Not what I expected...

So this weekend wasn't quite the bliss I was hoping for. Sure, I didn't have to work, I was home without a lot of responsibilities, plans, commitments to go to, but honestly? It was pretty lonely. The game did not get cancelled Saturday (despite all my secret wishes) so Eric left at about 9 am and didn't get home until 6:30 pm. Thankfully they won (yaay!) AND the best part for Eric was that the bus didn't have room for him so he hitched a ride with the varsity coach driving his own truck down - how awesome is that?! He was so happy, plus the varsity coach is a good buddy of his, a fellow teacher at GDS. So Saturday night, he was toast from such a long day...then last night, you won't guess how the fun continued... He is a chaperone for all the student council events at school and last night they had a lock-in! So poor Eric headed back up to school at 5 pm Sun night and hasn't been home, nor will he get home until this afternoon! I am venturing a wild guess that he will be sleepy, groggy, and completely exhausted tonight. That is, if he isn't in bed already when I get home from work! My kitchen did get a good cleaning, but then all my cooking/baking dirtied it up again, so I cleaned again, then used it again, ugh, the cycle is endless, amen? I did straighten the house up to a point that when Eric got home Sat. night, he let out a big sigh of relief upon entry and said, 'you have no idea how relaxing it is to come home to such a clean house' - yaay, victory! I love that. I also collected and folded all the runaway laundry from my spare room, but...it is still neatly tucked in two laundry baskets waiting to be put away...

I'd say the highlight of my weekend was that first bite into warm, cinnamony, soft, sweet goodness that filled my house with warmth Sunday morning. I took a few pictures and will post them, along with the recipe as soon as I figure out how to get the pictures off Eric's high-tech phone onto the computer.

Also? I am falling in love with our foster kitten, therefore adoption bells have begun to ring. I fear any more attachment and she will bear the last name 'Shilling' before long. I caught a special moment between her and my Marzell (who, when others are watching, pretends to hate her, but she is working her way into his heart too!). I will post that later too.

One more complaint? This morning I wanted to be sweet to the cat farm and got out some wet food (which they hardly ever get and is a major treat when they do!) I also got out the little dishes I spoon it onto for them. They are perfect little individual sizes for them - nevermind that they are my hand-painted-Italian-William-Sonoma-olive oil dipping bowls that match accompaning bread plates. Ok, I realize at this point, you are thinking, 'why, again, do you let you cats eat off them??' but they are the perfect little size and easy to wash! Anyway. I got those out also, and set them on the counter. I then went over to get my coffee going so it could brew while I dished out the wet food....+C-R-A-S-H+!!!!! Marzell had batted one of the mini-bowls off the counter and being made of porcelain, it smashed on the floor below. *GASP!* "NOOOOooooo!!! Marzell!!!!!" I immediately scooped him up, and threw him into the dark guest bathroom for a 'time out'. Did I just say I put my cat in time-out?! Yes! Because how do cats respond to being smacked or scolded? They get madder and mean! So the only way I could "punish" him was to isolate him and take away the treat he was about to receive. UGH, anyway, I let him out again before I left, but I just hate that 1) one of my beautiful dipping bowls is broken!! (yes, I realize its my fault for using them, thank you very much!) 2) Started the day off frazzled, mad at myself and the darn cat 3) still crabby after having to sleep alone last night!

I need more coffee this am! I'm thinking the rule, 'If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all' is about to apply to me ASAP! Have I already missed my cue??

Weekend Plans

Oh, I am so excited it's Friday. Nothing better than being just a few hours from a blissful weekend ahead! And I couldn't be more excited about our plans. What are they, you ask? Nothing!... isn't that beautiful?? Well, I shouldn't say nothing, because I do have plans: to make a big batch of delicious cinnamon rolls, my darn kitchen has been asking me to clean it (its so high-maintenance these days), and of course my hubby might appreciate if I collect, fold, and put away the clean laundry that has literally taken over our guest bedroom. Imagine what a bomb of clean clothes exploding in a room would look like and you get the gist...hey, at least they are clean, right?? Could be worse...like my bathroom. *clearing throat* ...Moving on, shall we?

Oh, another plan for the weekend is taking care of Snoopy, my beloved childhood dog, who at this point, is hobbling around, the poor thing, due to arthritis and allergies. I really feel for him, he used to love walks, chasing squirrels, and would give my cats a run for their money! But now, he is pretty sedentary due to the pain in his poor little legs. Anyway, I hope I can show him a little affection this weekend like the good ole' days when he was my sweet puppy dog.

