Whine Fest and Concrete Porches

Yesterday, I had a good, old-fashioned “Whine Fest”. Not a wine fest-that would have been awesome. But a “let me tell you all about my current situation, God and wonder where the heck you are in all of this” whine fest. (As if he didn’t already know.)

I complained to Him about how much there was still left to be done on our house, why we haven’t been able to complete it-money and time, how much cat hair there was to dust mop EVERY SINGLE DAY, how frustrated I get when I try to wipe down our very cool, but very rustic concrete countertops and the desperate need for a second car.

He spoke to my heart and told me to be quiet. A.K.A.: “Shut up, you little whiney kid.”

That’s when he reminded me of just how far our house had come. For several years, we remodeled the inside of the house. After saving up, we were finally able to start on the outside of our house. I was excited about removing the ghetto landscaping, broken metal edging and expanding our front porch.

There was hardly enough room on this stoop for one human to stand on it, let alone open the door around them. I wanted a porch big enough for a chair or two where Biceps and I can drink coffee and watch the world go by. And once we build our overhang, we can even enjoy it during a rain.

Phase one of our outside remodel began two springs ago. Biceps and I spent a couple of weeks ripping out the landscaping, building a frame to widen the porch and laying landscaping block.

We went to bed each night tired and sore, but satisfied from a good day’s work.

As there always is in a remodeling adventure, there were stressful moments. We were concerned that the frame wouldn’t hold up and concrete would come pouring out.

Biceps ran a wheelbarrow up a makeshift ramp, filled to the brim with heavy, mushy concrete. He then slopped into the frame and as quickly as I could, I raked and scooped and filled the frame in-while getting super disgusting and tired.

Beauty Tip: If you ever want to thoroughly dry your skin out-just slap some wet concrete on it. Works like a charm.

Then came the two tons of rock to fill the landscaping beds. After weed blocking all of the beds around the house, several days were devoted to hauling and filling up the beds with a level 2-3″ of rock.

The pile of rock seemed to be regenerating itself-it wouldn’t shrink. I cursed my calculations and wondered if I had made a huge mistake.

We went to bed tired, sore and a little frustrated.

Weeks later, I took this picture. My muscles were still sore, reminding me of all we had been through. I was so excited with the progress we had made in a matter of weeks.

We went to bed tired, sore and feeling very accomplished.

But NOW, I look at this picture and see all there is still left to do. The beds need plants, the overhang needs to be built, the screen door needs to be replaced…

…but then when I compare it to the before, I realize just how far our home has progressed.

And God, in his infinite wisdom, gently reminded me of this during my whine fest. Which of course made me cry and ask for forgiveness. Which of course he did.

And which of course led me to go sit on my front porch and thank him for his goodness while enjoying a glass of wine.

No Fuss, No Sugar Applesauce

It’s getting colder-both inside and outside of my home. Before my little toes hit the barn wood floor in my bedroom, I locate my robe and house shoes, while still underneath my comforter. (Things change in the middle of the night when you own two naughty kitties.)

I love this time of year-hot tea is a must while watching the leaves changing. And of course, heartier meals are on my dinner table, along with desserts filled with spices-like my Skinny, Ginger Puff Cookies.

One of my favorite things to make this time of year is a No Fuss, No Sugar Applesauce. With a few ingredients and a crockpot, I have chunky, spicy, yummy applesauce without any fuss. Have it as a dessert or as a side dish. Get crazy. Do what you want!

Biceps would like to try it warm over ice cream. We’ll see about that-kind’ve defeats the purpose….

Here’s all that you’ll need to make your No Fuss, No Sugar Applesauce (printable recipe at the bottom):

10-13 Apples (I had Gala’s on hand in the freezer)
1 tsp liquid Stevia or to taste (you can add more later)
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
1/8 tsp Ground Cloves
1 1/2-2 Cups Water

Crockpot

After thoroughly washing the apples, core the center.

Then cut each apple into quarters.

Throw all of your apples in the crockpot, and add 1 tsp of liquid Stevia.

