Random Tid Bits

1. Today is Graduation Day, for the college I work at. I'm kind of sad about it it. Usually there's a rented place, gowns, top portfolio awards, funny awards that a goofball instructor says, and a ceremony.
   
   This year it will be a Zoom video that will literally be just the Director talking, and a bunch of names read off. No speeches, no special awards, and no funny awards. Usually inside I roll my eyes at the funny awards, but this year I'll miss them. I am goofy, but I always felt like a graduation wasn't really the time, or the place for it.


2. I was invited to a past friends daughter's graduation. She babysat, for us once. Her siblings are in Mica and Isaak's classes. We've kind of parted ways. Not because we don't like each other. It's just that we all got busy, and their kids went to a different middle school, than our boys. Do I A. Send a card and money, or do I B. Just not do anything?
   
   Then our neighbor graduated high school. We literally only say, "Hi" and maybe a 5 minute conversation. We've invited them over early on when we moved to our house. The people across the street have had many neighbors over, invited them, and they never show up. We don't ever get a Christmas card. We weren't invited to anything. I only know their son is graduating because they have a banner in front of their house. Do I A. Send a card and money, or do I B. Just not do anything?
   
   I'm not saying I need to get something to give something. It's not like that! I just don't know what's expected, or is there a right thing to do? I don't really feel like I know these kids. If they had a party I'd show up. Then I'd justify giving because we went to the party. I'm leaning more towards giving anyhow. How much do you give to this kid you don't know? I think too much! Maybe I'm overthinking this because of the talk about us possibly going into another Great Depression. I have no idea what will happen with my job, when the fall rolls around.


3. Every year I look at my disgusting windows and think, "Man they need to be cleaned!" Travis is like, "Who cares!". Well apparently I do care. It really doesn't take that long, it looks better, and I feel better after doing it. He grinds metal below our 3 main windows. Boy do they get dirty!
   
   This year Mica helped. He helped reach where I couldn't. It was wonderful!
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Mr. Mica has been acting like a third parent. Has anyone else's kid done this? I know Isaak's 12, a punk-a-monk age. Travis is back at work, and I'm supposed to be working here. He's like, "Mom you should be more strict with Isaak. He's getting away with this _______." The blank changes with the day. What he's getting away with, is the same stuff Mica did when he was Isaak's age.


5. I have about 3 doctor appointments coming up: Both boys have a check-up + Allergy Doctor for me. I'm not going to lie, I'm kind of not wanting to go considering how lackadaisical people have been in Omaha. Many don't wear masks at all. Do you feel this way, when you leave the house?

Spray Gourmet Liquid Seasonings Review

Spray Gourmet Liquid Seasonings are so good! 

I got Ginger.

They also have: 

• Black Pepper
• Chili Pepper
• Cinnamon
• Cumin

I can think of uses, for all the above, so much of me wants to buy their other flavors.

My first thought was, wow that Cinnamon Spray would make Cinnamon Toast, so easy to make! 

Travis and I typically like our food to have more kick than the boys like it. That's where the Chili Pepper Spray would come in handy.

What flavor would you like to try, and what would you try it on?

Why I Picked Ginger:

I've been trying to include ginger in my diet on a regular basis. It's anti inflammatory, which is wonderful when it comes to my asthma. Have breathing problems? Eat or drink ginger and turmeric. Both are helpful.

What I've Used it On:

• Peach and Mango Smoothie
• Rice Bowl

Where to Get Spray Gourmet Liquid Seasonings:

Each spray is around $6 to $7 dollars on Amazon. It is not on Prime, so there is a $2 shipping fee. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q5PWFM6

Disclaimer: I got this product, for free in exchange for an honest review. I was not told what to write. All opinions are my own. 

Dear Isaak,

You just turned 12 today! Happy Birthday little man!

For Your Birthday You Got: 

Stratego - a board game

Some artsy markers

A room makeover, which was a lot of work! See pictures below! We went with triangles!

 I painted the base coat over the tape to prevent it from bleeding through:

You helped label what triangles were going to be what colors:

We mixed our own tints, to give variety without having to buy more paint. Tape tear off reveal:

All day yesterday you worked on putting your room back in order:

 I'm thinking about making 3 of these (the colors of his room) to go on the blue wall:

You've been acting 12, for a few months now. I remember when Mica was about that age.

