And the Winner of the Giveaway is.....

There were 52 valid entries for the Giveaway.
I assigned a number to each name and then used Random dotorg to generate a number and the person assigned to that number won.

And the winner is......


anne marie!

Random dotorg picked #1 and the first person to enter the contest was anne marie.

Congratulations anne marie and as soon as you email me your mailing address this Boring Box will be winging it's way to you.

A big THANK YOU to all my readers who entered and please keep coming back to see what boring things I have to write about.
I LOVE your comments!  I am real bad about responding to comments most days but I do read every single one and cherish them. 8-)

Y'all really do want to keep reading because another Giveaway will be starting soon, maybe later this week if I can get my proverbial shit together.  ;-)

Gotta go write something worthwhile for y'all to read now so see ya on the blogs,

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

The "Saturday was a Pot Luck Lunch" Edition---

Here's my plate of food from the Family Reunion.  Yummy homemade goodies like pasta salad, baked beans, Quinoa Salad, Corn Casserole, Mac and Cheese, Green Beans, a Deviled Egg, which was hiding behind the Fried Chicken, and a bottle of water.  I also have a couple of bites of the Baby Back Ribs my brother made.
Tiny helpings(except for that piece of chicken! lol)and some I didn't finish it all.


Onward to the meal planning!

What was planned last week--

1.  Teriyaki Salmon, Coleslaw, Spinach Souffle

2.  Leftover Stuffed Peppers

3.  Zucchini and Chicken over Rice

4.  Lasagna, Spinach Salad

5.  Pizza, Tossed Salad
6.  Eating Out
7.  Eating Out

 

And this is what actually happened--

 

1.  Teriyaki Salmon, Coleslaw, Spinach Souffle

2.  Leftover Stuffed Peppers

3.  Zucchini and Chicken over Rice

4.  Lasagna, Spinach Salad

5.  Leftovers
6.  Eating Out
7.  Eating Out
  

The plan was kept too pretty much, except I didn't buy the pizzas(had the lasagna that night instead) and we ate leftovers one more night during the week.
    

Last week I made 1 trip to Weis Markets and spent $64.93 and 1 trip to Rite-Aid where I spent .94¢.  I left $ for the brother in-law to pick up a few things while they were here(and we were gone to the reunion)and he spent $20 of it(on what I have no clue since he didn't save the receipt).

This adds up to $85.87 in food spending for last week.
I am up to $298.19 for September food spending and once you add in the $5.90 I have spent at Rite-Aid in September, I am at $304.09 total spending for the month.

 

I don't plan on grocery shopping again until after October 1st but I do have another trip to Rite-Aid to undertake so my Sept. total will go up a teeny, tiny bit.  ;-)

 Going into this week, in leftovers we have.........some taco filling and fixings, stuffed peppers, lemon pepper chicken with zuke and lasagna.  Evidently the BIL didn't eat anything I left here for them and explains that $20 they spent. lol

Here is the plan for this week.........

1.  Leftovers

2.  Fish fry, leftover coleslaw, veggie of some kind from the freezer

3.  Leftovers

4.  Leftovers

5.  Pork Chops, Red Cabbage w/Apples
6.  Chili over Rice or with Burritos
7.  Subway sandwiches


Food Waste--nothing.

What I need to buy this week......I haven't checked the sale ads this week so I don't know what I'll get later this week(sometime after Tuesday).I have everything I need here for the 3 new meals on the plan, except some apples.  So apples, salad greens(for lunches) and milk are on my list so far.

   

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?
Was last week's plan successful, did you go off plan or did you not even plan what was going to be eaten that week?

Any great deals on food at your stores this week?
How much did you spend on food so far in September?

 

Sluggy

Last Day to Enter the Giveaway.....Ends Sunday Night

Last Chance to enter to win Sluggy's Boring Blog Box Giveaway.
Entries close Sunday evening.

Go HERE.

Sluggy
 

There are No Words for This

Seen today at lunch outside of Harrisonburg, VA.

