Ugh

Now I have a full-blown cold or sinus infection or the swine flu. This is ridiculous! Where has my immune system gone this past month? I shouldn't joke about it being the swine flu. I'm pretty sure it's just a cold, which I never get, but now I can't say that because I have one. Ugh. My head feels like it's ready to explode. Ugh. Did I say that already?

A Funny Picture

This picture just cracks me up. I think it's so funny! I snagged it from an old entry on Scarlet's blog.

I got quite a bit further on my tote bag today. I finished the back panel and am more than half-way through the gusset. I'm not sure I even know what a gusset is, but I'm sure I'll figure out where it goes. Right now I'm guessing that it will the bottom and sides of the tote?

For anybody that's contemplating making this tote but thinks it may be too hard, believe me, it's a super-easy pattern. All the pieces and parts are made up of the same stitch. It's just a dc and an sc over and over. Simple! I am always amazed that you can make all these great things from a piece of yarn. That's partly why I like it so much, plus the fact it's just a relaxing and soothing thing to do.

I need to sign off now because it's starting to storm outside again. It's really raining hard! Bye.

Crockpot Roast & Veggies

Last night's dinner was really good. You can't go wrong with roast though, can you? I'll be having the roast and some cheese in tortillas for lunches this week...one of my favorites for lunch.

I jinxed myself by saying my voice was no better and no worse the other day. The last two days have been awful. Today it's even worse. I had spasms all night and my larnyx feels really swollen and sore today. I sound like a demon when I try to speak. I said something to Fletcher earlier, and he nearly jumped out of his skin thinking someone else was in the house! Ha-ha. Anyway, I'll be a mute today and maybe keep a warm compress on it when I can.

I don't really have anything else for you today. I'm just avoiding work because I really don't want to. I only have 8 minutes left to transcribe. Guess I better get it out of here before something else comes in. Bye.

A Little Progress

I got up this morning and immediately browned a roast and got it in the crock pot. It's going to smell heavenly in my house all day. I've been craving a roast for awhile, and now I'll have roast for days. Yummy!

I couldn't find any sandals that fit right at DSW Shoe Warehouse, but I did find these totally plastic shoes on clearance at Walmart for $3.00. They are the most comfortable shoes I've ever had! They aren't exactly beautiful, but I don't think they're terribly ugly either. I got a black pair and a brown pair.

This is a picture of me crocheting with my feet up yesterday. I wanted to show you my favorite crochet hook. It's one of those that you turn on and the end lights up so you (supposedly) can crochet in the dark. Well, that's just dumb, but it has become my favorite crochet hook even though I never turn the dumb light on. I like the way it feels in my hand. They're $5.99 at Hobby Lobby here. I'll have to get some other sizes a little at a time. Right now I just have the size H, which is what I seem to use most of the time.

I finished the front panel of the tote! Now I have to make another one exactly like it, and then do the pockets and the straps and the gusset and the trim and the flaps and, and, and...

*Edited* Girlie Crochet Talk

I'm really such a dork to be so excited over a crochet pattern, but I am. I was looking through the Show & Tell categories on the Crochetville Forum and saw THIS post with a picture of a tote bag someone had made. I really didn't expect to get the pattern at all, much less for free, so it made my day today that she actually sent me a link for the FREE pattern! Yea! I absolutely love everything about this tote bag and can't wait to make it. In fact, I'm going to run up to Hobby Lobby right now and get the cotton yarn and button I need to make it. We're in the midst of a thunderstorm and rain, but I don't care! I'm going!

If any of my fellow crocheters would like to do a crochet-along with me for this tote bag, please leave a comment and let's do it. I think it would be fun! Because I'm a crochet dork! And so are you! And I can't quit using exclamation marks!

Okay, I'm outta here. Back later to show you my yarn.

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I'm baaaaack!

The color doesn't show up exactly right in this picture. The color is Aqua, and it's Hobby Lobby's brand, I Love This Cotton. The contrast color for the straps and edging is Sugar & Cream, Country Stripes.

I went ahead and got enough to make two totes. These are both Sugar & Cream, as you can see, and the main color is Potpourri Ombre (the lighter one) and the contrasting color for the straps and edging is Painted Desert.