While adding the 1 tsp of Cinnamon to the crockpot with one hand, try taking a picture of it with the other hand, so that your picture looks like this. Nice and shaky.

Next, add the 1/4 tsp Nutmeg.

Now, add the yummy 1/8 tsp of Ground Cloves.

Pour 1 1/2-2 Cups of water into the crockpot. You’ll need enough water so that the crockpot is half full of water. It doesn’t need to cover all of the apples.

Put the lid on the crockpot and turnn on “Hi” for 5-6 hours, or on “Low” for 9-10 hrs.

After a few hours of allowing the apples to cook, I use a hand potato masher and squish the apples every hour or so. Add more water if necessary.

The applesauce is finished when it’s still a bit chunky but has the consistency of, well, applesauce. Serve warm or cold. You can freeze half for later or eat it all in one sitting. (Although, I will warn you that since the peels are on these apples, you can over-apple. If you know what I mean.)

This No Fuss, No Sugar Applesauce is so tasty that you’ll feel like you’re indulging each time you eat it-you can even trick the wee ones into eating their daily dose of fruit.

I hope you enjoy this spicy No Fuss, No Sugar Applesauce as much as we do. And boy howdy, do we ever enjoy it.

The Kittens-from Handheld to Back Brace

Biceps insisted upon adopting two kittens when our sweet Cowboy passed away last year. If you’ve been reading my blog at all, you will have no doubt seen some of Maxwell and Bianca’s antics, along with photographed evidence. I’ve shared about them getting stuck in the fireplace, to being a prime target for a hungry hawk (that continues to stalk them), to our futile efforts in training them.

I haven’t talked about the kittens in awhile. Time flies when you’re having fun.

How can someone so tiny that was once held in the palm of my hand….

…grow into this? Maxwell literally weighs 14 pounds and it’s all muscle. He is a force to be reckoned with.

And how can this sweet little girl, that once smelled of potpourri and was happiest nuzzled into Bicep’s shoulder/chin area…

…grow so big she hardly fits on her favorite scratching post anymore? Bianca weighs about half of what Maxwell does, but she still wears out my arms and shoulders when she’s in a cuddly mood and wants to be held.

I tell them to quit growing, but they won’t listen to me.

They are busy catching bugs, attacking Q-tips and bear-hugging the backs of our legs.

Even though they are “all grown up”, they will always be my kittens. Yep. Cheesy, I know. But, a fact is a fact.

There once was a decent looking princess….

…who lived high up in a beautiful castle that was built by her father. She loved her castle and rarely, if ever, wanted to leave. She enjoyed her time at the castle with her brothers and her parents-the King and Queen. They were fair and just and were loved by all the land. But one day, her parents decided that it was time the decent looking princess left home to see more of the world and to begin a search for just the right prince.

 

With a heavy heart, she saddled up her white horse and took her most prized possessions to keep her company on her long journey-her black panther-“Oreo”, her favorite red dress and her most cherished books. She knew her journey would be a long one and also brought her favorite provisions to satisfy her hunger-a side horn of coffee, several types of cheese and a few bottles of her favorite wine.

First, the decent looking princess had to cross the Great Ravine that divided her country from her neighboring country. Although the two countries were friendly, she knew that she was no longer under the protection of the King and Queen. She marched on in search of new things to see, new foods to eat and perhaps a prince worthy of the decent looking princess’ love.

After a brief bathroom break or two, and a picnic of cheese and wine, the princess made it into the neighboring country’s market place late in the evening. She saw foods never before experienced, heard dialect never before spoken, purchased fine clothing not available in her own country-and also found a great coffee shop to warm her cold hands.

While gazing upon the city, she heard soft music coming from below. She had never heard this type of music before and curiosity took hold. The decent looking princess searched the market place until she found the source of the new music. Standing before her with a sitar in hand, a crown on his head and a lovely smile, was what she knew would be her prince. For weeks, the princess enjoyed several of his musical performances throughout the city and the two quickly fell in love.

The prince and the decent looking princess were soon married and lived happily ever after. The end.