Brown Chicken Brown Cow

The title of my blog post really doesn't mean anything in particular to me but it's the hook from a silly country song on the radio I heard while driving to my dad's yesterday and I simply can't get it out of my head... so I urge you... go find the song on the internet, listen to it, and then get stuck with the earworm like I am :-)

I didn't cross anything of of my 101 list of things to do list in the past week.  I did attempt to take a carriage ride while in Williamsburg this weekend but when we got to the stand they were already booked up for the day... so if the thought counts ... :-)

Even though it's not on my list I did read a book I have been meaning to: Band Geek Love by Josie Bloss
As a former band geek the corny title caught my attention.  I can't even remember how I heard about it (AACPL doesn't own it) but I have had it on my to-read list for a while and finally got around to ordering from another county and it was a super quick read over the weekend.  I didn't love the book ... but if you were ever in the marching band the book would be amusing to you... there's lots of marching band terminology and it brought back good memories.  I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else though because I'm not sure that everyone would get the basic band lingo and aside from the reminiscing I did I don't think the writing or story was very strong.

As far as my "new years" goals go - I have been heading to the gym at least a few times a week and I got a lot of walking in while away in Williamsburg this weekend AND I managed to write this blog post before too much time went by :-)

Speaking of our time in Williamsburg just a quick shout out to the Sherwood Forest Plantation - home of President John Tyler.  This house is not generally open for tours but you can make them by appointment and as the wife of someone who likes to see anything related to history and the homes of all the presidents it has been on our list to see for a while.   They had another couple interested on Sunday so we were able to pair up with them for a tour.  It was a FANTASTIC tour.  The first sort of unbelievable thing is that John Tyler's grandson still lives in the house (yes -- the men had children late in life making this possible) AND the great great granddaughter and her high school friends were hanging out in the yard throwing around a lacrosse ball.  The Tyler family dogs (there are quite a few of them) greeted us at the front steps and followed us around for much of the tour and inside this fantastic house full of amazing antiques and historical artifacts was a yappy little chihuahua.   The tour guide was a family friend and the stories that were told (which is possible because the grandson has passed many family stories and versions of historic events on) were fascinating and the two hours we were there went by so fast.   If you ever have the opportunity I would highly suggest it (it's not cheap but so worth it if you are interested in history).

So that's my story for the past week or so.... some goals for next week:
1. get to an actual class at the gym
2. read the Bible at least 3 days
3. Blog
4. Go through my 101 things to do list and update (yes it might be cheating - but I am of the mindset that I can take things off the list if I'm not actually interested anymore and add new goals to it if I want to.  It's MY list and I will play by MY rules :-))

Happy Thursday!

Monthly Updates?

Maybe my single goal for the next month should just be to blog weekly... even just to say "hello".  I am definitely not in the habit and then I find myself a month later trying to figure out what they heck I have accomplished in the last month.... it would be much easier to remember a week at a time!  I have no good excuses... sure I've been busy but it doesn't take more than 10 minutes or so for a quick blog post.  Ah well... there is always room for improvement :-)


What I've accomplished from my 101 list of things to do list:
3. Read 5 Children’s Novels - This one is now complete... I read this years Newbery winner Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool and I really enjoyed it. I highly recommend it!  Check out the link to goodreads to find out more about it and to read my review.

I also tried 3 new recipes for a total of 9.  One more new recipe to go!  I made some Paula Deen Pork Chops and Mac and Cheese.  I made a few adjustments... for starters I just fried the pork chops in a little bit of olive oil on both sides and then finished them off in the oven while the mac and cheese was baking... I DID NOT fry them in six cups of vegetable oil.  I also used whole wheat flour when breading them.  With the mac and cheese I used what I had on hand which was low fat buttermilk and sour cream so I saved on a few calories maybe.  Even with that said I think that the mac and cheese especially is a "once in a while" recipe.   It was SOO rich that I can't imagine making it regularly.  It was delicious in small portions though.  The pork chops were delicious with the modifications... they were so moist and I almost always dry out pork!
The last recipe that I tried was a bean soup recipe from the same Paula Deen cookbook as the mac and cheese but we didn't love it... My husband actually said it tasted like hot dog soup (maybe the smoked sausage in it?) and he hates hot dogs so that's not a compliment by any means.  I couldn't find the recipe online to link to and it wasn't so fantastically wonderful that I feel the need to type it all out for you sorry :(

As for my goals in general - I have been to the gym several time in the past few weeks and also on the treadmill... its supposed to be nicer this week so maybe I will even try to sneak in an outdoor run (run/walk!).  I have read a little more of the Bible but this is a goal I definitely need to get better at! 

All in all - January/February has been an "ok" month(s) so far... but I am so ready for spring!!

Type at you again a week (or month!).