Jan 30, 2008

Shoulda Known

Everyone that reads this blog knows I am famous (infamous?) for my swiss cheese brain. I have a personal rule: Birdwell!! Do not drink more than 2 cups of coffee (i.e. 12 ounces-and that includes massive amounts of coffee and sugar), ever!! And you know why-so don't try to cheat!

In my defense, I did remember my rule and ordered a small (12 ounce cup) coffee this morning when I went to HEB for an emergency errand (J. has a stomach bug and needed some meds). However, they were all out of small coffee cups...so she gave me a large (16 ounce) cup. Okay, I'll just eye it. HA! I pretty much got a full 16 ounce coffee somehow. Never mind, I drank this all on an empty stomach.

The result: A very twitchy, freaked out Birdy, who can barely type or put two sentences together.

Labels: daily rant, food, whine

5:26:00 PM -- Email -- Link -- 0 Comments

Dec 26, 2007

Happy St. Stephen's Day!

Christmas was fantastic! Kids had great fun (which is the important thing) and I got some great stuff I am excited about. Most of all, and most importantly, my brother Phil was able to spend the Holiday with us. It was awesome having him here. The kids were so happy and hyper and used Phil as a jungle gym. Mic got us all up at around 7.30 am. He saw me nearly empty stocking and told me that I must have been on Santa's naughty list. Nah, Santa just favours the kids. I feel so blessed that we can give the kids the toys they want (lucky they aren't into the pricey toys).

After a morning of playing with gifts and dozing, we went to see National Treasure 2. Then homeward to make lasagna for Christmas dinner. I forgot to put the bread in the machine before leaving...so we didn't have any of the yummy bread I had planned on using...maybe tonight.

Today I have been lazing around watching the DVDs we got for Christmas...knitting a teeny bit and trying to grow Triops.

Labels: family, food, holiday

3:55:00 PM -- Email -- Link -- 0 Comments

Dec 21, 2007

Quickie Before Bed

I am a big fan of Charm City Cakes on Food network. I finally went to their website (well actually Jamey did). We checked out the FAQ. Mary Alice totally wrote it--it's great. I can actually hear her tone and inflection. And it answers Phil's question whether any one can go and stop by. HA! Nope--I bet they have a door guard. An appointment is 100 dollars and cakes start at $500...and don't even think of a last minute cake...Christmas is booked till 2010.

But July 1, 2010 is free...just in time for our renewal/wedding ceremony...ya know where we actually have a ceremony. LOL

Labels: food, wedding

1:02:00 AM -- Email -- Link -- 0 Comments

Dec 17, 2007

Where I go on and on...my friend

Insane much?

Every single day!!

Jamey was sick today. He swears he has three different kinds of headaches. However I am not going to let a little thing like illness stop Christmas shopping and a chance for me to shower and get out of the house.

So let's ditch Jamey and take the kids out Christmas shopping with Mommy!!!!

Actually I didn't get annoyed until Lori peed in the toy aisle of Target. An that was three hours after we left home (I had stopped asking if she needed to go potty an hour before.)

Anyhoo--I took the kids for pancakes at IHOP...scratch that kid. Lorelei fell asleep...and didn't wake up until we were in Walmart two hours later. Mic had a healthy dinner of chocolate chip Funny Face. I had an equally healthy heart clogging steak and eggs with pancakes and COFFEE!!!! (The coffee I think helped the shopping IMHO). Despite having to return a well done steak for the medium rare I ordered (I like my steak quietly mooing), it was a fun dinner just Micci and me.

Then on to Wal-Mart for mondo toy shopping. We spent the money that some of the family sent for the kids on gifts (pics forthcoming for certain people to print out for the family--if its not too much trouble). I bought the traditional under things for Jamey and Micci and me. Lorelei not so much since I've bought her tons of underwear lately (although I would love to find her some fun tights--but I think the truly fun ones start at a size 4 not a size 3). The kids also bought for each other...in a round about way. All Lorelei wanted to get Micci was a baby.

We also got some cute slippers for the kids and pj's for Lorelei. And my sweet, thoughtful kids got me a sewing machine carrier/holder. AND finally Micci got some bed sheets that weren't pink and flowery.

