What Now Oklahoma?

I woke up around 4 this morning to lightning and thunder. It takes a lot to wake me, so it was pretty intense. At 5:30 I sent a text to my running partners to suggest we not go out in it. I know, I'm such a smart person.

As soon as the sun was out I of course had to take pictures.

My poor hydrangea. I hope it will perk back up. In other news, I won't have to water for at least three and a half weeks. I had to run out in the downpour to turn off the pool pump. When the water overflows, the skimmer really isn't doing much.

And what is it about my yard, an orange extension cord, and a bucket? It's never without either.

My poor stepping stone mulch never stands a chance. And the 'No Float' variety? They lie like a dog. Oops. My neighbor had his sprinkler on. I don't think it was doing a lot of good though.When I turned the news on I got a bit worried. Just about then Shawn called to say he was stuck on his way to work. He sat in the same place for over an hour. The exit he needed was closed because it was under water. The exit that was the only option had closed intersections both directions. I kept giving him updates.

This is just a few feet from the exit he normally takes. I couldn't get enough of the pictures on the news. I laid in bed and took pictures of the screen. Thank goodness for the DVR and its 'pause' button. This guy is getting his money out of that jet ski. This is in a neighborhood that was completely flooded. The helicopter pilot on the channel I watch spotted a girl swimming from tree to tree trying to find a place to get out of the water. He followed her for quite a while and by hovering over her helped lead rescuers to her. Sadly though, when the rescue air boat got to her it sank. Her three rescuers ended up in the trees with her while another boat was sent out.

Everyone made it to land safely. You know the water has to be strong when one of those huge round hay bales just floats away. After almost ten inches in six hours it finally let up. For about 2 hours. It has now rained more today than it hasn't.

My poor spot light is smoking. The girls stayed inside as long as they could handle it. Before long I found Reagan trying to catch a cup full of rain. Oh to be young again...

And as I'm posting this at 12:41 am, it's thundering and raining. Almost 24 hours of on and off rain. Thank goodness we live on the high side of town since we're approaching twelve inches. My patio doesn't seem to know that. The water crested there around 2 this afternoon at half way across the floor. That is on my to-do list to clean. I might wait a few days.

My 5:45 am run might be a bit soggy. Send an ark. But without the animals.

Thanks.

To-Do List

My week of no family, no cooking, no relaxing is over and what did I accomplish?? Quite a few things actually. I did impress myself. But in 16 days we have family coming in town and I still have a million things to do. Okay, maybe not a million.

Let's count. Shall we?

1. Clean the kitchen windows, outside and inside
2. Clean out, organize, and hopefully paint
3. Touch up painting all around the house
4. Clean out flower beds-especially the corner that is overgrown
5. Return dead and plant alive herbs
6. Clean out and organize the patio
7. Buy new pool lounge chairs
8. Finish meal planning
9. Grocery shop to serve 5 for 4 days, and about 30 for 1 day
10. Move rose bush
11. Buy and plant sweet potato, decorative grass, and begonias
12. Buy new wood and have Shawn re-do park bench
13. Shop for and replace adorable, perfect, decorative balls that Shawn and Tyler smashed one of
14. Clean the house, especially showers
15. Clean out pool toy storage trunk

Well, 15 things in 16 days. I might be able to do that!

Well, who would take bets on that?

I want odds!

More Estate Sale Finds

I have a mild obsession with cookbooks. I would rather sit down and read a cookbook from cover to cover than anything else. But there's a problem after that. I don't always make anything from the books. It's like reading a self help book and then not implementing anything. But I love the adventure so much, it's worth it.

At the estate sale people kept coming to pay for cookbooks. I just didn't have enough time to go look through the hundreds of books in the front room. I did of course find this one, so really, I'm fine.

I held one for a lady while she continued shopping and of course had to read a bit.

I love the measurement smidge. How cute is that.

And how exactly do I tell a tender young onion from a tough old onion? Anyone?
And who wants some Chocolate Chip Cookies?

Okay, can someone get me 32 pounds of shortening?? Oh wait, I might have to half this recipe. I really don't want 2,250 cookies. Well, I really wouldn't mind, but my waistline would not do well with that.

And I really don't think I could come up with 25 cookie sheets. Unless I asked the entire neighborhood if I could borrow theirs.

But I'd also have to borrow their ovens. That could get exhausting.And what great cookbook had this fun inside of it? I don't have a clue.

Home Alone

*******I apologize for going so long with posting. I have been fighting with blogger 5 days now. Pictures won't load, posts won't save, everything keeps failing. Anyone else having these problems or is it just me? Please say it's not just me.*******

No, we're not going to talk about the movie.

I am home alone until Saturday. Shawn and the girls are at camp.

Not just any camp, this camp. On the last day that we were there with Kennedy the director asked Shawn is he'd come for a week during the summer. He said that our daughter could come for free. When Shawn said he had three daughters, they were still interested.

So there you have it, $2,100 worth of camp, free for my girls. How do you say no to that?

They pulled away Sunday morning and my 23 item to-do list and I were a bit teary.But I dove in head first. Here are a few pictures of what I've done so far. If I told you this took five hours total would you be impressed, or feel sorry for me?You have to work with me here. See the bushes to their left?So here's what I have to show for my 5 hours of work. Four full trash cans. Glad I took a picture because the next day all my hard work was stolen by some men.

Perfection in Paper

I have a big, huge, overwhelming story to tell you all, but I'm too exhausted to start it.

Let me sum up.

91 year old great-aunt.

No children.

Single.

Now in assisted living.

Serious collector.

Wonderful taste.

Packed house.

3 weeks of family work.

3 days of estate sale in the house, and yard sale in the back.

Day 1 is done and I'm worn slick out.

But this made it worth it.Two of my favorite things.

In one book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone want to come over for Pickled Oysters???

No? How about Broiled Fish a la McKinley?

(Since the girl is halfway through 24 straight days of steroids, she thought that sounded good. Well, she thinks anything sounds good.)

I recently joined a book club. Is it a problem that I only read cookbooks?

I better ask.