Last night the Miles’ family gathered for our annual pumpkin carving contest. This all started years ago. I have a picture of me attacking a pumpkin with a rather large knife with a dear golden lab and precious two month old baby in a bopper at my side.
Our Gator, who lived 14 years, is long gone. Well, he is still with us in the back yard. Though I think the stone’s been moved a few times (mowing the yard and all) so I’m not exactly sure where? The baby is now playing linebacker for the Morgan County Bulldogs.
A Gator and Bulldog. Ironic considering this weekend.
Thank God, as the children are getting older – these things are becoming quite fun. This is code for only one meltdown by youngest, for though he could draw his face, actually sawing through an inch of pumpkin flesh was a little much for him.
Today is the aftermath – washing the seeds and picking out all the pumpkin flesh for toasting. All of you who have forgotten how to toast seeds here’s what we do.This is about the height of my expertise in the kitchen.
Toasting Pumpkin Seeds
Wash seeds and sort out pumpkin innards (membrane is correct culinary term).
Blot seeds with paper towel
Spread them out to dry for at least 3 hours. (This is the point in the process I am now. They are spread out drying on an old copy of the Morgan County Citizen – very old copy and well-read copy of course.)
Toss with tablespoon or so of olive oil and place in single layer on baking sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees, stirring occasionally for about 20 minutes. Keep checking those guys.
Sprinkle with salt, chili or curry powder or grated Parmesan cheese. We usually stick with lots of salt.
Enjoy…
Now here are the pumpkins and see if you can guess the winner. My favorite is last. The one carved by my son – who was the baby at my side at the first carving all those years ago.
Here’s wishing everyone a safe and Happy Halloween.
Daddy’s pumpkin
He's the artistic one. And has to show-off.
Our daughter …
Mommy cut out her design. It was a labor of love..
Couldn't quite get the little bat toes sawed out all way.
Our kindergartner’s.
Self-portrait.
Mom’s. Well, by the time I got around to carving out mine, my strength was fading after carving out daughter’s and youngest son’s. My pumpkin was kind of squatty. I stayed with a simple design and let the shape of the gourd be my guide.
So happy to be done!
And I shall leave with this note…
And the winner is...
Or should I say and the winners are.… Have a happy family time and safe Halloween.
Prude. Webster’s definition, “A woman who shows or affects extreme modesty.” I’m not a prude; but leafing through Halloween catalogs with my 8 year-old daughter, I wondered. (more…)
Finally in life I seem to be handing it. That is why at three in the morning I am typing at my computer to the hum of the clothes washer having just cleaned vomit off the bathroom floor.
One child just threw up and one child is having a birthday today. So this messes up a lot of birthday plans for a one excited little boy. Or it could, but come whatever — I will roll with it.
I must be getting rounder.
I roll a lot easier these days. Like last night when making chili for the first time in 3 years. My husband does not eat chili. I love chili. I was making chili for me and the child that threw up. Of course, I did not know she would be the child that was going to throw up at three in the morning. If I had known that I probably wouldn’t have fixed chili.
Bottom line is I got all this ground beef cooked up and couldn’t find the little packet of chili mix purchased 10 minutes ago.
Searching for 5 minutes — knew it was somewhere – but it was almost 7 o’clock. I rolled with it. Taking out spices, garlic powder, onion powder, managed to find the chili powder (which took a while), little bit cayene pepper (mistake, which I over came with lots of cumin).
Added the tomatoes and beans — and it actually turned out pretty good.
A few years ago, I would have probably cursed for I was terribly tired at the point of day. Maybe cried a tear saying nothing ever works and had cereal for dinner.
But I rolled with it, had chili — and so did my daughter. Who just threw up.
The Lord giveth and He taketh.
But it’s now 3:30 a.m. and I shall go on to wrapping presents for a little boy who is very excited about his birthday. (Of course, I should have done this last night but one turns into a pumpkin in the evening getting up at 4 a.m every morning.) Or 3 a.m. as it was the case today.
