My day in pictures.....

It was a beautiful spring day in Heavensville. Marti and I went to an auction early afternoon, then Trish and I haunted the garden centers. V called to tell me about boxwood, I crammed five of them in my car, no some guy did it for us, they were so heavy Trish and I could barely left them on to the flat bed cart. Maggie and London went along, Maggie quickly got the hang of flirting with people so they would pet her and ooh and aah over her... She had a blast. London always gets tons of attention, she's such a cute little pipsqueak - it was just a perfect day in Heavensville.

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All of these pictures will enlarge if you click on them...

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Isn't this just about the cutest thing EVER???

Today Maggie was driving Trish's car. Egads, she's outta control with this driving!

We had boxwood crammed in my backseat and my trunk was full of it, too!

Best friends, Maggie and London

Look closely on the roof of the garden center - peacocks, which London insisted on chasing. They also had a solid white peacock, unfortunately, no pictures of it...

Ahhhh, fleurs everywhere...

London was hot in the greenhouse, check out the tongue!

And that was my day, hope your Saturday was a great one, too...

Not my thing, but ...

Hooterville just sent me this link on how to crochet this tote from plastic grocery bags. Why she sent it to me, I don't know, this woman won't even sew on a button, much less crochet a tote for her groceries. The thought of it makes me howl with laughter, actually.

I'm not much better - personally I think it's butt ugly, I doubt seriously that she likes it either, but to each his own.

Linds got me totes from Fresh Market that are actually cute! Maybe I need to share them with the Hoot...

If you want a closer look, here's the CLICK!!!

Hey bank teller, I'm baaaack....

Remember me, I'm Maggie Moo??? Oh, you do remember me? Cool...

Yep, I'm the one with the fussy mom that only lets me eat the all natural treats.

Sure, I can wait til' you dig around and find some with no artificial flavors... Dad's in no hurry...

Nice day, isn't it? I like your hair, by the way...

Oh, you're going to give me a handful cause you think I'm so cute?

Hot dawg, that's awesome!!! Gee, thanks ...

See ya next week bank teller...

Maxine, you gotta love her....

Yes, I'm still eating off that damned salad plate!!!!!

I'm eating so many Boca Burgers and beans that I'm gonna explore, and I'm walking my mile faithfully every day, trying not to think about anything sweet and lemony. And we have two days of rain forecasted and V and I were going to have a girls day out Friday!!!

But I do have that new bed, so I need to quit whining and count my blessings!!!!! But I'm going to bed hungry!!! I haven't exactly been flooded by emails from the rest of you telling me that you, too, are eating off salad plates this week. The closest I've gotten is Barb telling me she is loving Weight Watchers and Robin was having a go on the elliptical machine the other day. The rest of you are suspiciously quiet. Wonder why???

They delivered my bed!!!!!

I love the bed. They delivered it today, and I think the style of it and the rustic gold finish makes it look like it's been in my bedroom forever. I love the old world look, I'm still playing with the bedding, but I'm really pleased.

I thought you would all like to see what it looks like, since a lot of you participated in my poll!!!

A typical spring day in Heavensville...

It's warm, it's soggy, we have sporadic bursts of sunshine, then more clouds, more rain... The daffy's are in full bloom, the grass is green, the magnolia's are starting to bloom, and I'm being nostalgic again. Seems like I always am in the spring.

Hubby and I were driving thru the country today, I was thinking of my childhood and how on a warm, blustery day like today, I would be out in the yard, and if I was young enough that Mother still had control over me, I'm sure she would either have had me in a headscarf or cotton in my ears, trying to keep me from having one of the earaches that plagued me as a child. Egads, how I hated headscarves -After the age of about ten I wouldn't be caught dead in one, then or now!

Anyhoo, we would be picking up sticks out of the yard, bundling them to put in the burning barrel on a non-windy day and raking leaves away from the new growth of perennials emerging from their winter sleep. My beloved ditch would be coming alive, the red winged blackbirds that I love so much would be singing, and Topsy, my cocker spaniel, would be nipping at my heels...

I made a scrapbooking page about my feelings regarding spring last year. Some of you have already seen this, some not. It's published at millyscraps. Here's the CLICK.

And yes, that really is my ditch in the picture. Hooterville and I go past my childhood home often to take pictures of it. It's a constant in my ever changing world, the ditch is always the same... We're both hugely sentimental about it, as you all well know, as I talk about it often. Who would have thought in my childhood that it would mean so much to me as an adult. I've loved it always...

Freebies...

Do you need a program on your computer similar to Microsoft Office with Word, Power Point and Excel type applications? You don't have to cough up the big bucks, you can get them for free from Open Office. Yep, it's true, all free, all great applications, totally interchangeable with and very similar to Microsoft Office. did I mention that they are free? And how much would you pay for Microsoft Office 2007- eeks, major $$..

Here's the CLICK if you have a need...

And Linux developed a program called GIMP. It's a Photoshop type application for graphics and pictures. It's also free, works with Windows, you can find it HERE.

And finally, I've used AVG Free Virus Protection for years. It's also free. How do I know about all this stuff??? Hooterville, of course. She knows everything, she really does, and when she talks, you better believe, I listen. She says never use Norton or McAfee, they are just bloat hogs that eat up your memory, AVG Free is all you need. Here's the CLICK for it.

