Family Dinner

Twice in 4 days we got to have a meal with our daughters!!! I can't believe it!!! After I got off work I met John and we drove the 45 minute drive to the girls town. We ate at Old Chicago Pizza (where Meg works) and had dinner.

Of course I had a camera and told everyone I needed a pic for my blog! haha Marianne (one of the girls roommates) was kind enough to take our picture. Thank you Marianne!!! Meg grabbed Dinosaur for the photo so of course I had to grab Reeses. Geez....I think we are obsessed with these little creatures.

I FINALLY finished the Twilight Saga. They were so good I think I'm going to read them again. But, I need to take at least a week or two break from reading. Not only do I need to catch up on my sewing, crocheting and scrapbooks----but I'm pretty sure John would like a break from doing all the laundry!

River Market

This weekend was most enjoyable. Tori came home Friday evening...we enjoyed veggie rolls, crunchy crab & spicy crawfish rolls from Kopan. We love us some sushi!

Saturday was such a beautiful day. Meg met us in Little Rock...the three of us did some shopping at the Farmer's Market.
Everyone brings their dogs to the river....so we decided to bring ours this time.
They were a little freaked out by all the people at first. Dinosaur stayed in Meg's arms most of the time.
Reeses in mine. Once they relaxed they acted like they were great danes....barking all tough at the big dogs. It was quite funny!
Meg & Tori bought some amazing Jonathon apples....it is apple season....I should have bought some to make applesauce. We got the usual...purple hull peas, pinto beans, cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, and the girls bought loads of basil and garlic for cheap! Tori made pesto! Meg got hot peppers and made enchiladas and homemade pico de gallo. They cook like their momma & daddy!!

John got off work early and he met us at Boulevard Bread Company. One of our most favorite places to eat lunch downtown. It's all organic and fresh & seasonal, they use locally grown products and support the local farmers. They are an environmentally friendly business! Their forks and spoons, napkins and cups are made from corn or potato by-products that are biodegradable and compostable!!!! Pretty awesome, huh!!!
This is the first time we had a family get together since Tori moved to college. (when John was in the hospital doesn't count)
I bet Tori & Meg didn't even realize they are posed almost the same way.

My love.

We left downtown and went shopping at Whole Foods! Our favorite grocery store....sucks it's 50 miles from my house! We had a wonderful day together!!!!

John & I went our to dinner with 2 couple friends last night. We ate on the patio at Bene Vitas!! Mmmmm....real Italian food, wine and conversation that was revealing, surprising & funny!! It was a wonderful evening!

sing birds sing in the bradford pear

John & I were so excited when we built our 1st house! It only took us 15 years to get there. We moved in June of 02'. We didn't want the yard landscaped, we wanted to do that on our own. So we can watch what we planted grow. So we can say....you remember when we dug those BIG holes for them trees.....how we stayed in the yard ALL day and got burnt to a crisp!

We both love Bradford Pear Trees. We decided to plant two in the front yard. Well, this summer the one tree started to look pretty bad. The leaves were changing colors and dropping. John was very upset about this. He took the mulch away from the trunk and dug a little....he found a bed of ants that were eating the roots. For a week we tried flushing them away with the hose for 30 minutes at a time. I feed it some miracle grow...we even prayed about it. It seemed to work. The tree started looking better but still not green and beautiful like the other. Well, we have been sad again....it isn't doing all that great. It is the saddest looking tree.....doesn't match any tree in the neighborhood. I always look forward to watching the trees change color and seeing the leaves fall to the ground. But, not like this!It's not time for it to be this bare. Look at her leaves on the lawn. Makes me so so sad. See how pretty & full & green her brother is in the back?! Oh I hope she comes back next spring prettier & fuller then ever.

Give me a land of boughs in leaf, a land of trees that stand; where trees are fallen there is grief; I love no leafless land.

-- A.E. Housman

I like it hot hot hot

I have really been feeling crappy this week. The ragweed is kicking my butt!!!! I am all stuffy, sneezing all the time, itchy eyes , headache etc...etc...etc....I can't smell anything or taste anything! I have to chew my food with my mouth open just so I can breathe! ARG!!!!
Ok I feel better now that I've vented.

I like all my food spicy! The hotter the better. So when I saw these crackers in the teachers lounge last year I just had to get the recipe. They are SO good!! Of course if you don't like things hot, you can cut back on the spice. So I made these the other day and thought I'd share with all of you.

