All alone

Melissa is staying with Nana and Pap Pap tonight, so we're all alone. It's nice, but kind of sad for me at least. No squeezy hugs and no kisses goodnight. No waking up early tomorrow though. I did get 2 bags sewed up. And I didn't have to share any of my ice cream. Being a parent is hard. I called to talk to her and tell her goodnight and she was crying. It broke my heart. The last time I was away from her was just before Christmas when I was in New York. I feel lost in the house without her. I don't know what to do with myself.

I took a picture of a little lizard guy that was hanging out at the back door. These things used to give me the heeby jeebies, but I think I've finally gotten used to them (mostly).

I also got a couple of pictures of my orchids. DH can't call me orchid killer anymore. I've done really well with these two plants that I bought last year. I have a ton more of keikis in the window sill that need to be potted. This is the second time that they've bloomed this year. My poor purple one was eaten last time it put out a spike by the monster grasshoppers. I have made it my mission to kill them all.

In case you were wondering, the Purple one is a Dendrobium, and the Yellow one is a Oncidium. They're both pretty easy to grow and good for beginners. I usually get phalaenopsis, which is the typial orchid that you're used to seeing. For some reason I have the worst time keeping them alive.

Meeting Friends

We took a little trip south today to visit with a friend who was in town from Texas!! We had a great time eating some Chick-Fil-A and catching up. I think the kids had an even better time playing in the playground! At least until another older kid came in and scared Melissa.




Isn't that picture funny? I love how the adults are the only ones looking at the camera, and the kids are all looking at something else. I also like the Eat Mor Chikin car in the background!! LOL!! And I have to say that DH really knows how to take a picture at chest level. I think he just likes to make the boobs look waaaaay bigger than they are.

It's All Fun and Games

This is a spectacular waste of time! Hope you have a few hours....

Dinner Surprise

Did you ever have the intention of making something really great to eat for dinner, and you went and bought special items for it just to realize that you should have really read the recipe better, when you go to assemble it? I am testing out a recipe for Tantalizing Tuesday, and I thought that we had all the items on the list, but I guess cranberries aren't the same as whole cranberry sauce. Oops. And the recipe said to combine everything and let it sit overnight and then cook it. Hmmm. Well, I substituted some strawberry jello and whole fresh (frozen) cranberries for the sauce. The chicken is a little scary looking......it is a florescent pink. It reminded me of this. It tastes pretty good, so if it's edible you can expect the recipe, substitutions and all on Tuesday!

Just when I though the swelling was gone....

It just comes up in another place. I had this horrible swollen spot in my mouth that was caused by biting my lip, about 3 months ago. Which I continued to bite every day 3 - 4 times a day, because.....it was swollen. Talk about Murphy's law. Well, it is finally down to a small enough size that I haven't bitten it really hard in a couple of days. It MAY just go away. But this morning I woke up with my right eye all swollen underneath. As if I don't have enough problems with dark circles, this just adds to the fun. I'm hoping that it's just irritated, or maybe I smacked myself in the face while I slept or something. **Snort** When's the last time you hoped that you smacked yourself in the face?

Sarah Palin's "Bridge to Nowhere"

I have to comment about this as well. While I respect the fact that she's a working mother, I have serious questions about her. Does the term flip-flopper ring a bell? Sounds like a typical politician to me. Saying your for something to get elected, and changing your mind once you're in office. Why couldn't she just tell the truth, and say that she made a bad decision?

http://www.johnmccain.com/about/governorpalin.htm

In office, Governor Palin championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending. She has used her veto pen to eliminate nearly a half a billion dollars in wasteful spending. She told the Congress "thanks, but no thanks," for the "Bridge to Nowhere."

http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed7/idUSN3125537020080901

In the city Ketchikan, the planned site of the so-called "Bridge to Nowhere," political leaders of both parties said the claim was false and a betrayal of their community, because she had supported the bridge and the earmark for it secured by Alaska's Congressional delegation during her run for governor.

When she was running for governor in 2006, Palin said she was insulted by the term "bridge to nowhere," according to Ketchikan Mayor Bob Weinstein, a Democrat, and Mike Elerding, a Republican who was Palin's campaign coordinator in the southeast Alaska city.
"People are learning that she pandered to us by saying, I'm for this' ... and then when she found it was politically advantageous for her nationally, abruptly she starts using the very term that she said was insulting," Weinstein said.

