Great Backyard Bird Count

In just about a week, the 13th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count begins! This is the first year that my family will officially be participating, but I’m really excited about it. We’ve been keeping our yard stocked with special bird treats over the past few weeks, in the hopes of attracting some new feathery friends to our space. If you’ve never participated, or don’t know about the Great Backyard Bird Count, here are the simple things that you need to know, directly from the website www.birdsource.org/gbbc/howto.html.

Also, check out the Audubon Society’s website fora couple of great bird games for the kids (www.audubon.org/educate).

1. Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count. You can count for longer than that if you wish! Count birds in as many places and on as many days as you like—one day, two days, or all four days. Submit a separate checklist for each new day. You can also submit more than one checklist per day if you count in other locations on that day.

2. Count the greatest number of individuals of each species that you see together at any one time. You may find it helpful to print out your regional bird checklist to get an idea of the kinds of birds you’re likely to see in your area in February. You could take note of the highest number of each species you see on this checklist.

3. When you’re finished, enter your results through our web page. You’ll see a button marked “Enter Your Checklists!” on the website home page beginning on the first day of the count. It will remain active until the deadline for data submission on March 1st.

Carolina Wren, Jim Lockyer, CA, 2009 GBBC

Other helpful tools and information:

• Data form. Some people find it helpful to fill out the form before entering it on the website. By printing it off ahead of time, they know what information they need to be aware of, such as snow depth, for example.
• GBBC Photo Contest rules

• GBBC participation certificate to give out to students or to anyone who takes part in the GBBC
• PowerPoint slideshow about the GBBC
  

• Local events. Have a look at some of the events being held around the country for the 2010 GBBC.
• If you’re a teacher looking to get your class involved with the GBBC, read through our educator’s materials for some ideas.
• If you’re new to bird watching, you might want to check out our “Learn About Birds” section. You’ll find help with tricky bird identifications, choosing binoculars, bird feeding tips, and much more.

Playing hooky in the woods

Yesterday I played hooky. I needed a mental health day, so I took the day off, and spent it at home and in the woods. Over the past three or four days, my brain has been going into overdrive. I lay in bed at night, tossing and turning, thinking about a million different things, and willing myself to fall asleep, wanting to wake-up my husband just to say “I can’t sleep!” It is the most frustrating feeling in the world…

I’ve been looking for a new job for the past few months, with little luck. There have been a multitude of applications sent out for positions which I am over-qualified, and yet I don’t get a response. And then, last week, I got a phone call wanting to schedule a phone interview. It couldn’t have come at a better time. I had been in a meeting all evening, dealing with negativity, swallowing my pride, and realizing just how much my job has changed in the past 6 months. I walked out of the meeting feeling physically heavy, and emotionally broken. And then I heard a voice mail about a phone interview.

We talked for 30 minutes on Friday, and the conversation was incredible. The position is right up my alley, with a non-profit that I greatly admire. It would be an amazing change of pace, and something that I feel will reignite my passion for my career. Tomorrow I have an interview with the Director, and I am starting to get nervous. I don’t deal well with nervousness. It is something that I don’t feel often. I’ve interviewed for countless things before, and not felt the anticipation that I’m feeling now. This is the number one contributing factor to my restlessness this week.

Marco enjoying his freedom

So, I played hooky yesterday. I took the Peanut to school, came back home, and walked in the woods with Marco for most of the morning. It was great to just forget about the pressure I’m putting upon myself this week, and just walk and relax. Unfortunately, the relaxation did not remain until bedtime…I still ended up tossing and turning most of the night. However, I’m hoping and praying that tomorrow will go extremely well, despite the bags under my eyes, and that I will be called back in for a final interview with the board. So, I’m asking for good thoughts and prayers regarding this interview. I’m hoping that this is the right opportunity for me, and that I will soon find myself in a new, positive, and meaningful work environment. Fingers crossed!

Vegetables for breakfast & dinner

Last Wednesday I found myself off of work on a weekday, with the Peanut in school, and the house to myself. I had every intention of sitting back, reading, doing some light cleaning, and then making dinner, but that didn’t happen. Instead, I spent the entire day cooking – it was wonderful!