Barnaby got me the tomato plants I've been wanting! As soon as the weather clears up, I'm going to go plant them. I hope they live and thrive. I want fresh garden tomatoes!

That is all. Bye-bye.

Sundee Eats & Stuff

Super-Easy and Fast Steak, Pepper & Onion Hoagies! I got this recipe at Mommy's Kitchen. We had these today and they were fabulous. It's definitely a keeper recipe.

I used orange bell pepper because that's what I had.

Here it is with the cheese melting on top.

Ready to eat! Nice grill marks on the hoagie, huh? I have a square grill pan that you use on top of the stove. It was worth it to dirty another pan.

To to Mommy's blog to get the recipe. No sense in me repeating everything she's already written.

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There's really been nothing going on. That's why I haven't been around as much as normal. Sometimes that doesn't stop me from posting, but I just really haven't felt like it lately.

Throat Update: EXACTLY THE SAME! No better, no worse. Today was a particularly bad day because the spasms started early. Once they start -- and they always do when I talk more than normal, which is usually later in the day when Barnaby is home -- I can't get more than a few words out before the spasms shut me down. That's okay I guess. The less I talk, the smarter people think I am. Hee-hee.

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I've been crocheting on the black & white round ripple afghan. I botched it almost from the get-go, but I didn't know it until I was way past the point of no return. I had someone in mind to give it to, but I may have to keep it if it looks too wonky and the screw-up is obvious. The black & white colors are so pretty. I knew they would be in this particular pattern.

I'm probably going to start a tote bag tonight. I printed out the pattern and picture just now. I was hoping to use cotton yarn for it, but I don't think I have enough of one color to do it. I'll have to go dig through my yarn stash and see what I can find.

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I talked Barnaby into going shopping with me on Saturday. I wanted to go to the DSW Shoe Warehouse and get some new sandals for the summer. I could not find one pair that I liked that fit me. My arch is very high, and everything I liked was too tight across that part of my foot.

We left there and went in a few other places, but I didn't buy anything. I did make a stop at Hobby Lobby for some yarn, and I ran into Rob & Schuyler. How fun. If y'all remember, Rob is Sammi's momma's daddy. Or to be more clear, I got Sammi from Rob, whose black pug is Sammi's mother. Comprende? And if you haven't read Rob's book, GO BUY IT. Rob and his family are really cool people.

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Have I rambled enough yet to call this an entry? I think so. Ta-ta until tomorrow.

Bang, You're Dead

So I'm sitting in front of my computer working yesterday morning like I always do. As you can see from the picture, I have a perfect view of my neighbor's house across the street. It's the only one I can see every bit of (at least from the front) without having to get up and get closer to the window.

The woman that lives there always parks her car in front and I see her come and go a lot. Her husband parks in the back so I hardly ever see him. She came out the front door yesterday, got in her car, and drove off. About 30 minutes later, she parks out front again and carries in what looks like grocery bags into the house through the front door.

About five minutes later, three police cars show up at her house. I watch them walk around her house, she comes out and sits in her car with her big blond labrador retriever, and the policemen all go inside, I presume to search her house. Their house had been burglarized in the 30 minutes she was gone and I had been staring right at it.

The bastards had gone into her backyard through an unlocked gate, kicked in her back door, and stolen all their computers and two flat screen TVs. Her dog was there inside the house, but she said he's deaf and very old and probably never even knew they were there. He lays in front of the front window when she leaves and waits for her to get home.

I thought of all the times I have run to the grocery store and left the back door standing wide open so the dogs could come and go as they pleased. But my back gate is always locked and my five dogs, three of which are not old and deaf, are probably a deterrant. I won't be leaving the back door open when I'm gone anymore, however.

So now I sit with my GIANT .357 Magnum waiting for the bastards to kick MY back door in. Of course, they never will because I'm ready for them and will blow all their heads completely off before they know what's happening.

Surprise, you thieving bastards.

Pillow Credit

I meant to add at the bottom of my entry yesterday that didn't think of this stuff all on my own. I'm not that creative. I semi-followed the semi-instructions on Attic24's blog back in November HERE. I had to do the back different since I didn't use a material I could crochet through. Her pillows are so pretty! I wanted some too, but I think I'll stop at just one. OR...I could make the others and just crochet the backsides like the fronts and eliminate the majority of the sewing. We'll see. Right now I'm stacked with work so it won't be this week. You can see all three of her pillows HERE. Aren't they pretty?

