Granddaughter Love

Me & Harper

I just finished sewing in the last end on my blanket.  Now for the border...

Poufs!

I finally had an excuse to make Kris' Party Poufs!

Aren't they pretty?

We're having the family over tomorrow afternoon for cake & coffee to congratulate my son for passing his state test and getting his cosmetology license last week.  These were fun to make.  Thank you for the tutorial, Kris!  Lots of goodies are being made in my kitchen today.

I can tell it's fall because I'm drinking hot coffee in the mornings instead of iced.

I've been putting off making a blog post thinking I'd be finished with this monster blanket any minute, but it took much longer to get those last few rows of color on than I thought it would.  I'm now finished crocheting the body, but I have a bazillion ends to sew in and it's taking FOREVER!  When that's done, I'll crochet the border, which will be a pretty simple one so hopefully it won't take days.  I LOVE THIS ONE with the DK yarn, but Lord have mercy, it takes a lot longer than worsted weight yarn!  This turned out to be huge too.  I didn't realize it when I started it, but it fits on our Queen size bed.

I'll be back with the big Ta-Dah very soon!

The Evil Dentist

Scary Shadow Sammi Dog is at the back door.

To eat your face light.

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Momof10kids...send me your email address in the comments.  I won't publish it.  I have what you need and will send it to you!

I had a root canal yesterday.  Gah.  I thought it would never end!  But I lived through it once again.  I should be over the emotional strain of it in a day or two.  LOL.  I'm serious though.  Going to the dentist really messes with my head.

ME:  Give me the gas today.  I want it.  (I had a filling last week, and he talked me into not having it.)

EVIL DENTIST:  It won't be bad, I promise!  You did it without the gas last week.

ME:  NO!  Give me the gas!  The least you can do is get me high.  Ha-ha-ha.

EVIL DENTIST:  (Smile) Okay.  Whatever you want to do.

(Gas mask nose thingy is applied to my face)

EVIL DENTIST:  Just relax and breathe in through your nose.  Breathe in, breathe out.

ME:  (Furiously sucking in through my nose, I'm thinking I should have used nose spray before I came so my nasal passages would be open really wide.)

EVIL DENTIST:  We're not starting yet.  I'm just numbing your mouth with this gel.

ME:  (Suck, suck, sucking in through my nose.  I feel like I can't suck hard enough.  Nothing is happening!)

EVIL DENTIST:  Breathe in, Breathe out.  Good.  Now close your eyes.

ME:  WAIT!  I can't feel the gas!  I really can't!

EVIL DENTIST:  Okay.  Just relax and watch the TV.  (Leans over and turns the gas up)

ME:  (Did he just roll his eyes at me?  He doesn't believe me!  Suck, suck, suck.)

He continues on with the root canal for 1.5 hours, 1 hour of which is drilling and sticking pins up into my brain.  GAH.

We're finally done and he removes the gas mask.

EVIL DENTIST:  Do you know what?  The gas tank was empty!  I'm sorry!  I didn't realize that.  That must be why you didn't feel the gas.

ME:  (Ya think so, genius????)

EVIL DENTIST:  We won't charge you for it.

ME:  Gee, thank you.

Fun

Friday Sampler Update #2

I added those top 8 inches since last time.

Here's the whole thing as of now. I think I'm only about 1/3 of the way there. It's very heavy. I'm still loving the process.

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I put a pork shoulder roast (mine was 3.3 lbs) in the crock pot this morning with 1/2 cup apricot preserves, 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar, 2 tsp cumin, 1 sliced onion, and salt & pepper. I'll shred it when it has cooked 8 hours or so, and it will make terrific pulled pork sandwiches. My mom gave me this recipe last summer. It's a winner.

This is what mine looked like when I first put it in. Close the lid, turn it on low, and walk away all day...or stay home and torture yourself with the great smell! You can even freeze half of the shredded pork for a lazy day.

My mom had a great idea when she served these at her house. She got out her electric skillet, lined it with a double-layer of foil (let several inches hang over the sides), and laid her Hawaiian buns on the foil. Then she covered the top with foil and sealed edges of the foil together. Turn your skillet on the lowest setting, and you have something to keep your buns warm to serve them in! My mom is a genius. 

Have a great weekend!

Amish Yumazuti

I snapped this picture a couple of nights ago in our backyard at dusk.  Pretty, huh?

