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.

Ginger “Puff” Cookies-Skinny Version

It is 33 degrees outside as I write this, sitting on the back porch at 6 am. It’s still dark and my coffee is close at hand. I love this change in the weather-it means all things nutmeg and Christmas and Thanksgiving and decorating and making presents and more coffee and hot tea and….

Tasty, Skinny Ginger “Puff” Cookies-which I make without sugar, shortening and a ton of calories.

(I love the original Ginger Snap type Cookies, don’t get me wrong. But with ingredients like 1 1/2 Cups of Shortening and 1 Cup of Sugar…I wanted to find a healthy alternative that would satisfy my ginger cookie loving ways.)

Here’s all that you’ll need to make your own Ginger “Puff” Cookies (printable recipe at the bottom):

2 1/4 C Flour, plus 3-4 TBS
2 tsp Ground Ginger
1 tsp Baking Soda
3/4 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Ground Cloves
1/8 tsp Salt
3/4 C Ripe Bananas
1 tsp liquid Stevia
1 egg
1/4 C Molasses
2 Powdered Packets of Stevia to Sprinkle the puffy tops (not necessary, but nice)

Preheat the oven to 350. Makes 40-45 cookies.

In a medium mixing bowl, measure out the 2 1/4 Cup of Flour.

Enjoy the ginger scent for a moment, then add the 2 tsp Ground Ginger.

Next, add the 1 tsp Baking Soda.

Add the 3/4 tsp of Cinnamon.

Inhale, then add the 1/2 tsp of Ground Cloves. Yum.

Finally, add the 1/8 tsp Salt.

Thoroughly mix the dry ingredients together.

In a large bowl, add the 3/4 C Bananas.

Add the 1 tsp liquid Stevia.

Crack yer egg into the bowl.

Lastly, add the 1/4 C of molasses.

Blend on a low speed until mixed-about a minute.

Slowly, add the dry ingredients to the wet, increasing the mixing speed if needed. The batter will become very thick and very sticky.

If the mixer starts to bog down, add the rest of the flour mixture by hand. Then, add the 3-4 TSB of the remaining flour until the batter is very thick.

Spoon 1″ round cookie puffs onto an ungreased cookie sheet, leaving about 1-2″ in between each puff.

Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with the powdered Stevia, if desired. This makes them a little sweeter-and my hubby, the sweet tooth, desired the extra sweetness.

Bake 8-9 minutes or until the cookies are puffy and browned on the bottom. Cool on the pan on a wire rack for one minute.

Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Enjoy these Tasty, Skinny Ginger “Puff” with a hot cup of tea and without the guilt!

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