All about Amanda

Twenty-five random tidbits...

1. I am wondering if I am interesting enough to come up with 25 things of note.

2. I rarely finish anything I start.

3. I lose my temper really quickly and yell yell YELL.

4. I am thinking about working on #3

5. I am an Oregonian.

6. I have caffeine issues.

7. Today I got called out by my seven year-old for hardly ever eating breakfast.

8. I love to bake.

9. I am excited to learn Latin.

10. I am making Aubrey a quilt for her first birthday and one for Caroline for her eighth birthday. (Two months to go for the first, eleven months for the latter.)

11. Spelling really matters to me - it eats me alive to know that I have published something with a misspelled word.

12. My father was a truck driver. He died when I was three.

13. My step-father was a truck driver turned chiropractor. He lives in McKinleyville.

14. I painted a chalkboard on my living room wall and my kitchen is my classroom.

15. I am REALLY bad about folding and putting away laundry.

16. I was wearing combat boots with a dress when I met my husband. He still makes fun of me.

17. I like Raffi and R.E.M. and Ryan Adams.

18. I despise ventriloquists with their creepy puppets.

19. I used to sell my toys to my sister and then tell my mom that she took them.

20. I am sorry for ALL the times I was a creep to those I love.

21. I love the Deadliest Catch and can't wait for the new season to start.

22. I panic at the dentist.

23. I will never have enough books for my kids.

24. I've only taken one trip on an airplane.

25. See #2

Beauty School

While I was blissfully chatting away at playgroup, Natalie decided to cut LARGE CHUNKS of her hair off. (No need to be alarmed - that is ink on her arm!)

In the car on the way home, we looked a little like this:

After a trip to the mall and a shiny quarter for a bribe to sit still, we emerged like this:

After a trip to Auntie's house to fix the butchering from the mall, we looked like this:

(She thinks she looks like Kate! http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/jon-and-kate/gosselins.html)

After a long, emotional day and way too many pictures, we looked like this:

Lessons learned:

1. Natalie needs to be constantly supervised.

2. Just have Auntie Sam fix it next time. Save $15 bucks.

The Daily Grind

Well. It's official.


I am a food storin' Mormon mama.


We made our first cannery purchase and now have a small supply of wheat, pinto beans, and rice. It's a nice feeling to know that there is something stored if times get bad. Now begins the culinary education of Amanda!


Tonight I made whole wheat griddle cakes with wheat that I ground myself. Seriously. My self-reliant awesomeness even used canned milk. I was pleasantly surprised at my blender's grinding abilities after determining the maximum amount of red wheat kernels my K-Tek can manage (I ended up putting more than I should have in the blender initially but realised that about a cup and a half is just enough to keep everything moving.) I also separated the egg whites from the yolks and beat them stiff. After Carly got over her shock of me turning over the bowl of whites and them not falling out, she helped me fold them into the batter. I usually try to stay away from all things "whole wheat" but was pleasantly surprised with the nutty flavor of the wheat. The pancakes were great!



After renaming them "Pioneer Pancakes" the kids dug in. Natalie ate four, as did Ryan. Carly ate a modest three and Aubrey enjoyed quite a few nibbles. And Mom is quite proud of herself!