FqaQhe-7l-qc9Ya0QUXSsGBWlIuBd-gY5hrBqMa84V/s1600/IMG_5703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxabKd-5j-BxnF7P9SYKsVZoKzq9Jmpc7WdOuxv76-uTKdP6RNHWsoCsmBPB_hOCKr8ridmNazn7qh5Xntj224UlNdLVD4gfQdo7FqaQhe-7l-qc9Ya0QUXSsGBWlIuBd-gY5hrBqMa84V/s400/IMG_5703.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b><u>My Mom's Hot and Zesty Salsa</u></b></div>
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From me mum.</div>
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-1 10 oz. can diced tomatoes and green chiles, drained.(my mom always used Rotel brand, and I use it, too)</div>
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-3 large cloves of garlic, peeled</div>
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-A small handful of cilantro</div>
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- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt</div>
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-Place all ingredients in a mini food processor, and blend, blend, blend! If you do not have a mini food processor, you can certainly chop up the garlic and cilantro quite fine and stir it into the diced tomatoes and chiles. It will just be chunkier than the food-processed version. This salsa really shines when served at room temperature. My mom made this quite often for football games and other gatherings. It really is my favorite tomato-based salsa. It is HOT, and the the kick from the chiles is a bit delayed. Be warned! :-) </div>
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One more thing:</div>
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Dear Target,</div>
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Your summer bowls are thrilling to my soul. Thank you for being awesome. </div>
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Love, </div>
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The Penguin Woman.</div>
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Get outside. IT'S FINALLY SUMMER!!! Even in Wisconsin! I took the flannel sheets off my bed! Triumph! Oh, and Happy Father's Day!</div>
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<br />Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-85738006831230724412013-03-23T22:41:00.001-05:002013-03-23T22:41:18.431-05:00Ten Musings Well. Let's get right to it.<br />
<br />
1) Soft grapes are an abomination.<br />
<br />
2) Daniel informed me the other day that he has a teacher who is "allergic to triangles." I just...just love him.<br />
<br />
3) When Steve returns home from a business trip, I find myself resisting a most burning desire to bake about 3 different cakes. Fondant Au Chocolat, French Style Lemon and Yogurt Cake, and some other French cake. Before you think,"Oh, what a sweet and benevolent wife", I'll stop you right there and confess: The cakes? For me. Steve's homecoming is the perfect cover for such an indulgence. (Hi, Honey!)<br />
<br />
4) I typically do not care for cake or cupcakes. I know. That pretty much dumps me into the camp of "Not A Fun Person". Before I met Steve, I used to envision a wedding without cake. I imagined pie. I love pie. Pie as far as the eye could see. French Silk Pies EVERYWHERE. Banana Cream! Key Lime! Chocolate Peanut Butter Icebox Pie!! All my beloved friends, all present during the happiest day of my life. Well. Steve doesn't particularly care for excessive amounts of pie. So we chose the tastiest cake we could think of: marble cake with raspberry filling and buttercream frosting. I did love it. It truly was a good cake. BUT... it wasn't until I discovered French-style yogurt cakes that I realized cakes could be moist, mouth-wateringly delicious without being cloyingly sweet, and oh-so-simple. No layers or frosting here, which is good, because I seriously can't be bothered with either. A simple glaze over a rustic, single-layer cake and a hot cup of tea will do very nicely, thank you. <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/948283/orange-yogurt-cake" target="_blank">Here is one of our favorite French-style yogurt cakes. </a> Bonus: Steve LOVES these cakes. Win!<br />
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5) I dream of a TV-free household one day. I'm not kidding, I'm not crazy, and yes; I really do mean that.<br />
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6) If you are 4 years old, it is extremely important that you start off each and every day by disassembling your father's small electric grooming devices, all the way down to stripping it of its batteries. Make sure you do this when it's your turn in the bathroom, so your mom thinks you're just doing an amazing job brushing your teeth. Chuckle to yourself when your mom finds the once-again stripped devices, and laugh even harder when your father puts the devices back together and PUTS THEM BACK IN THE EXACT SAME LOCATION AS BEFORE. Grown ups. They never learn, do they?<br />
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7) Watching your six year old play air guitar while listening to "In The Hall Of The Mountain King" is a most joyous activity.<br />
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8) Realizing that your youngest boy is a spitting image of your father is also a most joyous thing. At least, in my case, it is. BA HA HA.<br />
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9) Steve bought three different kinds of Irish cheese over St. Patrick's Day weekend. Not only did I fall ridiculously in love with him all over again, I was positively blown away by the amazing flavor, texture, and no-nonsense straight-forwardness of Irish cheese. I highly recommend Kerrygold Dubliner, and Wexford Mature Irish Cheddar. I am seriously dreaming of the next time I can wend my way to our local little delicatessen to acquire some more Dubliner.<br />
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10) I infinitely prefer Easter to Christmas. I only have about 56,493 reasons for this, so I just might have to share them another time.<br />
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It's good to be back. I hope to be back on a more frequent basis. Good night to all.<br />
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<br />Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-52984825651358915162013-02-04T22:41:00.000-06:002013-02-04T22:41:03.995-06:00The Art of Owning a SconeOver the years, I have learned with great shock that not every single person adores scones as much as I do. I can understand that. After all, what do most people think of when the word "scone" is thrown around? Some sad, woefully dry, rock-hard concoction involving some tooth-achingly sweet glaze languishing in the glass pastry case at any given coffee shop. Appetizing? I think not! No, my friends; to experience a real scone, one must experience high tea (not to be confused with high tide) at an actual tea house of sorts, and depending on where you live, this can be quite a challenge. Short of hopping the next plane to England (which I'm not necessarily discouraging you from doing), the next best thing to a high tea scone is a good, honest scone made by yourself in your very own kitchen. I am in earnest here, because really; once you learn the art of making your own scones, you will never, ever, and I do mean EVER purchase one of those dry mouthfuls of wood shavings from any given coffee shop ever again. You may enter one of these coffee shops to purchase a beverage, but upon seeing that pastry case, you will scoff with such derision at the poor, unsuspecting hipster in front of you purchasing a blueberry scone (SNORT) and you will KNOW, you will KNOW that you have found the higher way. And other than your wild, maniacal laughter as you are escorted from said coffee shop, that poor hipster won't suspect a thing.<br />
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Or will he?<br />
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I'm sorry. I'm currently listening to David Bowie as I type this, and it's forcing my writing into wild overdrive. I'll try to remember that I'm actually writing about SCONES, for goodness' sake, SCONES. The epitome of high British society!! Get it together, Mary!<br />
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Ahem.<br />
