Reading Frenzy

In the last few weeks, I have read three really interested books by Leisha Kelly.  Like other great books I have read in the past few years, I just happened along the series at the local library.  By some miracle of chance the book I picked up was the first in the series, although at the time I did not know it.  The books are Julia’s Hope, Emma’s Gift, and Katie’s Dream and they follow the fictional life of the Wortham family during the Great Depression. 

The first book (Julia’s Hope) starts with the Wortham family traveling from Pennsylvania where they have lost everything to Mt Vernon, Illinois in hopes of finding family and a new life.  Just like in life, things do not always turn out as expected and the family lands in the rural outskirts of a town called Dearing, Illinois.  They live off the land, forage for food, and strengthen their faith with an unlikely angel on earth Emma.  This book definitely encompasses the value that it is better to give than receive.  Unexpected friendships are formed and blessings are around every corner.  Oh, to live in a world where others did good, because it was the neighborly thing to do!  I definitely was not ready for the story to be over and was so happy to find out that there were more books about this fictional family.

The second book (Emma’s Gift) continues about seven months down the road.  It was a shocker to me, but this book deals with death of one whom lived a long life and one whom’s life ended way to soon.  This book follows the Wortham’s and the neighboring family through their journey of grief and adaptation to unexpected changes in life.  You have a choice you can continue to live and make the best of things or you can sink into the depths of despair and maybe not escape.  I really could relate to the characters of this book.  My grandpa had lived a long life when he past in August 2010, but my mom had so many more years left to live when she past in September 2010.  Life is not always fair, but we have to live with the cards we are dealt and make the best of it that we can.

The third book (Katie’s Dream) picks up the Wortham family another seven months down the road.  It is about inner strength and doing what is right even if the world around you is telling you that you are wrong.  Sometimes it is much easier to go with the flow.  Sometimes it is much easier to believe gossip.  But if we hold our ground, the trials and tribulations will make us stronger along the way.  This book is full of hope and determination and it was hard for me to set this book down.

I looked up the author on the internet and there are seven total books of this series.  I am saddened to discover that the author and her son past away in a car accident last year.  She leaves a wonderful legacy behind with her thought provoking fictional works.  I look forward to reading the remaining books: Til Morning Is Nigh, Rorey’s Secret, Rachel’s Prayer, and Sarah’s Promise.

Pork Chop Time!

This afternoon I manage to get out and do a tad bit of shopping- light bulbs, Easter basket goodies, drill bits, tear free shampoo for the kiddos, colored felt for Easter eggs, and some food.  I have been thinking about pork chops for a while, so that is exactly what I got for dinner tonight.  I also found some cheesy garlic bread sticks, throw in some green beans and we have a meal.  And don’t forget dessert, I got a strawberry cheese strudel, maybe pair it with vanilla ice cream.  Oh, heaven!!! 

Below you will find my pork chop recipe.  I played with the spices until I found a blend I like.  I typically just toss and little of this and a little of that, but have included measurements to help with the first round or two if you choose to try the recipe.  If you have leftover cooked pork chops, dice it up and doctor up a cheese pizza before popping it in the oven.  Yummy!!!!!

Seasoned Pork Chops

Ingredients

~ 2 lbs of pork chops                            

1/3 cup canola oil

¾ cup flour                                            

1 ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 teaspoon garlic salt                             

1/3 teaspoon dill weed

¼ teaspoon salt                                    

¼ teaspoon pepper

Instructions

Mix flour and spices in a bowl, set aside.  Pour oil into 14” skillet, heat to medium.  Coat pork chops in flour mixture.  Fry in hot oil, four to five minutes per side.  Discard unused flour.

Kitchen Tip:

To clean skillet, place a few folded paper towels in skillet after removing pork chops.  Use spatula to push towels around until all dripping and oil are removed.  Dispose of paper towels and allow skillet to cool and dry before washing.

Throw The Plans Out The Window

This past week has definitely been interesting to say the least.  There have been days when I had something planned and other days nothing on the agenda.  I would of loved to take some nature photography of spring wildflowers.  I would of loved to go and get a new outfit for an upcoming special event.  I would of loved to actually go grocery shopping.  I would of loved to go get a yummy cinnamon crunch bagel with delightful honey walnut cream cheese.  I would of loved to take a walk and enjoy the spring weather.  Instead the plans and hopes were thrown out the window. 

Last Saturday my paternal grandma ended up in the hospital.  She had a few rocky days in there, but she was released after five days.  I was able to hang out with her off and on for about four of those days.  The major concern right now is a complication of her diabetes that has caused some circulation and gangrene issues.  Just have to remember that it is in God's hands and put our faith in him.

Monday the fun continued when dad ended up in the hospital again.  This time it was pneumonia and it was his fourth hospital stay since February 6th.  Dad spent five days in the hospital too, but I was only able to hang out with him off and on for the first two days.  His bone marrow transplant that was scheduled for Friday was delayed.  Dad is to call on Monday to see when it will be rescheduled- maybe a week or two down the road.

Thankfully my aunt was able to get both dad and grandma on the same floor of the same hospital.  Granted they were in opposite wings on the far end of each hall, but at least we did not have to mess with the elevators to get between the two rooms.  My aunt basically lived in grandma's room for a few days, while I was only able to come in for a few hours at a time.  After visiting hours on Monday and Tuesday we had the doctor's okay to wheel dad down to grandma's room so they could see each other.  Dad had to wear a mask for each trip. 

