- A Shmoo Who??? -

                            

 "What the heck is a Shmoo?"   

The Flintstones with Shmoo

I've been asked this question so many times over the last 27 years... and much more frequently since we now have the word Shmoo on our license plate and in our email address.  A handful of people remember the Shmoo from the Flintstones (that's where I know the Shmoo from and from where I later introduced it to Hubby) but most people have no idea what it is or why Hubby and I refer to each other as Shmoo. 



So, if you're one of those enquiring minds, here's a brief explanation: 

A Shmoo, is a cartoon creature, created by the cartoonist Al Capp (Alfred Gerald Caplin). The Shmoo first appeared in September 1948, when Al Capp decided to solve the problems of mankind by introducing the Shmoo. The Shmoo was an ever-changing, blob-like shape (sounds like us!  LOL), with toeless legs, and no arms.   Shmoo was a tiny animal who only did good.  The Shmoo would adapt himself, change himself into whatever you needed it to be in order to help and make you happy.
 

Al Capp used the Shmoo to show us that earth will give us everything we want, just as the Shmoo does, if only we did not abuse all of its resources.   If only, in our passion and hatred and intolerance, we do not tear it apart, the shmoo would live on forever. So basically, love your Shmoo and he/she will always love you back... treat it with respect and compassion and he/she will bring everything good to you always.

Hubby and I, being the big sucks that we are, liked the idea of being each others Shmoo, respecting each other is the absolute most important for us and so the endearment stuck and eventually over the years, we became 3 Shmoo's and finally 4 Shmoos. :)

So there you have it... Your new knowledge for the day.  :D

Oh Yum!  I discovered there's a Shmoo Milkshake on the market!  :D

- Indian Red Lentil Soup -

Indian Red Lentil Soup

This is my favourite home made soup of all time. Surprisingly, my soup hating hubby likes it too!  I freeze small containers of it so that I can have it for lunch whenever the penchant hits.   I hope you enjoy it too! :)

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/indian-red-lentil-soup

Here are some of the ingredients you'll need to start the recipe:

First step!  Heat your soup pot over medium heat until hot.

Once it's hot, add your cumin seeds and toast for 1 minute.

Next add your onions and cook on same heat for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
The onions will brown and stick to the pot, 

You want them to do this!

Once the onions are browned, and your pot looks ruined...  ;D

add the diced tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes longer.

Next add lentils, broth, 2 cups of water, coconut milk, and lemon juice

Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 30 to 35 minutes, 

stirring occasionally.

I love watching shows on my iPad while I cook.  

(I was catching up on Glee)

Once the lentils are tender, remove from heat.

Stir in salt, pepper and crushed chili peppers

Lastly, stir in the shredded kale

~ Something I like to do with the leftover kale, 

is shred it and place it in small Ziploc freezer bags and freeze.  

The frozen bags of kale are always ready to add to smoothies or any other dishes. ~

and there you have it, the best comfort soup you ever made, and healthy too!  :)

Here's the full recipe:

Indian Red Lentil Soup

Ingredients:

1/2 tsp cumin seeds
3/4 cup chopped onion
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 1/2 cup red lentils
2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
1 cup light coconut milk
juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tbsp)
1 1/2 cups shredded kale
1/4 tsp fine sea salt
1/8 tsp pepper
big pinch of crushed red chili peppers

Directions:

Heat a soup pot over medium heat until hot.  Add cumin seeds and toast 1 minute or until aromatic.  Add onions and cook, stirring frequently, until beginning to brown and stick to the pot, about 5 minutes.  Add diced tomatoes with their juice and cook 2 minutes longer, stirring frequently.  Add lentils, broth, 2 cups of water, coconut milk and lemon juice.  Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 30 to 35 minutes or until lentils are tender, stirring occasionally.  Remove from heat and stir in salt, pepper and crushed chili peppers.  Finally stir in kale.

Serves 6

Enjoy!  It's such a yummy, comfort soup.