Really, there are no words.......I am speechless.

Sluggy
 

Something in the Air

This post title refers to the big news here for this week.

Once we got the minivan hauled off(and taken off the insurance thankyouverymuch!)it was time to take care of another long delayed project.

Having the driveway repaved.

Hubs called a couple of companies Monday morning before a dental appointment and around 11am a guy shows up at the front door.
It's the owner of one of the companies he called.  They happened to be working nearby so he came over to give us a quote.

I called Hubs with the quote and he said ok, let's do this!

About an hour later, noonish, the guy is back with workers to prep the driveway....

And then by 4pm they had finished with the job.....

And now we have a nice new driveway with no holes, cracks or potholes.
Rah.
Of course the bank account took a hit for this.

Usually I pull extraordinary expenses like this from my previous year's Savings Challenge funds.
But luckily for us I didn't need to do that since we still have a big chunk of Hub's Bonus this year leftover.
Yes, it was a nice fat bonus this year.  8-)))

So the Savings Challenge for 2013 funds stay intact(and I am hoping they end the year that way so I can put them into permanent savings status).

I still can't walk into the garage without the lovely scent of asphalt in the air in there.  It should  dissipate after a few more days.

I sold some more fabric last week/this week which has lifted my mood.
I still need to straighten up the house a bit before the brother in-law arrives to stay for the weekend.
I got brownies made to take to the family reunion.

I've been trying to write up some genealogy information for my mother's cousins, who we will see this weekend.
Of course every time I go to do this, I get sidetracked.
Today it was an email from a woman who's ancestor I put a memorial and headstone photo of on F.A.G.
She wanted to know if I am related and what information I have to share with her.
I feel bad every time someone makes an inquiry like this because I usually have nothing else to share beyond what I put up on the F.A.G. memorial.
I was able to help this person today.  I found her ancestors immigration information....the ancestor and his whole family came in 1854 as a unit from Germany.  This confirmed information she had and gave her names/birthdates for all the family members(which she didn't have)and gives her a town name in Germany to inquire to about birth records and may get her past this previous brick wall.  I just hope she speaks/writes/reads German now. lolz
I feel good knowing the little bit I did helped somewhat.

I was able to track down a few ancestors to hang onto my family trees this week too.  I found some "died young" ancestors, who were never in census records because of this, buried with their parents on F.A.G.  I also found an allied family to my mother's Fosters, McKay, which I didn't know about before.

I did a bit of research on my father's side and found another branch, the Schwartzes.  My 2 x Great Aunt Adeline Bowman married a Schwartz and I found a Schwartz cousin(well not a cousin but the nephew of the husband of my 2x great aunt) on F.A.G.  He seems a nice guy but we really don't have much ancestral information the other needs.  He is in contact with the granddaughters of Adeline(another branch of his Schwartz tree)and they live in the area of New York state where my great grands lived later in life(which was when these granddaughters were growing up there)so I am hopeful he can find some kind of information on my Bowmans through them.  They had to have known at least my great great grands!


Ok, I am off.  I still have to pack, pick up rxs, feed the dog and prepare mentally for company tonight.

Sluggy

Matilda

I didn't discover the writer Roald Dahl until I had kids.
Though I was 32+ years old at the time I loved his stories!
And still do.

I also love  Tim Minchin.
When Dahl's book Matilda was made into a musical and Tim composed the lyrics and music I knew it would be a fantastic show.

I have yet to see the show live but hope to see it some day.

One of the great, funny villians of musical theatre was written into this show.
Miss Trunchbull, the Headmistress of the school Matilda is sent to.

Unfortunately for me, this woman's part is usual played by a man in drag......well, if you can call Miss Trunchbull a woman.  ;-)
British actor Bertie Carvel won an Olivier Award(the UK equivalent of the US Tony Award)for originating the role back in 2011.

But anyway......
Miss Trunchbull has a showstopper of a number called "The Smell of Rebellion".

