It Is What It Is

Happy Thanksgiving!

This holiday has been a balancing act with work, home and my husband convalescing from knee replacement surgery.  I feel like a juggler  with too many balls in the air.  My good friend B and her family were supposed to come for a visit but due to their own work balance juggling act, (not to mention the weather God's not cooperating again)....they elected to stay put in New England. 

I wish I could just roll up in a ball and blink everything done...but alas that's not how it works.  I'm off to bake pies and start my side dishes.  I wish everyone a blessed Thanksgiving holiday.  I know I have much to be grateful for this year...I just wish I wasn't so tired. 

 

Seussical the Musical

Recently, the middle school at Youngest's school put on a production of "Seussical the Musical."  I know I'm biased- but it was fantastic!  I saw this show two years ago at a local high school and this production was every bit as good.  I was simply amazed at how they worked every kid in the 6th, 7th and 8th grade classes into the show.

Youngest played one of the 'Bird Girls."  If you haven't seen the show, the premise is based on "Horton Hears a Who" and then goes on to incorporate many, if not most of the beloved Dr. Seuss characters in a twisty, turny tale of mayhem.

Horton....

Animals from the Circus McGurkus

Jungle Creature from the Jungle of Nool and some fish from the River Walloo.

Mr. and Mrs. Mayor with their son, JoJo from Whoville.

Mayzie La Bird, Gertrude McFuzz, Bird Girls and Cat-in-the-Hat Assistant...

Yertle the Turtle, the Grinch, Thing 1 and Thing 2, Vlad Vladikoff, oh my word, and there is still more, don't forget about all those Who's and the other characters from the Circus....

Bird Girl, the Court Stenographer and one of those devilish Wickersham Brothers!

The songs were infectious.  I"m still hearing them in my head a week after the show.  (It probably doesn't help- that Youngest, can't stop singing them either!)

Anytime you can get kids involved in the arts, it's a good thing...and combining the fabulous books of Dr. Seuss with music- it doesn't get much better than that.

 

Saturday Soundtrack

It's been some time since I've posted a Saturday Soundtrack.  Nothing has felt right until- I heard this "mash up" version of two of Adele's songs performed by the Glee cast...this little video has everything you love in a music video- great choreography and a beat you want to dance and sing along to....Plus- well you know how I feel about both Adele and Glee....

 

Enjoy- I'm off to fold laundry...exciting life I lead these days!  Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

what's happening....

Beloved was released from the hospital yesterday following knee replacement surgery on Monday.  He's officially home convalescing.  (Read between the lines....dear friends, I've just added several more entries to my already full job description.)  Not that I'm complaining- oh no, it's all a part of the package.  We've been to this dance before with knee replacement surgery- so I have an idea of what to expect and the first full week to two weeks are the hardest.  (For everyone...)  Poor Beloved, wish I could take on some of his pain...(really, I do.)

That being said- here's some stuff to hopefully make you smile-

Love this idea of word art on the stairs.

I've seen this saying in different formats before- and I love the message.

Always...

Have a good one!

Soup it Up

I think that soup never goes out of style. I could eat soup for lunch and dinner every day- and not need any other side dishes, except for maybe some crackers or a piece of bread. My family disagrees. They think of soup as an appetizer or if we have it as a meal, they expect to see some sort of sandwich or meat and potato accoutrement. I am bound and determined to change their way of thinking. I started with soup boot-camp this week. I've made a different soup every day. They are ready to revolt.

Here's what I've made.

1. Chicken & Noodles. Simple, simple. Good, old-fashioned, comfort food.

2. Chili. Well, technically not a soup- it is soup like and can be found with the soups on a restaurant menu. This did get a good response since we could fancy it up with toppings like, diced onions and cheese. Usually I make corn bread to accompany it, but this time, good ole saltine crackers.

3. Sausage, Potato and Kale Soup. This is my new favorite. I found this recipe at the Pioneer Woman Website, Tasty Kitchen. It's supposedly the recipe from the Olive Garden version. I don't know about that, as I've never had this soup at the Olive Garden, but I can tell you it's DELICIOUS! This soup wins rave reviews from Beloved and Youngest. I've never cooked with kale before, frankly I've only ever seen it used as a garnish in deli cases and salad bars. The kale is our favorite part of this soup! Two thumbs up...

4. Aztec Chowder. This recipe does actually come from one of my favorite restaurants in Columbus, Ohio. It's a spin on chicken tortilla soup. It's spicy, thick and creamy. It gets its thickness from pureed navy beans. Yummy, yum. Well, while making this soup tonight, I had a revolt on my hands and had to make a side dish of spaghetti with an Italian sausage meat sauce. (Yes, I know the flavors don't really compliment one another, but I was working under pressure and had to come up with something quick in order to avoid a total meltdown, primarily from the husband.)

And now a fitting way to end a post on soup- a clip remembering "The Soup Nazi." Go to this link to view the Best of the Soup Nazi... http://youtu.be/M2lfZg-apSA. What's your favorite soup or soup story?