Garlic & Guacamole

I've always known that my subjectivity is incredibly random, but tonight as I was preparing dinner, it really hit me in the face (not literally, thank goodness).

Digging around in the frig, I found my trusty jar of minced garlic, hibernating in the recesses of the top shelf. I mostly use fresh, but I wanted this to mix with melted butter for garlic bread. As I looked into the jar, I realized that this particular garlic had been a part of our family for quite some time - after all, it was nearly empty. Curious, I checked to see if they actually date things like minced garlic, and to my surprise, they do! To my greater surprise, the date was June 16 . . . 1996!! How could that be? We've really had this garlic for well beyond 11 years?!?!? Seriously, I use garlic much more often than that!!

Well, I cannot imagine that minced garlic in a jar could really go bad - after all, garlic kills off all kinds of stuff, right?!? It smelled fine to me so I proceeded to use it on the garlic bread. When I returned the last teensy little bit in the jar to the frig, I noticed a container of guacamole dip, also located in the garlic's neighborhood of the top shelf. I found myself thinking, "Gee, that's been in here awhile, it might not be good any more." Deciding that it surely needed to be tossed by now (after all, it came to our house the day of the Super Bowl), I checked the date - April 1 . . . 2007! What?!? How could it still be good?! Oh, fine, I guess it could stay awhile longer, although I couldn't imagine how it could be digestible at this point! Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I greatly dislike guacamole - anything that's green and mushy really shouldn't be eaten! But since hubby loves guac, it's still hanging out in the top shelf recesses with the garlic.

Too Tired, Not Home Enough

Well, wouldn't you know it - I finally have some things to blog and I haven't been home for the past few days enough to do anything. Today we were gone all day and now I'm just very tired. So maybe tomorrow (or Sunday) I can catch up.

2/14 - Valentine's Day: delivered flowers much of the day

2/15 - Fragility of Life: 3 years ago today, God took a dear friend home to heaven

2/16 - More Shopping: still trying to get snow boots - WAY too late in the season, though. Selection is slim to none. Nothing like having average-sized feet since those are the boots that are all gone. UGH!

2/17 - Boy Scout Klondike Derby: get to spend 12 hours or so in the snow (hopefully with snow boots!). Did pick up some little Toasty Toes to keep the feet warm!

No pictures today - I'm going to bed.
Nighty-night!

Loves of My Life

My Dear Hubby - 20+ terrific years of marriage in addition to the 3 years we dated, during which he had my heart, even though he didn't know it. I am incredibly blessed to be his wife. He's ever so thoughtful, caring, selfless, and loving. Even when we were first dating, I was blown away by his kindness towards me. Never before had anyone treated me so beautifully. While we've had our ups and downs, they were always external - our relationship has remained strong regardless of what came our way. I look forward to many more grand adventures that the Lord has in our future.

Oldest Son (SLH) - He's an amazing young man. It's been a tremendous joy over the past year and a half, during which time I've been homeschooling him, to see his growth in the Lord. He has a very tender heart towards God and is in tune to the Holy Spirit. I pray that he continues to follow the Lord's leading in his life. He's very creative, intuitive, and thoughtful. It's a privilege to be his mom.

Youngest Son (SLSM) - What an exhuberant young man he is! He has incredible zest for whatever he's doing or interested in. He is very sweet, has an hysterically fun sense of humor, and cares greatly for people. He's always thinking, always coming up with cool ideas, and always wants everyone to be happy. I'm never at a loss for hugs and kisses when he's around. It's an honor to be his mom.

JESUS - He loved me before I existed. He loved me when I was a sinner, caring nothing about Him, living however I pleased. He loved me so much that He died on a cross to forgive me my sins and offer me salvation. I am truly blessed beyond measure and blown away that He loves me. My love for Him grows every day and what a glorious day, indeed, when I will see Him face to face!

Even I Was Duped

We were at the local RV & Sport Show today (hubby works for an RV dealer), and while cruising around with the boys, my brother-in-law, and nieces, we came across one of those gimmicky kid toys. Naturally, the vendor was more than happy to give us his one minute demonstration, complete with fast talking lips, fast moving hands, and the cutest little fuzzy worm. The kids were hooked after the first 10 seconds. My brother-in-law and I were intrigued, thinking it ran around via static or something along those lines.


(this one is named Brock)

Now you have to understand that I am not that gullible. In fact, I tend more towards cynical when it comes to anyone trying to relieve me of my money. Maybe because I really didn't know how they worked and because the kids were so excited to have their very own worms, I caved.

Well, they got me this time - it wasn't at all what I thought. But since they do ask that you not tell anyone the "secret," I guess this is as far as it goes. On a happy note, the kids have had a wonderful time with their fuzzy little worms. Each of them (except my 2 year old niece) has worked diligently to learn how to be as smooth as the guy selling them. It's definitely kept their attention - all afternoon, in the truck, out at dinner, before bedtime, etc. So maybe it wasn't such a bad purchase after all!

The Incognito Air Hockey Table

Many thanks to Sprittibee who was kind enough to offer me some blogging tips after I posted about my blogging pity party. I'm taking advantage of one of her useful tips as I utilize Photobucket for uploading photos. I took this recently and was intending to use it for a post about feeling terribly scattered.

I am now beyond scattered mode, but after reading Barb's post about deep cleaning her house, this picture kept coming to mind. I'm not sure why - it certainly does NOT represent a clean house. It's more a representation of the catch-all family room where decisions are regularly postponed. Underneath all that stuff (and the red table cloth) is an air hockey table. We don't get to play much these days it would seem.

On a happy, repurposing note (don't you just love the crazy new vocabulary?!?), the kids all LOVE to play underneath said hockey table in conjunction with the foosball table. It makes a very cozy, secret little hideout for them, their friends, and cousins. You can't see the sides of the table, but there are plenty of boxes and paraphernalia to block the sides and completely enclose their lair. I've learned that when I can't find any children in my house, I should go look under the air hockey table. After all, isn't that where everyone keeps their kids nice & quiet?