Having a Little Fun!

Today was one I’ve been waiting for, now, for about a month; took our cat to the vet’s for another check up and he’s doing good! The vet’s report: “Looks like the food is doing him good!” They checked him out and reported that there was no obstruction and very few crystals, so I was just thrilled!  So thrilled, in fact, that I went on a mini-shopping spree! (Actually, it was more of a “treat Pammie” spree). Came home with three nice pairs of earrings (Big Lots: they were a set and very reasonable: $3.00), a new container for my knitting supplies in my ‘carry everywhere’ knitting bag (for scissors, tiny ruler, crochet hook) from the St. Vincent de Paul thrift shop (for $1) and my last little find: Almond Chocolate Biscotti on sale for $3 at our local drug store! Yep, I’m a ‘cheap treats’ person, but it made me happy, so all’s good!

Finished another afghan yesterday, #209, and am ‘on to bigger and better things’…(actually, just #210….grin).

Tonight’s dinner is homemade chicken noodle soup which I have to get making very soon, as I like to let the chicken get to the ‘fall off the bone’ stage before using it in the soup.  Was able to obtain a really (in my humble opinion) fantastic, yummy treat recipe and thought I’d share it with you. WARNING: It’s very rich, but VERY yummy!

Reese’s No-Bake Squares

2 1/2 C. powdered sugar

2 1/2 C. graham cracker crumbs

1  1/3 C. peanut butter

1 C. melted butter

12 oz. chocolate chips, melted

–

Mix together powdered sugar and graham cracker crumbs. Add peanut butter and melted butter; mix well.  Press into a 9 X 13 baking pan. Pour melted chocolate chips over top and spread around to cover top. Refrigate 15 minutes or so (NOT until hard), then cut into small squares.

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My youngest came home from a youth outing, brought one of these home and shared it with me. Of course I IMMEDIATELY wanted the recipe … it was gooey (could have been because it was in his hot hands?), peanut buttery, and nicely chocolatey! I have another recipe similar to this one, but that one comes out about 1/4 inch thick; the above recipe comes out about 3/4 inches thick!  Believe me…it’s worth making them (forget the calories…they all fall off when you cut the squares! …. wink).

Going into this weekend I have a bridal shower tomorrow at church for two of our choir members who are also friends of ours (well…the groom has been like another one of my ‘kids’), so it ought to be a fun adventure! They’re planning a January wedding (Brrrrrrr!). Before I go to the shower I have to help youngest bake a pan of brownies, as he’s attending a Chili CookOff and the teens are required to make (or at least ‘help’ make a dessert…he chose brownies, as that’s HIS favorite dessert!).

It’s shaping up like a fun weekend; our weather’s been a bit ‘goofy’ but I’m happy…it’s been chilly (in the 30’s & 40’s) with some rain, some gloomy days, BUT….NO SNOW so far! (It was predicted that we were supposed to get ’scattered flurries’ Weds & part of Thurs, but they didn’t appear…YAY!!!).

Enjoy your weekend; stay warm, eat something YOU like (brownies/biscotti/bagel?) along with a nice, hot steaming cup of your favorite beverage….gotta stay cosy, remember?

Hugs;

Pammie

Sure Looks Like Fall!

The leaves around here are now mostly on the ground; the weather has taken a decidedly chilly turn, with grey days filled with light winds and rain. That’s OK, it’s what’s supposed to happen right around now. Halloween, for us, was un-eventful; we live on a main road (45 mph speeds) so we don’t get trick-or-treaters, haven’t for many, many years.

The Harvest Party last week for my special needs group went very well; we had a roomfull of people (students/caregivers/parents) who seemed to really enjoy themselves. We went through a ton of chips & hot cheese, cider/pop and cookies. We had so much donated candy that each student went home with two small bags full! It was a busy, fun evening, for sure!