SPICY SALTINE CRACKERS
1 box saltine crackers
1 cup canola oil
1 pkg. hidden valley ranch dressing mix
2 tsp. red pepper flakes

Open all 4 packages of crackers and dump them in a gallon size baggie.
Mix oil and ranch mix together. Add red pepper flakes.
Pour this on top of crackers. Shake well. Turn baggie over every 30 minutes.
I let them marinate like this over night.

I think next week I'm going to make Heather's Chili and serve these crackers with it. YUM!

Oh and the dryer hose pumpkin directions. It has been 14 years since she made that. But, all you do is buy a dryer hose. Cut enough of it to form a nice circle. Hot glue it together. Paint it orange. Make a stem out of construction paper. Add raffia and Viola! A Pumpkin!!!

Is it really Fall??

Is it really the first day of fall today? Yes, but it sure doesn't feel like it! It was 86 today. Too hot to want to welcome fall. But, I'll welcome it anyway...'cause cooler weather is just around the corner.
This is on my kitchen island.Those decorations were $7 at K-Mart. The candle I found in Meg's room.
















This adorable pumpkin has been apart of my fall decor for 14 years. Tori made this in kindergarten. It is made from a dryer hose! Tori was always my artsy creative one(still is)...I have lots of artsy decorations she made. Meg was and still is my writer I have a tote box full of poems and letters she has written over the years.


This is a basket I've had for several years. I believe I bought it at Michaels. That plant is a peace lily my DH's cousin & wife bought me after my Daddy passed. It fit perfect in the basket and now adorns my kitchen table looking all fall-ish....as my DH put it!





My porch! I usually do two bales of hay....and incorporate them in the decor. But this year I tried to make it more simpler. It's a crooked photo, I suck at taken photos.













I love love love my little fall gal! This has been a must to put out every fall. I have had this since my girls were itty bitty! HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!!

Potato Soup Recipe

Let me warn you, this recipe is not for the dieter. But, go ahead and cheat....you know you want to. Mmmm it's so rich & delicious!!! If you do try it out...let me know whattcha think!

POTATO SOUP


The Ingredients

1/2 pound bacon, chopped
huge fist full baby carrots, cut into bite size pieces
1 yellow onion
3 cloves Garlic
10 red potatoes, we like peel on
chicken stock, enough to cover potatoes, about 45 oz.
3 tbsp. butter
1/4 cup flour
1 cup heavy cream
salt & pepper

Cook bacon until crispy, remove from pan and set aside. Keep 1/4 cup grease. In grease saute the onion and carrots for 2 minutes. Add garlic. Saute another 2 minutes.

Add potatoes and toss to coat them. Continue sauteing for 3-4 minutes.

Return the bacon to the pot.

Add chicken stock. Simmer on low until potatoes are done.

In separate sauce pan, melt butter.
Whisk in the flour...continue to whisk 1-2 minutes until thick.


Add cream....whisk until thickens.
Add cream mixture to soup. Bring soup to a boil.

Put 3 cups of soup in blender. Puree until real smooth.


Add puree back to soup pot. Salt & Pepper to taste.

Serve with rolls or baguette bread.



ENJOY!

Girls Night Out

So I had planned yesterday to post my potato soup recipe but I didn't have time. Because it was GIRLS NIGHT OUT!!!! That trumps posting recipe....'cause I so needed girl time! I was mad at myself because I left my camera in my other bag. So no pictures. Dadgumit! Oh well, next time. So Dala, Robbie & I went to Chili's for dinner and some margaritas!! The only place that serves alcohol within a 30 mile radius. We enjoyed the conversation, laughter, talking about our husbands....no, no I'm just kidding...we don't ever talk about them.
We went to see the movie "The Women"
it was great! There were some pretty funny moments. Debra Messing was hilarious! Dala said, "Have you noticed all the women actresses we have grown up with are now looking old?" Well duh Dala we are getting and looking old as well!!! *sobbing* And what was up with the theater last night? It was Friday night and there were only 5 of us in the entire theater. All women of course. CRAZY!!! Guess the whole town went to the home football game. And Robbie if you are reading this....it's your turn to drive next time and we would like to ride in style....so that means we want you to pick us up in the convertible Jag!!! I just love the way a good girls night out refreshes me!!!