I just wanted to get that in before I have somebody mad at me again. Back to work! Bye.

The Pillow

Pretty much as soon as I was finished crocheting the front of this pillow I wished I hadn't started it. I hate sewing, and it shows.

You're looking at the back of the pillow in this first picture. I cut up an old sundress I had to use as the back.

I sewed it to the crocheted front on the wrong side with purple yarn and a big ol' needle. Once I turned it right side out, you couldn't see the purple...

And sewed and sewed...and left a pocket opening in the back...

I sewed some old buttons on one edge of the pocket, and then I crocheted a chain and sewed it to the other edge of the pocket. And then I joined the chain at one end and crocheted another row of single crochet, making loops for the button holes.

Then I stuffed it with an old pillow I had stuck in a closet somewhere, buttoned it up, and I was done.

Ta-Da! My ugly pillow made with tender loving care and hardly any cussing.

I'm Well (Knock on Wood)

I'm over the stomach bug, but I've been too busy to post. Maybe tomorrow I can get back to normal and post a real entry.

Sick Again

I've been sick again all weekend. I've got some kind of stomach bug. It came on suddenly at 4:00 pm on Friday. My immune system must be in the toilet. I'll be back when I'm better.

Brown Butter Frosting

As requested...

Brown Butter Frosting

1 stick of butter, salted (no substitutes)
4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
4 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Place butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until the butter turns brown. Be very careful that you don't burn the butter. You want it a caramel color, but not any darker. Remove from the heat and set aside. Slowly mix the browned butter, powdered sugar, 3 Tbsps of the milk, and vanilla with an electric mixer. Beat on high speed until light and fluffy, adding more milk until the consistency you want is achieved.

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I'll be working most of today. Gotta run!

Something Really Dumb

If you want to see something really dumb, please raise your hand.

I knew it! Everybody likes to see dumb stuff...

This is the picture that goes with a crochet pattern for the top this girl is wearing:

What the hell is she doing? Who stands like that? STUPID! If you can imagine that you are looking down upon her from an upper floor, she looks like she fell and is laying dead with broken bones. How did somebody look at that picture and say, "That's the one! We're going to use that shot for the ad!" Stupid, I tell you.

Let's see. What else do I have for you today? Hmm...

Oh, I made a cake yesterday. It's just a white cake (from a box) with brown butter frosting (homemade). It's yummy. Here's a picture for you to drool on. Obviously, we ate two pieces of it before I thought to get a picture.

White Cake w/Brown Butter Frosting

I think I'm going to start another Round Ripple Afghan. Like I don't have enough afghans started already that I need to finish. In fact, I think I started on a black and white Round Ripple a while agok and stuck it back somewhere. I'm going to go find it and finish it.

Y'all have a good evening. I'm going to watch Ghost Hunters tonight, and this time I mean it.

Well shoot! It's not Wednesday? I guess I'll find something else to watch. Now the whole rest of the week will be messed up. I hate when that happens.

Food & TV

Oh my goodness, I made this dip today for my dinner because Barnaby is golfing, and it's wonderful. I ate less than half of it...it's filling. (Yes, I had dinner at 4:30 like I'm 85 years old.) You must try it. The original recipe is HERE. My version, based on what I had on hand, is below. It's basically guacamole with a can of white beans mixed in.

Avocado Bean Dip

15-oz can white beans, drained (Great Northern)
1 avocado, peeled, seeded, and mashed
1/2 cup salsa (I used medium Picante)
1 Tbsp lemon juice
Garlic Powder & Black Pepper, to taste

Combine all ingredients and serve with Tortilla Chips.

I also envision using this in a 7-layer dip instead of refried beans or meat. Sounds like great race food to me!

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I really did nothing today except some work and a little crocheting. I started another doily. The last two I started I ripped out because I didn't like them. I think this one is going to stick. It looks like an easy pattern until I get to the flowers all along the edge, and those don't really look all that hard. I will need to go to Hobby Lobby for a different color thread when I get to that point.

