Parenting...Pie, Chicken and Comments.

Well, good morning, Friends...Just so you'll know, I've had to revert comments to monitor.  On my last post, some of you may have seen comments left by two individuals names Anonymous and Peaches.  They were sickening, nasty and vile.  As a Conservative, I've learned to take some abuse from the Far left, (Not Democrats) and at first, I was going to leave their comments up for all to see so that maybe more people would understand the sickness and depravity that has taken them over.  Sadly, or at least I thoughtfully decided they will never change as the comments continued...so I decided to monitor them...I also lost 3 followers because of my stance in politics.  It's sad that people can't have a say without being punished for their beliefs.  So be it...I'll live.

Anyway...on to happier news!!

We are going to be great Grandparents once again!! That makes two impending births in this coming year!  Sami in June and our Sara in March!  We are over the Moon happy!

Sami and Everett...and Sloane, big sister!

Little Stitch...I'm thinking, Girl...

Tylar and Sara...

We all enjoyed this show...so many years ago!

Our SIL Tim order this pie somewhere...and fell in love with it.  It's an Apple Crumble Caramel Pie.  Well, it's sold at a bakery about an hour from us.  I decided to make my copycat version of it.  Oh, my goodness!  It's delicious and so easy to make.  I just took a Marie Calendars, ready-made apple pie, homemade some crumble mixture...sprinkled it thickly on top of the pie, baked it...and when it had cooled, I squeezed a store-bought caramel sauce on top.  I should have made my own!  You couldn't really taste the caramel.  But the pie was really good anyway.  I'll be making it again for Thanksgiving with my homemade sauce.

Isn't this beautiful?  The powers that be, have done a rendition from the Shroud, of what they believe Christ may have looked like...to me, it's beautiful but I believe he had blue eyes and reddish hair...long story.  If you research the area that he lived in, you'll find the peoples were of this fair coloring...anyway, it's thought provoking.

It was time for fried chicken...

This is a sad, dividing plan...hopefully it's not true...

Larry brought me one of those Pecan Pie cookies and Libby was a bit upset that he didn't bring her one! lol... (yes, I gave her a nibble).

A surprise visit from William's new girlfriend, Cailin. Our daughter Crystal and Tim said they really like her...which is great news.

And finally, what's a post without our Sloane in it?  And Happy Veterans Day to all those that served and are serving!  Thank you all for your service!! 

Well, I suppose that's about it for this week.  Hope you all enjoy a beautiful day...and are staying healthy or at least are healing.

So, until next time...

 

Pecking Order...Pie, Gumbo and Badlands.

Good Morning, Friends...

The weeks are really buzzing by!   I keep hoping for slow days, but I never seem to get any.  It's been cold here with ice to contend with for several days.  I will have my eye surgery this coming Monday and it's supposed to be 80% chance of rain...no matter.  As long as temps don't dip into the freezing zone, we'll be fine.

Crystal (our daughter and Sloane's grandma, Lolli) sent me this photo of Sloane setting the "pecking order" with Critter, the cat.  They pretty well stay clear of one another but sometimes...Sloane feels the need to reinforce things...lol...she was promptly instructed to keep relations civil!

Moving on... I finally heard the call from hubby Larry, to get into the kitchen and make him a chocolate pie!  Of all days, the humidity was awful...cold and icy outside.  Meringues hate humidity so...mine fell flat.  He said it tasted great so not to worry...he'd suffer through, somehow. lol

For lunch yesterday I thawed some homemade chicken and shrimp gumbo poured over rice.  Tasted even better on a cold day.  We always make a huge pot of gumbo in the Fall and freeze it in quart sized Ziplocs.  It's nice not to have to create gumbo every time we want some.  Just thaw and heat.  I do this for soups and stews...chili and pasta sauce.  Saves so much time!

 

This is a dogfood that is being touted as a wonder food by Katherine Heigl, for your pets.  I watched the video and tended to agree!  The stuff they add to regular dogfood is scandalous.  Expensive but I think worth it.  There's another one called, Sunday for dogs that I might go ahead and order when the Badlands sack runs out.  You get twice as much for the money, same ingredients.  I saw it too late...had already ordered Badlands.  I'll let you know if Buddy and Libby like it. Or...go check it out for yourself.

This isn't or wasn't my tree or anyone's tree that I know.  I just saw it on the internet and liked it!  Don't know if I could manage to decorate ours like that but I'd love to try next year.

Well, this is a short post today only because I really didn't do anything this week.  (Aren't you the lucky ones! Lol) 

Hope you all are staying warm or cool wherever you are!

So until next time...

Bread, Cheeky and Pie...and Pergolas

Good morning, friends! 

Goodness!  It's chilly here again.  With all the rain passing through, it brought with it, a cold front...so tired of the cold!

It's been a busy week around here.  I ran out of bread so did the quick fix and hauled out the ever faithful, bread machine.  I just load it up with all the ingredients, close the lid, and in three hours, we have a wonderful loaf of bread...no fussing back and forth with the proofing.  The machine allows me to just walk away.  Nice!