I forgot to take a picture before we ate.  Oops.  It was really good though, and worth sharing the recipe.  I found several recipes for this on the Internet and took the basic recipe and made it my own.  I needed a lot because I was making two dishes -- one to keep and one to take to my momma & daddy.  Here's how I made mine.  And, no, I'm not Amish.

Amish Yumazuti

16-oz pkg wide egg noodles

1 1/2 lbs ground beef

1 onion, chopped

1/2 cup chopped celery

Salt & pepper to taste

1 (15-oz) can diced tomatoes, liquid & all

1 can Cream of Chicken soup, undiluted

1 can Cream of Mushroom soup, undiluted

1 soup can of water 

Shredded cheddar (as much as you like)

Cook egg noodles according to package instructions, drain, and set aside.  

In a skillet, brown ground beef, onion, and celery, and cook until beef is well-browned.  Add salt & pepper to taste.  Set aside.

Combine soups in a bowl and stir in the water to thin it out a little.  Set aside.

Spray a casserole dish (9 x 13, or two smaller ones) with cooking spray.  Spoon a little of the soup mixture onto the bottom -- just enough to coat the bottom so the noodles don't stick.  Add a layer of noddles, 1/2 of the beef mixture, 1/2 of the soup mixture, 1/2 of the tomatoes & juice, and a layer of shredded cheese.  Repeat layers again using all ingredients.

Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees F for approximately 30 min. or until hot and bubbly.

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See ya!

A Few Days Off

I'll be back in a few days.  Just an unforeseen little break...all is well.

Crack Ho Crackers

These three ingredients...

And an entire box (4 sleeves) of saltine crackers...

Bake them and let them cool...

OMG...you're addicted.

I found the recipe HERE.

Don't be a fool and try to half this recipe.

YOU WILL BE SORRY!

Don't come crack-ho cryin' to me if you do!

Rainy Day Shawl & THE Trip

The Free Pattern:  Festival Shawl

Yarn:  Lion Brand Jiffy in Silver Heather

Hook:  Size K (6.50mm)

Alterations:  At the end of each row, I added a trc in top ch of ch-4 from previous row.

Edging:  (Hdc, dc, hdc in each chain space, sl st in next stitch) across both sides.

Point:  I don't remember what I did!  I just winged it.

Top Edging (Neck):  As pattern.

Somebody likes it, even for a sunny day.

We've got our 20th Anniversary trip to the mountains of Colorado planned soon.  This shawl will definitely be going with us, sans the dog(s).  The dogs will be at the doggie spa (don't tell them it's just the vet's kennel).  They seem to like it.  They have a big fenced yard to play in there a couple of times a day.  You'll get details of the trip upon our return, but we've still got over a month to wait before we leave.  We've had it planned for a couple of months now, and I am getting very antsy for the departure date.

It looks something like this...

Planned side trips...CHECK!

Mountain stream...CHECK!

Mountains & day trips...CHECK!

Random dog picture...CHECK!

What?

I know.  Don't try to make sense of it.

But isn't he gorgeous?

Hey!  He's the same color as my shawl.

A private cabin on the mountain...CHECK!

Rest, relaxation, and enjoying each other's company...

CHECK!

GAH...I can hardly wait.

Surprise Ta-Dah, Recipe, Harper Mouse, Smell-Good

Minnie Mouse Harper.

Hee-hee!
That's her momma, Whitney, holding her.

Guess what?

I have a surprise TA-DAH!

I'm not very good at keeping surprises quiet when it comes to crochet, so you should be really impressed that I kept this one under wraps until it was finished.  Ready?

TA-DAH!!

It's BIG and soft and fuzzy...

Made with BIG and soft and fuzzy yarn...

I love it.

The fuzziness of it isn't showing up in these pictures, and I don't know why.  I didn't get any pictures that I really loved this morning.  I'll try again outside later.  This is a shawl for me to wear around the house with my PJs on.  You know, a comfy, rainy-day shawl to wear with my morning cup of coffee this winter.

Better pictures and the details to come.

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This is the best recipe, y'all.  You've got to try it.  It was quick & easy.  I knew it would be good, because what's in this not to love, but I mean it was REALLY GOOD.  We both loved it.