Enjoy.

~ jan

He was dapper, she was a natural beauty...

Cousin Pam sent me this picture of my Great Grandparents, Lougena and George Doss. It's believed to be their wedding photograph, November 8, 1878. Family history is a wonderful thing, isn't it?

Are you a cherry lover, like me???

I've eaten Smuckers Sugar Free (10 calories per tablespoon) preserves for a few years now. Orange Marmalade, Strawberry, Peach, Blackberry, Apricot, they're all okay, but nothing special, until now...

I'm a HUGE fan of anything cherry and the good people at Smuckers have recently introduced Sugar Free Cherry Preserves. Same calorie count, and IMO, an amazing taste considering it's practically no calories.

So far I've just had them on a bagel and on a whole grain english muffin, yes, in my salad plate, but I'm thinking they might be really good spooned on a roasted chicken breast.

I should have posted this on the Eating Right Board, but didn't want you all to miss it. It's a good thing. ~ jan

Driving Miss Daisy....

Yes, this really is what it looks like... Trish and I were out today with Mags and London in tow, taking pictures. I was driving thru a subdivision and little Ms. Maggie Moo decided that she would "help" me steer.

Don't gasp, it was perfectly safe, there were no cars around and no curbs to run over... and Mags is an excellent driver.

A little tweak....

I updated my munchiebusiness.com index page today... The photo of Tonia at the top left side of the page smelling a fleur has always been my favorite picture of her. I've used it countless times and it always brightens my day. Last year Tonia took this picture of Linds with her nose in a fleur, (it's in the bottom right corner) so naturally I love it, too.

Both my Dillys are adorable. I'm a really lucky Milly.

Yikes...

Earlier this week when Nisha was here we were shopping, she was in the dressing room, I was sitting in a chair and it just so happened that that chair faced those triple mirror thingies....

Holy Crap! I look like friggin Poppin Fresh! I do, I swear I'm a total bloat hawg... You would think that all the problems I've had since the first of the year, broken tooth, losing Munchie, that icky virus that's still not quite gone, that I would lose weight. Oh no, not Dumpy Dora here, I comfort carb ate! And now it's reality time, and it ain't pretty, girlfriends... I'm packed into those size 12 "stretch" jeans like a snausage in it's casing... I give new meaning to the word "muffin top." But heaven forbid I go up a size, oh no, I'll just continue to torture my poor body with my too little jeans. Maybe the sheer pain of it all will help me get a grip...

So I'm eating off that darned salad plate. Actually it wasn't so bad... I walked 2/3 of a mile yesterday, a huffin and a puffin, listening to that great Raising Sand cd on my Ipod, and I ate totally healthy. That's one day down, and a badzillion more to go. Are any of you out there trying that plate trick? I know a lot of you are nodding your heads in total understanding here... I'm not alone. That thick middle is the bane of most post menopausal women. Well, I always had a thick waist if I'm perfectly honest, it's just worse, now...

Oh joyous spring. No capes, no sweaters to hide behind. That mirror is enough to drive me middle aged crazy!!! Gotta blame it on something!

A long, long time ago....

When I was a little girl in the 50's I had a Terri Lee Doll. Oh my, was she special to me. She had a suitcase full of clothes, and a gorgeous, I thought, face and hair, Mother even sent her to the doll hospital to be rewigged and repainted after she became a bit shopworn... A few weeks ago I was reading the Heavensville Obituaries, ya, I know old people read the obits, anyway, they had a picture of a lady who had died, a very elegant woman and she had been a designer for Terri Lee doll clothes.

So of course this took me on a trip down memory lane. My mother, who never got rid of anything, somehow managed to get rid of Terri Lee. She is worth major money today in the secondary marke, but of course I wouldn't sell her, I just wish I still had her.

My first doll was Amosandra, a little black rubber doll from the Amos 'n Andy show, and she was always my favorite. She deteriorated over the years, her head melted and we put her away in a drawer. By the time I was grown she was completely ruined, but in the 90's dear hubby found one at an antique dealer's house and bought her for me again. I think he had to cough up $75.00 for her, and guess what... yep, she melted, too... I also had Tiny Tears and Betsey Wetsey, oh I was a real doll lover when I was little.

So much for the trip down memory lane, but Here is Terri Lee's website if you want to take a look. She was such a beauty...

I'm just full of news this morning...

I'm watching The View, and Babs is talking about a special airing next Tuesday on ABC, "How to Live to Be 150" and one of the doctors says that we should all eat off of salad plates, and by doing this, we would automatically eat less.

Well, I've heard this theory for years, as I'm sure you have, but never done it. Guess what, I'm going to give it a try. Do any of you want to try this with me? Let's give it a go for a couple of days and see if it helps? What do you say? I'll follow up on this with you all...

And the cutest of all...

Trish took this picture last year of Maggie and London romping in the grass. Maggie looks like she is blowing raspberries on London's tummy...

Green grass, ladies, oh I can't wait!!!! Imagine the smell of the freshly mown grass, blooming trees and fleurs, oh doesn't that sound divine???

Some rainy Thursday morning giggles for you...

There is nothing any cuter than animals. A big thanks to cousin Phyllis who sent me these shots this morning, they're guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings.

