The sort of day that leads me to eat bread-and-butter pickle spears at the kitchen sink

“Pickle Dread”

“Mommy! Marsha threw up on the couch, and then she ate it!”


I realized this morning that Poppy’s ballet shoes were in the center console of the car, right where she’s supposed to put them after class. But the car and its center console are at the body shop.


Pete vigorously, repeatedly and with much gusto encouraged me to “Stop It” when I told him it was time to leave the very busy bakery.


A large dog jumped into my car when we stopped to pick Poppy up from her piano lesson. I think it was a pit bull mix. It had very muddy paws and a collar with no tags.

We’re very, very busy and we still have to eat

This week is going to be roughly 87 percent busier than normal. The kids are starting swim lessons again, my car will be in the shop for a repair for a few days, our new-to-us dishwasher is going to be installed and Poppy has her first-ever standardized testing this week, among other things. Which is all to say that my menu plan will be employing the CrockPot several times.

Monday: Chicken Noodle Soup

This recipe, from Better Homes and Gardens, uses cream-of soups, rotisserie chicken and frozen veggies. I’m hoping it’s as tasty as it is easy to make!

Tuesday: Scattered family dinner

Pete’s basketball practice runs pretty late on Tuesdays, so he and Rockford will be having a Daddy-and-the-boy dinner outing. I’m not sure what Poppy and I will be doing just yet.

Wednesday: Chicken Curry

This one is a Martha Stewart recipe for the CrockPot. I often find her recipes a little less flavorful than I’d prefer, so I’ll probably use a curry paste with a good amount of kick to make this.

Thursday: Cheeseburgers

It’s Pete’s choice week, which obviously means we’re having cheeseburgers.

Friday: Pizza

Last Friday we tried a pizza from Target’s grocery section. It wasn’t a frozen one — I guess you’d call it a “take and bake” pizza — and it was really good. That might be our pizza pick this week, too.

Do you have any great, simple meals for crazy days?