May 2009

Gar Fishing - Round 2

2009-06-07T20:03:00.002-06:00

May we hit the water again in the hunt for the elusive big gar- and once again, it eluded us!! It had rained about 10 days in a row and the water was extremely high - and tons of debris floating in it - you can not believe the amount of balls that were floating , soccer, football, volleyball, dodge ball, we could have filled up the boat several times. we did catch another small one ( but bigger than last time ) and I caught a turtle ....

Dad and Joel will have to lead the next expedition without me

Posting

2009-06-07T20:01:00.002-06:00

I have been sporadic at posting anyway and now I have been conned into getting on the evil demon - Facebook!!! it is amazing how much time you can waste on there ....

Anyway - I will post a few things that have happened since April >>>>

I have some great new recipes too and just want to say - I LOVE my once a month scrapbook girls !!!! They are so great

Tulips

2009-05-22T14:39:00.003-06:00

there was quite an array of tulips in DC on the last few days of their bloom -they were amazing - quite different from my plain old pink and pastel yellow ones ..

the capitol

2009-05-22T14:30:00.002-06:00

I went to DC for a labeling class in April and even though it was a whopping 94 degrees -we had a great time on the tours that I took - the second night our tour bus was a big white Hummer limo - now that is riding in style .....

quail

2009-05-22T14:28:00.002-06:00

I know I have mentioned before that there are always quail hanging around in my backyard running up and down the fence line - here is the last one that was keeping me company while I was working in the garden

season finale's

2009-05-15T09:42:00.002-06:00

well this is the week for TV season finales' -
So far America's Next Top Model - ok a surprise there when amina got kicked off
CSI - ok

But good lord - the season Finale of Grey's Anatomoy and actually the last two epsiodes were tearjerkers!!! It was horrible how they left it but Korev continues to be my favorite :) and I wish that Callie would go back to men!!!

In the upcoming weeks it will be Ultimate Fighter as well

Good thing we have Rescue Me for ahwile and then it is off to re-run land..............

grandad's barn

2009-04-30T16:40:00.003-06:00

this is my grandad's old barn on their old chicken farm in Arkansas - in color

and in Black and white ( my personal favorite )

more dog pics

2009-04-30T16:37:00.002-06:00

because who can get enough ???

Family

2009-04-30T16:34:00.003-06:00

So I finally got around to getting to Arkansas to see my grandma - here are the pics of us and some of the tulips in the square in Fayetteville

Easter Bunny

2009-04-17T17:24:00.003-06:00

and here is what he thought about that ......

Dogs and more dogs

2009-04-17T17:20:00.003-06:00

I seem to have an abundance of dog pictures ( probably because I am light years behind in posting ..... )

Snow dog

2009-04-17T17:14:00.004-06:00

ok - this was from the snow in March and they are just too cute! He blends right in .....

FOG

2009-04-17T17:03:00.004-06:00

fog - not usually considered a pretty thing - especially if you are driving .....but I thought that this was really pretty when I was headed out the door one morning ....

Max

2009-04-17T16:44:00.003-06:00

some of you know - and some of you don't - about the latest addition to my household. Max became a resident in February and has surely made an impact!! after not seeing him for an entire week while I have been traveling - he was his normal cute spotted self when I picked him up last night ( complete with poo breath from Ricki's goats and chickens, I really don't understand why dogs so that ). He fell asleep on the way to get Apollo and then my god, you think that they had not seen each other in months - finally around 11:00 they fell asleep and neither moved until this morning.

In case you can't tell - he is a spotted Jack Russell with legs about 2 " long .....

Recipe of the month

2009-03-06T16:30:00.003-07:00

Spiced Farmhouse Fairy Cakes
SUBMITTED BY: Laura@home

"This is a nice family recipe that's easy to remember and tastes delicious! They're very simple, but you can vary flavorings, or add an icing to your own liking. They taste best warm with coffee or tea."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PREP TIME 15 Min
COOK TIME 20 Min
READY IN 35 Min
Original recipe yield 18 fairy cakes

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
3/4 cup superfine sugar
1/2 cup margarine
2 eggs
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 pinch ginger
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 pinch cardamom (optional)

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lay out about 18 cupcake (muffin) papers on a baking sheet or place them in a muffin pan.
In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and margarine until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time using an electric mixer, or the whole thing may be mixed in a blender. Add cinnamon and ginger to the batter and mix well. Stir in the flour until well blended. Spoon a generous tablespoon of the batter into each paper, and level it out.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until the tops spring back when lightly pressed. Dust with confectioners' sugar and cardamom when cooled.

From the River Adventures wesbite ...

2009-03-05T16:54:00.001-07:00

3-2-09: A much better day today on the river, as far as “catching” goes! We’ll start with Sam and Jeff’s crew…the Chris Coy gang! EVERYBODY on this boat caught a fish…is that awesome or what?! That makes the perfect day, if you ask me! Chris herself caught a 27” wild fish, while Carla Hare caught a 27” keeper!! Patty Winder caught a 25” keeper and a 33” keeper! Anita Jesser also caught two fish…a 23” hatchery and a 25” hatchery! Denise Martin caught two fish as well, but Sam said she had 5 MORE ON!! Unfortunately they were so big, they out swam the guides and the angler! Denise ended up with a 23” keeper and a 26” keeper! They are definitely in the water just waiting for us!! Way to put up a fight Denise!

The big news today is over on Mike Wallace and Mike Estrada’s boat! This was a mixed group of ladies that ended up mixing very well! I do believe these girls will probably go again together as they’ve all said they really enjoyed each other’s company! That is great! First of all, Karen Sanders caught a 22” keeper, while Cammy Benedict and Becki Petterson both caught a 26” fish…one a hatchery and the other a native! Ms. Betty Wilsey, a first timer to WWB, had a spectacular day with two fish…a 25” hatchery and a 34” wild!!! Way to go Betty! But finally, the biggest news of all today is about Cathy Jerrums! She is now our new MOST FISH leader. She caught four fish, for a total of 96 ½ inches! Her fish are: a 23” keeper, a 23 ½” keeper, a 24” wild and a 26” keeper! YAHOO! Way to go Cathy!!!

Women With Bait

2009-03-04T12:05:00.005-07:00

Monday I went fishing. In a tournament called "women with bait". The day was beautiful and the bait boy and boat driver/guide were great - our boat caught a total of 8 steelhead ( what we were fishing for ) and 2 bull trout. I learned alot about the steelhead - how you can tell between the wild and the hatchery version, how you distinguish males from females and the best place to catch them.
I had some difficulties starting out - you'd think I had never fished before! Finally I got over my jitters and caught a really nice fish - although smaller than the other ones caught I was thrilled! ( as you can tell by the kissing the fish picture).

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The scenery was fantastic - saw lots of bighorn, a golden eagle, 2 bad eagles and some elk - not at all bad for one day !

Next year I will have to fish the day before as well so I can make sure I have the hang of it before we go out!

Big sky revisited

2009-02-28T02:26:00.003-07:00

Previously I said we have big sky here.
We do.
Alot.
And in many colors and configurations - so you can look one direction and then slightly to the left is a completely different but equally magnificent horizon - these are from the drive home on Thursday -

Winter weather

2009-02-28T02:20:00.003-07:00

It rained for all of 5 minutes on Wednesday ( and it was 35 degrees) but this was the result so it was worth it

Oscars party

2009-02-28T01:59:00.004-07:00

Sunday night we had an Oscars party - here are some of the pictures - I think everyone looked glamorous ..............unfortunately none of my picks won except Wall-E :(

Recipes

2009-02-23T15:38:00.004-07:00

Here are two really easy and quick recipes that I made over the weekend :

Bacon Wrap Appetizers

1 lb bacon
1 can chunk pineapple (drained)
1 can water chestnuts (drained)
1 jar sweet and sour sauce

take piece of bacon, lay flat, place one pc of pineapple and one water chestnut, roll up - secure with toothpick. Do this until you have use all the bacon. Place in an ungreased baking pan, bake at 400 degrees for about 26 minutes - I had to flip mine and then cook about 15 min more - will depend on your oven but you want the bacon to be crispy. I also glazed mine before baking with the sweet and sour and also had it out for dipping.
I used both turkey and regular bacon and they both cooked up nicely.

