A Nice Offer

The other night we'd finished dinner and were starting the bath/bed routine with the kids. They'd moved from the table to the couch to watch tv and I told them they had a couple of minutes before they had to hop in the bath and I'd sort out the dishes.

Mr "I'm 6 and very grown up" Offspring #1 came back with, "Mum? How about you hop in the bath and I'll sort the dishes?" Then he leant back on the couch in a terribly casual manner and snuck a look at me from under his lashes. I giggled at his comeback but cracked up laughing at the sneaky look.

That answered the question about his latest growth spurt that seemed to last forever - he ate everything in sight for a good couple of weeks but only grew a little bit taller. It would seem that his brain did most of the growing this time round!

And The Beast Is Gone!

Hubby sold his car this week. You remember? The car that died a death that surprised no-one but him. Don't worry, he didn't do anything dodgy. His ad clearly stated that it had a blown head gasket and he also made sure he he told everyone who rang about the car.

The guy who bought it seems happy enough. He didn't want the engine anyway, he's rebuilding another car and plans to strip this one for parts. There was the obligatory haggling and everyone ended up happy - Hubby had some cash in his pocket and the buyer had a car that he can't drive.

I can't say I'm sad to see the back of that particular vehicle. And I'm pretty sure the neighbours are glad they don't have to hear it anymore!

Post 400!

Wow! I can't believe I have hit post number 400. I thought I should do something special for it but... well nothing very special has been happening. Then I had a thought. Maybe, just maybe, after a couple of weeks of leftovers, scratch meals and some tinned baked beans on toast... I could cook a proper dinner for my family. Yeah, they just about fell over with the shock of it too LOL.

I tried another recipe from Donna Hay's new book and it was a big hit. Honestly, I could have made this just as easily without the recipe but... I found the recipe so I used it! It was work-day easy to put together, tasted fantastic and will definitely be hitting our table again soon. Hubby and I particularly enjoyed the different textures - the rough crunchiness of the crumb topping and the smoothness of the baked chicken.

Crunchy Parmesan-Crumbed Chicken

From No Time To Cook by Donna Hay

1 cup fresh breadcrumbs

1/4 cup finely grated parmesan

30g butter, melted

1 tablespoon finely chopped thyme leaves (from my herb garden!)

cracked black pepper

2 x 200g chicken breast fillets, trimmed and halved (so they're flat and thin, not fat and long)

lemon wedges and green salad to serve (left out the lemon and served a garden salad along with some deli-bought coleslaw)

Preheat oven to 200C. Combine the breadcrumbs, parmesan, butter, thyme and pepper. Place the chicken into a baking dish lined with non-stick baking paper. Top chicken with breadcrumb mixture. Bake for 10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the crumbs are golden. Serve with salad, etc.

A Quick Trip Away

Hubby had plans to play golf with his buddies from Red Dirt Central for last Friday. And when I found out that the game was being played in a town two hours from here, where a good friend of mine from Red Dirt Central hails from and had recently returned to live, I quickly decided that the kids and I should tag along and spend the day visiting. Upon checking that they would indeed be home we were promptly invited to arrive the day before and stay the night with R, J and their kids. We had a lovely night - the kids played, jumped on the trampoline, ran around under the sprinkler and eventually fell into their beds absolutely exhausted - while we caught up on all the news, partook of a few drinks together (or in the case of Hubby and J, a few more than a few drinks!) and enjoyed a very delicious bbq with all the trimmings.

Hubby headed off to golf the next morning while the kids and I visited a little longer before we too headed off to catch up with other friends. Our afternoon visit was to an old teaching friend of mine who Hubby and I worked with many, many years ago in Red Dirt Tiny Town. We hadn't seen each other since Offspring #2 was just a few months old, though we catch up here as well as through emails and Facebook, so it was really nice to sit and enjoy a cup of tea with her while all the kids played. Her kids are cute as buttons and went out of their way to make my kids feel welcome - so sweet just like their mum! It's kind of funny to think back on what we all got up to so many years ago and compare that to where we are today with kids and mortgages and the responsibilities that go along with each.

By late afternoon it was time to collect a rather 'tired'* Hubby (I'd already agreed to drive home so he was allowed to be a little 'weary' but he was rather more 'tired' than I'd anticipated!) from the golf course and start the journey home. He and Offspring #2 slept a good part of the trip and we arrived home a mere 28 hours after we'd left.

I managed to cart my camera along for the whole trip and didn't take a single photo (d'oh!) so no pics of beaches, or rivers or kids or anything at all!

tired* - code word for one who has a few beers while playing 18 holes of golf in 40C-odd temps and doesn't stop to eat lunch!

Three, Two, One...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We're off away for a couple of days. I hope you're enjoying your celebrations wherever you are.