Wordless Wednesday

Gadgets

We haven't talked gadgets lately. One of my favorites is this handy dandy squeezer/masher thing..... I use to use the lid from the tuna can for this step. It wasn't a safe thing to do and really didn't work well. I got mine at Bed, Bath and Beyond and love it. You can put some water on top and more or less rinse your tuna, if you so choose.

Another favorite is my Vidalia Chop Wizard.  It seems I have to chop an onion, bell pepper, celery, etc. daily.  Today I used it to chop an apple for the tuna.  I love the sweetness and crunch an apple adds.

This was my first time to try it for boiled eggs.  Voila, it worked perfectly.

My gadgets make life a little easier. ha......

If I could chop like they do on Food Network I probably would but I can't, so I turn to my chopper.

Makes a great tuna salad.  Everything is chopped to the same size.  You know that is a requirement/ha

Blogger is acting strange....imagine that.
I can't get below this picture to add more lines.
So.......have a good day, all.
I'm off to have a tuna sandwich with lettuce and tomato.

Bumble Bees and Waterfalls

I'll have to say that my miniature crepe myrtle doesn't seen to have suffered in this heat.
I water it often as I have to add water to our little waterfall daily.  It seems to evaporate as fast as I add it.
The birds love to hop in and splash around.  They are so much fun to watch.

The bumble bees love, love the blooms on the crepe myrtle.  I've learned one thing about them, they are as hard to get a shot of as hummingbirds are....lol    They aren't still long at all.

Have a great weekend, all.  Wasn't it just Saturday a couple of days ago???

The weatherman promised (yes, I'm holding him to his words)  that this is the LAST day of this heatwave!!
Rain in the forecast.....I repeat....Rain in the forecast!  It's enough to make me want to jump up and down!  Better not though, ha. Don't want to injure the other knee!!

More of the same

I really hate to be a Debbie Downer......
I am not a pessimistic person......
My glass is always half full.......
Life Is Good........

BUT.......

This is getting me down.....

And then you add THIS to the picture......

Brown Arkansas = Persist or intensify!

Spring and summer are my seasons.  Well they use to be my seasons.  To see every living plant, grass, and  trees dry up and die is depressing me very much. I don't know how to snap out of this state of mind.  Suggestions?

I hope you all have a Happy and Safe 4th of July.  I'll be staying inside, I don't like 100+ winds, no sir!

Hot, Hot, Hot

It's beginning to look like fall!! But it isn't!! This is June in Arkansas! The leaves are rapidly turning gold then brown. The drought continues. We had a shower 4 or 5 weeks ago (I forget the date).

The grass crunches when you walk on it.

The forecast doesn't offer any relief.
Thursday - 106
Friday - 106
Saturday - 104
Sunday - 100

My prayer is that no fires are carelessly started. Hot and dry, we can survive. The awful fires that Colorado is experiencing is another story. 

The local sale barn has been filled with cattle from this area.  The hay fields have all dried up forcing the ranchers to sell.  Sad!

Stay cool folks! 

From My Grill to Yours!

Satisfaction guaranteed.

As you prepare your 4th of July menus, if you are looking for a good kabob recipe, try these....I repeat, try these.  We couldn't get enough of them last week and I'm having them again this weekend.

For the chicken:

 Easy Italian chicken Marinade

 3-4 lbs boneless chicken
 1 (16 oz) bottle Italian salad dressing
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice 1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup worcestershire sauce
 2 tsp paprika
 Marinate chicken for 6 hours or overnight and grill.

For the beef:

Shish Kabob Marinade

1 cup soy sauce (I use lite)
1/2 cup brown sugar
 1/2 cup vinegar
 1/2 cup pineapple juice
 2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
beef, chunked
Mix all ingredients and bring to a boil. Let cool.
 Marinate feef in mixture a minimum of 4 hours.

 I love to have fresh pineapple with the chicken. Baby bella mushrooms, grape tomatoes, sweet red and yellow peppers and you can't omit slices of purple onion on the beef and chicken.
It all grills so well and the flavors are........sigh!!
 Easy, Easy and oh so delicious.
 It's hard to say which one is better!
You just have to have one of each!

It Was A Wonderful Week!

Yes, It was! I love having my girls and grandchildren all here at once. It was a house filled with fun and laughter (and good food)
First, let me show you how Lacey and Jackson have grown.

 Jackson has grown 4 inches in the last year....wow....13 years old! Bet Mom has a hard time filling him up! Lacey is 16, driving and never stops smiling. I can't believe these two, I mean wasn't it yesterday that they were Lila and Brooks ages??

Speaking of Brooks, that boy found new laps to snuggle in last week. He loved every minute (or hour) of being rocked by Aunt Jennifer and Lacey!