Like I said, Barnaby is golfing until around 8:00. I'll be watching Ghost Hunters and I Shouldn't Be Alive tonight.

Speaking of TV, has anybody else watched the show called I Survived? I love that show, but it's not on regularly. I think it was originally on a cable channel we don't get, but they play reruns on a channel we do get every now and then. I can't, however, tell you which channel that is. I'll have to pay more attention the next time I see it. It's an hour-long show, and they usually tell three different stories of people who have survived some horrible circumstances. Let's see, there was a person that went off a cliff in his car and spent three days there before being found, some people who were taken hostage in that mall shooting that happened not too long ago, people who have been car-jacked, raped, taken to a field and shot and left for dead, and all sorts of terrible things like that. Doesn't that sound uplifting? But really, the incidents and circumstances may be horrible, but the people and how they survived are facinating to me. The actual victims are the ones that tell the stories.

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I gotta run. Be good.

Hubby's Ham & Potato Salad Recipe

I just made this for our dinner tonight (plus LOTS of leftovers!). I know I've posted this before, but it was a long time ago and is worthy of another post. If it didn't taste so good, I would never make it again. I always make such a big mess in the kitchen when I make this. It doesn't seem like it would make a mess just from looking at the ingredients, but somehow I manage. Don't let that discourage you from making it. It's worth it.

Try it...you'll love it. Men especially love it. Yes, it's a manly meal. The leftovers are good for lunches and anytime snacks for at least a week. Don't forget the salty pretzels! They go with it like nothing else. I forbid you to make this without them.

This is what it should look like when it's done and ready to refrigerate:

Springtime Ham & Potato Salad

1.5 lbs of ham, cubed (I use ham steaks)
4 lb baking potatoes, skinned, cubed & boiled (about 6 big ones)
5 boiled eggs, chopped
3-4 large green onions, chopped (green & white parts)
1 cup Hellmann’s Real Mayo (Or as much as you like, Light is okay)
Black pepper to taste
Hungarian Paprika for sprinkling on top
Pretzel sticks (mandatory!)

Boil eggs, peel, and refrigerate. While potatoes are boiling, cut up ham, green onion, and boiled eggs. When potatoes are done, mix all ingredients well with mayo. Sprinkle the top heavily with paprika, cover, and refrigerate at least 4 hours. Serve with pretzels.

Good Things

It's all good things for you to read today, as it should be.

We had a good time at my mom & dad's yesterday. It wasn't a bunny cake, but it was really good. Some of you commented that your mothers also made the bunny cake or something like it. I had forgotten about the died green coconut for the grass and the jelly beans for Easter eggs! My mom did that part too. I don't think she used a form pan though. She just used two round pans...one was the body of the bunny, and then you just had to make a couple of cuts to the other round one to make the ears and feet. I didn't get to see my niece or the dress. My sister is going to get some pictures of her and will send them to me.

I slept for 14 hours last night! Wow. I went to bed at 7:30 and didn't get up until 9:15 this morning, which is later than normal. I'm thankful that I have the luxury of doing that when I need to.

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Okay, enough about me...what do you think about me? Ha-ha-ha. I love that joke.

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Surprise! A product review!

I haven't done one of these in a long time. All of these things came from Wal-Mart unless otherwise noted. Enjoy.

My cool new 24-oz water bottle, $5.88. It has a neat-o pop-up straw. I'm determined to drink more water. I have to drink one of these before I can have coffee in the mornings. That's the new law in my house.

I love these pink grapefruit Tic Tacs. They had them out this time last year too. So good, and for a good cause, $1.00 each.

My hubby's favorite breakfast during the week. He takes these little cups of oatmeal to work. You just add water and microwave for 1 minute and 15 seconds. 68 cents each.

Jiffy is my favorite cornbread mix. It says corn muffin mix, but the side of the box has the "Johnny Cake" recipe, which is the same as the muffins only you make it in an 8 x 8 pan. I had always used Martha White mix like my mother which is just plain, unsweet cornbread. Jiffy is sweet, and if you want to be evil, you can even add two more Tbsps of sugar. I started using this back in the mid-'80s, recommended by Boon Pappy and the rest of the Plano firemen at Station 10. 33 cents per box, but on sale sometimes for 4/$1.00.

