Sunday, October 31, 2010

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

Hey Y'all!

Happy Halloween! Today is my favorite day of the entire year. I just LOVE Halloween! So while I am waiting on Trick or Treaters.... I thought I would update the blog!

I jinxed myself this weekend. During my last blog post I blogged about how healthy I have been this school year. Yup. Guess who ended up with a sore throat and a fever this weekend? BINGO! Luckily, my Manuka Honey arrived on Friday, so I have been sipping on tea and taking it easy this weekend. I have also been having a mini-knitting marathon. I will post pics soon!

I also wanted to share with you some of my favorite things that I have discovered this fall. If Miss O can have a favorite list, then I can too!


I made a few discoveries on a recent trip to Kroger. Y'all know of my professed LOVE for Blueberry Cheesecake ice cream. Low and behold, Kroger sells this! And y'all... it is SO yummy! I must confess, that this has really helped my sore throat too! Hee, hee! My other favorite things happen to be Bigelow teas. I have fallen in love with their Pumpkin Spice Tea and their Apple Cider Tea too. I add the Manuka Honey (making an appearance above) and drink a cup a night. Yummy! Finally.. elementary teachers rejoice! I have seen pre-sliced apples in a large bag for sale before, but someone finally got smart and has started offering sliced apples with a small dipping container of caramel all in one. I love to take these for snack and I keep them in my classroom fridge for my students who get hungry and haven't brought a snack. It also helps me get SOME fruit in my diet each day.
Well, a little someone wants to make a quick appearance on the blog. He let me know this morning, in no uncertain terms, that he is not happy about his lack of attention on the blog.


My Little Ham

With his favorite accessory!

Y'all have a good Monday! If I don't post before then, don't forget to get out and VOTE on Tuesday! Your vote does make a difference!

:) JKP

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Ho Hum... Ho Hummmm...

Hey Y'all,

Well, October is wrapping up nicely. All of my parent conferences are finished, except for one I still need to have over the phone. As of Monday night all of my report cards were finished. I have a field trip coming up on Friday, Fall Field Day on Monday, followed by a day off next Tuesday for Election Day. And let's just say, HOLLA for a day off. Usually by now, I have had some kind of creeping crud and I have taken a day off from school. But this year switching to a new grade level and all that jazz I have been way too busy to even take a mental health day. But, YAY for the staying healthy bit!

I have been getting some holiday knitting in... and y'all are just going to squeal when I show you my holiday hats. I hope to have them up soon. But, I have a very fussy furry fella who deserves some extra attention these days. I am hoping we are at the tail end of this hot and humid weather around here, so Pitty Pat and I are walking towards dusk these days.

I'll post more this weekend.... I ran out of Manuka Honey this week so I am not feeling my best. Amazon says I should have my shipment by Friday, I sure hope so!
Tootles,
JKP

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Soup's On!!!!!!

Hey Y'all!

Well, this semi fall weather we are having has my tummy craving some yummy Butternut Squash Soup. Last year, I fell in LOVE with the Butternut Squash Soup at Atlanta Bread Company, but they haven't started serving it yet this year. So using the magic of the Internets... I, of course, found a Paula Deen recipe to adapt! So far I have made this soup twice, and it has been yummy both times! Also, it is cheaper to make than to run to the Atlanta Bread Company every night!

For this recipe you will need the following:



1 Butternut Squash that is at least 2 pounds. The second time I made this soup, I got smart and got the pre-cut version at Costco! If you don't have the pre-cut option, skin the squash and cut it into 1 inch cubes
3 cans of Chicken Broth
2 full size carrots cut up.. all I had at the time were the mini ones
Dash of salt, pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg
2 teaspoons of butter
1/2 cup of whipping cream, you can use light or even milk if you prefer




Bring the squash, carrots and chicken broth to a boil on the stove. Let it simmer uncovered for about 40 minutes, stirring it occasionally.



After simmering, add 2 teaspoons of butter. I used margarine. Also add your dash of nutmeg, cinnamon and salt and pepper. I also added a pinch of sugar too! Then ladle spoonfuls into your blender and select the puree option.



After you blend your first half, add a couple of tablespoons of the soup mixture to your waiting cream. That way, when you whip in the cream at the end, it won't curdle.



When you are completely done with the blending, whip in your cream.



Add a dollop of sour cream and some warm french bead... and yumo!!!!!!



I freeze the remaining soup. Believe it or not, the soup is actually BETTER the day after you make it! I promise, you will get addicted to this soup!

Enjoy!
:) JKP

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

And We're Back!

Hey Y'all,

Just keep in mind that it is October and I am being pulled every which way! I am 2/3rds of the way through my parent conferences with one more afternoon left! I have had PTA performances, faculty meetings and in the middle of it my stomach and Crohn's related arthritis kicked in. Uggh! No typing or knitting for me!

I wanted to take a moment and tell y'all about something that has really been helping me. My stomach has been throwing a fit for a while now, and then my arthritis kicked in. Also, I have been so exhausted, that as soon as I would walk in the door from work, I would walk Pitty Pat and then "recover" on the sofa for the rest of the night. A little while ago, while researching digestive help for doggies, I came across an article about Manuka Honey and it's healing properties for animals and people. Also included in this article was a link to a study done in the UK that was about people with Crohn's and the various conditions that come with it. It turns out that Manuka Honey helped heal these folks and got them back to feeling like their old selves. Fast forward a few months and my Mom hears about Manuka Honey and thinks about all of the problems I am having. So, on a lark she went to the nearest health food store and picked some up for me and brought it to me last weekend. Well, I started putting a tablespoon in a cup of hot herbal tea before I go to bed. It has now been 5 days, and y'all, I am so much better! My hands no longer hurt, I can type, knit and write again! My tummy has calmed down and I am sleeping better. If you want to try this for yourself, make sure you get the Manuka Honey that has the 15+ factor in it. Here's a link to the honey I am using from Amazon. Try your health food store first, if you prefer. Even if you think it is hokey pokey, I am here to tell you this stuff works! I would rather spend $20 on this than some medication that would make me feel terrible! I add a tablespoon to my Bigelow Sweet Dreams Herbal tea and drink it right before I go to bed.

The other exciting news going on is that Mom officially closed on her house here last weekend. So she is now property free in Horry County! We enjoyed a visit from her and Miss Zoe Bowie last weekend. They should be back to see us around Turkey Day!

I am also very excited that my two best friends from Lexington are coming the first weekend in December for us to have our Girls Weekend ChristmasPalooza Shop to You Drop annual weekend. The beach won't be the same!

Well, let me run... I have early morning duty tomorrow and I need to get some sleep!
Pitty Pat says hi!
:) JKP

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Baby Cakes

Hey Y'all!


Remember those camo hats that I made a few weekends ago? Well, here's another shot of one of them... on a cutie pie baby!

I made the 0 to 6 months size so he could "grow" into it. Sweet baby cakes!

On a lighter note, things have been a lot cooler around here at the beach. Pitty Pat and I have enjoyed having the windows open in the afternoon. Although, for different reasons. I enjoy the cool air and he enjoys starting neighborhood barking riots. Oh well. To each his own!

I sat down today and came up with my parent/teacher conference schedule. I am going to start them next week to get them finished! I love meeting with my parents, but it makes for a long day to have 7 conferences a day for 3 days after being at school since 6:45 and teaching all day. October is a long month for teachers in my school district. We used to get paid for the extra conference time, but not anymore. Oh well. :)

Well, Pitty Pat has ALL of the dogs barking in the 'hood right now. I better go feed him so everyone can have a few moments of peace!

:) JKP