Today is our 17th anniversary! Happy anniversary to us!
*Applause*
*Applause*
We aren't doing anything until tomorrow though, and then we're just going out to eat...nothing fancy. And we'll probably go at about 4:00 when nobody else is eating out except 80-year-olds. We are such party animals.
I went to Target today and spent at least 2 1/2 hours buying up the store. I don't know what got into me, but I was spending money like a mad woman. I rarely ever do that so it's fine. What did I buy, you ask? Why, thanks for asking! It's terribly interesting.
1 pair of black pants
1 pair of black jeans (too big, have to return them)
2 camisoles (black & flesh-colored)
1 dressy shirt and 1 tee-shirt
1 tee-shirt for Barnaby
1 bathrobe for Barnaby
1 room-darkening shade
2 bamboo shades (on clearance, I HAD to)
1 pair of over-the-knee socks
1 giant bag of Baby Ruth, Butterfinger, and Nestle Crunch bars
1 box of Duraflame Xtra logs
1 sandlewood candle (It's been burning all day...heavenly!)
1 box of hair dye
1 bottle Herbal Essence conditioner
4 pairs of tights (2 black & two brown)
1 anniversary card
1 hearth rug
2 ink cartridges (1 black & 1 color)
1 Herbal Essence Conditioner
1 bunch of bananas
1 coffee creamer
1 gallon 1% milk
1/2 gallon soy milk
That is all, and that's enough!
Is anybody else having trouble finding canned pumpkin?? Walmart was out for the second time a couple of days ago and Target was out today too. What's up with that? It's OCTOBER! We need pumpkin!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Braids & the Bedside Table
I've been practicing French braiding my hair. I use to wear it that way all the time. It's been so long since I've braided my own hair it's taking some practice. Looks like I did something wrong...hmm....
Quit trying to look down my shirt, pervs!
You can see my messy bedroom in the background there. I keep so much stuff around my bed, it's embarrassing. Here is a list of mandatory bedside items for me:
1. Magazines
2. Travel alarm clock
3. Ice water in my special thermal water cup thingy
4. A reading lamp attached to my headboard
5. Nail file & nail clippers
6. Scissors
7. Lotion
8. A paper towel or napkin
9. Reading glasses & distance glasses
10. The remote
11. A fan (When I'm in my bedroom, I always have the ceiling fan on AND a fan sitting on the floor that's on. The ceiling fan because I am always hot, and the floor fan just for the noise...it drowns out the noise from the TV that Barnaby is watching in the living room.)
12. A small basket with nail polish, cotton balls, and polish remover.
13. Lip balm
14. A pen & pencil
15. A tiny LED light for when I get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
16. A trashcan
17. At least one dog.
18. Hard candy
19. A wooden back scratcher
19. My gun
Now mind you, there are lots of other things there too, but those are the things I absolutely have to have every night whether I'm going to use them or not.
What things do you always keep next to your bed?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Outlaws, Recipes, and Ghosts
Please excuse Blogger's ongoing ASININE spacing problems. (Asinine: 1. utterly ridiculous or lacking sense; 2. resembling an ass) I like the #2 definition the best.
The Notorious Outlaws, Bonnie & Clyde
I made this apple pie yesterday and it sure was tasty. It'll be even better today with coffee. I was kind of full last night when I had a piece. (No, I'm not staying on my diet AT ALL. I suck.) Please note the pretty fluting on the crust. I watched at least three videos on the innernets yesterday because I have never been able to make a good-looking edge. This one turned out better than most.
Here's the super-secret recipe I used: All-Ready Pie crusts, two cans of Comstock Apple Pie Filling, Cinnamon & Sugar for the top. Bake at 425 until browned, about 35 minutes. Don't tell anyone I gave you this old, old, family recipe. They might cut me out of The Will!
The Notorious Outlaws, Bonnie & Clyde Go read my sister's story HERE.
Mmm...Apple Pie with lots of Cinnamon!
I made this apple pie yesterday and it sure was tasty. It'll be even better today with coffee. I was kind of full last night when I had a piece. (No, I'm not staying on my diet AT ALL. I suck.) Please note the pretty fluting on the crust. I watched at least three videos on the innernets yesterday because I have never been able to make a good-looking edge. This one turned out better than most.