I had been asked told to make more pancakes for breakfast, so those were first on my list. I always make sweet potato pancakes.  They are incredibly tasty, much more flavorful than the standard pancake, and I get to feel good about sneaking in a veggie for breakfast. About once a month I make a batch, freeze them, and – voila! – a quick and satisfying weekday breakfast option.  These happen to be one of the Peanut’s favorites. First of all, they are orange, and he loves anything orange. Add a schmear of Nutella, and then folded in half like a taco, and he is a happy kid!

My second task was making some vegetable broth to be used for that evening’s dinner, and some extra for freezing.I tried out a new combo, and it came out really rich and hearty. Here is what I used…

1 red bell pepper

1 green pepper

1 onion

1 lb carrots

1lb celery

1lb tomatoes

1 lb turnips

I roughly chopped them (large chunks work well and save time) and put them in a roasting pan with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, 3 bay leaves, 6 cloves of  smashed garlic and some black pepper. I let them roast at 450 for about 2 hours (maybe a little less), until everything was nicely browned. After quickly running a knife over some of the larger pieces, I added the veggies to a stock pot with water, and let them simmer for about another 2 hours. I scooped out about a third of the veggies to freeze for a future soup, removed about a third of the broth to freeze, added some pre-soaked beans for dinner that evening. The flavor of this broth was really flavorful, and much deeper than your standard vegetable broth. I could have eaten a bowl of this with a piece of bread by itself – it was really that good.

I also made a batch of cream biscuits, sugar cookies, and chocolate chip cookies as well. It was a day of cooking, freezing, and eating cookie dough…what can I say – I can’t resist licking the spatula!

Yummmm…they’re Swedish!

What is the one thing in your life that makes you smile when it seems to be just out of reach? We all have those days when things are just too much. We feel weighted down, exhausted, over-whelmed, and broken. I’ve had a few days like that recently. Work has been exceptionally tough these past few weeks, and I am in need of a change. Unfortnately, the job market has yet to regain its momentum, we don’t have the financial freedom for me to go back to school, and I’m feeling  pigeon-holed. An opportunity may have presented itself, but I am trying very hard to not get my hopes up or put too much pressure on this one thing. So, this week, I’ve not been sleeping soundly, eating more junk than I should, and just feeling down. Until, I see this…

That is, hands down, the cutest and funniest kid on earth – and don’t you dare try to contradict me! He brightens our days, and never fails to keep me entertained. Last night, as I sat trying to get our new camera and Skype to communicate with one another, he was in his room playing veterinarian, and singing his own version of “Marvelous Little Toy.” It was adorable, and made me step back for a moment and not worry about work, let go of the frustration with the computer, and just absorb the love that is my little Peanut.

A short while later, we were having a family movie night, and while Daddy was making popcorn, I surprised him with some Swedish Fish as a special treat, which he had not previously tried. He popped one into his mouth, started chewing, and looked at me and said, “Yummmmm…they sure are Swedish, alright!” And that is was the greatest moment of my week!

Book Review: “The Other Queen”

I recently finished reading “The Other Queen” by Phillipa Gregory. Last year, I kept a list of the books I’d read conveniently available in the margins for those of you who care about that sort of thing. This year, I’m uping the ante, with…wait for it…a rating system! Impressive, I know! Let’s keep in mind that opinions on books are like food reviews. This is entirely subjective, and easily disagreed upon. Something that I love can be utter garbage in your eyes.  Keeping this in mind, here are my thoughts on “The Other Queen.”

I have read almost every book Phillipa Gregory has written. I enjoy historical fiction immensely, and her novels tend to be a good combo of light-hearted story telling and historical accuracy. This was the first book by her that has truly disappointed me. Overall, I’m giving it a C-, which may actually be generous. Had she been an author who was unknown to me, I probably wouldn’t have finished the book. I kept reading, though, waiting for the story to pick-up. Unfortunately, it never did.

This book should be incredibly interesting. It is the story of Mary Queen of Scots, and her life has enough drama for multiple novels. She was crowned Queen of Scotland at the age of 9 months, married at the age of 16 and crowned Queen of France shortly thereafter.When her French husband died, she returned to Scotland and married her 2nd husband, Lord Darnley. Eventually, he was found dead after an explosion at his home, and many rumors circulated that Mary was part of the plot to kill him. She then married the Earl of Bothwell, who was the likeliest suspect in the death of her previous husband. It is possible that she was forced to marry him, but we really don’t know.

Mary was soon  forced to give up her throne to her 1 year old son, and flee to England, seeking protection from Queen Elizabeth. After arriving in England, she was held captive for close to 20 years. Eventually, Mary was executed after being caught plotting to have Queen Elizabeth murdered so that she could take the throne of England.