Bacon, Cheese, Egg Pull-Apart Breakfast

(Except we had it for dinner)

1 Egg

2 Tbsp Milk

1 (16.3 oz) can Pillsbury Grands Flaky Layers

1 (2.1 oz) pkg precooked Bacon cut into small pieces

3 oz. (3/4) cup shredded Cheddar Cheese

1/4 cup finely chopped green onion (about 4)

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.  Spray an 11 x 7 (2 quart) casserole dish with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, beat egg and milk with a wire whisk until smooth.  Separate dough into 8 biscuits; cut each one into quarters (I used my kitchen scissors).  Gently stir biscuit pieces into egg mixture and stir to coat evenly.  Fold in bacon, cheese, and onions.  Spoon mixture into sprayed dish.  Arrange biscuits into a single layer.

Bake for 28-30 minutes or until golden brown. 

My Notes:  Since it was just the Captain and me, I used a small can of Grands biscuits (5 biscuits) and a smaller pan, but I used the same other ingredient amounts as listed above.

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This air freshener spray smells SO GOOD!  I have always loved the scent of Sandalwood.

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With her Daddy.

I took a bunch of pictures, but they were nearly all blurry, DAMMIT.  I don't know why I used my iPhone instead of my real camera.  Shoot.

Now I'm off to work.

I love Mondays...

P.S.  I hate this font.  I will be changing it.  Sorry.  I know it's hard to read.

Friday Sampler

I got about 6 more inches done.  I guess I'l start posting updated pictures on Fridays.

Blogger has worn me down yet again.  Ugh.  It shouldn't be that hard or as time-consuming to change your template.  I'm not thrilled with this one, but I've had enough so it's staying this way for awhile until I'm ready to face it again.  I love the ducky though!

Y'all have a nice weekend.  Our weather is supposed to drastically change with a "cold" front that's coming in later today.  The high temps will be in the 80s all weekend instead of the 100s we've been having.  Yipee! Fall is just around the corner.

Under Construction

I'm in Blogger Template Hell.
Hopefully I'll have a new one up soon!

Sampler Update w/Breakfast

I worked on my sampler blanket yesterday evening for about 5 hours.

 I'm enjoying this one immensely!

I even learned something new.  I learned how to make those bobbles at the top with a different color background.  Aren't they cute?  And the RED chevron stripes are totally cool-looking.  Go over to Little Woollie to find the instructions for the chevron part and see her crochet-along update #2 and blanket.  She also has a link to the bobble tutorial.  (Scroll down to earlier entry for the chevron pattern.)

If anyone is making this sampler and you need my updated pattern (it includes links to the chevron & bobble instructions), let me know and I'll post it.  Otherwise, I will wait until I get a few more rows on before posting.  It's going to be several pages before this is over.  I'm leaving out the color changes so you can make it your own and choose when you change colors and what colors you want.  Plus, it would just be a pain in the ass and I don't want to!  ;-)

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I discovered these breakfast sandwiches on my last trip to the grocery store.  They are SO GOOD.  I've had one for lunch the last two days.  Only 200 calories, and I think you get a lot for that.  This is the one with ham, but there's another one with sausage.  It was about 40 more calories and I'm not really a sausage-lover so I went with the ham.  This is the first frozen to microwave sandwich I've tried that is perfectly done when you follow the instructions.  No cold spots or hard spots on the bread.  Perfect.  Try 'em if you can get 'em!

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Short post today because I have to work this morning for a bit.  My hands are sore from working all day yesterday and then crocheting for so long in the evening.  I couldn't help it!  I was excited about learning those new designs. 

Speaking of hurting, my back does NOT!  Shhhhh!  Don't say that too loud Pammy Sue!  Knocking on wood, throwing salt over my shoulder, walking under a ladder...wait...that last part wasn't right.

Gotta go!

Trees & Dogs

 I took a couple of pictures of the crepe myrtles in our backyard.  They are so pretty right now.

Have you ever noticed that the spot on Ollie's side is shaped like a heart?  Perfect.  I love him so much.  GAH.

The always-happy, crazy-ass Fletch.
He's so misunderstood.
I love him too!
I love ALL of my dogs to the point it hurts.

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I had another go at my hair.  Better this time...

All teased out.

I thought it looked bigger and ridiculous in person, but it doesn't look overdone in this picture at all.  The Captain said I looked like Joyce DeWitt.  LOL.  Remember her from Three's Company?  I couldn't find one picture of her wearing a headband, but I swear I remember her wearing one all the time on that show.

No more pictures of myself, I promise.  Ugh.  Puffy McPufferson.

I'm off to work again.  

I'm on a lunch break.  Bye.

Race Day Food & the Maf*a & More

I've been preparing food since I got up this morning.  It's all ready to go for the race this evening.  I knew I needed to get an early start because if I wait until later this afternoon, I won't feel like doing it.  That has happened too many times to count.  So if I'm really serious about it, I do it in the morning.