Here's the super-secret recipe I used: All-Ready Pie crusts, two cans of Comstock Apple Pie Filling, Cinnamon & Sugar for the top. Bake at 425 until browned, about 35 minutes. Don't tell anyone I gave you this old, old, family recipe. They might cut me out of The Will!
A KEEPER RECIPE...
These are some of my ingredients for Keri's Cheesy Potato Corn Chowder. You must go there and get the recipe. I made it the night before last for dinner and it was FANTASTIC! You must try this one. I've tried similarly-titled recipes before, but they're always too rich and cheesy or something. This one is perfect! I used half of that 1-lb chunk of 2% Velveeta in case you're wondering how much a cup is. I think the problem with most other recipes is they use too much Velveeta. A little of that stuff goes a looooooog way. And I used two large russet potatoes. The gravy mix used in the recipe was interesting. I've never seen it used to thicken a soup before, but it makes perfect sense if you think about it.
*****************
The Next Book I'm Reading: A History of Ghosts by Peter Aykroyd
An excerpt of a review:
"The book itself was a pleasant and easy read. Most interesting is the fact that the Aykroyd family has had a long history with the paranormal. Most of you are aware that actor Dan Aykroyd wrote and starred in the Movie Ghostbusters; but many might not know that his fascination came from his father’s tales of how his great-grandfather was directly involved in the Spiritual renaissance of the late 19th century. I myself knew that Dan Aykroyd was interested in the paranormal and UFOs, but I was not aware of his families deep history. With the ease of reading, the book is perfect to use as a reference tool. 'A History of Ghosts' is a great book for believers and skeptics."
I got this review HERE.
That is all. Buh-Bye.
Monday, October 26, 2009
A Shining Butthole
That lovely title got your attention, dinnit? Ha-ha-ha. Sorry about that. Oh, who am I kidding? I'm not sorry about that at all! I think it's funny. If you're offended by it, get over yourself and go away. And then go farther away. A little farther please, I can still see you.
Fletch is obviously not happy with me taking a picture of his butt for the whole world to see, but he's a good dog and stood there anyway. You can just see the question on his face. Why are you taking a picture of my butt, Momma? Are you for real?
This picture should be clickable so you can get a better look at what I'm talking about, but I've said that before and the clicking didn't work so who knows. And why would you even want to see his butthole any better anyway? And furthermore, why do I even want to share a story like this with you, you might ask? A good question for which I have no good answer. I'm weird, okay?
And some people reading here get really-really-really bored with my crochet talk all the time, so the butthole story is for them. Heh-heh. That'll teach you to be bored with me!
Barnaby and I are quite disturbed by the fact that whomever docked Fletch's tail got a bit carried away and cut it WAY too short. Why would they do that? Why? Why? But because someone got carried away or sneezed or Fletch moved or whatever, we now have to see his shining little butthole all day every day for the rest of his life.
AND, AND, AND...when he can't quite wipe his own butt well enough and he has a little leftover poo or grass clinging to poo or WHATEVER ELSE comes out of little holes like that, WE have to wipe it away or look at it all day until he accidentally wipes it on a rug or couch or our clothes. We choose to help him and wipe it away.
Are you totally grossed out and hating me yet?
My pain shall be your pain, people. I'm a giver.
Now, hopefully to wipe (pardon the pun) those horrid images from your delicate minds, I'll show you some crochet beauty. These pictures should be clickable too, but no promises.
I totally forgot about this crochet project and never shared it with you. I showed you the Noro Kureyon Sock Yarn when I bought it, but I didn't show you what I made with it. I still have that itty-bit of yarn to go before it's complete, but it's close enough.
Fletch is obviously not happy with me taking a picture of his butt for the whole world to see, but he's a good dog and stood there anyway. You can just see the question on his face. Why are you taking a picture of my butt, Momma? Are you for real?This picture should be clickable so you can get a better look at what I'm talking about, but I've said that before and the clicking didn't work so who knows. And why would you even want to see his butthole any better anyway? And furthermore, why do I even want to share a story like this with you, you might ask? A good question for which I have no good answer. I'm weird, okay?
And some people reading here get really-really-really bored with my crochet talk all the time, so the butthole story is for them. Heh-heh. That'll teach you to be bored with me!