Tonight is our church’s “Ladies Fellowship” which consists of a light supper and devotional speaker. This time my alphabetical grouping (L-Z) is to bring a salad (the others, A-K)  are bringing dessert). I’m not a great ’salad’ maker for parties, so I relied on a recipe found on-line:

Apple Cole Slaw

3 C. chopped cabbage

1 unpeeled red apple, cored & chopped

1 unpeeled Granny Smith apple, cored & chopped

1 carrot, grated

1/2 C. finely chopped red bell pepper

2 green onions, chopped

1/3 C. mayonnaise

1/3 C. brown sugar

1 T. lemon juice, or to taste

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In large bowl, combine cabbage, apple, carrot, bell pepper and onions. In small bowl mix together mayonnaise, brown sugar and lemon juice. Pour dressing over salad and toss. Refrigerate for 1 hour and serve chilled.

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Note: You could also add chopped pecans, raisins, poppy seeds or mandarine orange segments.

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It’s been kind of ‘touch & go’ lately with our cat; another trip to the vets Friday for a re-check found that his urinary tract was blocked again (for the third time). I called my husband to ask just how to proceed. He said go ahead with another catheterization, but this is the last time. I fully understand; it’s been almost a month of vet checks and he isn’t really getting ‘over the hump’.  As I’ve said before, we can’t afford the major surgery for him if he blocks up again.  It’s a hard call to make, but sometimes you just have to do the ‘hard things’. We’re just watching and waiting at this point, hoping that somehow his system will finally clear itself.

Other than that, it’s been rather calm around here; finished afghan #208 Saturday and now working on 209. Visited the chiropractor today and my back is staying stable, which is a great thing-I’m not in pain. I’ve learned that, whether I like it or not, these visits are in my future regularly for me to maintain mobility and flexibility. Yep, I’m gettin’ older…sigh.

Enjoy your day;

Hugs;

Pam

Snuggle Down and Get Warm

It’s Columbus Day…one of those strange holidays that, these days, seem to be only used for large companies to hold “Columbus Day” Blow Out Sales. (just my opinion). I remember as a child studying about Christopher Columbus and his travels on the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria, then drawing little posters of the ships.  Today, to me, it’s : no bank, Post office, or library visits like I’d planned (before remembering this lovely holiday).  I have five library books to return (due tomorrow) and nothing to read (that I haven’t already read, that is). Not complaining…it’s time to find something ‘else’ to do today. Looks like laundry is first on the list, then sewing the last row on afghan #204 and crocheting the border.  Recently I’ve found two ‘new to me’ recipes which sounded good…see what you think:

Sour Cream Bundt Cake

2 C. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

1 3/4 C. sugar

2 large eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 C. sour cream

3 T. jam, optional

—–

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease and flour a 9 inch Bundt pan. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Cream butter and sugar until creamy. Beat in eggs, one at a time; add vanilla and sour cream and mix. Gently mix in flour. Spoon 1/3 of batter into pan, dot with jam if desired and top with remaining batter. Bake 60-70 minutes. Cool 5  minutes before unmolding onto a rack or plate; cool completely before cutting.

(recipe courtesy newspaper flyer, 10/11/09)

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Pumpkin Pie Cake

1 (29 ounce) can pumpkin
1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. pumpkin spice
1 tsp. salt
1 (18.5 ounce) package yellow cake mix
3/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup chopped walnuts

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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking pan. In a medium bowl, mix the pumpkin, evaporated milk, sugar, eggs, cinnamon, pumpkin spice and salt.

Pour the mixture into the baking dish. Sprinkle cake mix over the pumpkin mixture. Drizzle with butter. Top with the chopped walnuts. Bake in the preheated oven 50 to 60 minutes. Cool before serving.

(recipe from one of my recipe lists on the ‘net…

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Holiday_Express/

from  recipes and gift mixes to crafts….all holidays and parties

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Both of these recipes sounded yummy to me; it’s chilly and gloomy out today (no rain, thank heavens!) so I guess I’m in one of those ’snuggle up warmly at home and hibernate’ moods. Am putting a pork roast in the crockpot a little later today along with a can of  cranberry jelly; that always imparts a nice sweet/sour taste to the meat. Will probably have potatoes and carrots along with that for dinner…nice, warm ‘comfort’ food for a chilly day.

Hope you’re having a WARM, cosy day today…enjoy yourself a little, maybe treat yourself to a cup of cocoa or coffee? Just a thought…

Hugs;

Pammie

Clothes, Cooking & Cars!