Santa still needed some help for the gifts the kids were dying for. Mega Spinosaurus for Micci and Lorelei I had to improvise. She wanted Disney Princess Cash Register, but I can't find it anywhere--saw it two weeks ago but someone didn't want to buy it then. However, I really wanted a cash register that had arithmetic functions and Lorelei really liked playing with any sort of cash register. I found a great little one that I like much better. It'll also be great to teach both kids about money as well.

I'm DONE! Things started to go south in Target when Lorelei peed in the toys aisle. I am so tired of pee. Really really tired of pee. When ever I get the urge to think of a third child (hmmm that fresh baby smell!!!), I just think of urine...urine EVERYWHERE!! Anyhoo. We still had to go to HEB and buy stuff for Christmas baking.

I've also made the unilateral decision to NOT make a fancy Christmas dinner. Since no one will eat it all...and even though I LOVE Turkey soup--I don't have the heart to go through all the prep and pick up afterwards. So I am either making Birdy's Awesome Lasagna or having Jamey pick up HEB's Chef Prepared Chicken Pies. (It's a toss between actually working in the kitchen or just popping it in the oven at the appointed time.) If I DO make the lasagna, I'll post pics and a recipe--cause it's AWESOME and fast (no boiling the pasta).

BUT, I am going to do some Christmas baking. So far I've come up with: Bird's Nests, oatmeal scotchies, peanut butter spiked brownies, and chocolate no bake cookies. I'd love to make some mint and chocolate cookies, but alas Jamey doesn't like mint...poot.

So I have a week to get my shite together. Cleaning, cooking, and knitting. Adamas is STILL on the needles...sigh.

To continue: the kids got ice cream at HEB because they were good while we shopped our butts off. But it's just another reminder that yes these are my kids. Wanting ice cream when the weathers in the 40s...it's so like me. Poor Jamey was still sick when we got home. He threw up while we were gone. And only got out of bed to use the toilet.

Labels: family, food, holiday, Kid Antics

11:18:00 PM -- Email -- Link -- 0 Comments

Oct 3, 2007

Career Path

Mic's career path: Zoo Keeper in the morning and Chef....at McDonald's during the night.

Labels: food, Kid Antics

10:43:00 PM -- Email -- Link -- 0 Comments

Apr 25, 2007

Throwdown TIme?

So my mom feels like she's been kicked in the knitting "tooth"--when I heard about A. (Phil's soon to be ex-wife) trampling upon our favourite hobby, I began to worry about what I gave her. The Cookbook. The one I carefully crafted, filled with the secrets from our family's kitchen. Is it safe? Does she even deserve it? Grrr.

I am nervous--ah well there's not much I can do but threaten. But what? Exposing her real name? Brandying her myspace account about, her email account...I don't know. But Phil is treating her awfully nice for the little ______ _____ ______ she's turning out to be.

Labels: food, knitting, wedding

2:16:00 PM -- Email -- Link -- 0 Comments

Feb 11, 2007

Nuts

We bought Mic shoes against his will today. He pretty much laid on the floor while I forced shoes on his feet. Lorelei on the other hand tried on a dozen shoes to suit her fancy. I well, cursed most of the time. I am in search of plain black dressy shoes. I have few requirements, closed toe, rounded toe (I hate the look of pointy shoes), a heel of at least 2 inches, and black. Shiny or dull--it doesn't matter...oh and it has to fit. Sigh--I found white shoes, and brown shoes--perfect, but they aren't black and one black shoe I did find was a wide and I certainly do not have wide feet. And each of those three shoes were almost perfect--but not enough and it drove me nuts.

I also discovered that size doesn't matter. I am normally a 7 1/2...but not today, today I am a 6 1/2. I guess that size doesn't matter when trying on slip on pumps.

Best of all we snagged us some Girl Scout cookies...8 boxes of Samoas and 1 box of Tagalongs. And no we aren't planning on sharing with the kids. As my parents used to say to me when I was a kid, "These are too good for kids." But unlike them, Jamey and I aren't cruel--Lorelei and Micci don't know we have them.

The Girl Scouts were camped inside a Half Price Books. Ah, my two favouritest things. We picked up a book for me (an Anne McCaffery), a book for Jamey and I to share (a beading book), and a book for Jamey (a cheese book--of course). I wish I could spend a few more hours to peruse the store--sans kids. That would be heaven.

