Sometimes "Goodbye" is easier to say than you thought.....

In the last year I have done a little, shall we say "editing" in my life.....

Got rid of some friends (and family members) that I felt like I just didn't need anymore. Some of them seemed to not need me anymore either so I guess that's alright too....

I'm pretty sure in most cases it was a clean break, and it's possible that it was an easier thing to do than I ever expected. I find myself less stressed about things that used to make me want to pull out my hair. Now I'm more relaxed, ready to deal with things at a slower, more reasonable pace.

I've learned a lot too.

I've learned about the true value of friendship, support and loyalty. I used to always consider myself to be a good friend to any one that needed a good friend. Going out of my way to help and support but now I know that you can't make every one happy.

I hope I'm teaching my kids these new lessons too, I'd hate for them to be in their 30s before they figure them out. Although I suppose some lessons need to be learned rather than taught.....

and the horse you rode in on......

it must be nice to sit in judgment of others.

you bitch about us not visiting you but you've NEVER come here exclusively to visit us.

your visits are always part of one big trip to visit everyone.

and we usually have to drive 2+ hours or more to see you, you've come to our place twice.

not to mention that you time your trips horribly and get pissy when we can't make it there during your visit.

some of us have work and school, we lack the flexibility to drop everything and go on vacation...or visit people out of town.

plan better next time jackass.

don't lecture us about "helping" when we've done what we can from where we are, especially when we've been told it's been handled.

it's not our fault things changed, we weren't involved....at all.

turns out that they're adults and if they needed us they could have asked.

don't call here just to bitch about it....i don't want to hear about it and he doesn't deserve your guilt trip.

your balls must be brass for you to try to tell me that family is more important than friends, i can think of more than a half dozen times when you've brushed us off for your friends.

my friends ARE my family.

if family wasn't so bad at keeping in touch and being kind to each other maybe we'd be more interested in spending time with them.

honestly, i wish you'd just shut the eff up and worry about your own damn life.

From Qweenie's Kitchen: Potato & Ham Chowder

Yay! Crock Pot meals!

 Potato & Ham Chowder
Crock pot: 3 1/2- 4 quart
Prep Time: 10-15 min
Cook Time: 8 hr on low ....*I just cook it till we're ready to eat

1 pkg Betty Crocker scalloped potatoes
1 cup diced fully cooked ham
4 cups chicken broth
2 medium stalks celery, chopped (about 1 cup)
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 cups half & half
1/3 cup all purpose flour

~ Mix potatoes, sauce mix from potatoes, ham, broth, celery, onion and pepper in slow cooker

~ Cover and cook on low heat setting for 7 hours

~ Mix half & half and flour. Gradually stir half & half mixture into chowder until blended

~ Cover and cook on low heat setting 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until thickened and vegetables are tender.

~ Makes 5 servings

**** My tips****

I use a 6 qt. crockpot so I double the recipe except for the flour. Also it rarely ever takes 8 hours to cook, I've started it at noon and been ready to dish it up by 5.
I also love to serve it with sourdough rolls for dunking cuz it is just too damn tasty!

From Qweenie's Kitchen: Sweet-n-Sour Chicken

Yay! Crock Pot meals!

Sweet-n-Sour Chicken

Crock Pot version
Serving Size: 5
Cuisine: Chinese
Main Ingredient: Chicken


-= Ingredients =-
1 1/4 pounds Chicken breasts, boneless skinless ; sliced
1 tbs Vegetable oil
to taste Salt & pepper
1 can (8 oz) Pineapple chunks
1 can (8 oz) Water chestnuts ; sliced
2 medium Carrots ; sliced
2 tbs Soy sauce
4 teaspoons Cornstarch
1 cup Sweet and Sour sauce
1/4 cup Water
1 1/2 teaspoons Ground ginger
3 Green onion ; cut into 1 inch pieces
1 1/2 cups Snow peas
Hot cooked rice

-= Instructions =-
In a large skillet, saute chicken in oil for 4-5 minutes; drain.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Drain pineapple, reserving juice; set pineapple aside. In a 5 qt. slow cooker. combine the chicken, water chestnuts, carrots, soy sauce and pineapple juice. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours or until chicken juices run clear.

In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch, sweet and sour sauce, water and ginger until smooth. Stir into slow cooker.

Add onions and reserved pineapple; cover and cook on high for 15 minutes or until thickened. Add peas; cook 5 minutes longer.

Serve over rice.

Life and what it takes to make one....

I work my ass off day in and day out.....people think that I'm fairly lucky to be able to stay home and care for my home and family.
I love my job and I will admit that I am lucky to have it.....but this isn't about luck this is an example of choices. My husband and I have chosen to live this way and give our children this life. This life doesn't have a lot of material perks, no vacations to exotic locales, no fancy cars or clothes or toys......but we make due.....we try not to whine about what we don't have, and forgive each other the occasional rant.
For the most part we are happy, healthy and prospering!!
We spend a lot of time together, not much apart, honestly that makes us all a little nuts but given the choice I would rather be here with them than anywhere on the planet.