My fave? Can't decide, all of them are so darned cute! Of course I love the Yorkie all buckled in and sound asleep, but that dog with the three tennis balls in his mouth made me laugh outloud, and the doxxie drinking thru the straw, and of course the dog peering thru the hole in the fence, and the ones in the swing are just precious. I see a definite pattern here, notice I said nada about the cats, even though one is snuggled against my favorite thing in the world, a petite bebe...

You can click to enlarge the pictures if you want a closer view...

Good Morning....

I checked the stats on my pages, and my viewership is up, sharply. I don't know where all of you are coming from, but I'm glad you're here, and hope you enjoy my nonsense.

Just wanted you to know that I'm totally doomed. I'm watching GMA and they are saying that belly fat, even if you aren't that overweight, triples your chances for dementia. If you are 35" or more around your belly button you are in trouble. I'm SO glad to hear that... Jeez, I had better blog while I can cause my mind is gonna be mush, well it pretty well already is, but at least now I know why... You all know that I'm still trying to lose that baby weight, and Ryan is how old now, ummmmmm, 32? I'm workin' on it, though, I'm workin' on it. OMG, they just measured Diane Sawyer, she's 28.5 inches around her middle. And to think that I "used" to think she was wonderful! That's obscene, 28.5 inches and she's in her 60's. How does she do it???

Oh, now I'm thoroughly depressed. I'm off to drown my sorrows in a glass of water!

Going to Louisville?

My friend Janet told me about Havana Rumba in Louisville a few months ago. Her family raves about it... And since our family loves Cuban food, I'm a fan of black beans and rice, and the Cuban Sandwiches are always to die for, and because it's a bit of a dive, and our family are huge fans of hole-in-the-wall places serving great food, this place was a must try.

Ry was in Louisville on business last night, so he checked it out for us. He loved it, and Ryan seldom has glowing reviews for any resturant, he's a really hard sell.

Here's their website if you want to check out the menu. I already have my meal planned. I'll start with the Cuban Tamales, followed by Ensalada Tropical. My entree will be Fricase de Pollo, and then I'll finish it off with either Tia's Flan or Tres Leche. I bet they make a mean Mojito, too!

Just a little info if you are going to be in the area, you might want to give it a try, also.

A little bit of this, a little bit of that...

Ryan made Chicken Piccata, a recipe I had posted on Jan Can Cook a few weeks ago. It was, without a doubt, one of the best chicken dishes I've ever had. For the sauce reduction he used mostly chicken broth with just a splash of white wine.

We had wild rice and peas with it, next time we're going to do baby carrots for more color and fettucine tossed with garlic butter.

If you're a lemon lover, this is the dish for you. It's wonderful, and really easy to make. He sauteed the chicken and kept it warm in the oven while making the sauce, just like the recipe called for. It's a winner, girlfriends...

I had to post a cow pix for you. That darned fence was in my way, though. Next trip I'm gonna climb the fence! Now that should be a Kodak moment!!!

Nisha and I are pretty much like Lucy and Ethel every time we are
together. We didn't have too many mishaps this trip, except for me breaking two bottles of jam, one in front of the fridge, and the replacement jar in the checkout lane at the grocery store. Jeez, I'm such a doofus. Exept for putting hubby's salad in the fridge and turning it upside down on the floor, yep, same spot where I spilled the jam, and driving my car over the curb at Shoe Zoo yesterday, we did pretty good. Well I did squirt my pepperoncini all over her shirt in the restaurant last night when I took a bite.

I'm still not back in my groove yet, I did make a quick page this afternoon for Kylie, Ryan and Lindsay's cute little next door neighbor. She loves Yorkies and thought Maggie was adorable, so I snapped their picture and made this page. Sweet little girl + sweet little dog = sweet little page.

That's it from Heavensville tonight, gang. I'm off to bubble bath and an early bed with a great read.

Hubby is working the next few days, so I'll be on here, scouting out the good stuff for you. Check back...

~ jan

Meet Lucy.....

Isn't she a sweetheart? Lucy, Nisha's Cocker Spaniel is eleven years old now, and she just loves Maggie's bed. Maggie however, hates her new bed and refuses to have anything to do with it.

We thought about posting pictures of Nisha and Charlie, but nah, the dog is much more photogenic...

They're going home tomorrow, so I'll be back with my regular nonsense. My blogs have been pretty sparse lately, I've been busy, girlfriends....

CYA 'round the water cooler, this time, tomorrow...

I'm a busy little bee....

I made Ramona's Butterfly Garden Salad with Poppyseed Dressing for Nisha today. It's so good, and it's in the Spring Fling section of this blog, just look in the left sidebar. I wish I would have reminded all of you about the Spring Fling recipes before Easter, lots of goodies there, you might want to check it out. Here's a quick CLICK...

No time to blog, I'll get back on here later when things quiet down...

Such a good day...

Trish brought her granddaughter, Larkin, over this morning. Oh, isn't she adorable in her "Easter Dress."

Check out the little red purse, she looked so cute, girlfriends, there is nothing like a precious little girl to make your day. She's nineteen months old now, oh I just can't get over how that little purse is strapped across her like a mini messenger bag.

I was giving Maggie a bath, Larkin's big eyes were watching her, and she went home and told her Daddy that the dog was all wet...




Maggie and I then visited my friend, Bettye, in the nursing home where I managed to once again lock my keys in the car. Trish had to come rescue me with another set of keys.