On the knitting front, I am trying to master the continental style of knitting. Basically I knit English style--I throw the yarn with my right hand over the right needle. In continental you hand the yarn with the left hand and your pick up the yarn with your right needle. I have heard that continental is faster. So I am giving it a try. I need some speed in my knitting right about now--I have so many projects on the needles I need to get something finished.

Labels: daily rant, food, Kid Antics, knitting

7:25:00 PM -- Email -- Link -- 0 Comments

Feb 8, 2007

Birthday: Two Days Away

Yesterday I finally began feeling better. After J. got home from work headed out and did errands for Micci's birthday party on Saturday. I also bought the sweetest dress for Lorelei to wear to L.'s wedding. Then to Dollar Tree for the party favors--I LOVE Dollar Tree. I got a mess of stuff for only 30 bucks. They also have fun candy that you never see any where else--like super duper peanut filled Snickers.

Today I plan on making Micci's cake and then spending tomorrow decorating (cursing) Mic's cake. I sketched it out today. I just hope I can translate it to icing.

Mic wants a chocolate AND yellow cake with bright blue frosting. He wasn't too impressed with the sketch. Micci wants a cake shaped like Thomas, well, they are out of that at the cake store--so you're getting this masterpiece. I also broke it to him that he's not getting presents at his birthday party--the kids being there is the present. Frankly he's got enough presents coming from family and his room is full of toys (never mind a total mess)--he doesn't need MORE toys.

I just can't believe he'll be 5 this year. It's so weird. My baby is a big boy. I just can't wait till he can stay dry every night.

Labels: birthday, food, Kid Antics

1:31:00 PM -- Email -- Link -- 1 Comments

Feb 6, 2007

Happenings

After the Black Beans Friday I had, I have been trying to find a recipe that will actually make the black beans taste good. (I added peanut butter--Jamey then proclaimed that I ruined the beans--how they ALREADY tastes like DIRT.) I went to L.'s Bachelorette Party on Saturday and everyone asked me if I brought my Famouz Birdy's Baked Beans. Awww...I feel loved. I felt bad that I didn't. Part of me doesn't want to make it for every get together because I don't want them to get old. But it's not like we get together every week or something. SO next time for sure I am whipping out the beans, especially after Z. said, "Ya know what would really taste good with this chicken?? YOUR beans!"

My packages didn't get mailed out Saturday because I forgot the addresses at home. I realised this when I was actually AT the post office. SO they'll be going out this coming Saturday. I am so excited for them to be received and opened. I really hope they are loved.

Back to the Bachelorette Party...it was great fun. We went to Polly Easters, a multilevel club with different themed clubs inside. 70's and 80's on on floor, 90's in the next and 2000s on the bottom floor. I learned something very important that night: If you are over 40 DON'T go to clubs...it's just sad. I don't know what it is, maybe they are self conscious and can't relax and just dance. I don't know but it's like watching your teachers dance at your prom...it's just awful. I didn't get home till 4 am...it took us an hour to get out of the parking garage because some idiot girls decided to start a fight with another car full of idiot girls. ARGH. I was also the designated driver and made sure everyone got home okay. I also love L. even more because she did a heck of a job protecting my honor and shooing nasty guys away from me. "She's married! Go AWAY!!" Take that you old nasty dirty man!

I've been sick--not sure if it's actually germs or our wonderful friend Mulchie. They are trying a new technique to put it out. It involves tearing it apart and putting the burning mess into a clay lined pit THEN dousing it with water. Not only does all the water get to the fire when it's not in a huge pile, but it saves our aquifer that lies below it.I'll be glad when it's out...tired of smelling smoke.

I also started SOCKS!! I am knitting them toe up in plain stockinette (because of the purty variegation) and my toes are begging for a try on. My toes HUNGER for those pretty socks!! I am also trying to knit down my huge pile of UFOs. Once those are done I can start some lacey shawls or something.

On kid news front: Lorelei has discovered mixing powders. Cake mix, Pudding Mix, Powdered Sugar.... On Saturday Jamey caught Lorelei with a spoon in the cake mix, happily proclaiming, "I eat cake with a spooon!" (Yes she says spoon with a very long "o") We are looking at getting a hook or something to keep the pantry locked up. Those white knob covers don't work anymore. Haven't for months.

