Well Hey There, How YOU Doin'?

I've been missing in action, and action it's been.  I've been super busy at work getting ready for the roll out of a couple of my big projects.  To say life is hectic right now, is a bit of an understatement.  Here are a few miscellaneous things rolling around in my head that I have been wanting to share.

Being so busy makes me think, what the heck was I thinking signing up for Doing My Best's Crappy Day Package?  Oh yea, cause I'm not the only one in the universe who has a crappy day, and who knows when my days are going to be crappier.  I've gotten most of my items together for the lucky recipient receiving my CDP.  I know the few remaining items I want to get, just have to make the time.  Then I will plan on how to wrap the presents creatively.

Next on my list of topics to ramble on about, a couple of you have asked for it, is the Irish stew recipe my mom made.  It's actually for a braised short rib recipe--but make it as a stew and server over mashed potatoes, and I swear you'll smell the heather and hear the bagpipes.  Go here:  Cuisinart PDF and look at PDF page 15 / booklet page 28 at the "Guinness braised short ribs" recipe.  I can just smell it now.  Yum.

I just HAVE to tell you.  Maybe I shouldn't.  Oh, what the heck.  My hubby got kinky for me the other night.  I know, I know, you're thinking, whoa lady! This is simply way too much information to share with complete strangers AND people who might actually KNOW you.  Or him.  Especially him.  Bwahahahahaha, I'm just teasin'.  But not really. 

SEE!

This is a luscious cocktail blended with vodka, mango, blood orange and passion fruit flavors and it's very tasty.  Isn't it just gorgeous?  It's a beautiful shade of coral.  It looks pink in the picture, but if you could see it, it is more coral.  The bottle is frosty white, so that color is the liquid.  I first drank it over ice.  Then I mixed it with pineapple juice.  I slept like a log all night because I didn't drink too much of it, just enough.  I want to mix it with orange juice and a splash of peach schnapps next time.  This stuff is wicked yummy.  Go get yourself some Kinky...  ;-)

I gave blood last Friday.  I am happy to report that my hemoglobin level is normal.  The last time I donated, I was borderline low, and it made me realize my iron level was low and look into what was going on.  Since then, I've been taking an iron supplement daily and I'm feeling worlds better.  My donation was pretty quick and pretty painless.  I don't even have a bruise.  I was happy with the crew they had working the donation--they were all experienced and efficient.  There were two blood suckers phlebotomists the last time who made me a bit nervous.  I was happy to see they weren't there this time.  My confidence has been restored.  If you have time and have an opportunity, go donate blood and help to save up to 3 lives.  You'll get your cholesterol level checked for free too!  What a deal.

Have a great week.  It will probably be awhile before I have time to yap at you again.  Cheers!

It's Good To Be Back

I am so stinkin' happy to be back in the KC area.  We've seen so many great old friends within a 24 hour time span this weekend.  We saw Kevin & Suzie and the girls, Butch & Bev, Dave R (finally got to see him!), Mitch & Dawn and the kids, a ton of old and new pinhead friends at the pinball tournament last night, Ray & Becky, and Bill & Vera.  We've seen all these friends in the past day!  Wish I had remembered to take pics of the monthly pinball tournament last night to share, but I forgot.  I will remember next month.

 

We had a fabulous Mexican breakfast with Ray & Becky this morning.  I had (pork) salsa verde.  Mmmmmmm.  I can't wait to grow tomatillos, onions & cilantro in our garden and have a Mexican market in my own kitchen next summer.  The patron will be flowing.  (Note to self: buy an indoor lime tree.)  Rick Bayless is one of my favorite chefs.  I made one of his recipes last weekend and it was pretty good.  I am trying to make ourselves eat more vegetables.  I find that it is easier with Mexican food to do that.

 

We used to go to Mexican breakfast with Ray & Becky a couple of times a month back when we used to live here. It was fun finding a new dive with authentic Mexican cuisine.  You know it's good when you're the only table speaking English.  Speaking of tasty Mexican food, Ray slow cooked some incredible pork with arbole chilies all day yesterday.  He made soft tacos for us last night that I enjoyed even more than the salsa verde this morning.  I could eat Mexican food every day. 

It's definitely yummy to be back!

Mrs. T, Can Shadow Come Out & Play?

You know how we inherited this wonderful fur bag named Shadow "with the house".  And how she used to be an outside dog only.  And how lucky we are that she has manners inside the house (some are newly acquired).

We discovered on Christmas day ... that ... she ... doesn't know how to ... PLAY.  Can you believe it?  It kind of makes sense.  It's not like she had a toy chest of furries at her disposal before us.  She never had more than an abandoned tennis ball found on the side of the road or a leftover deer leg bone (not kidding on that one).

Shelly sent Shadow a toy for Christmas!  Shadow was bewildered at how to "open" it.  Todd and Abby helped out a little with that part.  Then when she realized she had a new present all her own, she tried to play with it!  It was so funny watching this fully grown dog play like you'd expect an awkward puppy to act.  Check it out (try the link or the inserted video):

Shadow's first Christmas Present

It's so cute to see her get an energy spurt and run around the house playing with the toys.  She tosses them up like she does a mole freshly caught in the yard (hey, we live in the country).  She is such a hoot.  We just love her.

