Flavor Counts!!!

I have been really trying to eat a more healthy diet lately. I switched to Hellman's with olive oil and.........well let me just say it tastes like a white creamy substance and that is it!!!!




I was raised on good ole Miracle Whip. The flavor is so wonderful on a turkey sandwich or BLT. My mother use to make me a mayonnaise sandwich for a snack. Did you ever have a mayo sandwich???? That brings back some memories. Well today I bought groceries and I now have a Big jar of Miracle Whip, and had a turkey sandwich for lunch.....flavor counts!





Have a good day all!

Concerts

I'll have to admit I have been to lots of very good concerts through the years! My first concert was The Supremes in Memphis, many years ago. I've seen New Kids On The Block, (more than once) The Eagles, 3 times, George Strait, many times, Willie Nelson, Alan Jackson, Trisha Yearwood, Bob Seger and many more. One person I have not seen and still want to is Gloria Estefan!!! I have always loved her and hope someday to get to a concert.....



Who would you like to see that you have missed?

All Day Job!

I had put this job off as long as I could! It was beginning to look like no one lived here. Let me just say that the weeds are thriving! Hot and Dry doesn't bother them in the least! It was a really hard day but I got it mowed, weedeated, raked, even had to weed eat a rather large bed in the center of yard that STILL needs mulch. After all that I got out the pump up sprayer, poured in some strong herbicide my husband got from a farmer friend and proceeded to spray. OK, done, sit down by pool, in the shade and read for a little while,,,,NOT gonna happen. The itching and pin prickly feeling started on my feet, spread to ankles, on up legs. Scratched, scratched, scratched, take a bath, take a benedryl, sit back down. Wait a few minutes, NO RELIEF. By then I am about to take my skin off scratching so hard. Take another bath, take another benedryl, and wait. Gets somewhat better. Got out the Aloe After Sun Gel and used half a bottle, the coolness seemed to help. Finally got better, but the bad thing is, I don't know what caused it. Weedeating or spraying. I will dress for the occasion next time. Shorts and flip flops just aren't appropriate.
Today I am staying indoors. I think a manicure is called for and maybe read awhile, cause I am still tired.
Hope you all have a good Friday!

Theme Thursday.....Summer

Join in!





Need I say more?
I will be the one in the tank top and flip flops for the next several months........
To be honest this is just a preview of said items......

Day with Grandson!

Big sis is away at camp so I got a day with my grandson. When sis is here he can't get a word in cause she is filling me in on who has a new boyfriend, where the cute flip flops are on sale, her new phone (seems she always has one). But yesterday it was just the two of us and I got to hear Boy Stuff! For example, there was a worm crawling across the driveway and I measured it....12" long,, dad and I went fishing and I saw one snake and caught 16 bream, we had to really fish hard to find the beds,,, it only took me two tries to learn to do a back dive, first one was a back buster....and the best story, I got the Camper Award at Harding College football camp last week! He is a little athlete, I am very proud of him. He waited patiently for my husband to get home from work so we could go fishing, and finally we were in the 100 sun pulling em in. Notice we don't tie the shoes or push hair out of eyes....he even made the comment, gosh my hair is long! You think?



It didn't take long for everyone to decide that the pool might be much cooler place to be than in the sun.... so off we went



I got out the cooker and let the boys cool off, and in no time dinner was ready But the boys weren't!!! Could you just fix us a plate? Please...



Voila!
Come and get it!



Eating outdoors just makes it all taste better to me! I cooked the green beans that I brought home from farmers market. Needed to get them cooked after having them in frig for 2 days and they were so good. Jackson loves green beans so I put some on his plate....he stared at them for awhile and said "Nanny green beans don't go with fish!" Well I ate his too....wish I had another sack to cook!



Summertime, gotta love it!

Time for the sprinkler!!!

The air conditioner is on, the ceiling fans are on.....But I am still HOT! I don't want anything to eat except the great tasting tomatoes I brought home from my trip to the farmers market in Dallas this weekend.




And they are every bit as good as they look. Salt, pepper, chill, eat,,,my kind of food. What do you like to eat in the summer? Does your menu change when the weather gets this hot? I don't care for meat as much in the summer. Share your lighter recipes with me, I'm ready for something new.