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So, yes; make your own scones. I shall save you the trouble of finding a good recipe and post my own marvelous, wonderful brain-child of a scone recipe. If you do feel like embarking on a rather useless search of your own, all I can do is urge you to search for British or Scottish scones. Us Americans, well, we just really do not have the slightest clue when it comes to a successful scone. After all, we're the ones who came up with the coffee shop "special"!<br />
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<b><u>Scottish Scones with Apricots and Vanilla Bean</u></b><br />
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<i>-Adapted from Molly Wizenberg's "A Homemade Life".</i><br />
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<i>This recipe is by far my absolute favorite homemade scone recipe. As Molly states in her original recipe, feel free to play with the flavorings in this recipe. Instead of 1/4 cup of snipped dried apricot, try 1/4 cup of another dried fruit, or play around with different citrus zests. Lemon! Orange! Lime! *GASP* If going the citrus zest route, the original recipe calls for 2 teaspoons of zest, so keep that in mind. I usually make these as lemon scones, but a vision came to me as I was texting my sister Megan (this is not uncommon), and I knew I had hit upon a combination to kill for. I had found my scone. I was OWNING this scone. </i><br />
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2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour<br />
2 teaspoons baking powder<br />
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt<br />
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold, unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes<br />
3 heaping tablespoons sugar<br />
1/4 cup dried apricots, snipped quite small (think the eraser head of a pencil)<br />
1 whole vanilla bean (Smell it. Right. Now.)<br />
1/2 cup half-and-half, plus more for glazing<br />
1 large egg<br />
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Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Using your hands, rub the butter into the flour mixture, squeezing and pinching the butter (this is very therapeutic) until the mixture resembles a coarse meal and there are no butter lumps bigger than a pea. Add the sugar and dried apricots, and whisk to incorporate.<br />
Pour 1/2 cup half-and-half into a small liquid measuring cup (I usually use my 2-cup measuring cup) and add the egg, whisking well to combine. Using a small, sharp-tipped knife, split the vanilla bean down the middle, then scrape out the seeds (tip: flip the knife around to use the dull side for scraping out the seeds, press down on the bean, and in one, smooth motion, move the knife from top to bottom. The seeds will gather on the blade of the knife.) Place the vanilla seeds into the cream/egg mixture, and once again, whisk well to combine. This will smell just wonderful. Pour the cream mixture into the flour mixture, and using a fork, mix until just combined. Turn the dough out onto a kneading surface (it will look like a dry, shaggy mess. Don't be alarmed!), and using your hands, squeeze and press the dough into a rough mass. Continue to gently press, gather, and knead the dough until it JUST comes together (Molly suggests kneading no more than 12 times. I have never disobeyed her. Sorry; I am a second born child. I always do as I'm told.) There may be some excess flour that is not absorbed, but that doesn't matter. As soon as the dough holds together, pat it into a rough circle about 1 inch thick. Cut the circle into 8 wedges.<br />
Place the wedges on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Pour a splash of half-and-half into a small bowl, and gently brush the tops of the scones with a thin coat to glaze. Bake for 10-14 minutes, or until pale golden. Transfer them to a wire rack to cool slightly, and serve warm, with butter, or clotted cream, or lemon curd, or strawberry jam, or nothing at all, if that is what your heart desires.<br />
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Note: These scones freeze remarkably well. To freeze, allow the scones the cool completely, then transfer them to a freezer bag. To reheat, allow them to thaw in the fridge overnight, then heat for about 10 minutes in a 300 degree oven just before serving.<br />
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Make these, and prepare to be the envy of all the hipsters who frequent those ironic and sad coffee shops, searching for perfect scones and who knows what else. And with that, I will most likely never mention hipsters again on this blog. Good night to you all.<br />
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<i><br /></i>Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-10381193346206198962012-12-29T22:05:00.000-06:002012-12-29T22:05:13.946-06:00AfterthoughtsWell, Christmas is over, and I somehow managed to survive AND enjoy it. Miracle of miracles! Christmas and I have not gotten along very well for the past 6 years, and it's mostly because we have this incredible knack for:<br />
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1) Barfing like mad on Christmas.<br />
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-OR-<br />
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2) Ending up in the ER for one reason or another on Christmas Eve/Day (take your pick!).<br />
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But this year was different.<br />
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Yes, indeedy, my friends. This year was one for the ages, because for the first time in SIX YEARS (no lie!), we had a healthy Christmas. It. Was. EXTRAORDINARY. And miraculous. And to celebrate, I give you...<br />
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<b>Christmas Afterthoughts, or The Christmas Caramels That Will Change Your Life And Render You Speechless Each And Every Time You Sink Your Teeth Into Them. </b><br />
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Because I am so incredibly organized (bwahaha), I am posting a Christmas treat recipe now rather than the weeks leading up to Christmas. I'm just THAT GOOD. But lest you think you have grown weary of Christmassy treats, let me just stop you right. there. These caramels...Oh, these caramels. I can barely speak of it. But I must. The world must know!!! Let me tell you a few things about these caramels.<br />
I had all sorts of grandiose plans before Christmas to make all sorts of cookies, even after partaking in two cookie exchanges. There can never be enough cookies, right? And then...AND THEN I stumbled across these caramels from one of my favorite food blogs, <a href="http://www.notwithoutsalt.com/" target="_blank">Not Without Salt.</a> <i>Mmm...Caramels...</i>I thought dreamily to myself as I was transported back to my childhood, back to that One Christmas when my Grandma Jeanne stayed with us for for about a week, and I remember being nine and having dreadful glasses, but what did that matter when mom and grandma were making FUDGE and CARAMELS?? It didn't matter at all, even though I was also wearing stirrup pants and tunic sweaters as well. I don't even know how I had the <i>chutzpah </i>to<i> </i>leave the house. But as I said, it didn't matter, because glorious things were happening in the kitchen. The fudge was wonderful; dense, chocolatey, perfect texture and consistency. I really liked the fudge. BUT THE CARAMELS....oh, the caramels. I fell madly and violently in love, and I simply couldn't get enough of them. SO, when I saw this caramel recipe, I knew my time had come. It was a rite of passage. It was my turn to make the caramels now. And make them I did. It was all I made in the weeks before Christmas. Any notion of making cookies flew out of my mind at an alarming rate of speed. Forget cookies. There were caramels to be made. The process was surprisingly simple- turns out I can boil butter and sugar just fine. All you need is a few simple ingredients, a candy thermometer, a prepared pan/workspace (there is to be NO checking of the Facebook whatsoever whilst making caramels; are we clear?), and a little bit of patience. Here we are in the "freshly poured into the pan" stage (allow about 8 hours to set. As I said, a bit of patience!)<br />
