He Cracks Me Up

We have Spring Cleaning Fever right now, or I should be more specific and say I have the fever.
We were supposed to have a lot of spare time on Thursday and we planned to de-junk the office. The problem with having been in the same building for over 50 years is one tends to accumulate way too much "stuff" in that period of time. So the plan was to clean, however, it didn't work out and the day was spent in regular dentistry instead. Near the end of the day, however, I cleaned one small area and found that Bud had four hats here. I gathered them up and Bud was going to take them home. This is how he chose to transport them.

Did you know he was this funny? Probably not, because he doesn't show this side to many people.

More Than I Expected

Last weekend we bought some corn on the cob in St. George. It was SO good and tender and sweet. It was so delicious we bought more on our way out of town and we have been enjoying it everyday since then.
Here's how I cook them if I'm only cooking 1 or 2 at a time- open the microwave door, place unshucked ear of corn inside, close door, cook on high for 4 minutes per ear. Shuck it when it's cool enough that you don't burn your hands or use a couple of paper towels to hold the ear while shucking. It's really easy to pull off the husk and the silk after it's cooked.
I did all that Wednesday evening. Anxiously awaiting the yummy buttery salty corn that would soon be mine, I grabbed the corn and pulled. Out popped a green worm! I screamed, dropped the corn on the counter, the worm bounced off my thumb and into the sink. It was only then that I confirmed positively that it was absolutely, definitely dead (who could survive 8 minutes in the microwave when you're the size of a worm?). Gross!
I cut off about 2 inches of the cob and put the "cut" ear on my plate and the "good" ear on Bud's plate . When Bud came to the table, being the chivalrous man that he is, switched ears with me. Whew! Yay! It was grossing me out just knowing what used to be on it/in it- and he's a farm boy from way back so it didn't bother him! I enjoyed my corn as best as I could, even though I'd just been through some horrific moments seconds earlier. I think the solution to this is to make Bud shuck all the corn from now on. So gross. So, so gross.

Dad's Day Idea

This isn't my idea. I got it from the new issue of Family Fun Magazine.
Mix some coconut with a few drops of green food coloring. Press a chocolate-frosted cupcake into the coconut to cover. The mower is made with a dark chocolate Hershey's Nugget for the body, brown M&M's for the wheels, and a red M&M for the engine, held in place with dabs of frosting. Shape the handle from a piece of black licorice lace, inserting the ends into the cupcake.
Dad will be saying "Those are so delicious, may I have some mower?" Ouch.

Too Soon?

One of my favorite things to do when I go to St. George is to see what's new at Krumpets. Here's what I couldn't live without this time around.

My question to you is this. How soon is too soon to put it on my front door?

I don't want to be the dork in the neighborhood that people laugh at and point their finger saying "Look, she has the wrong wreath on her door. What a dork!" Please save me from being that neighborhood dork.

Dinner and a Movie

This past weekend I took all the quilting stuff to St. George and was dedicated to working on it non-stop unless I could talk myself out of it, which I did. We hooked up with our friends Biff and Katye for an early movie and a bite to eat afterwards. Katye picked Star Trek for the movie and Biff picked Marv's for dinner. Both choices were awesome!
I didn't know if I was going to like the movie. I've seen other Star Trek movies that were just meh. When I was 15, I had a job at Foster's Freeze, washing dishes (it was an awful job, but I learned how to make pretty good cole slaw) and would ride my bike to work but didn't want to leave until Star Trek (in reruns) was over. I had to ride pretty fast to not be late, and usually had to skip the last couple of minutes of the show. Sorry this photo is so small.
I was impressed with the casting of everyone except Chekov. I think they got him way wrong and I should know because I always thought he was the cutest one on the show. His character was rather lame, but he was cute.

(Here's the original. Okay, I admit he looks a little greasy here...in fact, yuck)

(As long as I'm confessing here, I also loved David Janssen in the Fugitive and would kiss the TV screen at times. Okay, I was REALLY little then, it was 1963 when that first came out!).

When I saw Leonard Nimoy in the movie I was totally surprised because I didn't know he was going to be in it. That part totally made me cry (yes, you all know by now I'm a crier).
Laughed, cried. Loved the movie.
As for the burgers? Loved them too. The strawberry shake that I indulged in was oh-so-good, and the onion rings? Oh! I can't even talk about how good they were. We liked the food so much we went again yesterday afternoon on our way out of town. If you're ever in the neighborhood, go to Marv's.