Nutritional Info:

Per Serving: 240 calories (35 from fat); 4g total fat, 2g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 410 mg sodium, 37g carbohydrate (8g dietary fiber, 4g sugar), 14g protein

- Pizza Spaghetti Casserole -

Pizza Spaghetti Casserole

I've been wanting to do a recipe blog for many years.
I finally decided to delegate some time towards it and 
here is my first attempt.  I hope this recipe becomes a
family favourite in your house too.  :) 
Recipe from: http://patch.com/illinois/crystallake/food-on-facebook-pizza-spaghetti-casserole

First!  Boil your water for the spaghetti noodles... 

and then add 16 oz of whole wheat noodles.  

So far... easy!

Next, add 1/2 cup of skim milk to a bowl and whisk one egg in it.  

Keepin' it easy!

 

Place the egg mixture to the side.
Grab 1 lb of ground beef or ground turkey and brown it in frying pan.  

 

By now your noodles should be done, so drain them well 

and place them in a large bowl so they can be mixed.  

Still with me?  Thought so.  :D

Next, you'll want to pour the egg mixture into the big bowl of noodles.  

Then add a jar of pasta sauce, a 16 oz can of diced Italian tomatoes, 

1/2 tsp of salt, pepper to taste, crushed chillies to taste, 

1/2 tsp of Oregano, and 1/2 tsp of garlic powder.

 

Mix the noodles really well and then spread into a greased 9 x 13 baking dish.

It's looking yummy!

Next you'll want to spread the ground beef/turkey over the noodles. 

Cover the beef with sliced onions, green peppers or whatever other 

pizza toppings you enjoy, along with half of the pepperoni slices. 

Then sprinkle 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese over top.

Lastly, blanket the casserole with one bag of Italian shredded cheese

and then add the remaining pepperoni slices on top.  

Place in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes, 

and voila! A yummy Pizza Spaghetti Casserole the whole family will love

and it was easy peasy! :D

The kids were hungry, so I didn't leave it in to brown as long as it should have.  :)

Here's the full recipe:

Pizza Spaghetti Casserole

Ingredients:

1 lb lean ground beef or turkey
1 - 16oz box whole wheat spaghetti noodles
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup skim milk
1 egg
3 oz sliced turkey pepperoni
1 - 26oz jar pasta sauce
1 - 16oz can diced Italian style tomatoes
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 - 8oz package shredded Italian cheese blend (light if possible)
Pizza toppings, such as onions, green peppers, black olives, sausage, hot peppers...

Directions:

Boil water and add spaghetti noodles, cook until al dente.  In a small bowl, combine skim milk and egg, whisk.  Brown ground meat in a frying pan, set aside. Once noodles are cooked, drain and place in large bowl for easy mixing.  Pour milk/egg mixture over cooked noodles, add jar of sauce, can of diced tomatoes, garlic powder and oregano.  Mix all together and place in greased 9x13 baking dish. Layer ground beef on top of pasta mixture, layer whatever pizza toppings you've chosen and 1/2 of the pepperoni.  Sprinkle the parmesan cheese all over, blanket with Italian shredded cheese and layer the remaining pepperoni on the top.  

Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.

- CAT*astrophe averted (for now anyway) -

"WE HAVE FIRM POO!!!!"    

That's what my neighbours heard me yelling through my windows (in my elation, I forgot they were open).  Yup, I'm pretty sure my neighbours are now totally convinced I'm a loon, if they hadn't already thought that before.  What can I say?  I was excited, relieved and thrilled beyond belief to see a lovely log of poo.  What's more, when I yelled it to hubby and the kids who were downstairs... I heard happy, excited woohoo's and yays back... so we're all weird.  LOL

