Monday...

...Monday

can't trust that day

...sigh

By the time you read this, I'll be back to work. Staff day today, first day of instruction~

tomorrow. I get so weird the day before school starts. I go into this sort of nesting mode! It's not like I haven't had time to get things done...but for some reason, what I didn't do all of a sudden has this mad urgency to get done. I'm pretty sure this school year won't be as personally volatile as last years. I'm hearing through the rumor mill that our seams are bursting with kids & no place to put them...that's a little off putting. I'll get the ins on that tomorrow.

 I'll be happy to get a paycheck again~ 

I'll live for the weekends...and holidays~ 

Going from normal talking to most likely will lose my voice from talking non-stop 5 hours straight.

Will fall in love with my kiddos all over again

Will get satisfaction knowing I make a difference

Will fall asleep on the couch for the first week from HAVING to wake up to the alarm

Will be sure not to forget my blog...and you all!

Happy (dog days of summer) snapping!

xo

Kelly

Cajun Salmon...

...For the nice gal at Cost Plus

who took an interest in the Marmalade I was buying...

(I'm sorry I didn't get your name) 

I hope you really do come visit, get, & try the salmon we got to talking about!

This salmon is the perfect balance of sweet from the marmalade...

...and the heat from the cajun spice...

Married Perfectly!

I've posted this recipe before...but it bears repeating!

You'll have to double the recipe for the homemade spice if you are making more than a 1 or 2 pieces of fish. 

ORANGE-GLAZED SALMON

3 TBSP Cajun spice (recipe to follow)

1 tsp. brown sugar

1/4 tsp. kosher salt

4 boneless, skinless salmon fillets (4-6 oz ea)

BLEND; Add

1/4 cup Orange marmalade

1 TBSP fresh lemon juice

Directions:

Combine Cajun spice, brown sugar and salt in a small bowl. Rub over all surfaces of fillets. Saute fillets in olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over med-high heat for 3-4 minutes. Turn & saute an additional 

2-3 minutes.

Blend marmalade & lemon juice; swirl in pan until melted. Carefully turn fish to glaze on all sides. Fish is done when it begins to flake when tested with a fork (about 1-2 minutes on each side)

Cajun Spice

1 tsp salt

2 tsp garlic powder

2 1/2 tsp paprika

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1 1/4 tsp oregano 

1 tsp herbes de provence (salt free)

dash of red pepper flakes (or to your taste)

The marmalade may splatter, so dress accordingly! 

If you make it, I'd love to hear about it!

Happy (fish lovin') snapping!

xo

Kelly

Friday's...

...letters, finds

 and randomness

Dear Frankie,

I came home to find this...

...you fixed my typewriter and left me love note! (swoon)

I love us
 Sharing over at Kim's

Now that it's over with & you answered my 100 (maybe more) questions...

...I put my fears aside and really had fun sitting in the cockpit with the rotors spinning over 500 miles an hour!
I'm glad I could help you out as your tweaked the parts that needed tweaking!
 It gave me time to think & really get a sense of what you love about building and flying these machines.

Of course my 101st question should have been "Where's the kill switch?"

But I trust you 100% and if say she's not gonna take off...than that's that!

This helmet is beloved!

(just so you know, Frankie started the ship & is finding her "sweet spot" for me)

Dear Universe,
I'm throwing this one up to you because I don't know else to write to.
What is this world coming to? Makes me sad to read the paper anymore...
...that's all I'm gonna say about that.

Dear Austin,
Stop looking at me like I'm crazy when you are home for a blink and I have to tell you I forget what you look like cause you are never home anymore. It's not your fault I miss you.

5 random friday facts:
sharing with Nancy
over at A Rural Journal
1. Me, the person who hates bugs, started squishing them darn aphids with my bare fingers. (shivers)
2. I talk to my critters and hold each of them if I can. I hope they sense how much I adore them when they emerge as butterflies so they trust me enough to hold & release them.
3. I'm nerdy like that!
4. I get nervous going back to work after summer vacation like a kid would be on his 1st day of school.
5. I dream of Paris...and going within the next few years.

Happy (dream filled) snapping!
xo
Kelly

Texture...

...Tuesday

Some days are just easier to wake up to than others.

I'm not talking about the physical part of waking up and getting out of bed. It's what comes after the quiet of the morning disappears with the darkness, finishing the paper & nursing the last of your coffee that I'm talking about. Thank goodness I don't have to ask myself the above question very often, but when I do, I'm already prepared for a day of constant struggles with my emotions, deep contemplation and with a bit of timely and very conscience choices, victory over the day. 

I can not fathom letting an unknown entity dictate what my day will be like, just like that (snaps fingers) Oh, there's wrenches thrown in-that's to be expected. But I want to be the one that will make the difference in the outcome of my day.

Now, hormones may have a little something to do with all of this...

Ok

more than I lead on...

...but the fact remains that I'm still the one that will set my course.

I won't lie, this is a day that I'm thankful not to be in the early child-rearing stage because everything will be better after a nap! 

There use to be a time when I would feel guilty about being a tad selfish...I don't feel that way any more.