#2 is the Asparagus wrap - this would be perfect for a shower or spring party :

16 asparagus spears
1 pkg chives
1 pkg large deli meat ( I used Ham and Turkey )
1 pkg Havarti cheese (I used slices from Costco -worked fine )
1` red pepper sliced ( I used yellow and red - one for ham /one for turkey )

So bring 1" water to boil in large skillet, put in asparagus - cook 3 min. Take out and place in ice water then pat dry. Take lunch meat and cut in half width wise ( so you have a longer thinner piece) Lay flat - place one pc of cheese ( i used half a slice of cheese),one pc of pepper, one asparagus spear and roll. Then tie with a chive - very cute and very tasty ( and LOW CARB!)

And I forgot to mention Erin Vey ...

2009-02-19T08:35:00.001-07:00

Her button is added too - she is a dog photographer and has THE MOST AMAZING pictures of dogs on her site ....what a great thing to photograph all day, every day ....

New blog addiction

2009-02-19T08:21:00.002-07:00

I have already been hooked on Pioneer Woman - now from here site I got directed to the Nie Nie Dialouges( feed buttons on the right). Nie Nie is Stephanie Neilson - and although she is a world apart ( Mormon ,married, with 4 kids) since I have read the entries since she and her husband were in a near fatal plane crash last August and were badly burned - you will definitely take away some inspiration from her. Think you're having a bad day? Go here and look at the picture that is nothing but her and her husbands' hands in the burn gloves, or look at her daily regimen for burn care ......we have alot to be thankful for. ( and yes, the other person in the plane with them was killed)

Direct

2009-02-19T08:19:00.003-07:00

Direct -
Another word for the year -
I have already had a few situations this year that have resulted in uncomfortable situations. The only way I know to approach these are to be open, honest and direct.
Here is the definition of direct : straightforward; frank; candid

Who knew there were 28 definitions of direct????

However, you can be tactful while also be direct ....................

2009-02-06T14:47:00.002-07:00

Balance
1. a state of equilibrium or equipoise; equality in amount, weight, value, or importance, as between two things or the parts of a thing
2. mental or emotional stability
to compare as to relative importance, value, etc

Another one of my conscious efforts for the year - Balance -as in Work/Life Balance - the definition really says it all - equality in value and importance as well as the stability factor - if you do not have good balance between the two then your life pretty much goes off in weird directions. Not to say that I won't ever stay late at work or that I won't leave early if I need to - but these will be conscious decisions and I will make the choice of what to do ....................

Recipe of the week

2009-02-03T14:48:00.005-07:00

Fruit & Cream Pizza Tart
INGREDIENTS
pizza dough (cooled)
4-6 ounces chocolate-hazelnut spread
4-6 ounces whipped cream topping
1 cup white sugar
1 cup water
2 oranges, peeled, seeded and thinly sliced
2 pears, skinned, seeded and thinly sliced
4 kiwis, skinned and thinly sliced

INSTRUCTIONS

Create a simple syrup by combining sugar and water in a saucepan over medium-high heat and bring water to a boil, stirring constantly. Once sugar is dissolved, remove your simple syrup from the heat and let cool.
As syrup cools, spread a generous layer of chocolate-hazelnut spread, then a layer of whipped cream across entire pizza crust.
Once cooled, pour syrup into a medium-sized bowl. Lightly toss all fruit slices in the syrup, then arrange decoratively on crust.
Tip: To achieve an elegant and colorful presentation, begin at the center of your crust and arrange your fruit in a fanning, circular motion, working your way toward the edge of the crust.

From yesterday's post

2009-02-03T14:46:00.002-07:00

and the answers are :

01. a. Florence Henderson / 02. c. Gregory Hines / 03. b. U.S.S.R. and China signed a peace treaty / 04. c. Lorenz Hart / 05. b. horror / 06. d. 1913 / 07. c. from prison / 08. c. Bear Hug / 09. d. 85 / 10. b. Ares / 11. d. Venus / 12. a. Fertility / 13. b. 26 calories / 14. c. Teachers / 15. c. Women give men chocolate / 16. b. Verona / 17. a. nectar / 18. d. beauty / 19. b. England / 20. a. liver

Valentine Trivia

2009-02-03T14:41:00.001-07:00

Valentine Trivia

01. What famous actress was born on February 14?
a. Florence Henderson
b. Audrey Hepburn
c. Patricia Richardson
d. Farrah Fawcett-Majors

02. What famous actor was born on February 14?
a. Gary Coleman
b. Ashton Kutcher
c. Gregory Hines
d. Billy Crystal

03. What historical event transpired on Valentine's Day in 1950?
a. Britain abolished the death penalty
b. U.S.S.R. and China signed a peace treaty
c. Russia broke diplomatic relations with Israel
d. Stalin met with Beria, Bulganin, Khrushchev and Malenkov

04. Who wrote the lyrics to "My Funny Valentine"?
a. Richard Rogers
b. Barabara Striesand
c. Lorenz Hart
d. Miles Davis

05. What type of movie is the 2001 film "Valentine"?
a. comedy
b. horror
c. action
d. drama

06. In what year did Hallmark makes its first Valentine card?
a. 1957
b. 1941
c. 1924
d. 1913

07. Where was the first Valentine's Day card sent from?
a. the battlefield
b. a monestary
c. a prison
d. a hospital

08. What conversation heart saying was added in 2005?
a. Be Mine
b. Love Me Tender
c. Bear Hug
d. Heart of Gold

09. Approximately what percentage of Valentine’s Day cards are purchased by women?
a. 24
b. 47
c. 68
d. 85

10. Who was Cupid's father?
a. Eros
b. Ares
c. Vesta
d. Anteros

11. Who was Cupid's mother?
a. Aphrodite
b. Artemis
c. Hera
d. Venus

12. According to mythology, what was once celebrated on Valentine's Day?
a. Fertility
b. Virginity
c. Romance
d. Marriage

13. Approximately how many calories can be burned by kissing for one minute?
a. 16 calories
b. 26 calories
c. 36 calories
d. 46 calories

14. According to statistics, in what profession do people receive the most Valentine's Day cards?
a. Nurses
b. Secretaries
c. Teachers
d. Librarians

15. Since the 1950s, how has Valentine's Day been customarily celebrated in Japan?
a. Couples exchange white doves
b. Men give women white chocolate
c. Women give men chocolate
d. Romantic meals are served on white table settings

16. What Italian city receives thousands of cards addressed to Juliet every Valentine's Day?
a. Rome
b. Verona
c. Venice
d. Florence

17. According to Roman mythology, what liquid that spilled by Cupid caused roses to grow?
a. nectar
b. rose oil
c. patchouli oil
d. red wine

18. What were Esther Howland's valentines known for?
a. price
b. color
c. availability
d. beauty

19. In what country's museum can you find the oldest known Valentine still in existence?
a. Italy
b. England
c. Greece
d. France

20. In Shakespearean times what bodily organ was associated with love?
a. liver
b. kidneys
c. brain
d. stomach

Answers to be posted tomorrow

My new phone

2009-01-28T14:53:00.003-07:00

My poor Pink Razor finally gave out over the weekend so I had to upgrade to this.....
(Notice the had to )
The problem is now I can easily spend an hour a day playing with this mini computer and adding applications - I now have the ability to calculate tips, find dinner recipes, make my grocery list, get directions and maps from wherever I am at, and review movies all from this "phone" .....
It can be an evil thing .........................