Things You Like:

To Draw: Muscle men mostly | You got the Art Award in Beveridge Magnet Middle School

To Talk: You are a talker, sometimes I need a mental peace and quiet break and have Mica and you go for walks | You love to talk on the phone to your girl friends

YouTube: You like to watch prank and art videos

Movies: You've always liked action and superhero movies, but I'm noticing you like romantic comedies sometimes too

Shows: In particular you love that new show on Amazon called Upload, and if Chris Harrison is on with some cheesy Bachelor type show you are glued to the TV

Food: Pizza and Tacos

Pet: You got his first pet this year named Sunny, he's a Leopard Gecko

Piano: An instrument you picked up just this year | We got you lessons, then COVID-19 happened | You got the Piano Award in Beveridge Magnet Middle School

Things You Don't Like:

Chores of any kind, for the most part - Does any 12 year old like to do chores?

Being cold, you wear your heavy duty robe around the house, and coat around when you were in school

You say that you don't like school, but you were really sad when you found out that school wasn't happening for the rest of the year

COVID 19 is messing up everyone's daily routine | We won't do a lot of celebrating because of this! We do plan on having Pizza Hut pizza, and playing games

When people act like jerks

Your hair getting longer, and in those eyes

Overall you are sensitive to other's feelings. You are creative, innovative, charming, and a great son to have!

Love,

Mom

Random Tid Bits

1. Today is my last day of classes. It's the boy's last day as well. Kind of odd feeling!


2. It took me for...ever to write my final exams! Getting used to google forms wasn't that big of a deal. Except I kept forgetting to make questions mandatory. Why do they even have that feature? If you didn't want them mandatory, just don't assign points to those particular questions!
   
   I wrote about 300 questions in total, 100 or so for each of my 3 classes. Of course I've changed things being all online, so it really was new everything.





3. I decided to go to get my allergy shots yesterday. I was in a rush because shhh I was supposed to be working. Hey some nights I've been working in the evenings writing tests.
   
   Off I went. On the way I realized the main street that takes me to the clinic was closed, due to construction. I'm not complaining about them working on the street. I just don't know the area well, or what way to turn. Off I went into a neighborhood  I was hoping would take me to the clinic. Instead I got lost. Finally I got out. I decided to use Waze to take me to the clinic. There were a lot of roundabouts the way it took me. I finally got there.
   
   Afterwards I got home, and was all wheezy. This is the third time I got like that after shots.
   


4. The boys are getting a fresh coat of paint, for their birthdays. Isaak's getting triangles. Much like this image. Except he's getting an undercoat of cream, and red-orange and blue-green triangles.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Now I'm being all indecisive on his bedding. I have so many in my shopping cart, just sitting there. I don't know that I want to give him new bedding now, maybe for Christmas.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   I think this is my favorite! BUT I'd have to get a duvet. It's just a cover. It looks like Isaak, considering he loves to draw.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   These are at Target:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

WW: Repurposed {Linky}

I've had the idea to turn a trunk we have into an ottoman, for quite some time.

I have nothing against CHEEZ-IT GROOVES, but just didn't know that I wanted a trunk that said that in our living room forever. I really liked the red, and the storage space. We needed an ottoman, so why not repurpose ?

My husband cut a board bigger than the trunk top:

He used stuffing from a loveseat we took apart, and lots of pulling, and staples:

I got the idea to cover buttons from my Grandma, who gave me a tin of buttons. The fabric was too thick, so we went with a scrap of red we had from something else. 

The fabric was left over from a chair he designed. 

He put screws up through the bottom of the lid, and into the wood he cut. Poof we had an ottoman! I wish I had one more. 

I didn't help as much as I thought I would, but the idea was mine. 

WW: Colors {Linky}

I was pumping gas one day, looked down and saw this colorful delight:

Later on I ate this raspberry orange. I've never even heard of the combination. It too had pretty coloring.

Random Tid Bits

1. I'm ready for the school year to be done, but am nervous when fall rolls around.
   
2. I know I can teach online, but my first year students don't get their laptops until mid semester. They are going to try and figure out what it would take, for them to get their laptops early.
   
3. Isaak hasn't shown any more signs, on being allergic to this little cuddly boy. I swear he sat on my arm under this washcloth, which he thinks is his blanket for 20 minutes or more.
   
   
   
   
   
4. My first year students are working on stationery sets, for a company they made redid a logo for. Their logos looked pretty good. Their understanding of stationery is questionable. I even made my own to explain it. One guy must of never looked at my examples. He had the company's address in the center, instead of top left. He used my info for the business card, when I told them to research the company its self. I just want to scream, "Look at my examples!"
   
