Monday in Review

Was crazy busy yesterday, and I don't think today looks any better... why did I ever think I'd have more time with DD in school?

I checked my calendar, and this Saturday will have been twelve weeks since I submitted "Now and Forever" (my "Kitchen Matches" sequel) to Samhain Publishing. *sigh* I'm not sure what I'll do at the end of the time. Oh.. well, shoot -- I just checked their submissions page and it says this: Please allow up to 12-16 weeks for a personal reply.

Guess I'll add another four weeks to the calendar. :-P

It's absolutely amazing how much turkey meat was left on the legs, wings and bodies of the three turkeys I deboned on Sunday. I ended up with about eight cups of cooked turkey bits from my stock pots!

I got two more turkeys yesterday. I just couldn't resist. I have one in brine for roasting today (but need to find a solid five hours at some point today ... not sure that's possible, and am checking into whether a turkey can be "over brined" if I leave it until tomorrow). Not that I'm going to have any more time tomorrow. Oy vey.

I took Dakota to the vet yesterday to have that yucky red growth on her head checked. At first look, the vet said, "It's either (insert unpronounceable name of really bad cancer here) or else it's (insert unpronounceable name of totally benign tumor here)." and she took samples by sucking goo from the center to look at under a microscope.

After about five minutes that felt like a hour, I found out that she didn't think it was the cancer. But, the cells are "definitely growing" and apparently this unpronounceable tumor will be getting larger before it goes away. And if it grows to more than twice the current size, or if it takes longer than a couple of months to go away, we should have it looked at again.

Fun times. But at least, for now, Dakota's okay.

How was your Monday?

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You Are a Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

You like throwing random things together and seeing what works. You love to mix things up. You have an open mind and an open heart. You are all about possibilities. You have an incredible work ethic and are very tenacious. You like to productive. You dare to be different, and almost all the risks you take come out in your favor.

What Starbucks Hot Chocolate Are You?

About 75% right.

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It's Starting to Look A Lot Like Christmas

At least it is at our house...

We got our tree on Friday and, after some issues with lights not working (again) and buying a new set (again) after DH spent a good two hours trying to figure out why the original set would work, we decorated the tree on Saturday evening.

DD asked if I thought the tree would be prettier if it had a "theme" or if it was all the same color ornaments, etc. One of her friends has a tree that is decorated in some theme every year -- usually the same color balls and ribbon.

I said (very adamantly) "NO".

Our tree is covered in memories. I have an ornament on there I made when I was a toddler. I have an ornament that I got from a friend for DD when she was still in utero (technically her first Christmas, lol). Ornaments from family. Handmade ornaments. Every one of them comes with a memory, and nothing can replace that.



We did have a brief blip in all the good cheer when DD unpacked the stockings and found Breeann's. There were tears and sad times. We put her stocking with her box of ashes, sniffed awhile and then moved on.

This helped:



When do you decorate for Christmas?

I have to take Dakota in to the vet today. On Friday, we found a suspicious lump on her head that wasn't there before. It looks like a pink wart... sort of. But the fact that it appeared so quickly and isn't going away (even after four days) means it could be something more serious. We're very "lump" conscious here because Bailey was lumpy (and we had to biopsy every one). We don't even think about it, just whenever we're petting the animals, we automatically register any lumps or bumps. This thing is right on top of her head, so there's no way we would have missed it before.

We're hoping it isn't anything serious (:::cancer:::) but prefer to be safe. Because I needed another vet bill. *sigh*

I found fresh turkeys on sale at the local store yesterday: $0.39/lb! I bought three, then spent the afternoon deboning them and running them through my grinder for ground turkey. DH didn't get a deer this year, so our freezer is going to be very empty. He strongly suggested getting a couple more turkeys today since the price is good AND it's from a very good company who uses no antibiotics or growth hormones.

I have two huge stock pots of turkey broth done as well (plus all the meat from the legs, wings and bodies that I couldn't get off when it was raw) and am thinking about trying my hand at pressure cooking turkey vegetable soup. We'll see if I have the time or inclination any time soon...

What did you do this weekend?

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You Are Successful

Mellow and wise, you like to be with others but also to be alone. You seek a balance. You are hard working and enterprising. You find staying busy satisfying. You have high standards, and you are fair to everyone. Manners are important to you, even if that's old fashioned. A bit demanding, you expect proper behavior from others. Your standards are tough but fair.

The Wild Eye Makeup Test

That's pretty much spot on...