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Here we are in the gifting stage. So. Much. Fun.</div>
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These caramels. They are the most exquisite blend of sweetness, creaminess, a bite of salt (yes, I said "bite"), and the most wonderful and unexpected hint of sweet spices. They are my favorite forever. These are the caramels you need to drop everything for and make them at once, even if it's 2:30 in the afternoon and your kitchen smells like a yeast factory because you, once again, haven't quite finished all of the breakfast dishes, and there is cereal fermenting somewhere in your sink (not that I have EVER experienced THAT- hahaha...ho boy). Heed not the fermenting cereal, and make thyself these caramels! Thou shalt not regret it. Here is the <a href="http://notwithoutsalt.com/2009/11/16/candy-gifts-caramels-and-sticks/" target="_blank">link to the blog post and recipe for the caramels.</a> Let's hear it for the Christmas Afterthought! Better late than never, I suppose. Enjoy, my friends!</div>
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<b><br /></b>Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-28218572275171968892012-11-23T23:29:00.001-06:002012-11-23T23:29:16.962-06:00When Only Pancakes Will DoWe survived Thanksgiving quite nicely yesterday, despite my roaring at a pie crust early in the morning, and dealing with an especially belligerent turkey. In the end, though, the crust was flaky and beautifully rustic, and nobody got sick from the turkey. For this, and many, many other things, I am most thankful. YES. And, no; I do not shop on Black Friday, I have never shopped on Black Friday, and I never will. I start sweating just thinking about it. My heart starts pounding ever so slightly, and I start feeling panicky. No shopping deals, no matter how appealing they could possibly be, could never, ever induce me to participate in the consumerist insanity of Black Friday. Now, let me tell you how I <b>really</b> feel about it...JUST KIDDING. Anyway, it's the crowds and lines that freak me out more than anything. I also have this irrational fear of being trampled in some sort of mad stampede. After all, I am only 5'0 tall. (Barely). But enough about Black Friday. It's time to talk about breakfast. Pancakes, to be precise.<br />
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I firmly believe that on certain mornings, only pancakes will do. Not just any pancakes...<b>Wheat Germ Buttermilk Pancakes. </b><br />
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<b><br /></b>Now, I realize these pancakes will not be winning any beauty contests any time soon. But before you turn up your nose and dismiss me as a hopeless leftover hippie, please allow me to extoll the virtues of wheat germ. Not only does it have a delightfully mild, nutty, and ever so slightly sweet flavor, it is packed with protein (2 tblsp. contains 25% of your daily value), no trans fat, low in sugar, cholesterol free, and sodium free. It is also an excellent source of iron and folic acid. It's basically an incredibly delicious and effective nutritional supplement. If you want to up the nutritional value of a baked good, throw some wheat germ in there. Just do it. It's also very inexpensive. Frugal folks; unite!<br />
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So there's my little plug for wheat germ.<br />
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Now let's get to the good stuff.<br />
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When it comes to pancakes, I infinitely prefer buttermilk pancakes over, um, non-buttermilk pancakes. Buttermilk adds such a lovely fluffiness and body to pancakes, and the FLAVOR, PEOPLE. Don't even get me started on the FLAVOR. When you combine buttermilk pancakes plus a bit of wheat germ, you get a fluffy, yet incredibly hearty pancake (I'm stuffed after two small pancakes) with just a hint of sweetness and nuttiness. I dare say, it truly is my favorite pancake, EVER. I do not exaggerate. I've been using the same pancake recipe for nearly 8 years, and I have no intention of deviating whatsoever. Please. I beg of thee. Try these soon.<br />
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<b>Wheat Germ Buttermilk Pancakes</b><br />
<i>-Slightly adapted from "Whole Foods For The Whole Family", compiled and edited by Roberta Bishop Johnson. An interesting note on this cookbook: my mom handed this cookbook down to me, and it is literally falling apart. It is the second edition of the original <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Whole-foods-whole-family-International/dp/0912500093/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353733928&sr=1-3&keywords=whole+foods+for+the+whole+family" target="_blank">La Leche League</a> family cookbook. I don't cook a great deal of recipes from this book, but the breakfast section does not disappoint. </i><br />
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- 2 cups of buttermilk<br />
- 1 egg<br />
- 1 tsp. baking powder<br />
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt<br />
- 1/4 c. brown sugar<br />
- 1/4 c. canola oil (or another flavorless oil)<br />
- 1 1/2 c. unbleached, all-purpose flour<br />
- 1/2 c. wheat germ<br />
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In a large bowl, place buttermilk, egg, baking soda, salt, brown sugar, and oil. Mix well. Add flour and wheat germ, beating only until large lumps disappear. Cook on a lightly greased skillet or electric griddle over medium high heat (375 degrees for the griddle). Flip pancakes when they begin to puff up a bit (they will not form little bubbles like traditional pancakes). Remove from heat after about 2 minutes, serve with maple syrup. Makes about 12 small-ish pancakes.<br />
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<b>Make-Ahead:</b><br />
You can make the batter the night before and store it in a covered container overnight in the refrigerator. Also, feel free to stir in blueberries, etc. to jazz up the pancakes.<br />
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<b>How about you? Do you have a favorite style of pancakery?</b><br />
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<br />Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-77059584924267562852012-10-26T22:00:00.000-05:002012-10-26T22:00:02.230-05:00Ten Things1) A couple of weeks ago, Steve and I decided to take advantage of our tax dollars and utilize the storytime for 3-5 year olds at our local public library. We dropped off David and Daniel in the storytime room, danced a jig, then took turns browsing. It is a many-splendored thing to browse unfettered. We will return. Oh, we will return. Bonus: my children did not set off the fire alarm (like <a href="http://megskop.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">my sister Meg </a>did at the ripe old age of three), run away, or start wrestling. Win!<br />
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2) I've been a <a href="http://asweetspoonful.com/2012/05/doing-mornings.html" target="_blank">yogurt-making fool lately. Try it. </a><br />
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3) I am actually full after eating half a pomegranate. Have you tried an actual fresh pomegranate? Fear not the de-seeding process, my friends! <a href="http://iowagirleats.com/2012/01/25/how-to-eat-a-pomegranate/" target="_blank">This technique </a>takes me less than five minutes, and can I just say how wonderful it is to sprinkle fresh pomegranate arils into homemade yogurt? It is truly outstanding. <br />
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4) I can't put<a href="http://www.amazon.com/This-Life-Your-Hands-Heartbreak/dp/0061958336/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351302940&sr=8-1&keywords=this+life+is+in+your+hands+by+melissa+coleman" target="_blank"> this book </a>down. It involves Maine, self-sustaining farms, hippies, and family tragedy. Beautifully written, this moving memoir captures a pivotal point in history in regards to the "back-to-the-land" movement.<br />
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6) <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/10/why-the-battle-for-joy-is-worth-it-crazy-joy-17/" target="_blank">This blog post </a>cut me to the quick the other day. Motherhood has been, um, a rather robust challenge these days.<br />
