Monday, September 14, 2009

Storm Watch 2009

From the National Hurricane Center monthly report for July:

THE 2009 SEASON IS OFF TO A SLOW START WITH NO TROPICAL STORMS OBSERVED. SINCE 1944...THERE HAVE BEEN THIRTEEN YEARS IN WHICH A TROPICAL STORM WAS NOT OBSERVED BY THE END OF JULY...MOST RECENTLY
IN 2004.
(emphasis added)

In that quiet until September year of 2004, two of the four hurricanes to hit Florida directly hit Vero Beach.

We may still be running for the hills inland swamp this year!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Bennett Weight Loss Challenge

So, over here in the world of the Bennett's we are trying to go the way of the healthy (prompted by a word from the Doctor). To inspire us along this lofty goal, we have instituted the following plan:

Bennett Weight Loss Challenge

The Goal: Mark and April are going to lose at least 5 pounds each between
September 1, 2009 and October 1, 2009.

Mark Current 243 Goal 238
April Current 180 Goal 175

The Reward:
1.If Mark loses 5 pounds, he will receive $50 (and $10 per pound for every pound lost over 5).

2.If April loses 5 pounds, she will receive $50 (and $10 per pound for every pound lost over 5).

3.If Mark and April BOTH lose at least 5 pounds, they will each receive $100 (plus the $10 per pound lost over 5 pounds).

This has prompted the use of the phrase "That [insert name of food here] is going to cost me $50 bucks"!!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Sweet and Spicy Chicken Stir-Fry

This is a favorite Bennett Family dinner. It fits all the requirements...tasty, easy to make, most ingredents are here most of the time. This recipe has been modified for two because that is how many we cook for here.

Things you will need:
1 and 1/2 cups uncooked white rice
2/3 cups white vinegar
8 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 teaspoon soy sauce
4 teaspoons cornstarch (in 6 teaspoons of water)
3/4 cup pineapple chunks
1/4-1/2 cup pineapple juice
2 chicken breasts, in bite-size pieces
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 green bell petter, cut into strips
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes


How it works:
1. Cook rice according to package directions.

2. Mix vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, and soy sauce together in a small pot. Bring to a boil. Add cornstarch mixture to other ingredients and stir to thicken. Set aside.

3.Stir-fry chicken in hot oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until no longer pink in center. Add green pepper and pineapple juice; stir-fry 2 minutes or until tender-crisp.

4. Add 1/2 of the sauce from step 2, red peper flakes, and pineapple chunks; stir-fry until heated through (about 2 minutes).

When serving, put chicken mixture on rice. Use remaining sauce at the table (if it is all in with the chicken, the mixture is too soupy).

Eat Up!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Knitting gone all wrong

I tried to learn to knit a few months ago, but I am NOT a knitter. I have too many other things to do and I can't sit still that long. Today, I put the yarn in the good will pile. A bit later I was in my office and my chair wouldn't roll right, I looked around for the source and saw the yarn. All over. I mean, one end of the room to the other and all twisted around everything. And in the middle of it? The happiest cat you have ever seen. At least the cat got the money's worth out of the yarn. He has been busy with it for a few hours now. I guess this is a good warm up for kids!!

Pretty Things

I read a blog this morning that is focusing on "pretty" this week. I have a few pretty things to share too...

First...our new bedding. It was so fun to get all the pillows and everything fixed up all at once. Mom is proud of my 11 pillows (there are also 11 pillows on the bed in the mediterranean room as well).


Second...I have been craving fruit lately (I blame the medication) and I am trying to be healthy about our dinner choices. This was Sunday night dinner and it was as tasty as it is pretty.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Dash earns his keep

I was in my office and heard a lot of scurring about in the living room. I went out and Dash was sitting in the middle of the floor with little lizard legs sticking out of his mouth. He had CAUGHT the first lizard he ever met. I screamed and ran for the camera. I couldn't get any good pictures of the lizard in his little mouth, but he looked so happy. He kept letting it go and recapturing his prisoner. I got the slider door open and put Dash (with lizard in mouth) outside. It has been about 30 minutes and he still has his new pet and is terrorizing it. He has no idea how to kill it. I am very thankful the cat found the lizard before I did!!! Here are a few pictures of the happy cat.








Monday, April 27, 2009

Burbon Salmon and Purple Potatoes


We were told that purple potatoes are "in" now. So we had to try them, not wanting to be considered behind the times. Turns out they were quite a delightfully tasty side dish to our favorite salmon dish.


A Magic Kingdom Birthday

We went to the Magic Kingdom for April's Birthday last week...here are a few pictures of the day.. I got a pin that said it was my Birthday. Most of the park employees then wished me a happy day. I will admit, the attention was lots of fun!!





Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Waiting For Vacation

Why is it that the last few days before vacation are always the longest? Our vacation starts on Friday, and it is taking forever to get there. I have a feeling, though, that the rest of the month will go very fast. So what does April (the month) look like around here?