While ‘out and about’ yesterday I happened upon the most glorious thing – a wondrous garage sale! Wondrous because the ladies running it were just having it to ‘get rid’ of ’stuff’, which was very much to my benefit. They had a sign which read: “Fill a bag for $1.00″…this was on their clothing items and, Momma, did I make a haul! Let’s see if I can recall the total number of items: 2 very nice Spring/Fall jackets, a winter hat, 2 boxes of very nice stationary (something people don’t use much these days), 3 ‘every day’ tops, 2 sweaters, 5 embroidered sweatshirts, and 7 (all white) fancy church blouses with varied embelishments like lace, pearls and/or embroidery. I made my ‘pile’ then asked “How much for all this?”  They responded: “How about $3.00?” After trying to convince them it should be much more, I gave them $4.00 and went home a very happy woman! There was a story behind all the very nice white blouses: it seems their mother worked as a Supervisor at KMart and all supervisors were required to wear white tops; all I can say is, their  Mom had some very nice taste in tops! This garage saling adventure was also spurred on by a comment last Wednesday from a friend who, after observing my casual clothing, said: “Pam, you’re going to have to invest in some new clothes here…the ones you’re wearing are way too big!” (and she was right). I had been in a bit of a hurry and grabbed a top and matching cotton slacks and threw them on; I thought they went together well, albeit they WERE too large. Even my husband commented that I needed to find smaller clothes. Yes, I’ve lost another 5 lb. but am not ‘working at it’ like I was 3 years ago when diagnosed as Type 2 diabetic (at that time I lost 50 lb.). I’ve still got quite a ways to go, now weighing 180 and could probably get down another 25 lb. to a healthier weight and size, but it’s kinda nice to know that you need to wear smaller clothes. I’ve always been ‘large’…and at times, XLarge (size 22; am now between 16-18). As I used to joke: I was born at 175 lb.!  Anyway, I digress…me thinks I’ll be looking for more garage sales in the near future-hey, it’s almost the end of the ‘garage sale season’! It’s not often you find a place like the one above mentioned, though…or find nice clothes at really reasonable prices; it was definitely a blessing!

Just so you don’t think I’m just rambling on about anything that comes to mind, I thought of you and found another easy recipe which works nicely when you need something quick to ‘make and take’ to a breakfast/luncheon, etc.

Bubble Nut Ring

1 loaf frozen bread dough (or 36 count frozen dinner rolls)

1 small pkg. butterscotch pudding mix

1/2 C. brown sugar

1/2 C. chopped nuts

1 tsp. cinnamon (or more)

8 T. melted margarine

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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place melted margarine in a small bowl or pie tin.  Pull off pieces of bread dough and roll into 2-inch balls, making approximately 32.  Mix all ingredients together (except melted margarine) and place in a separate bowl or pie tin.  Spray Bundt pan (or Angel food cake-type tube pan) with non-stick cooking spray.  Place melted margarine in a bowl or pie tin. Dip dough balls into melted margarine, then into dry mixture. Place balls into bundt pan, evenly layering as you go. Sprinkle any remaining dry mixture over top and pour extra melted margarine over top.  Let rise until doubled in size, then bake 20  minutes. Let cool before turning out onto a plate and serving.

(This was another of the simple recipes I taught the homeschool cooking class a few years ago; they loved the ‘end result’ of this one.)

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It’s Saturday, a ‘day of rest’ around here, so I’m going to ‘take it easy’ and probably finish a book I started yesterday, one in a series by Debbie McComber. This one is her latest “Knitting Group” book; the series catalogues the adventures and lives of members of a knitting group; to say that my knitting group loved the series is putting it mildly – we ALL love her books. Also planning on arranging more squares into future afghans; got a lovely email yesterday from a friend in my old knit group. She detailed that some of her friends are still knitting squares for me and ‘would I be so kind as to meet her at their church to pick up 3 paper bags and a garbage bag full of squares?” You bet! How neat! I wrote her that their ‘gift’ comes at just the right time, as my collection of squares is growing rather thin. (It usually does around the end of summer, as most people don’t knit in hot weather; the packages should pick up soon.) She made me feel like some sort of celebrity by saying that there is an 80 yr old lady in her church who knit most of the paper bag squares and she would like a picture of me with her squares; how nice, eh? Still working on #203; this one is taking a little longer as it is “a little longer”. This particular afghan (and one other I’ve already completed) consists of 7″ X 9” squares (my required size is 7 inches by 7 inches). Because these are rectangles instead of squares, I laid them on their long sides, 4 squares to a row and am sewing them together that way. The end product is a nice afghan, just not the same as the others but I’m sure the child receiving it will not complain that theirs is different; they all accomplish the same results . . . keeping someone warm and cosy.