Marti and I went to dinner, then went to her son's house where he has the cutest little ten month old boy you've ever seen. No pictures of him, darn it. He smiled and laughed and romped in the living room. It was just wonderful.

And that was my day. It was a good Easter, totally unplanned, sometimes those are the best.

Nisha and Charlie are coming to visit tomorrow. Nish is on spring break, so they will be here for a few days. I'll update you all later, lots to tell, good recipes to share from our trip. Just no time.

I've got an Easter goodie for you ladies...

This is a clip from the Easter Parade, circa 1948, starring Fred Astaire. You'lll love the hats and the fleurs at the florist shop...

Notes from the cow pasture...

In between feeding, and milking the cows and churning butter, there's no time to blog.... That's life in Kentucky this week. You do realize this is just my lame attempt at humor, I don't really feed or milk those cows...

We're visiting Ryan and Lindsay in Versailles, John and Tonia are here, too. Now that baby boy has moved next to a cow pasture, you might say I'm in hog cow heaven, enjoying the sunshine, checking out the back forty, umm back acre, I do tend to stretch it a bit, don't I?

We have, however, walked out to see the cows, Maggie shaking my arms. She's not to sure if she likes those bovine, especially when they moo.

Back home in Indiana in the morning, so check back tomorrow, I'll have more time to post.

I'm gone now, time to ring the cowbell. *giggle*

When in Rome Kentucky...

THINGS I HAVE LEARNED FROM VISITING KENTUCKY

Possums sleep in the middle of the road with their feet in the air.

Onced and Twiced are words.

It is not a shopping cart; it is a buggy.

People actually grow and eat okra.

"Fixinto" is one word.

There is no such thing as "lunch." There is only dinner and then there

is supper.

Iced tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when

you're two. We do like a little tea with our sugar!

Backards and forwards means "I know everything about you."

DJeet? is actually a phrase meaning "Did you eat?"

You don't have to wear a watch because it doesn't matter what time it

is. You work until you're done or it's too dark to see.

You measure distance in minutes.

"Fix" is a verb. Example: "I'm fixing to go to the store."

You know what a "DAWG" is.

You carry jumper cables in your car . . . for your OWN car.

There are only own four spices: salt, pepper, Tabasco and ketchup.

The local papers cover national and international news on one page,

but require 6 pages for local gossip and sports.

The first day of deer season is a national holiday.

100 degrees Fahrenheit "a little warm."

We have four seasons: Almost Summer, Summer, still Summer and Christmas.

Going to Wal-mart is a favorite past time known as "goin' Wal-martin"

or off to "Wally World."

A cool snap (below 70 degrees) is good pinto-bean weather.

A carbonated soft drink isn't a soda, cola or pop . . . it's a Coke,

regardless of brand or flavor. Example: "What kinda coke you want?"

Fried catfish is the other white meat.

We don't need no stinking driver's ed . . . if our mama says we can

drive, we can drive.

EVERYONE can't be a Kentuckian; it takes talent. You might say it's an

art form or a gift from God!

Something you just have to see...

Robin from BirdTweets sent me this video, so of course I snagged it for all of you to see. You just won't believe this horse! Patches is amazing...

Yikes, we need a boat!!!

We've had seven inches of rain in Heavensville since yesterday! Everything fine with us, but poor Hooterville is flooded out. We got up at 6am and came to Versailles, poured the whole trip.

Linds and LC are working in the garage, I'm watching an Oprah rerun, and they are talking about the biggest mistake women make is buying clothes by size, not by fit. Egads, how many times have I poured myself into a number instead of wearing what actually fits! Queen of Denial here, how about you? I created a little poll in the left sidebar, be honest now, it's anonymous, it should be interesting to see what the rest of you do...

Later gators...

~ jan

Smile. you're on Candid Camera...

Do we have to do this right now, I'm trying to bury this chewie!!!
Ya, ya, I know my new haircut is cute, I know I smell good,
I know I'm soft and have no tangles.... Jeez, Mom...

*giggle*

Not exactly Trigger or Buttermilk, but...

Since we're heading to Lexington, horse country, I thought i would post a horse video for you. It's from a recent Ellen show. I'm a huge Ellen fan, I think she is so funny and talented

Watch Ellen's face when she is on Roxie, she is just beaming.

My day never got better...

Poor Mags got stuck at the groomer's until 4:30 because the vet was in surgery and couldn't administer the shots they insisted on that I didn't want her to have in the first place. I did make them space them all out, and she didn't have a reaction, but she is one tired little puppy. And I was one fidgety Yorkie mom. I didn't want her in a cage all day, so I wasn't too happy. Just ask Marti and Trisher, they heard me whine about it this afternoon. Went to pick her up and they brought her out with a green shamrock bow in her hair, no it wasn't cute, it was hokey...

My day didn't get any better, I colored my hair, Loreal Natural Instincts, Golden Blonde, WRONG WRONG WRONG, it's ASH, not a bit of golden to it. So I'll be washing it with Tide tomorrow.

Miz Scarlett is gonna go to bed with a sweet smelling little dog, after I yank that darned silly bow outta her topknot.... Maybe read, probably just go to sleep...

Tomorrow, tomorrow, it's only a day away...

Just another day in paradise..

