For sale

Full-Sized Violin. Includes bow & case. $125.00 obo.
B Flat Clarinet. Includes case, reeds, & lyre. $125.00 obo.

The Other Blog

So a few months back, I started another blog. I started working on a 90 Day Challenge fitness program and decided a blog about the process and what motivates me might be of help. So I created "My Daily Ounce of Motivation" (link on the right). The funny thing? The 90 Day Challenge has morphed itself (for me at least) into a bit of a journey. Nutrition and exercise have become an obsession. And I think the blog reflects that somewhat. I have been so much better about updating that blog than this one! It's only been in existence a few months and it already has more posts than this blog. I guess a blog with a purpose is easier to maintain than a general "here's what I'm doing" blog. Anywho, if you want to check it out, feel free. I was kind of keeping it to myself. I think weight is kind of a private affair (I'm a weirdo about what I consider private, I know), so I have been keeping the blog's existence to myself. But it has occurred to me that if I'm serious about this (and trust me, I am), it makes no sense to hide it away in a closet like I'm ashamed of it. This is a journey that I hope will impact the rest of my life for Maude's sake (http://www.rantsfrommommyland.com/p/random-words-we-say.html)!! This is a huge part of my life right now. It impacts how I spend my time, what I eat and definitely my social life. I've become a much cheaper date now that I don't drink as much! I still have a love of green living, gardening, my Hubby and our Brats, but my focus right now is on me. My own journey.

Cheese Soup

Decided to throw some recipes at you!

Mary O'Bannion's Cheddar Cheese Soup

2 c water
1/3 c finely chopped carrots
1/2 c finely chopped celery
1 c finely chopped green onion
1 stick butter
1 onion - finely chopped
4 c evaporated milk (2 cans and the rest normal milk)
4 c chicken broth
1/2 c flour
15oz Cheez Whiz
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 t Cayenne pepper
1 T prepared mustard
8 oz Sharp cheddar cheese - shredded

In a small pot over high heat add water, carrots, celery, and green onions and bring to a boil. Boil until tender and set aside - DO NOT DRAIN.

In a large stock pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and saute for at least 1 minute. Add flour and cook for several minutes.

In a large sauce pot, bring to a boil milk and chicken broth. Whisk broth mixture into flour mixture, adding a little at a time and blending. Stir in Cheez Whiz and cheddar cheese, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper. Stir in mustard, cooked vegetables, including water, and bring to a boil. Serve immediately.



Our next door neighbors at our old house introduced us to this recipe and I will forever be in Mary's debt for passing it along. Hubby and I are HUGE fans of this soup and make it a few times a year. It makes about 15 cups of finished soup with each 1-cup serving being 7 PPV on Weight Watchers. ENJOY!

Photo Challenge Day Eleven - Childhood Memory

As mentioned yesterday, I swapped days 10 and 11 of the photo challenge. Why? Because of a strange coincidence. My recently widowed grandmother is getting ready to sell her house and is off-loading possessions. One of the things I expressed interest in was a book of fairy tales I can remember reading over and over and over at her house as a child. I remember the illustrations in the book prompting hours of day dreaming. Well, no one can find the book! To add to the interest here, I discovered about two weeks ago that the book actually belongs to me anyway. It was given to me for my sixth birthday, so all those years I wanted to take the book home, but didn't want to ask Granny if I could have it...it was already mine. I haven't been able to stop thinking about the book. I hadn't thought about it in years and now I think of it frequently. So, I did what any modern consumer would do...I hopped online to see if I could find another copy. :-D And I was in luck!! Although this book has never had a second printing, there are still copies available in the world. I was able to find a copy on Amazon that was in "Good" condition for $20 and it arrived in the mail TODAY!!! To be honest, I don't understand why it never had other printing runs!! Look at these illustrations! How is any little girl's bookcase complete without this book?! Even though the book can only be found used now, I plan to buy a copy for all the little girls in my life so they can spend hours looking at the pictures and dreaming of beautiful princesses and cats who talk.

 

Photo Challenge Day Eight, Nine and Ten

Day 8 of the Photo Challenge is "bad habit."
My worst habit is one that is difficult to photograph. I've had this habit for YEARS and realize that it can be a problem (especially if I've been drinking or feel vehemently about a topic), but I have not put a lot of effort into besting the habit. I do try to behave around little 'uns, but even then it's anyone's guess if I'll succeed.

Day 9 of the Photo Challenge is "Someone You Love"
Yes, I'm trying to kill him...yes, it's our wedding day... Do I love him? More than life itself!! Or to paraphrase the most delicious Mr Darcy: "Most ardently. He has bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love him. I never wish to be parted from him from this day on." My honey-bird, Mr Treehugger. <3

Day 10 of the Photo Challenge is SUPPOSED to be "Childhood Memory," but I am switching it with Day 11's "Something Blue" - I'll explain tomorrow. ;-)

My number one favorite blue thing is out of this world - or at least on the outside of this world. Who doesn't love a blue sky?? But today is overcast and not blue, so I am showing you my second favorite blue thing and my absolute favorite article of clothing. You guessed it!! BLUE JEANS!!! I live in denim. I don't care if it's a hundred outside with 90% humidity. Chances are really good I will wear jeans anyway. I have an extreme loyalty to the brand of jeans that I wear, so they all look the same with various amount of fading. I'm a big believer in "If you find something you love, buy  it in every color."

Photo Challenge Day Seven

So today's picture is "fruit" which just so happens to be something Hubby and I are out of at home! I was planning to run to the store after work to remedy the situation, but was coerced into joining my dear friend Sara-Bear for a coupla margaritas and some queso instead. What's a girl to do?? If I'd been on the ball, I would have taken a picture of the lime on the side of the glass, but there was TEQUILA in them there ritas and I plain just didn't think about it. SO!! Here is a picture of the "apples" that sit on my kitchen table. Please refrain from snacking (and also, please ignore the dust!)! ;-)

Challenge Days Four, Five and Six (I Suck, I Know)

Day four of the Photo Challenge is "something green." Most people would take a picture of a shade of green, but being a Treehugger afterall, I decided on something environmentally green! This is my recycling bin at work. It's just the top from a paper box, but it does the trick beautifully. I have to empty this bad boy at least once a week because (working for a government agency), there is a lot of waste in my building and my job process. Some things MUST be printed. And everything printed comes with a coversheet with my name on it. I am also a sticky-note whore. I burn through Post-Its. "Hi, my name is Treehugger and I am a Post-It addict." I'm working on it. In the meantime, I print everything possible double-sided to save paper.

Day Five of the Photo Challenge: From a High Angle

This is a model of the International Space Station. It is on the first floor of my building and I enjoy looking at it. I work on the 4th floor, so this is about the best view I have unless I want to go wondering about the building (I don't). This picture was taken using my phones 4X zoom feature. I can only imagine how ghastly the quality will be. The purpose of this challenge (to me at least) is not about the quality of the pictures taken, but about getting back into what used to be a habit. So sorry for the horrid picture!!

 

Day Six: From a Low Angle

This picture, from the floor of the breakroom at work, represents my survival technique. Without coffee, life is crap. ;-) This Italian Roast has been considered by some in my little coffee club to be too strong a roast. As I was the only one drinking from the pot today, I made it even stronger and bolder by using more scoops than usual. Pretty sure no one else drank any as I haven't seen any overly-hyper people around the office today. Come to think of it, I'm not overly-hyper myself and I had 23 ounces of it...