Friday, July 24, 2020

Walking the Glass and Cutting the Cheese: Fly on the Wall

Welcome to a monthly Fly on the Wall group post. Today 3 bloggers are inviting you to catch a glimpse of what you’d see if you were a fly on the wall in our homes. Come on in and buzz around my house. At the end of my post you’ll find links to this month’s other participants’ posts.

Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


College Boy has been working two part time jobs. In the past it had worked out well, but one of the companies closed during the pandemic. While they were closed, he was offered another part time job at a higher pay and he took it. This one needed more hours from him, but since the first job was giving him sporadic hours and College Boy really liked the new job (and the pay), he kept a more difficult schedule. 

One day he worked, between the two jobs, 10:00 am to 10:30 pm. The next morning his first job, which normally started at 10:00 am, needed him to come in at 7:00 am. He worked that day until 3:30 pm and between the two days was exhausted. After dinner he announced that he was going to sleep and went up to bed. I expected him to be completely out until the next morning, but an hour later he came down to the kitchen and grabbed a cup of water.

Me: Well that was a quick sleep.
College Boy (heading back up the stairs): There's plenty more sleeping to be done.


Turns out, there was.


Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


Hubs comes into the kitchen:
Hubs (sniffing): Is something burning?
Me: No.
Hubs: Smells like it.
Me: I don't know why.

A few minutes later College Boy comes in the kitchen.

College Boy (sniffing): What did you burn?
Me: Nothing.

College Boy: Then what smells like it's burning?
Me: I don't smell anything.

So . . . I took something out of the toaster oven with a napkin in my hand. The napkin touched the hot element and caught fire. And if you tell either one of them, I fully intend to deny, deny, deny.


Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. That's how I was raised. Didn't always listen, of course, but Mom tried.

I've talked about blog comments before. I love them (in case you were unclear about where I stand). Except when I don't. 

Last month I posted a recipe, and this was the comment left for me:

"I read the title and thought yuck, so I read the post and thought yuck, I'm not eating that . . . sorry."

Sometimes you just gotta laugh. Or cry. One or the other.

Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


Hubs and I were in the den watching movie. When a commercial came on, I headed for the kitchen to do some of the dinner prep.

Hubs: Where are you going?
Me: Into the other room, I just have to cut the cheese.
Hubs: Thanks for the warning, I'll go watch the rest of the movie downstairs.


Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


From the "you can't please all of the people all of the time" files:

College Boy likes the desserts I make that have candy added to the recipe. Hubs does not. Hubs like desserts that I make that have fruit added to the recipe. College Boy does not.

I was in the kitchen after dinner one night while Hubs was scrounging for something sweet.

Hubs: I know we don't have any more Pineapple Raspberry Sheet Cake, I ate the last piece last night.
Me: We do have more of those Apple Bourbon Mini Muffins and Toffee Pecan Nectarine Bars.
Hubs: Oh good. 
Me: I'm going to try out a new recipe this week too.
Hubs: Chocolate?
Me: You can't have chocolate. Blueberry Confetti Bars, how does that sound?
College Boy (sticking his head out of the pantry): Sounds like another fruit dessert.
Me: But they're going to have jimmies in them.
College Boy: That's a start. Replace the blueberries with your mini baking M&Ms and you've got something.
Me: Hey, you want to take over the baking?
College Boy: No, but what's the budget for a creative consultant . . .
Me: Well, I could pay you in baked goods. With fruit.




Blueberry Confetti Bars start with a mix, then add fresh fruit, jam and flavor. Mix, bake, and dessert is done. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dessert

Blueberry Confetti Bars
Blueberry Confetti Bars start with a mix, then add fresh fruit, jam and flavor. Mix, bake, and dessert is done. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dessert


I've mentioned that I text or PM with PurDude every day since we all became aware of coronavirus. Nothing lengthy unless either of us has something going on, just a check in, telling each other how we're feeling that day. Boulder was a hot spot so I really needed to hear from him daily. As time went on, I became more and more miserable that he was sitting alone in his condo and, as long as he wasn't working, I wanted him to have been here with us. So I often told him how much I miss him.

One of our check ins:

Me: Hi honey, how are you doing today?
PurDude: Hi ma, I'm good, how are you?
Me: IDK, I kinda miss my boy.

PurDude: That can't be right. 
Me: No? Wait. Let me check, I'll google it.
    OK, it's confirmed. Google says I miss my boy.
PurDude: Well, if google says so.
Me: I love you. Do you need me to check for confirmation on this too, or are you good with it?
PurDude: You should probably check, just to be sure.
    

Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


I was in bed at about 11:00 pm, the glass I keep on my bedside table was empty and I was thirsty. As I often do when I don't feel like going downstairs to fill it, I spent a while trying to talk myself into not being thirsty. It didn't work.

I grabbed my glass, went downstairs, decided that while I was up I had to go to the bathroom, after which I grabbed my glass and came back upstairs.

College Boy comes out of his room as I'm walking into mine.

College Boy: Did you just go downstairs to get a drink?
Me: I did. 
College Boy: Your glass is empty.
Me: Damn. I forgot to fill it.
College Boy: So basically you just took your glass for a walk.

Me: Pretty much.


Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


Me: I'm changing my name.
Hubs: What? Why?
Me: I'm so sick of being bullied.
Hubs: Bullied? By who?
Me: Everyone.
College Boy: Like everyone on the planet?
Me: Pretty much. Have you seen all of those Karen memes? Well that's not me. I'm not any of those things.

Hubs: I saw one today about Karen demanding to see the supervisor.
College Boy: Well mom, that one's definitely you.

OK, so they got me on one. Just one, though. 



Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


Hubs walks into the kitchen, looks at the counter, looks at me, looks at the counter again.

Hubs: Are you angry with your spices?
Me: What? Angry with my spices? What are you talking about?

Hubs: Well, you seem to be calling them names.
Me: Calling them names?
Hubs (pointing): Like that one . . .

Jerk Seasoning. Fly on the Wall, a funny look at life | Picture taken by and property of www.BakingInATornado.com


Yeah, so I'd made some of my Jamaican Jerk Seasoning Blend, cleaned out an old spice jar, ripped off the old label and labeled the Jerk Seasoning to put into the spice rack.


Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


One (of many) things I've learned about life since the coronavirus is that there's always the possibility that what's around the next corner could actually make things worse.

I've talked about Boulder being a hot spot for the coronavirus and my encouraging PurDude to go outside for walks. He lives right across the street from a beautiful park. But then there were multiple mountain lion sightings in Boulder and I started telling him to stay out of the park. {{sigh}}.

That's it, right? Nope, not a chance. Suddenly I start seeing articles online about the plague identified in the Western Reservoir Open Space in Broomfield, just a few miles from him. Wait, the plague? Like the Bubonic Plague? Yup. OK, stay out of Broomfield. 

That's it, right? Of course not, next thing I see is that it's spread to squirrels. Squirrels? They travel. Holy crap, what fresh hell is this?

Message to PurDude: Don't leave the house. Ever. Don't even look out the windows. Next thing coming your way is brain sucking zombies. I'm sure of it.

Now click on the links below for a peek into some other homes:

Never Ever Give Up Hope  
Menopausal Mother




Baking In A Tornado signature | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics






Blueberry Confetti Bars
                                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter substitute, room temperature
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 TBSP french vanilla creamer
3 TBSP sugar free blueberry jam  
1 package (16 oz) sugar cookie mix with multicolored sprinkles OPT: use any sugar cookie mix plus 1/2 cup of multicolored sprinkles
1 cup blueberries 

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9 X 13 baking pan.
*Whisk together the butter substitute, eggs, vanilla, french vanilla creamer and blueberry jam. 
*Mix in the sugar cookie mix and multicolored sprinkles (if using)
*Carefully add the blueberries and spread into the prepared pan.
*Bake for 18 - 22 minutes or until the center springs back to the touch and it's completely browned. Cool completely before slicing.

16 comments:

  1. The "cutting the cheese" comment was perfect! And yeah, better warn your son about those plague-carrying squirrels. I might have a few in my back yard. Also--the person who left the rude comment on your bog--- like WTF?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I guess the fight between "honesty is the best policy" and "if you don't have anything nice to say . . . " didn't go well.

      Delete
  2. Loved this<3...a perfect blend of emotions and honesty, Karen! And your desserts are always so delicious-looking, I can't help but drool ;P.. I seriously feel pity for those people who like leaving nasty hate comments for others! I mean, why? Can' they just keep quiet if they've nothing good to say? You've a good weekend <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's life around here: lots of emotions, honesty and a few laughs thrown in to keep our sanity.

      Delete
  3. Some people just live to be nasty, don't they? Blueberries are so perfect for dessert and this is one I never would have thought of (using a cookie mix for bars) that's why you are the baker and I...well, I like to pick blueberries. We'd make a great team, if I lived close -you bake, I eat. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's been many years since I've been blueberry picking in Vermont, but I have great memories of those times, and the fresh blueberry pies that always followed.

      Delete
  4. I love it - you're calling your spices names! :-) Your desserts with fruit in them sound delicious! YUM!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That "jerk" is mighty delicious too, just for the record.

      Delete
  5. I don't know a lot about cooking, but I'd never be so rude as to leave a comment on something that might not fit my taste. BTW, the blueberry thingies sound good to me! Around here, we don't have to worry about squirrels with plague (just raccoons trying to abscond with the bird feeder), and the only thing that would affect our ability to walk is the big grade school-ish lacrosse tourney going on nearby.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't think she actually meant to be cruel, some people just don't take enough time to think before they speak (or type, as the case may be).

      Delete
  6. Please cover your 'grammatically-sensitive' ears... To Whom it May Concern: Karen don't do junk, Jerk!
    There. I said it.
    And as to adding a little smoky cellulose to your toasted deliciousness, I'm mum.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Mmmmm, blueberries.

    Your conversations sound a lot like the ones i used to have with Bigger Girl when she lived at home. And don't you wish we could wrap these kids in bubble wrap and keep them safe?

    ReplyDelete
  8. I take my glass for a walk,my keys for a walk.these days everything is going for a walk lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL, the only way my keys would move these days would be if I took them for a walk. I'm not sure I even remember how to drive.

      Delete

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