It’s a grey, cloudy (and a bit chilly) beginning of the day – around 60 degrees; am hoping it warms up sufficiently later.

OH! Almost forgot to share our GOOD news! Middle son (he of the “multiple car troubles” episodes) has purchased a “new” (to him) vehicle: a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am…red with really ‘cool’ racing tire rims, black interior. Later today he’ll be selling his ‘free/gift’ Neon for $300, to a local dealership (it’s beginning to show signs of major problems – needs some sort of a seal, as it’s leaking oil big time). We’re thrilled for him (as a Mom, I’d have preferred a less ‘racy’ car, but he’s a guy and you know their attitudes on cars…Vrooom, Vroom!). It’s been an almost 2-week ordeal with him going to various dealerships; he’s checked out 2 foreign car places and the insurance was just too much for his age and budget, several (what I would call ’shady’) older car dealerships and I thank heavens the one deal fell through…I really didn’t trust the place OR the car! We kept telling him: “Go to a respectable dealership and ask for a used car with a warrantee”; he FINALLY listened and is very happy. That dealership even was able to locate an insurance company with much lower rates (but still in his requirements for the car), so he’ll be able to afford the loan, the insurance and still be able to afford paying for college classes; now THAT’S a blessing! He is now the proud owner of the NEWEST car in our entire family, older son included!

That’s the latest news around here; hope you have a great weekend! Remember to take a little time for yourself!

Hugs;

Pammie

“Apple Time”

Now that we’re cruising into Fall I thought I’d post a few apple recipes you might like to try:

Apple Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In large bowl add:

2 C. sugar

1  1/2  C. cooking oil

2 eggs

Beat these well then add:

3 C. flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

Mix together (this will be stiff) then add:

2-3 C. chopped apples

1 tsp. grated lemon rind (or lemon extract)

1/2 – 1  C. chopped nuts

Mix all ingredients well and pour into a 9 X 13 pan. Bake 50 minutes at 350 degrees F. After baking, let cake cool before frosting with:

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 (3 oz.) pkg. cream cheese (softened)

1 T. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

2  1/2 C. confectioner’s sugar

Blend together cream cheese, milk and vanilla and gradually add the confectioner’s sugar.

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Sour Cream Apple Pie

(my all-time favorite!)

3/4 C. sugar

2 T. flour

1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 C.  peeled and sliced apples

1 C. sour cream

1 egg

dash salt

(1 9 inch unbaked pie shell-or make your own crust)

—

Preheat oven 450 degrees F.

Combine all ingredients well and pour into a unbaked pie shell. Bake 10 minutes then turn down heat to 325 degrees F. and continue baking for an additional 25 minutes. (leave oven “on” to finish baking)

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Topping:

2 1/2 T. flour

2 1/2 T. brown sugar

1 T. butter

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

—

Sprinkle this mixture over the pie and bake another 25 minutes at 325 degrees F.  Let cool completely before serving; makes 1 9″ pie.

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I’m not sure if I’ve posted the Sour Cream recipe before (seems like I might have); we first had this tasty dessert in Frankenmuth, MI. at one of two very famous restaurants there (can’t remember which one-they’re both directly across the street from each other; the area is highly German and is famous for their chicken dinners).  I love this recipe because it’s both flavorful AND very creamy, due to the sour cream. It’s not a very sweet pie, either, which I really like; you get the apple flavor mixed with ‘creamy’… very tasty, I think!