Barnaby and I are quite disturbed by the fact that whomever docked Fletch's tail got a bit carried away and cut it WAY too short. Why would they do that? Why? Why? But because someone got carried away or sneezed or Fletch moved or whatever, we now have to see his shining little butthole all day every day for the rest of his life.
AND, AND, AND...when he can't quite wipe his own butt well enough and he has a little leftover poo or grass clinging to poo or WHATEVER ELSE comes out of little holes like that, WE have to wipe it away or look at it all day until he accidentally wipes it on a rug or couch or our clothes. We choose to help him and wipe it away.
Are you totally grossed out and hating me yet?
My pain shall be your pain, people. I'm a giver.
Now, hopefully to wipe (pardon the pun) those horrid images from your delicate minds, I'll show you some crochet beauty. These pictures should be clickable too, but no promises.
I totally forgot about this crochet project and never shared it with you. I showed you the Noro Kureyon Sock Yarn when I bought it, but I didn't show you what I made with it. I still have that itty-bit of yarn to go before it's complete, but it's close enough.This is Angela Best's Spring Ripple Pattern. I used a size E crochet hook. A little tip if you use this pattern: Don't bother with the written instructions. Use the graph instead. I found the written instructions extremely confusing. I'm not a big crochet graph reader either, but it was much easier to follow and things clicked right along after that. Read the written instructions just for the info and as a guide.
Those two pictures in the last post are of the same afghan. I'm only doing one ripple afghan at a time! One picture was taken with the flash and the other without. It looks like two completely different afghans but it's not. The top one looks most like it in person. The other one looks more yellow than it is for some reason.
Help me! I think I'm addicted to ripples! I could not stop looking at all of the ripple afghans HERE. I don't know how many pictures are there, but I looked at a slideshow for well over an hour and didn't see all of the pictures.
There are so many possibilities! It's making my brain hurt imagining them all and trying to decide which ones I want to make and making up new ones of my own. Make it stop! No, don't! I like it.
Help me! I think I'm addicted to ripples! I could not stop looking at all of the ripple afghans HERE. I don't know how many pictures are there, but I looked at a slideshow for well over an hour and didn't see all of the pictures.
There are so many possibilities! It's making my brain hurt imagining them all and trying to decide which ones I want to make and making up new ones of my own. Make it stop! No, don't! I like it.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Movies & Yarn
We saw the movie Paranormal Activity Saturday morning. It wasn’t even very scary and definitely didn’t live up to all the hype. It wasn’t a horrible movie, but was more like watching an episode of A Haunting on TV than a feature film.
Have you seen the previews for that movie, The Fourth Kind about alien abductions in Nome, Alaska? I’d like to see that one. Not that I believe in alien abductions, but it just looks like a good movie. (For the record, I don’t believe or disbelieve in alien abductions. I do suppose that it’s possible, but I don’t think they’re as common and widespread as some people say.) And I’d also like to see It’s Complicated with Alec Baldwin & Meryl Streep. Again, I’m not much of a Streep fan, but I saw a preview for the movie and it looks like it would be lots of fun. I don’t know what’s up with me going to the movies lately because I normally only go maybe once every two years.
Just look at the scrumminess of my new bunch of yarn! Yes, “scrumminess” is a word…I think. It’s a combination of scrumptious and yummy and often used to describe yarn by crochet fanatics. At least in my world it is. But back to my new yarn. Isn’t it vibrant and beautiful? Most of you other crocheters reading know the inspiration comes from Lucy, of course. I sat and looked at the flicker group photos of project inspired by Lucy as a slideshow on Friday night. So I just couldn’t help myself when we were near a JoAnn’s earlier today from screaming out, “Stop! I want to go there!” I promised and swore I wouldn’t not be long, which I do every time, but this time I meant it and kept my promise because I knew exactly what I was after.
