I'll be back soon

Sorry about the lack of posts from me. A lot of stuff going on here, family wise and I just am sort of out of the creating mood. I'm doing some things, but it is slow going. I hope to back in the swing of things soon hopefully by the weekend.

We did get snow on Saturday and Sunday. It looked like a blizzard Saturday, but none of it stuck. Sunday we got a little more but it only was a dusting and was only on the grass in shaded areas. Monday it snowed and stuck for awhile on cars and such, but no real accumulation. It sure has gotten cold though. One day I went out on the front porch to get the mail and noticed the welcome mat was away from the door so I went to kick it back and it didn't move. Thankfully I didn't kick it too hard or I might have pulled a muscle haha!

Tomorrow Tim has chemotherapy and then we'll be getting the house ready for Thanksgiving. We are having Thanksgiving here. So wish me luck!

Today I decided to make Apple Crisp. I love Apple Crisp and wanted to warm up the house. So I baked that then rolls to go with supper and then Chicken Stuffing bake. Kind of a small version of next week, except that it is all in one casserole.

Hope everyone has had a wonderful Wednesday, soon it'll be the weekend woohoo.

First Car

I did not get my driver's license until I was 21 yrs old. I had taken driver's ed in high school but didn't pass. I was taking meds for epilepsy at the time, so it was probably good I didn't pass at that time. They say there is a reason for everything right?

I finally got my driver's license the summer of '82. I was working at Marriot's Great America in Gurnee, IL. (now known as Six Flags Great America). I was able to find rides with cast and crew members that I worked with. I lived in Kenosha, WI at the time and it was about 1/2 hr drive to Gurnee, IL to work each day.

I got the car from my mom's cousin I believe. I know it got to the point of taking a qt of oil every other day. One of the cast members dubbed my Ambassador Amber. Amber Ambassador. Funny I still do that. Betsy Buick was retired last summer and we got Maggie Malibu. Maggie Bu for short.

I thought you might like a visual of this car so I searched on google and finally found a decent photo. Of course mine wasn't a pretty baby blue like this one. Mine was a ugly brown, but hey it got me where I was going. Hehehe


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Today Tim saw the Chemotherapy Oncologist. He said the PET scan still shows lesions on his lungs. He tried to show us the scan on the computer and we saw only two lesions. Funny last scan he told us there were multiple lesions that we couldn't have surgery done to remove part of the affected lung because Tim would have no lung left! I said to Tim we really need to get a hold of the Radiation Oncologist and get him to show us the scans. He is more computer literate than the Chemo Oncologist is and has 24" monitors to show us the scans on so we can see more of what is going on and how big these lesions are. Tim has an appt to see the Radiation Oncologist on the 29th of this month. So hopefully after that we can tell a little bit more of what's going on. So Tim is back on chemo again. We probably will not get to leave Toledo on Aug. 20 to go to family reunion, but will probably have to leave some time after his chemo appt on Thurs Aug. 21.

I have been working on Stationery boxes and notecards to fill them. Once I get one or two completed I'll take a photo and show you what they look like. I think they're pretty cool and definitely would make great gifts.

Oh just to let you know the list of blogs I visit - those are clickable links. So if you want to read Tim's blog just click the link and you can read his latest post.

Bad Blogger

I know I've been terrible at blogging lately. I shouldn't wait this long between blogs because then I post too long of a blog.

Our most exciting news is that it looks like we will be able to go to my family reunion next month. I'm really looking forward to this, actually we all are. It's a break I think we all really need. A short vacation in NW Wisconsin camping. My cousin runs a campground and we've been having the family reunion there for the past 4 years I believe I got that right LOL. It's nice for those who can camp and we have more time to catch up. Saturday is the "official" family reunion day and those who aren't able to camp come and still get the chance to visit, play games, etc. We plan on taking a lot of pictures and that'll give me more to scrap! LOL like I don't have a ton of photos just needing to be scrapped as it is.

Tim is on hiatus from Chemotherapy for a couple of weeks. He is to get a PET scan this coming Thursday. Then he sees the Chemo oncologist on the 5th and we find out how the chemo has been working. He is supposed to have two more weeks of chemo after that so we're wondering if that'll change or not. I really hope it's good news!

I joined the Big Blog Challenge again for August. It's a challenge that is held on scrapbook.com. If you want to join go to their challenge forum and join us, the more the merrier! It's nice to have a journaling prompt or topic to post about.