Hope you’re having a great day; it’s Saturday, a ‘day of rest’…for the most part I’m going to try to do just that (amid doing a little laundry, emptying the dishwasher, knitting a bit, sewing more squares together on #201…perhaps reading one of two books I checked out at the library – more mysteries.)  Last night’s Gym Night went very well, however we didn’t have as many people attend as we’d planned for, hence there’s lots of cooked hot dogs, chopped onion and shredded cheese in my fridge today! (I had one for breakfast…don’t laugh! It’s protein!).

Anyway, I’ll close for now…enjoy your day!

Hugs;

Pammie

ps:  It’s a glorious sunny day today with a nice breeze blowing…just the kind of day to go to a football game! (youngest son is going in about an hour…guess who’s driving?).  Thermometer outside reads:  68 degrees F.

Happy Sunday

(not actual recipe photo, but very close)

Today is a gorgeous 76 degrees and sunny with a slight breeze – who could ask for a better late-Summer day? I’m finally feeling a bit more ‘rested’ after all the hassles of the past few weeks.  I wore my crocheted trellis ribbon necklace to church today over a plain black dress and it drew several compliments. I’m still amazed that there are more blog ‘hits’ per day on this blog specifically looking for that pattern than almost any other topic!  Working on the edging on another afghan (#197) and will probably start another one later one today.

What drew me to writing an entry today was a reader of this blog and friend of mine mentioned that I hadn’t featured any recipes in awhile. That got me to looking and what ‘popped up’ was my husband’s all-time favorite meal: Campbell’s “Souper Meat & Potato Pie”. This recipe was featured on the outside of a can of cream of mushroom soup many…MANY years ago and it’s still a great, easy recipe. If ever there was a ‘comfort food’ meal, this one’s it! It’s a giant meatloaf ‘frosted’ with mashed potatoes and shredded Cheddar cheese…Yum! (I will advise, when I make this I double it and put it in a 9 X 13 baking pan. We never have any leftovers).

“Souper Mean ‘N Potato Pie”

1 can (Campbell’s) cream of mushroom soup

1 lb. ground beef

1/4 C. finely chopped onion

1 egg, slightly beaten

1/4 C. fine dry bread crumbs

2 T. chopped parsley (I omit this)

1/4 tsp. salt

dash pepper

–

2 C. cooked mashed potatoes

1/4 C. shredded Cheddar cheese

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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix 1/2 can mushroom soup, ground beef, onion, egg, bread crumbs, parsley and seasonings. Press firmly into a 9 inch pie pan. Bake 25 minutes, then spoon off any fat. Frost top of meatloaf with the mashed potatoes, spread remaining soup on top then sprinkle cheese over top. Bake 10 minutes more, or until cheese is melted. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting, to avoid crumbling.

(NOTE: Campbell’s also suggests garnishing this with cooked sliced bacon, if desired. I’ve never tried that.)

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I love this recipe because it’s easy, rather quick and very fulfilling. I usually add garlic powder, a few dashes Worchestershire sauce, and use Italian bread crumbs (just because I like them). The cheese is usually Sharp Cheddar (shredded). I’ve made this so many times that I don’t need the recipe; usually there’s more than the alloted cheese, perhaps a bit more mashed potatoes, but there’s no complaints when this is ‘the dinner meal’.  Enjoy!

Hugs;

Pammie

Makin’ the Best of It

It’s been a hot week here and our air conditioner died…my husband said he thinks it’s the condenser?…it blows cold air then the outside fan just stops. Yesterday during a run to the Post Office I noticed that our local WalGreen’s drug store had a big sign out front saying: “All Fans 50% off”…so I stopped in and bought two small floor fans ($6.99 ea!) and 3 beach towels (3 for $9!)…told ya that drug stores have great sales!!!