I also made a quick dash to the button aisle and bought three packages of brightly-colored buttons which I mixed together and placed in an empty beef bouillon container I was saving for just the right something. Turns out the buttons were that something. Look how perfectly they fit inside:
The buttons are for to make pillows to match my now in-progress Regular Ripple Blanket and the soon-to-be-in-progress Scrummie Ripple Blanket made with the newly-purchased yarn above. But I shall not rush and stop too soon on the one I’ve already started. I’ll finish it and make it the proper length for the width, which is big enough for a Queen-size bed. I see a lot of beginner crocheters make the mistake of getting in too big of a hurry or getting bored with it all and stopping too soon just so they can say it’s done, don’t you? I hate seeing that. It makes me cringe. What a waste!
Speaking of the now in-progress ripple blanket, it’s so big and heavy I’m finding it difficult to work with and it’s only barely half-done. That sucker is going to be big and I can't wait to see it when it's done!
Have you seen the previews for that movie, The Fourth Kind about alien abductions in Nome, Alaska? I’d like to see that one. Not that I believe in alien abductions, but it just looks like a good movie. (For the record, I don’t believe or disbelieve in alien abductions. I do suppose that it’s possible, but I don’t think they’re as common and widespread as some people say.) And I’d also like to see It’s Complicated with Alec Baldwin & Meryl Streep. Again, I’m not much of a Streep fan, but I saw a preview for the movie and it looks like it would be lots of fun. I don’t know what’s up with me going to the movies lately because I normally only go maybe once every two years.
Just look at the scrumminess of my new bunch of yarn! Yes, “scrumminess” is a word…I think. It’s a combination of scrumptious and yummy and often used to describe yarn by crochet fanatics. At least in my world it is. But back to my new yarn. Isn’t it vibrant and beautiful? Most of you other crocheters reading know the inspiration comes from Lucy, of course. I sat and looked at the flicker group photos of project inspired by Lucy as a slideshow on Friday night. So I just couldn’t help myself when we were near a JoAnn’s earlier today from screaming out, “Stop! I want to go there!” I promised and swore I wouldn’t not be long, which I do every time, but this time I meant it and kept my promise because I knew exactly what I was after.
I also made a quick dash to the button aisle and bought three packages of brightly-colored buttons which I mixed together and placed in an empty beef bouillon container I was saving for just the right something. Turns out the buttons were that something. Look how perfectly they fit inside:
The buttons are for to make pillows to match my now in-progress Regular Ripple Blanket and the soon-to-be-in-progress Scrummie Ripple Blanket made with the newly-purchased yarn above. But I shall not rush and stop too soon on the one I’ve already started. I’ll finish it and make it the proper length for the width, which is big enough for a Queen-size bed. I see a lot of beginner crocheters make the mistake of getting in too big of a hurry or getting bored with it all and stopping too soon just so they can say it’s done, don’t you? I hate seeing that. It makes me cringe. What a waste!
Speaking of the now in-progress ripple blanket, it’s so big and heavy I’m finding it difficult to work with and it’s only barely half-done. That sucker is going to be big and I can't wait to see it when it's done!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Yesterday Evening
This is pretty much how I spent my entire evening yesterday...
Rippling by the Fire...
Crustless Pumpkin Pie by the Fire
Sharing with the Dogs
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
I've been looking for these two books at Target, Walmart, and wherever else I go for months. I finally spotted them at Target a couple of days ago and snagged them both. I read the third one in the series a long time ago but never could find these. She came out with a vampire series and that's been all I could find lately. The vampire series all have the word "Dead" in the title. This one has the word "Grave" in the title. I read another series of hers several years ago and I'm trying to think what word was in those titles. Well, shoot. I'll go to Amazon and look for it. Please stand by...Okay, the word in the title was "Shakespeare." I also read her series that featured Aurora Teagarden, but I don't think those had a common word. Anyway, they're all good for a light read.
These are my new hot rollers I bought at Walmart for $16. There are 10 rollers in there of two different sizes. I was pissed because when we left Walmart we went directly to Target for a dog toy that they only sell there, and they had the exact same rollers for $2 less. Oh well. I really like the rollers. I have to roll my hair now that it's gotten long again. It's a bummer that I can't get ready in 15 minutes anymore, shower & all. That's what I really loved about my really-really short hair. I even roll it when I'm just putting it up in a clip or ponytail. It just looks better.I just made two crustless pumpkin pies. Barnaby requested them. I just used the same recipe (on the back of the Libby's Pumpkin can) and poured them into casserole dishes that had been sprayed with Pam. (Not me! The cooking spray, Dummy!) But I did add vanilla this time. I think I forgot the vanilla the other day when I made those first two pies. They seem to have turned out just fine. They're cooling on the stove now.
