Computer Crash

Computer Crash!!! Well, actually not a true computer crash, but I've been unable to use my laptop. The left hinge broke and I can't open or close the lid. I did buy a new one this weekend, but it has Windows Vista, so I'm slowly having to download all my stuff. I have to go in and get drivers for the printer and camera first. So, I can't download the pictures I've been taking. Hopefully, I'll get everything done by the end of the week. I'm also planning on fixing my old computer so I can have a backup or use it for my embroidery designs. At least I didn't loose all my files on the old computer. I really have to back up all my pictures and important stuff!! Maybe I had better do that, too.!

Cold Blanky

After a long, hard day at work, don't you just love to come home and change into some really soft (and loose) comfortable clothes. Or when you travel, do you always make sure to pack your very own pillow. You know the one that makes you fall to sleep the minute your head hits it. Kind of like your own special security blanket. Well, Kaylee has her security blankets. Yes, I said blankets as in plural. She has two that go everywhere with her. (Actually, she has started leaving them home during the day, but she has to have them at night!!!!) She has one that her mom made her that she calls her Dora blanket. The other one she calls her cold blanky. It was given to her when she was a baby and it was the softest, prettiest chenille blanket with satin on one side (always cool, that's why she called it her cold blanky). It's the Little Giraffe brand which are beautiful blankets. In fact, Katie Holmes buys them in bulk for her child.

Well, unfortunately, the satin ripped right down the middle! When she came to see us last weekend, she asked if I could fix it for her. I really had my doubts. The satin is nearly thread bare all around the edges. Together, we were able to fix it.

Look at the concentration on her face! We put a decorative stitch down the seam so maybe it will last a little longer.

You can click on the picture above and see how tattered it is. I'm not sure how much longer it will last, but I do think it will last as long as she wants or needs it. It just may not be all in one piece!

Wii Had So Much Fun

Jennifer and Nate came in for the weekend to help Brandon with his fence. They had recently gotten a new game, the Wii, and brought it with them. After a day of hard fence building (Brandon is determined to keep the snakes out, so he is building a very serious fence, concrete footing all around!), we did manage to play a little Wii. Now, I have a little confession to make. I LOVE VIDEO GAMES! Mike and I got married in 1976 and we were one of the first ones to get the Atari Pong game. We would play for hours!!!! It was soooo much fun and soooo exciting! After all, who wouldn't like sitting there for hours hitting a tennis ball from court to court.

Now, doesn't that look like fun???? Mike and I are very competitive and we really did play for hours. That was 1976 and now here it is, 30 years later, and boy, have things changed! The Wii is really fun! I did get a little carried away with the tennis. Things can get really wild.



Even after a hard day, the guys seemed to have some fun! Click on the picture above and you can see the determination on their faces!

Now they have come out with the Wii fit. It really looks good. And supposedly, if all you do is sit and watch tv each night, it could help you be less of a couch potato. Hmmm, I'm thinking Mike and I may have to look into getting us one of these. After all, a lot has changed in 32 years!

Winning Is So Much Fun

Really!! Winning is so much fun, even if it's at something that takes no skill, just luck. In fact, it may be more fun when it's all about luck. Kind of like pulling that lever on a slot machine and hoping for all the bells to go off. Well, bunco can be really fun when you're winning.

If you've never played bunco, let me tell you something about it. It's very simple, you have twelve women, three tables, three dice at each table, six rounds (although we almost never make it through all six rounds), food and prizes and lots of laughter!!!! We have a neighborhood group that has been going on for about four years. Since there are twelve members, you only have to host it at your house once a year. We pay five dollars, which is how the host buys the prizes. The host provides the meal. The top three and the bottom three winners come away with the prizes. Usually, I'm down the middle, no prizes! But, I've been lucky the last three months. This time I won the top prize .... the most buncos. Here's what I won:




And this:



Both are hummingbird feeders.

Last month I won this rose planter:


And the month before that, this tea pot:



Isn't that great? I've really been on a roll. Maybe should go buy a lotto ticket.

Working Gloves

I've had these gloves a few years. Can you tell?????