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The Tuesday Post Without A Title

Quiet, though busy day yesterday. Boiled a turkey for Dakota's meal -- and hopefully my next turkey will thaw by Thanksgiving! Did some last minute grocery shopping (bought two more turkeys ... yes, I really did) and felt like I was running around getting nothing done all day long.

DD has a Grandparents Day celebration at her school today. My mom will be going and taking here there. I'm so excited to have one less trip today! DD is off tomorrow through next Monday, so life will be out of routine again.

My friend, Michele, will be coming up with her family for the weekend following Thanksgiving, so I'll get to see her again! I'd thought the last time would be the last until spring, so this was a nice surprise.

Still no word from Samhain about my "Kitchen Matches" sequel ... I'm really starting to get both antsy and a bit nervous. *sigh*

Lexie is settling in very well. She's finally starting to spend a bit more time upstairs and is, as I write, laying sprawled in front of the wood stove. She's still being really good about not climbing on the counters and is seldom on the furniture (which I consider negotiable ... I'd rather she slept on the couch than on the dining table). She and Dakota are still working things out, but she's pretty much stopped smacking the poor dog in the nose whenever Dakota sniffs her.

Today will be spent finishing making Dakota's food (yes, it's a two day ordeal) and digging out my Christmas cards (yes, I do buy them the week after Christmas for the next year and then have to find them!). I like to get them mailed out right after Thanksgiving when possible.

I still refuse to start celebrating Christmas until after Thanksgiving. One holiday at a time works for me. I remember when I was little watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade so I could see Santa for the FIRST TIME EVER. He never showed up in shopping malls or anywhere else until after Thanksgiving. Now? Meh...

It's too bad.

Have a great day!

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You Learn by Teaching Yourself

There's very little you can't teach yourself. You are a huge self-learner. You don't have one learning style that works for you. You try everything that works. You experiment with learning and figure out what works best for you in each context. Your most important attribute is perseverance. Even when it feels like something is impossible to understand, you don't give up.

How Do You Learn?

Mostly right!

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Warning: Sleep Deprived Rambling

Spent the night coughing, so if my post sounds a little like I've lost a few brain cells, that's why.

The good news is that coughing is the final phaze of a cold for me, so after today, I should be pretty well done. Yay.

I went to DD's school last night for a meeting about entering high school -- how did my kidlet become an almost highschooler so quickly?? They talked about expectations (they do four years of the core subjects instead of fewer like most schools... for instance, when I was in high school we were only required to take two years of math). She'll have four years of Spanish when she's done (which is wonderful). They have a work experience program set up to help the kids earn money for tuition (it's with a nearby credit union and their pay is automatically set up to deduct 30% for a tuition account). It sounds wonderful. I admit, I've been looking at another private high school that's about ten minutes from my house (they're high school ONLY so I couldn't put her there for this year). It's slightly less expensive and SO much closer. But DD melts down if I so much as talk about it.

I bought three turkeys yesterday. Then I discovered I already had five in my freezer (yes, I have a huge chest freezer). When I posted about having eight turkeys in my freezer on Facebook I was surprised at the responses. Folks seemed surprised that I had bought three turkeys in the first place, never mind the other five. I can't be the only person in the world who stocks up on things when they're on sale, can I? I've also bought a TON of gravy and canned vegetables. There are times of the year when different things go on sale -- so why not buy a TON if you have the room to store them? I'm giving serious thought to buying more turkeys, actually, because I can use them for Dakota's food and I can donate some to the local food pantry. A fifteen pound turkey is only $5 right now ... it's crazy to not buy as many as I can keep.

Still waiting to hear from Samhain ... two more weeks will be twelve weeks. See what happens when you don't have a contract in two years? Would have been nice to have my old editor back (though, to be honest, my actual editor left Samhain and I'd been reassigned to someone who never contracted anything I sent, so maybe this is a blessing in disguise -- perhaps my submission will be sent to someone who has a better appreciation for what I write, as my last editor was looking for erotic romance, primarily M/M).

No big plans for the weekend. I imagine we might take down one more tree at my SIL's house, but otherwise, it should be fairly quiet (:::fingers crossed:::). Anyone have any news? Plans? Silly jokes?

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You Are Ready to Take on the World

You are clear-minded and bright. You think through things well. Your personality is extra spicy and larger than life. You love to have fun, and you are passionate about everything you do. You are inspired and energized by so many things. You've got a natural high going on. You tend to have a fast paced, busy lifestyle. Not a lot of people can keep up with you.

The Crayon Test

About 75% right.

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