 Hey, 27 years of child rearing has a few bennies...one of them is napping~I hear it adds time to your life span. I'm all for that!

Linking up with Kim Klassen

and
a rural journal
(I'm sorry Nancy, for some reason, I can not get your icon's to work here)

On a completely different subject, I'm not a politco, but my son, Austin, who has deep military aspirations, and never asks for too much, wanted me to make mention of something near and dear to him.

It's the 2nd anniversary of Extortion17

You may remember it, you may not, but we are here, defining our day because of fallen heroes.

Thank you

xo

Kelly 

Impractical...

...list

I'm sharing over at Stasha's    

today. 

It's all about Impractical Things:

It was surprisingly easy!

1. Cell phone laws~I mean seriously. If you want people to really not talk on their phones while driving,$76. for the first offense is chicken feed...it needs to be like $500.

2. High heels while at theme parks. Really?

3. Aphids..the bad kind

4. Squirrels...all of them!(they ruin everything I own)

5. Appointments...NOW HEAR THIS you late people... I pride myself on getting to any appt. that YOU gave me...the least you can do is see me on time.

6. Gluten...it's bad for you...don't eat it!

7. AS SEEN ON T.V. items...tsk tsk! (I still like ya if you're guilty of this! hee hee)

8. Figurines...that's just me...I hate to dust

9.Styrofoam...Hate it, hate it hate it

and 

10. Mr Potato Head...What are you suppose to do with him? Dress him...then what...somebody...please...enlighten me.

Ok...now I'm off to Stasha's for some a-ha moments!

Happy (listicles) snapping!

xo

Kelly

Scavenger Hunt...

...& song-ography

Over at Kathy's 
she's serving up song titles once a week, for anyone who wants to join & interpret them.
This week, it's Bill Wither's, "Lean on Me."
 I knew I was gonna have to use this...an oldie but a goodie...both the song AND the photo.

It was Austin's 13th birthday, I was feeling mushy & gushy inside as he sprouted past me that year, was becoming more independent, needing me less and less. I wanted to freeze this moment in time. Remember Austin, your mama is ALWAYS here for you...no matter what.

I also decided to play over at Ashley's

for the Scavenger Hunt.

Here's what I came up with this week:

"Guess what it is?"

Awwww, You'll have to scroll down to the end and see!

Music

I grabbed my artist doll and decided it would fun to play with him. 

Reminds me of a musical play bill.

Wednesday

Take a photo on Wednesday...

...that was easy

Is it possible to have a love affair with a newly acquired antique typewriter?

Just askin'

Body Part

I could go all cheater pants on ya for this one because I originally was going to use this as another prompt...

...Mirror Image

But I'll save my cheater pants card for when I might actually need it! 

I'd make a terrible weather forecaster having to look at t.v. monitors and stand in front of a green screen but do the opposite thing. This shot was hard enough and I STILL have a roving eye!

I'm SO not designed for technical stuff!

So what was that shot above you ask?

Meshell, the gal that sold me the typewriter threw in a tin ribbon case...

(swoon)

Phew...that was fun. Now I'm gonna head over to the hunt myself & check out all the other great interpretations.

Happy (weekend) Snapping!

xo

Kelly

Fridays...

...letters, finds
and randomness!

Dear August,

HELLO! You kinda came out of left field, but you hold lots of good stuff...work starts in 10 days (yikes), Austin turns 18, Jamie turns 27 (double yikes on them two!) and Frankie and I celebrate 20 years of bliss!

I made reservations for a nights stay aboard the QE2

20 years deserves a little pampering....that's like 140 dog years...but I mean that in a good way!

I'm so happy to be spending an eternity with w/my honey...and then some!

Dear Topanga Vintage Fair,

You rocked my world this week!

My other goodies are HERE

I've been searching for you...Every 4th Sunday for almost a year...

Ohhhhh but you were so worth the wait.

Do you hear that? It's me swooning (hee hee) You're not actually working...yet

But my beloved will see to that!

Dear Evil Ovary,

you suck

Dear Mom, 

I love that you are so happy in your new home. I mean bocci ball? Wii Bowling? Jewelry making? Playing in a kitchen band? 

Yeah you!

Dear Dad,

I'm REALLY sorry you and mom aren't spending your golden years together. That REALLY sucks

Dear heart,

I bet YOU were surprised when I walked this morning...and up that big ole hill too? Well how can I face 50 and fabulous if I'm not healthy from the inside out? Get use to it cause I'm hitting 50 with a *BOO YAH!

*according the Urban Dictionary..."Bam", "in your face" and "hell yeah" 50!

5 random facts:

I hate the yellow aphids on my milkweed-how can my critters eat with ya'll moving in?

I need a night vision camera to see what wild animal is leaving me "presents" on my front lawn

I've been stalling all morning to do something unpleasant...but I HAVE to do it...again

I'm on my 2nd cup of coffee...before noon 

I love posting on IG

Happy (enjoy the last of summer) snapping!

xo

Kelly

Linking up with Kim

friday-finds

and 

and for the first time...