tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66535904286161654762024-02-07T18:51:41.462-06:00Adventures with GraceA peek inside . . .Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-22656837383303001142016-05-03T12:12:00.000-05:002016-05-03T12:27:43.078-05:00Sister #7093<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">When you look at the number 7093 in terms of joining an organization, your first thought is "wow, that's a lot of people, I will get lost in the fray . . ."</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">WRONG!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">After wishing, dreaming and drooling from afar at the adventurous souls that have joined the ranks of "Sister's on the Fly" . . I lept . . with both feet and eyes open into membership.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For a mere $60 a year, I gained entrance to a girl's only club. A "sisterhood" in the true sense of the word. </span></span></span><strong style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">“Offering empowerment and sisterhood</span></i></strong><strong style="background-color: white; font-size: small; line-height: 20px;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> through exceptional outdoor adventures.” </span></i></strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Created by women, for women, and for the adventurous wanderer. Their rules are simple. </span><strong style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="text-color-dark" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"No Men, No Kids, Be Nice, Have Fun!"</span><span class="text-bold"><span class="text-color-dark" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></i></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="text-bold"><span class="text-color-dark" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Their motto is "We have more fun than anyone" . . .</i> </b>(I thought that was MY motto . . how marvelous to learn that sentiment is shared by MANY!)</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="text-bold"><span class="text-color-dark" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">When I joined, paid my $60, I was sent an email that said my local state "sister" would be contacting me. And yesterday, she did! I received a request for friendship on my FaceBook page wanting to add me to the private SOTF (see how I'm catching on already?) pages.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;">I immediately posted "Helloooo new Sisters!" . . and the even more IMMEDIATE response of about 40+ ladies just bowled me over ... many with ties to my hometown, and one included an open invite to her ranch. (I think I'm going to like these gals . . . )</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I don't have a camper <b>(yet)</b>.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I just learned how to fly fish (I'm pretty sure I'm still in the "hazardous" stage)</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">But, the fun part is? NONE of that matters. I find that as I age, I become even MORE adventurous and fear less. What a wonderful gift that is. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So nothing ventured, nothing gained . . . Sistahs! HERE I COME!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.sistersonthefly.com/home/sisters-on-the-fly">http://www.sistersonthefly.com/home/sisters-on-the-fly</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span>Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-48866335605273138722015-06-17T11:15:00.000-05:002015-06-17T11:15:58.278-05:00Gettin' Plum Jammy!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This is rapidly turning into a food blog . . I need to travel more. But even then, I'm rating eateries LOL</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My friend, Sherry Elias posted on FaceBook that she had a tree full of plums . . . come get some! So, I loaded up a box and the dog and headed out for a plum picking adventure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It doesn't take long to pick a box of plums (this is a paper ream box . . so it was a pretty good haul). We did not even make a DENT in the amount of plums on her tree.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I drove home with visions of plum jam in my future all winter long. I dumped them in the sink and started sorting. Throwing away anything that was green and hard and anything that was mushy which was surprisingly few. Of course, my lips were purple from taste testing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Now, I'm a lazy jam maker. I could have spent the time cutting these little babies in half and removing the stones . . . but I was blessed with a mom who canned EVERYTHING and believed in not working any harder than you have to. So, as I've seen my mother do . . . I just tossed them in a pot, with a handful of sugar to get the action started, mashing them with a potato masher until they were cooked down. I had to cook several batches to get them all. (smelled soooo good)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">After cooling, I strained the mix through a wire strainer . . squeezing all the pulp off the stones. This left me with a thick slurry of juice and plum pulp. Since I brilliantly pick so many . . I had no one pot to cook them down in. Necessity being the mother of invention . . . I hauled out the roaster pot! What a perfect solution! At the ratio of 1 cup of slurry to about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of sugar, I let it bubble slowly over the course of the day until thickened. Because I did not use proper jam/jelly ratios of fruit to sugar (usually 1 to 1 . . I didn't want as much sugar in mine) . . it will not "set" or "jell" properly. This can be fixed by dissolving approximately 1 Tablespoon of unflavored Gelatin per pint of fruit. It will NOT set when room temp . . but when each jar is refrigerated, the texture is PERFECT for spreading . . mmmmm MMMMMM</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">All that was left now was to ladle into warm jars and water bath can at 7 minutes per batch. Oh how I love the sound of "plinking" jar tops as they seal. It is a sound reminiscent of my childhood. The satisfying sound of all those cans sealing one by one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">As a kid, I HATED having to can produce. My parents were organic and self sufficient before it was a fad to do so. As and adult . . . I am very thankful that I learned how to cook and can and grow a garden. Thank you Mom & Dad! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">One box of plums made 19 pints of jam! Jim is busy calculating just how many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that will make over the winter LOL. We are already down TWO jars (oink) and I've already made arrangements for trading one on one for jars of peach jelly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Never worry about canning too much of one item . . . the horse trading value is PRICELESS. </span></div>
