The Golden Anniversary

My parents reached their 50th wedding anniversary last fall.

That is a MAJOR accomplishment, people! 

Since I always felt bad that we did not acknowledge their 40th anniversary (selfish kids), my brother and I decided we were not going to let this one slide by unnoticed.


I knew my oldest older brother would be there whenever we set the date.  So I planned the date with my youngest older brother.  He was driving the farthest, from VA, so I had to make sure he could be away from work long enough to get there and back.  We set a date for April, 2012.  There were several reasons why we delayed the celebration, it just worked out that this spring was better than last fall.


He wanted BBQ catered.  I had no idea where I was going to come up with THAT option.  He actually wanted someone to bury/cook a hog.  I wanted a big elaborate cake.  I have pictures (somewhere) of my dad's parents with their tiered cakes on their 40th, 50th, and I think 60th anniversaries.


You may recall last December, when I told you about my reunion with SamsMom.  I am so excited to have her back in my life.  And you know what else?  She has a buddy who CATERS BBQ.  And you know what else is even better?  SHE DECORATES CAKES.  Can you believe that?  I really couldn't and still can't.  CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT TIMING?  We weren't stuck with RibCrib.  We weren't stuck with Wal-Mart cake.  We had the BEST food thanks to SamsMom.  People are STILL TALKING about the food they ate.  I suspect they will be talking about it for years.  And she takes great photos too!


We had the best party.  It was just perfect.  My parents were so cute about how excited they got about their party.  They wanted to have it at their home.  They didn't want us to rent a room/hall.  So we had it at their place.  The rain held off, and we had a gorgeous day (I was sweatin' it).


Family and friends came from all over to celebrate.  The food was OUTSTANDING.  It was the best beef brisket I have ever had in my life.  It was moist, tender, smoked to perfection.  The cake was OUTRAGEOUS.  I'm serious.  When you see the cake, you'll say, "THAT'S OUTRAGEOUSLY GORGEOUS"!  I asked my mom what kind of cake she wanted.  "Your dad likes chocolate".  So chocolate cake it was.  And I know my dad loves strawberries.


So, here is the party, in picture form:

L to R:  Tater Salad, Baked Beans*, Beef Brisket, Pulled Pork

*The baked beans had so many different kinds of meat, they were a meal on their own.

The meats were SO good.  Here's a close up:

Beef Brisket on the left, Pulled Pork on the right



brother, mom, dad, Todd, Marianna

More food!

  

Dad mingling with friends



It was a gorgeous day to be outside

Stones preferred the comfort of the couch



Especially when there was free love



SamsMom and I -- she is the reason for such a successful party!

Dad and mom mingling

Abby was excited about the festivities

My pups were so good!  Shadow was outside soaking up the sun.  Or hunting for moles.  Or begging for scraps.



Todd and I with Marianna, a lifelong friend of our family

my aunt!  (the reason for my apple pie obsession)

   

I LOVE that SamsMom photographed everyone

Great action picture!

  

Family photo:  brother, mom, me, dad, brother

Drum roll please.

 And now, a picture of.... THE CAKE!

The cake and punch table



GORGEOUS!!!



My favorite picture of mom and dad

Tullybird The Finale



I never wrapped up telling you about our vacation week when Tullybird was here.  We had a great time.  You know it's a sign of a good vacation when you don't want it to end.  We ate great food, drank wonderful drinks, and made some good memories.


We had pulled pork sandwiches for dinner and the next day for lunch.  I made homemade coleslaw and I eat it on my pulled pork sandwich, along with some extra dry rub spice and BBQ sauce. 

We love us some pork!

Here are the ingredients I use in my slaw--I don't measure so sorry that I can't give you a real recipe.  I just dump things into a shaker, shake it up, and pour over the veggies.

To:

• shredded cabbage
• carrots
• broccoli slaw (really increases the crunch factor)
• Small diced onion (any color but purple is best)
• green scallions for color

Add the shaken up dressing made of:

• Mayo
• Sour cream (optional)
• Ranch (not optional)
• Caraway seeds
• Celery seeds
• Dill
• Salt & Pepper
• Apple cider vinegar (or any kind of vinegar but I wouldn't use balsamic)
• Sugar
• Dijon mustard (just one small squirt)

If its not tangy enough, add vinegar.  If its bland, add sugar and more spices and maybe vinegar.  It should be sweet and sour.  I think that is everything I use!

