6.27.2011

A VERY GOOD DAY

Sunday morning began with two mugs of hot coffee, lightened with some creamer and sweetened with sugar and enjoying a couple of episodes of my favorite home improvement programs. 

I had a short to-do list (with R&R as part of it and the morning was slipping away), so I dressed and dashed out to do my weekly food shopping, get the dog some more treats and picked up a newly released PlayStation game for hubby (it was a spur of the moment idea to surprise him). 

Last week, we'd purchased 12 six packs of impatiens (6 red and 6 white) to create a mixed color planting for either side of our front porch walk, so after I got home from my grocery shopping and errand running, I began planting.  I got one entire side of the walk planted before taking a break for lunch.  I completed the other side, watered them really well and then I decided it was time to relax.

Our pool temperature was nearly 90 degrees and it was a beautiful, sunny, warm day to float in the pool.  I spent a very relaxing hour and a half in the water, floating and dozing.  I definitely felt relaxed and refreshed after I got out, showered and got back into my clothes.

When Bruce got home from his softball tournament, I made some drinks and we watched some television while he iced his knee.  

Bruce grilled steaks and nuked the russet and sweet potatoes while I sliced up some cucumbers (from our garden) part of an onion and a green bell pepper and put them in a bowl with some cider vinegar, sprinkled some pepper and ice to accompany our dinner. 

I heated a loaf of fresh baked whole grain bread (from Costco) and set out some butter.

Dinner was awesome.  My steak was one of the best I have ever had.  E-ver. Really.  (Or maybe my memory is waning and all of them are that delicious) It was tender, flavorful and cooked perfectly (thank you again baby!) 

Our evening wound down quietly and I have to say it was a perfect end to a really nice weekend.

Saturday rocked too, but that story will have to be saved for another post.

6.24.2011

HAPPY FRIDAY

It's been a long and busy (sometimes crazy) week, but Friday is finally here and I thought I would end the week by posting some photos of the sweetest grandbabies ever.  

Aaron is eight months old and loves to stand.  At the rate he is going, he will follow in his mama's footsteps and be walking at 9 months.  I miss this snuggley boy.


Grace is such a good big sister to her little brother.  I love this photo of the two of them.  They are so precious and sweet.  I wish we lived closer to them so I could spoil them more than I do now!  Isn't that what a Memaw is supposed to do?

I am planning on an awesome weekend and I am definitely going to make time for some R&R and sunshine.  

Actually, I have a short list.  Go to our favorite winery with some girlfriends, watch hubby play in his softball tourney, sit in the sun and do some writing (my wheels have been turning) and I'm ready to craft some story ideas.

What's on your list for the weekend? 

6.16.2011

PHOTO OPS

Grace and I posed for a photo together when they were all out here for a visit and we went to the zoo.  Grace was just 8 months old.



We posed again when she was out here this year and we went to the zoo again!


I think we should make this a photo tradition each time we visit the zoo! 

6.13.2011

HOMEMADE PIZZA

We made homemade pizza Saturday night.  It was really good and easy to make.  Wanna know how?  Well, this is how we made ours.

We started with a great whole wheat dough recipe.  I will share my secret to getting our dough to rise.  I heated our oven to 170 for 5 minutes, then turned it off and used the warm oven to raise the dough (both times).

Then we began creating our masterpiece.  I have a wonderful rectangular stone that has been used a bazillion times and is perfect for pizza.

I tranferred the rolled out dough onto the (well oiled) stone and then used a large spoon to spill and paint marinara sauce over the inside of the crust, leaving the edges nekkid. 

Next, I layered on an Italian cheese blend, tossed on a layer of pepperoni, shook on some thinly sliced bell peppers, red onions, added a few more pepperoni, sprinkled on more cheese, topped off with mushrooms and black olives...and topped with more cheese!  Can you really ever have enough cheese?

The great thing about making your own pizza is that you can decorate any old way you want with all of your favorite toppings.  Be creative and have some fun with it. 




I brushed the edge of the crust with some olive oil before popping into the 425 degree oven. 

And 18 minutes later....it was done.

 

Okay, it's your turn.....Create your own masterpiece pizza !

6.12.2011

THE VIEW FROM HERE

It's Sunday afternoon.  I worked out earlier today.  6 days down on the treadmill, which is my goal.  I colored my hair and ran out to get a pedicure.

I'm home now.  Relaxing on the couch and blogging (obviously). 



Kona is on duty at the front door


It's a quiet afternoon at our house and I am enjoying every last minute of it.

6.11.2011

HOW DOES OUR GARDEN GROW?

Our garden is growing like crazy. Most of our veggies are already as big as the plants in our garden were in late summer last year.







Can you believe this Cucumber plant?  It keeps trying to attach itself to the neighboring pepper plants and tomato plants on either side. 


Our crookneck squash plants are booming.  I love yellow squash and can't wait until I can harvest and steam fresh squash from our very own garden.




 We planted two different tomato plants this year and they're both growing  like crazy.  Can you see that they are taller than the tomato cages already?



 Here are my three jalapenos.  I will be making lots of jalapeno jelly this summer. 



Here is our secret weapon.  A habenero.  One habenero is gonna turn up the heat when I add it to batch of pepper jelly.  Remember my batches last year?
second batch and the recipe.




And Basil, sweet Basil.  This will make the most delicious Pesto.  I may freeze some this summer so we can have it ready for dinners all winter long.

We have lots of blooms and some squash emerging and one red bell pepper that is still green, but I have a feeling that this year's harvest will be more bountiful than last year.

6.08.2011

BLOG PAUSE


I know I've been absent from blogging recently, so I thought I'd pop in and let you know I'm still alive and well.

The days are getting longer and warmer and we are spending more time outside and with friends.  I love summertime.


It's been over a week since I blogged. 

Seriously, where does the time go and why does it have to fly by so fast?

Here is a recap of what's been going on since I posted last.

  • I attended a meetup at a country music place and made some new friends.  
  • Celebrated our youngest son's 21st birthday...again, where does time go?  He was 9 when Bruce and I met.
  • Partied at a neighbor's BBQ party--delicious food and two different sangrias. 
  • Visited a friend in the hospital who was hurt in a motorcycle accident.  His $600 helmet paid for itself--he looked pretty darn good for a guy with a broken femur (now held together with titanium rods) and a busted arm (reinforced with steel plates) and souped up on heavy pain meds.  He will be dependent on crutches while he heals and completes two months of physical therapy--we're all praying for a full recovery.
  • Now that the weather is getting warmer, we are back in mode to keep up on watering our yards and veggie garden.  All of our veggies are thriving, however, our cucumber plants are threatening to take over the garden.  Holy cow. 
  • I am back in "work out mode".  This is my first full week of dedicated treadmill time.  That means rolling out of bed at 5 a.m. to make sure I get my work out in before my day gets away from me.
  • Having a girls' night out tonight.  Some wine sipping and catching up and lots of laughing--that's a given.
That about covers it from here....Hope all of you are having a good week.