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7) I might be losing my voice. This may or may not be a good, nay; GREAT thing.<br />
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8) Around this time of year, I start to yearn for a trip to England. I attribute this to the fact that Steve and I got engaged in England the day after Thanksgiving almost 9 years ago. To be precise, we got engaged at the <a href="http://www.rules.co.uk/" target="_blank">oldest restaurant in London. </a> To say it was glorious is to make a devastating understatement. One of these days, I'll post the whole crazy story. But today is not that day. Oh, England. I will love you forever.<a href="http://www.phototravels.net/england/lake-district.html" target="_blank"> Lake District, you're next.</a><br />
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9) True story: Steve and I have participated in a book group for quite a few years now. I have this dreadful, dreadful habit of starting our chosen book, then all of a sudden getting terribly interested in basically every other book on earth but the one I am actually supposed to be reading. Does this happen to anyone else?? It's not that I didn't have time to finish the book...I just read about 7 other books in the meantime. And yes; I am currently in the process of doing that very thing as we speak.<br />
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10) Lucas threw my digital camera in the garbage. No, I didn't see him do it, but I know my children. No problem, said I. I'll just use my iPhone until I can save up some money for a new camera. That was all well and good, until I got a pesky notification on my phone that the memory was almost full. What. Just. Happened. "Wait a minute," said Steve. "How many pictures do you have on your phone?" "Only 2,302!" I huffed. When Steve finally stopped laughing about ten minutes later, I realized that I'm going to have to do some housekeeping on the old iPhone. Pray for me.<br />
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11) Okay, okay, I know I said ten things. Did you really expect me to stick to that? Yesterday, I made banana muffins, banana bread, and <a href="http://iowagirleats.com/2012/09/13/copycat-olive-garden-pasta-e-fagioli-soup/" target="_blank">this glorious soup </a>for dinner. I haven't had such a satisfying soup in quite some time, and this one was just perfect for easing into late fall. Late fall, I fear ye not!! At least not yet...<br />
AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST...<br />
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<b>I just deleted over 1,000 pictures from my phone. Don't worry; everything was saved and backed up before I deleted them. I'm suffering only mild heart palpitations. </b><br />
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On that note, Happy Friday, and have a lovely weekend. :-)Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-54132800439365310222012-10-05T17:09:00.001-05:002012-10-05T17:09:20.293-05:00And Just Like That......Lucy is six months old.<br />
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It just happened. I blinked my eyes, and it just happened. I know what I'm about to write is quite cliche, but I simply. Can't. Help. Myself. How on earth did half a year just fly by? And how on earth did I end up with such an astoundingly sweet baby girl? I thank God every day for her and her marvelously crazy brothers.<br />
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I love how big she's getting. I treasure how small she still is.<br />
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Blue eyes!! It finally happened. </div>
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My Lucy Hannah. I am looking forward to so many things with you. Happy half-year, baby girl!!Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-453020260463082422012-09-26T22:20:00.000-05:002012-09-26T22:20:52.981-05:00The Answer To (Nearly) Everything In LifeMost of life is quite complicated, but every once in a great while, there lies an answer so incredibly obvious, you will: A) wonder why on earth you didn't think of it sooner, and: B) how in the world you ever got on without it. One fine example is how I taught my dear brother the many-splendored virtues of vinegar as a cleaning, disinfecting, and deodorizing agent. Like many poor souls before him, he gave me a weird-eyeballed look that said,"Okey dokey, you goofy little hippie", and went on his muscular way. I pleaded with him most fervently to try it (okay, I shoved the spray bottle at him, and growled,"TRY IT"), and once he did, he couldn't stop singing the praises of the good old 50/50 mix of vinegar and water. Cheapness, er, frugality prevails!! That is just one example of something so simple, yet so life-changing. The other life-changer, well, I just don't know if I can muster up the courage to share it with you. I've come this far. I must press on and tell you The Answer To (Nearly) Everything In Life: <div>
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<b>Put an egg on it. </b></div>
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That's right. You heard me. <b>Put an egg on it. </b></div>
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You may be saying,"Well, DUH, Mary; I've been throwing poached or fried eggs on my veggies/potatoes/children/cereal/pizza/oatmeal/second cousin's sister's nephew for YEARS. What took you so long?" I may be quite late to the egg party, but hey man, I'm here now, and have no plans to take off anytime soon. It all started with grilled asparagus. I had read in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Homemade-Life-Stories-Recipes-Kitchen/dp/1416551069/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1348710774&sr=1-1&keywords=a+homemade+life" target="_blank">A Homemade Life</a> about putting a fried egg on top of leftover Ratatouille, and I was quite smitten with the idea. When I was left with a generous amount of leftover asparagus, I knew exactly what to do. And then there was sauteed zucchini.</div>
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And many, many others. It has become my mantra- "<b>Put an egg on it." </b>It's far from original, but it will solve just about every culinary dilemma you are presented with. Even the boys have fallen hard for veggies with poached eggs on top, and before you give me the whole "My child wouldn't touch that with a ten-foot pole yadda yadda yadda" let me ask you: HAVE YOU TRIED?? Well, if not, try this:</div>
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<b><u>Steamed Broccoli with Parmesan and Poached Eggs</u></b></div>
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By Mary Johnson, Extreme Egg Enthusiast.</div>
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This is perfect for when you have nothing in the fridge except half a dozen eggs, a head or two of broccoli, and 1/4 wedge of Parmesan cheese. Not that I'm speaking from experience or anything...AHEM. </div>
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First, chop two heads of broccoli into small-ish florets. Steam (in a saucepan on the stovetop in just enough water to cover the broccoli or a countertop steamer) the broccoli for 10 minutes. NOT A MINUTE MORE OR LESS. Just kidding. In the meantime...</div>
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Fill a frying pan slightly less than halfway with water, place over medium heat, and bring to a slightly aggressive simmer. While the water is heating up, crack an egg into a ramekin to ensure a perfect transfer to the pan, like so: (easy does it!)<br />
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Repeat the egg process three more times, for a lovely even number of four eggs. I hate prime numbers. Just thought I'd share. <b>WARNING: At this point, the eggs are going to look like a heinous, horrendous, disgusting, grotesque mess. DO. NOT. PANIC. That's an order! See my revolting poached eggs? It's okay! It really is! Hang in there!</b></div>
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Fight that panicky feeling inside and give those eggers a good 3-4 minutes of simmering, occasionally "basting" the top of the eggs with a little water. I just use a large spoon and scoop a little bit of the hot water on the tops of the eggs. I find it helps "seal" in a perfect poach.</div>