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<br />Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-5228362258388626252015-02-04T12:13:00.000-06:002015-02-04T12:13:25.801-06:00When life gives you lemons . . . <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So . . . you have a pile of lemons, some great fresh organic eggs, butter . . . what do you do?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I know! Fresh Lemon Curd!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Silky, creamy, sweet but tart. Perfect on bread, scones, English muffins, shortbread . . . spoons LOL</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYj4P8p-bppnAHVKQaRVas6B011Do-OXsp-8MMZGbSDqC1a23aHsmGY6Z5MAcXHs2l6KObskYVt_Jt7t6PXfPLpw1FAUTHF5zGP2WKsUMYsJV1WkH5b8GBwemeC91WfW1sVqFEIq18L1VJ/s1600/IMG_3613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYj4P8p-bppnAHVKQaRVas6B011Do-OXsp-8MMZGbSDqC1a23aHsmGY6Z5MAcXHs2l6KObskYVt_Jt7t6PXfPLpw1FAUTHF5zGP2WKsUMYsJV1WkH5b8GBwemeC91WfW1sVqFEIq18L1VJ/s1600/IMG_3613.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Easier to make than it sounds . . you don't need the double boiler method or need to use just the yolks. I use entire eggs and make it my Welsh granny's way . . . mmmmmm GOOD.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Fresh Lemon Curd</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>1 cup of fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 5 large Meyer lemons)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>12 T of Butter (I used salted)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Zest of the the lemons you squeezed.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Curd is normally made over a double boiler using only the yolks, this is because the whites cook a different temp often leaving white lumps . . doesn't affect the taste but certainly doesn't look pretty.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>My grandmother had another trick! She was always the practical one, wasting nothing by using whole eggs. The trick is in the prep.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Start by creaming the butter and sugar much like you would for a cake. When it's light and fluffy, add the eggs one by one . . then the zest. Continue beating and slowly add the lemon juice. This mixture will appear curdled . . NO WORRIES. This is fix itself when you cook it.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Place mixture in a heavy bottomed saucepan on med to med/low heat. Stir continuously until thick like a pudding. Remove from heat and cool in the pan . . stirring every few minutes until completely cool. Pour into jars when it's cool (if it makes it that far), refrigerate and enjoy.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My only problem today? I have no bread, muffins, scones . . . BUT, I do have a spoon! YUMMMMY!</span><br />
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<br />Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-61408106960092487512015-01-24T13:35:00.000-06:002015-01-24T13:35:29.352-06:00The fruits of labor!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Wow! It's bad almost a year since I posted on my blog . . . bad Grace :-( </b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>it's that damn FaceBook, it's so easy to upload photos to and a blog is harder work.</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Soooo . . . my New's Year's resolution is to pay MORE and BETTER attention to my blog. I may skip back in time with adventures I haven't posted here . . I have LOT of fun stuff to put on here.</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>TODAY</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I was craving soup! Not just any soup . . . but creamy tomato. Then I remembered that earlier this summer, a great group of ladies gathered at my house for team tomato canning lessons. We all chipped in on the cost of the tomatos (organically local grown!! BONUS). Everyone brought quart jars and we split the wares when we were done.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9D50UOfaAzhkaTdrF8mUN2T5RXcfUrg-zud_iTpuIBnHvr9DB1laO1sghzD5Flo0hpaeMmRNkwFgYd5lRydtnWRCYsYA0zwTzmWQR1p4Wz196ZPUoxdkybkirXfA30leRbYmSyZLeDA9/s1600/IMG_1903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9D50UOfaAzhkaTdrF8mUN2T5RXcfUrg-zud_iTpuIBnHvr9DB1laO1sghzD5Flo0hpaeMmRNkwFgYd5lRydtnWRCYsYA0zwTzmWQR1p4Wz196ZPUoxdkybkirXfA30leRbYmSyZLeDA9/s1600/IMG_1903.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-BRjMKFrhlZ6jYkNwQBovATjTavZpxPdrB4bZiL34t6SQv3tfhwpCzylXv2pJ6rbK9DTkDrAXGILr_-1fKXXPJX5J-KgR-N4Sr5KgzhuwRHPNrnU0NE0UjIvIHrcR7g0Ekz5NVRI61mp/s1600/IMG_1904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-BRjMKFrhlZ6jYkNwQBovATjTavZpxPdrB4bZiL34t6SQv3tfhwpCzylXv2pJ6rbK9DTkDrAXGILr_-1fKXXPJX5J-KgR-N4Sr5KgzhuwRHPNrnU0NE0UjIvIHrcR7g0Ekz5NVRI61mp/s1600/IMG_1904.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Creamy tomato soup is probably the easiest soup out there I started with a quart jar of stewed tomatoes, Used my immersion blender to reduce them to the creaminess I desired (I like mine just a TINY bit chunky). I added a chunk of frozen pesto (made it myself . . see this post here for instructions on making your own pesto</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6653590428616165476#editor/target=post;postID=9208875194254575220;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=1;src=postname)">Click here for homemade Pesto instructions!</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I put half back in the jar for later . . . to the remainder in the pan, added a bit of Lawry's garlic salt and some garlic powder (love me some garlic!) . . . about 2-3 tablespoons of heavy cream and VIOLA! A pinch of fresh grated Parmigiano-Reggano cheese (mmmmm) and some cracked black pepper.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">HEAVENLY!!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7mrIuuDwvc6vTWWz-AwvQJMsGONKNWfbSI06C4DawfcvvHJ-J4wu7ahhnds_FHnKETqmK9N4ILDNxn1TVWLq1RbxyldZKI3_fH6rArABDdv0XiHqbFWPVai9oWE8gmGcyFV5dWdc1R9C/s1600/IMG_3494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7mrIuuDwvc6vTWWz-AwvQJMsGONKNWfbSI06C4DawfcvvHJ-J4wu7ahhnds_FHnKETqmK9N4ILDNxn1TVWLq1RbxyldZKI3_fH6rArABDdv0XiHqbFWPVai9oWE8gmGcyFV5dWdc1R9C/s1600/IMG_3494.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Pair it with some toasted French bread . . a glass of red wine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">What else could you wish for on a winter day?</span><br />
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<br />Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-59081100662509232722014-02-02T11:32:00.001-06:002014-02-02T11:32:31.813-06:00Men . . . nuff said<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It's snowing outside . . so, we are house bound . . what to do . . what to do?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I know, my husband says . . "Let's clean out the attic!" (not what I had in mind . . truly). but it's a great day to post things on the sale and trade sites, there's a great captive and bored audience out there right now! He goes upstaris . . digs around like a squirel having a seizure and hauls down this old clock, and says . . "do we really need this anymore?" "we haven't used it in YEARS" So, in the box it goes for sale.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Of all the shit up there . . that's the ONE thing he chooses . . sigh</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Ok, let me take a pic (off I run to find my iPhone, because it's easier and they take damn good pics) . . I'm not paying attention to him (which is probably half the problem LOL)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"Hold it up" I say!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">THIS is what I see</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkU5FhjKTBqjX2Qj3kXpNdVh4P9_WuFoC7IZrTLYALRgDLYqkrvXLfw9woq5_mI3GZXu7kbtR-4JM89qBZ3ycWnDvsMMuHNdABCH-U_mttkxlJrCXQsfDu0-ps6f60eku5QhJbKktD6ek/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkU5FhjKTBqjX2Qj3kXpNdVh4P9_WuFoC7IZrTLYALRgDLYqkrvXLfw9woq5_mI3GZXu7kbtR-4JM89qBZ3ycWnDvsMMuHNdABCH-U_mttkxlJrCXQsfDu0-ps6f60eku5QhJbKktD6ek/s1600/image.jpeg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Men . . LOL</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So I have this GREAT burlwood clock for sale . . . Runs on one AA battery</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">$40</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Call me</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Vanna not included in sale)</span></div>