It’s been too hot to sit with a ‘afghan in progress’ on my lap right now so I’ve taken up a few (new to me) projects. During the two years that my afghan project has been going I’ve received several crocheted squares with a very interesting pattern. When asking the sender the name of the pattern (and this has been 2-3 people), none of them seem to know the name (they only know how to do it!). It’s intrigued me for quite awhile and the other day I just decided to see if I could find it on ‘the net’…well, sadly my coping skills gave out before I located it. (translate that to: TONS of crochet patterns; you have to click on each ‘name’ before you get the photo (or not) of said pattern…I got REAL tired of the double clicking before even being able to see if it looked anything like the one I wanted…..sigh).  That led to me being my feisty self and deciding that I’d see what I could do to copy the pattern myself.  I give you the results:

I’m also working on loom-knitting a baby hat using some yarn that was just donated-it’s a Red Heart Baby Teri yarn that, when knit up, looks like the item is made out of terry cloth! Pretty neat! (sorry, no photo).

Just worked my way through the two library books and I would recommend both:

for light reading:

JoAnne Fluke  “The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder”

for a little deeper reading:

Ken Follett  “The Third Twin”

Ms. Fluke’s book was fun to read with ‘just the right amount’ of suspense and folly all mixed together and including some yummy sounding cookie recipes to boot! I’ve just reserved another of her books through the library and I’m sure it will be equally fun to read (she does all culinary murder/mystery books).

This week it seems I’ve managed to slightly throw my back out (AGAIN); it seems to happen about 1-2 times a year, sometimes worse, sometimes not. This time I can’t really say as I know ‘how’ I did it (sometimes I can pin point the cause…not this time).  It’s not totally debilitating, but it makes standing for any length of time not pleasant. I’ve learned to apply hot back compresses, take my ’standard’ (Doan’s Back Pills…over the counter), and sit or lie down as much as I can while also remembering not to lift anything heavier than a slice of toast  (look out for that gallon of milk – real pain hovering there in the distance if I do!). I’m OK; haven’t done much other than laundry (done very carefully and asking others to carry  clean baskets upstairs for me…wise woman!).

Our youngest is due back from his missions trip to GA. some time either very late Saturday night (in the a.m. sometime) or early Sunday, depending on when we get the “Come pick me up” phone call.  It has been strange here this week;  none of us has felt like eating much due to the high humidity. I did try a (new to me) product the other day that I spotted:  Betty Crocker’s  Suddenly Pasta Salad (Bacon-Ranch). It’s really easy to throw together, not expensive and once I doctored up the ‘ranch’ dressing some (it was way too thick and salty tasting…I added a little sour cream and that did the trick), plus added cut up tomatoes, cucumbers and chopped green peppers, it made a nice, light summer dinner.

Think that’s about ‘it’ for what’s been going on around here; hope you’re staying cool and enjoying these last days of Summer.

Hugs;

Pammie

ps: No title yet on middle son’s ‘new’ car-(sigh) now we have TWO cars sitting in our yard and neither one can we drive! Oh, goody (said with much sarcasm).

Something Different…

and enjoyable!  Have you ever, while searching for something on the ‘web’, run into a site that you probably wouldn’t have if you hadn’t stumbled onto it? (boy, that was a strange sentence!) Anyway, my point is: I found a site that deals in all sorts of Native American craft items (that’s not what I’m writing about, however…). At this site, the first time I came across it, they had a embedded music ’stream’ which played Native American music and I became fascinated with it. Time passed, I forgot about the site and the music. Yesterday I remembered the music but couldn’t remember the name of the person who was singing it…but my dear husband did! The singer/performer/flute player extraodinaire is named Robert “Tree” Cody, son of Iron Eyes Cody, actor and magnificent person. Robert has a site of his own and you can listen to four excerpts of his music (or purchase some if you wish!). He has an excellent singing voice as well as flute playing.

If you’d like to peruse either of the sites above mentioned, go to:

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(Robert “Tree” Cody site)

http://www.herschelfreemanagency.com/cody/cody.html

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(Native American Craft site):

http://grizzlymountainarts.blogspot.com

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The person at Grizzly Mountain Arts site is very nice; I emailed them yesterday asking for the music site and she explained that she hated to remove the music but the site maintaining the music feed kept having technical difficulties. I spent considerable time just looking at all the many very creative items made and sold on their site: tatting shuttles, pineneedle baskets, crochet hooks…it is all very lovely, from the presentation to the quality of each item; I’m sure you’ll enjoy looking, too.