"She said 'thanks but no thanks,' but they kept the money," said Elerding about her applause line.

Tantalizing Tuesday Mushroom Chicken in Sour Cream Sauce

I must preface this recipe. I HATE mushrooms. With a passion. I cannot bring myself to eat fungus. I used to be able to eat portabello mushrooms, but since it's been a long time, I doubt that I could stomach it. The only time I will eat them is if it's by mistake, or I can't see them. This was a decent recipe, sans mushrooms for me. DH ate 2 chicken breasts.

Mushroom Chicken in Sour Cream Sauce
from Fix-It and Forget-It Slow-Cooker Magic

1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. lemon pepper
1 tsp. garlic powder
6 skinless chicken breast halves
1 can cream of mushroom soup
8 oz. container sour cream
1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
1/2 lb. sliced fresh mushrooms

Combine salt, pepper, paprika, lemon pepper and garlic powder. Rub over chicken. Place in slow cooker. Combine soup, sour cream and wine. Stir in mushrooms. Pour over chicken. Cover and cook on high 5 hours or on high 1 hour and then on low 5 - 7 hours.

My changes......
Here's the truth. I don't measure those spices. I just season to what looks good. Honestly if you've been cooking for any amount of time, you know how much seasoning to put in. I only put in 4 chicken breasts which were frozen. I didn't rub them. I just sprinkled the seasoning over the top. I ended up with a TON of sauce, so I would probably cut back on the sour cream and wine to about 1/2. I used cream of chicken soup because we are really low on mushroom and as previously mentioned, I hate mushrooms. I also added some of the chicken seasoning that I made. You can find the recipe here. And use the wine. The alcohol evaporates, so you don't have to worry about drunken children.

Politics.....

I don't usually post about politics, but I find this very interesting. DH and I completely disagree as to who should be the next leader of this country, but he isn't a registered voter.

I am a registered Democrat, but have voted Republican in many elections. I can completely understand changing your position once you have learned the ramifications of your decision, but this is just ridiculous.

A Patriot Day Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,
Today is a difficult day. The memories are painful and some of the wounds I fear may never heal. Yet I pray you will help me to go on living for truth, firm in my hope of your salvation. May I live for you, Lord, and by doing so, be an example to my friends and family. I pray, just like Jesus, I may learn obedience through these things that I have suffered. Help me not to question why, yet even if I do, give me courage to continue to trust you. Help me take the comfort and strength you've poured into my life and use it to comfort and strengthen others who need hope. I pray I might become a better person and help make the world a better place because of this terrible event. Thank you for the heroes that gave so sacrificially on September 11. Help me to remember their courage and learn from them. May the family that they left behind feel your loving arms around them.May the evil of that day cause me and my family to work harder to do good on this Earth and to bring your light into the dark places. Amen.

Tantalizing Tuesday No Peeking Beef Tips

No Peeking Beef Tips from Fix-It and Forget-It Slow-Cooker Magic

2 pounds stew meat, cut into bite-size pieces
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1.25 oz. envelope dry onion soup mix
12 oz can lemon lime soda
1 can cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup
Cooked Rice or Egg noodles

Cook meat in hot oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until browned on all sides. Place meat in slow cooker. Sprinkle dry onion soup mix over meat. Combine soda and cream of mushroom soup over meat, beinc areful not to disturb the onion soup mix. Cover and cook on high 4 hours, and server over rice or noodles. Variation: For a creamier version, replace soda with 1 cup of sour cream.

Changes!!! Okay, nothing is ever good unless you SEASON IT!!!!!! Cook your meat, but be sure to season to taste with some salt and pepper. Then throw it into your crock pot. I added a diced onion because onion is good, and sauted it till cooked, and deglazed the pan with some red wine. Then put the onions in the crockpot and poured over the onion soup mix. I mixed the soda and the soup together, and then poured it over the meat. VERY IMPORTANT! DO NOT taste the soup and soda mix. It will gross you out and you will wonder what I'm getting you in to. I added 2 big Tbsp of Sour cream to the mix to make it a bit creamier. I also cooked this on low for about 6 hours instead of on high. I also added some frozen peas during the last 15 minutes and turned it up on high, for a 1 dish dinner (for the most part).