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While the eggs finish poaching, drain the broccoli, and toss with a little bit of olive oil, kosher salt, pepper, and a heaping tablespoon of freshly grated parmesan cheese. Divide the broccoli among 4 bowls (fourth bowl not pictured here- sorry), and gently nestle the egg amongst the broccoli. FORGIVE ME FOR THE UPSIDE-DOWN PICTURE. I CAN BARELY STAND IT MYSELF. But for some reason, iPhoto is being weird right now, and I am quite irked. Anyway, season with salt and pepper, and eat it with a most ferocious passion. </div>
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Yes. The verdict is Yes. The boys regularly request "bloccoli with eggs", and I am more than happy to oblige. </div>
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So there you have it. You heard from me. <b>Put an egg on it. </b>When you find yourself in a culinary dilemma, <b>Put an egg on it. </b>When you find yourself questioning the meaning of life, <b>Put an egg on it. </b>When life hands you lemons, throw an egg in its face, I mean, <b>Put an egg on it. </b></div>
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And that's all I really have to say about that. </div>
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Stay tuned for more egg-related adventures soon!! </div>
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Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-77808960969783881392012-08-28T13:23:00.000-05:002012-08-28T13:23:25.698-05:00The Comforts of A Good BiscuitRight now, I am sitting at our (very) small kitchen table, eating <a href="http://iowagirleats.com/2012/01/03/you-need-to-make-this-soup/">this delicious soup</a> because I am in denial that it's still August and we have about 1.5 months of summer left before Fall really gets going around here. Steve has very politely requested that I hold off on roasting any more chickens, simmering rich, velvety chowders, and baking obnoxious amounts of biscuits until the weather mellows out a bit more (read- STOP MAKING THE HOUSE A RAGING INFERNO, MARY). Darn it. Just when I was getting started...oh, well. Mark my words, October. I'm going to roast, bake, braise, and simmer the heck out of you. BE READY.<br />
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Now where was I?<br />
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Ah, yes; soup.<br />
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I love, love, love<a href="http://skarymop.blogspot.com/2010/03/counting-my-blessings-while-dreaming-of.html" target="_blank"> soup.</a> I like it rich. I like it thick. I like an IN YOUR FACE flavor. I detest weak, pale, apologetic soups, except when I'm recovering from the flu, and in a situation like that, I cling to a childhood favorite- Mrs. Grass. But with that sole exception, I love a good, brave, honest soup. What else do I love about soup? As a mama of 4 lovely children (ages 5, 4, 2, and 4 months), I find it incredibly convenient and satisfying to get something delicious simmering during the afternoon, and free up the crazy, bewildering witching hour which plagues all parents (don't you dare pretend that your children are perfect from the hours of 3-6). When I have a soup ready to go, I'm able to make a simple and delicious side to accompany the marvelousness of it all, such as a quick loaf of bread in the bread maker, or something even more rich and satisfying...<br />
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BISCUITS.<br />
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Not Bisquick biscuits. Go big or go home, pal.<br />
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In recent months, I have avoided biscuits because they do involve a little busy work, but I am finding that the reward of a beautiful, hot, flaky, buttery biscuit is completely, totally, and utterly worth the effort. Also:<br />
1) It's very "Mommy, can I help you" friendly.<br />
2) It doesn't. Have. To be. Perfect.<br />
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And so, I'm going to share my number one favorite biscuit recipe with you- <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/312715/buttermilk-biscuits">Buttermilk Biscuits. </a><br />
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A few tips:<br />
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1) If you're short on time (and I usually am), just knead the dough right in the prep bowl.<br />
2) If you're REALLY short on time (and I usually am), just tear off pieces of dough after kneading it (think somewhere in between the size of a golf ball and a baseball), form it into a rough biscuit shape, and throw it on the baking sheet. The kids LOVE doing this, and they're good at it. Don't sell the little folks short!<br />
3) Parchment-lined baking sheet- it matters. It really does. Don't go cheap here, people. BUY THE PARCHMENT. BUY IT, I SAY!!<br />
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And that's basically it.<br />
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<b>In other news...</b><br />
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Next week, we start school. In other words, we are being as lazy as humanly possible this week, or at least, I AM. And I shall not apologize for it. Not one bit, because next week I'm going to come out with guns blazing and no turning back. How's that for a disturbing image? I shall now leave you with a few pics of home life around here lately...<br />
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I think Jane Austen put it best: "There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort."</div>
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Happy Tuesday! </div>
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Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-22615038485841753932012-08-21T17:21:00.000-05:002012-08-21T17:21:10.261-05:00TodayToday...<br />
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We hiked around a local cross country trail. I had Lucy in the baby carrier, and considering that we hiked about 3 miles, the boys did a fantastic job. Then we had a delightful little picnic lunch afterwards, which was also quite fantastic.<br />
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We came home and have done very, very little since arriving home. Folding laundry, reading blogs, doing some summer math lessons with David, doing a much-needed load of diapers in the wash, making<a href="http://iowagirleats.com/2012/01/04/my-top-secret-diet-weapon/"> Green Monster Spinach Smoothies</a>, and getting super-pumped about our upcoming adventure to the <a href="http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/">Adler Planetarium</a> tomorrow. Yes, it's true. Steve surprised us with some unexpected time off of work, so it's off to Chicago for us (our favorite big city).<br />
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I am desperately trying to motivate myself to cook tonight. Everything is simple, defrosted, and ready to go. I'm just a wee bit exhausted from the morning hike. ZZZzzzzzzz...*snort cough* I'm awake, I'm awake!<br />
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I have had an epiphany of sorts. I've grown weary of wasting precious time doing things that have no eternal value whatsoever. I need to play piano more often, engage in creativity more often, blog more often, and work out more often. A lot of "more oftens", but it simply must be done.<br />
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I don't like hummus. There, I said it. I've tried, and tried, and tried, but I just lose interest after 2 bites.<br />
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I double-dipped a tortilla chip today. Wow, this is getting more and more personal. I should stop.<br />
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Lots of exciting ambitions coming to my kitchen soon! Ratatouille! Peach Clafouti! Peach Galette! PEACHES PEACHES PEACHES PEACHES. And peaches.<br />
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I miss my sister Meg. She moved to the mountains of North Carolina, and now she's suffering, simply suffering her way through local, organic food, misty mountains, and cool evenings. Suffering, I tell you!<br />