Well I don't want this to get too long so I'll show you some of the stuff I've been creating lately. I've done a couple of notecard holders and will do a couple more in a masculine print.




















Also I've done my first layout using a 8x10 photo and also the first time I journaled on the pic using Photoshop. Hmmm I wonder if I should post this one as I wanted it to be a surprise for my cousin. Oh well I'll post it and she can still be surprised. I don't know how often she gets here to read, but earlier this week we were sharing photos on Yahoo IM. I saved a few of hers and this one was just begging to be scrapped as you can see why. It says This is the good life. Fishing pole, stocking feet, tackle box and can of Squirt. All set for a fishing on our pontoon boat. I really wanted to say something like how much more perfect could it be? But I seemed to be blocked while doing my journaling. LOL Remember if you want to view these pictures larger just click on the photo.

Hope your weekend is going great!

Oh PS Tim has started a blogger blog too, I'll post his blog address once I have it again. I think it is something like Unknown Land of Oz, if you want to look it up.

Carmen

Summer

Sure seems like summer is flying by. I can hardly believe that it is almost the middle of July. I keep hoping that a job offer will come, although I've only had a few interviews. This week I interviewed with the Alzheimer's Association for a PT Office Support position and with Bolt Express for a Customer Service or Logistics Coordinator position.

My teenage casanova has been chatting online and sometimes on the phone with a new girl. She seems sweet and shy. She is vegetarian, so Noah thought that for this week he'd like to give that a try. I said it's nice to try something different out, but you do not have to be vegetarian just because she is. Every time we pass by meat type items he grumbles that it's something he cannot have. We told him he doesn't have to be vegetarian and he says he wants to try it for the week. We also told him that vegetarians do eat fish and chicken unless they are Vegans. We'll see how long this all lasts.

Thurs Tim had his third round of chemo. We also saw the Chemo oncologist on Weds. He is going to have Tim have one more week of chemo and then send him for the PET scan to see how this round of chemo is working. Then we'll see him again on the 4th or 5th of August to find out the results. Please keep Tim in your thoughts and prayers that these chemo meds are working.

One thing nice about being home is making supper. I don't feel exhausted from work and am able to get supper on the table early so we can enjoy the rest of the evening. The other is that I'm baking more, not sure that it is such a good thing, but it is nice to have stuff and not have to run to the store to buy baked goods. We really like Miss Ellie's banana cake and I tried Aunt Pat's Cinnamon Coffee Cake last week. Both are in the Olson Family cookbook. YUM YUM! I've made a Dream Pie this week. Those are so easy and I should make them more often. It's something that would be easy to make low fat too, using lowfat milk and sugar free pudding.

We ordered our food from Angel Food Ministries this month. I wish we didn't have to wait two weeks for it to come in! This time they had a special that included fruits and veggies, so I made sure to order that one. We actually ordered three of the four specials this time besides the regular menu which you must order to be able to order the specials.

Here is my recent LO. It is for the Making Memories contest. I like how it turned out this time. The deadline is Tues July 15. It was nice to have it finished today, so I do not have to work under pressure. :)

I think this is a photo of me at my Aunt Pat and Uncle Duwane's house. You can see my cousin in the background. Looks like they just plopped me on the kitchen table and started taking pictures. I love being able to use pink and glitter and girly stuff. Yes, I still do use flowers on a few of the boys' layouts but it is not as girly looking as this.

After midnight

Yes, it's after midnight and I'm still up in part because we ate a late supper and I still feel very stuffed. I've been working on a CD scrapbook for one of Tim's co-workers. Actually two of them, a couple who works there had a baby boy last week. So I'll post a few pix when I'm finished. I usually only use 4 cd's so that's 8 pages. I used a Circle Scissors at a friend's house this week and was ready to go out a buy one. I had a 40% off coupon from Michael's so I thought that would work perfect. But they no longer carry the purple and green Circle Scissors! I went to Hobby Lobby as well. I looked at Office Max and Target too still no luck. So I went to Ebay and put in a bid. I've never won a bid yet, so I'm not sure I'll win this one, but it would be nice as I feel it's the best price I could possibly pay. It sure would make cutting circles so much easier and so many different sizes of circles.

Tim had Chemo on Thursday. It went pretty well actually. He was there for only about three hours and hasn't really had much for side effects. He said he had an upset tummy yesterday, but just queasy is all. I'm sure it may be worse next week or about the third week. Thankfully it's only six weeks this time and he only goes in for the drip and does not have to carry a pump.