What I'd love to explain to each of my neighbours (especially the two who were sitting out having their dinner on their back patio when I yelled this tasty tidbit of information)...  is that my wonderful 16 year old kitty has been terribly sick for the last 2 months and seeing firm poo in her litter for the first time in 2 months was the most wonderful sight in the world.   The fact that her stool is firming up is a strong indication we're on the right path.  This last week her energy has increased little by little, she's been living in our bedroom the last two months, rarely leaving it.  I had to place food and water bowls right near her bed so that she'd eat and drink.  The last week she's been coming downstairs more and more, she actually came outside yesterday for a bit and is back to trying to kill me when I come down the stairs.  I love it.  I'm waking up with her sitting on my back, waiting for me to feed her (something that used to annoy me but now puts a huge smile on my face); and the last two weeks, each time I've brought her to the vet, she's gained a wee bit more weight.  All really good signs. 

Two months ago I was preparing the kids of her upcoming demise, and that we weren't sure if she'd be with us another 2 weeks...  the vets thought cancer, she was loosing weight (she's already under weight, so losing any weight is scary), she wasn't eating, she was throwing up any food she did eat and had constant diarrhea.  She was terribly lethargic and her hind legs would give out at times.  She stayed in her bed constantly, only to come out to throw up or use her litter box.  I've been worried beyond belief.  Unfortunately, not long after all of this started, I had to travel to Montreal for 5 days.  It was really hard to leave her home, though fortunately my wonderful friend came twice a day to look after her and give her some company and make sure she took her pills.  I had to put a hiatus on the different tests and things the vet wanted to try and I was desperate to get moving on it, obviously the sooner the better.  I was also bringing her in for subcutaneous injections because she was constantly dehydrated, so it was a constant worry for me.  When we got back, I immediately brought her to the vet and we started trying different things and did tests (it now looks like it's not cancer, though we're still not certain, but we're not going to sink more money into more tests to confirm something we wouldn't be able to help anyway, so the vet and I have moved forward to try other things). 

The vet suggested we try Vitamin B12 shots, once a week, to see if it might help her.  We're on week 5 of the B12 shots and low and behold...  WE HAVE FIRM POO!!!  and a more energetic cat, and with a bigger appetite and a much happier, relaxed face.  I went into the vet's office today for Kira's next B12 shot, and when the vet asked me how Kira was doing, I replied "We have firm poo!!!" and the vet let out a whoop and two of the assistants woohoo'd and clapped.  LOL  I absolutely love this vet, she's new to the office and she's just awesome.

Kira sitting in the passenger seat, arriving at the vet, looking SO much healthier!

I'm learning to give Kira her B12 shot myself.  I currently go in the office for guidance and reassurance while I administer the shot, the vet holds Kira.  I'm getting much better and more confident each time.  The vet is only charging me for the needles and B12, not for the time she's giving me to hold Kira and walk me through learning to administer shots.  She also weighs Kira each time to see how she's doing, no charge for any of it.  I can continue doing the shots with the vet for as long as I want, until I feel comfortable to start doing them at home.  The vet could easily get one of the techs to come in and hold Kira while I do the shot, but no, she comes in every time to hold Kira (Kira's come to trust her) and talks with me and celebrates any small improvements with me.  I couldn't ask for a better vet.  I'm thinking another 2 or 3 times giving Kira her shot with the vet and I'll be fine to do it at home.  Today Kira didn't feel a thing, and I did it much quicker, so I know I'm getting better at it.  :O)

For now, my fur baby is doing better and better.  Right now she's happily curled up in hubby's arms, on the couch, purring and content.  Hubby had missed Kira laying with him on the couch every night and was delighted tonight when she waltzed into the living room, hopped on the couch and worked her way into his arms, another thing back on track.  Hubby's now all stuffed up and wheezing, but as he says, that's ok, this is how it's supposed to be.  :O)  Both look very content.



- Spring? Boing!!! -

For those of you who don't feel like Spring is coming...   a reminder of Winter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkk7DX0l95A&feature=youtu.be

I don't know about you, but after watching that...  I'll take the bit of cold we're still experiencing...  and as they say... good things come to those who wait.  ;O)  

Here are a few more wonderful reminders to help kick start that Spring feeling...