Revive

2009-01-27T14:22:00.002-07:00

In keeping with the good things that I am determined to do this year, one of them is reviving old friendships.

The actual definition of Revive is :
to return to life; become active or flourishing again
to restore from an inactive state;
to renew in the mind or the memory

That is a pretty accurate summary of what I feel I need to do. I really miss some of my old friends, and even if we are far away ( because we all know that I am far away from everyone) they are still very important to me.

So - I have committed to having a once a month conversation with my friend in Indiana who I had coffee with every Sunday for over a year;
I have contacted an old friend in Alabama ( who helped get me to Super Bowl) and was really glad to hear from me ;
and I am hoping to reconnect with my friend in Dallas ( who helped me survive Hope,AR and who went to Cancun with me)

Friends are so important - most of us do not have enough or we get busy and let the ones we have slip away a little at a time , then become acquaintances, people you know and then they are gone and you forget to wonder about them anymore....I am reversing the trend and bringing them back to life......

Recipe of the Week

2009-01-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

Bacon Cheeseburger Quiche
6 servings

Ingredients:
1 lb. very lean hamburger
1 small chopped onion
4 slices crisp-cooked bacon, chopped in bits
3 eggs
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup half-n-half
8 oz. shredded chedder or swiss cheese
garlic powder to taste (optional)
white pepper

1
Brown hamburger in skillet with onion. Remove and mix in bowl with bacon pieces, breaking up any larger clumps with a fork or pastry mixer until you have a fine mix. Drain well of any excess grease and press into the bottom of a deep-dish pie pan. Set aside.
2
Preheat oven to 350°F.
3
Combine remaining ingredients in mixer bowl and whip well. Pour mixture over beef "crust" and bake 40-45 minutes until top is browned and "set". Cool 15-20 minutes before slicing. This can be packaged in Ziplocs or plastic containers for meals quickly microwaved over the next 3-5 days. (Does not freeze well, though.)

The Oscars

2009-01-25T11:55:00.002-07:00

There were quite a few movies actually that could have been nominated but it looks like Benjamin Button really cleaned up.

From the nominated here are my choices in some categories :
Best actor - Who can not say Brad Pitt? Even though I am surprised that Clint is not in there
Best Picture - Benjamin Button
Best Animated Picture - Wall- E ( this is one of the best kid movies and beats Kung Fu Panda by miles....)
Best Supporting Actress - of course Tarnaji Henson from Benjamin Button

I am not really keen on any of the other nominations so we will see how I do with these. I am contemplating an Oscar party ..................

Top 10 Dogs of 2008

2009-01-21T12:31:00.005-07:00

This is Jazz made over - cool that he made #10

10: Shih Tzu
A compact and solid dog, the shih tzu’s long, flowing double coat is its most distinctive feature. Shih tzu means “lion” and although this dog is sweet and playful, he is not afraid to stand up for himself! Since the sole purpose of the shih tzu is companion and house pet, he should be lively, alert, friendly and trusting toward all. Weighing between 9 and 16 pounds, he requires minimal exercise, but his long, luxurious coat needs daily brushing and maintenance.

The others were :
Poodle, Bulldog, Dachshund, Boxer, Beagle, Golden Retreiver, German Shepard, Yorkie and #1 Again - the Lab

Presidential Trivia - In honor of today

2009-01-20T07:56:00.000-07:00

20 Things You Didn't Know About U.S. Presidents

Not only were these men leaders of the United States, they were multitalented, unique, and sometimes even downright quirky. We've heard a lot about their contribution to United States history. But would you have guessed the following?

1. In warm weather, 6th president of the United States John Quincy Adams customarily went skinny-dipping in the Potomac River before dawn.

2. 9th U.S. president William Henry Harrison was inaugurated on a bitterly cold day and gave the longest inauguration speech ever. The new president promptly caught a cold that soon developed into pneumonia. Harrison died exactly one month into his presidential term, the shortest in U.S. history.

3. John Tyler, 10th U.S. president, fathered 15 children (more than any other president)--8 by his first wife, and 7 by his second wife. Tyler was past his seventieth birthday when his 15th child was born.

4. Sedated only by brandy, 11th president of the United States James Polk survived gall bladder surgery at the age of 17.

5. 15th U.S. president James Buchanan is the only unmarried man ever to be elected president. Buchanan was engaged to be married once; however, his fiancée died suddenly after breaking off the engagement, and he remained a bachelor all his life.

6. Often depicted wearing a tall black stovepipe hat, 16th president of the United States Abraham Lincoln carried letters, bills, and notes in his hat.

7. 17th U.S. president Andrew Johnson never attended school. His future wife, Eliza McCardle, taught him to write at the age of 17. (Bonus fact about Andrew Johnson: He only wore suits that he custom-tailored himself.)

8. Ulysses S. Grant, 18th president of the United States, died of throat cancer. During his life, Grant had smoked about 20 cigars per day.

9. Both ambidextrous and multilingual, 20th president of the United States James Garfield could write Greek with one hand while writing Latin with the other.

10. Grover Cleveland, 22nd and 24th president of the United States, underwent a secret operation aboard a yacht to remove his cancerous upper jaw in 1893.

11. The teddy bear derived from 26th U.S. president Theodore ("Teddy") Roosevelt's refusal to shoot a bear with her cub while on a hunting trip in Mississippi.

12. William Taft, 27th president of the United States, weighed more than 300 pounds and had a special oversized bathtub installed in the White House.

13. Warren Harding, 29th U.S. president, played poker at least twice a week, and once gambled away an entire set of White House china. His advisors were nicknamed the "Poker Cabinet" because they joined the president in his poker games.

14. Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the United States, had chronic stomach pain and required 10 to 11 hours of sleep and an afternoon nap every day.

15. Herbert Hoover, 31st U.S. president, published more than 16 books, including one called Fishing for Fun-And to Wash Your Soul.

16. 32nd president of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt was related, either by blood or by marriage, to 11 former presidents.

17. The letter "S" comprises the full middle name of the 33rd president, Harry S. Truman. It represents two of his grandfathers, whose names both had "S" in them.

18. Military leader and 34th president of the U.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower loved to cook; he developed a recipe for vegetable soup that is 894 words long and includes the stems of nasturtium flowers as one of the ingredients.

19. 40th president of the United States Ronald Reagan broke the so-called "20-year curse," in which every president elected in a year ending in 0 died in office.

20. George W. Bush, 43rd president of the United States, and his wife Laura got married just three months after meeting each other.

Inauguration Day 2009

2009-01-20T07:21:00.002-07:00

Obama to Become 44th President Today

No matter how you voted, today is an important day in American History - the day the first black president is elected into office. I think this says alot about the way the country is changing but also about how the decisions you make on the people you surround yourself with influence others opinion of you ( think Sarah Palin.....) Record crowds are set to be out in Washington to witness the event and the Secret Service has more people on detail today than ever before. History in the making...

Happy Inauguration Day!

Recipe for the week

2009-01-19T14:38:00.002-07:00

Apple- Mango Crisp

16 (3/4-cup) servings

Nonstick cooking spray
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
1/2 cup packed brown sugar or brown sugar substitute equivalent to 1/2 cup brown sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
4 green cooking apples (such as Granny Smith)
2 red cooking apples (such as Gala, Rome Beauty, or Fuji)
3 tablespoons lime juice
2 medium mangoes, pitted, peeled, and chopped
1/3 cup chopped pecans
Frozen light whipped dessert topping, thawed (optional)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degree F. Coat two 1-1/2- or 2-quart baking dishes or a 3-quart rectangular baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

2. For topping, in a medium bowl, stir together 1/2 cup of the flour, the oats, wheat germ, brown sugar or substitute, and cinnamon. Stir in butter; set aside.

