From Here to Eternity

Traffic is backed up for miles. I've made about two miles in 20 minutes.

Quorum Court

Sitting in a quorum court meeting. Listening to them discuss the merits of an ordinance assigning penalties for providing alcohol to minors at parties. Go ya'll!

Still Tasty

Okay, this is not really "an observation" from my ozark life, but it's something cool to pass on anyway...

http://www.stilltasty.com/

It's an awesome resource that will tell you the shelf life of any food you're wondering about. Pretty darn cool.

I'm pretty sure I have some meat in my freezer I need to use up really soon. It's also forcing me to admit to my husband that YES, HONEY, I OVERBOUGHT WHEN THE MEAT WAS ON SALE.

I hate when he's right.

The Mr. Belly Brothers

After Julius decorated his belly he started on his brother's. It's belly madness!

Mr. Belly

Julius takes artistic liberties with his belly.

Adorable

I found this little thing in Hallmark magazine. It is a column by Amy Krause Rosenthal and is mostly drawn. Cute and charming. I need to go find her book Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life. Has anyone read it?

What Cooperation?

The 2nd doctor's office is infringing on my civil liberties. Or at least my freedom of expression.

They don't understand my standing assumption that such silly rules do not apply to me.

Waiting for Mom

Sitting in the docs office for mom. She's having some cancer removed at outpatient and then I drive her over to surgery building for reconstruction. It's a crazy system they've got going on here but the doctor seems good.

On top of it I've got some horrible virus and should be home in bed. But who else will take care of my little mommy??

Sunday Shopping Results 8/9

I know I do well every week on the grocery shopping, but I've not really been keeping a running total or anything. I thought it might be nice to see how we do over the long term on these trips.

Today's results are:

STAPLES was my big score! I got a Casio labelmaker, an electric pencil sharpener, two reams of paper, 12 spiral notebooks and a package of dry erase markers for... $3.24! (After a rebate of $37 which I submitted online as an "easy rebate" with the Staples web site. Awesome process.)

KROGER: $169.55 worth of groceries, out-of-pocket cost is $71.04! (That's a savings of $98.51)

WALGREENS: $145.54 worth of product, out-of-pocket cost is $40.64! (Total savings of $104.90!)

I got some stuff from Office Depot too but I can't find my receipt! I got a free backpack and some free crayons and some other really cheap stuff. I'll update this post when I track that down.

If you want to know more about how I get these fabulous savings, just email me!

Roast 'Em Toast 'Em

Preparing a roast to put in the oven. Sear the roast in the cast iron skillet. Add carrots and potatoes, fill to the top with beef broth. Put in the oven (in skillet) at 350 for about an hour and a half.

I've done this recipe in the crock pot and it doesn't taste nearly as good as it does in the cast iron skillet in the oven.

Making Star Charts

Julius makes star charts in my office. He documented the "Froghead Nebula", "Brutus Minor" and "The Fish of Fear".

Cleaning Up

Tristan uses Mommy's nice spa scrubbie and expensive body wash to clean the shower.