Random musings

I have the kids today. Had Critter for a bit too. I got a text right after I woke up from Critter saying that her pipes were frozen and could she bring everyone over now please? I told her sure, jumped in the shower to get myself cleaned up, cleaned up the drain end of the shower a bit (the drains are really slow, and there’s always some kind of build-up at that end) and pulled fresh towels out of the Space Bags I keep them in and pulled her shampoo down off the shelf just in case.

Then she roared in here thirty-five minutes afterward, and was still late for work. Oh well, I tried.

I threw breakfast together for everyone too. I think I mentioned awhile back that I managed to snag a nice Lodge cast-iron two burner griddle
on clearance (like 75% off), and I totally forgot I had it until I was trying to fit nine strips of bacon into my sauté pan. And then I was trying to figure out how I was going to get rid of the bacon grease in the pan (’cause it was still really hot) when I remembered that I also have a skillet from the same set. It was all the way in the back of the cabinet, which is why I forgot about it and have been using the sauté pan for everything. No wonder it looks so rough, poor thing. I’ll probably have to buy another set after I get moved. I need to expand on my cookware anyway if I’m going to actually learn to cook. I’ll need some stainless steel and probably a few more cast iron implements. There are some things you just can’t do in non-stick (like build a pan sauce).

OK, just went searching through my diary and somehow, if I mentioned it, I didn’t use the words "Lodge", "cast-iron", or "griddle" when I did. Oh well. Oooh! When I was putting the links in I saw that Lodge also makes a really nifty cast-iron grill press that I might just have to get. That would have helped with the bacon this morning…

So anyway, since I was in a hurry this morning I was Mr. Cross-Contamination in the flesh. I managed to not make anyone sick though, but next time I’ll remember to get the bacon started and on its way, then wash my hands, then do everything else.

D has been just a right royal goober today. The girls are a little rambunctious but nothing out of the ordinary for a nine- and four-year-old kept inside by the cold. And just so I wasn’t the bad guy, I told them of course they could go out and play in the yard, just bundle up. Five minutes later they were back inside.

I should probably try to get lunch together for them, but they haven’t mentioned it and Critter gets off from work right about now so maybe I can get away with not mentioning it.

B and D talked to their dad on their cell phone earlier. I wish he’d spend more time with them, they are always asking when they’re going to get to see him again.

Cleaning up after breakfast was a bit of an adventure. Bacon grease was all over the place, as expected, but there were other parts of the kitchen in serious need of attention and I have no idea why I haven’t cleaned them before now.

Still not sure what I’m going to do about my plants. I had to move them so we could eat, and I’m not sure I can leave them where they are. I’ll figure something out. I might buy an inexpensive heater to leave next to them.