3. Core and chop apples; place in a very large bowl. Stir in lime juice. Stir in remaining 1/4 cup flour. Fold in mango.

4. Place apple-mango mixture in the baking dish(es). Top with oat topping. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with pecans; bake for 10 to 15 minutes more or until apples are tender.

5. Cool slightly. Serve warm. If desired, top with dessert topping. Makes 16 (3/4-cup) servings.

*Sugar Substitutes: Choose from Sweet 'N Low Brown or Sugar Twin Granulated Brown. Follow the package directions to use amount equivalent to 1/2 cup brown sugar.

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 16 (3/4-cup) servings Calories 164, Total Fat (g) 6, Saturated Fat (g) 2, Cholesterol (mg) 8, Sodium (mg) 2, Carbohydrate (g) 28, Fiber (g) 3, Protein (g) 3, Starch (d.e.) .5, Fruit (d.e.) 1, Other Carbohydrates (d.e.) .5, Fat (d.e.) 1, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Playoff Game

2009-01-16T17:24:00.004-07:00

So - the game was bad, really bad ( well - only if you were wanting Carolina to win!! ) But , it let me complete my football game series - regualr game, playoff game and Super Bowl - all the rest is icing on the cake now.

Here are some shots from the game - Darius Rucker ( formerly from Hootie and the Blowfish & now a country singer - great album by the way) sang the National anthem and the Panthers had some cool special effects when all the players came out ....

Pre- Game

2009-01-16T17:07:00.004-07:00

Here are some pictures from before the Carolina game - I got to see some of my friends that I have not seen in years ( it also helps that they are pretty cute! )

Kevin

Chan

and everyone else.......

Recipe ( month/week???)

2009-01-14T18:18:00.002-07:00

I am not sure if I want to do recipe of the month, the week of just whenever the urge strikes so you may see some random recipes appearing at differnt times. I took this one off of recipe.com but I also want to post on here some of my favorite recipes that I use all the time. The drink recipe with the Bailey's and the Peppermint Schnapps was a huge hit at XMAS when I had the girls over. ENJOY!

Dinah's Stuffed Mushrooms SUBMITTED BY: DEBNJAMES "Delicious mushroom caps filled with a clam stuffing! Very easy, and even better than the stuffed mushrooms from that famous Italian restaurant chain.... Garnish with lemon wedges when serving."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PREP TIME 20 Min
COOK TIME 30 Min
READY IN 50 Min
Original recipe yield 20 mushrooms

INGREDIENTS
20 fresh mushrooms, stems removed
2 (6.5 ounce) cans minced clams, drained
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 small onion, finely chopped
3/4 cup dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
2 tablespoons dried parsley
2 tablespoons Italian-style seasoning
ground black pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups butter, melted
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange mushroom caps hollow side up in the baking dish.
In a medium bowl, mix together minced clams, garlic, Parmesan cheese, onion, bread crumbs, green bell pepper, parsley, Italian-style seasoning and black pepper. Slowly stir in approximately 1/2 the butter, enough to make the mixture slightly moist.
Generously fill the mushroom caps with the clam mixture. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Drizzle with remaining butter.
Bake in the preheated oven 30 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Nutritional Information
Amount Per Serving ( 10 servings per recipe)

Calories: 386

Total Fat: 31.4g
Cholesterol: 106mg
Sodium: 515mg
Total Carbs: 11.6g
Dietary Fiber: 1.4g
Protein: 15.6g

xmas lights

2009-01-13T18:03:00.002-07:00

Even though we are well on the way thru January - I still feel the need to post my xmas lights pictures - I LOVE XMAS lights - except for the fact that you have to climb everywhere to out them up and take them down - that is one thing I really think is a Man's job!

sunsets

2009-01-13T17:33:00.003-07:00

So what month would be complete without my obligatory postings of sunsets in Idaho - all of these are the same sunset - they are gorgeous but still don't really capture how beautiful it was

family gathering

2009-01-08T16:11:00.003-07:00

Mom and Dad had a get together on Sunday after xmas - saw some family I had not seen in a long time -

Xmas Eve

2009-01-08T15:40:00.002-07:00

we had XMAS eve at Tami's house - here are a few of my favorite pictures - I scored on the Dallas Cowboy stuff too !

Guess where I will be on Saturday????

2009-01-08T15:35:00.002-07:00

Yep - North Carolina at the Carolina Panthers/Arizona Cardinals play off game - On the 50 yd ln - will have pictures to post when I return from there :) It pays to know the right people!

Happy New Year

2009-01-02T07:23:00.002-07:00

2009 – A new year is here again. A time to set your mind for the resolutions of the new year. My plan for this year consists of several things that have been on my mind for the last few weeks :
1 – Be thankful for what you have. I may not be where I had intended to be at this particular point in life but I have a lot of things to be grateful for and I need to remember this every day – especially when I am down in the dumps. In the current economy, while people are losing their jobs and their homes, I got a bonus check and a raise. Although I am a long way from my family – I still have them. Christmas Eve, there was a horribly tragic situation at the home of my friends who dog sit for me – one is now in jail on murder charges, the other has lost a son and has her husband going to trial for the shooting – and Xmas will now forever be for her and her family a day of mourning/sadness and not of happiness and togetherness. That will make you think about how you evaluate your situation in life. I have really great friends here – the best I have ever had. There is nothing that they would not do for me or me for them and I grow in their support and love. They have become my second family.
2- Take care of yourself. For those of you who don’t know, I have been trying to win the battle with weight over the past 8 months – and have done a pretty good job – 50 lbs at this point and about half of that to still go. Although I surely look a lot better, the real purpose was to be healthier so I can live longer and have more quality of life. So far so good – but it takes a lot of effort. But you have to dedicate yourself to doing the things that allow you to take care of yourself. I get a massage every month, I get my nails done every 2 weeks and I am going to the gym – really different things but they have the same result – they make me feel good and are good for my body at the same time. I am also going to really push to achieve a work/life balance that I have been missing lately – well, actually probably for the last 10 years. I am going to do my best to not let work take over my life and not feel guilty when I leave work at 5:30. Goals, goals, goals !!! This will allow me to take better care of myself in the ways mentioned above, and when you take better care of yourself – it allows you to take better care of others.
3 – Do something positive/fun every day – not every week, every other day – but every day – it can be 100 different things and does not have to be big but in order to keep your mind right you need to maintain a clear head and a positive attitude toward life – there is something in each day you are alive that you should seek out. It may be a coffee at Starbucks, a call to a friend, sleeping past 8:00 am or just a few minutes outside watching the birds – whatever it is – do it and if you have to write down a list of them and cross them off as you do them. It makes a difference in your attitude – trust me.

I think that these three things can make a huge difference in the people we choose to be – we can be negative and upset all of the time or we can make a conscious effort to be upbeat and hopeful. Just because our lives are not going along as planned does not mean that we have to give up on wanting that – we just have to not let it take over our lives in the meantime, and maybe, just maybe as we focus less on what is wrong with us then the things that are right become even stronger and lead us unconsciously down the path that we want to be on.

Everyone has to travel down their own yellow brick road to get to their destination……….

Gar Fishing

2008-09-06T19:41:00.002-06:00

Dad, my cousin Joel and I went fishing a few weeks ago for gar - we did not catch the really big one so we are supposed to be able to go back next year and get a free day - here is the picture of the one we did catch - there was also a huge blue catfish but we could not get him in the boat for a picture .....

End of summer

2008-08-27T12:34:00.002-06:00

well - it was 48 degrees this morning so I guess that signals the end of summer .....