But thank God, I am becoming a circle. I shall roll through this day with his help. Rolling is so much easier.
Okay — she just threw up again. bye.
After cleaning up her mess, and I feel my edges starting to return. But I know I can be round. I pray I will be round.
Nothing will change by becoming a square. I will tell myself this a lot today.
I’m going to put on some coffee. Thank God for coffee. Have a great Tuesday.
Blogging about the Madison Fitness Triathlon last Friday made me think. Why not blog about Madison more often? Why not add another category to my Monday blog content?
Madtown Monday.
Now here’s the deal. I shall post a picture with some clues and the first one to leave a comment with the answer gets a prize. An extra special surprise. Such a special surprise, I have no clue what it is.
Joke.
What is this?
Okay, that is such a huge softball, even I am embarrassed. Must try to make this a little tougher.
Who knows where this is??
Where could this be?
For a little help, many of you scurry by this fine Stop and Go on your way from the middle school — up and over the tracks to all the other schools.
Isn’t it quite a relief when a train isn’t parked at that crossing? That means DISASTER for getting anyone, anywhere on time.
If you can name the super chef in the picture, you receive extra credit. Though I have no idea what the extra credit will be at this point.
And to make it a little more fun…
For any of you watching the Florida v. Arkansas game Saturday night, what lovely Madison resident was featured for a full 5 seconds or more on the screen? She looked so great in all her Gator gear. But she was sad, for that was the point a Razorback intercepted Tebow and ran it all the other way for the touchdown.
I was sitting at the Icehouse bar thinking “darn that“, when up popped this person on the screen. I forgot all my sadness and just pointed at the screen yelling, “There’s _____!” Which was very ironic because on another Saturday night she most probably would be sitting at in that very spot (or somewhere very near).
So…
1. What is the Stop and Go breakfast buffet pictured?
2. Who was the lovely Madtown Gator fan featured on ESPN Saturday night?
The first to comment with the correct answers to either question…shall receive a five dollar gift card to Perk Avenue. And bask in the the joy of being a WINNER!!
Have a great Monday.
And the dream date thing was just something that came to me when I was typing my FB status. But anyone who’s interested in being prize next week, please leave message. Rob Hanselman this means you.
Sometimes you forget you live in such a great town. I got a good dose of remembering why last Sunday at the inaugural Madison Fitness Triathlon.
Now I chose not to participate. I was on the fence till right near the end. Sometimes you need to be honest with yourself. I was profiling a group of local women competing in their first race for a magazine feature. How could I write about their experience if I was so busy into mine? And if honest…
I saw the long range weather forecast.
A blast of very unseasonable cold weather was due the morning of event. I don’t do cold. I have done cold, not in triathlons, but in footraces. And I have wept.
Race day was beautiful and cold. Part of me wished I was lining the pool with everyone – so many of my friends – to do the darn thing. But there are plenty of triathlons in my future (like summer future). I took tons of pictures and will share them with you. Here are a few of the extra-special people who lined up at the start and were WAY tougher than me on race day…
I learned lots standing cheering on the sidelines that day. Most importantly, there might be plenty of races…but there is only one Madison.
Hail to the Victors!
Joe and Mary Claire Cardwell. Daddy is a fellow Cotton-Patch Triclub member and finished 2nd in Clydesdale division. Mary Claire competed in swim portion of second place relay team.
Joe proudly admitted his daughter’s swim time bested his.
Chanin Gill, Rodney Whitaker and Karen Spence.
Chanin and Karen are veteran triathletes. Rodney was competing in his first event. He won his age group. Good Grief. Karen was bike and run portion of relay with Claire. She looks like she should be sitting in ski lodge rather than competing in race. But that’s just our lovely Karen.
Lots of support from Young Life volunteers…Braving the cold for a good cause. Race profit went to Young Life.
Waiting for the start.
