Daisy's Mommy

I Have A Bad Case of....

2009-06-03T19:22:00.000-07:00

I wish I could dance when I feel sick!

Apple Time!!

2007-10-22T11:48:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again!! This past weekend, we went apple picking at "Big Dan's U-Pick Farm"!! The weather was perfect, everyone behaved, and the turning leaves made for a wonderful car ride to Hartford Michigan. We brought home a fun variety of apples, golden delicious, fuji, rome and granny smith. Big Dan runs a really nice farm with lots of fresh veggies, pumpkins, free recipes, and tractor "limo" service to your choice of apples. Our pumpkins are now waiting on the front porch, ready to be the centerpieces of our fall decorations. Some of the apples are in our bellies, some are being transformed into applesauce and apple cider, some have been wrapped and stored, and more are waiting to be made into wonderful apple dishes.

I LOVE fall!!!

The One Hundred and Twenty Dollar Gas Cap

2007-10-15T13:11:00.000-07:00

My blood is boiling!! I am usually not the angry sort, but today I have had enough!

In 2000, Hubby and I decided that we would make a responsible parental decision and purchase a Toyota Sienna Minivan. It was the safest car on the market at that time, we had a growing brood, and a minivan screamed, "WE ARE RESPONSIBLE PARENTS! WATCH US IN OUR BORING VEHICLE AS WE CART AROUND OUR OFFSPRING!!" In May of that year, a shiny, new, burgundy minivan found a home in our garage.

Being a responsible parent, and a responsible car owner, I regularly took MV to the Toyota dealer's service department for oil changes, check-ups, tune-ups, and recalls. I thought (because I am SOOOO responsible) that if I continued to pay the inflated prices that the dealer's service department charged, if I remained a loyal customer, that maybe loyalty would be reciprocated. HA!

Fast forward to 2007. The warranty is long gone. Our MV is still in somewhat decent shape, but has the occasional need for repairs as many seniors do. Yesterday the "check engine" light started it's amber glow of doom. I thought, "Oh, no. What is wrong with the old girl? Is it her electrical system? Her fuel pump? Her alternator?" Being the responsible car owner, I took her to the dealer's service area to be checked out. As I left the building, I took a long look at my friend who has carted my children and me all over the city and through many states. "I'll be back for you soon. I'm sure it's nothing too serious, you don't even sound sick."

I left feeling that she was in good hands.

The service technician called and told me it was the gas cap. "Oh," I thought, "I was right, nothing serious. The old girl still has a lot of miles in her." But wait... it's going to cost $120.00!!!!!!!!! For a GAS CAP!! Huh?! The technician went on to explain all the techincal rig-a-ma-rol that is involved in making sure that the problem WAS the gas cap, procuring said gas cap, and making sure said gas cap has been properly "pressurized" (car driven around the parking lot a few times).

Well, I sure am glad that I have been such a responsible car owner all these years. It comforts me to know that the nice and talented people at Toyota are so very concerned that my car's gas cap is professionally installed. for. one. hundred. and. twenty. dollars.

2007-03-02T10:17:00.000-08:00

We went to Saint Louis in November, but my little guy would NOT visit the top of the Gateway Arch. Big brother was very understanding, such a good kid. We had fun anyway...

I'm such a lucky mom!

2006-12-18T19:20:00.000-08:00

'Tis the Season!!!
Merry Christmas to All

2006-11-11T20:47:00.000-08:00

NEWSFLASH

A local pirate, who goes by the name "Capn Jack Sparrow" was seen pillaging a Tinley Park neighborhood in search of candy with an accomplice. Local area residents tell us that his accomplice, known in the community, claims the name "Santa Claus". The two were seen toting sacks of sugary treats, comparing booty, and eating "the good stuff". The pair are still at large.

NEWSFLASH

Authorities are warning local residents concerning the recent attacks of white ninjas. The martial artists have been attacking female suburban home owners. Authorities say that these attacks coincide with the recent release of "Power Rangers Mystic Force Karate Studio". The assailants are using the techniques garnered from the video to overcome unsuspecting maternal figures. One mom stated, "There I was, making a PB&J, the next thing I knew, he had me on the floor demanding Oreos. They don't allow Oreos for snack time. I was petrified!" Fortunately, no injuries or mortalities have been reported.