It's a good pumpkin pie day too. It's been drizzling rain all day. If it was 40 degrees I'd be happier, but I guess I won't complain about 64.
Happy Birthday, Auntie Gay!!
That's all I've got for you today. I need to get to rippling on my blanket while I have some free time. We're mostly caught up on the work for the moment.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
I have green glass, bird cages, and fake greenery displayed above my kitchen cabinets..
This is the new bird cage I found while shopping yesterday. It was on sale and we ended up paying only a little over $11 for this one. Sorry the picture is blurry. I didn't realize it until I started to post it here.I took a couple of pictures of my pumpkin pies baking in the oven, but those pictures were blurry as well. Plus, I'm embarrassed for you to see how dumb the fluting looks on the edges of the pies. I'm not a good fluter, and I don't understand why. Part of the problem is not enough dough. You need at least an inch of overhang to make good-looking pie edges, and I never seem to have enough. But even when I do, mine always looks dumb. I bet they eat those pies and they taste good anyway!
I have to go wrap a present or two. Y'all have a good Sunday. Wish you were here for pie & coffee!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Tag, You're It!
I was tagged by Bev! And I'm tagging PATSY!
A - Age: 48 (for another couple of weeks at least!)
B - Bed size: BIG (We sleep with 4 dogs)
C - Chore you hate: Toilets…it makes me gag.
D - Dog's name: In alphabetical order: Abbey, Eli, Fletcher, Phoebe, Sammi
E - Essential start-your-day item: Lots-O-Coffee and a kiss goodbye from my husband
F - Favorite color: Lavender
G - Gold or Silver: Silver, but I have an extra gold wedding band to wear on those few occasions when I wear gold earrings and/or necklace.
H - Height: 5’8” (And I’m the shortest of us three sisters)
I - I am: Very LUCKY!
J - Job: I am so grateful to be able to have my own business and work from home.
K - Kids: 2 baby boys (they’re really men now though). I knew I would have boys and no girls my whole life. I was positive about it.
L - Living arrangements: Me, Hubby, and lots of dogs
M - Mom's name: Johnny (yep, just like a guy!) I call her Momma but my other two sisters call her Mom or Mother.
N - Nicknames: Boo-Boo (One of my sisters has called me that since I was a baby), Pammy Sue (my blog readers call me that), Pammy (my mom and one friend call me that sometimes), Sam or Clyde or Sonny Boy (My dad calls me those names. I don’t know if he’s ever called me Pam.)
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: Too many to name. I’ve had 12 surgeries.
P - Pet Peeve: Tardiness and the way kids say “like” all the time drives me nuts.
Q - Quote from a movie: “You see what I did? I didn’t let it go. I said I was going to let it go, but I didn’t.” I say that all the time to my husband. Billy Crystal says that to Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally, my favorite movie. I also like to say, “I slap a little bass,” from the movie I Love You, Man.
R - Right or left handed: Right
S - Siblings: 2 Fabulous sisters!
T - Time you wake up: Between 8:00-8:15 when the dogs wake me up because they want to eat. They are very punctual.
U- Underwear: Usually, but not always, and they’re cotton.
V - Vegetable you dislike: Turnips…bleh!
W - Ways you run late: Very rarely if ever, unless it’s on purpose.
X - X-rays you've had: Nearly every body part.
Y - Yummy food you make: Homemade dinner rolls and cinnamon rolls.
Z - Zoo favorite: Gorillas…they fascinate me.
A - Age: 48 (for another couple of weeks at least!)
B - Bed size: BIG (We sleep with 4 dogs)
C - Chore you hate: Toilets…it makes me gag.
D - Dog's name: In alphabetical order: Abbey, Eli, Fletcher, Phoebe, Sammi
E - Essential start-your-day item: Lots-O-Coffee and a kiss goodbye from my husband
F - Favorite color: Lavender
G - Gold or Silver: Silver, but I have an extra gold wedding band to wear on those few occasions when I wear gold earrings and/or necklace.
H - Height: 5’8” (And I’m the shortest of us three sisters)
I - I am: Very LUCKY!