An early morning in Heavensville for me, took Maggie Moo for her groom at 7am. Why they want here there that early is beyond me, she's a snoozer, she never gets up before 10 a.m., so I had to drag her out of bed, hand feeding her kibble on the way over.

Then back home, where I managed to lock the keys in the car - BOTH SETS!!! Oh great. I thought we would have to call a locksmith, but I went online and found out that if you take the VIN number (you can see the VIN number on your dash through your windshield) to the car dealer, along with proof of identification, they can make you a new key. So I called them up, sure enough, they do it for only ten dollars. So, if any of you ever do this, it's good to know. Lots cheaper than a locksmith coming out...

Hubby and I are cleaning today, shampooing carpets, oh what a fun day we're having...

Mom's Noodles...

I scrapped this recipe to go with Ryan's Chicken Noodle Soup. It really is Mom's Noodles.

She always made them by guess, but a few years ago, we made them together, measured everything, and this is the result. I've made them countless times, rarely make just one batch, I usually double this, sometimes triple it if the kids are home and we are making chicken and noodles. But if you just want them for soup, then one batch will do it. They are fast to put together, and so good you will never want package noodles again.

You can access this recipe at Milly Scraps. It's in the RECIPE section, in the Rice, Beans and Pasta Section.

Here's a quick CLICK if you want to access it directly. Homemade really is better, and it's not that much effort...


You can save yourself a lot of work if you buy a noodle cutter. I found this one on Amazon, it's called a Pasta Bike, and it's adjustable. I have no idea if it's a goodie or not, but you might want to check it out. Here's the CLICK!

You can usually find noodle cutters in kitchen shops, too.

St. Patrick's Day...

We all know that corned beef and cabbage is traditional on St. Paddy's Day. It's hubby's favorite, but not mine, my favorite is Colcannon. Sometimes called Bubble 'n Squeak when meat is added, Colcannon is just a mixture of mashed potatoes and shredded cooked cabbage. So easy, so good, total comfort food.

I've posted the recipe on Jan Can Cook, if you're interested, check it out HERE.

Sometimes you gotta know when to fold 'em...

Back in the day when a lot of you were listening to The Beatles and The Stones, I was listening to The Righteous Brothers. Oh yeah, Ebb Tide, Unchained Melody, Dream On, Rock 'n Roll Heaven, oh I was right there, groovin' to the beat... oh, that sounds so corny now, but that's what we used to say...

You're my soul and my life's inspiration
You're all I've got to get me by
You're my soul and my life's inspiration
Without you baby, what good am I

The years passed, Bobby Hatfield was found in his hotel room in 2003, dead from cocaine, and way past old enough to have known better. This year Bill Medley, now sixty-seven, released a new album, Damn Near Righteous. I ordered it from the library, and today I gave it a "spin."

OMG, that old tomcat should have given it up years ago. It was possively HORRIBLE. His gravely voice sounds more like a wounded polecat these days and he just can't cut it without Bobby. I just can't tell you how awful this cd was. Unlike Willie Nelson, who still has it, IMO, this old guy needs to head to out to Palm Springs to the Rock 'n Roll Retirement Home and give it up... Don't waste your time or money ladies, this one is a bummer...

I guess women aren't the only ones who have trouble with aging, poor ole' feller, he's lost it, too..

Tarzan and Jane have left the jungle

I awoke this morning to my computer going "ding, ding, ding" - it was my GoogleTalk, John was typechatting me. He and Tonia are at the airport in Johannesburg now, getting ready to fly home.

John said they had the most amazing experiences while on safari. They went out for two runs daily, four to five hours each time, and they would have an hour and a half bush walk. They saw the big five, elephants, tigers, lions, rhino and buffalo. Tons of giraffes and their babies, herds of elephants, a leopard sleeping in a tree. They got charged by an elephant, and the guide had to gun the jeep and make a run for it. He said to see a herd of elephants with their babies off in the bush is just breathtaking. They saw lion cubs too.

Their lodge wasn't busy at all, they had their own bungalow, only twelve other people were there. He said it was super service, wonderful accommodations, their bed was draped with mosquito netting. It was definitely the trip of a lifetime. Normally they are ready to come back to the USA, but not this trip. They would have loved to have stayed longer.

They will be home at noon tomorrow, I can't wait for the pictures. They took a ton of them and video, too. I'm sure I'll have some to post on the blog.

And that's my morning, it was a wonderful way to wake up....

One finally finished...

FINALLY, one down, one to go. This is Ryan's Chicken Soup Recipe - it's so much better than mine, because he cooks it in broth.

You can access it at Milly Scraps, in the Recipe Section, under Soups and Salads.

Notice the Peeps looking chick at the bottom right in the page. That's the one I just got in Lexington at SteinMart - it's really BIG, looks great sitting on the edge of my counter. I wanted one last year, and they sold all of them, so I snapped this right up. He's made of some kind of foam, and even cuter than he looks in this layout...

I asked Linds what we should name the chicken, we name everything in our family, and she said "Little." So that's his name, Little...

Here's a quick click to the recipe...

Next up is Mom's Noodles to go with the soup... And yes, that's the real bowl of soup in the picture, I took it last week when I made it for sick hubby.

~ jan

Just a lazy day...