Broadway actor, Dean Vince, preforms it on YouTube.....




And here is a low quality video of the whole musical Matilda HERE.  If you want to see the actual production number with Mr. Carvel go to 1:15.

I think, if I was born 20 years later than I was, I would have been FAB-ulous in this number.

But then again, I always thought I'd make a great Miss Hannigan aka Dorothy Loudon too.....




Sluggy

Sluggy's Solo Road Trip Part 5......WI to MN to IA

Day 9, Friday, I hit the road.
A quick hug for Blanche goodbye and I was back on the road.

Heading west across Wisconsin.

Lots of dairy farms, little traffic......

Hey look!
Another dairy farm.....

Oh goody, more cows.......yawn......

I got off the highway to grab a breakfast biscuit and tried to find some fresh cheese curds while I was in the little town of Colby.
You know, like the cheese?

I tried two different spots with no luck.

       Main street in Colby, Wisconsin

But the town was just beginning their COLBY CHEESE DAYS Festival......

   Rides being set-up

Ah, too bad I was a couple weeks too late for the local Lions BRAT FRY.
Brat Fry???

Back on the highway and after awhile I saw a little building on a hill right of the road.
Well whaddayaknow?

The Nasonville Dairy Cheese  & More Store.
They were bound to have fresh curds, right?
!

I knew I found something good/authentic when I opened the car door and took a deep breath.
Let's just say the air was perfumed with eau d'cow patties.

Yes, this cheese store was on-site of the dairy.

And the variety of cheeses was spectacular.  I wish I had had a bigger cooler because the prices were awesome too!
I got a few different cheese you don't find everywhere.

The girl in the store was bagging fresh cheese curds.
She even let me have one to try before I bought them.
Now I know what everyone means that they SQUEAK. lol

And the prices on a lb. of curds was the lowest I saw anywhere.

I did pass on the cheese head hats however........

Now I knew(if I didn't before then) I am nNOT on the East Coast anymore because the gal in the cheese store took my personal check! lolz

Unheard of where I live, even when they KNOW you and you are local.

                       The water tower in Stanley WI.

 

I still had a long way to go before I got to where I was staying for the night.
I passed through Eau Claire and then spent some time practicing saying, "Menomonie" as I passed by there.  I had a hard time saying that one. lolz

I finally crossed over into Minnesota.

I crossed a couple of large rivers, the St. Croix crossing into MN and then the Missippippi near St. Paul and drove around the outskirts of the Twin Cities area.  Traffic was moderate but not heavy through the Twin Cities since it wasn't a rush hour time thankfully.

I stopped at a Walmart to stretch my legs once I got past the worst of the traffic and was South of Minneapolis suburbs.
I found #2 Son some khaki pants on sale and I bought a 12 pack of cherry cola flavored Diet Rite Cola.  They don't sell this flavor out East where I am and it sounded good.  And it was only $3.

Back in the Sonic and back on the road until I hit Owatonna MN.

There was this T-38 formation near the Cabela's right off I-35.

But I got off the highway to hit the liquor store in this town.  I found out that they carried some liquid refreshments I wanted to get for some people.
The fun was finding the way back onto the interstate afterwards, since the entrance ramp back to South I-35 was closed for construction. ugh.

Short detour and we were back on the road.
I had one more quick stop to make before leaving Minnesota.......

 
 The World's Largest Walleye Fish.

I tried to take this shot so it looked like the fish was laying on top of the Sonic.
Not quite.....lolz

A big fish selfie.....

I wish I had a spare sticker to add to the collection on the side of the fish.
A Texas and a Doula sticker?  I wonder if Lisa Pie(a friend who is a doula in TX) had been here? lolz

Fairly quickly after that I was over the state line into Iowa.

Man, I need to clean my windshield, don't I?

And then I saw the first Iowan wind turbines......

Before long I was getting off the exit for Clear Lake to visit my online friend Anne for the first time.
I've know her since 1999.