Now, look outside...  see those buds on the trees?  Tulips coming out of the ground?  and the absolute lack of snow?

So how's that Springy feeling now???

You're welcome.  ;OD

- Santa? -

Sigh... here we go...  Z came to me last night and asked if Santa was real.  B got all indignant and frustrated at his imbecileness (yeah, I know, that's not a word, but it's how she looked at him) and huffed that "of course Santa is real!!!" and then looked at him like "how can you be so smart, yet ask such a dunderheaded question????".  I had a hell of a time not chuckling at her total devotion towards Santa and her complete vexation with her brother.  She was sick with the flu, so her patience with him was extremely low. 

I told Z we could discuss it all he wanted but to please wait till bed (we were  5 minutes away from bedtime).  I later curled up with him in his bed and explained to him that he has a right to believe or not believe in Santa, but he needs to respect B's beliefs and not discuss it around her, as he could see it got her terribly upset.  I then asked him what he thought about the whole Santa idea...  he said that the cookies being eaten and the half eaten carrots found outside on the sidewalk the next morning proved nothing, Hubby and I could have easily done that... and the presents... Hubby and I could be buying them...  and that Santa coming down a chimney makes no sense at all...  the whole time I smiled at him, and waited, not saying anything, letting him talk and then after a pause he looked at me and laughed and said "I'm right aren't I???".   I replied that the magic and spirit of Christmas and Santa is in our hearts, and that it indeed lives very strongly in my heart. I reminded him that I've always said that exact thing to them over the years.  I added that what we choose to believe at various stages of our lives is up to us, but that keeping the magic alive in our hearts, keeps Santa real for everyone...  He smiled and nodded, he thought a bit more, hugged me back with a big smile and then changed the subject to Pokemon. A tactic he does when he's done talking about a certain subject or wants to avoid talking about something. 

 

Suddenly, the subject was closed, he was much too close to the truth and he didn't want to totally loose Santa in that moment.  I know this year he still 'wants' to believe in his heart but now wisely knows better.  He'll go along with the charade, like he does with the tooth fairy (he found out the truth about a year and a half ago about the fairy, but for B's sake continued to pretend she's real.  Just recently he asked me if he could be the tooth fairy for her and do the coins/tooth exchange.  When I pointed out that it had to be after she fell asleep and that he always falls asleep before her, he said he couldn't wait till he had his own kids and could do things like the tooth fairy for them).  Amazingly, he somehow continued to believe in Santa for over another year.  

It would appear we've come to an end of an era...  My baby is letting go of Santa...  I'm relieved at how he's handling it...  It's always been a worry that kids at school would tell him and he'd argue with them that Santa was real and then feel bad or feel totally betrayed when he later found out the truth...  Fortunately, he's figured it out on his own, and he's handling it wonderfully.  Phew!  Now if only my heart could just handle it better...  :'O(

 

- Disturbing cakes o.O -

Oh my gosh...  I came across these cakes this morning, and had to blog...  What on God's green earth were the cake decorators thinking...  and better yet...  the poor Mom's to-be who received these cakes?!?!?!  :OS

http://www.cakewrecks.com/home/2011/7/22/the-search-for-the-worlds-most-disturbing-shower-cake-ends-h.html

Um yeah....

- Light shows -

Call me crazy, but I'd love to live across from one of these houses (especially the Christmas one).  I think they're so cool and fun.  Puts a smile on my face just watching them...  Yeah I know, they must cause a lot of traffic from people coming to see it, and it must be loud, and really bright... yeah, yeah, yeah.  But it's a heck of a lot nicer than being around houses that don't decorate at all.
I love the spirit.