My buddy V imbedded the Starbucks Skinny Latte bug in my pea brain this morning. She wanted to pick one up, bring it to me, and at the time my tummy didn't feel like it. But I needed to go to the library this afternoon, and it was wet and cold, and by that time it sounded like a great idea, so Mags and I tooled thru the Bucks, me for a latte, her for a Milkbone, then we went to Burdette, sat in the rain, watched the ducks and chilled - she crunched, I slurped... Worked for us...

Distressed papers from everydaystockphoto.com
2peas bowwow fonts & 2 peas oldtype fonts
nancy comelab photo frames
mojackson tape
katie pertiet watery words

I'm baaaaaack....

You have to see this....

This is quite possibly the sweetest video I've ever seen. Jean sent it to me this morning. Oh, every little boy should have a dog just like this one, and every dog should have this little boy. Talk about tugging at your heartstrings.... It's a goodie, ladies, enjoy... And turn on your speakers, Barry croons to perfection in this darling little video...

How things have changed...

Remember when your kids were small and they would have little friends over for birthday parties, and play silly games like pin the tail on the donkey and you would make cupcakes and Koolaid for them.

Well, Toto, we aren't in Kansas anymore... My friend Cyn sent me the text of her daughter, Alisha's party invitation today. Alisha is five and the little girl whose Mother is having the birthday party is six. They are having it at Dikri Sinclairs a chi chi poo poo children's shop in Heavensville.

Kaleigh's 
Spa Tea Party Birthday
 
Please join me in a cup of tea,
it's my 6th birthday you see.
 
Terry robes and yummy things,
tea cakes, truffles, games and rings.
 
Glitter gels in glamour pails,
cucumbered eyes and painted nails.
 
Polished toes, covered with flowers,
pampered fun for a whole two hours.

Spa Tea Party?  Terry robes, cucumbered eyes, truffles?  For five and six year olds???

To heck with the kids, I want to go to that party!!!!!

It was a good day...

I took Maggie with me to get my haircut and then we visited an elderly friend in the nursing home. The visit started off with a smile, when they were loading an elderly patient into a van to transport her to the doctor. She was in a wheelchair, on oxygen, and she saw Maggie and just went ballistic. "Ohhhhh, let me see her, ohhhhhh I had a Yorkie and had to get rid of her when I came here." "I don't WANT to go to the doctor, I want to stay here and hold this dog." "I'm in room 172, bring her back to see me" she yelled as she was being wheeled into the van and I assured her that we would be back. She had snatched Mags right out of my arms, and did not want to give her back. It was just priceless...

Needless to say Miss Margaret MooLatte was the hit of the day. She had on her little yellow hoodie with a purple flowered twistie in her topknot, and we were stopped countless times for pets and cuddles. One woman apparently was a stroke victim, she couldn't talk but she was mumbling to me and trying to gesture with her hands. I took Maggie and put her little face next to that lady's cheek, and she was smiling and her eyes were just dancing with excitement, she was so happy to feel that little furbaby against her skin. When we arrived at Bettye's room, she practically jumped out of her chair she was so excited to see her. She said that it was nice of me to visit, too but she was REALLY glad I brought the dog. She and Maggie are old friends, so Maggie cuddled right down on her lap where she stayed the entire time we visited.

Bettye sat in her winged chair, and I sat directly in front of her in her wheelchair (the only seating available) with her feet propped up in my lap and Maggie stretched out on her legs, snoozing away the afternoon. We talked and laughed, and I gave her a foot massage and life was good. That's all it takes sometimes to make your world a little brighter, just to go outside yourself and do something nice for someone. I took her a big yellow soft fuzzy duck for Easter, lots of Cadbury Eggs and Peeps and jelly beans, she was just thrilled...

So, no scrapbooking accomplished as I had planned, but today Plan B worked much better for me...

A nice spot to land...

Before LC left for work this morning, he tucked Maggie under the throw for a nap. She just settled right in. Lazy little dog, she snoozes her days away.

You'll probably be seeing a lot of Maggie this spring. Makes me smile just to click on my blog and see pictures of this sweet little face.

An Africa update from the kids...

John and Tonia called Wednesday, they are having a great trip. John says the infrastructure of Cape Town and the modernization of the buildings and highways puts our cities to shame.

Flowers are abundant, so many species, vivid colors, lots of palm trees, ocean breezes. They took a day trip and saw penguins. I don't quite get that, penguins in a tropical climate, but they saw them. They were warned to keep their car locked or monkeys would hop in the car with them.

They are now staying at a Game Reserve in Kruger National Park, Lukimi Safari Lodge in Sabi Sands. They will be there until Sunday, when they fly home. They were really excited about this leg of their journey as they will go on safari twice daily. They will undoubtedly have some amazing pictures to share when they come home. I asked if Tonia had been on an elephant yet, and John said no way, all the elephants are wild, not ridable.

I linked to where they are staying, so click on the Lumbiki Lodge link above or just click HERE if you are interested in seeing what they are up to...

We are heading to Lexington next week, LC has three days off, and John and Tonia will be joining us there on Friday, so we'll get all the details...

That comfort food did the trick...

The Shells & Cheese were sublime last night. We fixed a simple little meal that's been a favorite since we were first married, fish sticks, peas and macaroni and cheese, ummmm....

We took a ride after dinner to Burdette Park. We sat in the car with Maggie chewing on her Flossie, while hubby and I watched the fat white ducks that were paddling around in the water. The buds are swelling on the trees now, the crocus are blooming, the renewal of spring is in the air.