It is getting more and more difficult for me to get a picture of the fast moving Lila....never still! I seized the opportunity to snap one as she ate her peanut butter sandwich. It's the only way to eat one, right? Lick it off
 the bread..Ha!

Yes, it was a wonderful week.  I'm counting the days til we can do it again.

Volunteer Update

Alas, my tomato volunteers disappeared.  While I was out of town our friend, the landscape specialist, performed his magic on my flower beds.  He brought fresh mulch, trimmed, fed and applied preen to the beds.  Of course the small tomato plant in the front bed got covered up (or pulled up).  I don't know about the one growing in the gravel drive.....it is just gone.  Must have gotten stepped on, anyway it is history.  I knew I should have staked it/ha.  I'm not complaining because this task was part of the barter system!  Can't beat it. 

The sunflower was partially eaten by an unknown varmint!!


Clipped off the largest two heads just clean as a whistle. Almost like scissors were used. Mystery! I don't think the plant could have supported a squirrel or coon...maybe a deer? What do you think?

Thankfully the plant survived the pruning and is just beautiful. All of the other heads are blooming. It's like living, blooming sunshine!! Next year I want rows and rows of them!! Well maybe just a few volunteers!

Wordless Wednesday

It's Back!!

I've been excited for two years, since I heard the news!!   And now it is less than 24 hours away.

The gate will open, the music will blare from the surround sound and I will be transported back to.........

 

 Then: 

 

 Now: 

Add a grownup John Ross and Christopher to the fun: 

I hope this show is as good as I am anticipating. The interviews and clips I have seen make me think it will be! 

OK, one more picture. I have to show you what I found in a drawer this week (I knew it was there all along, hehe) 

I still have my JR t-shirt!! But it shrank! Yep, been a drawer for 20 years and just drew up! Well, it did.........

 Welcome Back Dallas!
We've been waiting!
Are you gonna watch???

Hula Hoops and Parachutes

Warning!
This one may be lengthy!

If you have been following me for very long you know how much I treasure my visits with my daughter, Carrie aka Solar Powered and her family. The joy has doubled in the last month with the birth of Mr B.  Last week I paid a visit to their home in NW Arkansas.  We planned this visit to coincide with the first Monday of the month for the activities held at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. (more about the museum later, it deserves it's own post)

Lila has become quite the museum lover, thanks to the variety of activities planned for children.  She and I took the guided preschool tour while Mom walked baby around the grounds (no stopping for him)
The theme was "Circles".  All of the art and exhibits were filled with circles and the children listened with such excitement and then pointed out the circles.  It was a very impressive tour and Lila loved it, IF she could have touched them all.  That girl needs to  touch!

After the tour, we headed outdoors for the fun......
First stop, Hula Hoops!!

Looks to Nanny for instruction.....LOL 

 OK Lila, I'll spin it for you and you just wiggle, wiggle, wiggle!

She had so much fun trying and I have no doubt she will master the hula hoop soon! Yes, I found one this week and cannot wait to give it to her!

 Next stop, Parachute Drop!

After the beach balls were all in the center they took a handle and the fun began!

Up and down, up and down....it was a workout. Once we went under the parachute and made a tent. Well, I didn't stay under for long....too hot for me!

The real thrill of this came when we walked away and Lila said, "now Nanny that was fun"!

 As I said it really was a hot day. Mom and baby had had enough so we headed home to cool off.
 Mr B was more than happy to get out of the hot stroller, shed his clothes do some stretching under the ceiling fan!

A nice long feeding,  back to sleep....Life is Good!

I miss them already!

Volunteer

I think the flowers/plants that choose to grow without being planted, watered, and babied are the strongest ones.  I have several of these this year.

This particular one amazes me.....just look at it

Growing up through the gravel, in the circle drive. I mean this tomato must be hearty. I so hope that it will make a tomato. I am taking pictures of it daily/ha It is blooming. Do you think I should water and fertilize it? I'm scared I'll interfer with its plan if I do.

I was pulling weeds from another bed and almost plucked this one out of the ground!

Lastly I have a beautiful sunflower growing so straight and tall. It came up under the birdfeeder filled with sunflower seeds. I have several each year but usually cut them down, as they are in the yard and get mowed. This one is in the flower bed and I have loved watching it grow so fast. I can't wait to see it bloom, (fingers crossed)

Have a good day all. I'm breaking away from the desk and paperwork to run errands.......

Edamame

I have grown to love and crave edamame.  I buy the large bag at Sam's.  Each large bag has 8  8 oz bags of soybeans in pods.  I just put a bag in the microwave for 3 1/2 minutes, sprinkle with sea salt and devour.  I can eat the entire bag.  I don't have to share cause you know they are green and can't get near my husband's plate.

