Spring Snow

We woke up to a dusting of snow on the ground.  What crazy weather we "enjoy" here in the mountains.  Here are some of my favorite photos from a spring snow last year.

 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!  See you Monday!

Driving

My husband and I have a marriage-long conversation going about my driving.  You see, our auto insurance rep's career depends on me.  Thanks to the law in NC, every one of my accidents (usually nicely spaced one to three years apart) has stayed on my license for a really long time.  This means that my insurance rates remain higher for a really long time.  I'm just kind to the State Farm man and his family like that.

However, my husband feels it is not very kind to him.  Let's see, it all started in 2000 when I ran into the back of an Isuzu Trooper.  Do you know that a Trooper's back bumper is $1000 to replace?  Of course the front end of my little Chevy Cavalier cost quite a bit more...  Oh, no injuries.   This particular accident was quickly followed by a complete totaling of the little Cavalier (not to nice to the Geo involved, either).  Zippo on the injury list.

Then I got the Saturn.  Love, love, loved my Saturn.  Never mind the car I bumped getting on the interstate.  Never mind what I was applying to my face at the time...  The dealership was very kind, and hey, no injuries.  It was a medical transport vehicle that I tapped, but I'm pretty sure they were only transporting oxygen, not a heart, or a liver, or something really important like that.

Then I managed not to run into anyone for a really, really long time.

Until...

Yep, that's the end of my mini van.  I just can't even tell you the story because the police involved were so kind (gracious, merciful, understanding and just plain nice) and I don't want them to question their judgment.  But, again no injuries and now I have a small, but very heavy, HIGH safety-rated SUV.  Which brings me to my point:

My Handsome Husband thinks I would be safer with the children driving a large vehicle.  Like Ford Excursion size.

Or maybe a Suburban.

Or an Army issue Humvee.  My Dear Dad suggested it be bright yellow so my potential targets could see me coming.  Camouflage just might not be fair.

I'm a little worried about my ability to judge space based on past experience.  I think you must see where I'm coming from...  However, my Handsome Husband assures me that when you drive something big, you don't run into things, you run OVER them and that may be better for preserving life.  I think he must be thinking of the children, though, because he keeps urging me to take out a life insurance policy.

Now that we have our third child and I have my "?" business that requires lots of transportation, I am about won over to the large vehicle concept.  However, if I'm going to be driving something large enough to pull a house, I feel it needs style, class and a little bling.  Something that says "a beautiful capable woman is driving this car" or maybe "hot mama".  Something comfortable for running over curbs and small farm buildings.  Something a bit more like this...

Oh, and just for the record, I've actually been in two other moving vehicle incidents that weren't my fault at all.  However, the drivers at fault have been very glad to have me involved.  I am a very understanding victim, I know proper accident procedure, and I am fairly good at guessing how much the whole mess is going to cost someone.  It's a talent.

Wednesdays

Today I must do real work all day...  Sadly, that means not much time for teeny and bea.  Oh, but I will have mexican for lunch.  That always makes things a little bit sunnier.  And yes, I had it for dinner last night, too...  Someday I may be able to explain my love affair with mexican food.  But not today.  Today, I will explain my love for thrice filtered water (as named by my newly acquired uncle).  It brings energy, motivation, flavor, heat and interest to my life.  While I clearly recognize that a fresh pot of coffee is nowhere near as vital as God's daily mercies, I still quite enjoy a fresh cup of java each morning (or maybe two or three).  Have a wonderful day!

On a Roll

Today dawned bright and early and I found myself responding to the call to trust my body to that "Israelian Stallion", Gilad, and his trusty team of work-outers in outdated outfits.  I am certain Gilad is still buff, but would argue that it is a bit easier to remain a fitness legend when you have your shows from maybe the 80's and 90's replayed on television regularly.  However, I think this image is fairly current, and it seems to support his legendary buffness.  (My apologies if this is a copyright issue, click on the photo to see its original source.)

But of course, I needed to do something with my body this morning because our pot roast turned out perfectly!  Unbelievable.  Obviously Pioneer Woman is an excellent role model.  Imagine the possibilities for my life if I followed her example and moved the family to a ranch in the midwest.  No wait, then I would have to do barn chores and smell manure...that's not going to work out for me...  Anyway, since I was not organized enough to take a photo of my family's rapturous faces as they savored my pot roast, here is a picture of beef tenderloin from my friend Cynthia, who happens to be a caterer...  Catered food being one of the normal ways my family enjoys well-balanced, delicious meals.

I am a little worried that you all will think this is a cooking or exercise blog...  So you should know that there will be no cooking at my house today as the local burrito restaurant is hosting free kids meals night.  And there will be no exercising tomorrow as I have far too much to do.  My secret to balancing family and work?  Remain as flexible as possible and be prepared to compensate for change.  This secret works at least one-third of the time.

Because it's fun and I need something to do during school...

I have another blog, different, more official, real...  With industry photos of my work, links to my colleagues and all other sorts of important public information that builds the business.  But sometimes I want to share non-business building thoughts with my virtual universe friends.  Things like, will I ever make it out of my fleece pants today and look like the "?" that I am.  Note "?" stands for my chosen profession, not that I don't know who I am.  Or what about my pride of accomplishment because I actually walked up and down my mile long road today (feel the burn, baby!), or maybe that I am homeschooling this morning before I start working because my daughter's education is very, very important to me (not that she believes me as she dissolves into tears because I won't tell her all the answers...mean mommy).  In any case, I am excited to start typing in this outlet for all my thoughts, crazy or brilliant, because my handsome husband just doesn't have the time to sit and listen 24 hours a day.

 This morning I want to tell you that besides walking the hill bright and early, I made a pot roast.  For dinner.  If you knew me, you would know what an amazing accomplishment this is.  I. Made. Dinner.  Not only that, but I did it at 845am, the old-fashioned way, in a pot, on the stove.  I was inspired by Ree Drummond of Pioneer Woman.  She seems to have, be, do it all, so I figure trying her recipe is a step in right direction.  I'll have to let you know if it works out, or becomes something that leaks out of my trash bag tomorrow morning onto the kitchen floor...