I had a planned church committee meeting for Wednesday evening, but my pastor contacted me on Tuesday and decided that with everything going on in my life we should delay the meeting a month.  I really hated to delay since it is well past time for a meeting, but it was a good thing because . . . .

Wednesday afternoon Pumpkin came down with a 101 fever.  I took him to the doctor on Thursday afternoon.  The doctor swabbed his nose and said that he had influenza.  That evening Princess came down with a 101 fever.  So we have basically hung out at home since then and until we are sickness free we cannot visit grandma or dad.  Princess was so wiped that she even took a few extra naps yesterday.  Both kiddos are now fever free.  Pumpkin is back to his ornery self and Princess is just really tired and clingy.  Their only symptoms were fevers, runny noses, and coughing.  So far, hubby and I have remained sickness free.

Thursday evening, we had an ant invasion in the kitchen.  So I cleaned and mopped to help deter the little critters.  On Friday one of my friends since college came and treated a few areas for ants.  I have not seen any ants today, so I am taking that as a good sign that they are gone.

Pet-wise, my sister left town for about five days leaving us with Oliver.  Thankfully Sebastian got to hang somewhere else for the length of the departure.  Oliver was not too ornery.  I only had two problems with him. The first, he irritated an old shoulder injury on Friday when I took him out for a potty break.  I had him on a leash and we were at a standstill.  He jumped and lurched for something, which yanked my arm into a very comfortable position.  My shoulder is still killing me today.  It was the same shoulder I fell on two summers ago.  I ended up with a sternoclavicular joint injury then and the joint is swollen now, so it will probably take a few weeks and ibuprofen for the pain to subside.  The second, he got into the garbage can and spread it across my clean kitchen floor yesterday afternoon.  So I'm ready for my sister to come home and resume the responsibility of her dog.

I think I need a long break to recoup my sanity.  Maybe even a solo trip to the store might help.  Here is to hoping that this week will be better. 

Don't Rock The Boat

So far it has been an interesting week with the kiddos.

Monday, Pumpkin graduated from speech therapy at preschool.  His speech teacher was very pleased with his progress over the last year and a half.  In his initial speech test, he scored well below his age level in language and speech.  In his exit test he scored at the right age level and above in a few areas.  I am going to miss his teacher because she is so sweet, but "Yay Pumpkin"!!!!!

Pumpkin also drew this picture Monday evening.  It is the first complex picture that he has drawn at home and we are very proud of him.   He drew our family under a rainbow.  And Auntie finished moving her stuff into our humble abode.

Tuesday evening we were greeted by our newest additions to the household. . . . Auntie's pets: Oliver the dog and Sebastian the cat.  

The kids squealed and chased and petted and hugged and drove mommy, daddy, dog and cat crazy!  The last two evenings have been rough, but hopefully tonight gets better.  Thankfully both pets listen when you ask tell them "no," but it is still a challenge at times.  Oliver is fitting in much better at this point than Sebastian.  The cat definitely has an attitude and the first night had to learn that "no, you are not sleeping in the bed with us or the kids."  It may sound harsh, but I have my reasons.  When our cat Little Bit was still alive, she did sleep in the bed with us.  But I learned the hard way that it was not good idea after she had a stroke and dug her claws into my pregnant belly.  It took me three years to finally be able to sleep without a pillow covering my midsection.

Wednesday we chilled out with burgers, fries, and milk shakes.  Princess and I also made a shopping run to buy a storage container for Auntie's shower supplies to keep it above curious hands.

Today, Princess had her preschool screening. She is pretty smart and I think she did fairly well, but I am not for sure.  When Pumpkin had his screening they reviewed the results with me, but the lady that did the screening this time did not do that.  The screening lady did say that they would place Princess on the waiting list for the fall.  But 4 year olds have priority over 3 year olds, so she may not get in.  The preschool nurse also did an evaluation and Princess needs to go to the eye doctor to get a more through examination of her vision.  So later this month, we will make a visit to the eye doctor.

I sure cannot wait to see what will happen tomorrow.  Maybe, we will be able to take a family walk.  Maybe, we will get to have some awesome grub.  Maybe, chaos will ensue.  Whatever happens we will trudge along like normal.

Strawberry Shake Botanical Lesson

I had a strawberry shake with my supper tonight.  Boy, it sure was good!  It even had chunks of real strawberries and occasionally the straw would get blocked.  This always brings to mind a spring time botanical lesson.  

Trees are very interesting organisms.  They breath, they grow, they make food, and they multiple.  This time of the year trees are coming back to life after their long winters nap.  Have you ever thought about the mechanics behind the bud?  

Before the bud grows and flowers the sap has to start moving in the tree.  Warm days and cool nights start this process along its way.  But how does the sap move throughout the tree?  By tiny straws found in the vascular cambium.  

The vascular cambium is the special growing part of the tree that is sandwiched between the bark and the wood of the tree.  Two types of tubes are found in the vascular cabium- xylem and phloem.  Xylem carries the water and nutrients from the roots upward to the limbs of the tree and phloem carries the food from the limbs down to the roots for storage.  But, in the spring time when the sap starts following both tubes carry the sap upwards during the day and down into the ground during the night.   

The sap moving upward provides food to the buds, which causes them to grow, leaf out and sometimes flower.  

But to get back to the strawberry milkshake.  Have you ever had a strawberry stuck in the straw and no matter how hard you try that strawberry will just not move through the straw?  

That is what happens to the xylem and phloem tubes in the trees when they get older.  When the xylem tube get blocked, those tubes turn into wood.  When phloem tubes get blocked, they turn into bark.  And that is just part of the story of how a tree grows.