Back when I was in the health food store and purchased the gluten free bread mix for Judy, I also purchased a box of Steel Cut Oats for me. 
Carol told me about the oats. Told me how she prepared them. You bring them to a boil, remove from the stove, cover, and put in the refrigerator over night. I swear she told me that she even likes it cold. Ummm...I don't think so. The next morning you take the oats out of the refrigerator and heat in the microwave (with butter and sugar) then pour in a good glug of milk.
I've prepared single servings a time or two. The other night, I boiled 4 cups of water and poured in 1 cup of oats. I thought that would be good for breakfast on workday mornings. Will NOT do that again! What they call four servings is more like 5 or 6 for me. I got Sam to try them today. When I asked him...he said that the little ...well...wait a minute.
Steel cut oats (also called pinhead oats, Irish oats, coarse cut oats) are whole grain groats (the center part of the oat kernel). They are...well...cut in pieces, of course. And they resemble fat grains of rice. 
Unlike rolled oats which are the groats smashed flat then steamed and lightly toasted.
I like it. Instead of just wallowing oatmeal around in my mouth and swallowing...there's actually something to chew before swallowing. Back to Sam...
First thing, he was put off by reheating leftover oatmeal. I told him that these were different...that they were not the glutinous glob of regular leftover oatmeal. When he looked at the oats fresh out of the refrigerator he asked, "This is not a glutinous glob?"
"Not like rolled oats," I answered with a smile. Since I had already eaten my breakfast, I skipped off to the shower while he was eating his. Later I asked him how he'd liked the steel cut oats.
"Not bad," he said. "But when I first bit into one of those little bulbs...well...it was kind of like eating fish eggs."
Can I tell you that that was the end of the conversation? I don't know if I can eat another bowl of steel cut oats without thinking about fish eggs!!! eyeroll
I started out to work an hour late only to discover that 95% or better of my route to work was clear! No ice or snow on much of it. Just a couple of spots where the trees hang over the road shading it and on the tops of the hills.
After work, I went to Mama's to visit with her...changed her sheets and brought her mail in...twice. eyeroll When I first got there, I walked out to the mailbox (rural mail carrier) and got her mail. Changed sheets. Visited. Got up to sweep the snow off her steps and porch edge. She asked me to get her mail.
I thought, "OH NO!" But I smile and say, "Mama, I already have. You even looked at
it."
She smiled sweetly because she knew what I was thinking. "That was yesterday's mail. She (mail carrier) ran again just a few minutes ago."
LOL So I got today's mail too.
Then I headed home...the back way...the back way that still had quite a bit of snow on it...the snow that partially melted today and was in the process of refreezing. I thought about turning around, but nah...I am getting to be an old hand at driving in this stuff. After all, I made it to town and back yesterday without winding up in the ditch. So I'm driving along, over the railroad track, through the woods, around the curve...Almost home free. Then...the hill had ice on it. I started up and almost at the top...spun out. Slowly, reverse downhill a bit. Try forward again. Spin. Reverse again...and I'm thinking STOOPID. Backed about halfway down very carefully and proud of myself for steering into the direction I was sliding like you're supposed to instead of the instinct to turn the wheel the other direction. (Remember, I'm in reverse, people.) Finally got purchase in forward and got over the hill. Whew! Made it home safe and sound. Don't think I'll go the back way again until...oh...about August! ;o)
Tonight we have a hard freeze predicted...about 17 degrees. THAT is cold!
Exercise and diet program...that went out the window when the full time job came in the door. I gained just 2 or 3 pounds during the holidays and need to get that off. I'm going to have to really watch the calories. I've thought about the one Sweating to the Oldies VHS that I own...but it almost ruined so many good old songs for me. I still should get it out and just exercise here at home...I can do as I've done before...watch it with the sound turned off.
Hmmm....Wonder why Sean Connery never did an exercise video. Sigh.
The new County Judge, my new boss, at her swearing in ceremony Friday morning. We are both excited and looking forward to getting to work Tuesday. (Monday is our New Year holiday.)
We celebrated afterwards. ;o)
I undecorated my house this afternoon. Got all the Christmas decorations put away. Even the little plaster of Paris Santa Claus that I got in the second or third grade that I did not put away last year...when I saw it later, I put it behind a picture frame. No one else knew it was there all year! I put my little tree in a garbage bag, decorations and all LOL, and put it in the corner of the guest room closet. Next year, I'll pull it out and say, "Voila!"
The table linens are still in the dining room. Guess I will do that tomorrow. Also got the - yawn - ironing done. Thank goodness I didn't let it pile up this time...only four shirts for Sam, one blouse for me, and four pairs of slacks for me. I have a brown blouse that I need to shorten. It is way loooong. And since my body is more 'mature' now - boo hoo - I don't tuck my shirts in any more. This thing almost looks like a tunic. Got all the laundry done except our sheets. I'll do that tomorrow since the courthouse is closed for the New Year holiday.
I'm telling ya...this new (old) body sucks. (I hate that word and here I am using it.) When I was offered this new job, I realized I had to dress better. So into the guest room closet I dug pulling out clothes I wore to work six years ago. The skirts fit. Even the skirts with zippers The tops do NOT FIT! If I can get them to button, they gap. WHAT HAPPENED?! I've been buying 'coordinating' pieces. A size 12 skirt/pants and a size 14 or 16 top to go with it. eyeroll DISGUSTING!
Jonathan messaged me on Facebook and asked me to thank Sam again for taking him and his bike home after Christmas. He realized how bad his front tire was...really dangerous. Sam most likely saved him from having a blow-out and being severely injured or killed. I am so thankful for those little nudges that God gives us.
May God shine His love and His blessings on you and those you love!
Jonathan in his riding gear Christmas morning showing off his "trunk." Last summer he visited with us. On his way home, he passed a guy hauling a BMW bike in his pickup bed. The guy passed Jonathan and flagged him over. The motor had blown in his BMW, and he was taking it to sell for scrap. He GAVE Jonathan the trunk! This is not a cheap motorcycle accessory! It mounts to the luggage rack. And, as you can see, is removable and functions as a piece of luggage! 
Monday Jonathan and Sam stopped by the courthouse for a retirement reception for the outgoing county judge and one of the commissioners. (Of course, that's where I work now.) His uncle is a friend of the commissioner and was at the reception. 
When I moved back home in 2004 and saw Mike for the first time in about 5 or 6 years, I was so surprised how much he looked like his mother...shape of face, chin, etc, but he especially looks like his dad. Everyone who knew Jonathan's dad talks about how much Jonathan looks like him...and Ron looked like his dad...only he was a bit taller than Mike.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.
The Tigers did it again! Texas Class 2A. THREE years in a row!!
This year's team adds to previous wins beginning in 1968 and continuing in 1983 and 1985.
Kudos to the team!
For the last five years, I subbed for these children...LOL as I called them in class when they got too rowdy...YOUNG MEN! So know them all. I pray that they take the memory of their high school years and apply the hard work to their future studies and life.
Carol told me about the oats. Told me how she prepared them. You bring them to a boil, remove from the stove, cover, and put in the refrigerator over night. I swear she told me that she even likes it cold. Ummm...I don't think so. The next morning you take the oats out of the refrigerator and heat in the microwave (with butter and sugar) then pour in a good glug of milk.
Unlike rolled oats which are the groats smashed flat then steamed and lightly toasted.