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<br />Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-52717726931903685752014-01-24T11:57:00.001-06:002014-01-24T11:57:37.178-06:00Oh Facebook! My daily dose of entertainment!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I love Facebook for a lot of reasons.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I love staying connected with friends, I get up to date news flashes of what happens around town. I follow inspirational pages . . it's just so many things!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I'm sure everyone out there by now has experienced in influx of "For Sale and Trade" pages. I love them . . . I've sold a crap load of stuff on them (unfortunately, I've bought a crap load too!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Every once in a while . . a train wreck happens. You know, those posts that the comments just keep flying in and it looks like it will come to blows? I rarely post on those, but they are GREAT to watch (admit it . . you do too)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Occasionally . . I am the accidental train conductor LOL!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Like this . . (I blurred all name except mine to protect the guilty) . . . I've laughed about this all night and all this morning. The sad thing is, the original poster of the cookies was banned from the site for posting "obscene photos" . . tis a shame . . because I really was going to purchase a dozen to take to my next Tuesday coffee with the girls . . . huge sigh</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">What was especially hilarious to me (and the several people that private messaged me) was the lady that called me a sicko and pervert . . went on to suggest we all need to get laid! LOL</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9R4cly9ubPYbh-cc7dMnB1vbS5QsOfdDsIWM628D-lWhIKrD-fpIeZKDDmnSdpgi4bR3x83OSH15FlzGLvqVyPvA2g0hqUGby_nT865ZjydW-_jLDF69XlmNOSg00lAYS_lo4WBwor7EI/s1600/VaginaCookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9R4cly9ubPYbh-cc7dMnB1vbS5QsOfdDsIWM628D-lWhIKrD-fpIeZKDDmnSdpgi4bR3x83OSH15FlzGLvqVyPvA2g0hqUGby_nT865ZjydW-_jLDF69XlmNOSg00lAYS_lo4WBwor7EI/s1600/VaginaCookies.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-4241077140363068912012-09-17T08:42:00.001-05:002012-09-17T08:43:10.105-05:00Life's about the little things ...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Yesterday, when we went to the city to visit our youngest for the day. We were strolling down a sidewalk and met a couple and their two children coming the opposite direction . . . just as we were about the pass them . . the little boy (about 3), gasps loudly, throws out his arms to stop everyone and looks down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Walking across the sidewalk was a ladybug.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">What a shame that we forget as we grow to take delight in the smallest of things. It made me smile for the rest of the day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So, as your start your week . . filled with work, family and life in general.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Don't forget to see the ladybugs!</span>Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-92088751942545752202012-08-26T16:54:00.000-05:002012-08-26T16:56:17.755-05:00I smell like an Italian restaurant . . . <br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I planted ONE basil plant in my garden this year, and despite the Oklahoma drought, I was rewarded with a HUGE basil shrub! So, with nothing better to do today, I set out to make Pesto.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The house smells AMAZING! I now have a quart of fresh pesto in freezer waiting for wintertime food adventures (if it makes it that long)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Here's the recipe if you want to try it yourself. Very easy, VERY rewarding!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It starts with simple ingredients, fresh basil leaves, fresh garlic cloves, toasted pine nuts, freshly grated Pecorino (or a mix of pecorino, parmesan and romano) and a good olive oil.</span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Ingredients</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2 cups packed fresh basil leaves</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">4 cloves garlic</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1/4 cup pine nuts (toasted in a dry pan)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil (I use the garlic infused from Whole Foods bulk isle)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino cheese (I like using the 3 cheese blend from Whole Foods (pecorino, parmesan and romano)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Fresh ground black pepper and sea salt, to taste</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Wash fresh plucked leaves and spin in a salad spinner. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I stuff my bullet blender with 2 cups of leaves, the fresh garlic, the pine nuts, the cheese and olive oil. You could also use a food processor, but I think a regular blender would yield a "chunkier" pesto.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I spin it all until I get a nice smooth paste. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The finished pesto is smooth, green and oh so good!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I finished it by stirring in the sea salt and pepper to taste and then pack it all into one container for the freezer! I like one container, easy to chip out what you need with a fork . . . or you could freeze in ice cube trays for a more controlled serving. I don't like the cubes myself . . they freezer burn too easy.</span><br />
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Enjoy! I am now thinking of what I can do with the rest of the herb garden . . hmmmmmm!</div>