Have a good evening, I'm moving closer to the fan/ha

Books and Movies

Clint Eastwood....no explanation needed....works on both sides of the camera. Clint is still "The Man"
Love the humor in this one, yes, he reminds me of my husband. Don't know what I will do with him if something happens to Clint Eastwood.




Finished this one last week,,,,it is the first of a trilogy, can't wait for the next one! Adriana Trigiani, author of Big Stone Gap and Big Cherry Holler, (and more) One of those books that you are into from very first page. I recommend all of them. I love a book that has a bit of Italy in it, plus New York, just read it...






Started this one last weekend and can't put it down. Author of The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes, another good one. Don't you love to read a book that you are hooked on from page one????? Diane Chamberlain is very much like Jodi Picoult, easy reading, interesting story.



Ok this should keep you busy for a day or two, I am off to Dallas, Friday to Sunday. Have a good weekend and I will see you on Monday!

Alien!

Those little feet look like alien feet!!! Isn't he cute? I found him inside a tomato plant as I was cutting the suckers. Those little bulbs on the end sure help him to cling.....





It's going to be very, very hot today. 100 deg. Try to stay cool all and have a safe day!

Bing Cherries!!

These have to be my all time favorite fruit and they are plentiful NOW! Along with plentiful they are Expensive! I have seen the price range from $5.99 to $3.00 per lb. I just don't know why the range is so extreme or the price so high! I could easily eat a pound per day, I love them. A few years ago, my daughter, Solar Powered, and I went on a tour of Europe and we bought cherries at fruit stands every chance we got. They were soooooooo good. Speaking of Solar, today is her birthday. If you have a chance stop by her blog and wish her a happy day!

Have a good day all!

Tex Mex Burger

I finally got the ingredients and made Tex Mex Burgers. The Ungourmet posted these wonderful looking works of art recently and my taste buds have been waiting patiently....







Moist and full of flavor....I will definitely make these again and again.

For the recipe pop over to The Ungourmet. Bet you stay awhile because she has so many good looking burger, wraps, and dessert recipes.

Have a good evening all!

Stormy Hour!

Yesterday, (Friday) 3PM the storm blew in and I do mean blew!! 50 - 60 mile straight wind. lasted about an hour and left me with a mess!!! Luckily no major damage.. just limbs, leaves, etc.







Yes the pool is filled with leaves,,,,,and dirt!



My poor tomatoes are just laying over....



Hammock flipped over....



These Heavy Plants blown over!



Hope they survive!



I heard a loud chirp from this birdhouse and looked inside,,,,mama where are you? We are hungry!!!



Our power was off so we went out to eat and 2 hours later on the drive home the sky was just beautiful.....the storm had passed and all was well....power came on at midnight! Thank you Entery Crew!



Worked "several hours" today (Saturday) cleaning pool and yard! Back to normal,,,tomorrow I loaf! Have a good evening and Sunday all!

Theme Thursday......Swing

There is nothing more relaxing than time spent in the swing. I love to sit and read in mine but it is hard not to doze off/ha especially when a gentle breeze is blowing.
My husband and I love to sit and talk in the swing, of course Trixie has to be in the middle. Trixie spends many hours sitting "under" the swing hiding from the squirrels, waiting on them to come down from the trees.





I love the detail put into this swing. Didn't he do an excellent job?



View from the swing! Can't get grass to grow under the big tree,,think sod would survive there?


If you'd like to participate in Theme Thursday, pop on over to the site and sign up! While you are there, check out the other bloggers and their thoughts on this week's theme, "Swing"!

I think I'll just go swing...... Have a good day all!

Comfort Food

You just can't beat a good church cookbook. I buy everyone I can find. This meat loaf recipe has become my favorite! After watching the food network I decided to cook it on a rack as they recommend instead of the normal loaf pan. Lets all of the grease (which there was not much because I bought 93/7 meat.) Ready to go in the oven:



One and one half hours later:



Since I cannot link you to the recipe from Heat and Soul Cookbook, Meat Loaf courtesy of Beverly Hays....