Smells good! I don't know how much it costs, but it's less than $2.

I bought this at Target after reading about it in one of my magazines. It works. I think it was a little over $5.

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Now to more serious things, but a thrilling story. Had y'all been keeping up with this story? Being the news hound that I am, I was, and was surprised at the heroic ending. I thought he was a gonner for sure:

U.S. Navy Frees Captain, Kills 3 Somali Pirates
Monday, April 13, 2009
FOX News

Navy SEAL snipers on the fantail of a destroyer cut down three Somali pirates in a lifeboat (with only three shots!) and rescued an American sea captain on Easter Sunday. The surprise nighttime assault in choppy seas ended a five-day standoff between a team of rogue gunmen and the world's most powerful military.

It was a stunning conclusion to an Indian Ocean odyssey that began when freighter Capt. Richard Phillips, 53, was taken hostage Wednesday by pirates who tried to hijack the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama. The Vermont native was held on a tiny lifeboat that began drifting precariously toward Somalia's anarchic, gun-plagued shores.

The operation, personally approved by President Obama, quashed fears the saga could drag on for months and marked a victory for the U.S., which for days seemed powerless to resolve the crisis despite massing helicopter-equipped warships at the scene. Negotiations with the three pirates were growing heated, Vice Adm. Bill Gortney said.

One of them pointed an AK-47 at the back of Phillips, who was tied up and in "imminent danger" of being killed when the commander of the nearby USS Bainbridge made the split-second decision to order his men to shoot, Gortney said. Navy snipers took aim at the pirates' heads and shoulders, he said.

(Read the rest if you like on the FOX News Website)

Have a great day!

Good Morning

I was so tired all day yesterday. I went back to bed about 10:00 yesterday morning and slept until noon. Then I went back to bed at 2:00 and slept until 4:00. I forced myself up and into the shower because Barnaby wanted to go out. I wish this lethargy would go away. I feel like there's a giant drain sitting on my chest sucking out all of my energy. That's the only way I can describe it.

We ended up having a good time and a great dinner at Uncle Julio's. We decided to go with one of their specials last night which was a big grilled lobster tail with melted butter for dipping, steak fajitas, rice, charro beans, pico de gallo, and fresh guacamole. Oh my lord, it was so good. The waitress sent us over a complimentary plate of warm sopapillas with cinnamon & sugar and honey when we were finished. We both tried one just to be polite, but we brought most of them home for breakfast this morning at the waitress' suggestion. She said they're still very good reheated in the microwave. Neither of us wanted anything sweet for breakfast this morning, so they're still on the kitchen counter waiting.

We won't be having them for 3:00 Coffee because we're going over to my mom & dad's for 3:00 Coffee today for Easter. I think my mom is making a coconut cake. I wonder if it'll be a bunny cake like she always used to make when we were little. My little niece will be there wearing the crocheted dress I made her. My sister was taking her to church this morning wearing it. I'll take my camera and get a picture of her.

It's been raining and storming here since last night, but it's supposed to clear up later today. I'm planning on a lazy day doing laundry and crocheting. There's no race on Easter, as usual.

Happy Easter!

Rookie Mistake

NEVER make a doily in variegated thread. The pattern gets lost in all the swirls of color. I'm so pissed that I spent hours making this only for it to look like crap.

This is the very same doily held in front of a blank TV screen in the dark. This is the pattern that should be apparent, and would be apparent, if I had used a single color. The top is a little weird looking because Barnaby is holding it and it's stretching, plus it's not blocked yet. This doily measures 15" x 15"...BIG!

I'm No Groomer

Eli would not sit still so I could get a good picture of the haircut I gave him. His tail is just a blur in both pictures because he was having so much fun running around on top of the cabinet. He was starting to look scraggly so I cleaned him up a little. I was going for a lion cut, but he just doesn't have enough hair yet for it to show up well.

I didn't know this, but Papillons don't start getting their permanent coats until about six months old, and it can take up to the two-year mark to come in completely. Everything I read said they will start looking bad with hair growing in every direction until their permanent coat comes in. They're right. I've been telling him the last few days that he looks like a junkyard dog.

