Day 27

A long time ago, I built my website using software that was still defining what could and couldn’t be done with it. It was free today, but it might not be free tomorrow. I chose another path — a free and open-source path.

WordPress was in the right place at the right time to capture a groundswell of public support for Open Source software. Since then, it has continued to grow and evolve to fill the needs of people and businesses across the world. It now powers 30.9% of the web.

WordPress changed my life for the better, and I am forever grateful to the creators, contributors, and community behind the project. Many of them are my friends and co-workers.

Here’s to another 15 years and beyond.

Day 24

I see ibuprofen and Jell-O in her future.

Day 20

When Becca shuffles coffee-producing devices in my kitchen: “Nobody puts espresso machine in the corner!”

Day 17

Streaks, I break them.

I bought a hose last week so I could water the new trees. This week, it rained pretty much every day. We’re under a flood watch and a river flood warning right now.

Figures.

Day 9

Madeline’s adventure with braces started today with a visit to insert spacers. I also rescheduled her braces… application? installation? insertion? for the day after the reading SOLs (Standards of Learning — Virginia’s required standardized tests) rather than the day before, picked up pudding and Jell-O cups for her lunches, and bought normal (not super-extra-strong-I-mean-awesome) ibuprofen.

Wednesdays are $1 skate night at the local rink. I may have been a child in the ’80s, but I’m pretty sure I wasn’t my current shape and size. I skated for an hour and then decided to stop before I wasn’t able to walk the next day.

Skating rink concessions haven’t changed much.

Day 8

This morning started out way too early — the little girls and I were in the car at 6:45 for a 7:30 appointment with our new orthodontist. Guess who needs braces?

Both of them. Madeline starts hers in about two weeks, and Abby gets a recheck in six months. Fun times ahead.

In other news, the hammock is awesome.

Day 7

[recipe title=”Apple Oat Bars v0.1″]
[recipe-ingredients title=”Dry Ingredients”]
– 1 C flour (I used K.A.F gluten-free multi-purpose flour)
– 2 C old-fashioned rolled oats
– 1/2 ts baking powder
– 1/4 ts salt
– 2 ts cinnamon
– 1/2 ts nutmeg
[/recipe-ingredients]

[recipe-ingredients title=”Wet Ingredients”]
– 1/2 C butter
– 1/4 C sugar
– 2 apples, grated with the skin on (I used Pink Lady)
– 1 egg
– 1 C milk
[/recipe-ingredients]

[recipe-directions]
1. Combine dry ingredients. Melt butter and mix with wet ingredients; pour over dry ingredients and stir until just combined.

1. Pour into greased 9 × 9 pan and bake at 350F for ~40 minutes.
[/recipe-directions]

[recipe-notes]
Verdict: a little pale on the bake but done inside, some apple flavor. Moisture was about right; oatmeal was cooked without being granola, bars held together nicely. Will try a higher oven temperature next time.
[/recipe-notes]
[/recipe]