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Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-16589805583212787962012-08-05T12:32:00.000-05:002012-08-05T12:32:58.282-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I adore random wrong numbers and telemarketers . . . it is an open invitation for serious FUN</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I am minding my own business this morning, drinking a cup of coffee, catching up on the Olympics and I get a text on my cell phone from (I googled it) some New York cell phone number.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So, I thought I would play along . . hey . . I had nothing better to do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Here's how the conversation went . . . (I'm in the blue . . )</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I thought they wanted to play . . . making sad face now :(</span></div>
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Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-818744044010427212012-03-04T17:07:00.011-06:002012-03-04T20:12:21.926-06:00The great circle of life and friendship . . .<div style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left; "><span>(grab a cold one, settle in a comfy chair . . this is liable to be a LONG one folks)</span></b></div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><o:p><b><span> </span></b></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><b><span>"Friends"<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><o:p><b><span> </span></b></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span><b><span>Have you ever given much thought about WHERE you h</span></b><b><span>ave gathered those close to you? As to exactly when and where you and a certain person became "friends" in the first place?</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><o:p><b><span> </span></b></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span><b><span>I have given that much thought recently . . in the matter of a mere week, I tearfully held the hand of one friend and said goodbye as he lost his battle </span></b><b><span>with cancer and joyfully hugged another hello . . . all the space of 7 days. Life is SO amazing.</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><o:p><b><span> </span></b></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><b><span>Be it Divine intervention, Fate, Karma . . . whatever you want to call it . . I consider it to be both amazing and humbling.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><o:p><b><span> </span></b></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span><b><span>Let me tell you several stories, that eventually weave th</span></b><b><span>emselves into one.</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><o:p><b><span> </span></b></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span><b><span>Both, in part begin with Facebook and </span></b><b><span>Farmville . . yep, Farmville . . that annoying </span></b><b><span>game that clutters up your Facebook feed with requests from virtual "friends" for things like cows, trees and imaginary bones for imaginary dogs.</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><o:p><b><span> </span></b></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span><b><span>I began playing Farmville several years ago. Something I SWORE I wouldn't do . . but it sucks in you slowly . . an addiction worse than crack I swear. First it starts off with completing a few simple tasks then to get any further in the game </span></b><b><span>you must have "friends" . . when you run out of real friends . . the flesh and blood ones you already know and can talk into it . . you eventually start asking complete strangers to be your "friends" so you can get more stuff, to grow bigger crops and a bigger farm.</span></b></span></p><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><o:p><b><span> </span></b></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span><b><span>These people must first be Facebook friends . . . and that is truly where the interesting thing happens. Your learn a LOT about people from Facebook . . it is impossible to not show your soul somewhere along the line (at least for me LOL) . </span></b><b><span>. . you post pics of your kids, your family, your home, your life </span></b><b><span>and over the course of time . . the virtual friends begin to feel like friends you have known your entire life . . not all of them . . but MANY do. I think it is simple human nature to reach out to others in time of great joy and great need.</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><o:p><b><span> </span></b></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><b><span>I have a LOT of Facebook friends, many I know in person . . and many, many more that were gathered along the virtual path that I have never met face to face . . but feel I would defend with my life if it came down to it. Some are here in Bristow . . ones that I have never met but believe me, am planning to now!</span></b></p></div><div><div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><o:p><b><span> </span></b></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><b><span>Today . . I got to meet one, in the flesh in person . . . and it was like hugging someone I have known forever. Isn't life grand?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><o:p><b><span> </span></b></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span><b><span>I got my best friend Kitty shamelessly ho</span></b><b><span>oked on Farmville (addictions are better shared you know) and somewhere along the way we ended up with a lot of the same "virtual" friends . . the ones you can count on to send you a cow when you really needed it or to feed your pigs or play with your virtual dog.</span></b></span></p><div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><b><span>There are several people we both immediately bonded with . . those people that you meet on the road in life and stop with amazement and say . . "Hey, I know you . . you're like me"<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><o:p><b><span> </span></b></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span><b><span>Eventually, you start chatting on Facebook w</span></b><b><span>ith these new friends . . you comment on their kids, their likes their dislikes . . you somehow become invested in their lives and you share in their joy and their pain and reach out virtually to comfort when the need arises. We both became equally attached to a wonderful person named Michelle Wheatcraft . . . about our age, same likes, dislikes, quirky sense of humor and adventure and often talked about just getting in the damn car, driving to Pennsylvania and knocking on her door LOL . . we're known to d</span></b><b><span>o shit like that.</span></b></span></p><div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><b><span>So . . . in the course of many conversations over several YEARS, I discovered that Michelle had relatives in Oklahoma.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><o:p><b><span> </span></b></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span><b><span>So here is where the story comes full circle .