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The lake smells like dead fish today. I don't like those days.<br />
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I spilled salsa on a white shirt.<br />
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It's 5:15. I should probably start procrastinating making dinner!<br />
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Looking forward to Fall, homeschooling, soups, stews, chowders, and bisques,<br />
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Skary Mary :-)<br />
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<b>Do you like to linger with summer? Or are you like me, anxiously awaiting the arrival of fall? What do you look forward to baking/cooking the most in the cooler months?</b><br />
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<br />Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-49824251358439018022012-07-14T21:12:00.001-05:002012-07-14T21:12:42.863-05:00Random Recaps, Roast Chicken, and a Summer Salad StapleAs I type this, I am sitting in my sister Megan's kitchen. My beautiful little baby girl Lucy is sleeping in the studio portion of this lovely, gracious old apartment, and Megan is busy making approximately 23,498 frappucinos in 7.5 minutes at Starbucks. I'm...basically...ALONE. Yes, it's true. Lucy and I are celebrating our first girl's weekend with Auntie Meg, and after an incredibly uneventful drive in which I set the cruise control and basically sat motionless for 2.5 hours, I am savoring every single darn moment of this very rare time. *cue a very long, very satisfied sigh of complete and utter contentment*<br />
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So what am I doing? Blogging.<br />
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What better time to get caught up on some of the happenings here at The Epic Adventures of Skarymop & Co. than right now? Let's not delay a single moment!<br />
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First, a small recap of last month's highlights. Our precious Lukie-Loo, Lukers, The Luke, Geeko Geeko, Cool Hand Luke, our sweet Lucas turned two in June.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucas after smashing his nose on the bathtub.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mommy and Lukie.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild Man Lucas.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buzz Lukeyear to the rescue!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun with Unky Nate.</td></tr>
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Dear Lord, thank You for our platinum blonde, ever-so-toothy, little lad Lucas. Thank You that he is in that wonderful stage of still liking me. I pray for the Holy Spirit to empower us as we embark upon that stage that is oh-so-innocently (and deceptively) entitled "POTTY TRAINING". </div>
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Amen, and Amen. </div>
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Moving on.</div>
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Random Recap Item #2: My herb garden is exploding in the most scandalous manner. Now don't laugh; I realize that my herb garden is a bit on the pathetically small side, but as someone who desperately lacks the gift of gardening (why, oh WHY does everything DIE on me??), I am positively thrilled with the immense herbaceousness of it all. I've also learned something about myself: If I can eat it, I will grow it. Practicality prevails!! It all started with a little basil and oregano from my mother-in-law...</div>
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...And then a little thyme and some chives from me mum...</div>
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We call him..."Spike". </div>
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Put it together and what have you got...Bibbity Bobbity...HERBS!</div>
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Hmm. Somehow doesn't quite have the same ring to it. At any rate, I am delighted and yet overwhelmed with the prolificness of it all. What to do with all of this green goodness? Well, basil; that's easy. PESTO PESTO PESTO x infinity. Done. Chives? Snip them into scrambled eggs (the boys regularly request eggs and chives), sprinkle them over potato salad, <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/903095/sour-cream-chive-dip">make a chive dip</a>, munch on them to attract your husband (HAHA)...chives are very adaptable. Oregano? Strip the leaves from the stem, tear them up or coarsely chop them, then sprinkle onto your homemade pizza on <a href="http://skarymop.blogspot.com/2012/03/its-pizza-night.html">PIZZA NIGHT</a>! And then there's thyme...O Thyme of Great Mysteriousness, what shalt we do with thee? Well, I am of the most humble opinion that thyme goes better with chicken than any other meat alive (or dead, for that matter), and so I give to thee (after a heatwave of 100 degrees for nearly a week straight)...</div>
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<b><u>Roast Chicken with Lemon and Thyme</u></b></div>
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- Slightly adapted from the February 2006 issue of Real Simple</div>
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1 3-4 lb. roasting chicken</div>
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1 tablespoon olive oil</div>
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1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, divided</div>
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1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper</div>
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1 lemon</div>
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1 large bunch of thyme</div>
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-Preheat oven to 450 degrees (I know, I know). Rinse the chicken inside and out, then remove its gross innards (giblets, etc). Pat the birdie dry with a paper towel, then place breast-side up in a roasting pan or a dutch oven (I LOVE my 7.5 quart Le Creuset for this). Tuck the chicken wings behind it (think placing your hands behind your head and relaxing on a sunny beach). Rub the chicken all over with the olive oil, then sprinkle it with 1 tsp. of salt and the pepper. Cut the lemon in half; squeeze one half over the chicken, then place the other half in the cavity. Take the thyme and stuff it in the cavity alongside the lemon. Place in the oven and roast, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to 425 degrees, then add 1 cup of water to the roasting pan. Continue to roast, uncovered, for 45-50 minutes or until done. Let sit for 10-15 minutes before carving. </div>
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I know what you're thinking. "She's NUTS. Why on earth is she posting a roast chicken recipe in JULY??" Okay, okay; fair enough. Just bookmark the darn thing for October, and you can thank me later. Believe me, my friends; you want to hang on to this one. The lemon just infuses the entire chicken with such a warm, bright flavor, and the thyme adds a wonderfully bright freshness to it. And prep time? Under 10 minutes. I love to serve this with a rice pilaf and peas, or a loaf of homemade bread. It's just one of those meals that is the epitome of comfort food. And we could all stand a little comfort here and there, couldn't we? </div>
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Thus ends Random Recap Item #2.</div>
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Let us end this most prolonged post with something actually fitting for summertime. It is time for...</div>
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<b>Tomato, Cucumber, and Onion Salad.</b></div>
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This salad is a summer staple for us at any barbeque, birthday party, etc. My mom made it frequently for us during the warmer months, and I have no idea where she got the recipe. It was probably from a church potluck of sorts, and those are always good places for forgetting where a recipe came from at an alarming rate of speed. Since then, I have added a couple of my own little twists to it. It's ridiculously easy:</div>
