Tommy seems to be a bit better today, so he is going to his AUnties. I need to go to the grocery store this morning and get food for the holidays. I am a bit behind. Argh...then off to rent a Rug Doctor and go clean my In-laws apartment for them. So I best get running!

I am slagging in blogging again. As always I am busy, busy.....today was a day of taking care of sick little Tommy all day. Plus I was up with most of last night. He was in bed with us as he wasn't feeling well, which means he slept as close to me as he could all night. I should be gettinga few hours of sleep now before he comes into our bed. He still isn't feeling the best. I did take him to the Dr this afternoon and he has a double ear infection. I originally wasn't going to take him in as he seemed to be perking up, but am glad I did. He was very crabby today so all we did was watch TV and cuddle.

I washed dishes with him and then had Daddy watch him so I could make supper. He was so very upset about that. He is in bed now. I need to make my grocery list so I can get groceries in the morning. In the afternoon tomorrow i need to go clean my in-laws apartment and steam clean their carpets. Josh will help me with that.

Joshua went to the movie tonight. I guess it is official he has a gf. He went to the movie with the girl that asked him to Sadie Hawkins dance, Amanda. Her mother took them to the movie and my hubby jsut went to pick them up. It is hard for us mommies to see our babies so grown up. I do I make time slow down???

I best go make my grocery list and head to bed. I have not bought any food for Thanksgiving yet!! YIKES!!! Hopefully Tommy will feel well enough to go to his Aunties tomorrow so I can do all these things.

HOpe everyone is having a great day. I am off of work until Monday now, so I am sure I will have to time to post again. NIGHT!

I cut this recipe out of Sunday's paper. I hope to try it soon as it is my hubby's favorite at the restaurant.

Q. The Timber Lodge Steak House in Stillwater has the best Minnesota Wild Rice Soup. Would it be possible to get the recipe?

A. You aren't the only one who loves that soup; other readers have written in for that recipe as well. We ran this recipe a year ago when Timber Lodge management was kind enough to share. Here it is again.

TIMBER LODGE WILD RICE SOUP
Makes 10 to 12 servings.
½ cup wild rice, rinsed (see cook's note)
¾ cup minced ham
¾ cup shredded carrots
½ cup minced onion
10 cups water, divided
½ cup plus 2 tablespoons chicken base
1¾ teaspoons salt
1¾ teaspoons white pepper
3 cups half-and-half
1 cup butter
1 cup flour
½ cup toasted slivered almonds

To cook wild rice: In saucepan, combine rice and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer for 45 to 60 minutes or until most of rice has cracked. Drain off excess water. Set aside.

To make stock: In stockpot, saute ham, carrots and onion until tender. Add 8 cups water. Whisk in chicken base. Stir in salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer.

To finish soup: In small saucepan, melt butter. Gradually stir in flour to form roux. Cook, stirring, until slightly golden. Whisk into large pot of chicken stock, stirring until combined. Return to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to simmer. Stir in cooked rice and almonds. Add half-and-half. Cook until heated through. Serve.

Cook's note: For a denser soup, double amount of wild rice. Combine 1 cup rice with 4 cups water, then follow directions above for cooking.

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Got ot run home with a sick little Tommy and boy is he crabby!

Life is a blur.  We are busy as always.   The weekend was very enjoyable.  I tried to get caught up on some things around the house on Saturday while hubby was at work.  Tommy cooperated and took a long nap.  I finally got out my winter clothes.  I still will need a few more work clothes.  We have a new dress code, so I have to be even more professional is my dress.  I rarely wore jeans anyways, but now I can't at all.  

My hubby informed me he wants a new computer for Christmas.  LOL!!   We will see if Santa will be that nice, I am highly doubting it! 

More update on my truck.  It is finally done!!!!!   I can pick it up today after work.  I might try and leave work a bit early either today or tomorrow so I can go to the city hall and do the transfer of title.  The repairs were only about $400.00 over the estimate, which isn't as bad as we thought it would be.  I think I will let hubby drive it to work tomorrow.  He was so nice to go out and find me a new truck, so he should get to drive it first.      I still don't really know how to use the security system on it.  I am afraid the alarm will be going off on me in the parking lot.  I need a day to figure it out and feel comfortable. 

I have a ton of work to do at work, I best get busy on it.  I will try to write more if I have time this evening.  Not sure!! 

TO DO:

• Call Insurance Co - Insure Blazer
  
• Call Seller of Blazer with question
  
• Call Kevin at Polar Chev.
  
• Make Dr. Appnt for Hubby
  
• Run to Target at Noon - Find Seat Protectant for CarSeat

Finally.....xanga is allowing me to upload a picture. I tried to do this yesterday, but it wouldn't le me.  Above is a picture of our new (well new to us anyways) vehicle.  This isn't the exact vehicle, but close.  We have running boards and stuff.  I called the dealership and they are still working on repairs of the vehicle.  It should be ready sometime tomorrow afternoon.  So we will have it for the weekend to get accustomed to it.   I am glad when all will be done as it has been interfering with my work schedule since I had to take care of stuff, etc. 

Last night church was very enjoyable.   For parent time we really jsut chatted.  We talked about the recent prayer conference and the upcoming hoidays.  Tommy even participated in some songs with the big kids.  He was really opening up.  He doesnt' always like to do actions to songs at school or church.  He will do them at home, but no where else. 

The rest of the evening was pretty laid back.  Once home from church, I gave Tommy a bath, started some laundry and went to bed to begin reading my new book.   I received my order from Amazon.com yesterday.  So I started reading Da Vinci Code.  I am really enjoying it so far.  I love books that get my attention from the very beginning.  So I have put the Secret Life of Bees down again to read the Da Vinci Code.   I am still listening to "I know this much is true" by Wally Lamb while commuting.   I have appointments this afternoon so I will be able to listen an extra hour today.  YEAH!! 

Well I am done with my lunch, time to get back to work.  Later!

Hubby and I were able to buy our new vehicle.  YEAH!!   We took possession today and have it in the shop getting some needed service done. 

I finally updated my Books Read in 2003 to current. Next to get caught up with recipes!

Now I am off to complete my one hour of cleaning for the day.

Change sheets
Dust and Vacuum
Sweep & Mop
Mirrors and Doors
Empty Trash
Start Laundry

Well things are moving right along in the buying this vehicle process. Tonight hubby and I will test drive and take the vehicle to the dealership to have a 72 point inspection. It seems worth the money when you are buying a used vehicle from a private party. Then tomorrow morning it is off to the bank if we decide to purchase it. I already called the car insurance company and it will cost only about 300 more a year once we dump the insurance on the truck.

Hopefully everything works out a at the bank!!! Keeping my fingers crossed. Now I have the entire day off...what will I do?? Hmmm....I have to finish up bills and reconciling the checkbook then it is off to clean up and do laundry. Hopefully i will ahve time to enter in some checks as well. later!

God seems to work in mysterious ways in our life. Things always seem to fall into our laps in strange ways. My hubby ran across a vehicle that we might buy. We have been in desparate need of another dependable vehicle. It was a right time, right place sort of thing. We will be test driving it tomorrow night. Then I will make a run to the bank on Wednesday and secure funding for it hopefully if we like it after we drive it. Ya just get the feeling it was meant to be. It costs about the exact amount of what our tax reutrn should be this year. So I will only need the loan for a small time hopefully.

So we will see how this all goes. If it was meant to happen it will is sort of how I look at things.