Eric has a soccer game tomorrow in Charlotte, which means a day long event, leaving at 9 am, not to return until probably 4-5 pm. Doesn't getting up early on Sat. to ride on a bus for 2 hours with hyper & nervous underclassmen excited for their game, then coaching the big game, then having to sit around to watch the varsity game, then riding back home on that same bus with now sweaty, stinky, either very elated and more hyper (from a win) or crabby (from a loss) junior-varsity players, sound like a blast? Can't say I envy his plans tomorrow! but he loves it and only the Lord knows why! ;) I secretly wish he was going to be home with me and my marvelous plans of filling the house with the sweet aroma of warm yeast and cinnamon...and with the 70% chance of rain after a drizzly down-pour all day today, my odds of him being home after all are looking pretty good. I do realize that is a selfish desire on my part...but... but, what can I say? I love when he's home! Is that so bad??

If the recipe works out as well for me as when Maria made the world's best cinnamon rolls, I will share the magic of gooey goodness with all.

Delicious Stuffed Zucchini!

Fall is upon us! Hooray! Autumn is my favorite season and I am excited about the cooler days ahead! Cinnamon, apples, pumpkin... hmmm, and squash/zucchini!! This is a yummy recipe that is inexpensive and healthy! I made this for Eric and myself with zucchini I bought at the farmer's market; we have been enjoying the leftovers all week!



Zucchini with Quinoa Stuffing

1/2 cup quinoa (wonderful grain if you haven't had it yet! You can find it at most health food stores, and who knows, maybe a regular one...it is very inexpensive, delicious, and known as "gold of the Incas"- google it, you will be amazed)
4 medium zucchini
1 15-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed (can substitute navy beans or white northern beans)
1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, quartered (1 c. canned diced tomatoes works too!)
1/2 cup almonds, chopped (can use less if you prefer)
2 cloves garlic, chopped
3/4 cup grated Parmesan (I only used 1/2 c. total)
2 tablespoons olive oil
Heat oven to 400° F. In a large saucepan, combine the quinoa and 1 cup water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender and the water is absorbed, 12 to 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut the zucchini in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Arrange in a large baking dish, cut- side up.
Fluff the quinoa and fold in the beans, tomatoes, almonds, garlic, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan, and 1 tablespoon olive oil.
Spoon the mixture into the zucchini. Top with the remaining tablespoon of oil and 1/4 cup Parmesan. Cover with foil and bake until the zucchini is tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until golden, 8 to 10 minutes.
Yield: Makes 4 servings (or in my case, more than that! They are pretty filling!)

Go, make and enjoy! Then invite me over for the leftovers... ;)

--Thank you, Erin, for such a great recipe! --

Happy Birthday my Dearest Sister!!

Today my big sis and best friend turns 28! How time flies!! I am so very thankful to the Lord for giving me such a wonderful sister and friend to share life with. I desperately miss her and wish she was closer! but am grateful for the blessing of being a call away on my cell phone with only a few hours time difference. My cell phone knows her number by heart at this point - it calls her so frequently! ;)

Katie, I pray this year brings you all sorts of joy, blessings, and adventure. ;) May God use you this year to touch the lives of hundreds/thousands of children at Bethany and may you be stretched in all areas for His glory.

I love you so much!! -Bets

New foster kittens

I have two new babies to add to my ever-increasing flock of cats...I'm not sure that is the correct use of the term 'flock', but it sure feels like a farm around our house some days! Eric is so tolerant; he lets me invade the house with sweet little fuzzy tummies, until I start getting attached and saying things like, 'keep' and 'permanent' and 'forever' - then out they go to adopted homes! Its a pretty flawless system, can't you tell?

