Sunday, January 30, 2011

PROJECT 365...last minute


LAST-minute add in on 365 with Sara...


Babygirl has gone back to school with RoomieMelissa.  It was great having them both in the house with us...such great energy and happiness.  We enjoyed celebrating DaddySkoots birthday Friday night...


Tonight I did have a little time on my hands...so, here is the very little I had ...Took this shot the day my laptop went belly up...(special thanks goes out to ComputerNephew...he got it is back up and running, however, he believes I need to keep an eye out for a new one...apparently, this one is close to being on its last leg.)


1/12/2011
Anyway, loved this cutey little bird  eating the bread crumbs I threw out on "the last of" our recent snow...I haven't looked him up in my book...anyone know what kind he is?
I've also been "re-rolling" yarn with my handy dandy new 'yarn baller'...it's such a time saving way to 're-roll'...now my yarns won't have any knots as I work on each project. Can you see my smile?! :)
1/29/2011...I love having my girl home and having her friends here to catch up and watch some movies.
They are sitting around the table indulging in a piece of my "chocolate, strawberry jam/dark chocolate pretzel cake" from hubbie's birthday.
A few minutes after they ate, we had a surprise at the front door...Allen and Rachel stopped in to see us (they were here for the going-away at church for three of our staff who are heading into new adventures (but no pic) ...they enjoyed cake, too!click the pic for a much-bigger pic

Hope everyone has a GREAT week; I'll have more pics next week ;)


Jer. 33:3 "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."   Blessings,

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

FIRST “2011 hodgepodge” ANSWERS

Don't forget to add the button code to your blog or a link to Joyce’s post so your readers can join in the fun too.

1.  While watching the Super Bowl 45, the STEELERS will be getting my cheers…I’m usually NOT an AFC girl, but the Packers beat our Falcons, nuff said.

Interesting info though:  This will be a better year to watch…no ‘half-dressed cheerleaders’ …. From B/R, BLEACHER REPORT.com,  “The Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers are two of six teams to not have cheerleaders in the NFL”

2. Ignorance probably is blissful until you discover you’re ignorant

View Image3. Would imagine most people would put me in the “Doc” category of elves...wanting to 'take care of things' and my waistline looks like his.  Although in this hormonal suspension, I’m quite Dopey, Grumpy, and Sleepy, too!   Lack of hormones brings out the ‘schizo’ side of life.


4. Our riding in the car with another couple changes up according to the “length / distance” of said trip…for close-by jaunts, I’m in the front seat with hubby.  Longer treks bring about ‘girlfriend discussions’ and ‘guy bonding’ so I go to the back seat of the Expedition.  Hubs tends to be a 'type a' so rarely would I be driving with a group.     Thanks, Lori at Mountain Woman at Heart, great question! Everyone go say hi to Lori.

5. Beauty is NOT seeing your “hormone-lacking, schizo side” looking back at you in the mirror'

6. Appetizers are my forte for taking to a party…helps me feel less guilty for not piling on tons of calories for my friends.

Southwest Layered Cornbread Salad
7. What is your crowd pleasing go-to appetizer?
Cornbread Salad
1 (1 oz.) pkg. of dry ranch salad dressing mix
1 (8 oz.) carton sour cream
1 cup mayo or salad dressing
1 (9 inch) pan cooked Mexican cornbread, crumbled (see below...prepare day before)
2 (16-oz.) cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
3 large tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup sliced green onions (Vidalia's are better)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
10 slices cooked and crumbled bacon
2 (17 oz.) cans whole kernel corn, drained
Additional tomato wedges and bacon if desired for garnishing
Combine salad dressing mix, sour cream and mayo; set aside. Place half of crumbled cornbread into a large serving bowl, layer half of beans, tomatoes, bell pepper, green onions, cheese, bacon and corn over cornbread.
 Top with half of the sour cream mixture. Repeat layers with remaining ingredients. Garnish with additional tomato wedges, and crumbled cooked bacon if desired.
Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving. Yields 10 to 12 side dishes or 8 main servings.


Mexican Cornbread
15 min.prep time  55 min.total time 8 servings

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup LAND O LAKES® Sour Cream
1 cup cream-style corn
1/4 cup chopped seeded mild jalapeño peppers
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 tablespoons chopped mild green bell pepper
4 ounces (1 cup) LAND O LAKES® Cheddar Cheese, shredded

Heat oven to 350°F. Combine cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Stir in all remaining ingredients except cheese just until moistened.

Pour half of batter into greased 8-inch square baking pan. Sprinkle 1/2 cup cheese over batter. Spoon remaining batter over cheese; spread to cover.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until light golden brown. Sprinkle with remaining cheese; continue baking for 4 to 6 minutes or until cheese is melted. Cool.
8. BabyGirl is bringing her college room mate home this weekend, yippee! 
Looking forward to getting to know her better.