I've watched these for a few years now, and they get better and better.  There's a lot more of these on Youtube.  :O)

- Penguin Sweaters -

Oh my gosh, this is both sad (because they have to do this) and so sweet/adorable.  They put sweaters on the penguins to keep them from preening (poisoning) themselves.  Kudos to all those people taking care of the penguins and putting forth so much effort. They're doing an awesome, wonderful thing.  By the way, there's a world wide call for any knitters:  http://laughingsquid.com/worldwide-call-for-knitters-to-make-sweaters-for-penguins-affected-by-2011-new-zealand-oil-spill/  

Gotta love that tuxedo knitted sweater, little guy looks proud to be wearing it (or pissed off, not sure which)...  :OD

- "Wake Up!!!", "Flock off!!!!" -

This made me smile this morning.  This kitty looks so much like my Kira and I love how patient it is with that insistent little bird.  Most cats would just leave a few feathers floating in the air...  These two are too damn sweet.  LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah5L1RfyPz4&feature=player_embedded

- Oddest birthday present for a 6 year old -

Ok, this has got to be THE oddest birthday gift for a 6 year old girl.  LOL!!!  

Yes, that would be a door, standing in the middle of our living room, as a birthday gift to our girl.   :OD  

Back when I was pregnant, we had a cat and a dog.  I feared for the safety of the baby at night with a cat who loved to snuggle against a warm body and usually up around a head... and a rambunctious dog who we loved dearly but knew she was an animal foremost, our fur baby secondly.  I hated the thought of closing a hard door and muffling any sounds the baby might make (I didn't fully trust baby monitors), and for either of my babies to be closed in a room with not much way for the air to circulate (it could get awfully stuffy)...  So I came up with the idea of building screen doors for their bedrooms.  Very much like a farm house screen door, solid but latches closed like a normal door.  Hubby liked the idea, and built them exactly as I had envisioned them (you can't buy screen doors the size of indoor room doors, they only come in the large size of a front door.)   They turned out to be awesome!  Here's a photo of it in my son's room.

I used to creep up to their doors, and peer through the screen and see that the kids were still sleeping, or playing quietly in their cribs, and I'd creep away, never having to open their door and wake them from the sound of the door.  I could hear the kids easily in their rooms at any time, eventually the baby monitors were removed, and it's been nice over the years to hear them when needed.  One night my silly Dude was jumping on his bed, fell and split open the side of his head on the corner of his dresser.  If he had had a regular door on his bedroom closed, I don't think we'd have heard him right away.  It had been a pretty bad wound, needing stitches. 

I loved that our two fur babies couldn't get in the rooms, keeping their doors closed almost all of the time, yet air was circulating wonderfully through the screen in the doors.  As the kids got older, they loved that they could have their door closed but not feel closed in.  Z still loves his screen door, and has no desire for privacy yet and likes that a dim glow of light comes fully through his door at night, even though it's closed.  He likes being able to hear what's going on outside his room at night, yet not being closed off.  B on the other hand is ready for a solid door, ("with a lock!" she says, Z's had a lock on his for about 2 years now).  LOL 

Hence the door standing in our living room.  She's been asking periodically for a new door and really liked this white door for some reason.  Hubby installed it yesterday and B is thrilled.  We tossed the original old crappy hollow flat cheap doors ages ago, saying that we'd buy new doors when they were ready for them.  Well, one has been bought.  :O)   Happy 6th Birthday Baby Girl!  Love you oooodles!!!!  <3 :D

- Percolating -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cdx_SjxXhmY

So do any of you remember this 1950's Maxwell House Percolator commercial?  I loved this commercial when I was a kid and it's stuck with me all these years.  It must have been repeated in the 70's, since I don't recall any of the other commercials that I found on Youtube...  Odd I know and you can quit with the age jokes!  ;O)  (if the video isn't showing up, just click refresh, or the link below it, it has been flaky).