Labels: daily rant, food, Kid Antics, knitting, Texans

11:00:00 AM -- Email -- Link -- 3 Comments

Feb 2, 2007

Thursday into Friday

I would have posted yesterday and I entirely meant to, if only to scream, "Harry Potter is coming out JULY TWENTY-FIRST!!!" Life interupted and I never got around to it.

L. one of my new best friends in the world--helped me get price quotes for Micci's birthday party next weekend. I didn't even ask her--she just did it. So totally awesome. She is also wrangling all the kid invites...since well she knows a TON of kids and I know one besides my own two.

We went to a friend's house (B.) to help her with her taxes (our social calender becomes full the first weeks of February as all our friends ask us for tax help). In return for Jamey's help (I do nothing at thsi point just show up bearing a nice potted plant), she cooks us a nice German dinner. It was delicious, but I couldn't enjoy it. My head has taken to being a barometer again and right around 7 until I don't know 9 when I realised a few pain pills would take care of the unrelenting pressure and pain. Yep, right around 7 was when the cold front marched into town, I heard it snowed in some partsof North Texas.

I think the headache fried a few brains cells because normally I would have refused the coffee offer, with not having too much in my stomach and the late hour--caffiene has been known to do unpleasant things to my head and heart. All evening and into the night I felt on the edge of a panic attack...not a fun place to be. I was shaking and my brain was racing. And that mug was HUGE. So I pretty much tossed and turned last night while visions of knitted items of the future danced in my head.

Sigh.

I finished Q's presents and they will be mailed tomorrow. One of the gifts is LAST years as in 2005 Christmas present. Yeah, I suck I know. But this eyars gifts I hope will make up for it. I'll post pics once I write up the pattern and I know Q-ness has recieved her prezzie.

And so I have begun my SOCKS! Just a guage swatch but still I have started. I am using my Lorna's Lace in Somerset colorway. So far it's going to be a plain toe up stockinette sock. I want to get the most out of this yarn. Hmmm nice proper wooly yarn.

As requested I made Jamey's black beans. He's the only one not totally fond of my Birdy's baked beans--he says they are too sweet. Blah. Well his black beans taste like dirt. Lorelei sided with her Daddy, she loves the beans. Mic sided with me and proclaimed, "It tastes terrible. This won't make me grow at ALL." I was albe to get them seasoned so I could tolerate a few bites, but it just makes me really want my Birdy's Baked Beans.

Labels: food, knitting, Obsessions

8:38:00 PM -- Email -- Link -- 0 Comments

Jan 31, 2007

Busy Fingers

Spell check is my friend. Spell check is my friend. I am queen of typos. I type too fast and my fingers aren't the best at pressing the space bar or ya know hitting the right keys in the right order. Oh well. So far no one has blasted me with it--but I do realise that it does make reading my blog distracting. All in all I have very nice readers that are quite polite and civilised.

I am knitting today. I have a deadline and I want to make it for once. I owe a dear friend two years worth of Chrismtas presents and I am determined to have them mailed out this weekend. My fingers actually have callouses on them right now because of a rather sharp point on my favourite circular needle for hats. Once again the Knitting Bunny is nipping fingers and I wrote down a bunch of projects I want to get started.

My knitting goals for this year include, working on a UFO each month (getting it done!!), starting a new project as a reward (one one!!), and working throughout the year on Chrismtas presents...NOT waiting until November to start 10 knitted gifts. We shall see if they work out. Jamey's tired of bags on unfinished knitted objects.

Since at least one person wants my recipes (any more eh eh?)--I'll get to work putting them one the site. I am trying to think should I just toss up a bunch or be tricky and try to drive traffic and return visits, but adding one once a week. Perhaps making it an event and challenge people to make the dish and report back their thoughts on taste and ease of prep. Grin.

Watch out...this is not a knitting blog, it's not a food blog, it's not a Mommy Blog!! What is it!!! It's a Birdy Blog!! Dubh Croi--dark heart. A bit of everything.

Labels: blog, food, knitting

1:20:00 PM -- Email -- Link -- 0 Comments