I'm eager to put "Johnny" back in the driveway to welcome them home...
Will be cleaning so may have to take a little time off from blogging Winking smile

Friday, January 21, 2011

SOME THINGS I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND...

TODAY'S been pretty uneventful...yet productive.
Having run out of hot water during my shower, the normal 20 minutes of bliss was shortened, to say the least, which meant I headed down the road sooner...that's good.
Stopping at "So-So onic" en route to my back doc, confirmed my recent assessment of this particular franchise...disappointment trickled in as my first sip woke me uncomfortably...woke me to the fact there was 'older' coffee in the pot and I was the recipient of it's bitterness...not that it wasn't trying to be hidden by the semi-hazelnut syrup..even the real 'half and half' didn't mask it's badness.

Returning to the drive through would have made me too late getting into the chiro, so another large cup o' joe started cooling in my passenger drink holder, waiting for its memorial...knowing it would eventually get tossed on the 'hibernating mum' outside the garage door...and it's buddy, the cup, would find eternal rest in my paper recycle bin...recycling, that's good.

Getting my spine re-aligned by Dr. Chiro gave my 'sacrum' some relief and I'm standing straighter...so that's good, too...yippee!

Enjoying my newly-adjusted weight-bearing synovial joint, I drove toward my next endeavor...'emmissions re-inpspection' of my vehicle.  However, knowing I might possibly be sitting in their waiting room a while, I decided to pull into another drive through since I had not had breakfast at "So So onic".  My burger was very good and the drink was THE REAL THING...so I was pleased this time, not getting a 'bubble-less' Coke.

Waiting for my car to undergo it's 'second' inspection proved to be uneventful for me...I sat there knitting while other ran in and out, swapping vehicles, keys, and finding out whether or not they could 'leave it with them'...one woman mentioned at least five times "how cold it was in there"...which certainly didn't bother me at all, being on the 'permanent tropical vacation' that I am.

Seeing a young couple come in from their truck, I was captured by the beauty of a baby's eyes as his father carried him on his hip...steel blue, bright-shining eyes you could see across the lobby.  Then I noticed...everyone in this store had on their coat...even me...but the 9-month or so baby didn't have on a coat. 

Looking closer I also noticed his red, bare feet.  It's 37 degrees outside, people! 

Suddenly I found myself being a 'tropical vacation' baby policewoman...
"Your baby's adorable, he's so precious with those big blue eyes...but his feet must be freezing!" 

Yep, I said it. 
Having heard my comment, the father seemed to throw away all responsibility as he exclaimed to me from across the room, "oh, he just pulls them off when we put them on, so we just don't put them on anymore." 

Really?...
Guess I've been noticing the down-hill trends of parents deciding that 'parenting' is too tough and this hit one of my nerves. It seems they're taking the easier way out rather than having to keep something warm on his feet.

Why should they worry?
This poor kid's parents may have already decided that 'he wins the battles'. 

Lord, please open their eyes to the worth of their baby, the worth of his health, the worth of his not winning all the battles, small or large.  Amen

Hebrews 5:13-14 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.  But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.


Blessings,

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Project 365…Week THawREEing



JOINING SARAH WITH PROJECT 365 AGAIN THIS WEEK.

PLEASE CLICK ON EACH PIC...YOU GET A MUCH BETTER VIEW

 
 UNFORTUNATELY, THE PICS I HAD WANTED TO ADD ARE ON MY LAPTOP…WHICH DECIDED TO DIE TONIGHT...IT’S FATE IS A GUESSING GAME AT THIS MOMENT. 
1st: pray for a blogging friend, Joanne at The Simple Wife)... She had a stroke on Tuesday ...desperately need the swelling to go down in her brain. Please pray for her and her family)

HOPEFULLY, KATIE’S DADDY (MY NEPHEW, ‘MAGNUM CUM LAUDE’ BRANIAC THAT HE IS) WILL BE ABLE TO ‘FISS IT’ FOR ME…I HOPE, I HOPE.   ‘TIL THEN, HERE'S WHAT WAS AVAILABLE ON MY SD CARD AND ON MY PREVIOUS POSTS…

LAST SUNDAY, 1/9/11, BROUGHT US OUR FIRST SNOWFALL OF THIS YEAR…IT WAS A DOOZY (AS MY PAPA WOULD HAVE SAID)
BG

1/10, 1/11 (SEE PREVIOUS POSTS BELOW)
1/12,13 (IN THE LAND OF OBLIVION UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE FROM DEAR NEPHEW)