I'll catch you up on the fishing trip later in the week ...............

recipe of the week

2008-08-27T12:33:00.001-06:00

Black Bean Salad

Ingredients
1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup chopped tomato
1/4 cup diced peeled avocado
2 tablespoons chopped green onions
1 tablespoon chopped seeded jalapeño pepper
4 cups gourmet salad greens

Busy

2008-08-19T07:26:00.002-06:00

Wow - the days and the weeks have just flown by - I can not believe we are closing in on September. I have had a really hard time lately at work so there has not been much else occupying my time. However, I have been making jam - and some other creations lately - it is pretty therapeutic to cook.

So far - I made 2 sets of dog treat - molasses/ginger and carrot/oatmeal
Zucchini cake and zucchini cake from this monster zucchini that Allyson gave me,
apricot jam, cinnamon apricot jam, blackberry raspberry jam, plum apricot jam and then finally , peach poppy seed dressing. Sounds like alot but it has been fun.

My next undertaking will be wine jelly, mint jelly and rosemary jelly ! Yeah - can't wait to get started on those

Headed out fishing later this week - check back next week for pictures

Batman

2008-08-18T09:56:00.000-06:00

For those of you that have not seen Batman, you are really missing out! Even though Christian Bale is not my favorite Batman - Heath Ledger is amazing as the Joker! And you know there will be another one after this ...................

Recipe of the week

2008-08-18T09:55:00.000-06:00

Steak with Nectarines

Ingredients
4 6- to 8-oz. boneless beef rib-eye steaks, cut 1/2 inch thick
3 tsp. sugar, divided
1 to 1-1/2tsp. chili powder
1-1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/8 to 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 medium firm but ripe nectarines, pitted and cut into 8 wedges each
2 tsp. water
4 slices bacon, preferably hickory smoked
Directions
1. Trim fat from meat. In a small bowl combine sugar, chili powder, salt, cumin, black pepper, and cayenne pepper; reserve 1 teaspoon. Sprinkle remaining spice mixture evenly over both sides of meat; rub in with your fingers; set aside. In a medium bowl toss the nectarines with the reserved 1 teaspoon spice mixture and water; set aside.

2. For a charcoal grill, place bacon slices in a large cast iron skillet. Place skillet with bacon on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals. Grill 8 to 10 minutes or until bacon is crisp-cooked and browned, turning very frequently. Carefully remove skillet from grill. Remove bacon from skillet and drain on paper towels.

3. Place steaks on the grill rack directly over the coals. Grill until desired doneness, turning once. (Allow 4 to 6 minutes for medium-rare doneness or 5 to 7 minutes for medium doneness.) Place nectarine wedges directly on grill rack along side the steaks the last 3 to 5 minutes of grilling until nectarines are lightly browned and warmed through, turning often.

4. Transfer steaks to serving plates and top each with a slice of bacon and 4 nectarine wedges.

Summarize your life

2008-08-06T07:48:00.002-06:00

I found this book and read thru it yesterday - people summarized their lives in 6 words or less.

Can you do that? I will share some of those with you later but think on that ....

Recipe of the week

2008-07-31T11:54:00.000-06:00

Ground Beef Calzones

Ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef
3 1/2 cups (14 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1 (6-ounce) can low-sodium tomato paste
1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 (10-ounce) cans refrigerated pizza crust
Olive oil
Italian Tomato Sauce

Preparation
Cook ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring until it crumbles and is no longer pink. Drain.
Combine beef, 2 1/2 cups cheese, and next 3 ingredients.

Unroll each pizza crust, and cut each crust into thirds. Roll each portion to a 5-inch circle. Spread 3/4 cup of meat mixture evenly over half of each circle. Moisten edges with water; fold dough over, pressing or crimping edges to seal. Place on a lightly greased baking sheet, and cut slits in tops to allow steam to escape. Brush with olive oil.

Bake at 375° for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden. Top with Italian Tomato Sauce; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Melt cheese under broiler, if desired.

Note: Freeze baked calzones up to 1 month, if desired. Thaw in refrigerator overnight. Wrap calzones in aluminum foil, and bake at 300° for 1 hour or until thoroughly heated.

Lavender Fields

2008-07-25T11:46:00.003-06:00

Allyson and I went to the Lavender Festival here a few weeks ago- I can't even describe to you the smell as you get out of the car - it is amazing. They make several different lavendar products and also sell some plants, unfortunately, the white ones were all gone before we got there as well as the lavender honey. oh well, we will try again next year

Apollo and Petey

2008-07-25T11:32:00.003-06:00

Apollo has a little friend who is a miniature long haired weinie dog - you wouldn't think that they would play well together but they really do - I wish I had a video of Petey chasing Apollo through the yard - it is the funniest thing!
Here they are a few weeks ago - I love the picture where Petey has his head turned and his eyes closed -

Recipe of the week - Peach Tea

2008-07-24T12:06:00.000-06:00

Ingredients
3 (11.5-ounce) cans peach nectar
2 quarts brewed tea
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

Preparation
Stir together all ingredients; chill until ready to serve.

Yield
3/4 gallon

Feed Me !

2008-07-24T11:42:00.005-06:00

Sometimes in life you get to see some things that make you stop and take a few minutes to watch and then it leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling after - here is one example :

Fireworks

2008-07-24T10:41:00.003-06:00

I love fireworks - here are some pictures from earlier in the month - of course after I took these I FINALLY learned how to adjust the shutter speed where you can photograph what you are actually seeing as they explode - so NEXT year, they will be improved - some of these remind me of things we created on the Spirograph years ago....

Longhorns

2008-07-21T16:53:00.001-06:00

As I drive around I keep noticing more and more longhorns here - which seems knd of strange given the cold winter weather - but the rest of the year is nice, dry and hot so they probably love it - and they do look good out in the pasture .....

Ray of sunshine

2008-07-21T16:50:00.001-06:00

You will know what that phrase means when you look at this picture - it was just beautiful

Weight-less

2008-07-17T18:21:00.002-06:00

weight loss update - 6.5 more lbs!!! And with the birthday and all the eating out, needless to say I was pleasantly surprised. I did not weigh this time before the "official" weigh in so it was good to see a decent reduction again. They told me as long as I continued to lose more than 4 lbs a month I was "above average" - of course we knew that didn't we???
Still a long road to climb but it is really pretty routine now, of course I probably should not mention that Allyson and I had Krispy Kreme donuts and coffee for dinner the other night,,,,,,,

Scrapbooking

2008-07-14T09:15:00.002-06:00

I think I am back in my groove - I have missed doing some creative cutting and pasting but I always felt like I had to work in the yard or do something else in the yard - and the scrapbook room where I moved everything was not even the least bit organized. So over the weekend , I finally got the room cleaned up and situated where I could function and begin making some masterpieces! Ok -that's not really what happened, but I did get all of the calendar kits completed as well as the kits I had from classes - of course, now I need to add the pictures, but to get that all done and out of the way cut down on the clutter like you would not believe. I picked up 2 more scrapbook cubes on clearance at Micheal's so that should help too. Funny - when you get done with it - there is such a sense of accomplishment -I always wonder why I wait so long to do the pages. It is a vicious circle - now if I could just start working on this mountain of paper that I have accumulated. and let's not even talk about the ribbon - that is scary! But - one thing at a time .......

Recipe of the week ( 2)

2008-07-14T09:13:00.001-06:00

This will make up for me missing last week's recipe! This one came recommended as being used to dip into melting ice cream .............

Cornmeal Sandies
Prep: 30 min.
Chill: 2 min.
Bake: 10 min. per batch
Cool: 2 minutes per batch
Stand: 2 minutes per batch

1 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup sugar
3 tsp. finely shredded orange peel
2 tsp. finely shredded lemon peel
1 tsp. vanilla
1-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1/4 tsp. salt
Sugar

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.