April 3 - UCF school visit and an evening at Disney World
April 4-5 - Hang out in Vero Beach (mostly yardwork, hopefully beach time). Go to Lake Wales to give Dash to Mom and Dad for the week.
April 6-8 - St Simons Island, GA
April 9 - NOTHING!!!
April 10 - Kayaking on the Indian River
April 11 - NOTHING!!
April 12 - Parents come for Easter and bring back Dash
April 13 - Dash goes to the Vet
April 14-15 - Probably business as usual
April 16-18 - Most likely will find the Bennett's in Washington, DC for work
April 19-21 - A few days of normal work
April 22- BIRTHDAY!!! Going to Disneyworld
April 24 - Sun n Fun, Lakeland, FL (second largest airshow in the country) and hopefully dinner
Tampa with some cousins
April 28 - Finals begin for Mark

Wow, that kind of makes me tired just typing it all out. I can't wait for it all to begin!!!

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Have some pumpkin

During our visit to the Vet with Dash this week, we asked if we should be concerned that he cries while using the litter box. The Vet just told us, "feed him pumpkin." When pressed, all she said was buy some canned pumpkin and feed it to him.

So we did. And he LOVES pumpkin. He ate it right up and came back for more. It was like a treat to him.

Then we decided to experiment and gave pumpkin to Daisy. She also thought this was a fantastic treat and ate about 1/2 a can.

Today they both went nuts over it again as soon as I opened the lid.

Who knew pets liked pumpkin? As for the original problem, we are still not sure if it is better yet.

Defend Thy Food, Dog!

Today Dash discovered a wonderful treat to eat...Daisy's food!! After Daisy eats, there is generally at least 3-4 pieces of food on the floor that she refuses to eat, because, well, it's on the floor.

Dash watched this with interest this morning and then went over to try some of this yummy food. Daisy saw this and started getting all mad at the cat (and us, for laughing at this sight). However, she made no move to eat the food herself, again, because she won't eat her food off the floor, but there was NO WAY she was going to be ok with Dash eating it!!

Later on we had to put Daisy's food up because Dash kept climbing in the bowl (yes, he fits) to eat the food.

We had expected to need to work at keeping Daisy out of the cat food, but this is a whole new twist!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

St. Patrick's Day Question

So, do you not have to wear green if you have red hair? I was totally not aware of that until today when two people told me that. Huh? Who knew?

Dash's First Vet Visit

Well, the official word is that he is a healthy little cat. He is fighting an infection and worms he probably picked up from the nasty place we got him from.

The vet had to get the "baby scale" out for him. He weighs 2 pounds 3 ounces (but will probably lose weight when the worms are treated).

Everyone thought he was totally cute and such a good little baby kitten.

He only wanted to be held by Mark and fell asleep in his arms while we were still at the clinic.

Next shots in three weeks.

Everyone is home and happy. Except maybe Daisy...she will be going to the vet tomorrow.

Monday, March 16, 2009

It does sound funny

This morning I was making reservations with a hotel for our Spring Break vacation. This hotel is located right on the beach in Georgia. Beaches are, of course, popular for Spring Break. But, it did sound funny to give the guy my address, which has the word "beach" in it. For who would leave their beachside town to go to another beachside town for vacation? Apparently that is just how we do it.

So Saint Simon's Island, here we come (unless we can get a good last minute deal to Europe).

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Practically Emotional

If you know you are going to break down sobbing at least once in a day, isn't it a good idea to just go ahead and put it on the list of things to do today? At least that way, once done crying, there there will be a sense of accomplishment. Right?

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Computers go, computers come...

Mark's computer died a quick death on Thursday afternoon by way of a burnt up video card. This led us to need a new computer. We were able to get a great deal on a new computer that will work better for Mark for school (much more portable).

I have been wanting a wireless keyboard, which would greatly help my work. So, it seemed like a good time to get that as well.

And then...as long as we were getting a computer with a small screen, a big monitor would be nice. (The two screen thing would be nice for work, too).

So today we had a major technology purchase day and then came home and played with all our new toys!

I had to rearrange my desk for the new screen, but it is really nice to have. I also had to clear out the keyboard tray, where I had been storing all kinds of random things that probably have a better home somewhere else in the house.

(And I am still convinced the computer died because we got our tax return and our things decided the money needed to be spent)

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Tequila Lime Pork Chops

We had this delicious marinade on boneless pork chops this evening. It was a big hit (also has been popular on chicken).

1 T fresh minced garlic
1/2 c lemon juice
1 t salt
1/2 c tequila
1 t pepper
1 1/2 t chili powder (I used chipotle powder and had a good kick)
1 T olive oil
(this was enough marinade for 4 chops)

Marinade for about 1/2 hour. Grill pork chops.

Yummy!!!

I served this with a side of fresh pineapple.

Meet Dash!


Dash was helping with work this morning..

...but he soon fell asleep on the job.


Everyone here loves Dash (except maybe Daisy).






We brought our new kitty home on Monday night. His name is Dash...which is very fitting, because he dashes everywhere. He has been a fun little distraction for us and we are both getting very attached.

Daisy and Dash

It is amusing to see a 120 pound dog play with a 12 ounce cat. So far no one has been stepped on and much fun is being had. (Pictures to come soon).