Product Post #2: a great pair!

We received both of these small appliances as wedding gifts, almost 19 years ago. Both still run perfectly. The blender is made by Sunbeam; the chopper grinder by Cuisinart. We didn't use either of them very often during about the first 5-7 years of our marriage, but since then they've been in regular use -- the blender several times a week (tomatoes, milkshakes, smoothies including ice), and the grinder almost daily (coffee beans).

Product Post #1: Don't buy this wisk

Here is a junky-looking wisk I've had for about ten years, possibly more. I was tired of it.









I wanted one like this. I bought it at WalMart about 9 months ago. It's made by Oneida.









A couple of weeks ago, it started doing this -- every time I used it. I can't even stir pancake batter with it now.








Notice how the wisk ends are so short - they barely go into the handle. When it separated this morning, I removed a little dried ring of glue (glue!) that evidently was supposed to hold it all together. Notice the water - that came out of the handle. Hmm. Yummy.






Now,notice the structure of my junky, ten-year-old wisk. The metal ends run the length of the handle, and are bound with a metal ring to the loop out the other end.

Oneida used to make nice products. I wonder if, when they decided to sell their wares on WalMart shelves, they were required to submit only merchandise that is designed to break in the first year?

Documenting Dinner

It all started with a pretty plate of salad.













Meanwhile, this was happening outside.













Throw on some chicken, and a little beef for the boys of the family.












These are always a happy addition.













Voila! Adam's grilled chicken salad. This is the second time this week we've had this, because we all urged him to make it again! The only improvement I would make is the dressing; this dressing is just ranch, but I want to try it with my mother's Caesar/garlic dressing. Next time.

Wednesday

Yeah, so I know it's Thursday now, but these pics were taken yesterday.
Adam decided to cook a new, experimental recipe for dinner. It started with bacon...






And a pan of hash browns in a skillet, in the oven. It continued with eggs -- a breakfast-in-a-skillet affair. It was wolfed down.







Meanwhile, on the back-40: see Peter's new pole? It's a bamboo pole. He knocked on the door of complete strangers who have a stand of bamboo in their backyard. Turned out to be a sweet elderly couple who were thrilled to give bamboo to a young boy. They said to take all he wanted :)




See our lettuce? It's coming up already! And the trees are budding and blooming. And it's in the 70s today. Heavenly.

Ugh

Long Day. I graded papers until I could not face even one more -- ONE MORE -- essay.

The males of the family are gone to Hickory for their Tuesday evening activities.

When I go pick Anna up from play practice (which play will be OVER this weekend, thankfully, and there will be NO MORE practices all day long, which tire out my child!), I think I will take the girls out to eat somewhere fast and cheap. We all need a treat.

Julia is redoing her entire spelling sheet because she lost the first one. Sigh.

If we can just make it until Spring Break!

And finally:

I got a new haircut this afternoon. This photo is for Anne and Hannah, who wondered what my layers look like. Having those curls naturally sure does help a lot.

The inside view:

of children's bedrooms.
Anna was not thrilled to have a picture taken of her room. She chased me outa there!








Julia's mess













Peter's mess. A bit worse.













Philip gets the messy award today. This is the SPARE bed in his room. This was also BEFORE I piled his clean clothes (which were all over the laundry room) on said bed.






Anna tidied her room, just a bit.