I trimmed his belly and from his tail forward to about the shoulders. I didn't cut the long hair around his neck and didn't touch his ears, face, legs, or tail. I used a #4 electric shaver. I think when Barnaby gets home tonight, I'll try to clean him up a little more on the top of his legs. I just can't hold him still and shave at the same time very easily.

This was Sammi this morning unstuffing one of the bears. That piece of stuffing was stuck in her lip. It cracked me up.

I'm going to go crochet a few more rounds on the pineapple doily. I've finished 11 rounds of 20.

I have no idea what's for supper tonight. Maybe omelets and toast or just sandwiches. Barnaby will probably be starving because he's golfing this afternoon.

Later taters.

Nothing Really

I'm crocheting a pineapple doily today. I have to concentrate so hard when I'm doing something like that, that it makes me brain dead to everything else. That's a good thing for me right now. I really wanted to do a more elaborate one, but I settled on a medium-sized square one. I may do a bigger, more detailed one after I finish this. I'm using a variegated thread, which I think was a mistake. I don't think the pineapples are going to show up as well as they would in a solid color, but we'll see.

I just ate a bowl of sliced bananas and strawberries. YUM. We're having homemade hamburgers tonight for supper. I just really haven't been in the mood to cook or bake lately so it's been just simple stuff around here.

I just saw some work come in on the business email. Guess I better go and see what it is. Ugh. I didn't want to work today. Bye.

I Walked

Well, I didn't do it first thing, but I did get out and walk. It was a very short one -- just up to the park and around the block. I took Fletch and Sammi with me. I thought I'd feel really great and energized when I got back, but I don't. Whatever. It's a really beautiful day out there though.

I just deleted three paragraphs I had written out here. Trust me, you didn't want to hear it. You're welcome.

I think I'll go call a lawn service and see if somebody can come and give a major trim to our front hedges and prune the two Crepe Myrtle's out front. That'll be a nice surprise for Barnaby so he doesn't have to do it. The cleaning up and hauling off alone is worth the money.

Y'all have a great day. Bye.

A Late Start, Uh, Restart

Helloooo! I've had a good day today. Of course, when you take a THREE-HOUR NAP after you've only been up for a couple of hours, how can it be bad? Lordie, I thought we (the dogs and I) had been asleep for about an hour when I woke up. I let the dogs out and stumbled into the kitchen and poured myself one of those itty-bitty cans of Dr. Pepper. I love those little cans. I looked up at the clock and just stood there staring at it, not believing it was actually THREE HOURS since I'd laid down. I would have thought the dogs would wake me up way before that much time had passed, but I guess not. They looked all sleepy-headed too.

I'd like to direct your attention to my sidebar and the Crochet Square Countdown. My sweet mother-in-law, Bonnie, offered to crochet a few because she was bored. I squealed with delight when I got her box of 127! Thank you, Bonnie! One hundred and forty-something to go!

I even managed to do some work today since I got up, so that makes me happy too. Now I need to go clean myself up and be presentable when my hubby gets home. I can't be a skank every day...just every now and then. Hee. I'm going to stick our leftover casserole in the oven and go sit in the tub awhile and listen to the news.

I'm also planning to get up and try to go for a walk tomorrow morning. Wish me lots of motivation to actually do it, will ya? I've got to get moving! I'm not even going to turn on the computer until I'm back.

Sunday Night

I made this bag today between watching the NASCAR race, cooking lunch, taking a loooong nap, and everything else. It was easy and fun.

The designer is Cylinda Mathews, and the pattern can be found HERE. I used white and navy ILTY and followed the directions exactly. For some reason, mine turned out smaller than the pattern says it is. Mine came out 9 3/4" W x 10 1/2" H.

I really like the purse and the size, but I think it needs some extra support in the handle. It feels too stretchy and flimsy. I'm not sure what to do about that other than ripping out the top and sewing in a plastic or wood handle.

Empty

Stuffed with Yarn

Mexican Chicken Casserole

I made this for lunch today. It was really good, according to Barnaby. I ate it, but my taste buds are all screwed up. They're all screwed up because I've sucked on too many jawbreakers and made my tongue raw. Ha-ha. Looks like I'd have more sense than that, but I really didn't know it was happening until I woke up this morning.