2006-10-30T13:07:00.000-08:00

I'm a pig, I don't have to smile.

2006-10-29T10:41:00.000-08:00

Socks and Tear Gas

The next time you find yourself in San Francisco, and you have an urge to purchase socks and tear gas.. Go directly to Alex's Gift Shop. They'll hook you up.

2006-10-26T08:16:00.000-07:00

This is Napa.

I took this picture last November. We were driving around the Napa area, taking in the sites. I rolled down the window and randomly took a shot. This is the nicest pic of the area I have ever taken.

I love Napa in November. The tourists are gone, most of the vines are turning a delicious mustard color or a dark ruby red. The air is cool but not cold. The skies are mostly blue. The people who work and live there are very relaxed because the crowds are gone. The wine and food are spectacular. You do take a risk that a particular cellar might not be tasting in November, but it is a risk I have taken before and will take again and again.

But not this November. This November I am going to Florida. I suppose I will have a nice time. I suppose I will be glad to get away from this cold rain and the grey skies. I looked at weather.com and the Tampa area is calling for 81 and partly cloudy. Sounds nice. But I am pining for Napa/Sonoma.

2006-10-24T11:25:00.000-07:00

Grandpa Cart, T.J., and me.

Dad

2006-10-24T10:04:00.001-07:00

My dad died in the fall.

It doesn't make me sad. He was ready to go. He was so sick and so miserable. When he passed, I was sad because I would miss him, but I wasn't sad that he wasn't suffering. He lived longer than any of us thought he would. Every holiday, I would thank God for giving him to us for one more Christmas, Easter, birthday, etc... I do miss him a lot. But his passing doesn't make me sad. It makes me sad that he suffered for so long. It makes me sad that he is not here now. But I know that he loved me. I know that he was proud of me. I know he is not suffering anymore. I know that he loved my little one and would have loved the new little one.

He was a good dude, not perfect, but who is? He would have loved my littlest one. I miss him.

My Dad's favorite color was red. He didn't like to wear wool. He loved White Castle hamburgers and french fries. He loved milkshakes. He enjoyed watching Star Trek and Star Wars. He loved to watch NOVA and the Frugal Gourmet. My Dad kept nail clippers in his desk and we weren't allowed to touch them. My Dad loved the Everly Brothers and The Platters. He danced funny. My Dad was crabby sometimes. My dad enjoyed organzing his workshop and desk. He always tried to balance his checkbook.... to the penny. My Dad loved Christmas. He would play his 8-track "I'll Be Home For Christmas" while we put ornaments on the tree. My Dad loved chocolate pudding. My Dad would fill a glass to the rim with Coke, no ice. My Dad mixed ketchup with his fried eggs. My Dad was strong. He had brown skin with thick callused fingers. When he cut himself, he would pour rubbing alcohol on the wound before putting a bandaid on it. My Dad bought generic soap, took the wrappers off, put them in a plastic tub in the linen closet, and would dole them out as needed. My Dad had a soldering iron. I remember that smell. He had a band sander in the garage. My Dad taught me how to wrap presents and how to make a paper bag. My Dad taught me that nail polish remover is flamable by igniting some of it in an ashtray. My Dad noticed that my knee hurt by pointing out that I limp a little. My Dad supervised cleaning the room projects with a paper grocery bag between his legs. My Dad could eat a LOT of cookies at one time. He loved Oreos. My Dad loved noodles with gravy, or really anything with gravy. My Dad planted tomatos, carrots and swiss chard. My Dad took my little bro to baseball games in other cities. My Dad taught me how to multiply and taught me the trick about the nines. My Dad liked to wear flannel shirts in the winter and white t-shirts in the summer. He always wore a belt. My Dad wore a warm hat when it was really cold. My Dad kept nickle plated plastic bags in his desk to store various things. He had an electric meter. My Dad liked to watch Jeopardy. He liked People's Court too. My Dad wore short sleeved dress shirts with ties. My Dad wore Brut cologne. He wore a lot of it. My Dad had some grey hairs in his mustache, but not so much in his hair. My Dad had an overbite. He had brown eyes. My Dad would take his glasses off to read, he would bring what he wanted to read up real close to his face. He taught me how to make spaghetti sauce. My Dad taught me how to make pancakes, waffles, and fried eggs. My Dad liked white milk and chocolate milk. My Dad poured chocolate syrup on orange sherbet. My Dad worked hard. I miss my Dad.

