Vacation in Town: Day 4

The final full day of my stay-cation ended with a quickness.

We got up in the morning and Tayshaun and I made pancakes.  He spotted some green food coloring and wanted to use it.  I thought there was no harm in green cakes so we dropped some into the batter.  It seemed like they should have been mint pancakes but maybe I will save that for another time.

I did not have enough syrup so I took some frozen raspberries and made a jam to put on the pancakes.  They came out good and we all gorged ourselves a bit too much.  Then it was off to the park!

The goal was to wear Tayshaun out so he could take an early nap and we could to go to petting zoo later in the afternoon.  While playing with Tayshaun on the equipment, I lost my balance, slipped, and twisted my ankle.  Several years ago I tore some ligaments in that ankle and was out of commission for months.  I am applying ice and elevating it with high hopes that this is a minor injury.

As for the evening plans, Ashley got out of work early enough to take the whole crew.  I stayed home so keep the weight off my foot.  It was nice to have a quite house but I do wish I could have gone with them.  Ashley really saved the day in taking Cait, Amy, Jazaiah, Tayshaun and Kaleigh without me.  She even took a few pictures.

Vacation in Town: Day 3

Another day of kid-ville.  We got up a little late but headed to a museum.  It was a risk with Tayshaun being so young and there being so many things that he can not touch.  It started off with a lot of disappointment from him but it soon shaped up after we found the kids room.

Ashley and her daughter, Kaleigh, joined us again for the day.  We were lucky because Ashley packed a great lunch of sandwiches, carrots, crackers, and juice.  It was by far the best lunch we have had on over the last several days.  Unfortunately, I did not get any pictures.

After lunch, Ashley, Kaleigh, and I tried to watch an IMax movie.  Tayshaun was too restless to sit through it so he went to the kids room.  About 5 minutes into the film, some chowder-head pulled the fire alarm and we had to exist.  It was a false alarm but we were unable to watch the movie.  We did play in the kids areas for a good part of the afternoon.

Dinner was pizza again.  With so many different people and a local pizza shop that offers vegan pizza, it is an easy solution.  Once again, I forgot to take pictures.

When we were done eating, I had a surprise for the Tayshaun and Kaleigh.  We went outside and I made them stand by the wall.  I quickly pulled out a watergun and squirted them both!  Then is started.  It was about an hour long water fight and the only one that did not get in it was Jazaiah.  Caitlyn stay out of the fray for much of it but Amy and Ashley both got in it on occasion.

Vacation in Town: Day 2

Stay-cation day two was another eventful outing.  In the morning, it was just the 5 of us and we headed to the zoo at the request of my nephew, Tayshaun.  We took a lot of precautions for the heat since my niece, Jazaiah, is only 4 months old.  It worked out well and we made it through!  Tayshaun seemed indifferent when he saw most of the animals and just wanted to ride the train.  It made me wonder if we could have found a cheaper and more "humane" activity.  Either way, we had fun as a group.

Nap time was a highlight though.  The kids took a nice long nap at the house was quite.  In the evening we headed to an indoor inflatable playground.  I just want to say, I tore that place up!  I went on every slide and obstacle course they had.  I even have the skinned knees and elbows to prove it.  Ashley and her daughter, Kaleigh, joined us at the playground.  It was a great time, despite the fact that their air conditioning was not working.

For dinner it was left over pasta from last night.  Nothing special but it did the trick since my sister Caitlyn and her friend Amy wanted to go to a chain Chinese food place that they do not get in Maine.  I was able to begin the day with my nephew sitting on my front porch eating watermelon.

Vacation in Town: Day 1

As of Tuesday at around Midnight, I have been on a much needed vacation from the jobby job.  It is far from my typical vacations though.  My younger sister, Caitlyn, her friend Amy, my nephew Tayshaun, and my new niece Jazaiah flew into town for an extended weekend visit.  My nephew is nearly 3 and my niece is almost 4 months old.  I have very limited experience with kids.  It will be a fun time and I want to take the blog world along for the adventure.

Thursday morning, the five of us woke up and I darted across town to pick up Ashley's daughter, Kaleigh, who is 4 years old.  We are all headed to the popular destination of the Aquarium.  I thought the kids would enjoy the time and luckily, Ashley got out of class in time to join us.  The seven of us took several hours to go through the complex and it was a lot of fun to see the kids reactions to the fish.

For dinner, (after a short car nap by the kids) we had a simple pasta dish with my doctored up marinara from a jar.  Tayshaun is a picky eater and I hid the portobella mushrooms and green peppers well.  I also steamed some veggies for some nutrients.  It was a nice meal and I think everyone enjoyed it.  My limited experience with children makes me timid in the kitchen when it is time to cook.  I do not want to make something that their undeveloped palates will object to.  Pasta was safe with allowing me to still be slightly creative for the adults.

After dinner, we headed to the park for about 3 hours on the playground.  The Tayshaun and Kaleigh really impressed me with their ability to scales walls.  I guess I am a little out of touch with a child's capability but this seemed impressive to me.  From the playground, Ashley and Kaleigh headed home and the 5 of us headed back to my house.

As soon as we walked in the door, Tayshaun reminded me that we had picked up a watermelon and it was time to cut and eat it.  We had a long day and we had earned our slices.  Jazaiah even joined in on the watermelon devouring.

Police Knock!