1/14, FRIDAY…TEMPERATURES ROSE PASSED FREEZING AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF THAWING BROUGHT US BEAUTIFULLY LONG ICICLES…TOOK THIS SHOT OF THE BACKPORCH ‘BIG EGG’ COUNTER…
100_0138
MORE 1/14…FINALLY...CAPTURED 'SIR CARDINAL' AS HE WAS LOOKING FOR FOOD…NEVER GOT A GOOD SHOT OF HIS LADY FRIEND.
100_0139
EVEN MORE 1/14…WAS ABLE TO LEAVE THE HOUSE AND MEET bs&k WITH HER BELOVED AT A LOCAL EATERY AND ENJOY SOME GIRLTIME AS WE CHOWED DOWN ON ‘SKINNY TACOS’ AND ‘TACO SALADS’ (HAD VERDE WITH MINE Winking smile
100_0147
THE LAST 1/14 SHOT…THE SKIES WERE SOOOOO BLUE FOLLOWING THE SNOW/ICE STORM…MY RIVER BIRCH IS SO NAKED RIGHT NOW AND I LOVE HOW IT REACHES TO HEAVEN…DOESN’T IT LOOK LIKE INVERTED LITTLE BIRDY FEET AND LEGS POINTING TO THE SKY?
100_0144
1/15, SATURDAY    ONE OF OUR FRIENDS LOST HIS SISTER EARLIER THIS WEEK TO CANCER… I READIED MY FOOD, HUBS AND I SIGNED THE CARD AND HE KINDLY TOOK IT.


HUBS CAME HOME SAYING ANOTHER FRIEND LOST HIS SPECIAL NEEDS SISTER, TOO.  IT’S GOING TO BE A ROUGH WEEK FOR BOTH THESE FAMILIES.  

I REMEMBER HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS THE MONTHS FOLLOWING MY DADDY'S DEATH… 
PRAY FOR GOD’S SPECIAL HAND TO COMFORT BOTH THESE FAMILIES.
100_0150

WE HAVE HOPE IN THE LOVE OF CHRIST....

Thursday, January 13, 2011

BAYBGIRL, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE...

CLICK THE PICS FOR A LARGER VIEW...
The temps are staying in the low 30's...we got down to 18* last night...but, now the sun is out and things are trying to melt.
There's some beautiful icing occurring on the plants!

The roads are beginning to clear and BabyGirl is headed back to T-town...my tears flow and my prayers go with her in the long journey back to her dorm room.
(She's called once with windshield issues...the washing fluid in her car is frozen AND with all the salt and goop from the roads, it's coagulating on the glass.  So she had to stop at a station and pour water over it as the defroster and wipers ran...it worked, and she's back on the road.
Good thing we had her take a new case of water bottles with her....)

Jer. 33:3
"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."   Blessings,

Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

SNawesomeOW, 1.11.11 (continuing COLD)

CLICK EACH PIC FOR A LARGER VIEW...

OUR LAST 'REALLY BIG' SNOW WAS IN 1993...WE HAD A BLIZZARD AND HAD 3-FOOT DRIFTS...
MONDAY WE RECEIVED 5-6 INCHES WITH ALOT OF EXTRA ICE...SHUT THE CITY DOWN, FOR SURE.  THIS WAS MY FRONT PORCH...
THE LOCAL TEENS GOT INTO THE ACT WITH SOME SLEDS IN ONE OF THE NEIGHBOR'S YARDS...THEY HAVE A VERY LARGE HILL THAT RUNS DOWN BETWEEN THE HOUSES

I LOVED THE ICICLES THAT I FOUND OFF THE FRONT PORCH IRONWORK...ABOUT 18" OR SO...

DECIDED TO MEASURE THE BACK PORCH...THIS WAS THE 'LEAST' WE HAD...THE FRONT WAS DEEPER.

MY DECK WAS A FLUFFY SIGHT...

 I ESPECIALLY LOVED SEEING THE EVERGREENS COVERED IN SNOW...REMINDS ME OF DENVER
AND OUR RESIDENT WOODPECKER WAS BUSY HUNTING FOR FOOD...HE KEPT STAYING BEHIND THE TREE...UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WAS THE BEST SHOT I GOT.

TRIED MY HAND AT USING MY 'PANARAMIC VIEW' ON MY CAMERA...YOU ACTUALLY TAKE A SHOT AND PIECE IT WITH THE NEXT SHOT THEN IT JOINS THEM ALL TOGETHER...NOT TOO BAD

THIS LITTLE GUY WAS BUSY CLEANING HIMSELF ON ONE OF THE BRANCHES OF MY LARGE BUSH IN THE BACKYARD...I WAS ABOUT 40 YARDS FROM HIM AND HAD TO USE MY BIGGEST ZOOM...

I JUST LOVE SNOW...THE KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL AGAIN TOMORROW...SO, THE NEXT THING WE'LL BE HEARING IS HOW DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO MAKE UP ALL THE DAYS THEY'VE MISSED SO FAR.  OH, WELL...I'LL ENJOY THE WHITE STUFF UNTIL IT'S COM,PLETELY GONE.