2006-10-24T09:51:00.000-07:00

My boys

2006-10-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

I'm posting a few pics of the boys.

Not much to say

2006-01-26T17:49:00.000-08:00

I don't have much to say. I have been busy... you know with all the worrying about not having plans and washing... always washing.

Besides, according to MSN, yesterday was the most depressing day of the year. How did the powers that be decide that the middle of January would mark the bleakest time of the year? Let's try to follow their logic - post holiday, overcast, the strip on the credit card is worn off after Christmas, weight gain from too many cookies, cold, heavy coats, stuck inside, shoes get messed up from slushy sidewalks and streets, seatbelts don't fit right with insulating bulk, dry skin, dry lips, oh sh*it - my chapstick was in the dryer again, a**hole didn't shovel his walk, please don't run out of wiper fluid - that truck is really spraying the salt, my nose is cold, my feet are cold, where the heck is my other red glove, I dropped my scarf in the cold, slushy puddle, my cheeks are windburned, is it dark already?

Depressing, isn't it?

I can't wait until spring.

It's SOAP!!!!

2006-01-11T19:56:00.000-08:00

I did it!!! I made soap, and it is good. I was VERY nervous, but I put on my mask and gloves and I played with lye. And, just like a lot of the other scary things in my life, I discovered that it really isn't that scary after all.

It made me think of some of the other things I have done after I put my brave face on. I went to nursing school and actually gave someone a shot. I birthed 2 babies. I tried coffee. I dived off a high dive. I took the hook out of a fish's mouth. I rode the orange line with my 5 year old. And now I can add to my list.. I have played with lye.

I have an upcoming occasion to put my brave face on. I'm a little nervous about this, actually I'm a lot nervous. It's something I've never done before, but everyone tells me that it's really ok and that I might enjoy it. To tell you the truth, I have a little shortness of breath when I think about it. I almost don't want to see it in print.

I am going on a trip with my sister WITHOUT an itinerary. No plans, no schedule, no timetable to keep. We have a flight, a car, and a hotel. That's it. I'm not sure how to do this, but I am putting my brave face on, and I'll find that brave smile, and the sis and I will have a great time. At least that is what I am told. The Earth probrably won't even cave in. Maybe.

I'm not scared anymore

2005-12-30T22:16:00.000-08:00

Since I know that every reader of my blog found their way here via my brother's blog, I will continue with my own thoughts of New Years resolutions. During my short 40 years on this earth, I really have not made that many resolutions. Growing up, I witnessed my mom start so many projects that went unfinished... so early on, I decided that promising anything to anyone was possibly a bad idea. I suppose that's why I tell my boys "maybe" so often. My little one tells my all the time, "Maybe sometimes means yes, but mostly it means no."

This year, I have made a few promises to myself. There are the usual diet and exercise blah, blah, blah.. But, I convince myself so many times during the year that these are valuable things to work on, that I don't think I can consider them New Years Resolutions. For me, they are All the Year Resolutions. Save money, keep organized, be more patient... more All the Year Resolutions. This year I have something BIG.

Now, as most of you know I am crazy. Certifiable, I think. So this new resolution I have might not suprise any of you. The reason I think I will actually follow through is that I have been researching this for about 3 years... well maybe 2... but it's been a really long time. It's something I am dying to do, I actually have had dreams about it. But there has always been one huge thing holding me back. Now, I am not usually a fearful person. As a nurse, I have done a lot of things to a lot of people that would send the average person scampering under the bed to cry with their blankie. I am usually not afraid. But this is a big one. Really big.

Lye.

Not lie... but lye. The stuff you can only get at Ace Hardware after you talk to the old guy about plumbing. You know the guy... he's got grey hair, wears a flannel shirt, gets his hair cut at the barber and wears Old Spice on Sunday. He's the go to guy if you want something you can't find at Home Depot. AND you have to prove yourself. If you don't know exactly what you are talking about and have just the right hardware store buzz words - you are cut off. Sorry miss, I'm sorry, we can't help you. You can't handle hardware.