Remembering

The day we flew home from Hawaii we spent several hours at the Arizona Memorial, and at the ship next to it, The USS Missouri.


I forgot to bring a tissue. I needed a whole boxfull.
This wall shows the names of those who gave their lives when Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese. I get emotional quite easily, but to think of people who sign up for military service, knowing full well that their life may be required of them, really tugs at my heart, especially if that ultimate sacrifice is realized.

On that small bench-looking thing, the names are written of those who lived through the Pearl Harbor attack, but had their remains added to their shipmates after they died, although I don't know exactly how that was accomplished.




I've been here once before, and it amazed me then as it did this time, that oil still seeps up to the surface of the ocean.
After I dried my tears, we went here.






Here's what that little blue sign on the door says-

Look familiar?
I loved this lunchbox.

This is the spot where the Japanese surrendered, thus ending WWII.

Can you read Douglas MacArthur's signature there?
He's shown here signing the document.

Today being the day we observe Memorial Day, I hope we will all take a moment to remember. Remembering the past helps us to avoid the same mistakes in the future.

Oh My Garden of Roses!

For Mother's Day, Bud bought me flowers. But not a bouquet, a whole yard full of flowers. Eight rosebushes along with several other plants.

Check out how big these babies get!


They're huge! And they smell fabulous!

Your Best Guess

Here's a little game... where do you think this picture is taken?

You have until Monday to leave your answer because I'll be away until then (neighbor alert, watch my house so no bad guys try to break in while I'm away, okay?).

Drops and Bows

Tuesday I got to take some cookies to my friend who lives around the corner. It was sprinkling just a little when I left my house. I was so happy I got to take cookies to her because otherwise I wouldn't have been outside, wouldn't have looked outside, and would have missed this (sorry I'm a little shakey with the camera for some reason).

Rainbows always surprise me. I think they are one of God's coolest creations.

This is currently my work computer's desktop photo, however, I have no idea who took it.

Elephants Never Forget

I know none of you would ever do this, but wasn't there a Seinfeld episode about regifting? If they'd had this website bookmarked they'd never have had a problem.
This is a pretty cool place that keeps track of all the gifts you've given and received. Now if your Aunt Gertrude gives you a fruitcake for Christmas and you don't like fruitcake so you give it to your neighbor to your left, you can remember next year to give Aunt Gertrude's fruitcake to your neighbor on your right! And the thing about it is that you won't have to remember, this little elephant does the remembering for you.
It keeps track of all the gifts you've given and received. It keeps track of events (birthdays, anniversarys, holidays, etc) and can send you a reminder that the event is coming up. You can send postcards (they cost $1.50, and I'm too cheap to do it) and you can buy birthday cards from there. It can remind you to send a thank you note to Aunt Gertrude for the fruitcake she gave you. You can enter mailing information so you don't have to look it up when it's time to send Aunt Gertrude a card for Flag Day. It can remind you that Aunt Gertrude is allergic to flowers, and prefers to receive chocolate. Check it out here- it's free!

The Best Just Got Better

Every Monday, my computer at work does it's virus scanning thing. I hate it- it slows down the computer's response time, the scanning takes forever, and worst of all, it keeps talking about cookies! So I've had cookies on my mind.
Once when I was meeting my sister at the movies, she brought me a chocolate chip cookie with coconut. It was fabulous! Since then I've been thinking about a chocolate chip coconut cookie and how much easier could it be than to just take what some say is the best chocolate chip cookie and toss in some coconut? That's what I did. Awhile back I posted this recipe. I'll bet you never tried it. Well, it's time! Come on!
A couple of tips in my humble opinion- don't make the cookies as large as the recipe instructs, and forget about the salt on top of the cookies. With the addition of the coconut, you don't need the extra salt on top, but be sure to use coarse salt not table salt in the dough. Also, my preference is to use 1 cup milk chocolate chips and 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips. I used chocolate chunks in these.

