Senseo Update...

For those who remember the Senseo blog...I just couldn't take the Senseo. I put it on Craig's List and sold it for $30. Now keep in mind it was free with this Senseo promotion. So, as for me and my family--thanks Senseo! Now the guy who bought it was thrilled! We made him a cup of coffee while he was here and gave him all the bits and bobs that went with it. He was really nice and I think the Senseo has a good home. Looks like it only narrowly avoided the pound and we are very happy for it. I'll stick to delicious pots of tea in my stainless pot from Ireland and lovely pots of coffee in my regular and excellent coffee maker. I will have coffee in my french press when its just little ole' me having a Java break.

Now since today was a 6am day and all children safely made it to school and so far Jules has made it safely home. I will have a entire pot of hot tea and hope for the best when I have to drive to get Zoe. It's easy to understand the tiredness and necessity for caffeine for those blessed with small wakey babies. The shocker is that it doesn't end there--Jules normally wakes up at 8am. Zoe always wake up around the same time. Lovely, however, when they are in school you get up at 6am. This cannot be fair. All well, it's still lots of fun and the kids have never been happier. I asked Jules how his first day at school went when he got in the van today...Jules assured me that he would not be talking about his day at dool' . Then proceeded to tell me that he had snack, played with wooden snaps (????), has friends like Zoe now, his teacher is nice, and he heard a song, but didn't get to sing a song. I'm just sorry he didn't want to talk about his school day. I hope Zoe doesn't tell me about her day, either.

Everyone have a cup of Joe today and think of me!

Zoe gets to wear sandals now and fun clothes finally! Since she brings her gym stuff and changes for gym. It is such a relief from Elementary School where it seemed like she could never dress like a "girl". So she went for it...dress and sandals! Wow--Freedom! I wouldn't be surprised if PISD starts forcing elementary kids to wear boots and hiking gear...just in case of what, I don't know.
Jules has started the "goofy smile" when asked to pose for a picture. I shoot for having him looking into the camera instead of up at the ceiling or closed or strange monster face complete with growling for that special family picture moment. People tell me that is a boy thing. I don't know, I seem to remember Zoe going through a strange stretchy toothy grin from K-1st grade. My pleas of...This is for Poppy and Nana...look at Mummy...look into the camera...put your tongue in your mouth...are met with even stranger poses, so I'm just going to start posing back at him and see what he thinks of that! lol gotta love 'em

most perfect summer salad meal...

Most Perfect Meal...or at least one of my favorites and the doctor loves it, too. It was such a pleasure to make this on a very sweaty hot Friday night in Texas. Zoe was nicely deposited at slumber party (elsewhere) and Jules was chillaxin' with me on the couch. The kitchen was spotless and a pleasure to cook in. What is this perfect favorite salads meal...Roma tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, basil, olive oil and red wine vinegar; hummus (lemon/garlic in this instance); Faya' (Greek yogurt-2% in this instance), English cucumber (whizzed in processor), little dill, little garlic; wheat tortilla toasted on stove top in pan; and a lovely pot of Earl Gray tea with lemon slices.


I know the salad is Italian, the others are Greek, and the bread is Latino, but hey...I'm American and sometimes the melting pot is the way to go.


yummmmm


Here's Jules in his Batman Jules Cape. My Dad made this for him out of one his old shirts and Zoe drew the batman logo. The next one has his baby doll with the batman cape from his Batman PJ's stuck on its back. He calls is Super Baby and they are watching Noggin at the moment. Even super heroes have to take time to learn their ABC's and 123's.

Pantry & Frigo...

Here is the pantry/frigo side of the kitchen...

See the Invisible Woman Walls...makes lighting it really really easy...

See that drywall stacked up in the laundry area...some sweet day that drywall will go on actual stud wall and ceiling sections, until then, the fridge makes for great lighting and chemical storage...

This is the view from the bar across to the pantry/frigo side of kitchen...

Just think...the opening here used to be where the pantry, so you walked in against a wall and the frigo was in what is the new opening--where the current frigo is used to be empty--totally unused space that provided a shotgun view from the front door directly to the back wall of the house. Much nicer now!!!! Great job Bruce!

Fresh Hair...

Here a few pics of Jules and Zoe with thier new hair cuts. We were going to Zoe's 6th grade Middle School Orientation. She is in for the best year ever!

Here is what "Blank" looks like in the new kitchen...

Here are more pictures that should thrill the home remodeling enthusiast...

The metal shelf behind is not part of the kitchen--it rolls around and has all the tools etc. Note the orange hydraulic orange & chrome bar stool. (we hate them...going to Craig's list them & get other ones--no swivel lock so Jules just bangs them on the bar over and over. It is even hard for a grown up to keep them still. Oh, well...sounded great at the time.

This is view from across the bar...the back wall behind stove will have all tiles & a modern vent hood eventually...sometime around hell freezing over...or was it two weeks? not sure?!?

This is a dark picture (still need lights over the bar area--two weeks...) But it does show sink area and when a curtain panel goes across the top it will be very snazzy.

Another shot across bar...shows a bit more ceiling and edge of cabinets with stainless steel end panels.
Here is what washing something in the sink looks like in the new kitchen...


Here is what making great hot tea looks like in the new kitchen...

Here is what a bowl of "Swain's Oriental Rice" looks like in the new kitchen. I use red bell pepper instead of green, one fresh pablano pepper, Basmati rice, green onion, crumbled bacon, and lite soy sauce--I dedicate it to Natalie...

Bruce,
Here are couple I already had in the computer...I will take some now and load them. Look through the blog at some of the other pics in the meantime. I just "bounced my boobies..." with earphones while Zoe, Jules, and my 3rd son Joey are playing "Star Wars Battlefront" on the Xbox beside me. Jules is giving 'Flick a pretend hair cuts. Since Alecia ('lecia) was here we all get ('atend) hair cuts. Love, Shannon

Hoodswains Rally w/ Barack Obama

(click to see this 1st picture larger)

There is so much to write it is hard to find the words. The Hoodswain's had an incredible day. Gone is that feeling of being completely alone and out numbered in Texas. Not only did we "Stand" for Barack Obama, but we walked and walked and walked for Obama. We took the train downtown avoiding the deluge of cars trying to see him. It was the freedom train from Plano...packed with like minded people going to see Obama. There was such short notice I was surprised to see so many were able to respond. Quite a day for Democratic Texans and Obamicans alike.

The lines weaved throughout the Reunion Arena parking complex finally turning around at the very top of the complex. Dallas skyline is the backdrop as we snaked our way down into the building...this long line of people happily walking, walking, and walking for Obama. We were lucky enough to actually enter the building and get to see him in person and hear him speak! Over 3 thousand people had to stay outside in an overflow area--talking with several who did just that...they were happy to just be there and had no complaints.

I kept it together--no tears! Quite impressive to our Zoe! She expected me to be waterworks the whole time. What we enjoyed most is the solidarity between every kind of person imaginable: white collar, blue collar, the obviously wealthy, the obviously poor, high heeled & Jesus sandled, conservative dark suited & liberal prairie skirted...& the Hoodswains. All rallying around saving this nation from way too many years of a vegetative state.

On the way home we ate at the Irish Pub near the Angelika. We always enjoy our visits there. The day was inspiring--left us feeling hopeful again and not as cynical as certainly Bruce and I had become. Take 2 Obama's and call me in the morning! Peace out.