I've been extremely tired the past few days. So, having Mark off from work on Tuesday, and Wednesday because of the interview, was nice. He helped out A LOT around the house, and he folded a lot of clothes! In fact on Wednesday I got to spend some one on one time with Rene. She and I made cards for Sinny and Ardjan, and took a trip to the post office, and into town. It was so relaxing, and laid back! She and I stopped at McDonald's to pick up hot fudge sundaes to bring back home and enjoy with Stephie and Daddy. We also stopped by a RedBox and picked up "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs."
The hot fudge sundaes we ordered turned out to be caramel sundaes. It was the first time I ate a caramel sundae (I'm a chocolate lover, so I've always passed on the caramel sundaes) but I loved it! We enjoyed the sundaes while watching the movie. It was a nice night, until it was time for Rene to go to bed. Apparently the animated movie that showed various foods falling from the sky scarred her, so she couldn't go to sleep. She eventually nodded off while cuddling with daddy on the couch with Disney's The Aristocats softly playing in the background.
Thursday is a bit of a blur to me. Mark worked somewhere around ten or eleven hours that day. So, it was just the children and I all day. Mark and I were both very tired by the end of the night. The only thing I really remember doing is cooking psari plaki (an awesome baked fish dish) for the first time, for dinner that night. I am big into Greek foods and cooking. I prefer Greek food to most American food. And, I've been experimenting with the recipes in a Greek cook book that my mom gave me. I will write the recipe for Thursday night's dinner at the bottom of this post.
Mark had to be at work at 5:30am on Friday. So, the girls and I did not take him to work that morning. It would have been way too early for them. Instead Mark went off to work and came home at 9:30am to pick us up for grocery shopping. The girls and I dropped Mark back off at work, and then grabbed a bite to eat. After our lunch, we went grocery shopping. The grocery store was out of a lot of the things that we buy due to frantic customers stocking up for the impending snow storm, but we made due. On our way back home after grocery shopping we stopped at McDonald's. I do not like McDonald's, actually I do not like fast food. However, we always stop at a fast food restaurant on grocery day because of time and convenience. Anyway, the McDonald's was insanely busy. I ended up cutting off a car in fear that I would be stuck in the parking lot for all eternity, unable to neither get out of it or order food. So, I cut off what ended up to be a elderly couple in order to get in the backed up line of vehicles waiting to place their orders. I felt so bad about this that when I paid for my order I told the McDonald's cashier that I was going to take care of the bill for the car directly behind us. As I pulled up to the second drive thru window, the people behind me tried to pay for their food at the first window. Through my rear view mirror I saw the cashier point to my vehicle. So, I waved to the people in the red car behind me, and the elderly man waved back. They seemed to be appreciative. And, I felt better about cutting them off. A while ago, someone had done this for me at a Starbuck's drive- thru. I was so appreciative that a stranger had paid for my order that I wanted to do the same for someone. Friday, I was given the perfect opportunity, and I felt GREAT afterwards!
It began to snow on Friday around 1:00, and didn't let up until about an hour ago, Saturday at around 4:00pm. We had a TON of snow where we live! My husband made the comment that if we dropped one of our daughters into the snow that we would never be able to find them again. Mark is originally from Idaho, and he said that he has never seen this much snow from one storm in his life. So, we've been snowed in all day. Our neighbor called to tell us about a news story she heard that advised people to keep their heaters free of snow due to the threats of carbon monoxide poisoning. So, he has been out several times today to clear our heater of snow. Other than that it has been a pretty lazy day. Mark and I have done a lot of reading. In fact the reason I haven't written a post in a while is because I've been stuck on a book written by Debbe Magnusen titled "Don't Abandon Your Baby." Anyone that knows me (and probably even those that do not) knows that I love to get involved with causes that I support. One such cause is the Pro-Life movement. Debbe Magnusen is the founder of an organization called Project Cuddles. (Early Sat. Look at how high the snow is on Mark's leg)Project cuddles in a organization that helps prevent babies from being abandoned from all over the nation. Basically Debbe and the Project Cuddles volunteers help out scared or confused woman in their time of crisis. To find out more about Project Cuddles please go to www.projectcuddle.org . Anyway, so through their website I came across her book. I am almost done reading the book. It has been a great light into the hearts of the would-be baby abandoning mothers. I never quite understood why a mother would abandon her baby until reading this book. Now, I understand that motherhood isn't for everyone. Some people are not meant to have children, and just because a baby grows in a woman's body, doesn't mean that, that baby truly belongs to her. Because while that baby is growing in a woman's body that does not want it, it is growing in the heart of a different woman that does want it. A lot of times getting pregnant, and giving a baby up for adoption enriches the birth mother's life... God works in mysterious ways. And, I would like to get involved with Project Cuddles and help turn would be tragedies into hope, and blessings.
The past few days have been busy, yet relaxing at the same time. As always, life's great and extraordinary, no matter what storm (natural or other wise) is thrown my way. With God, nothing is as it seems... With God, would be tragedies are blessings. With God, we are able to see clearly and not let money fog our view. With God we are able to live an extraordinary life!
Sunday morning. All the snow swallowed our car! Mid Sat. The girls' castle climber in the snow.
Psari Plaki
1 lb fish fillets (I used flounder)
1 tablespoon chopped parsley (I used oregano for more flavor!)
1 tablespoon lemon juice (I squeezed 1/4 of a lemon)
3/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
3 tablespoons olive oil (I never go by the directions, and used much more)
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, minced1 large tomato, thinly sliced
lemon wedges (the book says 3, I used more)
2 tablespoons white wine
The book says to arrange the fish in an 8 or 9 in square baking dish. However, I found this to be WAY too small and I put the fish in a 12 x 8 in dish. (Yes, I actually have a 12 x 8, it's not a 9 x 13) Sprinkle with parsley (oregano), lemon juice, and salt.
Heat the oil in a small skillet and fry the onion and garlic until limp.
Top the fish with the onion mixture, including the oil from the skillet.
Arrange the tomatoes on top of the onion mixture, then place the lemon slices between the tomato slices. Pour the wine over all and bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until the fish flakes with a fork.
Serve with Braised Potatoes (see my post titled Greek Food, Drinking, and Dancing)
Thursday night I served this with fresh green beans, and orzo mixed with fresh tomatoes, oregano, and olive oil.
What a lot of snow! Glad your dh decided to stay where you are. I haven't forgotten about sending you some stuff - I have just been mad busy with my dh away and kids off school etc.. Can't get my head into gear. xx
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