Apples

All week one of my 6th grade boys, (I'll call him Smiley cause he is always happy and smiling) has randomly looked at a teacher and said, "Apples!" in a very excited little voice and with the biggest grin on his face. Yesterday, it was apples and goldfish crackers. Today, during lunch I had to get on to one of the boys. I have to be real careful not to raise my voice too loud because they are autistic and that might freak them out a bit. So after I got on to 8th grader C....smiley looked up at me and said, "Apples!" I just giggled and said, "Smiley, Why do you keep saying that to teachers?" He melted my heart....he said, "Because, Apples make teachers happy!" Isn't that just the cutest!?

P.S. I'll post my Potato Soup recipe tomorrow!

So long sweet summer

I am so ready for summer to be over with; and autumn to make her appearance.
I'm ready to wear long sleeve shirts, skirts with crazy pantyhose & pretty little
cardigans. I can't wait to see the leaves change colors...red, orange & yellow; how they fall
from the tree so gracefully. I love my strolls around the block in autumn....cool & crisp...
you ever notice how everything smells so different in the fall? I love the pumpkins and the decorations on everyones porches. Oh, I can't wait to do mine. I love leaving the windows
open and having the home smell so fresh. I can't wait to make stew and chili and potato soup!!
I'm so ready for Autumn! With that said, I'll end with the lyrics from one of my favorite songs.

By: Dashboard Confessionals

So long sweet summer
I stumbled upon you and gratefully basked in your rays
So long sweet summer
I fell into you
Now you're gracefully falling away

Hey thanks
Thanks for that summer
It's cold where you're going
I hope that your heart's always warm
I gave you the best
Gave you the best that I have

So, so long sweet summer
I stumbled upon you and gratefully basked in your rays
So long sweet summer
I fell into you
Now you're gracefully falling away

Meme

The lovely Aubrey @ The Fam Five tagged me to play in this meme. Thanks girl! I was supposed to do it yesterday...but I was too tired! So I guess better late than never!!

1. Where were you 10 years ago
My husband just got out of the Air Force and was hired on with the FAA. We moved from Jacksonville to Cabot...the next town over. Meg was in the 5th grade and Tori the 3rd. Actually I guess if it was September 98', Meg was in the sixth and Tori the 4th. They were little. Aww, I miss them being little. I need to steal someones kid for the day so I can remember what it was like. HA!

2. What is on today's To Do List?
Work! I drive a special needs school bus and I'm also a Social Skills Coach at a middle school for children with Autism/Aspergers. And it's Tuesday....DATE NIGHT!!! Dinner & a movie. Then come home and watch the finale of Big Brother!

3. What would you do if you were a billionaire?
Oh me oh my oh! Besides the obvious shopping, pay off bills, quit work, etc... I would pay for the vision my Pastor has...he wants to build homes on our church property for single moms in need and for widow woman. I would also pay off all the debt the church has and build on to it.

4. Name 5 places you have lived:
1)Patchogue, New York
2)Jacksonville, Arkansas
3)Shreveport, Louisiana
4)Cabot, Arkansas
5)Austin, Arkansas

5. Name 3 of your bad habits:
1) not eating breakfast every morning
2) running late for work EVERY morning
3) drinking a pot of coffee a day

6. What are your favorite snacks?
Movie theater popcorn, yogurt fruit smoothies, apple with peanut butter

7. Who will you tag for this meme?

Tori , Natalie , Heather , Becky & Beth

Come on girls....Tag your it!!!