1 1/2 lb lean ground beef
1 c. cracker crumbs
2 eggs
1/2 c. chopped onion
2 T. chopped bell pepper
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 T. Worcestershire sauce

Mix ingredients well and bake in a loaf pan for 1 to 1 1/4 hours at 350 deg. Drain and pour sauce mix over loaf. Cook additional 10 minutes.

Sauce Mix:

1 1/2 T Worcestershire sauce
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c ketchup
2 tsp mustard


Enjoy.....

Fresh Snapper!

Last weekend my husband went on his "Last" deep sea fishing trip! (or so he says) He will never be sea sick again!!! This time he called a friend for prescription medication to take and it was supposed to be the best there is. He was able to fish this time but couldn't eat or drink all day and got off the boat feeling awful. He canceled his second day of fishing and drove home. 10 hour drive one way for 2 fish!!! Tonight we had one of the two,,,baked snapper. It was delicious, I thought, but he decided he would rather have catfish from the pond/ha. I think it is because I fry the catfish!

My New Restaurant of Choice!

My first meal from this awesome restaurant consisted of, Appetizer:
MAZZA PLATE
Assortment of popular Middle-Eastern appetizers-Hummos, Babaganoush, Tabouli, olives, dolmas,
and pita bread.
GREEK SALAD
Fresh garden lettuce, tomatoes, Calamata olives, Greek feta cheese, fresh lemon juice, and oregano
dressing
Entree:
GOLDEN CHICKEN
Middle-Eastern Rotisserie chicken served with garlic sauce, rice, and pita bread.

I got this all "To Go" and shared with Solar. She was not at home when I had "My Share". I am glad I was alone to ohhh and ahhh over every bite. It would have been embarrassing to have anyone hear me. I mean this food was good with a capital G! The bad part of this is....this is in Texas and I am in Arkansas....

I searched today to see if there is one in Arkansas and guess what I found?
Little Rock, Arkansas




A mere 45 miles from me...
Is it possible to be as good as the one in Dallas??
I will give it a chance!!!

Fun Weekend!

Doesn't she look precious?




We had so much fun this weekend and got alot done too.
Birdie and Cricket seemed to like their new toy. If you ever show up at their house with a suitcase, you better have a toy in it because Birdie will attack the bag looking for her toy....OK, it's my fault, I've been told. This dog doesn't forget anything, I did it once and it quickly became tradition!






The Look! Just throw the toy Please!



After two weeks of obedience class Cricket is a new dog. Leashes are not to be hung up because getting them down excites her,,,,so they are on the floor, isn't that sweet? I'll just lie here on it and if you move it I will know it! She is such a good girl and so smart.





I love my granddogs! Anyone who tells you pets can't talk, hasn't spent enough time around them. They definitely communicate, very clearly too.

Hope you had a good weekend!

Patience!

This girl has more patience than you can imagine! There is a squirrel in the tree above her and she will sit for hours waiting on it to come down. I have seen them jump to another limb and climb down behind her and just run away/ha She doesn't have a clue, she is focused!





The dove is taking this sight in also. Isn't it beautiful? I love to watch and listen to the doves.



And add this sound to the scene:




I love the sound of the water, just makes it all complete.

I hope you all have a great weekend, I am off to Dallas to visit Solar and BM,,,see you all Monday.

Let's Talk Grilling!

Have you tried using these wood chips on your grill? I simply love the flavor they add to "anything" you cook on the grill. I soak about a cup full in water for 30 minutes or so, then drain and make a package for them from aluminum foil. Either leave the top open or poke holes in foil for smoke to escape. It takes them a little while to start their magic so I usually put them on the grill before the meat. When the smoke starts .... oh the smell is great. I picked these up at Academy Outdoors, but think you can find them at any sporting goods store.





Now I have a recipe I found this morning from another blogger and it looks so outstanding that I have to share it with you. It is all I can do not to go to the grocery store to get the ingredients to make me some Tex-Mex Burgers!
Courtesy of The Ungourmet Jump over to her blog for the recipe! I can't believe all the great ingredients in this burger.



Have a good day and Happy Grilling!