Back home, LC ran laps around the living room with Mags barking at his heels, and I threw her fuzzy donut and she chased it and romped like a little doggie possessed.

Robin from Bird Tweets and I had a email marathon going back and forth, a little fairy tale of sorts about running away to the country to a little stone house and raising a gadzillion Yorkies, naming them all fleur names. Oh we had some good ones, Rosebud, Violet, Daffodil, Daisy, Iris, Poppy, Lily and my favorite, Clover... It was a nice distraction... Robin is a great new friend.

And then to bed with a new feather pillow that scrunched up just perfectly under my neck. Maggie and I shared an orange before we went to sleep, and when I awoke this morning I was lying there listening to LC and Mags snoring softly and I am so grateful that I have them.

Anyone out there who has an older dog, I urge you to get another one now, don't wait. You can never replace one dog with another, but oh when the time comes, it makes it so much easier to bear. You may think that your dog won't accept a new pup, but you might be surprised. Veronica told me this week that she thought Maggie breathed life into Munchie and willed her to live longer. I so agree with this, the Munchkin was wild about her, mothered her, played with her. It took awhile, though, the breeder told me that she should accept her after about three weeks, and that's just how it played out. Such good memories...

And so today, this rainy Friday, I'm going for a haircut, then finish a couple of scrapbooking pages for Mom's Noodles and Ryan's chicken soup and publish them. So check back later, they're both a good thing...

Moving forward, one day at a time, one foot prosthetic foot in front of the other...

Ohhhhh, lame attempt at humor, sorry just couldn't resist. Hmmmm, maybe some of my spunk is starting to surface.

I'm legal again, Billie Jean, (Billie is Hooterville's friend and she's a jailer, who told me I could go to the clink for driving on an expired license) today I renewed my expired driver's license and ordered "THE BED."

Thanks to everybody who voted in the poll, I bought the Interlude with the wraparound footboard, no canopy even though I would have loved it, I decided that it was just too heavy for my room.

I haven't spent much time at home, and Maggie has been out with us for the past two days. She makes everybody she sees smile. I took her in the drivers license branch, all the women were just beaming at her... She wriggles her whole little body toward them for a cuddle, she's really good at hamming it up and getting attention...

EVERYBODY has a dog story, to tell. There is this lady that works at T. J. Maxx that I really like. She's a big lady, with the loveliest mahogony skin, and she knows Maggie well as I take her in there with me often. She always yells out, "there's that sweet little dog" and comes over to pet her. When she scoops her up in her arms, she just totally envelops her. It's so cute... Maggie rains kisses on her face and she throws back her head and just laughs with joy. She was telling me yesterday about her dog passing away and she was so frantic when she found him that she called 911. The police actually came and helped her, too. It's heartwarming to hear stories like that.

And that's it from Heavensville tonight. I'm going to have Lindsay's comfort food for dinner, Kraft Shells & Cheese. Usually works for me, too, here's to hopin...

~ jan

I thought we could all use a smile...

Thanks so much to all of you who have emailed, called, and commented, it helps so much to know you are all thinking of me and remembering Munchie.

Trish has a new wagon for her granddaughter, and we plopped her London and my Maggie in it this afternoon and took them for a walk. It was a lovely day, mid 60's, sunny, and we all enjoyed being out in the fresh air. It's nice to know that even at the worst of times that these little dogs could make me smile. How many times have I said it ladies, "It's the simple things..."

And life goes on...

It's a sunny morning as we prepare to bury our precious Munchie on the hill beyond our patio. She will forever be in our thoughts, and in our hearts. She touched so many lives, and was loved by so many people, and we have such wonderful memories...

We had her only eleven years, a short life for a Yorkie, but Munchie was the product of a backyard breeder, a joyous little soul who developed an enlarged heart and bad joints due to her lineage. But as Maya Angelou said, "when we know better, we do better." I just didn't know better when we got Munchie, but not so with my Mags. Maggie comes from hearty stock, from a respected breeder. She's a healthy little dog and hopefully we won't be going through this with her until she's an old doggie lady.

And so I'll return to my silly nonsense on this blog, because that is what I do, I dwell on the positive, not the negative, but oh dear readers, my heart is so heavy this morning...

Goodbye, my sweet little dog, you are soaring with the angels now...

This is the hardest entry I've ever posted...

Munchie died today. There are no words...

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Here we go again....

Yet another middle-aged politician gets caught with his tallywhacker in the nookie jar. Today it was the Governor of New York, and once again, like all the others before him, and there have been MANY lately, his long-suffering wife is by his side while he wriggles and squirms at a press conference, apologizing to everybody from his family, to his dog, to the homeless guy at the corner of 5th and Vine.

Why do these women stand by their man like this? WHY, WHY, WHY??? It just makes me want to GAG!!! These woman have to be furious, but why do they feel the need to help redeem their sleazeball husbands in public, when they should be kicking their sorry asses six ways to to Sunday.

Oh,this really frosts my cake, can you tell??? Hey, wifey wasn't around while the guy was playing hanky-panky, so wifey should stay home when he tries to make amends, which he can't do, because he has lost all credibility. He should have to stand on his own and face people, instead of running home to mama and hauling her out in public to hold his hand while he airs his dirty laundry.