It’s been a few days of ’scorcher’ heat here (in the 90’s and VERY HUMID). Our air conditioner compresser (?) is out so the air conditioner just runs and doesn’t blow any cold air…sigh (of course we turned it off…no sense running it and building up the gas bills, eh?). We had a big thunder storm last night which was nice to hear but only managed to add to the levels of humidity and not decrease the heat levels much. (Can you tell I’m spoiled with having had air conditioning?) Brings back the old expression: “Men sweat, Ladies GLOW!” (and BOY, am I GLOWING these past few days!!!).

I’ve decided to ‘treat’ myself (a very rare thing which only happens about every 4-6 YEARS)…I’m taking myself to the movies! The new movie: “Julie & Julia” is out and I’m going to the 12:40 p.m. showing (in about 42 minutes!). My husband’s at work, middle son is off with his friends going to a water park, youngest is at missions camp…I’m free!!! I’ll let you know what I thought of the movie, but I’ll tell you that being the mother of an executive chef…I’m partial to cooking shows/movies!

Hope you have a great (“GLOW”-free) day!

Hugs;

Pammie

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ADDENDUM:  The movie was GREAT! Being it was a matinee, there were probably only around 20 people in the theater with me, but I had a great time enjoying all the wonderful shots of great food; Merle Streep did a magnificent job of portraying Julia Child and Stanley Tucci was very good, also. After the movie I decided to try a new (opened about 4-5 months now) pizza place which advertises 99 cent slices of pizza. I ate it in my car and it’s a good thing I grabbed a few more napkins as it was VERY greasy! (Pepperoni & cheese) The owner told me it was all fresh ingredients and I know that fresh pepperoni CAN be greasy, but this was ‘above and beyond’…can’t say that I will ’sing the praises’ of this place to my friends. Oh well, it filled my tummy and was a large slice, I’ll give them that.  Stopped at the library to return 2 books and picked up 2 “Friends of the Library” used sale books: Ken Follett and Tom Clancy (I do love a good mystery!).  The last ‘hurrah’ for my ‘day to myself’ ended with me stopping at Tim Horton’s for a large iced coffee w/double cream. Got it home and it was a bit lacking in ’something’, so I added a bit of Hershey’s chocolate syrup and it’s now ‘keeping me company’ while I type here.  Great afternoon; very ‘liberating’ for a ‘housewife/Mom/Grandmother/stay-at-home person’…I had a good time!

Stitchin’ in the Sun!

It’s a gorgeous Monday afternoon around here; 84 nice, sunny warm degrees, slight breeze…what’s a girl to do? Why, enjoy it while she can, of course! As you remember, I’m no “Sun Goddess”, so there’s SPF 30 on me, my trusty (goofy looking) sunhat on my head, a nice icy glass of tea to keep me from getting parched and I’m ‘good to go’! As nice as it was, I only lasted about 20 minutes…just too darned hot for me, but it’s a start!

Like my dear friend Momma, today was another ‘get things done’ day except it became get them done EARLY! Have 3 loads of wash done, folded & put away (another one in the dryer and 1 in the wash…that should just about finish my laudry chores for the day.) Got the dishes cleaned up, fridge cleaned out, house straightened up and made a big ole’ batch of Macaroni salad for dinner tonight.  Actually, the salad was a big help in me cleaning out the fridge; the salad has leftover sliced up ham, cucumbers, green peppers, celery, hard boiled eggs, tomatoes and leftover black olives from Saturday’s dinner of Nachos. I, personally, like to cut up small chunks of Cheddar cheese in it but the rest of my family has requested I not do that, as it’s not their favorite (I suppose I could just cut up chunks in MY bowl…now there’s a thought!). Along with this salad we’ll be having grilled chicken breasts on the George Formann; my kind of night-a cool salad and meat cooked on a grill which doesn’t heat up my kitchen-win/win situation here!

