Diagnosis.

So here's what we believe happened to our Vegeta.  He was sick a few weeks ago and had antibiotics and got better.  Done.  He was perky and happy again.  So this is totally unrelated to that illness. Today, because of some signs we saw on his body and mouth, we believe he had a strain of pneumonia that strikes fast, like 5 hours fast.  And the last hour is when the internal organs shut down and they die so fast you hardly have a chance to realize they are sick.  There is a vaccination for it, but you have to know the goat has it to save them, or give it to them in advance so they don't catch it.  So we are sure Vegeta didn't suffer long.  He was buried today and tomorrow the kids and I will make a marker to honor him. 

And this Saturday will be vaccination day for our remaining goat herd.

Goodbye To Our Friend.

Yesterday afternoon Isaac went out to visit the goats.  The next thing we knew he was running into the house, crying, and saying that Vegeta was dead.  We are all very sad.  We have an idea of what happened.  A pneumonia that acts quickly.  Within hours and without much warning.  So I thought I'd put up some of our favorite Vegeta moments to remember him.  

Born March 24, 2011 under our deck.

The boy and his goat.

Grass smorgasbord in the backyard.

Playing tough with his friend Mama Cass.

What's up chicken butt?

Ruthie's driveway message.

We love you Vegeta.  We will miss you terribly.

Trigger Bruise.

I just took the wrapping off.  It's bruised and stiff and hurts.  I have been on heavy duty ibuprofen for more than 24 hours now.  Last night Daniel took me out to dinner for our anniversary. I was doing fine until the server put my dish in front of me and I picked up my fork and tried to cut into my food.  Then I cried.  Daniel cut my food for me and I ate.  When we got home I put my jammies on and got into bed and only got up to go to the bathroom.  Trauma I tell ya.

So now it will be bruised and stiff and sore and swollen.  I hope it will get back to normal soon.

Anyone wanna cut my food for me?

Trigger Fix.

Do they make cameras for left handed people?  I had my "surgery" this morning.  It is 9:15 and it's done.  He super numbed my thumb and hand.  That hurt like heck.  If heck hurts, that is.  Then he put some cortisone in to help with the pain.  Then I had to lie down while he dug into my thumb.  He used a needle to scrape the casing (like a sausage) around the tendon.  As he did it he had me "click" my joint so he'd know when he got it all.  Then the nurse cleaned up all the blood and wrapped it up.  As she finished putting the bright pink wrapping on, I finally looked over.  Bright pink.  Oh yay.  So I'm on some heavy duty ibuprofen so I can get through the day better as the numb wears off.  I need to keep it wrapped for 24 hours.

Daniel and I are going out to dinner tonight for our anniversary.  I'll be stylin' the bright pink wrapping.  I will have to pick a dish that I can eat left handed and not cut. At least it's done and hopefully I won't suffer the trigger anymore. 

Popcorn Popping.

The popcorn rock experiment was concluded yesterday.  The vinegar is completely evaporated and there appears to be popcorn on the rock.  Let me take you through the process...

We began with the rock in a bowl full of vinegar.

Please read the instructions carefully.  Don't ever get hungry while doing this experiment.  The popcorn rocks could break your teeth.  Did we really need that particular order?

After just a short matter of days, popcorn began to grow.

And grow.

And, wow!  Look at that.  It's really growing now.

And here we are today.  A dry rock with beautiful popcorn all over it.  I still think it resembles cauliflower more than popcorn.  But still.  I'm just so happy it "popped".

In case you were wondering what the bowl looked like after this little dealio, there is popcorn growing all around the edges.  And a bit on the bottom, too.  I just hope I will be able to use this bowl again for real food.  No more of this popcorn that will break your teeth if you eat it stuff at our house.

Dreams And Triggers.

I've had this recurring dream for years.  I am going about my business as usual when, out of no where, my back left side bottom molar crumbles.  I spit out the pieces and hold them in my hand as I try to figure out how to get to the dentist to get it fixed.  Meanwhile, the tooth continues to crumble in my mouth.  I keep spitting pieces out and run my tongue over it, ever so gently so as to not crumble it more than it is.  It's disastrous.  It just keeps crumbling.  Now, it doesn't hurt, mind you.  It just falls apart.  And I never make it to the dentist. 

*****

On another note, my opposable right thumb is in shambles.  Remember my trigger finger?  It's back.  I got that cortisone shot back in October and within a week it was gliding along like a normal opposable thumb should.  But then a couple of months ago I painted Ruthie's room.  That's what triggered it.  Get it?  Ha ha.  I triggered the trigger finger.  I just crack myself up.  But it was just a little sore.  So I thought I'd wait it out and hope it went back to a normal opposable thumb.  It didn't.  It just got worse. 