I know they look pretty bad, but, hey, they've

been there for me. They've helped me clear brush,

prune roses and trees, carried bricks or rocks, old

lumber without me ever getting a splinter! They've been

there when I've pulled weeds from my flower bed,

planted new flowers, bushes and trees. Just about

any work I've done outside, you can bet

these sweet, well-worn, soft leather gloves have

been on my little hands.

Now guess what??????

See that little hole??? The one that yellow

arrow is pointing to? Well, it may look like a little

hole, but, boy does it let the dirt, mud and

THORNS get me! I've got to get some work

done in my flower bed, so I've been looking everywhere

for some gloves like these. They're made by Wells Lamont

but, they don't make these anymore. So.......

So, I bought me these. They just aren't the same!

I guess they'll still keep me from getting cuts,

and thorns, but I doubt if they'll last

as many years as my other ones did.

At least they'll work, until maybe

I can find me another pair like my old ones!

Now maybe I can tackle this:

See those yaupon holly trees? The ones leaning

waaay over the sidewalk? Well, not only do they need

trimming, but I think we're going to have to

transplant them to another location.

Here's another picture showing just how

bad they're leaning.

I think it may be easier to just get our landscaper out here

to move them. If we tried, we would probably tear

up the sidewalk!

Leftover Bread????

What do you do with leftover bread? When the kids were little and there was a lake behind our house, we used to go feed the ducks with our left over bread. (Hmmm, I wonder if that is why Jennifer has such an aversion to birds?) Anyway, back to leftovers. Sometimes when I have leftovers, I like to make bread pudding.
So tonight, I took these leftover french loaves and made chocolate bread pudding. I tried measuring as I went along, so hopefully, it will turn out.




Grate 4 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate and put in a medium size bowl.



Cube the bread (about 6 cups) and put in an 8 X 8 buttered casserole.




In a large mixing bowl mix together 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/8 cup cocoa powder and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon. Slowly whisk in three eggs, one at a time.




In a saucepan, heat 1 1/2 cups milk and 1/4 cup cream. Bring to a boil. Whisk it into the grated chocolate and stir until melted. Then slowly add to the egg mixture.




Pour over the bread and press the cubes into the mixture. Refrigerate for an hour and then bake at 325° for 30 -45 minutes. Enjoy!



Chocolate Bread Pudding

6 cups cubed bread
4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate, grated
1/2 cup granulated
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/8 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4cup cream

Place bread cubes in a buttered 8 X 8 dish. Grate chocolate and put in medium size bowl. In a large bowl mix sugars, cocoa powder, and cinnamon. Add eggs separately, whisking after each one. In a small sauce pan, bring milk and cream to a boil. Whisk into chocolate mixture until chocolate is melted. Slowly, add to egg mixture, whisking constantly. Pour the chocolate mixture over the bread cubes. Refrigerate for an hour. Bake at 325° for 30 to 45 minutes, or until just set and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. Serve warm or cold with shipped cream.

Happy Birthday, Jennifer

I've really been missing my mother lately. There's just something special about a mother/daughter relationship! Men don't really understand this bond (although they have a similar one with the father/son bond). But, I got the best dose of medicine this past weekend for my blues. Mike and I went to visit our daughter and her family. Her birthday is today and we made a quick trip to see her and take her to lunch. I do mean quick.



We went to a new Italian place near her house and it was really good!



Jenn ordered this spinach ravioli with artichokes and tomatoes in a white wine sauce. It was soooo good. Mike got the veal and I got eggplant, but didn't get any pictures of them.



We walked around the shops for awhile. It was such a pretty day! A little cooler than we thought it would be, but still a nice day!



Last week, Kaylee asked her mom if she was ever going to take her to get an ice cream cone. It made Jennifer feel bad, like she had really deprived her of something. (Kaylee's such a manipulator!! Just like her Uncle B!!!!) So, of course we went and got ice cream! Mike got a chocolate chip cookie and shared a little with Nolan.

I know it doesn't look like he liked it in this picture, but trust me, he loved it. In fact, he really wanted more.



We did a little more shopping, then we went back to Jennifer's to spend a little more time with the kids before we had to leave.



Kaylee played with her American Girl Nikki doll.



And Nolan tried to terrorize, uhhh I mean, play with Snickers. Overall, we had a super day! A great mother/daughter experience!!!!! Have a SUPER, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JENNIFER!

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
John 15: 1-2