Here's another funny video from Christmas.  Isn't she a doll?!?

Shadow Playing

Mom's Oklahoma Cooking

Because a few of you (Tricia) love to drool over my mom's cooking, I want to share the pics from last weekend.  Keep in mind, the dogs were cooked for too (there is not a meal that doesn't have cooked hamburger mixed in for them--and you thought I was SPOILED!).

Let me explain that I hate stew.  I HATE stew.  I literally despise the disgusting stuff.  It's what some lazy unimaginative person chooses to dump in a pot from what leftovers are in the fridge and add a few carrots and water and pass it off as dinner.  Blech.  But not my mom's IRISH STEW.  This dish has a bottle of Guinness in it, and it's eaten OVER MASHED POTATOES!  I used to think all meat in stew was bland blobs of chewy, tough, grisly hunks of protein.  First, this stuff was cut in small enough chunks that I don't feel like I am eating a side of cow with each bite of meat.  Secondively, each piece was seared so that there was a browned flavor on all sides and it was so tender I could cut it, but didn't need to, with a fork.  Did I mention mashed potatoes?  The third reason that makes this really great is that all of the vegetables are cut small.  So in each bite, I taste a little bit of everything.  Not just one big bite of hideous carrot.  <shudder with disgust>  Friday night, we had Irish Stew.  Keep in mind, these chunks look bigger than they really were--my spoon is on the side.  Fresh parsley only put this dish over the top.

Saturday morning held a table with my favorite and also Todd's favorite.  Pancakes and Bacon.  Oh, and a few fried eggs on the side, cause that's just how it is in Oklahoma.  The pancakes had finely chopped pecans in the batter.  And there was all this fresh fruit to put on top.  It was luscious.  The bacon was good too, and the over easy eggs were divine.  There is just nothing better than my mom's fried eggs.  It's just a fried egg.  But it's mom's fried egg with salt and pepper, and it's cooked in that kitchen with that taste, and it just doesn't taste the same anywhere else.  I also like the eggs I make.  I even probably love my own fried eggs, and I am getting good at making them and not breaking the yolks and not over-cooking them, BUT they aren't the same as my mom's.  But I digress.  Here is a picture (sorry the close up of the pancake turned out blurry).

Doh!  I forgot there was berry crumble Friday night.  Mom made homemade berry crumble with all kinds of berries plus cherries.  So it was nice and tart yet sweet from the crumble topping.  It was very tasty.

Saturday night, we went to dinner at Murphy's and had a "hot hamburger".  Don't know why I didn't take a picture.  I guess cause it wasn't mom's cooking.

Sunday morning was another dish of paradise.  That day was homemade toasted buns, hash browns, and sausage gravy.  With fried eggs.  ;-)  Sorry, I haven't downloaded that pic yet.

Good thing I started at the gym Tuesday.

I leave you with a pic of all the dogs before we left.  This was the best one:

Exceeds Expectations

We went to Oklahoma this weekend and had a really wonderful weekend.  Celebrated Christmas with mom and dad.  We got way too many fun new things, especially for the kitchen (wahoo!).  I will yap about the yummy awesomeness we ate later, complete with pictures after I download.

There are two things I was nervous about prior to this weekend.  I didn't know how things would go.  Fortunately, I had absolutely no need to worry!

Shadow has never travelled, at least not to our knowledge.  She used to be an outdoor country dog.  Before us, she had never been a family member.  She didn't have toys, or a warm bed.  She doesn't really understand how to even "play" (more on that in a future post)!  We've opened the door to our home and our hearts, and she fits right in with ease.  She rode to and from Oklahoma like a seasoned pro.  She was not nervous or antsy about being in a moving vehicle.  She moved around only as much as our other kids did.  She dove right into the plate licking in grandma's kitchen.  She loved the walks through the acreage. 

She tried really hard to catch a mole or a bunny, but no luck.  It was so cute to see her run up to an area of overgrown brush, and stop with her tail stick straight in the air.  Then suddenly she would just jump into the brush like a jack rabbit (gained as much air vertically as she did horizontally), and all I saw was her tail.  It wagged once, then went very still.  Then off she went like her panties were on fire.  Now she understands why Abby and Keystone love to visit grandma and grandpa's so much.  She is going to sleep for the next two days, just like Abbytail and Keystone.

And the other major surprise of the weekend was... my reunion with my old high school best friend.  We'll call her "SamsMom".  I know that name will be hard for one of my other dearest friends ever, and I love her furry Sam with all of my heart--but I am sure that we are all flexible enough to adjust.  Plus the furry one's name isn't Sam on the Internet anyway, so we're set.  ;-)  Sam is such an awesome name.  One of my very favorites.  I had a cat named Samson once.  ANYWAY....