2. In large mixing bowl beat butter with electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Beat in the 1/4 cup sugar, and fruit peels; beat in vanilla.

3. In separate bowl combine flour, cornmeal, and salt; gradually add to and mix with butter mixture until a cohesive ball of dough forms.

4. Using a 1-ounce scoop or tablespoon, roll dough in 3/4-inch balls. Place 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets. Flatten slightly with palm of hand.

5. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until edges are lightly browned. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet. Place additional sugar in shallow dish; gently toss warm cookies in sugar. Cool on rack. Makes 3 dozen cookies.

Celebrity Babies

2008-07-13T01:29:00.002-06:00

wow - the last week has been busy with all the celebrity babies - of course July is a good month to be born!

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban on 7/7 - Sunday Rose
Matthew McConaughey on 7/7 - no name yet ( which is scary since his brother;s kid is named Miller Lyte)
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie - today - Leon Knox ( really country ) and Vivienne Marchelline ( very French) Guess we can figure out who named each baby!

Recipe of the week

2008-07-13T01:17:00.003-06:00

Maybe I should make it recipe of the month since I am so far behind

Firecracker Grilled Alaska Salmon
SUBMITTED BY: Christine L.
"These are salmon fillets in a tasty, tangy sauce with a little heat! Serve with rice and a simple stir-fry of baby corn, shiitake mushrooms and snow peas."

-----------------------------------------------------------

PREP TIME 20 Min
COOK TIME 20 Min

INGREDIENTS
8 (4 ounce) fillets salmon
1/2 cup peanut oil
4 tablespoons soy sauce
4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
4 tablespoons green onions, chopped
3 teaspoons brown sugar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS
Place salmon filets in a medium, nonporous glass dish. In a separate medium bowl, combine the peanut oil, soy sauce, vinegar, green onions, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, sesame oil and salt. Whisk together well, and pour over the fish. Cover and marinate the fish in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 hours.
Prepare an outdoor grill with coals about 5 inches from the grate, and lightly oil the grate.
Grill the fillets 5 inches from coals for 10 minutes per inch of thickness, measured at the thickest part, or until fish just flakes with a fork. Turn over halfway through cooking.

Birthday

2008-07-13T01:07:00.006-06:00

Whew , I survived another birthday - actually we had a really good time. Dad flew up on the 3rd and stayed for the weekend. I got some cool presents from Mom and Dad - let's just say - I can now watch TV from across the room and it is amazing! Also some goodies for the kitchen I had mentioned. Funniest thing - Mom sent a B-day card for every year I have been on the planet ( yep - the box was pretty full! ) We had a cookout here - Apollo even got to visit a little, he was pretty good ( except when he stole the peppers stuffed with pepper jack cheese off of the counter....) It was nice to have my friends ( and part of the family ) here at the same time. Dad cooked some Cornish hens and some steak - and all the rest I made. It was all really good - the pie and the hens were the favorites - Mom sent the pie recipe- it was supposed to be tarts but I did not really have enough time for that so I made it in a pie - yum! And you know there was wine, good thing is I got as gifts the same amount that we drank that day.

and then for the finale , we watched the UFC fight with Forest Griffin and Rampage Jackson - it was a good fight and yes, Forest came out the winner! Yippee! The first fight was awful - it was so bloody I was a little queasy . EEWWWW

All and all it was a great day-

Garden

2008-07-13T00:59:00.004-06:00

The garden is growing like crazy - the squash plant must be growing at the rate of Kudzu! I am going to have to cut it back before it takes over the whole place! Who knew that one plant would be so huge ! The lettuce is over, I just picked the lst of the broccoli and most of the radishes have gone to seed. In addition to the broccoli today I got 4 more onions, another good size squash, 3 strawberries and a pepper- there are a few tomatoes that will be ready by Monday. And, I am trying to figure out how to keep the crazy cantaloupe from growing out into the yard - it refuses to stay in the little fence.

The sunflowers are blooming as well - they are not as tall as they were supposed to be but I am still happy with them since I grew them from seed. The teddy bear ones are about 6 in tall instead of 18 " and the others ( which are not really burgundy as depicted on the see packet ) are about 5 ft tall - hopefully I will get a greenhouse by the winter so next year they will be bigger and better.

Flying by

2008-07-13T00:51:00.001-06:00

Wow, the days have flown by and now it has been almost 3 weeks since I have posted anything ....time to get caught up -would be helpful if this crazy computer would read the memory card on my camera .

Anyway - looks for new posts over the next several days - and yes- with pictures!

Sweet ......Tea

2008-06-23T17:44:00.002-06:00

Have I ever mentioned I love tea? Sweet tea of course is my favorite - made like they do in Alabama with a little over a cup per pitcher - it really gets thick and dark if you let it sit in the fridge overnight. YummY !!! McAlister's deli also has really good sweet tea - not that I would know here because NO ONE serves sweet tea here - we don't even have a Chick-fil-a where I could get some. ( of course , I won't mention that carb load that one glass would be for the day .,.,.)

Anyway ,enough of that - when Dad and I went to Montana - they had this great tea there - came in sweet little silk sachet bags and had very unusual flavors. It is made by Harney and Sons and you can order it here : https://www.teabutler.com/store/.

I prefer the Hot Cinnamon Spice and the Mint Verbena - but got a free sample of the Paris and it was quite nice as well. The White Vanilla Grapefruit is an acquired taste.

So drink up - and enjoy some tea - sweet or ( deep sigh) with only some Splenda

New and Improved

2008-06-23T11:23:00.001-06:00

Well, I normally don't like to talk about weight loss - usually we all think about how much we need to lose , how fast we put the weight on and clothes we have in the closet that we would like to wear again. However, that is not the case this time! After going to the doctor in April and finding out that my blood pressure was getting high - and finding out how much I really weighed ( scary!! ) I decided I had to do something.
So - went back in May and had lost 13.6 lbs = not too shabby. I will be going back monthly just to make sure I am on track and I also like the motivation I get from knowing I will have to get on that scale.
My June appt was last week - I had lost another 9 lbs - eureka! someone told me to really understand how much weight you have lost you should look for something in the grocery store that has the same weight - ex - 5 lbs = 5 lbs potatoes; 10 lbs = 3 12-pks cokes . So basically I have lost the equivalent of a bag of dog food. huge I tell you - huge!
I am not done yet though - I still have a lot more to lose. I know that it gets harder and harder each month so I have added an extra lap onto my walking route and will have to make sure I really monitor the extra stuff but am the same time , I am not depriving myself of things that I really want.
So - I will keep you posted on how things are going -it is nice to know that one day soon I won't have to shop at Lane Bryant anymore - of course, I am not sure where I will get cute clothes at then but it will be fun to look for them !

Recipe of the week

2008-06-23T09:04:00.000-06:00

Key Lime Cheesecake Bars Prep: 30 min.
Chill: 8 hrs.
Ingredients
6 squares low-fat honey graham crackers, finely crushed (1/2 cup)
2 Tbsp. margarine, melted
1 tsp. sugar
1 4-serving-size pkg. sugar-free low-calorie lime-flavored gelatin
3/4 cup boiling water
1 16-oz. container fat-free cottage cheese (1-3/4 cups)
1 8-oz. pkg. fat-free cream cheese, softened
1 8-oz. container frozen fat-free whipped dessert topping, thawed
Key Limes or limes, cut in wedges (optional)

Directions
1. In small bowl combine graham crackers, margarine, and sugar. Press crumb mixture in the bottom of a 2-quart square baking dish. Refrigerate while preparing filling.

2. In large bowl combine gelatin and water. Stir until gelatin is dissolved. Set aside.

3. In blender or food processor combine cottage cheese and cream cheese. Cover and blend or process until smooth, stopping several times to scrape down sides. Whisk 1/2 cup of the cottage cheese mixture into the gelatin mixture. Whisk in remaining cottage cheese mixture until smooth. Fold in whipped dessert topping. Spoon filling over chilled crumb mixture.