***Warning***

I'm writing this post to warn all you pet lovers of this horrific product. Sergeants Gold flea & tick medication. I bought some at Wal-Mart yesterday after church. I planned on treating Reeses( 8 pound Chihuahua) that afternoon. I didn't get around to it until that evening around 7pm. So everything was fine and dandy...he was acting normal and I was enjoying my book. Then about an hour later, I was blogging, and Reeses started acting real strange. He smelled real strong of cinnamon....I thought he had laid on one of the therapy wraps so I didn't pay much more attention to it. He started burping....strange, I never heard a dog burp before. Hiccups followed. Then he started running around all crazy, laying down, getting up 5 seconds later, running upstairs, running in circles on the bed....he couldn't get comfortable. He then started drooling, alot...I still didn't think that the medicine I treated him with could be causing this. Thats when he began to vomit violently. This went on for at least 30 minutes. After he got over that he started dragging his back legs when he walked and would stop and gnaw at them. John woke up and I explained all that had been going on. I was freaking out at this point. He immediately said to give him a tubby and rinse the flea medication off him.(why didn't I think of this?!!!) So I did. I washed him in oatmeal soap. He seemed to settle down about an hour later, although he was still scratching and was more restless then usual. At this point it was 10:30 pm.
John called me at 1:15 am. (he was at work) he had gone on-line to research the product. He said what he had been reading has scared him enough to wake me up. This has happened to other dogs and some have actually died from it. Reeses had the same symptoms as the other dogs. He said to give him another tubby and wash him with dish soap to get the oily film of the medication off his skin. Have you ever bathed a dog at 1 am....not fun. He didn't understand what was going on. I was soaking wet. We crawled back into bed around 2 am. Reeses tossed and turned and gnawed at his back legs. I called John....What should I do?! We decided that I would bath him again in a few hours and see how he is then. So at 4 am I woke up and he got yet another tubby. This one seemed to relax him more then the other, but he still just wasn't the same little dog that I'm use to. I finally decided to call our Vet...who happenes to be one of my best friends (her & hubby both are Vets and they are in our bible study group) She said I have done everything right so far....after 3 baths the POISON yes, POISON is most likely off his skin. Now, it's just supportive care. I need to give him 3 ml of Children's Benedryl, keep him warm and watch for seizures, fever and tremors. Oh my goodness....all this 'cause I was trying to prevent fleas and ticks from getting on his tiny body. So I took off work to watch him closely. He is my baby after all. I pray that he gets better soon.
He is finally resting at this moment. I'm exhausted!!! It was like having a newborn all over again.

I won't be using any more products like that on him. It's all natural now!!!! I'll make my own.

SO please heed my warning....DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT!!!!!

IKE

The remnants of hurricane Ike bore down on Arkansas Saturday. It produced heavy rain and wind speeds up to 50 mph. Most of the state was under a tornado warning. Tori was home visiting and to attend her cousins baby shower. She took these photos.
John watching the storm roll in.


Tori captured this photo which appears to be a funnel cloud. It was spinning...very eerie. There was a bird that was trying to fly into the storm; it was so sad cause it kept getting knocked down several feet. It finally gave up and flew the other way. Cabot (the town we live in) did have a tornado touch down! No one was hurt. This picture is almost beautiful in a weird, I. like. storms. sort of way.


and I took this photo...the rain & winds had just begun. Ike came through pretty fast. We are happy he didn't dump as much rain on as as Gustav did.


So I finished Twilight and New Moon. I'm about to crack open Eclipse. I'm so addicted to this series that I haven't been crocheting and I've done little sewing.


I did manage to put the book down and make John this Therapy Wrap for his neck. I did it in Arkansas Razorback material....GO HOGS!!! (Reeses just had to be in the photo...he is saying, hey, look at me...)

I added the fragrance oil "butt naked" which smells soooo good. I used this scent in my homemade soaps this summer. The description for this scent is..... "Tantalizing base notes medley of granny smith apples and honeydew melon, middle notes of strawberries and pears, with hints of spice."

Every time he pops it in the microwave to heat it up, makes the entire house smell so good! Mmmmm.
Time to get back to Edward & Bella.

Mandevilla

Tonight two of our closest couple friends and our pastor and his wife came to our house for our weekly bible study. Everyone who entered just oooo & aaaahhh'd over my Mandevilla Plant.
I bought this plant spring of 07'....when fall arrived I was determined to keep this gorgeous plant alive. With the help from John we put it in the garage to store for the winter. I babied it all winter long....watering it every other week and fertilizer once a month. Eventually, it started to die. :( I was so sad. But, I told John to leave it...I was going to resurrect it! So I continued to water and fertilize it even though there was nothing left but dirt. I cut all the stems down to nothing.

In late April I noticed a new growth. I was ecstatic!!! I put it out in the yard once the temperature stayed over 55 at night. It just took off and started growing. And here we are now. It has gotten huge. It wrapped itself around my wind chimes....and the wind chimes still chime. Next year I'm going to buy a trellis of some sort.
This plant makes me happy. It is so beautiful. Soon I will be storing it in the garage again...I hope that I will be able to take good care of it this winter as well. I look forward to next spring.