This has all of the makings of a great story, however, in this novel, Gregory’s story-telling is weak and fragmented. The story is told from the perspective of Mary, and her ‘keepers,’ George & Bess Talbot. The chapters rotate from one character’s narration to another. The reader is unable to get immersed in the story because of the constant change in perspective. Also, Mary is incredibly whiny (which could very well be accurate, but is annoying nonetheless).

It seems like Phillipa Gregory focused more on switching from one character to another, rather than writing a compelling and engrossing story. Overall, it was a disappointment. However, given the fact that I’ve read many other of her novels, and enjoyed them, I will be reading “The White Queen” soon, and hoping that she redeems herself in that one!

Spring, vintage & humility

I’m loving the touch of spring that is in the air this week! Yesterday was a beautiful day, with blue skies and temperatures very comfy, and today is looking to be more of the same. I’m not quite ready for the end of winter, which is one of the benefits of living in the Carolinas. We know that the seasons like to dip in and out around here. One day it is winter, the next it is spring, and then we are back to winter for a few more weeks. However, the sunny skies and warm air are giving us some much-needed outside play time (the sidewalk chalk and bikes were out in full force yesterday).  When the weather starts flip-flopping like this, it makes me start planning ahead, looking forward to the things that the next season brings, and building excitement. We’ve started discussing what we want to plant this year in our garden; I’m staring out of the window while cooking, picturing where I want to plant additional flowers; I’m starting to see more birds visiting our yard, and snacking on the treats we’ve left out for them. It is a very exciting time!

And, to top off my desire for spring, this weekend a friend and I went shopping, and I found the cutest dress at Hong Kong Vintage & Recycled.(They do have an ebay store if you are interested – the link will take you there.) It was the first store we went in, so I had to hem & haw for a little while. I ended up getting them to hold it for me while we continued shopping, but I didn’t find anything else, so the dress came home with me! Now I’m just waiting for the weather to be consistently warm so that I can rock my new dress! We also had lunch at The Penguin (a Charlotte tradition), but that place really deserves a post all to itself.

And, even though the week is officially half-way over, here is the thought of the week…

(I’m still working on that part about humility…it’s not so simple.)

I hope it is warm and sunny in your neck of the woods!

Make ahead (yummy) meals

Today Stefani, from Blue Yonder Ranch, was sharing her recipe for Chicken Noodle soup, using a rotisserie chicken. This made me think of one of my favorite recipes, which happens to use a rotisserie chicken, and creates multiple meals for my family with easy prep on my end. I’m sure some of you are always on the prowl for a simple (and inexpensive) meal for your family, and this one certainly meets those requirement.

I make this recipe every month, and we get at least 4 meals out of it, if not 5. The original recipe is from America’s Test Kitchen. As usual, I followed their directions to the letter the first time I made the dish, and then have adapted and simplified it afterwards. I love this recipe for many reasons. 1 – It is YUMMY! 2-It is easy 3-It can be made ahead 4-All three of us love the dish, making it a crowd pleaser (If everyone is happy, then mama is happy!)

Here is my modified version of ATK’s Make Ahead enchilada’s

Ingredients:

olive oil (1-2 T)

1 onion, diced

1-2 T chili powder

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 t ground coriander

2 t ground cumin

1  rotisserie chicken, meat off of the bones, skin discarded

10 oz shredded cheese (we use a combo of mozzarella & cheddar)

1 can black beans, strained

corn tortillas

2 8 oz cans tomato sauce

1/3 c water

Sautee onions in olive oil until soft and lightly brown. Stir in chili powder, garlic, coriander, cumin, and cook 30 seconds – 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in the chicken until thoroughly coated. Add tomato sauce and water, and bring to a simmer for 8-10 minutes.  Strain out excess liquid into a bowl, and allow chicken mixture to cool. Add black beans and mix.

Spritz tortillas with olive oil and place in 300 degree oven spread out on a cookie sheet, 2-4 minutes until pliable. Fill tortillas with chicken and black beans mixture, roll, and place seam side down on a cookie sheet. Once you’ve assembled all of the enchiladas, place the cookie sheet in the freezer for 30 minutes until slightly frozen. Store one meal worth of enchiladas in a freezer-safe container. Save the liquid that you strained from the chicken, and keep as your enchilada sauce, or you can use store bought in place of this.