5. Mica's officially done with his big health care model, PowerPoint, and Word file. He presented to the class, University of Nebraska - Omaha (they mentored the students), Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Forward, and a small group from Multiple Sclerosis Society. He did really well. BUT while he was presenting he had a battery explode on his project. Thank goodness, he just had to show the project in his PowerPoint. It did kind of distract him, when he heard a big bang. 

WW: Glass or Rock Candy {Linky}

Whenever I see this...

I think of this...

Homemade Dandelion Bread #recipe

My kids are hungry all the time. They are a big judgy with food. The just don't like that I'm on a binge of making so many things with dandelions. It's the season. Dandelions are free. Travis isn't working right now, nor is the unemployment money coming in. I think they are good!

Today I made bread. The first thing Mica asked, "Are dandelions in there?" I lied and said, "No! Of course not." I think my nose grew like Pinocchio's. He had it, and it won him over.

It is really easy to make! I'm always suspicious when it comes to making dough rise. in the past bread was a pain to rise, for me. I decided to try it. 

Pick lots of pesticide free dandelions. I had Isaak do this, and Mica pulled on the rest of the plant, or what some might call weed. 

Wash the flowers well, trim them off the pedals with a kitchen shears. You need 1/3 cup! That's a lot of dandelions. I had them actually pick more, for me to make Dandelion Jelly - coming up, so stay tuned. 

Heat up 1 cup of milk on the stove in a small pot. I used 2%, but I think any milk will do. Add in the dandelions. Whisk, until it is almost at a boil. Then let cool, for a few minutes. 

While you are waiting for the milk and dandelions to come to a slight boil, get out a medium sized mixing bowl. Put in 1 packet of yeast, 1/2 cup warm water, 1/4 honey. Mix, and let set until it foams. That means the yeast is active. 

Add in 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 cup softened butter (I just microwave it for 30 seconds), 2 eggs, and the milk mixture. Mix! Start adding in the flour, 1 cup at a time. I use bread flour, but all purpose would do. It will get sticky. Keep adding a cup at a time, until you have added 5 cups. 

Put on a floured surface, and knead. Keep adding flour, and kneading until it's elastic and not that sticky. You will need more than the 5 cups of flour. 

Put in a large sprayed bowl, for 90 minutes or until it's doubled in size. I lay a damp tea towel over the bowl.

It happened! I doubled in size!

Split in 1/2, put it in 2 sprayed bread pans, I sprinkled the bottom of my pans with the flour on the surface that wasn't used. 

Bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick is poked in, and comes clean! 

Let the bread cool. Slice and eat. 

I put a little honey on the boy's. It can be used for sandwiches, toast, or plain. 

Here's a downloadable recipe with the instructions: 

Homemade Dandelion Bread by AlissaSpiehs-Apel on Scribd

Have you ever ate dandelions before? 

What ways are you trying to save during this pandemic?

Random Tid Bits

1. I decided to get a bunch of design things done, that I wanted to get done. Now my scratch disk is full. I've even deleted a bunch of other things off.
   


2. All my students have been good through all this COVID-19 stuff, except for 2. I have had others not participate much. That's to be expected. I'm talking attitude.
   
   I had one tell me I wasn't a good person because I didn't grade her boyfriend's stuff. I missed his attachment entirely. I counted...that day I had 42 emails from the students. I apologized to him. Explained I'm human, and that it would help if he worked in the order of the assignment. Then I emailed the girlfriend telling her that I'm human, and it's not really her business. If he has a problem, he should contact me.
   
   I had another student that's having web issues. She keeps giving me her old file. Somehow that's my problem, not hers. She's had issues all through school. When the Director told me that she's had issues with the online learning, I think she just has issues in general.
   
3.  It snowed 6 inches last week. Now it's in the 60s. Hello Nebraska! What's the weather like where you live?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. I've messed with our weatherman some more. I really like him, so it's all for fun. He was talking about it being cloudy. I asked, "Is it cloudy with the chance of meatballs?" That was a few weeks ago.
   
   This week he kept saying his favorite word, "Spectacular". I told him the boys were outside digging in the "Spectacular" dirt. He reads the comments out loud, and often chuckles with mine. 
   
   

   

   
   
5. Isaak has a group chat with 3 or 4 girls. It makes him happy. Mica cracks up over it. Says he has too much drama in his life.