I can understand these weak men trotting out their sad, depressed wives to try and get sympathy, but what I CAN'T understand is why any woman would stand up in public with these weasels. If it were me, no way would I do that and he would be making his plea for sympathy with cat scratches all over his face, black eyes and missing teeth!!!

MEN SCHMEN!!!

Mrs. Hughes is just priceless!!!

Mrs. Hughes is a total HOOT! I laughed so hard at this silly comedian, oh get your Puffs Plus ready, ladies, you will laugh til' you cry.

~ jan

Still laughing...

Cuz sent me this tonight - omg, this is SO me....

If I can't be a good example -- then I'll just have to be a horrible warning.

Random thoughts about... what else... food!

I made hubby corned beef yesterday - coughed up the extra $$ and bought a round instead of a brisket - I'll never buy brisket again, the round was totally lean, and since I cooked it in the slow cooker, it was very moist - HOW? Rinse the corned beef, put in the spice packet, fill the crock halfway with water, add a large sliced onion and a few cloves of crushed garlic, cook 10 hours on low - 3 hours before the 10 are up, duh, Jan, that would be after 7 hours, add cabbage wedges, baby carrots and halved red potatoes - amazing meal, no trouble, leftovers... don't forget the horseradish and pumpernickel bread.

If you are a regular reader, you know that I am a bean lover, ADORE them, I've been on a chickpea (garbanzo bean) kick lately, eat them out of the can, cook dry garbanzos in chicken broth and onions, put them in salads right out of the can, or drain them, saute them in a little bit of olive oil until crunchy, and use instead of croutons.

Making my own dressing lately, dijon mustard, rice vinegar, bit of honey, salt pepper and EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) - whisk, simple, easy - don't measure, just do it...

Been missing cooking lately, tonight I was going to warm the corned beef, make hubby twice-baked potatoes - wrong - those redskins were too thin - I waved them, tried scooping, no can do, they were falling apart - just threw them in a bowl, mashed them with potato masher, peelings and all - added the sauteed red peppers, mushrooms and onion that I had cooked down in a bit of butter, put in a big dollop of low fat sour cream, some fat free half and half, cheddar cheese - baked them in a casserole - same taste, no bother - love potato skins.

Back to the beans, told you it was random - I'm a huge fan of refried beans, never knew how to make them, never really thought much about it, always get them at the Mexican Truck Stop (El Charro, local restaurant) - they have the best in the world. Finally took the time to read about them - just cook dried pintos in water until they are tender - drain them, then in a large skillet, put a couple of tablespoons of bacon grease (or olive oil if you are being healthy, true refried beans are cooked in lard) - I'm going to do the bacon grease, 2 tablespoons isn't much for a whole lb. of beans, anyhoo, melt the bacon grease, add the beans and a bit of water, mash with a potato masher, and "fry." Hence "refried beans." How about that??? Keep adding water if they get too thick, thats it, simple, I'm going to try it.

Watched bobble head today on FoodTv (Everyday Italian, Giada whatever her name is, skinny little be-otch irritates the crap outta me, I don't trust skinny cooks, notice I said "cook", no way some of these people on FoodTv are chefs, IMO). Anyhoo, she made cupcakes from a cake mix, and then she made a mixture of marscapone cheese, strawberries, sugar and lemon, whirred in in a food processor, and using a pastry bag and tip, pushed the tip into the cooled cupcake and squirted it full of filling. Sounds to die for.

Made hubby a cherry pie, not really, Pillsbury Already Piecrust that needed to be used, a couple of cans of cherry pie filling, milk and sugar on the top crust, bake it and he has.... PIE! No butter though, poor hubby, he doesn't need it dotted with butter even though it would taste better. I like almond flavoring in it, couldn't find it, probably in the back of the spice cabinet where I can't reach. Oh well... He doesn't even like cherry pie, I do.... *blushing* He'll eat it though, he likes anything that's hot and sweet. That's why he's been batshit crazy about me all these years. Oh, laughing so hard my sides are splitting. Fever is getting to my brain...

Never know how much I love you, you never know how much I care
When you put your arms around me, I get a feeling that I just can't bear
You give me fever, when you kiss me, fever when you hold me tight
Fever in the morning, fever all through the night.

Thanks to the internet, my world this week is a whole lot smaller...

I was sitting at the computer, my GoogleTalk dings, it's John, in Cape Town, typechatting me, telling me that he and Tonia are fine, having a great time and that they had been to Table Mountain today and then to the beach to watch the sunset. So of course I Googled Table Mountain, here's the LINK. It's just amazing, to be able to visit this website, see the aerial photography, and actually visualize what they saw today. Just amazing...

It's a wonderful thing to be in touch with your kids when they are on the other side of the world, and to chat in real time and to do it FREE. It's absolutely mindblowing when you think about it... It's a REALLY good thing...

These sound amazing...

I don't actually make this stuff, but I sure would like to. This recipe for Auntie Em's Coconut Cupcakes looks positively mouthwatering. Mother always made white cupcakes at Easter time, then fashioned a birdnest on top of coconut tinted with green food coloring, and jelly beans nestled inside.

These look like they would be great for spring... I'm all grown up now, I can do without the green tint and the jelly beans...

I found this recipe in the food section of the L.A. Food Times, and posted it for you over on Jan CAN Cook.

Here's the CLICK