We also had a Z-man sandwich at Oklahoma Joe's.  It was outta this world!

Brisket sandwich with provolone cheese, 2 onion rings and
their wicked awesome BBQ sauce.  And a pickle.

We also went to Chipotle.  She had never been there and had a bowl with chicken.

The best Mexican fast-food ever.  Bar none!

We had drinks by the bonfire one night.  That was a great time.  I LOVE that we can do this on our land!

We had pedi's.  Since I'm in the garden these days, I went with brown this time.  Tullybird usually chooses a green shade.  They do great flowers where we went!


  
Todd taught Shadow how to eat corn OFF the cob!  Keystone showed her how.  He can do this and get everything off without nipping Todd.  Shadow has to work on being a little more gentle.  Abby isn't real interested in trying.  Video of this coming soon. It's such a hoot, it will be it's own post.

Have you EVER seen a dog eat the corn off the cob?  Well you have now!

Our big night on the town was for Tullybird's 42nd birthday!  We went to Boudreaux's Louisiana Seafood & Steaks to celebrate. 

I always get this wonderful fish dish.  Pescado al something--stupid name. 
There is a piece of seared white fish under gooey cheese and a delicious
cream sauce with peppers and all kinds of seafood!  AWESOME!!!!!

Pearl Divers:  Malibu Rum, Midori, Peach Schnapps, Pineapple juice = HEAVEN!

T & Tullybird!

Todd made an impressive pork wellington for our last dinner together. It was really tasty. And it was even good left-over too!

After dinner, we had girl time!  Watched a chick flick, drank Kinky & Sprite, ate more cupcakes, and had a fresh face mask compliments of LUSH.  What a fun evening!

Scary Faces

I had to take a picture of all the ingredients we drank.  We agreed the best was the PB&J, grape juice & Sprite.  We'll keep that one on the menu for next time. 

She's planning on coming back next year--let me know if anyone else wants to join our fun!

Tullybird Part II

What a wonderful feast we had Tuesday night. The pork was outta this world, and Tullybird made it along with Todd every step of the way!

Here they are, with Tullybird rubbing Todd's butt.

Rubbing it good

Pork butt, that is. She learned the importance of dry rubbing, and getting the spices in all the crevices and letting it chill overnight in it's happy spice jacket.

Tullybird learned to shred the beef. You don't slice it, or cut it. Gotta sort of pull it apart. She did great. That dark bark was soooo tasty (because of the wonderful butt rubbing).

Yay, it's dinner time!

And now for the drink of the evening. Oh. My. You guys have to try this. PB&J vodka with grape juice and sprite. Divine. It only took us 8 hrs to drink the entire bottle. It was so yummy. It was gone before I knew it.

Speaking of yummy. We had a cupcake at midnight. What do you get when a leprechaun and a cupcake get together? This wonderfully scrumptious delight.  I remembered a cake I used to make, and decided to make it again only as cupcakes.

Just mix a white cake mix by the directions and if it calls for liquid, use a little less.  If it doesn't call for liquid,that is OK. Add some creme de menthe, the green kind. Bake/cool them. Spread on some hot fudge topping (which is cold). Then fold some creme de menthe into some cool whip, and use to top the cupcakes. So good you gotta try it.


Wednesday evening included using the pork in enchiladas. And consuming pomegranate martinis. Oh yes it did.  I don't have any pictures from last night--it was pretty low key.  We must be gearing up for tonight.  When we celebrate Tullybirds BIRTHDAY! 

Happy Birthday to her!

Welcome To Missouri, Tullybird!

Tullybird made it all the way to Missouri to see me!

In celebration, we had a throwback to our first Booze & Beads last night, minus the beads.  We had Root Beer Float Cocktails just like we had way back when.  See?

Tastes JUST like a root beer float.  Only tipsy-er.

One food that Tullybird likes is hamburgers.  So we had hickory home grilled monster burgers:

Why yes, that is potato casserole, yummmm.  The burger was awesome too.

Stay tuned for more episodes from Tullybird's visit to Missouri!

The Garden Is In!

Hope all the moms out there had a great day.  My mom is travelling, so I hope she had a safe and enjoyable day.  As enjoyable as it could have been, visiting a loved one in the hospital.