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Adapted from Jacques Torres
Time: 45 minutes, plus at least 24 hours chilling

2 cups minus 2 tablespoons (8 1/2 ounces) cake flour
1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
1 1/4 pounds bittersweet chocolate disks or fèves, at least 60 percent cacao content (see note above on the chocolate I used)
Sea salt (I omitted this)
(I added 3/4 cup of sweetened coconut when I stirred in the chips)

1. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla.
2. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds (it took my dough about 20 seconds- yep, I'm slow like that). Drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours (I couldn't wait- I made six cookies right away and then refrigerated the rest of the dough).
3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.
4. Scoop 6 3 1/2-ounce mounds of dough (the size of generous golf balls [I made mine smaller and only cooked them for about 11 minutes]) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt (or not!) and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes (or less!). Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day.
Yield: 1 1/2 dozen 5-inch cookies (or more if you make them smaller).
These were way good. I asked Bud if he wanted to split one with me after dinner. He was on his way out the door to mow the lawn so he said "not yet." Well, I ate my half plus his. It couldn't be helped.
Stop saving this recipe and start making it! You won't be sorry.

So Nice

I was going to take a picture of me standing next to this, posing exactly the way other lady was and ask you all if I looked as thin as she did, but I didn't want to set up the tripod, and Bud was busy. Besides, you don't really want to see me anyway when you can be looking at this alone. It was quite the project to set up, but I'm so happy now that it's done!
(Wylie- on the middle-sized shelf...Dinty Moore, Progresso soup, pears, chicken, pb, and pineapple juice are the items I found to fit.)
You'll see there's one row that is empty- black beans. I just realized that the case of what I thought were black beans were actually some strange concoction of black beans with a bunch of added ingredients making it a Caribbean recipe. I guess I know what I'm donating next time the boy scouts come around.
And, I'm going to try (can't guarantee it though) to not be so obsessive about the labels facing forward on this rotating system. Yes, I rolled them all forward for this picture, but I'm hoping I can just let the obsession go once I start pulling cans from here. I'll let you know how I'm doing later.

Pretty Pantry

Bud said I could buy it, so I didn't waste any time rushing to Costco yesterday to get the Shelf Reliance Food Rotation System (they call it an FRS- how clever). I also bought the Pantry Consolidator- 2 actually. Look how awesome it makes my pantry!

I cut the box up that it came in and made a little cover for the top of it so I could stack a few miscellaneous cans on top. Now I get to put together the big one in the basement!

Oops, A Day Late

I sent the card last week, so when yesterday rolled around, I didn't even consider the date, so I'm a day late in posting a Happy Anniversary to my youngest daughter! Sorry!

This was four years (and one day) ago.

She met him a couple years before they ever started dating or even had an interest in each other.

While I was away on a cruise with my husband, sister and bil, mom and stepdad, they refound each other and Laura was so anxious for me to get home so she could tell me all about Nick.
Now they have this wonderful little family, and life is good.

I hope your day was really special, just like you!

I'm In Love

Yesterday I came across a blog that I totally love because it's all about food storage, and by now, you should know how I feel about that! There are four people involved with the site and it takes you from the planning stage of storing to actually eating what you store, complete with recipes. I pretty much spent the entire workday there yesterday (oh- except for all the hours I spent doing my job at work, uh, um, yeah).

I'm quite sure I need this book. There is SO much information on this site and it is all so good. I've added two widgets on my sidebar so you can get there easily at any time.

P.S. Wylie convinced me that I need the Shelf Reliant rotation system. I also decided that I need a new electric grinder (I was still using my mom's hand-me-down which is probably at least 25 years old). I decided on this one and bought it on my way home from work yesterday.

I think I need a second job to afford all my needs.

Want or Need?

How do you know if something is a need or a want? I'm pretty sure this is a want, but I'm convincing myself it's a need.

Costco is having a special event. I know you want to know what they're selling that is so special it requires an entire event to handle it. Here it is. My friend has more than one of these. She let me barge into her basement to lust after it look at it.

Do you think I would look that thin if I owned one of these? I have the perfect place for it all picked out.
And then there's this one. I used to wear my hair just like that (except I parted mine on the left).

Oh, if my pantry looked like this, Bud would wonder where I was, because I'd be standing in my pantry admiring the view, for hours upon hours at a time. Why does this stuff bring me such happiness?

Isn't that just the neatest (sorry for the pun) thing? The Costco online prices are not as low as the prices currently advertised at the Murray Costco. I went into the store last Saturday to get some pictures of Agnes and Eliot (so cute!) and it took me an hour to get out of there because I couldn't tear myself away from these awesome shelving units.
If you go to the product's website you will see that the "sale" prices are even more expensive there. However, they have a food storage planner that can help you figure out how much your family would need to have for the length of time you specify. For fun, I calculated food for Bud and me for 24 months. It would only cost us......ready? A mere $7,798.49.

Oh my garden of roses!