</span></b><b><span> . . last week I held the hand of a very good friend while he lost his battle to cancer . . . Ronald Schmidt, a.k.a. local DJ, Dusty Edwards. We bonded 18 years ago when I first moved to Oklahoma with a common background in the County Music industry. I promised him I would be with him to the end . . and I was. We spent countless hours driving to and from various doctor appointments in deep conversation about all types of subjects . . life, love, friendship and including of all things. . . Farmville . . he was my Farmville neighbor too . . I was telling him about a lady I met on Facebook and with Farmville and was telling him about her brother who along with his partner, own a bar in Tulsa (this is where Fate intervenes I believe . . ) and low and behold, he actually knew her brother and had DJ'd parties at his bar. When I told him that his sister was flying to Tulsa for her brother's 50th birthday . . Dusty was SO excited for me, and was looking forward visiting their bar </span></b><b><span>again, with me in tow LOL (said I would need a body guard and he was it . . period) I'm sorry to say we didn't have the chance to do just that. Dusty lost his battle last week. I got to hold his hand, I stayed to the end . . that is what friends do.</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><b><span>And today . . I got to come full circle and hug a new friend hello! Life is funny that way. I think sometimes you just have to be open to the possibilities and see what is already in front of you. Through Dusty, I have bonded with several people in town that were mere acquaintances . . that I now consider to be dear friends. Through Farmville, I have turned virtual friends into REAL ones . . . and somehow managed to find ONE that we both had something in common with. How many kinds of wonderful is that.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><o:p><b><span> </span></b></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><b><span>Michelle and I spoke on the phone for the first time several days ago and made plans to meet in person when she was in Tulsa. . and she said something in the course of the conversation that terrified me for DAYS. She said "I hope you are in fun in person as you are online" . . and I thought "Oh God . . what if . . " What if we meet and we don't like each other? What if we sit there and have NOTHING in common after all and NOTHING to talk about? OMG . . I called Kitty . . and was almost in tears (she is my voice of reason, and I hers) . . she assured me everything would be JUST fine and by they way . . she hated me because she couldn't meet her too.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><b><span>We agreed to meet at a local Irish pub, a favorite haunt of mine . . filled with memorable comfort food from my childhood (since I hail from an Irish from the insides out family LOL) . . it was a "safe" place for me . . and a lovely place to make new friends!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><b><span>From the moment she walked in and we placed a bear hug on each other . . it was non-stop conversation . . . I am in LOVE. She IS like me . . and I am like her and this is what makes this great world go round!! Three hours flew by, accompanied by great food and pints of Guinness . . life is GOOD. To quote something I once heard . . ."time seemed to grow wings and fly".<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><o:p><b><span> </span></b></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><b><span>I brought her a necklace . . a full circle fashioned from the <span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; ">Claddagh . . where two hands make a complete circle and symbolizes love and friendship. (I was going to buy her a cow . . for the Farmville thing . . but a Claddagh just seemed more "right")<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><b><span><span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><br /></span></span></b></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YWcrFLMnv4bGf5GufxxeVBz8GDxI9ZJCJgOMY1JQ2BwRa82cHBpkpK6PTTHeKOk7QdVSeTYMzsTrXFsbFWn9m61QzvNusxyn5zeQ6wgkVKsEiPqI1wlujLEVbVvxMJXNBdn4P_dQ9Rbp/s400/celticvisionscl%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716202899876905394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 349px; height: 400px; " /><div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span><b><br /></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><b><span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><o:p><span> </span></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><b><span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span>We have made plans to meet again hopefully in May . . to take a two week road trip from Pennsylvania to New Orleans . . not making any plans to do anything special other than let the road be our guide (a dream of hers) . . and we're bringing Kitty too, since she couldn't be here today . . she's NOT getting out of the next meeting. . . then I will drag her ass up and down the Appalachian trail for a week of hiking and camping on the trail (a dream of mine).<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><b><span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><o:p><span> </span></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><b><span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span>So here's to old friends I will truly miss . . new ones I have met . . and ones I have yet to meet (so . . . watch out Scott LaCombe . . Kitty, Michelle and I know where you live . . thanks to Facebook . . you never know who might come knocking on your door! . . and we ARE planning on it).</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; "><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><b><span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span><br /></span></span></b></p><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSh-rlQT4I3A0XjWeIMkDMBd5dYH38GHcekIdQqzlL2qOqKhA2rgblRWIAot5CNd7V9rdAy5r8bsuXXoNqrQbcA9M7rG0ANfrJ1Wz86a4HjBmOpfwvcIWbCP1GqfRVB-4ZCU7uN0h-TPe/s400/photo-%252822%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716205144273914354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><o:p><b><span></span></b></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><o:p><b><span></span></b></o:p></p></div></div>Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-56100035671021999582012-02-02T12:37:00.005-06:002012-02-02T13:26:23.380-06:00Eeek . . .but it's "Healthy Food"<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span>My girlfriend Kitty and I were just discussing this issue yesterday . . . about nutrition labels and portions and how food companies try to trick us (and succeed).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span>This is a product that I have bought many, many times . . although not in the last year or two.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span>I picked up a bag the other day . . . without looking at the label first . . a NO NO in my book these days, but I was in a hurry . . and you know how that goes.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span>You sprinkle this tasty mix on your salads that contains fruit and nuts to make them tasty and more interesting . . healthy right? wrong, wrong, WRONG!!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div></div><div><div><div><div><span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEM6OclePvfjgq3Gh_amHazLFB1EBj6IkEPmIbRqcZkRvtsKJXJSeec84p_qJot1rVsP-Me2UjNjS6woy2uA9aYdld_OW5815oC-EzxmlUcd04YYz11I7xvoDTJMsh3_abiOfwgCrbBUVo/s400/EEEK.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704610063217485058" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px; " /><div style="text-align: left;">THIS why we read labels . . and THIS is why you need a food scale! It's really easy to look at this and say "oh, it has fruit and nuts and is ONLY 30 calories" (this is where they get you by the short hairs ...)