Let’s just say…glad that swim was indoors that morning. Don’t think a wetsuit would have helped much.
Shirley Poole. Competing in her first triathlon. Woo!
I followed Shirley on her journey. Her first triathlon at age 64. Beautiful!
Kate Shepard, Blake Whitaker and Rodney Whitaker
Kate came in third in her age group. Father and son did well too. Blake second in age group. Rodney first.
Just some precious kids. And a great dad/hubby.
Dorothy Newton helped stagger the swim start.
Rete. Eye of the tiger...
As a runner, I find inspiration for dedication in Rete. Most everyday a little after noon I spy him running by my house. He finished third in his age group. Woo!
Paula Vaughn and friend help with traffic control.
Lincoln and my Joe cheer Lincoln's mom in her first race.This is one amazing moment that they both were still. I think my child consumed half the after race food spread. Which was awesome!
Meg Ferrante and her winning relay team
Bike, Swim and Run — respectively. Go Chicks!
And this event couldn’t have been possible without…
Dan Newton, founding Cotton-Patch member with daughter Elizabeth
Dan’s hard, hard work made this event possible. Amazing runner…you can’t keep up with this guy (Well, maybe Rodney could), Boston qualifier. Served with the Guard in Iraq. I think they let him fly helicopters. Those cost lots of money don’t they? All around great guy. Just wonder what’s the deal with that sweatshirt?
The board. The flurry around the board.
Everyone always seems so interested in their time. Like this was a race or something??
I asked Chanin as he was sipping water, “Was the bike that cold?” He looked at me with suffering still in his eyes, “It was that cold.” (I felt slight moment of vindication that I would indeed wept on bike had I raced.) Off he went. They don’t give those caps away. Well, you probably have to buy them, but no one worth their salt would wear it if they hadn’t experienced the pain.
Greg Stewart awards Shirley her medal
Madison Fitness owner and race sponsor, Greg Stewart bestows first place in her age group honors to Shirley! Woo!
It was a great day. Great event…
Look forward to next year!
And Hail to the Victors. Okay, it’s Michigan. But I love a good college band.
Germs and viruses lurk everywhere. Most wash hands before eating, but what about the hundreds of places one touches before washing? Light switches, kitchen cabinet knobs, faucets. Don’t even think about the toilet handle. Gross. I told you not to think about it. Is this how Howard Hughes started his descent into Kleenex box sneakers? (more…)
Megaluno– to make (or declare) great, to extol – to magnify.
Alright. Sometimes you think…Darn it.
I missed an opportunity because I am a mother of three, wife, friend. One who tries to keep house clean, get laundry done, write at least two pages, exercise, spends entirely too much money at Walmart, goes to son’s soccer (which thank God I am not coaching this session), transports daughter to and from to piano, attempts to remember what time football practice ends today…and so on and so on…..
The same goes for you. I know. I read your blogs, Facebook and Twitter updates. Sometimes in the business of life we miss out on things we would like to do – hearing of them after the fact. It’s like darn it, I missed out on that. Then there are the occasional…
D*mn its!
Finding out that U2 played Atlanta on October 6, the night that they played Atlanta was a lot more frustrating than “Oh well, another missed opportunity caused by my clueless bumbling through life.”
And truth be told, my utter lack of finances to spring for such a venture would have prohibited attendance at concert if I had known about it in the first place. So stop looking for me in the picture. 🙁
But how Magnificent it would have been there to hear Bono sing Magnificat..or Magnificent – his song based on Luke 2:46 – 55. Mary’s Song of Praise.