Jer. 33:3
"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."   Blessings,

Sunday, January 9, 2011

P365, WK 2

sara_p365button09 JUST CLICK ON SARA'S BUTTON TO SEE ALL THE OTHER ENTRIES FOR THIS WEEK'S PROJECT 365...

click the pics for a LARGER view

SUNDAY , 1/2    NO PICS
MONDAY, 1/3
 100_0017BEFORE GOING INTO THE THRIFT STORE, I NOTICED THE BAPTIST CHURCH IN TOWN …IT WAS TOO GOOD A VENUE TO PASS UP, SO I TOOK THIS SHOT…

THERE WAS A SMALLER CROWD THAN USUAL…AND I FOUND AN ADDITION FOR MY CHRISTMAS PILL BOX COLLECTION.

MY ADDITION THIS TRIP WAS THE WHITE ONE WITH THE SILVER BEADING AND RED POINSETTIAS…SO CUTE…I THINK IT LOOKS NICE WITH MY OTHER TWO.
















TUESDAY, 1/4
ANOTHER SHOP CAUGHT MY ATTENTION ON TUESDAY...SO I ‘HAD’ TO PURCHASE THIS ONE…I THINK IT’S A BEAUTIFUL PIECE, I WAS ABLE TO SNATCH IT UP FOR $5...HERE IS THE 'MARKING' FOR THIS PLATTER...100_0033 
100_0028
WEDNESDAY, 1/5100_0040
DD MADE BIRTHDAY CUPCAKES FOR ONE OF HER LONG-TIME FRIENDS…
AREN’T THESE THE CUTEST LITTLE PIGGIES!?…AND SO APPROPO FOR ATLANTA, PINK PIG AND CHRISTMAS!
THURSDAY, 1/6
YEARLY CHORES WITH VEHICLES ARE ALWAYS SOOOO DIFFICULT... ESPECIALLY THIS SOON AFTER THE HOLIDAYS.
MY SUV FAILED EMISSIONS…I THOUGHT IT WOULD PASS…FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY THE MECHANIC FOUND SOME UNKNOWN CONCERNS, SO I HAD THEM REPAIRED (SEE THEM ALL LISTED…YIKES…AND THAT’S ONLY PAGE 1). 
100_0053
FRIDAY, 1/7
HAVE BEEN LOVINGLY BABYING MY TRANSPLANTED HIBISCUS PLANTS IN THE HOUSE…
THEY ARE BLOOMING ONCE OR TWICE EACH WEEK, YA'LL.  CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??
THEY ARE SITTING IN MY ‘WEST-FACING’ BAY WINDOW OF OUR DINING ROOM, AND THEY REALLY LIKE IT IN THAT SPOT!









SATURDAY, 1/8
TODAY HAS BEEN A VERY LONG YET VERY FUN DAY…WE HAD ‘BELATED’ CHRISTMAS WITH MY MOM AND FAMILY OUT IN THE COUNTRY WITH ALL MY COUSINS, NIECES, AND NEPHEWS.
 
THE FOOD WAS UNBELIEVABLE...DD EVEN BROUGHT HOME A BAG FILLED WITH NANA'S home-made FRIED APPLE AND FRIED PEACH PIES, ALL HOME MADE.
GRAND KIDS, GREAT GRAND KIDS, DAUGHTERS AND SONS ALL DIGGING INTO THE SEA OF BOXES AND BAGS...IT IS FIREWORKS EXPLODING IN THE HOUSE…SO FUN!

WELL, THAT’S MY LINEUP FROM THIS PAST WEEK…COME JOIN US!!  JUST CLICK ON SARA’S LINK

Sunday, January 2, 2011

PROJECT 365--2011, Day One

January 1, 2011...Project 365 - Week 1

This will be Sara's 3rd year to host Project 365....and we're really excited.
Please join us for P365.  We'll be taking a picture a day for a year.

On Sundays, we all link up to show our week's pictures. (We were traveling out of town, and I didn't get any pictures.  My niece took some and I'm waiting to see them and see if I can copy them.)  We drove home Friday and enjoyed New Year's Eve  quietly watching college football (well, it was kinda quiet, we yelled a lot for Alabama!)  Thanks to Sara, I put my peas in my crockpot to cook overnight with the hambone...yum.

JANUARY 1, 2011 (Saturday)    Happy New Year!!!
Our menu included beans/hambone, BBQ'd pork ribs, sweet peas, fresh-baked hawaiian bread, apple butter, mashed sweet potatoes, and cabbage-cheese-bacon casserole...my house smelled "oh, so gooooood!"












Link up and share you pictures....even if it's just TWO!

"Call to me and I will answer you
and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

Blessings,