But little does he know that I can. I can put in a faucet, cut wood with a scroll saw, and assemble anything. So... I am ready.

I have purchased lye.

For what you ask?

I will make soap.

Real old fashioned like our great grandmother used to make soap. Well, not quite like she used to make. I will probably not use as much tallow, and more than likely I will use all olive oil. I'm sure Anna O'Connor did not use olive oil because she didn't cook pasta. But olive oil soap is so good for my skin, especailly in the winter, and it's quite expensive to purchase. So, I will make my own. I have the supplies already, the olive oil, the thermometers, the proper utensils and containers, and the lye.

The lye does not scare me anymore. I will make soap.

Christmas expectations

2005-12-18T21:53:00.000-08:00

Ok... it's officially 6 days until Christmas. At least that what it looks like when I look at the boy's advent tree... unless one of them got excited and messed up the days, which is entirely likely. But, regardless of the actual number, it makes me think about the upcoming celebrations that will occur in our home. The first happy family time will be Christmas Eve. I LOVE this day. It's relaxed (finally), we just eat some good food, play a game or two, and go to church. After the kids go to bed, I get the Santa presents out - and totally crash. I fall asleep happy and content knowing that the people I love the most (minus Donna and John) were here to anticipate the Santa visit with my boys.

Christmas Day Morning - Now everyone is here!!! I am so glad that Donna and John make the effort to be here when the boys wake up. I know how much they both value their sleep.. so it reall means a lot to me that they wake up REALLY early so that they can be here when the boys wake up and see all the wonderfullness of Christmas waiting for them under the tree. John and Carla give up their time to to spend the night so they can experience the whole yuletide morning with the clan. How lucky am I?

Later Christmas Day Morning - Mom comes with Gram and maybe with Doc. Now everyone is here. We share gifts, laugh, watch the boys reactions to their booty, and sooner or later... decide "Well, I guess it's time to get the turkey in the oven."

Late morning to mid-day - The boys play with their future "Get these off the floor!" toys, Carla and/or John plays with them, John and Donna help around the kitchen, Mom looks busy around the kitchen, and I try to keep Gram out of the kitchen (but still let her feel usefull), and the cooking commences. The smells are the smells of my childhood. I've tried many times in the past, but I cannot change some things. The stuffing will be made the same way my mom and gram have made it. I will make turnips. Sweet potatoes, sauteed mushrooms... the way it has always been. Oh... I almost forgot. Donna will help me make sure that NO salmonella gets anywhere anytime. We move everything off the counter, stuff the turkey, and STERILIZE the whole turkey prep area when we are done. My dad would be proud.

Guest time - People we love arrive at various times, snack on chili dip and olives, and wait for the announcement, "Time to sit down!!" Then we all stuff our faces until there is no room left in our gullets. The table is cleared in a group effort, and then after some of the food has shifted we find a little room for pie or cookies. What a glutton fest!!

Christmas Evening - We all sit around, in a semi-coma, waiting for someone to start the gift giving process. We laugh and tell stories, maybe play a little cards, the kids play with their new gifts, and we are all just content.

The dishes will wait... the wrapping paper will wait... the people are here. The people I love. The time I love. I will sit and enjoy my full belly and my full life.

First one

2005-12-12T12:49:00.000-08:00

I'm starting this so that when I post on my little bro's site, Iwanskiblog, he'll know it's me. If anything interesting happens (and that is a huge IF), I'll consider posting it here. But for now, I will use this to identify myself for posting purposes.
Well, Ok... here are two semi-humorous happenings. My six year old son has started a new trend in our house. He has decided to greet everyone with "Happy Hollerdays!!", which in our family is very appropriate. Nary a holiday has passed without someone fighting over who has or hasn't done his or her share of the work in preparing for the big holiday feast. Actually, that's what happened in my childhood home, and I have been trying very hard to change that pattern in my own. So far... well, we'll see how this season goes.
Next, my little darling has decided that we need hula-hoops on the Christmas tree. I told him that hula-hoops are not an appropriate decoration for our living room fir, but he insisted. Finally, exasperated, he drew me a picture, literally, and showed me the pretty yellow garland. So... this year we have hula-hoops on our tree. Happy Hollerdays!!!