Well since I'm still not tired I think I'll tempt you with a recipe. Here is the recipe for Taco Pasta Shells that I made tonight. This recipes is from the Light and Tasty magazine put out by Taste of Home. Speaking of Taste of Home, if you ever get to Milwaukee WI you should go visit the Reiman Publications Visitor Center. They have some interesting facts on the first floor and also a test kitchen and an area where they showcase birdhouses built for a contest. Maybe for their Birds and Blooms publication? Anyway, downstairs is their outlet store. If you're a cookbook fanatic like me you can find tons of Taste of Home cookbooks there for reasonable prices some as low as $2.00 for a hardcover book! While you're there you may as well stroll the rest of the shops of Greendale Village and stop at Ferch's Malt Shoppe and Creamery. They have great burgers, onion rings and of course will mix you any flavor you can think of for your ice cream. Yes, they've been around longer than Coldstone's, well at least in the Milwaukee area! Next door you might want to visit Lotions & Potions, there are a few gifts shops, a quilt shop, across the street there is Great Harvest Bread, gotta try their bread YUM YUM!! They cut you a big complimentary chunk of bread and you can try as much as you want. They also have cookies and muffins. There might be more additions as it has been two years since I left Milwaukee. There is a coffee shop and a couple of other restaurants. Okay so that's my visit Greendale spiel onto the recipe.

Okay so here is the recipe for Taco Pasta Shells. I know I really should have tempted you like my friend Estee does by taking photos of the process of making this fabulous dish, but I did not take any.

18 Uncooked jumbo pasta shells
1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef (I used ground turkey last night).
1 bottle (16 oz) Taco Sauce (I was able to use a 10 oz bottle and it was plenty).
3 oz fat free cream cheese (I used reduced fat).
2 tsp Chili powder
3/4 C shredded reduced fat Mexican cheese blend, divided
20 baked tortilla chips coarsely crushed (I forgot these last night and it wasn't a big deal). You're beginning to wonder if I ever follow a recipe completely aren't you? Well maybe the first time I might....

Cook past according to the package directions. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, cook beef (turkey) until no longer pink; drain. Add 1/2 cup taco sauce, cream cheese and chili powder; cook and stir until blended. Stir in 1/4 cup cheese blend.

Drain pasta and rinse in cold water; stuff each shell with about 2 tablespoons of the beef or turkey mixture. Arrange in a 11x7x2 inch baking dish coated with nonstick cooking spray. Spoon remaining taco sauce over the top. Cover and bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining cheese blend and bake for 5- 10 mins longer or until heated through and cheese is melted. (Of course I just sprinkled the cheese and let it sit on top of the stove until the cheese melted). Sprinkle with chips. I served Spanish Rice A Roni with this dish.

Nutrition Facts: 3 stuffed shells equals 384 calories, 13 g fat (5g saturated fat), 67 mg cholesterol, 665 mg sodium, 33 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 33 g protein. I'm sure the fat calories were a little bit lower using ground turkey.

I've taken this to crops and it was well received! Anne Thomsen of Westchester OH is the originator of this recipe.

25 of my Favorites

Sorry I haven’t been a very good blogger lately. With Tim starting chemo again tomorrow I’ve been feeling low, here I am without a job and he’s going for chemo and working. It’s not for lack of trying I send out resumes weekly, but have only had two interviews. It’s just not fair, but then again life isn’t usually fair, at least that’s what I tell Noah. LOL

I didn’t make the cut for Cosmo Cricket but at least I gave it a try. They seem like a really great company and are sending out gift certificates for all those who applied. I was a bit surprised that none of them names were familiar to me. I thought someone from here would be selected. There are so many talented scrappers out there.

Well onto my favorite things….

1) Tim

2) My boys

3) Hanging out with Family/Friends

4) Outdoors/nature/lakes

5) Daytrips/travel

6) Family Reunion

7) Scrapbooking

8) Fishing

9) Mom’s potato salad

10) Dogs

11) Shopping for scrap supplies

12) Theater

13) Walking/hiking

14) Frozen Custard/Ice cream

15) Einstein bagels

16) Hugs/Kisses

17) Music

18) Being able to make handmade items for gifts – more meaningful

19) Chocolate

20) Guys dressed in blue jeans and a white button down shirt

21) Cappuccino

22) Cookies

23) Salads

24) Playing cards/board games

25) Bookworm