To Serve: Move enchiladas to a casserole dish, place in oven set at 350 degrees (no need to preheat). Bake uncovered 25 minutes. Remove, cover with sauce (1 cup +/-), and sprinkle tops with cheese. Bake 10 more minutes until cheese is melted. Serve with rice.

New year, new goals

Like so many other people, we view the beginning of the new year as a time to reevaluate. As 2009 was coming to a close, we were finding ourselves feeling bogged down by so many things. We were unintentionally focusing on things other than ourselves, our family, and the things that matter the most to us. So, with the opportunity at a clean slate right around the corner, we began crafting our 2010 goals. I have never been one to set “resolutions.”

How many of those live to see a day in February or beyond? Most fizzle out and die before the end of January. We want these goals to be things that will make us a stronger family, increase our contentment day-to-day, and help keep us focused on the values we really want to be teaching our son. I’m sure many of these will see ups and downs throughout the year. Very few of these will be scratched off and marked as complete. The majority are not things to accomplish, but rather mindsets and long-term goals. So, to help with accountability, here they are!

2010 Family Goals:

• Eat minimum of one vegetarian meal per week
• No cable/satellite for one year
• Make 3 monetary donations to a charity (We’ve made our first donation to CARE, helping educate a girl for a year. For more info, go to   https://my.care.org/site/Donation2?df_id=4183&4183.donation=form1)
• Take a beach vacation with our extended family
• Plan and/or make ahead meals – plan our weekly/monthly menu
• Take a family vacation to a National Park, Historical Site, etc.
• Resume weekly game/craft/reading nights
• Stick to daily cleaning (We have one thing that we are supposed to do each day to help avoid Saturdays turning into a day of work.)
• Freeze/preserve Farmer’s Market produce during the appropriate seasons
• Add allowance options to the Peanut’s responsibility chart
• Plan budget for the year, using the “envelope system” to reduce wasteful spending
• Build vegetable garden on back hill
• Make a conscious effort to love eachother the way we to be loved
• Organize the garage (this is the only one that I’m not looking forward to…)
• Plant one or two additional trees in yard
• Take 2 or 3 day weekend trip as a couple
• Write our wills
• Focus on buying used rather than new
• Sit down together at the beginning of the month to review last month’s spending

I think that we’ve been realistic about our goals, and we are feeling really positive about the things we’ve decided to emphasize this year. One more thing that we’ve decided to do is to have a “Thought of the Week.” These will be things that help us maintain our focus on the truly important things, and add a little more appreciation to our daily life. I’m posting the thoughts in the kitchen, where we spend the majority of our time, so that I can glean a little wisdom while washing dishes, making lunches, etc. I’m going to try and remember to share these thoughts with you in the coming weeks and months. That being said, here is the thought for the week…

Blog pulse check

Yes, I have been missing from this space for quite awhile. I knew that it had been awhile, but looking back, my last entry was the beginning of September. Wow…that was a long time ago, yet at the same time, it feels like just a few short weeks.

Our family has spent the past four months getting adjusted to being in school, and the incredible number of changes that has resulted in for us. The experience has been positive overall, but also a lot to deal with. My hubby and I both work outside of the home, and, as I’ve mentioned before, my hours can fluctuate greatly week to week. On average, I’m home around 6:15. That makes dinner, bath & bed a rapid process, as we try to have the Peanut in bed by 7:30-7:45. Needless to say, there were many nights that we were feeling frantic, not really communicating with each other, and overwhelmed with our new reality.Over the past month or two, we have been focusing on ways to reduce the stress and increase the quality family time.

Now that we are feeling a little more put together, I’m thinking that I may be able to return to this place. Not only have I missed sharing my world, but I’ve missed reading about yours. I’ve been completely removed from the blog world for four months, and am eager to return to catch up on what so many of you have been doing. So, forgive me for my absence (if any of you are still out there), and be prepared to forgive me if I disappear again a week or two at a time. I am going to make a conscious effort to take the time to visit you weekly (and more, if life allows), but I am sure that there will be ups and downs throughout the coming months. I’m okay with that, and I hope you are as well!

Although it is a little late, happy holidays, and I wish you all peace and happiness in 2010!

We survived…and maybe even had fun

Breakfast before school

 

No, really, try to look excited!

 

Arriving at school

 

Leading the line to the classroom...and away from the crazy lady with the camera