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1) Slice four tomatoes into wedges.</div>
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2) Halve a generous handful of yellow grape tomatoes (it adds such lovely color!)</div>
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3) Slice 1 English cucumber into very thin rounds. (SO thrilled with my translucent slices! I'm having way too much fun with my new mandoline slicer.)</div>
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4) Slice 1/2 an onion into very thin slices. Wow, that wasn't repetitive at all. </div>
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5) Add 1/2 bottle of Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing (DON'T. HATE.)</div>
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6) Toss it all together, refrigerate for about 30 minutes to let the flavors combine and marinate a bit.</div>
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AND THAT'S IT!!</div>
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Very fresh, quick, and yummy, although I must admit to growing a tiny bit weary of the extreme sweetness of good ol' Zesty Italian. I've been making my own salad dressing for a couple of years now, so I'm thinking it might be time to change things up a bit and try <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2007/07/a-salad-palette/">this</a> for a slightly more sophisticated flavor. If it works out nicely, I'll post it here. </div>
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WOW. If I haven't overwhelmed you tonight, then we'll probably be pals for a while. From my sister's tiny kitchen to yours, have a wonderful evening!</div>
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<br /></div>Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-80973182333186797072012-06-09T07:35:00.001-05:002012-06-18T14:22:24.384-05:00Friday Foto(s) on SaturdayWe had ourselves a grand day yesterday. We spent some time with Nana and Grandpa at our beloved Kohl's Children Museum in Glenview, IL. I love this place of exploration and discovery, not just because my kids absolutely love it, but because I get to hear and observe so very many amusing things from other parents..."Sadie, look at Daddy. Daddy wants to take a picture of you, precious! Look at Daddy. Look at Daddy. Look at Daddy, beautiful! Look at Daddy. Sadieeeeee! Look at Daddy. Lookitdaddy Lookitdaddy Lookitdaddy Lookitdaddy!!!!!!" This went on for some time. And then...(my personal favorite of the day)..."Pull your pants up, buddy. Yes, all the way." Boys. What else can I say? Yes, it's awfully nice knowing that I am not alone in this League of Extraordinarily Bewildered Parents. So, here we go. Here's some pictures of our little adventure yesterday. Enjoy your weekend!<br />
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And there you have it. Building towering "sandwiches", splashing away in the waterworks room, and gorgeous baby girls. Stay tuned for more adventures soon!</div>
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<br /></div>Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-68190381359549692692012-06-01T18:51:00.001-05:002012-06-01T18:51:09.546-05:00Fab Five Friday Foto(s) !!Let's start June off on the right foot, shall we? I am painfully aware that this is the first and only time I've posted two days in a row, and I must warn you up front: Don't get used to it. :-) Although I really do want to dust the cobwebs off of this blog and post more frequently, I have to be real and remind myself that I have 4 children ages 5 and under. Phew! So let's get right to it. Here are some pictures from the past couple of weeks that bring a smile to my face, and I hope they do the same for you. :-)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Beautiful Baby Girl at 7 weeks old. Will the bliss ever stop?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A red Le Creuset French Press. Send help.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnEZP-J5rWeCEALByEORq5THxu56BmZ7OEfP_qd6B9fwmB8LN3vrFwJKqI2FhFadQHq9EunbSBlUsooURwqMwOaOXI_VQIU00g0anDTiJXx4bswnn-0M9XR5WEZ2lZzsjPTM0mXUgEFc2/s1600/IMG_2108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnEZP-J5rWeCEALByEORq5THxu56BmZ7OEfP_qd6B9fwmB8LN3vrFwJKqI2FhFadQHq9EunbSBlUsooURwqMwOaOXI_VQIU00g0anDTiJXx4bswnn-0M9XR5WEZ2lZzsjPTM0mXUgEFc2/s400/IMG_2108.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Privos. They're grey, man. GREY.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwLYQDPgDvw2HIS6a_J2ualzKPvL_u25NtAQefiyorN70GDUhpXgwn49LzkpSNQEfEgOkbtzqcs2XH9sZMGEyt2bJGoOhRmt3peIP-UPooY8fIdIJ1iosBvxOt5538EIRj3mbxUmIzclK/s1600/IMG_2267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwLYQDPgDvw2HIS6a_J2ualzKPvL_u25NtAQefiyorN70GDUhpXgwn49LzkpSNQEfEgOkbtzqcs2XH9sZMGEyt2bJGoOhRmt3peIP-UPooY8fIdIJ1iosBvxOt5538EIRj3mbxUmIzclK/s400/IMG_2267.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making "Spider Webs" from colored tape.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqCpB5mPtivxFLIa9OV3lLUSastgm5sYvSMszHE-Oag0L5vaJaph9we7hJw64KbS1-KqCqsx_D94rZVRIKr5fWsFHktzwI7AH51IBCkyMeovRPlnK3U00w-5PPF77VxRYX-gTmw1IaWrh/s1600/IMG_2273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqCpB5mPtivxFLIa9OV3lLUSastgm5sYvSMszHE-Oag0L5vaJaph9we7hJw64KbS1-KqCqsx_D94rZVRIKr5fWsFHktzwI7AH51IBCkyMeovRPlnK3U00w-5PPF77VxRYX-gTmw1IaWrh/s400/IMG_2273.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't get over how tiny she is in Daddy's arms.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgy944OXpdsl4mdvzatFNMjfm2Hv2cujkpky9jFQdFWONxrhorzs6tdCOcZ7mKXzySjP1neQtVmgC3TWdLBzdPUMwC8sGvTF0_pkCik9lWfjjy8-WCpWsTTdAzSvyG23cYk4QEtjrvBkO/s1600/IMG_2238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgy944OXpdsl4mdvzatFNMjfm2Hv2cujkpky9jFQdFWONxrhorzs6tdCOcZ7mKXzySjP1neQtVmgC3TWdLBzdPUMwC8sGvTF0_pkCik9lWfjjy8-WCpWsTTdAzSvyG23cYk4QEtjrvBkO/s400/IMG_2238.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel snapped this. Why I love it is self-explanatory. The face, people. The Face.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TXI1-97D_F-eXNzir0wFEy6iKyR79ABwhIw6Sx7Cuob5FWE5gOIkpnTcn-scrvNtwET4z3Srn5kQhzkj6JD0d4_J7KHisSVUsNTDBcnXvOmyZ6rBx-Y7bYe54shwFxbyw9s_N5NHqcWr/s1600/IMG_2152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TXI1-97D_F-eXNzir0wFEy6iKyR79ABwhIw6Sx7Cuob5FWE5gOIkpnTcn-scrvNtwET4z3Srn5kQhzkj6JD0d4_J7KHisSVUsNTDBcnXvOmyZ6rBx-Y7bYe54shwFxbyw9s_N5NHqcWr/s400/IMG_2152.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone saw himself in the front camera. I love this white-blonde, toothy child with all of my heart.<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">From my little corner of the world to yours, have a fantastic weekend!<br /><br /></span></td></tr>
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<br />Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-74240757328735373022012-05-31T21:18:00.001-05:002012-05-31T21:18:55.116-05:00It's a link parade!As I was grocery shopping today at Woodmans (I spend most of my life and all of my money at that place, I'm quite sure of that), I realized something: The month of May is drawing to a rapid close (as in, three more hours), and I have posted only once this entire month. So. Darn. Pathetic. I proceeded to silently berate myself for a few moments, and then I raised my head, set my Jay Leno-esque jaw, and declared to the entire produce section, "It shall not be!!" And then my sweet Daniel asked me if we could try kale this week. How on earth could I refuse? Besides, I've been quite curious to try it myself. So we shall try some kale chips this week, or perhaps try it sauteed. I am only the slightest bit frightened. At any rate, here I am. Tonight I give you...a link parade!!<br />
I have wonderful friends. Really, truly wonderful friends. My friends also happen to be insanely talented and exceedingly generous with their time and gifts. I appreciate this immensely, and so, I thought it would be fun to share the links to the tutorials for Lucy's beautiful quilt made by my friend Rachel over at <a href="http://rachel-thelifeofriley.blogspot.com/2012/04/ruby-hexagon-quilt.html">"The Life of Riley"</a>, and the adorable letter "L" made by my friend Jenelle over at <a href="http://ificandoitsocouldyou.blogspot.com/2012/05/l-is-for-lucy.html">"If I Can Do It, So Can You".</a> Please check out the fine work of these two talented ladies. The "L" brings a smile to my face every time I look at it, and the quilt just makes my heart sing. Oh! Oh! I also have another healthy lunch recipe to share! Check <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Snow-Peas-with-Toasted-Almonds-352035">this</a> out- I do love a good snow pea stir fry, so this was just perfect for a light lunch. Throw a poached egg on it (isn't that the answer to everything in life??), and you've got your protein for a more filling lunch. Try it! You won't be disappointed.<br />