I was so happy when SamsMom's schedule was clear and she could come see me last Saturday afternoon.  She actually made sure she had time to see me as soon as we firmed up our travel plans.  I was so excited, counting down the hours until the time when she arrived.  

When I opened the door, it was just like we never lost the last nineteen years.  We picked up right where we left off.  We may not be as young or quite as thin as we once were, and *my* memory isn't quite what it used to be when recalling high school acquaintances, but she's still my old friend!  I feared maybe she changed, or I changed and I wouldn't feel the connection I used to have with her, but Not. True. At. All.  We sat there for hours and talked about what we have both been up to for the past 19 years, and what we remember back in high school.  We laughed like the school girls we used to be.  I'm hoping my mom didn't hear too many new stories.  I don't remember many of the other people who graduated in our class.  But I do remember that all the fun I had in high school, was with her.

What an amazing weekend that flew by much too fast.

Martha MacGyver's Last Week Of 2011

Goodbye 2011 and Cheers to 2012!

I was fortunate to be able to take off the last week of 2011 and spend time at home doing things that have been on my to-do list since we moved here. Several pictures have finally made it to their final destination on the walls. Several junk areas have been cleaned up. Several boxes have finally been unpacked.  I am pleased with the changes.  It's beginning to not only feel like home, but look like home too.

Years and years ago, my buddy gave me the nickname of Martha MacGyver because of all my crafty creative projects.  It hadn't occurred to me at the time, but yea, the name fit.  To share some of my wonderful projects from my Christmas/New Year break, I share with you the following:

1) Based upon the inspiration from the lovely daughter (and her hat) of Mrs. Irritation, I improvised this owl hat.  I totally made up the pattern, and I HOPE to be able to replicate this.  So thankful for YouTube, because I had forgotten how to knit!

2) I saved an old picture frame from the donation pile and spray painted it glossy red. Thanks for the inspiration from Statia.  I hated the old frame (two colors of cheap looking wood); and am loving my new frame.  Now to find a picture to put in it...

3) I had no place to store/display the jewelry I've made. Since I moved, I have not worn much of my jewelry because I have not unpacked it.  <gasp>  I know, I know. I went thrifting in my own house and discovered a few picture frames my husband has had for probably the last decade or two. This one became my new jewelry holder! Inspiration came from Pinterest and/or Etsy, take your pick. It turned out perfectly for my needs.  Keep in mind, I am on the lookout for old drawer pull knobs to re-purpose along the bottom on the front and on the sides to hold bracelets and necklaces.  I'm not buying new knobs, that would just be silly!

Why yes, that is hardware cloth, thanks for asking.



4) This is my favorite one. Over thanksgiving, my parents visited.

     Me: "I need to buy a grapevine wreath, but I'd much rather make one."

     Dad: "You know, you have some wild grapevines growing in your woods."

     Me:  <Blink Blink>

     Dad: "Let's go pull some."

     Me: "Uuuhhhh, are they the kind with the curly-Qs?" (that's a technical term)

     Dad: "Yea."

So, we march right down there and I'll be hog-tied if there weren't wild grapevines growing right here. For FREE. So my dad went to work pulling a few long vines down from an overgrown area for me.  I had no clue they were wild grapevines (I didn't see any grapes!).  I dragged them up to our back deck. I got out the butchers twine (sorry to the hubs on that, but at least I used the OLD spool) and a pair of scissors. My mom helped me form the long vines into a large circle. She would hold the vines together and I would tie the string around it -or- I'd hold and she would tie. We got the large circle formed. She reminded me about how the professional ones are steamed into shape. I got bowls of hot water and poured over the wreath since it was still outside. Oh yea, it was rainy, so I left it in the rain for a day. Brought it inside to dry out for a month. Then I cut the ties and spray painted it glossy black. Found the perfect garland with sprays of clear crystals. I am very pleased with this grapevine wreath project as it surpassed my vision. See next item for picture.

5) Painted my hole! I expected a little more of a brown/warm color and not such an *exact* match to the grout (which if I had intended to match the grout, I would have chosen a different shade). But it has grown on me and now that I have it all put together, I love it!   This was the before picture.  Below is my finished project. It doesn't look ecclesiastical anymore!  I am no longer looking around my own living room for a sacrificial virgin or bride & groom!

I will be on the search for new curtains in black & white and possibly grey, with a splash of red.  Some kind of modern print.  And the brass fireplace set has to go, or be changed.  Shadow and Abbytail seem to like it:

6) This one was all Todd's. He hung the Arcade sign in the perfect spot!  You can't see the hardware, except for the angle at which I took this picture, of course.  This is a PERFECT fit and looks great when going down to the basement.  I'm so excited to have this puppy up in it's final spot on the wall.

I have a few more projects in the works, and a lot more swimming around in my head.  You'll have to stay tuned for more as I get them completed.  I don't make new years' resolutions, so I'm not going to wax poetically about all the great things I will accomplish or change next year.  I am thankful and excited just to have the day off from work.  I'll spend it making things a little more organized or crafty around here.

Happy 2012 to you!