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Look at the SERVINGS too ... there are SIXTEEN of them in this little 4 oz bag! Lets do the math ... 30 x 16 is 480 whopping calories . . added to your healthy bowl of lettuce and vegetables (and we haven't added the dressing yet ... EEK)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I remember making a salad for dinner for my husband and I and adding the entire bag between us . . it was NOTHING on the salad it seemed . . just a little extra crunch and flavor. That being so . . each one of us was adding an additional 240 calories, 12 grams of fat, 40 carbs and 32 grams of sugar . . . in the words of the infamous George Takai . . . OOHHHH MYYYYY!</div></span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Ol-z22-jUYaaZ5J4yAhOS9W96tVwdRut5kdHwka-EHexuQmlMdpCJ5D0FL0eDo_3FUIXemKQCOZW7_FlM27Kiom5IiLinMuSUbUJH8coyjebMmhEUHuwIbqcpnpkbQ0Otgf8t086VUva/s400/READTHELABEL.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704610065880280706" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px; " /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span>Below is what a 7 gram serving actually looks like . . . would that fill you up? Me too neither!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span>And the really insulting thing is that it says on the front . . Great for Snacking . . the package contains less than two of my handfulls . . . a supposedly good snack.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzPrGd841xQmg0gCkIUMzS7Q_7X-lKxA0z62wmvxXaHjyVeS0q8wIR4JwoIKmfp3Bx54vtti1Br8UQgeJ-hckVeLAOAVYQ1FZEX5uBdkbNqPW4xyE3D1oMNM5gh-nbKuiEZUHQElhwezw/s400/7grams.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704610060504274626" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 311px; " /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><span>The moral of this rant is . . this is why you READ YOUR LABELS, and compare SERVING SIZES to nutrition data and do the math . . then think about how you can do it healthier! Fresh non-sugary walnuts and fresh fruit (dried fruit packs a concentrated sugar whallop) . . . not only tastes better, it fills you up faster. Buy a good food scale too, one that weighs in grams and ounces and tares out the weight (meaning can stick a bowl on it, zero it out, add an ingredient . . and zero it out and so on).</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>They are cheap, easy to use and you will wonder how you lived so long without one!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div>Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-82372199004385862632012-01-25T11:38:00.006-06:002012-01-25T12:22:43.410-06:00Losing my marbles . . .<div style="text-align: left;"><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span >Wow! It's been since June that I played with my blog? Bad, bad, bad Grace!!! LOL</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span ><b>Let me start the new year off with my losing my marbles!!</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuhOPlZlLFnS7ZsafuNjXqXxkpUiq4AiIpZXGyirDQV8JbxdoWKUkKQmgwqAEvum2JHzf5TcAh6Ay67YovrwYimTjPna3FNQy4LUh8lxYk5inkl4hhw9wug1Lxd27AzOlvmCN7t6bgqdF/s400/marbles.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701628176308352786" /><div><span >Last January . . . after living for several months with the most awful pain in my right shoulder . . I finally gave in, quit whining about it and went to see my doctor. He confirmed what I already knew deep down . . I tore a tendon in my shoulder (lifting heavy things like railroad ties and fence posts . . without being warmed up and by being OUT OF SHAPE).</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >He put me into supervised physical rehab 3 days a week . . which turned out to be a turning point for me. I have struggled with my weight for YEARS . . . trying this diet and that one, only to lose some then gain it back when I quit the diet.</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >Part of the rehab of my shoulder were a series of strength training exercises to improve the range of motion I have lost . . much like regular circuit training in a gym. Much to my amazement . . my body responded to it like it was MADE to do this sort of thing . . who knew??. My therapist Gordon worked both sides of my body to create a balance and through this . . I lost weight . . . by doing NOTHING but exercising. Wooo . . did a light just go off in MY head. I knew all all this was possible . . I was an athlete in high school and college . . but somewhere along the way . . I fell out of this groove.</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >Soooo . . long story shortened (as much I can can . . . I love to ramble ya know) . . I went straight from rehab to a personal trainer . . same three days a week . . same 30 minutes each session.</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >I have LOST 70 pounds and 45+ inches to date!! Woo Hoo!!! just by weight lifting . . very little cardio (weights are where it's AT girls . . .) although I have fallen in love with kickboxing . . . especially when I am allowed to hit a real person (scary what that might say about me . . LOL).</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >My weight yo-yo's . . up, down, up, down . . . but eventually still down. I don't stress about it . . . I'm really in NO HURRY. I no longer DIET, or stress about it . . <b>I JUST LIVE!</b></span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span ><b>I KNOW NOW THAT THIS JOURNEY IS FOR LIFE!</b> And I have met some of the most amazing people along the way (what a bonus!)</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >That brings us back to the marbles . . . goals are good! and sometimes I need reminding just how far I have come and how far I have to go.</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >Sooooo . . . on my kitchen window sits TWO jars . . one for representing pounds I have lost (one marble . . one pound) and one with pounds I need to lose. For ME . . it keeps me grounded and in check (and pisses me off from time to time when the marbles clink into the WRONG jar dammit) . . . but it makes it fun (and I'm all about FUN!!)</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span ><b>So here's for losing your marbles!!! (for the RIGHT reasons . . LOL)</b></span></div>Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-50883871249863090472011-06-03T06:45:00.006-05:002011-06-03T07:30:16.138-05:00Pete's Place<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">If you love Italian food and you visit Oklahoma, then a stop at Pete's Place in Krebs is a must!<br /><br />Established in 1925 by Italian immigrant Pietro Piegari, who started brewing his famous Choc beer and then later opened a restaurant in 1925. The rest is history!</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">The Choc Brewery makes some of the finest craft beers you will ever sample and the food at Pete's is legendary.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">We stopped at Pete's for dinner on our Memorial Day Model A putt up the Talimena Drive. Just the set-up is enough for two.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfppycdzomcxwTTCWjX0XoO_A1lDW-wpCFTGaWYW5Z4rGtakuiy9IatGd_7fhHIYK5_1yWAmzT0iurKjJnk24icm-s5JIZLdrcvbZNHpOJkAArdhd9XQNvBFw6GQ7temd8msmYLHYGnxo/s1600/antipasto.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfppycdzomcxwTTCWjX0XoO_A1lDW-wpCFTGaWYW5Z4rGtakuiy9IatGd_7fhHIYK5_1yWAmzT0iurKjJnk24icm-s5JIZLdrcvbZNHpOJkAArdhd9XQNvBFw6GQ7temd8msmYLHYGnxo/s400/antipasto.