4. Cover and refrigerate 8 to 24 hours or until filling is firm. To serve, cut in squares. Top with lime wedges. Makes 9 servings.
Nutrition Facts

Nutrition facts per serving:
Calories 147
Total Fat (g) 3
Carbohydrate (g) 17
Total Sugar (g) 4
Fiber (g) 0
Protein (g) 10

Recipe of the week

2008-06-16T09:04:00.001-06:00

Chicken and Corn Pizza

1 12-inch packaged prebaked pizza crust
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1 10-oz. pkg. frozen whole kernel corn in butter sauce
1 6-oz. pkg. refrigerated cooked chicken breast strips
1/2 cup coarsely chopped red sweet pepper
1 Tbsp. finely shredded lemon peel
2 tsp. dried tarragon
1 tsp. bottled minced garlic
1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese
1 2 1/4-oz can sliced pitted ripe olives, drained
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Line baking sheet with foil. Coat foil with nonstick cooking spray. Place pizza crust on foil; set aside.

2. In bowl combine ricotta, Parmesan, and black pepper. Spread on crust leaving 1/2-inch space around edge. Bake 5 minutes.

3. Transfer corn and sauce from package to microwave-safe bowl. Microcook on high (100% power) 3 minutes. Stir. Microcook 1 minute more. Stir in chicken, sweet pepper, lemon peel, tarragon, and garlic. Remove pizza from oven. Spoon corn mixture over ricotta mixture on crust.

4. Top with goat cheese and black olives. Bake 5 minutes more or until cheese and edges are lightly browned. Sprinkle with parsley before serving. Makes 4 servings.

June-uary

2008-06-11T13:36:00.001-06:00

Let's talk about the weather - not the warm, sunny , no humidity days with a slight breeze you normally have this time of year in Idaho, oh, no - let's talk about the last few days - high 50's during the day, buckets and buckets of rain, howling wind and let's not forget - it was 38; repeat 38 this morning. Yesterday about 160 miles from here , they had 11 inches of snow. Craziness!!! I refuse to bring back out my winter clothes.....but I do have on my Mr Rogers sweater today .......

how bizarre!

Harvest Time

2008-06-09T17:13:00.003-06:00

Ok - not exactly - but I have planted my first garden - not sure what the actual cost of each veggie that comes out of there will be but it is fun to watch them grow from little seeds or small plants into something edible. I planted 3 kinds of tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, broccoli, onions, lettuce, radishes, and 4 kinds of peppers. Not many plants of each but since it is just me that works !
We had the first salad with the regular leaf lettuce last night - success!!!

Here is the overview of the whole garden, (without all the tomato plants)

the gorgeous lettuce ( it is beautiful)

and the first veggie picked - the radish.

Photography

2008-06-09T10:57:00.001-06:00

I have finally been using my new camera , here are some pictures of where I tried to get the right mix of light to show off the water droplets in the flower bed .....

Iris

2008-06-09T09:52:00.004-06:00

Here are some more of the iris that I bought last year - they are so different.

Recipe of the week

2008-06-09T09:14:00.000-06:00

Grilled Halibut with Blueberry-Pepper Jam

4 5- to 6-ounce fresh or frozen halibut steaks or fillets, or sea bass or salmon fillets, about 1-inch thick
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 teaspoon snipped fresh sage
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup garlic croutons, coarsely crushed
1/4 cup snipped fresh sage
1 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
Olive oil (optional)

Directions
Thaw fish, if frozen. Rinse fish; pat dry. In a small bowl combine crushed croutons, the 1/4 cup sage, the orange peel, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Stir in orange juice and 1 tablespoon olive oil until lightly moistened; set aside.

2. 2. For a charcoal grill, grill fish, skin side up if using fillets, on the greased rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals (see photo 2, page 305) for 5 minutes. Turn and top fish evenly with crouton mixture, gently pressing onto fish. Grill for 7 to 10 minutes more or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. (For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place fish on greased grill rack over heat. Cover and grill as above.)

3. 4. To serve, place fish on serving platter. If desired, drizzle fish with additional olive oil. Serve with Blueberry-Pepper Jam.

4. Blueberry-Pepper Jam: In a medium bowl mash 3/4 cup of the blueberries with a potato masher or fork. Stir in remaining 1/4 cup blueberries, the 1 teaspoon sage, and the 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Makes: 4 servings

MD 2

2008-06-03T14:53:00.002-06:00

More photos of the action from Memorial Day ....

Memorial Day weekend

2008-06-03T13:32:00.005-06:00

Good weather, good food and .......good pictures !

The kids had the waterslide- Dad and Tom were smoking/grilling the meat and overall a good day

apollo

2008-06-03T13:25:00.003-06:00

Here is a typical sunday at the house - it is a hard life for a dog

Flowers

2008-06-03T13:01:00.003-06:00

You all know once it gets warm I spend most of the time working to keep the yard and flower beds in great shape, I have already changed the flowers in the front beds several times - with still some more to come I am sure - I ahve out in alot of color out front this year. The backyard remains pretty much the same - the waterfall is having some problems - it keeps going dry and we can't figure out where the water goes.

here are some of the new iris I have for this year- I bought them at an actual Iris farm last year- they breed at least 3 or 4 new ones every year .

and I have no idea what this is but I like it

June

2008-06-01T22:17:00.002-06:00

So summer is here - it is still a lovely 70 or so degrees here - supposed to be 49 tomorrow night - sure does make it nice to sit outside ( except for my neighbor's barking dog and this bird that keeps attacking Apollo because she obviously has a nest somewhere)

The roses have started blooming and smell fantastic , the iris are still looking great and with everything so green right now from all of the rain and cool temps the yard really looks nice.

Did I mention I had also started a garden? So far the lettuce, onions, broccoli and radishes are looking fantastic - still waiting on the tomatoes, peppers and melons to do their thing.

I have also planted some herbs and all kinds of mint in the flowerbeds to fill in the empty spaces so it is nice to smell all that along with the lavender, rosemary and sage bushes that are coming along quite nicely.

I 'll get some pictures uploaded this week so you can see everything - using my new camera, the files are bigger so it takes me a little bit to get them processed.

This is the way to ease into summer - sure beats all the tornados in the south!

Jimmy Buffet Concert

2008-05-28T17:16:00.005-06:00

at last -here are the pictures of the Jimmy Buffet concert from April ( how sad is that! ) that Dad and I went to with Tom and Tracy McCord. There were more shark hats and grass skirts than you knew existed in Texas! We probably should talk about the ice luge drinking at a later time ........and could I have picked a shirt that was any less flattering???? By the end of the day my sunburn was the exact same color as that shirt!

Missing ?????

2008-05-28T17:09:00.002-06:00

well, I am really not missing; just extremely busy - I have been traveling alot in addition to having customer visits to the plant almost every week. And you know, since it has been warmer, I have been spending most of my time after work and on he weekends working in the yard as well as the garden ( pictures to follow I promise! ) I think Apollo is beginning to think he lives at daycare!

However - with memory card in hand I will bring you some updates over the next several days and then hopefully I will remember to do a better job of keeping up with this so you know what it new and exciting in my world .