First...

I stuffed some jalapenos with a chicken & cheese mixture (shredded chicken, sharp cheddar, cream cheese, garlic powder, Parmesan).  (Sorry for the shadow.)  I made a whole cookie sheet full and then wrapped them in bacon.  I cut my center-cut bacon down the middle with scissors and just use half a piece.  Some of the larger ones got a whole piece.  These are not fresh jalapenos.  I buy a large can (26 oz) of whole pickled jalapenos, cut off the stem end, make a cut down the middle, and remove the seeds and membrane with a spoon.  I've never had success using fresh jalapenos, and we LOVE these.

It takes about 45 min. to prepare these, but it's so worth it!  I covered the pan with some plastic wrap and shoved them in the fridge to keep until I'm ready to bake them.  I'll bake about 30-35 minutes at 350 degrees.

And then...

I made some Parmesan Chicken Bake.  I got the recipe from a link on Pinterest, but I only made three breasts instead of six since it's just the Captain and me.  The above picture is what it looked like when I was making it.  I had one breast spread with the mayo/cheese mixture.

I covered the rest of them, added a tiny bit of shredded cheddar and dried oregano to the top, and it was ready to bake.  Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.

I just baked it and the house smells wonderful!

Find the recipe HERE.  I'll let you know what we thought about it in my next post.

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We went here for a late breakfast yesterday...House Cafe, which looks neither like a house or a cafe, but it's good.

THE SCOOP!

Some letters are replaced by * so I don't get murdered by the M*B.

Across the parking lot from the House Cafe, which looks like neither a house or a cafe, are these two businesses.  I'm going to let you in on a little secret.  Or maybe it's not so secret...I don't know.  These "f*ot m*ssage" places are not making their money on f*ot m*ssages.  They are fronts for YOU KNOW WHAT.  It's totally true.  Just sit and watch for a few minutes and see all the men going in there.  

I have the inside scoop and most of you know why.  These are nearly all run by Chin*se, and I guarantee you at least 95 percent of them are where men go to get "a h*ppy ending," if you know what I mean.  They are busted on a regular basis, and then they just open-up shop at a new location or just pay their fine and keep right on doing business.  A lot of police departments have teams that are dedicated solely to busting these places.

Two seconds after I took this picture, an Asian lady came out of there to smoke a cigarette wearing shiny silver pants and high heels.  I'm SO SURE.  (And pissed that I couldn't take a picture before the Captain drove off.  He didn't want me taking pictures.)  Believe it!  And keep your man away from them.  Ew.  And if you are a man who frequents these places, just ew!  You should not support the Chin*se M*fia and you are a h*rd-up perv and a criminal.  Pay your wife to do it instead!  Ha.  I bet she'd take your money and do you a favor.  (Was that wrong to say?  I know I've been eyeballing a purse I'd love to have!  Hee-hee.)  Ahem.  Of course I'm kidding.  Kind of.

I hope nobody reads this and comes and kills me.  I'm trying to disguise it as best I can with ** in some words so nobody can google it and find me.  Maybe. 

AND THEN...we use that computer place all the time because their prices are so reasonable and R*di is super-nice.  He is Middle-Eastern and drives a shiny new Mercedes and wears thousand-dollar suits to work every day.  It's a small shop.  He cannot be making that much money on selling refurbished computers and computer repairs.  I always tell the Captain that I think his business is just a front for funneling money to terrorist groups.  It's more common than you think!  Believe that too!  And if you think I'm profiling, you are correct.  Duh.  I'm all for it.

Okay, enough of the conspiracy theories and underworld talk...

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How's about a little crochet?
You thought I was never going to get back to it, didn't you?
Well, you were wrong...

It's a Minnie Mouse hat for Harper!  Isn't it CUTE?  The pattern calls for you to sew some white buttons onto the pink part for the polka dots, but I'm not going to do that.  I'd hate for her to get a hold of one of them and choke.  It's super-cute without them anyway.  She is obsessed with a Mickey/Minnie Mouse lately, and her momma is going to make her first birthday party in a Minnie Mouse theme.  I thought she'd get a kick out of wearing this hat.  I hope it fits.

The free pattern for a Mickey or Minnie hat is HERE.  (I doubled the ears so they are really thick and squishy.)

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Well, that was a jam-packed post!

I hope you enjoyed it and smiled at least once.

Bye-bye!