J - Job: I am so grateful to be able to have my own business and work from home.
K - Kids: 2 baby boys (they’re really men now though). I knew I would have boys and no girls my whole life. I was positive about it.
L - Living arrangements: Me, Hubby, and lots of dogs
M - Mom's name: Johnny (yep, just like a guy!) I call her Momma but my other two sisters call her Mom or Mother.
N - Nicknames: Boo-Boo (One of my sisters has called me that since I was a baby), Pammy Sue (my blog readers call me that), Pammy (my mom and one friend call me that sometimes), Sam or Clyde or Sonny Boy (My dad calls me those names. I don’t know if he’s ever called me Pam.)
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: Too many to name. I’ve had 12 surgeries.
P - Pet Peeve: Tardiness and the way kids say “like” all the time drives me nuts.
Q - Quote from a movie: “You see what I did? I didn’t let it go. I said I was going to let it go, but I didn’t.” I say that all the time to my husband. Billy Crystal says that to Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally, my favorite movie. I also like to say, “I slap a little bass,” from the movie I Love You, Man.
R - Right or left handed: Right
S - Siblings: 2 Fabulous sisters!
T - Time you wake up: Between 8:00-8:15 when the dogs wake me up because they want to eat. They are very punctual.
U- Underwear: Usually, but not always, and they’re cotton.
V - Vegetable you dislike: Turnips…bleh!
W - Ways you run late: Very rarely if ever, unless it’s on purpose.
X - X-rays you've had: Nearly every body part.
Y - Yummy food you make: Homemade dinner rolls and cinnamon rolls.
Z - Zoo favorite: Gorillas…they fascinate me.
Saturday Stuff
Abbey has been digging in the mud again, and this time I've got pictures to prove it! I'm so sure!
Product Review: These suck. That's it. That's my review. Don't waste your money!
Eli would like you to see his culotts. Click for a better view.
The ripple is coming along nicely.
We're going to go browsing at some antique shops today and out to lunch. I'm going to make two pumpkin pies later today to take to a birthday party tomorrow. Mmm, my first pumpkin dessert of the season. I love pumpkin anything. Later.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
My Very Own Ripple
I've decided that I've drooled over Lucy's ripple blanket for the last time and I'm making one of my own. I started it last night. It's just going to be a scrap ripple. I'll just let the colors speak to me and tell which is next. I got all boo-boo lipped yesterday evening when I saw Kate's ripple blanket she was giving away and whined out loud. That's when Barnaby said, "Why don't you just start making your own and work on it between other projects?" Very good question, I thought to myself. "Okay, I will!" So the Teddy Bears were set aside and yet another project began. There were no instructions as to how many chains to make to begin or what size hook to use, so I started with a chain-185 and a G hook. That makes mine 56" wide. I'll stop when it's somwhere around 68" and put the edging on. But that's a looooooog way off. I hope to use up a lot of my Red Heart yarn stash that makes my nose itch. Once it's finished and has been washed and rinsed in fabric softener, it's fine.
Is it nap time yet?I went and got my eye exam this morning and got a new prescription for glasses. I'm off to go shop online for frames. Have a good day.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Mei Mei
I finally finished the sleeves on my modified Mei Mei Sweater. The first picture is the Mei Mei and the second is my modified one. It's really not the same sweater at all, is it?
This stuff STINKS! I kept smelling something one afternoon with a chemical-mediciney smell and couldn't figure out what it was. I just figured my cleaning lady had used something new or something. I finally discovered that the horrible smell was coming from my head. It smelled like I had washed my hair in turpentine and then dipped it in shellac or something. Pee-U! I had to go take another shower and wash my hair again because it was really making me ill. I've used another variety of this same brand and didn't have that problem. I just don't know which one it was. If you can't read it, this is the "Humidity-Resistant 24-hour hold"
I broke a mirror exactly like this about two weeks ago. I bought another one this past weekend and prompty broke it too. Good thing I'm not superstitious. My life would be shitty until the year 2025 if I was! Yikes.
Product Review Below!