    Anne and her new puppy Becca.

It was about 2 pm and I was starving by now, so I took Anne out to a local deli for lunch.  We parked next to this classic car in town.
The Iowa R.A.G.B.R.A.I. Cycling Tour was due to come through town the following week so there were a lot of interesting people in town already.

 

We walked over to her friend's store.  In the back half the Clear Lake Historical Society, which Anne is very involved in, has a display of local history and sights.

Lots of antique photographs from the 1800's.....

Pictures of the Surf Ballroom.....

After lunch Anne drove me around and gave me the "I've lived here my whole life Tour" of Clear Lake.
We saw about everything that is worth seeing in Clear Lake....except for the Buddy Holly sites.
I guess I'll have to get my picture took with the Ballroom and/or the giant pair of black framed eyeglasses statue the next time I come through here.

One of the lake's South shore public areas....

We both loved this old unseaworthy speedboat turned into someone's flower bed/planter.....

A little...ok, not so little.....cute cottage on the lake.

Over on the North shore they had a park/camping area with these awesome yurts.....

My first Tornado Shelter sign sighting EVER!

The "Pyramid House" over on the North shore.

Hey!  You can rent the Pyramid House.

By the time we made the way all the way around the Lake, it was almost 5pm.  I was expected at quitting time Friday further south in Iowa.
I only had time for a  quick selfie with Anne and Becca.....

And then I was off again.
Right after I took a phone call from my host for the night inquiring, "where you be?".
Ok, maybe she didn't phrase it like that......

Thankfully me being delayed an hour wasn't a problem since dinner was late getting prepared at her house.

About another hour down the interstate and I was pulling up in a driveway in a tiny town in central Iowa.
McVal's house!

My arrival was quite humorous actually.
As I opened the door to get out of the car and go to the front door, an older man walked up and tried to give me a large dog.
He said, "I think this is your dog."

After a moment of WTF?!? I realized that this must be one of McVal's dogs, so I called her on my cell phone & said that I was here in the driveway and she should come outside because I was being drug away by her large dog while I tired to explain to the older man that I didn't live here but the owner was coming out to get the dog.

One of my weirder arrivals somewhere. lolz

My next stop was to see McVal and her clan at the House of Chaos.
I met everyone......Maddy, Meri, Leon(of course!), Ryan, Robb and Robb's mother and about 500 dogs. lolz  Ok, maybe it was only 5 dogs.
But I didn't get any photos right away because dinner was on deck.

The offering for the evening at McVal's Boarding House(yes Boarding House because she had a ton of people staying for the weekend)was Friday's usually dinner, homemade pizza.

I had a slice of the pepperoni and then everyone urged me to try the cheeseburger pizza too.
Well pizza had cheese anyway so I was confused how this was different from a hamburger topped pizza.

But it was.
It had cut up DILL PICKLES on it.
Hmmmm.....

Sort of like this......

but the pickles were cut up.
This must be an Iowa thang I thought.
And after trying it, it is definitely an acquired taste.
Glad I tried it but I'll stick to no pickle varieties from now on.  ;-)

Later on I snapped a few candid shots......

 McVal caught unawares and Maddy being her silly self.

Butter the Beagle, one of many members of the McVal Pet Rescue and Home for Wayward Dog.

Before dinner I did go out to the Sonic and bring in a little present so it could be enjoyed with dinner.

A keg of draft root beer I picked up in Owatonna MN.
I figured Leon needed some practice tapping a keg before he got to college.
Hey!  It's never too early to learn important life skills.......

After some chatting and looking through the genealogy research Robb had(and I didn't find any common ancestors....what a shock!)I was ready for bed.  About the time I headed down to bed Robb's brother and his wife and their dog showed up to spend the night too.
Se what I mean about a boarding house?! lolz 

I think I was asleep before my head hit my pillow.
It was a long full day and I needed to rest up for Saturday's doings here at McVal's House of Chaos.

Sluggy