two more days and bernie's home!!!!

for a day off.
we're still trying to decide what to do for my birthday
we've decided to do the actual celebrating next weekend........which is between both our birthdays........we decided to repeat our anniversary dinner as it was so good
i do have to say, chores get done so much faster with his help, and i don't do evil things to my shoulders or back when he carries water buckets down the hill for me
i can't wait until the hose is back out there.
he did make a comment 'where did all this mud come from,? it's cold out'
after i stopped laughing
and retrieved my muck boot from the mud that had it caught........
i explained to him that
1) he's not spending enough time here and in the yard
2) it's sucking mud season........ it's always like this, at this time of year
that's how you know it's spring!
he wasn't impressed
although he did laugh at the ducks running through the mud on tippy toes, frantically beating their wings to keep the rest of their feet out of the mud
yes i know
i have weird ducks

yesterday we had a pretty calm day, we made breaded chicken thighs for the week (package of 12, he'll eat two for each meal, me one--- so that's two suppers and two lunches) so it works out to a dollar a meal..... (although i can do better if i want to)
i've told you guys before about my 'coating' for oven fried stuff, but i'll repeat it

1part cornbread homemade and dried out in the oven (or cornbread stuffing like pepperidge farm)
1part shredded wheat
1part old fashioned oats

grind this all up into 'crumbs'
then we usually add:
garlic powder
onion powder
kosher salt
freshly ground pepper
parsley flakes dried
mix it all up very well- and we store it in either canning jars in the fridge or zip locks. and we use it EVERYWHERE breadcrumbs are called for. so it is a coating for chicken, porkchops, etc. plus i add it along with pureed veggies to meat loaf, meat balls, meat stuffing in peppers or cabbage leaves, sprinkled on au gratin topping.......see EVERYWHERE!!!!
not only is it more interesting but it's also got a lot more fiber and i think nutrition.

and we bake anything coated with this in the oven..... with olive oil in the pan, flip it half way through cooking

yesterday also, fawn caught a mouse..... i told her to kill it while she had it but no...she had to call the others.......who ignored her.......so she dropped the mouse.
then caught it again and started with the calling of the kittens......needless to say the mouse got away.....no worse for wear but possibly a bit damp

next month i am ordering fresh mouse bait
i also need to get vanilla beans too, and quart sized vacuum bags for the summer.
next month i absolutely must make the appointment for the last two surgeries..... yup i am sorta procrastinating huh?.......well damn wouldn't you?
i still have the two surgeries to go and then the routine three month cleanings
oye

i think i would feel better if one thing got started already.......no?
if a load of wood was in and stacked
or
the new storm was hung (and the front door painted)
SOMETHING
although we did the rain curb on the driveway...but the snow plow came and took part away again  (we need to put huge boulders) but the basement is still flooded
and i want the pens finished so the chickens can also go out.

right now i'm waiting for coffee
it's about done. it's getting light out but looks cold...not quite rosey fingered dawn yet,-i want to recheck the paint chips on the front door again.......
i ruled out almost everything except one blue and one purple
but they both still are not quite right
i really do love that english plum on the door now.....but it is dark and maybe it's time for a change no?
my childhood home always had a wedgewood blue door...... the last few times we painted the house i mixed the wedgewood blue myself.
but that color doesn't work on this house at all.......nor does it suit me
the blue i was looking at is like a caribbean ocean blue in the sun........ that seems to be ok
and a red/lilac/purple
i may actually have to try them one after another and see which is ok......good thing they sell them tiny sample pots of paint
i'll know when the color is just right.....it sort of clicks inside me......and i feel hugged
does that sound as weird to you as it does to me?
well what do you want from an artist?
ok folks coffee is ready
have a wonderful day

vi