A Dead Bird, A Cleaned Room, A Couple Dozen Red Cookies

Lot happened yesterday (well, a lot in MY world, at least).

We came home yesterday to find feathers in the back porch. I thought maybe Murray (our evil Maltese/Shih Tsu/Bischon Mix) had gotten into the pillow on the couch, but no... it looked fine. The cushion? No, that's cotton... and then I got a look at Murray. With feather sticking out of HIS mouth. Luckily one of the things he actually does well is "drop!" on command.

Out of his mouth fell a slightly crushed, but very dead goldfinch. Both of the kids started screaming bloody murder, and then Isabel burst into tears because that birdy was her "favorite." Charlie alternately then started scolding Murray, telling him he was "bad!" and trying to make Iz feel better "Dese things happen, Izzy!" After freaking out for about 30 seconds, I got a paper towel, picked it up, and gave it a burial in our outside garbage.

Yeah, that was fun. Afterwards, the kids played outside while I made cookie dough for the sugar cookies to be brought to daycare. You'll be surprised and shocked to learn they have red frosting, I'm sure.

I need to get started cleaning my house for the party tomorrow - so we cleaned the den. I think I keep a clean house, and then I move furniture and see all that gets collected under it. Ech. It had been awhile, so I actually wanted to rearrange, too. Chuck helped with the wires (I play dumb. I could do it... but why when he's so willing?) and moving the heavy stuff.

Finally, after putting the kids to bed and finishing the little stuff, I actually baked and frosted the cookies.

Here's the recipe:

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup white sugar

2 eggs

2 3/4 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon almond extract

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Cream butter add brown sugar; beat one minute. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Slowly add flour and baking soda, then almond extract.

Beat well for three minutes. Bake 10 minutes.

For frosting, I combine 2 cups of powdered sugar, 2 tsp vanilla extract, and 3 tbs water - food coloring as needed.

YUM

The cake lady DOES make red velvet!!!

Did you know that red velvet cake is actually chocolate-flavored? I will test this out on Saturday, to be sure... but according to Cake Lady Shiela, that's what it is.

I have been avoiding dealing with just realized all I have to get done before Saturday. A list:

1. Actually buy my husband's birthday present (his birthday is today, naturally). He knows what he's getting, because I remembered he wanted a table for his saw. I couldn't remember what kind of saw (miter) or what thingamajiggies he wanted with it. So, he knows what he's geting... we just have to get to Menard's to purchase it.

2. Take him out for ice cream tonight. Clearly, that is the toughest thing on the list.

3. Tomorrow is snack day for Iz. I need to figure that out.

4. Clean the entire house top to bottom, especially since my very good friend and her daughter have cat allergies. So cleaning also includes washing the furniture with the Spot Bot.

5. Cook the following: Pulled turkey, a ginormous chocolate chip cookie for my husband's "cake", grape salad (I guess that's not really cooking....), potato salad, and then throwing the rest of the stuff together in a presentable form: cheese/sausage platter (doh... still need to buy the cheese), snacks.... I'm probably forgetting a crap load.

6. Get my sister her gift card. I'll just do that when I'm buying my son a flashlight (last minute birthday gift for him)

7. Take kids to swimming lessons Saturday morning.


Yikes.

Oh well.

I live for pressure... right? RIGHT?

Happy Friday!

Wow. A week has gone by since my play. It went super well, and had record-breaking attendance. Well... it broke records since I've been director but we know that's all that really counts in the end, right? Right??? :)

There hasn't been a whole lot to update on. It's been a pretty good week. I'm reading a Barbara Kingsolver book, Pigs In Heaven. So far I like it - but I pretty much like all of her books. If I think about it, I'll review it when I'm done. I tried reading the second Forrest Gump book (I never read the first one, but of course saw the movie) and WOAH. Different. Wowzers. I didn't picture Forrest Gump with a potty mouth, but there you have it.

So yeah. The hecticness (is that a word) is over, and now I'm on the calm swing. Chuck and Charlie's birthday is next week. Charlie is getting a Spiderman cake. When I asked him what flavor of cake he wanted, he responded "red." Hmmmm..... red-flavored cake? I'll see if the cake lady has red velvet. It'll probably tickle him to no end.

Still lots of stuff to catch up on, grading-wise. Hopefully this weekend I'll be able to.