Monday Morning Mini Staff Meeting

My friend Vee has threatened a mini-revolt replete with picket lines unless I post something this morning. Oh my goodness, I wouldn't want a revolt on my hands!

I want to thank all my loyal readers for their concern and e-mails. I appreciate it and I'm feeling very lucky to have such loyal friends.

Years ago I subscibed to the "Superwoman" myth. You know, the woman who does it all, brings home the bacon, fries it up in the pan, does the housework, raises the kids and volunteers for everything. That failed effort bought me a month in the hospital and five years of mental health day camp. Let's just say I learned my lesson.

My bout with the flu really knocked me for a loop and on top of that we've been visited by the Perfect Storm of Stuff. I decided early on that not everything would be blog fodder, so I don't go into every aspect of our lives.

One of the reasons I've been taking a break is that the Farmer was in the hospital to deal with an ongoing chronic issue. He's fine and we've met with a dietician and other professionals and we're both learning how to better deal with his long-standing diabetes. There are new medications that seem to be doing a better job.

The hospital bill is formidable. The CT scan alone was $5K (yikes). That machine runs all day and into the night. Can you imagine? Twenty CT scans a day would be $100,000! Anyway, the Farmer is still unemployed and although we have COBRA, we're not sure how much the insurance will actually pay.

I've got my sewing machines burning up the grid, sewing aprons and wallets and more in an attempt to build up my inventory for the shop and for upcoming craft shows. My friend never believed me when I said I could make well over $1,000 at one good show. It's true and it gives me a feeling that I can actually do something to help the situation.

Jobs around here are as rare as hens teeth so I'm doing what I know and what I love. Oprah says that will lead to success. Heck, if Oprah says it's true, it must be true.

I mentioned a Perfect Storm of Stuff. That, of course, includes our responsibilities for the super seniors in our lives, an 88.75 yr. old live-in mother-in-law and an 81 yr. old mother.

I told my mom that there's good news and there's bad news.

The good news is we're living longer.

The bad news is we're living longer.

In an effort to conserve my energy and stay focused on the tasks at hand I'm going to continue my break for a short while longer. Thanks for being so loyal and understanding.

Hopefully when I'm better focused I can once again post pithy entries and regale you with stories of long ago. If you're new here, I encourage you to slog through the archives. If you're an old timer you might want to wander over to my photoblog and entertain yourself with images of the American midwest.

The Farmer's Wife Photoblog

Thanks friends. You will never know what your friendship means to me.

Monday Morning Staff Meeting

Next time I will listen to you guys when you tell me to lay low and let the flu run it's course. It's true, I got up too soon, jumped right back into the thick of things not taking into account that my other health issues would make it more difficult to shake this thing off.

Nobody knows this better than my friend Vee, who is dealing with her household gripped by the illness.

I was supposed to get together with my friends for a group birthday celebration which I'll be missing because I didn't lay low when I should have. Live and learn.

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I keep a notepad next to my computer where I make notes about ideas for the staff meeting. This week I planned on talking about a new rage in New York called *Crack Pie*.

The scoop on *Crack Pie*

If you've been reading here for awhile you will know that I'm all about the pie and the search for the perfect piece of pie.

They charge $44 for this thing so you gotta wonder exactly what's in it. The recipe reveals it's some type of hybrid chess pie. In my flu-stricken state it's making me ill just to read the ingredients. Here's how I calculate the rundown for 2 pies:

3 1/2 sticks of butter (even Paula would raise her eyebrows at this)
over 1 cup of brown sugar
1 1/2 cups of white sugar
8 egg yolks and 1 whole egg (that's almost a dozen, folks)
3/4 cup heavy cream

People are raving, swooning over this pie but my review shall have to wait. Like I said, the ingredient list alone is making me green.

So, if you're feeling brave I challenge you to try the pie and write a review.

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And now I'm going to make the decision to take a bloggy break. I'll admit that I've been trying to do too much and I'm paying the price. I need to rest and regroup. In my near future is a spring craft fair and I need to produce some product in my attempt to bring some revenue into this house.

The meeting is now in your hands. I'll be posting when I get a chance and I'm feeling better.

Please be on your best behavior because I WILL be reading your blogs. (One can only give up so much, you know).