I follow Maria Lichty on twitter and recently she shared a recipe for Edamame Avocado Salad Sandwich....caught my attention immediately. The link took me to her wonderful blog, Two Peas and Their Pod. If you are looking for a new, delicious recipe, pop over to her blog and you'll surely find one. OK, back to the sandwich. Today I finally had time and the ingredients on hand to make for my lunch.

This is such a delicious sandwich. Not heavy but so filling. 4 hours later, I am still quite satisfied (very unusual/ha) Could be because after I finished it, I used chips and ate it for dip!  Just couldn't quit.  For the recipe click here and then you can check out her other tempting dishes.

On a sad note, my grass is almost completely dead.  You know how I love to mow, etc.  If we don't get rain soon everything will be gone and it is still MAY!!! Oh my! Guess we are still paying for the warm March.

Have a good holiday weekend all and thank you for your concern and kind words regarding brother in law.

Hello My Friends

I suppose I should title this post "Weekly Update"

Since we last spoke life has been very emotional, hectic and tiring.

My husband's brother was found dead in his Little Rock home.  There were 4 brothers (now 3).  None of the brothers are now married.  The deceased brother had no children.  What I'm trying to say is that I am the only female in the immediate family.  The condo had to be packed and moved out of in the two week period they so kindly gave us.  Men don't do well with this task, if you know what I mean.  Boxes were needed, drawers of papers to disposed of, general cleaning of dishes and clothes.  It's been fast and furious.  It seems like every time we try to complete the task it grows even more. 

Tomorrow will hopefully be my last trip to Little Rock.  The piano mover (yes, he owned a beautiful baby grand ) will come to transport the piano to Mississippi to my stepson's home.  It should be interesting to see the movers take the piano from the 8th floor of the condo.........

No will has been located nor a lock box.  I encourage everyone to have a will or at least make your wishes known to to a friend or family member.  It has not been easy to imagine what brother would want us to do with his belongings, most of which are very valuable.

I hope you all are having a peaceful week and hope to visit everyone soon!  I miss you!

Happy Birthday Baby Boy

Yes today is your birthday!

One week old!

What a wonderful Mother's Day present you were.  

You were 4 days old on this special day.

Welcome sweet boy

We Love You

Super Moon

As the moon rose over the trees it was so golden

The higher it got it became white as white could be

I moved behind some trees to see what I could get.....I can almost hear ET Phone Home on this one! I expected to see Elliott fly by any minute.....lol

Have a good evening all!

Drama In The Sky

Earlier in the week a front moved through just as the sun was beginning to set.

The colors in the sky were nothing short of breathtaking.

The wind was blowing, the front quickly passed us by. 

We got NO rain and just down the road one inch fell. 

I guess I need to brush up on my rain dance!!

Cinco De Mayo

I realize I'm early on this post but I wanted to give you ample time to add this dish to your menu. I purchased Pioneer Woman's new cookbook recently Food From My Frontier and this recipe/photo caught my eye.

  photo courtesy of PW

Click here to get your  copy of the best enchiladas I have ever tasted. It is kinda lengthy but as PW says its not complicated just takes some time!  " I’m happy to share my method for making creamy, dreamy, delicious, nutritious, yummy, nummy white chicken enchiladas."  Amen, sister! I will tell you it was worth every minute it took to assemble. In the cookbook she uses fresh peppers, grill or broil until skin is black then place in a ziplock to steam while starting next step. On the website she uses canned peppers. I'm glad I didn't see the canned version until after I used fresh peppers, cause I know I would have gone the easier route with canned......don't do it....peppers are so good right now, use them. Topped with pico, sour cream and a side of mexican rice, it was just perfect! I'm looking forward to leftovers!

Have a great day all and Happy Cinco De Mayo!!

Update

Last week went by in a flash.....

 Lila has become a worker and loves every minute of it.

 Her words: Let me do that Nanny. This is hard work.

She watered every flower (and a few weeds, ha)

When the watering was done we took a break to sit by the pool. Well, I should say, Carrie and I sat but Lila couldn't resist the urge to splash! The water was frigid but it didn't seem to bother her in the least. Splashing and giggling....so cute!

This week is off to a fast start also....You'd think I was the one expecting a baby next week with all the stuff I am trying to get done. Running errands, cooking and freezing casseroles, washing every item that hits the hamper, ironing (why am I ironing) lol...... One more pic of sweetpea then I have to go get the oil changed in the car (gotta be ready to roll)!!

Loves vanilla wafers......

 Have a good week all.