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613964793869956498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Your meal begins with an antipasto plate of Pepperoncini, Muenster Cheese and Olives, a HUGE bowl of salad and an endless basket of garlic bread!</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Uu1JALlcq2uKgQjpgbf1J6Hb3EJm2o8-rXemaWqfwMKemLNHSmHB39YAihdWXH0_BBNM2SQ9G4JuqdDMVF-4nCFKIfOdM_Udxd5K6GF_fEd56imyoTlAEY8o0YvSTr7d5U9g7mr4cpud/s1600/Choc.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Uu1JALlcq2uKgQjpgbf1J6Hb3EJm2o8-rXemaWqfwMKemLNHSmHB39YAihdWXH0_BBNM2SQ9G4JuqdDMVF-4nCFKIfOdM_Udxd5K6GF_fEd56imyoTlAEY8o0YvSTr7d5U9g7mr4cpud/s400/Choc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613964782317324082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">My favorite! Ice cold Peach Beer from the brewery next door! They don't bottle the peach . . you have to come to Pete's to sample it.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MHRX_P2MMdQihHVYT3aS87MYpFfW7zDc0JwJHhm7csMSb4kcnq6FRgCDg4iqf6xQ0SqZFDqo7vqTaXJUi5oqoL5BS4C4OPdgDASbezkdRP52kARclpNzAMM_P03zNwNkwfZ_A7fCx-zI/s1600/jim.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 340px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MHRX_P2MMdQihHVYT3aS87MYpFfW7zDc0JwJHhm7csMSb4kcnq6FRgCDg4iqf6xQ0SqZFDqo7vqTaXJUi5oqoL5BS4C4OPdgDASbezkdRP52kARclpNzAMM_P03zNwNkwfZ_A7fCx-zI/s400/jim.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613964774096494082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflFdvkmh09BRVEDLHVthh4u4Jv2vN9HFK9VJUNaR-8B6JnBTogyaQWK6ER5aCiD3jgAHe0beWbTH-86fKXyWUmu1hraNTDq2NdiL671BXrAFDdo7azz4BYil6OQNKZ4Xjv5GWT_nZcPtn/s1600/kitchen.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflFdvkmh09BRVEDLHVthh4u4Jv2vN9HFK9VJUNaR-8B6JnBTogyaQWK6ER5aCiD3jgAHe0beWbTH-86fKXyWUmu1hraNTDq2NdiL671BXrAFDdo7azz4BYil6OQNKZ4Xjv5GWT_nZcPtn/s400/kitchen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613964774069790482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The kitchen was HOPPIN when we were there! The smell was incredible when you walked by the door!</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2_emk8UVizfrJCAZgUq8TljJpBs6jqGJ8AkVDtgAU7E4kCtLx6p8j_ZwY8Lg_-cNXXLsIwduCSlJMGL1zO_iBjGY8WU8UU4VN0JwRa318sLC5H4ZCzdO16-oQpZkTTxXGObKv9wpfHd7/s1600/lobby.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2_emk8UVizfrJCAZgUq8TljJpBs6jqGJ8AkVDtgAU7E4kCtLx6p8j_ZwY8Lg_-cNXXLsIwduCSlJMGL1zO_iBjGY8WU8UU4VN0JwRa318sLC5H4ZCzdO16-oQpZkTTxXGObKv9wpfHd7/s400/lobby.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613964771280766050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_-bcw5GBRldmjxClpUMyvNz8Iwb39cMVpzAFI4SkX5RDuZvNwpR8TkiCkRcJZH4QUtqgkF7ZkYRCbvq8-CYDdZ9KEAxVDvcWT09lgx1wmpfZxTOUx_HiuSejMKcD61FCjbvJO8lmvPbY/s1600/more-spaghetti.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_-bcw5GBRldmjxClpUMyvNz8Iwb39cMVpzAFI4SkX5RDuZvNwpR8TkiCkRcJZH4QUtqgkF7ZkYRCbvq8-CYDdZ9KEAxVDvcWT09lgx1wmpfZxTOUx_HiuSejMKcD61FCjbvJO8lmvPbY/s400/more-spaghetti.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613964326312209138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Mmmmm . . . all the spaghetti you can eat!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCX2teR1EKdcnoadigVek9wewNkgnqjaKLPD5W9BybmvTgjmaqUei61SIRvR5dr9NMrYNKNUoYlflBqNHZPikf1jftW9B2eiPyRUhjz8VSd8WOlE-FnzaqcTwYqXUcAEjyjrebkXPGDr2u/s1600/outside.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCX2teR1EKdcnoadigVek9wewNkgnqjaKLPD5W9BybmvTgjmaqUei61SIRvR5dr9NMrYNKNUoYlflBqNHZPikf1jftW9B2eiPyRUhjz8VSd8WOlE-FnzaqcTwYqXUcAEjyjrebkXPGDr2u/s400/outside.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613964312880441010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Pete's is located in a lovely, butter yellow house . . that is HUGE on the inside!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCQ647PXzHCJ9ArChFfoJhXLJgljoMOOpT6zFWHBHCroUCAbRCpCDBvSjOKZfsNeHf7beJ_0n50Al1wb8LSCwTQD3t7JYcES8KlRYhvDHlr4VBi9jDWDnCtTU3MhOqGi6TXMTgG2G1xE5/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCQ647PXzHCJ9ArChFfoJhXLJgljoMOOpT6zFWHBHCroUCAbRCpCDBvSjOKZfsNeHf7beJ_0n50Al1wb8LSCwTQD3t7JYcES8KlRYhvDHlr4VBi9jDWDnCtTU3MhOqGi6TXMTgG2G1xE5/s400/photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613964311112144594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Lunch leftovers for the next day!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9p3YFh4pAvRRW7aB99pVbWzRGhShYJRKNoOsJ2cgHCTHxBVZU6TTTmXtZqz0RLwjsWxMbKC3HtYz4AbEDIzta7-KRG7RKFHl6kStGI0vBe-NKZ7m4E2QkmL_qtPuJSwflaqRktNkCXTi/s1600/spaghetti.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9p3YFh4pAvRRW7aB99pVbWzRGhShYJRKNoOsJ2cgHCTHxBVZU6TTTmXtZqz0RLwjsWxMbKC3HtYz4AbEDIzta7-KRG7RKFHl6kStGI0vBe-NKZ7m4E2QkmL_qtPuJSwflaqRktNkCXTi/s400/spaghetti.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613964307843858946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Just the set-up is enough to stuff you . . Antipasto, Bread, Salad, Spaghetti, Ravioli, Meatballs!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyar9X4eYoimZ4Avyh4Mwtc0O02oJVs_ccMk1xOj-1RdGCjp30q_O-MNZYuX2I6tNH1x7kulpcFwoyBAETbbQ0_qG05Y23PPo4ce9xBiPLnJIXeWIklnzXU3AlRtGdlf45G4uS1B0hmw4/s1600/steak.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 337px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyar9X4eYoimZ4Avyh4Mwtc0O02oJVs_ccMk1xOj-1RdGCjp30q_O-MNZYuX2I6tNH1x7kulpcFwoyBAETbbQ0_qG05Y23PPo4ce9xBiPLnJIXeWIklnzXU3AlRtGdlf45G4uS1B0hmw4/s400/steak.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613964302992776370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Mushroom smothered Ribeye!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">We ate on the leftovers for two days! Cut up chunks of steak on crackers with cheese . . mmmm . . perfect road food.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Seriously, if you get a chance, visit the town of Krebs, the "little Italy" of Oklahoma. There is an Italian grocery store, Lovera's where they carry all things Italian and an amazing array of salami, sausages and hand-crafted cheese.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">But especially, stop by and eat at Pete's, you won't be disappointed! . . and tour the brewery next door, it's a day/evening well spent!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">http://www.petes.org</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">http://www.loverasmarket.com</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> http://www.chocbeer.com</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /></span> </span>Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-30680587436263462712011-06-01T13:50:00.008-05:002011-06-01T14:46:38.571-05:00A Memorial Day in Vintage Style!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">We have a 1929 Ford Model A that Jim has been dying to take on a long road trip. So, on Saturday, we packed our bags, an ice chest and headed out to Southeastern Oklahoma. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">We spent the first night in Macalster at the Happy Days Hotel (decorated in theme rooms from the 50's) very fun!<br /><br />We had dinner at a GREAT Italian restaurant, Pete's Place in Krebs (also the home of the Choc Beer Brewery . . darn our luck LOL) . . I will post a separate blog on Pete's . . what a great place.