Sunset over frozen farmland

It is most difficult to crawl out of warm covers on a cold morning. But then, a quarter inch layer of ice on the inside of a window is bound to have some insulating properties. (This is only true for a couple of the windows)

But duty calls! One must set a good example for the progeny and all.

First, preparations must be made to start the most important activity of the day....exercising. This included donning slippers and padding down to the basement to get clean socks out of the dryer. Then there was the padding back up to get dressed, and padding down again to pour out Trevor's shot of "wake-up juice," which I'd forgotten in my early morning paddical daze.

So, with all this padding about, I figured I could EASILY subtract 10 minutes from the exercise regime. This allows those precious minutes to be used in a more profitable way....like, reading in the bathroom. (By the way, did you know that the father of the H-bomb was really Stan Ulam and not Edward Teller?)

After exercise--which is performed in a non-heated room of the second floor addition--I clumped down to the kitchen, with all five senses fully functioning.

It was THEN that I smelled it. That unmistakable odor.....dead mouse.

WHOA! How could I have missed this when I was down here earlier? It was then that I spied two little boys playing with the Legos. Before proceeding to check for dead rodents, it might just be prudent to check someone's diaper.

Trevor denied any complicity in the offensive odor department. Twice. I decided it would be easier to check my traps before peeling off his sleepers and exposing him to a chill.

My first two traps were empty....then my eyes rested upon a third, turned upside down. AHA! Victory! Except....when I gingerly picked it up, part of the mouse stayed on the floor.....EE-YOUUUUU. ("she's breaking up!....Cap'n....she's breaking up!")

Man. Don't ya just hate it when that happens?

"Let me see! Mommy, let me see!"

"UGh. No, it's gross! It smells"

"Let me SEE!"

*waves in general direction of boys while making hasty tracks for door*

Well, after all of that, there was nothing for it but to light a scented candle, and scrub the floor with soap and hot water. And fix breakfast.

Say, have I ever given my recipe for "Ma's Power Oatmeal?"

MA's Power Oatmeal

• pour water in pan to boil, add salt, maple flavoring and cinnamon
  
• peel, and chop one half an apple, add to water
  
• Only use long cooking oats-they pack more punch
  
• Put in more oats than they say, so you don't end up with a wimpy thin mixure
  
• When desired doneness is achieved (I always undercook it, 'cause I like some "meat" to my oatmeal) transfer cooked product to bowl
  
• add brown sugar, walnuts, slivered almonds or pecans. I use walnuts since they are cheaper...
  
• add milk with fat content of your choice. I use 2%, because life's too short for skim or 1%.
  

I have seen a lady chef on TV put a "glaze" on the top by getting out a propane torch and heating up the sugar on top to a crust. (for some reason, the name "Belleveiw" just popped into my mind.....I don't know why)

So there you have it :-) Ma's own special power oatmeal. Believe me, it'll stick to your ribs.

In the meantime, I'll leave you with this ancient Irish blessing:

May the road rise to meet you,
May it rise quite a lot,
May your oatmeal be sticky, your mouses be not.

Tweet