Blame

Blame by Michelle Huneven is about Patsy, an alcoholic woman who goes to jail for running over two Jehovah's Witnesses in her driveway during yet another blackout.  Patsy gets sober, is released, and starts a new life in the shadow of her old one.  The story is very interesting though it feels like it's about her head and not her heart.  I wanted to know more about how she felt. 

Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken

I planned to make my Slow Cooker Homestyle Roast Chicken yesterday.  Even though I took the chicken out of the freezer on Sunday morning, it was still really frozen inside.  I did have some mostly thawed chicken breasts I was going to bake the following day.  So I decided to make really easy pulled chicken for last night's dinner.

In addition to chicken, I used just three ingredients: liquid smoke, BBQ seasoning, and garlic.

I rubbed the chicken with the seasoning and put it in the crock pot.  I added big tablespoons full of garlic and liquid smoke.  Then I covered the chicken in water.  Easy like Parcheesi.

I slow cooked it on low for 6 hours. My crock has a warm setting so I didn't have to worry about getting to it as soon as it was cooked.  After Babyface fell asleep, I poured out the water and shredded the chicken with forks.

Then I poured in some barbeque sauce and mixed it all up with the tongs.  These tongs are great for a lot of reasons and they don't scratch the crock. 

I served the pulled chicken on rolls.  It would also have been good on a roll or regular bread.  The sandwich pictured doesn't have very much sauce, which is the way My Heart's Desire likes it.  He also put a slice of cheese on top.  He'll put cheese on anything that will hold still.

We ate these sandwiches with a bag of steamed veggies.  It was fast and good, a great combination for a weeknight dinner. I froze the leftovers and will eat them some other night I really don't feel like cooking.

Today I woke up early with Babyface, gave us both breakfast, did laundry, went for a long walk in the neighborhood, talked to my dad for the first time in weeks since he was overseas until today, used up all of my pumpkin pie spice baking pumpkin oatmeal muffins and bread (my house smells so good!), gave Babyface lunch and put him down for a nap, read a bit of The Dressmaker, then dozed for a few minutes until My Heart's Desire started splitting a stump (from the massive tree that came down during a summer storm) with a wedge and sledgehammer right outside the bedroom window, did more laundry, went to our neighborhood block party, dropped off the pumpkin oatmeal bread to a friend who has a baby, came home and had my enchiladas made by My Heart's Desire (they were extra cheesy), watched two episodes of Louie, and am going to bed.

Today I am grateful for crisp weather, a good night's sleep, a lovely autumn morning walk with Babyface, a nice chat with my sister, clean laundry, a spare pair of eyeglasses, driving My Heart's Desire's old car The Intimidator while my car is in the shop, Netflix, hugs, and the quality of my problems.

5 Things I Learned: Traveling With Babyface

This summer we took Babyface on a cross-country flight to California. 

Last weekend we went on a road trip.  Both were visits to see family.  Those were Babyface's first flights and long drives.  I thought we were pretty well prepared and for the most part we were. 

Here are 5 things I learned about traveling with Babyface:

1. It's totally worth it to buy Babyface his own seat on the plane. Yes, it's expensive and it was worth every penny. Because we had bought his seat, we were able to carry his car seat on the plane.  Babyface had a great place to nap and My Heart's Desire and I didn't have to hold him the entire time. We also had a whole row to ourselves and didn't have to worry about bothering the person sitting next to us.
2. Bring way more food for everyone. When I thought I had brought enough food for Babyface, he was sure to go on a tear and eat everything up. Also, I need to have snacks handy too, it's not enough to have food for the little one. When I get hungry, I get grouchy.  Granola bars, cheese, veggies, or fruit can remedy the situation.
3. Add at least an hour and a half to the road trip time estimate.  We had to stop much more frequently and our stops were for a whole lot longer than they used to be. 
4. Manage expectations.  Traveling with Babyface is so different than when I would travel alone or with another adult.  The pace varies greatly, especially when he was taking two naps daily in another time zone. 
5. Take people up on their offers to watch Babyface.  In California, My Heart's Desire and I were able to have a couple of meals as well as go to a weekday matinee.  We had fun while Babyface was being adored as favorite grandson/nephew.

Today I am grateful for Jersey tomatoes, the home office, comfy sweatpants, sleeping in my own bed, reading glasses, fluffy novels, that it's starting to feel like fall (my favorite season), not having homework, speakerphone, and the feel of Babyface's weight in my arms.

Today I am grateful for a great Babyface/Mommy day!

How I Know I'm A Grown Up #3

It's almost impossible for me to sleep in.  I usually rise early with Babyface, around 6, or even earlier, around 5.  Even when I have the opportunity to sleep in, I can't.  This morning I slept until almost 7, which is about as late as I can sleep.  7 feels like 9 used to.