This stuff STINKS! I kept smelling something one afternoon with a chemical-mediciney smell and couldn't figure out what it was. I just figured my cleaning lady had used something new or something. I finally discovered that the horrible smell was coming from my head. It smelled like I had washed my hair in turpentine and then dipped it in shellac or something. Pee-U! I had to go take another shower and wash my hair again because it was really making me ill. I've used another variety of this same brand and didn't have that problem. I just don't know which one it was. If you can't read it, this is the "Humidity-Resistant 24-hour hold"
I broke a mirror exactly like this about two weeks ago. I bought another one this past weekend and prompty broke it too. Good thing I'm not superstitious. My life would be shitty until the year 2025 if I was! Yikes.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
I'm Famous Ya Know
Y'all didn't know I was a famous published author, did you? Several people have commented on the Taco Soup I mentioned in a previous post. I submitted a recipe for it years ago to a cooking magazine and they picked it to be featured in one of their annual cookbooks. Here's a picture of the book below and a close-up of the Taco Soup recipe. I blocked out my last name for security reasons. Authors sometimes get stalkers, don't ya know. It's hard being famous. The paparazzi is so annoying!
You can click on this picture and get a bigger version that you can actually read. If it doesn't work, let me know.
You can click on this picture and get a bigger version that you can actually read. If it doesn't work, let me know.And that quote is a lie, by the way. I never said that. One of the requirements of submitting a recipe was to include a brief statement about the recipe. I said something much dorkier and flamboyant, but they didn't use it. Hmphf! I wish I could remember what it was exactly.
The Taco Soup recipe in the book is NOT the recipe that I use now. I have a much better one. The super-not-so-secret ingredient is the Ranch Dressing Mix. Don't leave it out! And just because I'm a giver, here's the recipe I now use:
The Real Taco Soup
1 lb hamburger
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
Several cloves fresh garlic, chopped
2 cans (14-oz each) diced tomatoes with juice
1 can (4-oz) diced green chilies
2 cans black beans, drained
1 can pinto beans w/jalapenos, drained
1 pkg Ranch Dressing Mix (the dry powder)
1 pkg Taco Seasoning Mix
1 can (15-oz) beef broth
Brown hamburger well with onion, garlic, and green pepper until meat is no longer pink. Add to crockpot. Add rest of ingredient to crockpot, mix well, and cook on low 6-8 hours or on high 4 hours.
Garnish each bowl with shredded cheese and serve with tortilla chips.
Monday, October 12, 2009
First Row of Teddies
My first row of bears is done. It measures 59" x 11" now -- bigger than it appears here. Good lord. This is going to take me forever. It looks like a full day of crocheting and a little over 1 skein of yarn per row of bears. Only four more rows to go!I'll have to take it outside when I take the completed afghan picture. That raspberry just doesn't show up right inside. It's a lot lighter than it appears here. It's a little more pink than red, but in this picture it looks full-on burgundy. Bye.
Teddy Bears
It finally got cold enough starting on Friday to have a fire in the fireplace! We had one Friday night, Saturday morning, and Sunday morning. I put a crockpot full of taco soup on to cook Saturday night before we went to bed and it cooked all night. It was yummy on Sunday when we ate it while watching the race.
We were going to go to the Texas State Fair today at 10:00. The weather is still cool and wet and overcast, but that didn't really matter to us. It's not like we were going to be riding rides or anything like that. We were mostly going for the food (hi, Nutrisystem!) and to look at the exhibits and people-watch. But I slept like CRAP last night and tossed and turned and was hot and cold and just generally miserable all night. I hate that. So we decided to go this Friday instead.
I have not been eating my Nutrisystem food the last two weeks or so. I haven't gained weight, and in fact lost another pound, but I do plan on getting back to it. Sometime. No really, I do!
Sorry for the crappy picture below. You'll also notice that the corner is missing. Eli got a hold of it yesterday and tore it off. I was really pissed because this belonged to my grandmother. I fixed it the best I could and will keep it in a protector sheet from now on. Thankfully, he didn't tear off any of the pattern instructions which are on the back.
I started making this blanket yesterday. I thought I'd make it smaller (3 bears wide by 4 bears high) instead of the full size, and I did all the calculating to do that. But when I made the chain, I got scared that it would be too small and look dumb, and I didn't want to do all that work and then find it didn't look right, so i just made it the full size. AND IT'S HUGE!