Recipe of the week

2008-05-28T17:08:00.000-06:00

Chile Relleno

Chilies are stuffed with Monterey Jack cheese and placed between layers of batter made with separated eggs and corn flour, then baked.
Ingredients:
1 Large can of fire-roasted green chilies or 1 dozen fresh chilies, roasted, seeded and deskinned
1 lb. of jack cheese
6 eggs, seperated
1/4 cup corn flour (Masa Harina)
1/4 tsp salt and garlic powder
Salsa, warmed
Directions:
First, grate 1/2 cup of the cheese and set aside. Cut the remaining cheese into long rectangles 1/2-inch wide and 3-inches long. Stuff roasted, skinned green chilies with the cheese sticks. Next, whip the egg whites with salt and garlic powder until soft mounds just begin to form. In another bowl stir the egg yolks with the flour. Add some of the chili juice (1 Tbsp) to make this batter easier to stir. Fold into the egg whites. Spray a square 9X9 baking dish with Pam. Spread 1/2 of the batter onto the bottom of the pan. Place the chilies on the batter. Cover with remaining batter. Sprinkle with 1/4 Cup reserved shredded cheese. Bake in a 375F oven for 20-25 minutes or until top is golden brown and the dish holds its shape when lightly jiggled. Serve with warmed salsa.

another month ...

2008-05-05T14:30:00.001-06:00

Not that I have done alot that is exciting lately but the time is just zipping right by me. I feel like I have not posted in a long time.

I DO have some pictures from the Jimmy Buffet Concert to out on here - I totally missed the tulips -

Spring has finally come here to the treasure valley ( or so I thought) I just looked at the 10 day forecast and it said back into the 30's at night next week - just in time for everyone's plants to get used to the warm weather.

I'll try and get caught up soon

My Movie Picks

2008-04-20T13:37:00.007-06:00

Not that you have been waiting on these but here are some movies I recently watched that I think you might enjoy
Comedy - The Game Plan with the Rock - a kid friendly story and the ROCK with no shirt - mutiple times

Feel Good Movie - August Rush

Drama - We Own the Night or Gone Baby Gone. Also saw Lions for Lambs - it is ok

Adventure - The Kingdom - tough in the beginning because of the subject

Also watched Rendition - I am still undecided about how I feel about this one - it has harsh storyline

Stay tuned ......

Recipe of the week

2008-04-19T19:47:00.000-06:00

Spinach and Feta Dip

Ingredients
4 cup spinach, fresh, chopped (about 2 oz)
1/2 cup light cream cheese
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup chives, fresh, minced, divided
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp table salt, or less to taste (optional)
Instructions
Place spinach in a small saucepan with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil over high heat and then cook for 1 minute; drain well.

Place spinach, cream cheese, sour cream, feta cheese, 2 tablespoons of chives, lemon juice and pepper in a blender; puree. Taste dip and add salt if desired. Spoon dip into a serving bowl and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon of chives. Yields about 3 tablespoons of dip per serving.

Communication

2008-04-19T19:44:00.002-06:00

well, i have been really lacks in my updating of the blog - work has been really busy lately and I have started traveling again for work -
went to Miami last week and headed to Orange County next week

I promise to get you caught up soon!

Recipe of the week ( I am early this time !)

2008-03-24T09:53:00.000-06:00

Chicken-Pineapple Fajitas

8 6-inch flour tortillas
4 1-inch slices peeled fresh pineapple (about half)
1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 small red or orange sweet peppers, seeded, cut in strips
2 tsp. Jamaican jerk seasoning
1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
1 Tbsp. cooking oil
Fresh cilantro and lime wedges

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Wrap tortillas in foil and heat in oven. Meanwhile, coat a 12-inch nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium-high. Add pineapple slices; cook 4 to 6 minutes, until browned, turning once. Remove.

2. Cut chicken in strips; toss with sweet peppers; jerk seasoning, and pepper. Heat oil in skillet; add chicken and peppers. Cook and stir over medium-high 4 to 6 minutes, until chicken is no longer pink. Core and chop pineapple. Serve with chicken, tortillas, cilantro, and lime. Makes 4 servings.

Happy Easter!

2008-03-23T14:59:00.003-06:00

No egg hiding here today but I did have deviled eggs as a tribute to Easter. It is still pretty chilly but I planted my new pansies in the front yard - they are a really pretty burgundy ( picture to follow)Can't wait for it to warm up so the yard will start to look better - the tulips are on there way up too and some plants in the back - if I can keep Apollo from eating them all. The new shoots must taste pretty good .

Recipe of the week

2008-03-21T15:15:00.001-06:00

Lavender Shortbread Cookies

"A buttery lavender-flavored dough that can be made into round shapes using a biscuit cutter, or various shapes using cookie cutters."

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2/3 cup white sugar
1/4 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh lavender
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS
In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the lavender, mint and lemon zest. Combine the flour, cornstarch and salt; mix into the batter until well blended. Divide dough into two balls, wrap in plastic wrap and flatten to about 1inch thick. Refrigerate until firm, about 1hour.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Cookie stamps will work well on these too. Place on cookie sheets.
Bake for 18 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, just until cookies begin to brown at the edges. Cool for a few minutes on the baking sheets then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Recommendations

2008-03-17T08:45:00.002-06:00

So this week , you are lucky enough to get my picks for the week on books and movies . If you only get to watch one movie this month - pick " The Martian Child" with John Cusack. There is NO WAY that you won't like it - basically he is a widowed guy who adopts a boy from foster care that thinks he is from Mars - and the trouble that ensues from that. You have to love it

Then for books, you MUST read the Friday Night Knitting Club. It shows all of the issues of being a single mom with a mixed-race kid while running her own business. Then the girl's father shows up, there is a crisis of the medical kind and a big shocker at the end. Made me cry ( like that is hard) but it also is about the bonds you build with friends who are way different than you. You will enjoy I promise!

Heath Ledger as " The Joker "

2008-03-14T13:05:00.001-06:00

If you click on the squsre it will take you to Heath Ledger's last film ( sad ) as "the Joker" in the new Batman coming out this summer- looks pretty creepy!

Bravo Show #2 - Make me a Supermodel

2008-03-09T21:07:00.002-06:00

I love Perry..........and Ronnie ( he is the hottest gay man) but Holly is their competition too !!!

They all look great in this video clip - this show is so addictive - and I will admit that I voted when Perry got put into the bottom three......

Bravo TV shows - Project Runway

2008-03-08T21:47:00.005-07:00

I love the Bravo channel - sadly one of my favorite shows, Project Runway - just ended their season but yippee!!! Our little fierce favorite - Christian was crowned the winner at age 21!!
Here is my favorite look and the one I think helped it to win - it is feathers all over ....and the two tone is beautiful!

Connected

2008-03-08T21:38:00.001-07:00

I am finally connected - I got my new AT&T air card today so I can be wireless anywhere, anytime - of course this was before I locked the keys in the truck and spent an hour standing outside in the cold waiting on the pop-o-lock guy....I really should have been blond.

But I am now able to email and blog at all hours of the day and night....cool thing about the card - I can hook it to the laptop, the PC , where ever you want and yes, it even hooks up to the Mac that I am planning for the future ......

Recipe of the week

2008-03-07T14:48:00.001-07:00

Irish Bananas
"Bananas are simmered in brown sugar, butter and Irish whiskey for a delicious warm treat to serve with vanilla ice cream."

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup Irish whiskey
4 large bananas, peeled and halved lengthwise

DIRECTIONS
Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar and whiskey. Bring to a boil and cook until sugar has dissolved. Add bananas to the skillet and simmer gently until bananas are tender and glazed with the syrup. Serve immediately with vanilla ice cream.

Daylight Saving Time

2008-03-07T12:44:00.002-07:00

Remember on Saturday night to set the old clocks forward one hour ) Thanks to G. Bush for the even earlier date this year) . For all the info you wanted to know about Daylight Saving Time ( and yes that is correct - it is not supposed to be SAVINGS) and alot you didn't - go to : http://webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/

I just hate losing an hour of sleep ......

Birds in Paradise

2008-03-07T12:31:00.002-07:00

I noticed these guys on the way to work this morning - had to do a U-turn and get a picture - not what I expected to see driving in ..