Breakfast toasting bread...yummy.

And who is this?  Our greatgran, Sloane, being cheeky.

I bought this large stoneware pie plate from the Pioneer Woman collection (10" X 2" and heavy).  I was in Walmart minding my own business when, this pie plate just jumped into my buggy!  Well!  I had no choice but to head to the check-out! lol

And like any good wife...came home and made Larry a pie.

Recipe here...

It's quick and has a custardy feel and taste.  Wonderful served cold.  It's alright served warm but, Wonderful cold!

Hanging my head in shame...at the Walmart, I grabbed up the last two cow sandwich plates!  The pie plate made me do it...lolol

I made lunch out of hamburger meat, noodles, Anaheim pepper, parmesan cheese, tomatoes and an English muffin Larry had made last week, warmed and buttered...so good.  

Re-planting of lavender in the badly, drought abused, soil next to the patio.  Hopefully, it'll take off and grow!  It smells Heavenly and just look at the color of it... 

I've also planted four rose bushes.  You can never have too many!

I was talking with hubby, Larry, the other day about how I hoped I could find a trellis large enough to let the "Rose Peggy Martin" climb on...Larry then set about disappearing for several hours.  I went to look for him out in his workshop and I found him building a pergola for me! Needless to say, I was a happy gardener!!   He loves a good woodworking challenge...did I say I knew that? Lolol...anyway, I was surprised and grateful.  He's the best...and I love him.

Here's the Rose Peggy Martin (odd name) climber.

And Larry also bought me two White Jasmines for the pergola.

Hopefully, everything will grow like intended!  It'll take a little training of the branches...and wire...lol

And...If you use cast iron much, you'll understand this...lol

Hope you all enjoy your week...stay safe and warm or cool, wherever you are.

So, until next time...

Easter 2023, Sloane's First Crawl and Chocolate Pie...

 Good morning friends!

Has it been a week already?  Where is the time going... Easter absolutely flew by.  I wasn't feeling too chipper so Larry and I went to our consecutive "corners", and just piddled away at the day.  Me watching television and him out in his workshop creating something on his humongous laser.  

We didn't get to see our granddaughter, Samantha...greatgran Sloane or her hubby, Everett. With me not feeling so good they had many other stops to make so we made "do" with these photos.  We love them dearly.

Our daughter Crystal and hubby live several hours away so they just got to rest over the weekend.  We celebrate, as a family, most holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving but Easter, Independence Day, Valentines and St Patricks Day, we enjoy phone calls and food, at home.

We could insist that the kids and grandchildren come but as a young mom myself, once...I remember the running around...money spent...time...(although I miss my mom and dad and wish I had a time machine) and miles we traveled to spend time with family we saw all the time anyway...If you can't let loved ones know how you feel about them...traveling 3 hours isn't going to change things.  

Sam, Sloane and Everett

Sloane with her cousins...

I saw this Summer dress in Targets the other day for Sloane...couldn't resist!  It's SO 1950's.

WATCH!!!  I know you want to!lol

Sloane is Crawling now!!!  How fun!  This was her first time...

I made a chocolate pie earlier in the week...didn't last long!

I was cleaning out my greenhouse when a bird flew up in my face!  I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out how it had gotten in there...Well, she'd made a nest and it had four eggs in it!  And yes, she came back to continue her keeping her babies warm.  Hope they hatch and I didn't hurt anything...I just backed out and let things alone.

I finally got Larry to finish out the trim on the bay window in the playroom.  You'd think a year was long enough of my asking?lolol

Pooped him out...lol...he usually takes a half hour "power nap" (he calls them that for effect...lolol...I call them his "pooped" naps!  He still works hard around the house, inside and out.

I'm on the Monk Fruit craze now...It really does taste and act like real sugar!  A, 1:1 ratio!  No after taste!  We are on a smoothie kick right now.  Frozen fruits (I partially thaw them before blending), Heavy cream, fruit juice...I'm even starting to loose a bit of weight...I like that part!

BUT!!!  DO NOT FEED TO YOUR PETS!

Erythritol can kill them!

I bought a Nutri-Ninja blender for $49 at Walmart and it works great.  Comes with two cups so Larry and I can make our smoothies the way we like them.

My Libby the Pug...Goes everywhere I do...This is the bed beside my computer.

Truth right here! Lolol

We once had an employee who would steal our lunches out of the employee break room...wish I'd thought of this...and before you think me mean spirited, I'd had the chat with him more than once!  We paid our employees well...but no one would speak up...so when he stole my lunch, I got a little bent out of shape.  Needless to say, he never stole my lunch again...lol

This is exactly how I feel sometimes...Yes, I've had a good life and wouldn't change anything...but sometimes, age has a way of reminding you of your seasons and how very precious time is.

Use it wisely.

Tell family you love them, Every Day!

So, until next time....