So I called my hand surgeon, who is my close and personal friend he's done so much on my poor little hands, and made the appointment to just do the surgery.  He suggested that if it came back I just do the surgery.  Another cortisone shot would just be another band aid.  So I made it.  Then they called me back and said that the surgeon isn't working that day.  So I had to change to another day.  He only does surgery on Friday, every other Friday, and only in the morning on every other Friday.  So my options were limited. 

The appointment is set for this Friday.  I am so glad.  My whole hand hurts because of the uselessness of my opposable thumb that doesn't work right.  I haven't dropped anything yet, but I did have a box drop on it just where the ligament is tight.  Triggered.  I cried when that happened.

My appointment is early in the morning.  They said it will be really fast and I don't need anyone with me to get me home after.  I have all of Daniel's family coming over on Sunday night for our monthly get together.  Because of my triggered thumb, my house has been horribly messy for about a month now.  I can't grasp a mop.  I can't effectively clean the toilet.  It's really sad.  Doing dishes isn't bad.  The hot soapy water actually makes it feel better.  So I'm saving cleaning for Thursday so I will just suffer worse for one night. 

Wish me luck.  And a clean house.  And a non broken back left molar.

Make A Meal.

Hey!  It's Make A Meal.  On a Tuesday even.  You know, until last week my kids had never had a tostada. Sad.  I know.  So I made some for dinner.  And then we had them again last night.  I love them.  So I thought I'd share.

Tostadas

Here are the things you need...

Corn tortillas, salsa, taco seasoning, refried beans, pinto beans, diced chipotle tomatoes, Greek yogurt, lettuce, tomato, avocado, and then a few things I didn' have in the picture...ground beef, oil and olives...and CHEESE! Duh.

First, brown your ground beef and then add the canned tomatoes, juice and all, and the pinto beans.  Add some taco seasoning to taste. Heat through and keep warm.

While that's cooking, get all your toppings chopped and sliced and stuff. Here I have our cheese surrounded by chopped tomatoes, lettuce, salsa, olives, Greek yogurt (my new sour cream) and then the avocados diced up with a great sprinkle of garlic salt and a splash of lemon or lime juice.

And yes, I buy the taco seasoning in bulk.  Necessity!

Heat the oil on the stove top and then drop the corn tortillas in one by one. Let them bathe for about 30-40 seconds on each side.  The longer you leave them in the crispier they will be. 

Then you just make up your plate.

This is for my quesadilla child.  Yes, I know we are making tostadas.  But this guy needed a quesadilla.  Hey, I had all the makings for a great quesadilla.  Why not?

This one made what she called her secret recipe.  A taco.  She put all her toppings in the tortilla and then folded it over.  No need to try to get the flat tostada in the mouth.  Just roll it up.

I know her bangs are long.  The bobby pin was gone for the day and, well, I miss her eyes.

One boy didn't want anything to do with our second tostada night.  He preferred the yummy hot pocket.  I just don't understand.

With some extra tortillas, I cut them into triangles and made some chips.  I put too much salt on them when they came out of the oil.  So they didn't get eaten.

Tostada-aaah  Here is my finished product.  Oh it was delicious.

Tostada

1 pound ground beef

1 can diced tomatoes (chipotle flavor)

1 can pinto beans

Taco seasoning

Brown  beef in large skillet.  Drain fat.  Add tomatoes with juice and pinto beans.  Season with taco seasoning to taste.  Heat through and keep warm.

Stack of corn tortillas

Oil

Heat oil in skillet.  Add tortillas one at a time to hot oil.  Turn after 30-40 seconds.  Remove from oil after another 30-40 seconds.  Let drain on paper towels.

Diced tomatoes

Shredded cheese

Olives

Avocados, diced with lemon juice and garlic salt

Shredded lettuce

Salsa

Greek yogurt (or sour cream)

Refried beans

Meat mixture

Lay out one tortilla. Add refried beans, meat mixture and then any of the yummy toppings in any order you like!

Ole!

I usually have meat mixture left over.  I use it the next night for Cowboy Casserole.  Put the mixture (if you need to bulk it up, add another can of beans (pinto or black) and some salsa) into a baking dish.  Top with shredded cheese and then crush tortilla chips on top.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.  Serve with Greek yogurt and salsa.