In a Rolling Stone interview Brian Hiatt quotes Bono as saying “Magnificent was inspired by the Magnificat, a passage from the Gospel of Luke in the voice of the Virgin Mary that was previously set to music by Bach. “There’s this theme running through the album of surrender and devotion and all the things I find really difficult,” Bono says. “All music for me is worship of one kind or another.” www.ministryvalues.com
“I was born, I was born to sing for you
I didn’t have a choice but to lift you up
And sing whatever song you wanted me to
I give you back my voice from the womb
My first cry, it was a joyful noise, oh, oh”
“Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love unites our hearts
Justified, till we die you and I will magnify, oh, oh
Magnificent, magnificent, magnificent”
Justified, till we die you and I will magnify…
If you think this is just another powerful love song then you can enjoy the poetic lyrics, the music and get a little extra kick in your stride at mile six when joyfully it comes on your iPod.
But if you profess a belief in Christ – it begs a little more. A challenging question. One not just for Mary or Bono. One for all believers..Do I magnify? Do I magnify the Magnificent?
And besides. This is one of the coolest videos ever…Have a magnified Monday.
Scope. A nice harmless word when attached to other nice harmless words. Microscope. Telescope. But see, some smart folks have created teensy scopes called endoscopes that snake through your body armed with a camera. Then places all nice and private – places formed in your mother’s womb – spots you’ve never seen (or no one has for that matter, thank goodness) (more…)
I want to be remembered as someone who was fun to live with,” Billy Graham. I read this quote from a friend’s blog post yesterday. www.justmerrill.com.
Then I read a tweet from a friend linking to this news. “University of Florida creates plan to handle zombie attack.”
“GAINESVILLE – No one expects a zombie apocalypse. But the University of Florida is making sure officials are ready for a night of the living dead, just in case. The school has a plan for responding to the undead on its Web site among outlines for dealing with hurricanes and pandemics. The exercise lays out how university officials would respond to attacks by “flesh-eating, apparently life impaired individuals.” It notes that a zombie outbreak might include “documentation of lots of strange moaning.” The article went on to state that an employee placed the information to add levity to the school’s disaster preparation discussions.
Later in the day, reading Merrill’s blog this was the part that hit home…”Now I don’t know if I am fun to live with, my kids could argue that one on certain days I am sure, but I like fun. I like to celebrate and laugh. I think we all do. Who doesn’t like a good belly laugh, or just good old plain fun and being silly? Sometimes we get so caught up in the routine…… pack the lunches, do the homework, feeding, cleaning, returning emails, carpool, making sure shoes are tied, seat belts are buckled…… that we miss the giggles along the way. We focus on achievement, on the “doing” that we lose sight of the joy of “being”.
Our children need to see us laugh, be silly and have fun. To celebrate even the simple things life offers. And as a mother I can say there is nothing like hearing your children’s laughter, no matter how old they are, and what a gift it is to be able to share in the laughter with them.”JustMerrill.
Yes, I was having one of those days that my children would definitely echo Billy Graham….”You are not much fun to live with, Mom.” Now they were being brat-ish. I was rapidly spirally down. But when aren’t kids brats?? (Or at least my children.) They can be brats and angels within 30 seconds.
I pray that tomorrow I write a zombie attack preparedness plan. I want to be silly. I want to be looking for decaying, creepy smelly old bodies lumbering down our hall. I want to be scared with my children. Scared of creepy unearthly creatures, not scared of catching deadly illness or terrorist attacks. There is enough serious outside our doors. Friday and this weekend take time to be silly and fun.
I think I’ll start with buying a can of silly string. Madison’s Ruth Bearden lucked out with that a few weeks ago.
What about you? Any suggestions? I am all ears. And eyes on the door watching for zombies…or maybe a mummy. That would be cool. No vampires though. I’m not quite sure they aren’t real.
Have a great Friday. Be remembered as someone terribly fun.
Seven weeks. In seven weeks, you can gain 20 Twitter followers, 20 hamsters or 20 pounds around your midsection. Or you can spend the next seven weeks training for the inaugural Madison Fitness Triathlon (400 yd. pool swim, 15 mile bike and 5K run), Sunday, October 18.
The board. The flurry around the board.
Greg Stewart awards Shirley her medal