We worked our tushes off this weekend.  I cleaned like a madwoman for the visit of Tullybird.  I am SO. EXCITED. I have a "fun" agenda created for all that we are going to do, starting tomorrow late afternoon when she arrives.  I have plenty of drink and rest time built in.  I think.  Well, I know I have plenty of drink time built in.  And best of all, I have a designated driver lined up for her birthday dinner!  I know, SCORE, right?!!?!

After I cleaned like the Queen would be visiting, I made my way to the garden.  OH WHAT A GARDEN IT IS!  It's 20' X 80'.  That is FEET not INCHES.  This thing is HUUUUGE.  I'm very excited.  Todd worked hard to get the fence up.  I am nervous about not putting up chicken wire to keep out bunnies, but Todd is right.  We have no bunnies.  The dogs in the 'hood see to that.  So we are doing as the neighbors do, and not putting up chicken wire.  Still makes me nervous.  But it's the worms that are ruining some of our crops, not bunnies.

Would you care to guess how many plants I planted in the ground today?  Go ahead.  It took hours.  Just guess.  If you thought double-digits, you would be wrong.

101.

I planted 101 plants in the ground today.  That is why I will have consumed 3 Advil before retiring to sleep.  I hurt.  I hurt bad.  But it's good to see all these little guys in the ground.  See:

All our freshly planted babies (with aspari-guy in the foreground)

After planting, Todd and Stones toddled around spraying poison ivy.  Aren't they just adorable?

Keystone is the ultimate passenger.  In *any* kind of vehicle.  Truck, golf cart, wave runner...

Hope you have a great week.  I know I will!  I will be more active this week in posting about the yumminess consumed with Tullybird.  We have plans!

A Love Letter

My Dearest New Haan Steam Floor Sanitizer,

I am blushing with the vivid memories of what just happened as I write this letter to you, my new love.  You make me So. Hot. 

Literally, you make me 212 degrees, and I've never been so hot before in my life.  Cold, muddy bacteria-filled mop water used to be the norm.  Now I have you.  Sexy, sleek, and curved in all the right places.

The way you kept on going was AMAZING.  Truly, I am amazed at how natural and easy you performed.  You made me feel like we've been doing this forever.  Soul mates.  That's what we are.

I have to make a confession.  I used to enjoy being a dirty, nasty girl.  Literally, the dirt and grime was all over, it was impossible for it to all go away.  The dog slobber, oh the dog slobber!  And the harsh, smelly chemicals made my skin crawl!  Now I have your soothing caress.  Your hot, steamy, smooth beautiful touch.

You complete me.  You make me feel better than I have ever felt before.  I am new again.  And I have you to thank for it.  You. Are. Beautiful. To. Me.

Love,
The Floors

P.S.--Same time, same place, next week?  ;-)

Greetings to you on this fine Monday.  Today doesn't seem so bad because after next Monday, I'm on vaaaaycation for the rest of that week.  Frolicking about and having fun with Tullybird while she escapes the demonizing hell called her work for almost a week!  I have plans for us to go shopping, eating, drinking, cooking, gardening, and all kinds of fun will be had.  Todd has stocked up the liquor cabinet.  Let the celebrating begin!

Speaking of friends, I thought of a dear loved one Saturday.  Justine and I had a friend in college.  Her nickname was Lil Ken.  Her father was Big Ken.  She was a beautiful person, full of life and passion.  She had hopes and dreams.  But sadly she was taken from this world much too young, she never saw her 30's.  She had to suffer through lymphoma cancer and lost the battle.  I always think of her on May 5th, her birthday.  It may be Cinco De Mayo to others, but it's Lil Ken's birthday to me.  I'll always remember her.  I know Jus will too.

And now for a little Monty Python, Oklahoma style.  Compliments of my parents, enjoy the Psycho Oklahoma Killer Rabbits:

An Ending Too Soon

Wife, mom, sister, grandmother, aunt, and above all you were friend.

Thankful are we that your suffering has an end.

You are with your loved ones for whom you have grieved,

But from this Earth it was too soon for you to leave.

May God shine His light to guide home your soul,

Hold you in the palm of His hand and make you whole.

Knowing that you are gone, our hearts are filled with tears.

This world is a more sad place without knowing you are here.

Rest In Peace Aunt Linda.