Well one night about 2 months ago, we had a lovely good-bye dinner with Steve and Maria, enjoying the fine cuisine offered at our nearest Chick-Fil-A. As we pull out of the parking lot, Steve says casually, 'oh, look, there's a little cat.' Maria and I immediately freak out - 'WHAT?! where??!' as I tell Eric to slam on the brakes! We look to see where Steve is pointing and there is this little itty-bitty, pathetic, 1/2 starved kitten, scavenging for food around the Chick-Fil-A dumpster. Now, if that doesn't break your heart, go to the Dr. immediately and make sure its still beating! Eric stops the car, both of us girls jump out (literally. we were on a mission) and slowly approach the skeptical, scared kitten. She runs from us back to the safety of underneath the dumpster. We spent probably 20 min. or so, which included numerous fails attempts to get her out using everything from a soothing voice to a golf club (don't ask...). Defeated, we reluctantly got back in the car and stopped by the drive thru to tell them about her so they could keep an eye out. They responded with 'yea, we know.' I was so infuriated! You know? Then why on earth isn't there a bowl of water out - its July in NC people! or a little can of kitty food? Seriously. No brains and no heart these days. Anyway, the next day I talk to the cat coordinator (Linda) of the rescue program I volunteer with, and she sets me up with someone who has a kitty trap, which is used to administer shots and neutering/spaying for feral(wild) cats/kittens. So I head back to Chick-Fil-A, hoping the little baby is still there...she was and it didn't take her more than literally 2 min to be baited by some canned tuna - she was nearly starved! I couldn't take her myself, since she was soo tiny and needed all the tests for Feline HIV and other diseases. I just couldn't risk my own cats' exposure and didn't have the set-up for it. So Linda took her in and did all the tests, and in honor of her rescuer named her 'Betsy'! Can't tell you how thrilled that made yours truly! (Granted, I am fairly easy to please...ask Eric, buy me some cheezits and you just made my day!)

Ok, so after that long-winded story, here is the picture of what roly-poly 'Betsy' looks like now!

She joined us yesterday and is affectionately called 'little B' to avoid confusion...but I already warned Eric, that had better not make me 'BIG B'! Noooo thank you. I'm sure her name will be changed when she finds a forever home, but for now, its sweet to find fulfillment in having saved her from the streets!

The other little one that joined us is named Samantha - she was found at 3 weeks old in the trunk of a car in a junkyard, and had to be bottle-fed. She is the sweetest thing ever, slept right through the night with me snuggled under the covers against my stomach. Makes it hard to get up in the morning when they are all purring a storm up and its so cozy! ;)

--Dang it!! I knew I had to have a limit on the number of cat posts... I am going to lose everyone interested in our life if all it revolves around is cats! Not to fear, next up, I plan to post a recipe!--

Moo-Moo's 1st game!

Saturday we had the pleasure to get to see my niece, Molly's, first soccer game!! It was a hoot!! I had never been to a 3&4 yrs old's game and it was the most precious soccer game I have ever seen in my life. First of all, the field is maybe 20x10 yards...and the boundaries are what is considered"out" is semi-lenient. The coaches are right there in the middle of the action, coaching the little half-pints, "over here! come on, guys, follow the ball! that's right! good job!" etc. The time-outs and half-time were determined when over 1/2 of the kids would run back to their mom and/or dad looking for a water break and a chance to catch their little breath.

Moll's face was red; she was working hard! She stayed in nearly the whole game, hustling and staying up with the fastest of them! It was so cute! Also, the little outfits ranged from hard-core to almost dress-up. One little girl had on sunglasses and metallic pink shin guards. She turned out to be the MVP of the opposing team! Little Moo was stylin' with her pink umbro shorts, pink socks, and pink bow with little soccer balls on it. Here she is below with her new friend in front of her.

What a fun event to kick off a great weekend of relaxing!!


Last week, Moo-Moo, A-Pie, and Meg came over for a little walk and dinner while Josh was away on business. Meg and me got to chat while throwing together a delicious (and easy) dinner. ;)
Eric was perfectly content to just settle in on the couch to enjoy a little Princess Jasmine (Aladdin) with the girls. I now have 2 major draws to entice Moo over... my kitties and Princess Jasmine.


Uh-oh - the scary tiger is on!! (not Raja, but the sand tiger) Even Annie is pulling that blanket a little tighter...what's going to happen, Uncle Eric??



Whew - Aladdin and Jasmine are ok! Good thing.

A piece of home

So this morning reminded me of the place that is closest to calling "home" I have and it was wonderful. Although none of my family currently lives there, I don't have any friends there, and the buildings I spent all my days in have changed (even my house!), it still retains the title 'home' for now. It will always be where I spent 10 years of my formative childhood/teen years and a big chunk of my heart was left behind, almost as if it is a magnet, trying to get me to return. The weather today in GSO is foggy, drizzly and dark, and it's as cozy as a day in beloved Kandern can get. I had Michael Buble playing in the car on my way to work this morning when the song 'Home' came on... *Sigh*.
A stanza from the lyrics, "Another aeroplane, Another sunny place, I’m lucky, I know, But I wanna go home, Mmmm, I’ve got to go home" I hear you Michael, I feel the same way.