Here's the recipe. It should be very low fat, but I don't know what the values are exactly. You can figure it out pretty easily yourself if you're interested. I'm too lazy at the moment.

Mexican Chicken Casserole

2 cups cooked, cubed chicken

1 pkg. (1.25-oz) package taco seasoning

1 small can diced green chilies

1 (15-oz) can black beans

1 (12-oz) can sweet corn

1/2 cup salsa or picante sauce (I used green)

1 cup shredded cheese

1 1/2 cups broken tortilla chips (Tostitos)

Cilantro & sour cream for serving, optional

Preheat oven to 350.

Place chicken, taco seasoning, beans, corn, green chilis and salsa in a frying pan. Add a little water if needed and simmer for 10 minutes. (I did not drain my beans or corn.) You want it a little wet because it will be soaked up by the tortillas.

Spray a casserole dish with cooking spray. Spoon a little of the chicken mixture on the bottom, add a thick layer of broken chips, a layer of chicken mixture, a layer of chips, and then the rest of the chicken mixture. Bake for 30 minutes, remove from oven and add the cheese to the top, and return to the oven for a few more minutes until cheese melts. (I turned the broiler on for 2 minutes and it was perfect.)

Serve with a dollop of sour cream and fresh cilantro.

I'M BORED!

I Went

I made it out of the house. Went to the bank, went to the Dollar Tree and bought some cheap dog toys, went to the antique store and bought the below pictured afghan for $10, and finally, I went to the grocery store for a few things. I was gone about three hours and had a good time with myself.

Just What I Needed, Huh? I don't care. I like it.

I got all of the dogs each a big furry stuffed bear. They'll have fun tearing them to shreds and unstuffing them. I don't know why they just love doing that. I don't mind the mess they make because it makes them happy. They are always so excited to get new ones.

All of the cute little bears about to die.

I'm Going, I'm Going!

I have GOT to force myself out of this house today. If I manage to get dressed and presentable, I think I'll go to a little antique mall near my house. I always enjoy looking around there. I also want to go to Lowe's and buy a few tomato plants to plant in the side garden. I've never grown tomatoes before, but I'd like to try it.

I'm getting up right now and getting dressed....GO!

Don't think about it, Pam. Just GO!

I'm really going now...GO!

One, Two, Three...GO!

GO, DAMMIT!

Jell-O Salads

Will y'all send me your favorite Jell-O Salad recipes? I think they'll fit in the comments. If not, ask me for it, and I'll send you my email address.

WHATEVER!

Findings:
1. The granulomas are bigger. He says he doesn't really know that they are granulomas for sure, but that's what they look like to him. He doesn't believe they are cancerous just by looking at them, but he can't be positive without a biopsy.
2. The spasms are either all a part of the same thing and related to the granulomas and/or I have spasmodic dysphonia (the speech pathologist's "diagnosis". I put that in quotes because, as he told me, he can't make a diagnosis...only the doctor can do that)

Options:
1. Have surgery to have the granulomas removed and biopsied. (Relatively simple outpatient)
2. Have the granulomas biopsied but leave them in place. (Not recommended)
3. Have Botox injections into the vocal cord muscle that is spasming. This is a temporary fix, but will hopefully give whatever is causing the spasms time to heal. Re-injections will be necessary if the spasms are due to spasmodic dysphonia and not the granulomas, but there's no way to know that right now.
4. Do nothing. But he recommends if I do nothing, I have the granulomas checked at least every six weeks to monitor their growth. If they get any bigger, he strongly recommends removing them.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to do nothing for six more weeks and then have them rechecked.

*Sigh*

I don't know why I feel really depressed since leaving his office. Maybe I thought he would magically fix it today. Maybe it's not related to the office visit at all. Maybe I'm just sick and tired of it all. Maybe it's just wearin' my ass out. Maybe I feel sorry for myself. At this point, I wouldn't not care if my entire voice box rotted out. For real. I don't like talking to anybody anyway.

Oh, WAH. Don't I sound pathetic? How embarrassing. I need to just shut up and go think about something besides myself. Now there's a prescription. Bye.

I'll update when I get back from the ENT...