As a rule, I sleep with my phone on the nightstand beside my bed.  That way, if anyone has urgent Real Estate business, I can take care of it.  Working nights at the jobby job means that I am not the agent that typically gets started at 7am.  I realize others are so I try to accommodate.

For several weeks, I have been awoken by the phone.  In fact, there may have only been one or two times in the last 6 weeks that I have not been startle awake by the alarm or the phone.  It was effecting my sleep.  Friday, I decided that I was going to sleep in.  I anxiously left my phone downstairs so that it would not disturb my sleep.  Everything was going to wait.

I was a bit uncomfortable falling asleep, feeling like I might miss something important but I knew my body needed it.  Sleep.  Finally.  Then I was shocked awake with a police style banging on my front door.  Still not quite awake, I laid in bed for a few seconds, looked at the clock next to me to realize the power was out.  The police knock came again, this time longer.

In my PJs, I darted downstairs and threw the door open to see my neighbor fully dressed, on my front porch.  He asked me if I had power.  I told him I did not and he asked if I had already called the power company.  I looked at my own PJs and imagined my messy bed head and politely told him no.  He said he would do it and walked back to his house.  I grabbed my phone to check the time.  7:15am.  Needless to say, I was unhappy, especially when I could not get back to sleep.

Luckily for me I tried the same tactic on Sunday morning and was able to sleep until nearly noon.  It was great and I felt refreshed.

I had a busy morning Saturday, luckily, Ashley helped me out by making me a pasta salad to take to work that night as well used my tofu scramble recipe to make us some nice breakfast burritos for brunch.  It was nice to not have to rush to get food prepared myself.

I also was able to whip up some nice Bar B-Que tempeh for my lunch before work on Sunday.  It was a nice healthy(ish) lunch for myself.

I am really enjoying the Real Estate market.  I have been spending as much time as I can with clients and it is great.  I hope they keep coming!

Pesto Sandwich Spread

It has been great being busy with Real Estate.  However, that combined with still logging more than 40 hours a week at the jobby job, I have had little time to cook.  I decided to make some wraps as a simple grab and go meal.  They have been great too me.  I have been eating them for days.

I used the recipe below to make a pesto sandwich spread, added red onion, sprouts, avocado, shredded carrots, greens, cucumber, and some pre-package vegan deli slices, topped with a little balsamic vinegar.  This would also be great with some of my homemade deli slices.  It has been great to have a healthy meal while I have been working so hard.

Pesto Sandwich Spread

3 cloves of garlic
2 cups of fresh basil
1 cup of pine nuts
1/2 cup of olive oil
2 tablespoons of sun dried tomatoes
1  1/2 tablespoon of nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
1 teaspoon of salt


In a blender or food processor, add the garlic, oil and pine nuts.  Puree until the garlic i broken down.  Add the basil, salt, nutritional yeast, sun dried tomatoes, and lemon juice.  Puree until smooth.

This has recipe has made enough pesto for about a weeks worth of sandwiches.

A productive day after a good visit this weekend

I had quite a good day today.  I got up early and took a client out to see some property.  As we pulled into the second house, we both knew it was the place they wanted.  We rushed back to submit an offer.  Later in the evening I was able to go out with another client and look at some other properties as well.  It has felt very productive.

It was good to feel accomplished after a weekend with some quality relaxation.  Friday morning I received a text from and old punk rock friend saying he was coming through town and wanted to get together.  He and his buddy came over for dinner and crashed at my place for the night.  It was a short visit but really nice to catch up some after nearly 8 years.

For dinner I made a simple brown rice with veggies, Ashley made a strawberry mango and banana smoothie and as a main dish, I made some really great chic pea patties.  They were a little more crumbly then I would have liked but will certainly be made again.

More with the Seitan Steaks?

A night off was just what I needed to refresh myself. It was a nice evening and I had some nice fresh salad to make me feel even better.  I fried up some seitan steaks that I made earlier in the week to top the salad.  I drizzled some poppy seed vinaigrette over the top for a complete salad taste.

Ashley does not care much for vinaigrettes so I promised her that the next salad we have will be a "creamy" dressing.  She did however request some cookies.  I whipped some up in the late night and they were gone with a quickness.  Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Evening Off, Big Things?

A day off!

I spent the morning looking at some properties on my own.  It was a nice relaxing time and something I needed to do.  Tonight I have some nice dinner plans with what I hope turns out to be a relaxing evening.  Sadly, there is no basketball on tonight.

The last evening I had off, I made a nice stir fry with my stir fry sauce.  It was a nice meal filled with great veggies!

Let the Chaos Ensue!

The weekend began with a relaxing Friday off.  Saturday started with an early meeting which spiraled into an unexpected double shift at the jobby job.  Nearly 17 hours later, I was done with the day, slept in Sunday morning, and ended up back at work soon after awaking for another long day.

Monday was a day "off" from the jobby job.  Gladly, I spent the day showing houses and looking at some investment properties.  It was an early bedtime for another double shift at the jobby job.  Wednesday came and I was showing some houses in the morning.  I had three days off and was set to spent some relaxing.  However, my boss at the jobby job forgot that he gave me Wednesday night off and I am heading to work again shortly.

Needless to say, cooking has not been a top priority.  I have done a bit but it has been infrequent.  Luckily, I will be taking some time off in the next couple of weeks!

Steamed Veggies with Paprika and Thyme

Seitan Steak Fajitas (for work)

Chocolate Cake!