Now I wish I would have just had the confidence to stick with my plan, but there's no way I'm ripping out all I've done and starting over.
I'm doing mine in I Love This Yarn in Raspberry. It's so soft and squishy. If you want more info about the pattern (ah-hem) just leave a comment with your email address if I don't already have it. Here's a better picture of someone else's finished blanket.
We were going to go to the Texas State Fair today at 10:00. The weather is still cool and wet and overcast, but that didn't really matter to us. It's not like we were going to be riding rides or anything like that. We were mostly going for the food (hi, Nutrisystem!) and to look at the exhibits and people-watch. But I slept like CRAP last night and tossed and turned and was hot and cold and just generally miserable all night. I hate that. So we decided to go this Friday instead.
I have not been eating my Nutrisystem food the last two weeks or so. I haven't gained weight, and in fact lost another pound, but I do plan on getting back to it. Sometime. No really, I do!
Sorry for the crappy picture below. You'll also notice that the corner is missing. Eli got a hold of it yesterday and tore it off. I was really pissed because this belonged to my grandmother. I fixed it the best I could and will keep it in a protector sheet from now on. Thankfully, he didn't tear off any of the pattern instructions which are on the back.
I started making this blanket yesterday. I thought I'd make it smaller (3 bears wide by 4 bears high) instead of the full size, and I did all the calculating to do that. But when I made the chain, I got scared that it would be too small and look dumb, and I didn't want to do all that work and then find it didn't look right, so i just made it the full size. AND IT'S HUGE! Now I wish I would have just had the confidence to stick with my plan, but there's no way I'm ripping out all I've done and starting over.
I'm doing mine in I Love This Yarn in Raspberry. It's so soft and squishy. If you want more info about the pattern (ah-hem) just leave a comment with your email address if I don't already have it. Here's a better picture of someone else's finished blanket.
I'm off to crochet and nap the rest of the day. I'm off work all week, by the way! Yay! My aunt will be here tomorrow evening. She'll be here for the next week visiting. Yay again! Bye.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Baby Blanket
Another Baby Blanket
This was made using Stashaholic's Brain Dead Afghan Pattern, and just made it smaller. I added the ruffled border. I used Bernat Berella 4 yarn.I loved this pattern. It went really fast using a size K hook. It's a lot like the diagonal box stitch pattern, only it's not diagonal. Try it. You'll like it!
Friday, October 09, 2009
Some Good Some Bad
Me loving some crochet things, hating others, and making fun of most:
This is kind of pretty and kind of ugly at the same time. I'm pretty sure if I crocheted this I would kick your ass if you sat on it.
Who cares about the hood? All I can see is her really-really weird nose that goes straight up! That's amazing.
I've always loved this blanket, but I know I just don't have the patience to ever make one myself. It's beautiful!
Terribly weird.
I love this cat blanket.
Wow...fabulous!
These are darling! Love them.
Are you freakin' kidding me, lady? Come on! Do you mean to tell me she doesn't see that those round thingies are distracting as hell and poorly-placed? Idiot!
Someone took a lot of time to make this. I don't know why anyone would do that, but it's pretty.
I love this scarf. I'm pretty sure I can figure out the pattern and get pretty close. I'm saving this picture for future use.
Is this thing really taking a hit from a bong? The more I look at him, the more I like him. Whatever, little groovy dude!
This is kind of pretty and kind of ugly at the same time. I'm pretty sure if I crocheted this I would kick your ass if you sat on it.
Who cares about the hood? All I can see is her really-really weird nose that goes straight up! That's amazing.
I've always loved this blanket, but I know I just don't have the patience to ever make one myself. It's beautiful!
Terribly weird.
I love this cat blanket.
Wow...fabulous!
These are darling! Love them.
Are you freakin' kidding me, lady? Come on! Do you mean to tell me she doesn't see that those round thingies are distracting as hell and poorly-placed? Idiot!
Someone took a lot of time to make this. I don't know why anyone would do that, but it's pretty.
I love this scarf. I'm pretty sure I can figure out the pattern and get pretty close. I'm saving this picture for future use.
Is this thing really taking a hit from a bong? The more I look at him, the more I like him. Whatever, little groovy dude!Happy Friday! Ya'll have a good weekend.
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