UpDates

In an effort to catch everyone up on what's been going on, I thought I would give it to you in bullet points...

• Chris had his birthday.  He turned 34.  
• And he was passed up for the manager of his department position, again.  For those of you who were counting, yes, that's the second time that he's interviewed for, been a finalist for, and been passed over for that position.  Consequently, he's been hating his job a lot lately.
• Which has lead to a Funk of EPIC proportions around here.  For all of us.
• My Dad had surgery on his foot, which means that he and Mom have been a bit house-bound and more than a bit bored and stir crazy.  So I've been trying to take the kids down to play and distract them a bit.
• I'm only a month behind on the new year, but I've been trying to get a grip on exercising again and not eating half a dozen cookies at a stretch.
• Freelancing.  The work I was expecting in November, finally showed up and it is colossal.
• I had the dumbest idea imaginable to potty train the Girl.  She had showed the signs of readiness back in December, but I was losing my mind and could not, would not face the idea of adding potty training into the mix.  So I turned a blind eye.  And now I suffer.  I tried doing the same things that I did with the Boy, but to no real affects.  She's enamored by her underpants, but not enough to keep them DRY.  So I'm sticking a pin in that and will keep trying.
• I finished my first sweater of 2014!  Want to see?  Of course you do...(I love the color patterning, but I'm not sure I would knit another in this style again.  It's cozy and warm and big enough that I can wear over a t-shirt and a cotton sweater, so I'm good.)

• I'm working on finishing up some unfinished projects now.  I'm down to the foot on the second sock, the hand of a fingerless mitten, half of a sweater, and the crown of a hat.  I'm being disciplined about this, when those are done, then I can plan the next project...
• The rest of February was absorbed in the daily niggles and worries of life.  Taxes.  New tires on my car.  Lots of baking and school with my Boy.

Needless to say, we're all glad to see the back of February.  I don't know why, but I'm trying to be hopeful for March.  Hope hasn't gotten us anywhere in the past, but I can't seem to stop myself.

After all of these years, I assumed that I was a cynic, but now I'm starting to think I'm more of a compulsive optimist.  Go figure.

Shout Out

Did you think I had forgotten you?  How could I ever do that?  It's just that my life has sort of run away with me.  So while I try to (in vain) to catch up with it, I thought I'd give you something fun and delicious to try.

For all of my gluten-free sisters.


Mexican Cornbread, this time PANCAKES!

We cordially love pancakes in all their varieties in our household, and last Sunday after a long day, I was tired and whipped these up.  Just mix up the ingredients in the order that they appear, then fry them on a medium-high heat pan, lightly greased (I use Pam).

2 eggs
1/4 cup oil
1/2 cup sour cream
1 can of green chiles
1 can of creamed corn
1 cup of corn meal (I use white, but you can use whatever)
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder

Fry up the pancakes and keep them warm in the oven while you warm up some beans (which is how I eat them), grate some cheese, pull out the salsa and sour cream and lettuce (you could also add guacamole, tomatoes, onions, fried eggs, whatever really).   Assemble and top them as you desire.   Serve them forth.

(In the spirit of honesty, I will tell you that neither child partook of these delicious little pillows, but willingly ate beans and eggs.  Go figure.)

(Leftovers are fine in an airtight container on the counter, but after 1 day or so, they start to be a little less joyful.)