You know what?

Chicken butt.

Sorry. 

I had to say it. 

It's blustery and cold out there today.

Exhibit A:

I stayed home with the kiddos today as commuting was just not in the cards with all of the SNOW and then all of the BLOWING of the snow. 

I thought we might settle into the day and make some cookies maybe if we felt like it. 

Evidently my energy levels were bigger than I thought as I spent the day cleaning. 

I took apart the dryer and cleaned out the lint trap.  I found a bunch of change, six pounds of lint, and a marble.  How that rascally bugger got in there, but there it was.  After that, it was cleaning baseboards and door jambs in the kitchen and dining room.  There's almost nothing better than looking around and all of those finger prints, hand prints, little bits of gunk are gone, long gone.  Plus, it makes the house smell nice.  And plus plus, germs be gone.  

You know what would be a million dollar idea?  Self-cleaning baseboards.  It's true. 

In other news:  I've been rereading A Wrinkle in Time and have moved onto A Wind in the Door.  It's a great way to pass the time on these winter nights when the wind is raging outside and it's nice and toasty indoors. 

I also made up a crock pot of cowboy beans that filled everyone's bellies. 

Cowboy beans, you ask?  Well lemme tell you allllll about it.  It's the best one dish meal ever.  Plus it's an awesome rib-sticking meal in the middle of winter.

I used 1 can of Baked Beans, 1 can of Butter Beans, 1 can of pinto beans, and 2 cans of chili beans (in their sauce).  I rinsed off the Butter Beans and Pinto beans.  Then, I tossed all of them into the crock pot on low while I browned 1 -1/2 pounds ground beef.  I also added about 1/4 cup brown sugar (use more or less according to taste), 2 tbsp yellow mustard, and 1 cup of French dressing.  I also added about 3 tbsp minced onion (dry).  When the ground beef has been browned, add it to the crock pot.  I set it on low for 4 hours.  Serve with cornbread or if you're like me (sekritly 12), serve with wavy plain potato chips for dipping.

I think everyone liked it and I'm just happy that I have some leftovers for lunch tomorrow.  Woot.  Win-win.  

After a nice hot bath, I'm gonna play a quick game of Zuma Blitz and do some reading I think.

So, question time:  How do you pass the time indoors during the long winter months?  Games?  Hobbies?  Cooking/Baking?

Do. Tell.