Intense debate... I just added it.

Thanks to @mcclain2224 and her super sized brain... I was able to add Intense Debate to my blog. I can now comment on YOUR comments directly. At least in THEORY, I should now be able to... Soooo comment, and we'll try it out. GO!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY 9 - it started so innocently

shhhhhhh, we're hunting wabbit... err... apples.

Every year for as long as I can remember, my family has gone apple picking on Thanksgiving. For you Americans ---> Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving the beginning of October. Every couple of years we've had to find an new place to pick... because the orchards get busier and busier and it's impossible to enjoy yourself surrounded by a thousand freaks and their children. So we got smart this year and DIDN'T go on Thanksgiving. WHAT A DIFFERENCE. There was parking, no lineups... for anything, places to sit for lunch, plenty of pies to choose from, and of course... LOTS of apples.

Note to self... remember all of this for next year.

My Mama

Bumpa telling Chicken the history of this old pump. BAHAHAHA!!!

Chicken's pumpkin choice.

My Mama getting artsy with the camera.

Lovin Grandma and Bumpa

Our pumpkins... love the nubby one!

Our finds of the day

Playing in the hay.

Waiting for the tractor to take us into the orchard.

Rockin out in the orchard

Soooo tasty!

Bumpa's being silly

Hiding with Grandma

1st FLASHBACK FRIDAY - My first day of school.

 We took The Chicken man to the park today to fly kites, swing on swings and other such park activities. The park is behind a school. Not having a child IN school. I was unaware of their schedule and ended up in the thick of it.

It was Carnage.

Seriously... through a mothers eyes, the school yard looks like a war zone. I wanted to take cover... desperately looking to see if the little kids had their own playground.... imagining my poor little 4 yr old entering school next year and being trampled my these elementary HEATHENS!

Once the hyperventilation subsided, I tried to remember back to my first days at school. They we enjoyable. Note that I DO NOT look heathen trampled.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY 8 - Humming bird hits window and lives.

My baby is my hero.

My "robot" was born with a heart defect. It's a pretty common one... but it's still scary. 18 months ago he had a procedure that improved it by 50%. Now we just have to monitor it.

Pulmonary valve and artery stenosis

So today I took my baby to get a Holter Monitor put on. My mom cried. Chicken and I didn't. Are we getting used to the tests? the wires? the poking and prodding? Don't get me wrong, it's still bothers me, stresses me out, and gives me anxiety.

I spent the entire night writhing in pain from a migraine... that's how I deal. Not what I would have chosen... but it's what I got.

So anyway... he has all these wires attached to him that lead to a little monitor. It records his heart activity over the next 24 hours. So far so good... we're 7 hrs in.

You gotta love the mesh vest they gave him to wear... he looks like an 80's hairband throw back!

The monitor is kept in the little white sack on the left hand side. Just for the record... it's NOT convenient.

He's an amazing boy... brave, sharp as a tack, and makes me laugh.

Anyone capable of getting me to do this, AND catching it on camera... is alright in my books.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY 7 - bouncy castles are tiring.

Pumpkin Raisin Walnut Bread

It was feeling kinda fall-ish today and I was craving PUMPKIN. So I put the bad robot down for a nap to recharge and set to work. I could tell you to separate the ingredients out - wet in one bowl and dry in another and then combine... but I would be lying if I told you I did that. I drop it all in one bowl, stir it up, spry a pan, and dump it in. I know... I'm seriously skilled in the culinary arts.

I've been making breads or loafs... err... loaves... um... you get it... for many years now and have come up with my own concoction that makes me happy every time. You can drop it in a bread pan or muffin tin and it's delish. Wrap the loaf in tin foil when you're done... it gets that fabulous melt in your mouth moist top.

PUMPKIN RAISIN WALNUT BREAD

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2  tsp nutmeg

1 cup pumpkin puree

2 large eggs

1/3 cup milk

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup walnuts or pecans

For a loaf - 350 for about an hour. Stick a toothpick in the middle... if it comes out clean, it's done. The muffins take considerably less time. 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY 6 - 39 minutes late.

Pulled Pork Baby!!! Oh Yeah!

Yesterday morning I got up early, chugged some coffee, and headed to the grocery store with my Chicken.

We were making PULLED PORK!!! WEEHOO! Had I known what was really involved. I probably would never have gone through with it. But, ignorance is bliss I guess.

So here it is...

The recipe is from Canadian Living ... cause you know... I'm Canadian.

3-1/2 lb (1.75 kg) pork shoulder blade roast
3/4 tsp (4 mL) each salt and pepper
2 tbsp (25 mL) vegetable oil (I used Olive oil)
2 onions, diced 
4 cloves garlic, minced 
2 tbsp (25 mL) chili powder 
2 tsp (10 mL) ground coriander 
2 bay leaves 
1/4 cup (50 mL) tomato paste 
1 can (14 oz/398 mL) tomato_sauce
2 tbsp (25 mL) each packed brown sugar and cider vinegar
2 tbsp (25 mL) Worcestershire sauce 
2 green_onions, thinly sliced (didn't have any)

Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper. In Dutch oven (I have no idea what a dutch oven is... I used a frying pan), heat oil over medium-high heat; brown pork all over. Transfer to slow cooker.

Add onions, garlic, chili powder, coriander and bay leaves to Dutch oven; fry, stirring occasionally, until onions are softened, about 5 minutes.

Add tomato paste; cook, stirring, until darkened, about 2 minutes. Add tomato sauce, sugar, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce, scraping up any brown bits from bottom of pan. Pour into slow cooker. Cover and cook on low until pork is tender, 8 to 10 hours.

Transfer pork to cutting board and tent with foil; let stand for 10 minutes. With two forks, shred or "pull" pork.

Meanwhile, pour liquid from slow cooker into large saucepan; skim off fat. Bring to boil over high heat; boil vigorously until reduced to 3 cups (750 mL), about 15 minutes. Discard bay leaves.

Add pork; reduce heat and simmer until hot, about 4 minutes. Sprinkle with green onions. (I didn't have any)

There are all kinds of things that are suppose to go on a pulled pork sandwich. I slapped a little margarine on a crusty bun and drenched it in pork. Oh baby, that was one HELL of a sandwich. Think ---> Sloppy Joe meets Baked Beans <---. Heaven on a bun. Now go to it... you're looking at the whole day for prep. I think next time I may let it cook over night. If you try it... let me know how you like it.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY 5 - the baby people.

me

chicken

hubbs

chicken

me

hubbs

me

chicken

me