Some of us in Brentwood live near open fields. We are "blessed" with dealing with persistent ants, clever mice, semi-attacking flock of birds and the occassional crazy sounds of other wildlife at night.

I was lying in bed contemplating the reality of Thankgiving dinner looming (love it, just stressful) and realizing sadly that daylight savings hasn't help me achieve a better sleep quota. I obsess on the dog hair on the tile. The work deadline I might miss in the morning. The aunt who lost her home. The friend who is fighting cancer. The reality of life itself.  Yeah.. I'm one of those.

Shower. Light Reading. Darkness. Right when I finally closed my eyes this horrific wailing, hooting and screaming sound from the field in the back made me sit right back up. Worse than the time I stepped on a frog in my own backyard (ew. don't ask), this unreal medly of screech growls made me regret every scary book and movie I read.. ever. Was the Zombie Apocalypse starting already? I only JUST started my stockpile. My hubby wakes with a snort, immediately identifies the banshees as coyotes and flops down immediately back into his easily achievable slumber. Now I was imagining they were maybe Chupacabra's. Great.

I have purchased some MRE's as food rations and kept an extra bottle of Alhambra water just so that you know. My med supplies come in next week. The teenage son wants us to add a chainsaw to the mix. I said I would think about it.   

Parmesean Croutons: preheat oven to 300

  Cut some day old french bread (like Safeway's sourdough or one of Raley's fancy schmancy loaves) into cubes. 

Melt some salted butter in a large bowl and mix with bread cubes. Now sprinkle some cheap grated parmesean cheese from the green container I know you have.

lay flat layer of croutons on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle evenly (lightly) with garlic salt

Bake at  300 for around 10 minutes or until done but not burnt. Obviously.

-Jordynn

Lives in Brentwood. Married. 3 kids. Dumb dog. Works for corporate america. Tries to do it all... but can't ;)