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So take that, May!! You shall not defeat me yet! I have high hopes of June being a slightly more...BLOGGY month, with school being completed and the like. Here's to hoping! Have a wonderful evening, my friends. :-)<br />
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<br />Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-74762031920335966172012-05-05T21:41:00.001-05:002012-05-05T21:44:24.953-05:00On Babies and Salads (what else?)And just like that, it's May.<br />
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It's been quite dormant around here on the Epic Adventures of Skarymop & Co. lately, but believe me, my friends; I have the best possible reason as to why that is. It's because...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We done had ourselves a baby girl!!!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">*fireworks, streamers, fainting porcupines, and other festivities!!*</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
Yes, indeedy. On Thursday, April 5th, at 11:14 am, our beautiful baby girl Lucy Hannah Johnson made her way into the world after an unprecedented 30 minutes of active labor (7 to 10 centimeters in 1.5 minutes, anyone??). This was after nearly 2 days of early labor symptoms, of course, but let's not dwell on that, shall we? Let us forge ahead to these wonderfully and woefully sleepy days of snuggling this beautiful, blessed little lady who has stolen our hearts in a most precious way.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA86w9gK0audKMP70uNK9H27qC0F49n9UdJaGLHm8R6Q77J1o6vyLn6ItwqIY7BqM-jn281PHhhTRaQ4CMxgAcdTSvIQTEnjnaBEyoulzN3J21up5nn8JYHoHc2Wc_8omZbtlWCT8G89gX/s1600/IMG_0955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA86w9gK0audKMP70uNK9H27qC0F49n9UdJaGLHm8R6Q77J1o6vyLn6ItwqIY7BqM-jn281PHhhTRaQ4CMxgAcdTSvIQTEnjnaBEyoulzN3J21up5nn8JYHoHc2Wc_8omZbtlWCT8G89gX/s400/IMG_0955.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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You must forgive my slight half-crazed expression. As positively glorious as these early days are, they are exhausting, and I must say, the next innocent bystander who has the <i>chutzpa </i>to tell me that they're tired just might get a very loving, fervent, and sincere punch in the face. Did I just say that? At any rate, I am in love. Again. And so here I sit with 6 red vines, a Jazz apple, 16 ounces of ice water, Pandora, slippers with holes in them, and this blog. Which brings me to my next topic...LUNCH (I know; way to go to a smooth transition, right?).<br />
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Any momma who's worth her salt knows that lunch tends to be a bit of an afterthought. After all, who has time to prepare something healthy AND delicious for herself when there are hotdogs rolling across the floor, milk flying through the air, Cheerios crunching underfoot, half-eaten baby carrots being spat out, spider monkeys flying out of the microwave and the like. You know. The usual. Now hear this: there is a way. I shall show you the way. Allow me to introduce to you:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Simple, Sassy Salad. From My Brain To Yours. </span><br />
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It's shamefully simple. Allow me to show you.</div>
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The Components:<br />
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- A handful of fresh, flat-leaf parsley, chopped<br />
- Juice from one lemon<br />
- 2-3 marinated artichoke heart quarters, coarsely chopped<br />
- Don't laugh- 1 can of chickpeas (or ANY kind of bean you like- Great Northern Beans or white Canellini beans would be delicious in this), rinsed and drained.<br />
- A couple of generous spoonfuls of feta cheese<br />
- A couple of generous spoonfuls of the marinating oil from the artichoke jar<br />
- Kosher salt, to taste. ALWAYS TASTE.<br />
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Toss all ingredients together, and EAT, for goodness' sake; EAT!!! This healthy, filling salad takes about 5 minutes to assemble, so no excuses. I am currently researching and trying healthy lunch recipes that I can whip together in 5-10 minutes, so I will continue to post the recipes that I consider to be a success. As God is my witness, I shall never eat my children's sandwich crusts again and deem that to be an acceptable lunch. Amen.<br />
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Well, I consider this post to be a fairly acceptable re-entry into the blogosphere. And now, if you would excuse me, I shall finish the remaining 6.75 ounces of my ice water, print out a few recipes, feed my sweet-cheeked cherub, kiss her 12, 357 times, then tumble into bed. Ah, life. :-)<br />
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<b>What about you? Do you scavenge off of your children's plates? Or are you carmelizing shallots and broiling chicken breasts for your lunch? DO tell!</b>Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-87688507226987919522012-04-02T17:09:00.001-05:002012-04-02T17:09:35.181-05:00Nursery "After" Pictures- Oops.I must apologize; this blogging from my phone thing is going to take a little practice! I didn't mean to leave you hanging...I just wanted to wrap up the post by mentioning a few things: <br />
The vast majority of my inspiration came from Pinterest, that most glorious of websites. The embroidery hoops, name canvas, the yarn-wrapped letter (which was made for me by a friend who found the idea on...you guessed it- PINTEREST), and the overall style of the nursery (let's call it "Sweet Vintage")...all the ideas came from Pinterest. Listen to me closely, my friends. You may not realize it, but you need Pinterest. Everybody needs Pinterest. All of these nursery crafts were simple and inexpensive. And I'm <br />
ALL about inexpensive. My one splurge was the Ruby fabric for the hoops, but I wanted that perfect little accent to accompany the quilt, and I absolutely love the results. I have been a nesting...well, FREAK during this pregnancy, and I completely blame Pinterest. And now, with two days left until my due date, I shall now bake granola bars, swiffer my living room, mop my disgusting kitchen floor, make dinner, and fall apart in a million pieces. And maybe, just maybe, complete one more Pinterest project before the baby comes. Somebody please stop me. Please. <br />
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Have you caught the Pinterest bug yet? What's your favorite "idea" website? It's always fun to see where people get their inspiration! Mary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10300252187002027268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377091464341831622.post-44302673240737705122012-04-02T16:39:00.001-05:002012-04-02T16:39:10.804-05:00Nursery "After" Pictures!First off, I must warn you: I am attempting to blog from my phone. I downloaded the Blogger app because my precious laptop is currently at the laptop doctor, and I am feeling quite bare these days. So forgive me if this is not quite as stellar-looking as usual. BAH HA HA HA. <br />
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Anyway. <br />
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The nursery is 99.9% finished!! The only thing that is absent from these pictures is the much-anticipated quilt (long story short- nobody's fault but our own), a coordinating valance, and the canvases that spell out the baby's name (sorry; I'm one of "those" people- you'll find out the baby's name soon enough!) The canvases turned out GREAT, and I can't wait to show you, but in the meantime, all of you will have to be patient. And so, here we go. <br />
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