As I’m working on this post my youngest son is ‘rocking out’ to Guitar Hero 2; he’s an enthusiast of the more hard-core rock music and I’m not so we’re working out a solution to this (soon to be) problem. I let him have the livingroom tv and ‘rock’ to his heart’s content while I’m on my computer or outside…away from the NOISE! When I can’t stand any more of the ‘music?’, we sort of trade spots in the house. Our house is small and today begins the countdown to end of school for the summer (2 more half-days to go), so a solution needs to be achieved BEFORE Mom totally loses it. I think this will work….for now.

Hope you have a great day…remember to not OVER-DO whatever you’re up to today.

Hugs;

Pammie

Getting Things Done

Today is Saturday and, it seems, it’s been designated: “Getting Things Done” Day! Early this morning my husband informed me that we were taking his car in to the shop to have the brakes checked out. Since he had the original work done at this place several years ago, they called to say: “No Charge!” (what a blessing!). Because it’s still rather early in the day (10:45 a.m.) I asked if they were busy (they said No), so we just switched our cars at the same place.  My car has (what I think sounds like) a squeak in the right front wheel well. It sort of sounds like a trapped bird (in ‘women’s car talk’). My husband said he thinks it sounds like a bearing is going and, if let run it’s course, could cause the whole wheel to suddenly break off (great…what fun), so I’m just glad it’s now in the shop getting looked at. With the extra blessing of no cost for my husband’s car, it’s looking much better in our pockets going the extra expense of getting my car looked at.

Among the other ‘getting things done’ items on the list today is my baking more goodies for my Sunday School class tomorrow. I like coming up with recipes for great coffee cakes, so with that in mind I found myself suddenly seized with a great desire for this one recipe I made months & months ago. I call it: “German Chocolate Coffee Cake”, although I’m not really sure what the original title was. It has a nice, moist flavor and is very easy to make:

“German Chocolate Coffee Cake”

1 (18 oz.) box German Chocolate Cake mix

1 (15 oz.) can Coconut-Pecan Frosting

4 eggs

1/2 C. vegetable oil

1 C. water

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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine all ingredients together in a bowl, mix thoroughly. Grease and flour a tube pan (or Bundt pan); pour batter into pan and bake 55-60 minutes. Let baked cake rest for 10 minutes before turning out onto a plate. You can dust top with powdered sugar, if desired.

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Since our Sunday School class has about 40+ people, I usually make 2 coffee cakes. For my second cake, I chose another moist, flavorful, easy-t0-make cake:

“Apple Dump Cake”

1 (18 oz.) box spice cake mix

42 oz. canned apple pie filling (2 cans-check ounces)

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. ground nutmeg

1 tsp. ground allspice

1 T. sugar

3/4 C. butter

1 C. chopped pecans

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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Pour apple pie filling into a greased 9 X 13 pan. Mix together cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and sugar; sprinkle spice mixture over pie filling in pan. Pour cake mix, dry, over apples. Dot with butter and scatter nuts on top. Bake 45-60 minutes until browned on top and bubbling on sides.

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Am currently working on afghan #178 (about 1/2 done); lately I find myself doing some knitting/experimenting with the various yarn colors I have here. My ‘yarn stash’ is rather vast, thanks to many wonderful people who have donated to the Ghana Project works. I keep the various yarns in large solid colored tubs and occasionally forget what great colors are hiding there. The other day I decided it was time to go check the tubs; that’s always fun as I seem to rediscover great yarns I’d forgotten. Anyway, I’m rambling on here; since I’m rather ‘house bound’ due to the lack of my car’s availability at the moment, I see more squares knitting in the immediate future of this day and that’s not a bad thing.

Still have a bit of laundry left to get to; other than that I’ve pretty much done all the things I’d put on my ‘to do’ list yesterday. That’s always a good feeling when you get things done you’d hoped to.

Hope you have a great day (it’s sunny, in the low 70’s…perfect weather!) here. Go out and enjoy your day!

Hugs;

Pammie

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Addendum: Turns out my squeak sound was my brakes rubbing! End of the day, got brakes done on 2 cars, my exhaust fixed (was starting to get rather loud) AND got my oil changed…all for the price of what it would usually cost to get ONE car fixed! I was very happy! Also, had input on the Apple Dump Cake from my friend, Jay of “Jay’s Jammin’”, who said that it was very good and very rich; happy he liked it!