Anyways, lately I've been doing the "dooka dooka dooka... dook dook" percolator tune from the commercial each time I start making coffee in our percolator (my Dad gave to us a few years back).  Hubby's been giving me humorous smiles while shaking his head, not knowing what on earth I'm singing.  I finally did a search on Youtube today to play the commercial for him.  He's now been enlightened but doesn't recall that commercial or tune at all...  am I the only one????  LOL 

- Oh Those Frocodiles!!! -

Oh my sweet little girl.  B told us that her “frocodiles” (her invisible crocodile friends) are ready for school… I've warned B’s new teacher, that B has these ‘frocodile’ friends and they’ll probably show up the first few days of school, but that I've told her they need to stay in her backpack while she’s in class… because the other kids won’t be able to see them, and might step on them… her teacher laughed and said she’s glad to know about them and will ‘look out’ for these invisible friends of B’s and will suggest the same thing. :O) I know the frocodiles will begin to disappear now that she’ll have real friends in her life, and more exciting things to do… actually, I'm going to miss those little toothless invisible creatures… they've been fun to have around… :O)  Why crocodiles??? I’ll never know… they just showed up one day about a year and a half ago and stayed. They've gone on trips to Niagara Falls with us, they've been responsible for several mishaps in the house (wink, wink), they've protected her from scary things at night, they go on many adventures together… today, they’re at the beach with B (in the living room on a blanket), but apparently they’re not listening to her, and she’s up in arms with them at the moment… LMAO!!! At times I wish I had a frocodile friend myself, though not today, they’re not listening very well. ;O)

While I was driving yesterday, I found myself trying yet again to clear something from my throat and a sudden realization struck. I’ve been bothered for weeks with an annoyance (for lack of a better word) in my neck. It doesn't hurt, so much as it’s just very bothersome. I tried the other night using Chloraseptic to numb it because it was driving me crazy. I wake up coughing each night, I have trouble swallowing… Well, finally my brain kicked in while I was driving and I realized my problem is my thyroid (duh!!!). It's obvious the damn nodule on it has grown, despite the medication my Dr. prescribed. I can now locate the lump easily with my fingers and can see it clearly in the mirror (I looked when I got home). It’s definitely what’s pressing inside and growing into my oesophagus. So, Tues I will make an appt. with my Dr. and I know she’s going to say the next step is surgery. She had warned me last year, that if the medication didn’t do the trick, and if it grew and started obstructing my throat, we’d have to remove it. Oh am I excited about that. :OP  I’ve never had surgery before, never had a broken bone, hell, even both child births were very easy… so basically, this is the first ‘serious’ thing for me to encounter… Naturally, my heart is up in my throat over it, (and heavens knows there’s not much room in there for it!!!!) ;O) LOL. I’m wishing I had noticed the growth back in the spring, maybe I could have had the surgery during the summer, while the kids were at home. It would have been a lot easier. As it is, if I do need the surgery, hubby  will be handling the kids in and out of school during the day, so I’ll have to go it alone.  I did the entire biopsy thing alone, so I can do this alone.  Oh Freakin’ Hootin’ Nannies! As I said before, and will say again… I did NOT want to turn 40!!!! LOL Y’all see!!!  Gah. LOL

- The Waiting Game -

Our 18th wedding anniversary is on Monday.  Sunday we’re all going to go to Centreville for the day, as a way to celebrate our Anniversary as a family.  We’ve always celebrated as a family.  :O) 

 Should be fun!  It's a great little amusement park. :)

The waiting game is in play… still waiting for test results to come back for the cyst on my thyroid.  Yes, they said about 2 weeks, and it’s only been 1… I’m trying real hard not to be worried… but I'm… just… I dunno… whatever… sigh.  LOL

B’s loving her gymnastics, I love watching how determined she can be and how excited she gets when she does something.  Z’s loving Grade 1.  He’s reading very well, beginning to participate in things and his teachers are delighted in his progress.  He has a part time T.A., a Speech Therapist and an O.T.  along with his regular teacher.  I really appreciate everything the school and teachers are doing for him.

So that’s the update right now.  I’m off to bed.  I need sleep… :OP  Oh yes, I’m still waiting to get a CPAP machine… Insurance company needs to send me back an “ok, you can get that machine, we’ll cover some of it” type of crap… gah…