No News is Good News

Crystal told me last night that she had been afraid to ask me why I haven't blogged in a few days. She assumed I had been having more problems and just not in the mood. Well, the truth of the matter is that no news is good news. Life has been routine and humdrum. And I have embraced it with open arms.

I cooked for the fam last night. I guess to give Jeff the credit he deserves, he made the spaghetti and it was delish! He completely out did himself. It's amazing what you can do with ground chuck and Ragu. I made the strawberry salad that my mom loves and rolls. Suz made a yummy dessert fruit pizza drizzled with chocolate that was a huge hit.

I mean, just look at it. It's as pretty as it was good! I also baked a pound cake that was TO DIE FOR! My MaMa Kimball would've been so proud. It was almost as good as the ones she used to make.

Every time when the kids come swimming, they all want to use the masks and goggles and snorkels that I have. And, of course, they always have to be adjusted to fit their faces because everybody uses every else's mask and goggles. And snorkels. We keep germs in the family, you know.

The last time Eli was here for a swim, he wanted some flippers. I had a pair but they were broken (surprise I know!). I found this cute Sponge Bob swim set that included the mask, the snorkel and the flippers. I was so excited because he LOVES Sponge Bob. Naturally, I bought them and could hardly wait to give them to him last night.

When I gave them to him, he pretended to pass out from excitement. Literally. He dropped to the floor like he was fainting. He thought I was the best thing ever. The excitement was short lived. We spent 30 minutes trying to get the mask adjusted to his face. Even though the package said for ages four and up, the mask seemed to be made for a person with a giant head. The flippers also needed massive adjusting as they were made for a full-grown man with very large feet.

We finally had him suited up and ready to go. He was dressed for some serious snorkeling.

And then it happened. The mask leaked. The snorkel didn't work. The flippers kept sliding up his legs. He was ILL. He threw the mask. He threw the snorkel. He threw the flippers. He said they worked terrible and that I should take them back to the store to get another pair.

Why, oh, why, do they make that swim stuff out of crap? Don't these manufacturers know that little kids expect their things to work and to work right and they get very, very angry when they don't? Kids don't understand that perhaps they aren't going to be able to snorkel around like the cute little kid swimming on the package. Junk. All junk.

We ended up playing with the beach ball and football. Thank heaven you can't mess up a ball. I don't think Eli's nerves could've taken any more disappointment. And quite frankly, we were all tired of dodging the flying mask, snorkel and flippers that he was throwing in frustration.

My backyard is beginning to look like Fred Sanford's junkyard. Cam is now the proud owner of this camper.

HE bought it to use at his hunting land. HE bought it from my dad. HE used HIS birthday money and the rest of the money HE made while working at Food Depot. He paid for almost all of it and is going to work the rest of it off with my daddy.

It's not the prettiest thing to look at, but is pretty nice on the inside. I may actually go with him hunting a time or two. If he'll let me. I'm more of a hotel/resort-type girl, but I'll try anything once.

I'm making my mom's homemade veggie soup for supper. I don't know why because no one in my house eats it except me and I love it! I'll make it and eat it for lunch for a week. Veggie soup and cucumbers. I don't get tired of those two things. You want the recipe for my mama's soup? Okay. Here you go.

MIMI'S VEGETABLE SOUP

One onion, chopped

2 28-ounce cans crushed tomatoes (assuming you don't have any fresh homegrown or

frozen -- I'm using homegrown frozen ones)

2 16-ounce cans creamed corn -- or frozen homegrown corn or frozen rolls of corn

1 bag of frozen or fresh okra, sliced

1 bag of small green lima beans or butter beans

2 potatoes, chopped

1/2 stick butter

Salt and pepper

My recipe varies from my mom's a little. I don't like potatoes in my soup, so I leave them out. I love the okra, so I add a little more. Be sure to cook the beans about 10 minutes before adding them to the soup. Don't drain them, just add the beans and the juice to the pot of soup. When you've got all of your ingredients in the pot, add approximately 2 cups of water. The main thing is to keep it stirred so it doesn't stick. When it starts to bubble, turn down the heat and just let it cook. Mama says to cook it and cook it and cook it. Probably about a couple of hours. Might need a pinch of sugar, depending on the acidity of your tomatoes.

Make a pot of this soup and some good ol' cornbread and you've got a meal fit for a king. Or queen.

Guess that's all for today. Till tomorrow! Happy Monday!