<br /><br />The next morning we headed to Mena, Arkansas and spent the better part of the morning and early afternoon slogging around the antique shops (found some great trinkets!)<br /><br />We took the scenic Talimena Drive (http://www.talimenascenicdrive.com) on into Wilburton, Oklahoma and spent the night. We saw TWO black bears on the mountain! One was a cub at an overlook . . I scared him and he scared me (I threw a peanut butter sandwich at him and ran for the truck LOL . . he was running the opposite direction so no worries LOL). The other was a full grown Black Bear that was just standing by the road . . . I have a couple videos of him on my facebook page.<br /><br />We had a great Mexican dinner at Adelita's, in Wilburton, they have several locations and it just happens that this one sits too close to both a church and a school to serve beer they said. . good food . .but would have been MUCH better with an ice cold Corona!!<br /><br />The next morning we got up early and headed to Robber's Cave State Park (http://www.travelok.com/listings/view.profile/id.6415). Stupid me only took flip flops on the trip and had to hike the boulders in sandals LOL (But I DID it!!). Jim even got me to straddle an endless crack in the earth! You have to know that I am TERRIFIED of heights and my heart was beating so hard you could about hear it!! He was laughing so hard at me that he had tears running down his face (ass). I got attacked by a tree vine on the way down (told the people at the bottom it was a bear . . have to have fun with the tourists ya know)<br /><br />We saw a bobcat and a few deer and enjoyed watching the buzzards playing in the wind -- they look like they have way too much fun doing that!<br /><br />All in all it was a FUN trip! We didn't want to come back home, 427 miles in all (at the top speed of 45 mph). We decided we are doing it again in the fall, when the trees are in full color, taking hiking shoes and hiking the trails around Robber's Cave (they look amazing).<br /><br />Here are a few pics from our adventure!</span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuxB4CkqC3P421D6aWz5A9wLY4WggItwClCrM8ZHePpuCoC-HcoUPGfr8As-vbH4vS_JZfWcIQjY2i4Z9th00Oh-QqtVvT4vkiwPDeGWtD4d7jhFbqoTRRewvL02CafpV779y56QSlSrH/s1600/sign.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuxB4CkqC3P421D6aWz5A9wLY4WggItwClCrM8ZHePpuCoC-HcoUPGfr8As-vbH4vS_JZfWcIQjY2i4Z9th00Oh-QqtVvT4vkiwPDeGWtD4d7jhFbqoTRRewvL02CafpV779y56QSlSrH/s400/sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613338217778919298" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwd0-EHm6j9aK7rxyeTRys7xdxNKGAvuJROA6bQtnUFgi7pyudOlMtQ_sJPPysVW7YtHc-bmzyU2_ZpAcXYgAyPRKRav0P_JduUQMt1JZrT8-XCkX-65RLi83xSllN24iLe3k3X3R083S/s1600/IMG_9221.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwd0-EHm6j9aK7rxyeTRys7xdxNKGAvuJROA6bQtnUFgi7pyudOlMtQ_sJPPysVW7YtHc-bmzyU2_ZpAcXYgAyPRKRav0P_JduUQMt1JZrT8-XCkX-65RLi83xSllN24iLe3k3X3R083S/s400/IMG_9221.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613338225110450530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">It was nice knowing him . . . I sure as Hell was NOT getting close enough to save him!</span></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zUzmB6P82hhLHYiBOpPo-R_ZIv_AFhhDaMAW5Uuv9tEGnu6AdqAP1EVPJQzr2TdjeFRqNgq-eG6NbHlK1flEpMgA8P4ruNzS9oR-x696yihnosu7ehue-0rIuqZlSOOeUesv2V1LgBXq/s1600/IMG_9214.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zUzmB6P82hhLHYiBOpPo-R_ZIv_AFhhDaMAW5Uuv9tEGnu6AdqAP1EVPJQzr2TdjeFRqNgq-eG6NbHlK1flEpMgA8P4ruNzS9oR-x696yihnosu7ehue-0rIuqZlSOOeUesv2V1LgBXq/s400/IMG_9214.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613338214420130818" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuE1XGEgQRx3k__Kevztj-YcavAeu5WzA9POsWueWM9onZZMLbBW54WD7-QmLgjXznRsiqUkA8g-e3TDG4W7xXTKvJ9o5MX-XGCiHVIU4pFud4dMk2WZGc-Dl2hinLdxZMURWxZtHrJwM/s1600/IMG_9232.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuE1XGEgQRx3k__Kevztj-YcavAeu5WzA9POsWueWM9onZZMLbBW54WD7-QmLgjXznRsiqUkA8g-e3TDG4W7xXTKvJ9o5MX-XGCiHVIU4pFud4dMk2WZGc-Dl2hinLdxZMURWxZtHrJwM/s400/IMG_9232.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613335340580940018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Monkey boy Jim . . going places I would NOT</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZGrGq7YXZIk2f7alo9iR5BENrh4q8_B28jGfe1w9kOPid6xBLZkr7hhJ_6U8rV3hD3gOBs7GxHrag-IJX9jNac99xg7HxEUEMHvFnz_Y9m9DZOs4Ct69hzgKhokF4XlzmDnTK_QAArK-/s1600/scary.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZGrGq7YXZIk2f7alo9iR5BENrh4q8_B28jGfe1w9kOPid6xBLZkr7hhJ_6U8rV3hD3gOBs7GxHrag-IJX9jNac99xg7HxEUEMHvFnz_Y9m9DZOs4Ct69hzgKhokF4XlzmDnTK_QAArK-/s400/scary.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613335334014976418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Risking my life . . standing on a edge of a cliff (I swear, it was a LONG way down!!)</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rOoLizAXPeeQ9FspjdgKNyQAdnMw5HMyI0wwRZ8WdmU7xB2KNaqYzdIeQnkETzDQoznazqq53hyfOzeQnyJ8TVt6M8vxSNIaGnOKKBppbbwvnen4NTT0-THJEe9rtn0Bvg7d7h3xKS9a/s1600/scenic-view.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rOoLizAXPeeQ9FspjdgKNyQAdnMw5HMyI0wwRZ8WdmU7xB2KNaqYzdIeQnkETzDQoznazqq53hyfOzeQnyJ8TVt6M8vxSNIaGnOKKBppbbwvnen4NTT0-THJEe9rtn0Bvg7d7h3xKS9a/s400/scenic-view.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613335331082750466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Looking over the edge (as close as I was willing to get!!)<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNg6ZKhF3F_rfAEUhSq3Vxa71uq-Od27AATx7R1uLeXGsrra-7TNEpl99j9G3xiKmGONarBR_taXcXJnF_wcOW_4ZNVTj8Om14fMDCSl0QUR6CqOaqNIwTpBRnGwqtI3Fd3KAIi56Hgk_S/s1600/IMG_9278.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNg6ZKhF3F_rfAEUhSq3Vxa71uq-Od27AATx7R1uLeXGsrra-7TNEpl99j9G3xiKmGONarBR_taXcXJnF_wcOW_4ZNVTj8Om14fMDCSl0QUR6CqOaqNIwTpBRnGwqtI3Fd3KAIi56Hgk_S/s400/IMG_9278.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613335328648358770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">A doe and her little spotty fawn, he was jumping all over the place like a little jumping bean!</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38mwsW37HEqC8n2wS-W995RGoEUIDHhiZplnLE2MPZtINx2FiXeJr_jJkDhw6e3zBdXCuesI9oe8-yobeoADevvp6aTemzBn0f7EKbVa0QT5-fqBOTRNFpuG-a3dXAs93QjafWQnDSk47/s1600/IMG_9254.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38mwsW37HEqC8n2wS-W995RGoEUIDHhiZplnLE2MPZtINx2FiXeJr_jJkDhw6e3zBdXCuesI9oe8-yobeoADevvp6aTemzBn0f7EKbVa0QT5-fqBOTRNFpuG-a3dXAs93QjafWQnDSk47/s400/IMG_9254.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613335322278771906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">The chef, preparing peanut butter and jelly sannys for breakfast!!</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKa6Pyx6YXzAb8UQc-IU69Fq1AK4Qoy4Y5LgA7cV54u6K3uoAkKCUiHInj2bxmssnokVjd2TokJWgaGPSndKj9nl1pm_mFve41vlTyv7xHNb4uN8-fMsdPNPJPKt0ltsSp-1NlB1CcYxCA/s1600/100_4066.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKa6Pyx6YXzAb8UQc-IU69Fq1AK4Qoy4Y5LgA7cV54u6K3uoAkKCUiHInj2bxmssnokVjd2TokJWgaGPSndKj9nl1pm_mFve41vlTyv7xHNb4uN8-fMsdPNPJPKt0ltsSp-1NlB1CcYxCA/s400/100_4066.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613333560644539314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Wedging myself in a rock staircase!</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDYZApBFkWwUTqX8rYXKINhLoyfuUutGa7thzVHtXHQQgnSsDxWqRCCET_A-vpGHdaRQolHYONCGUe5isiWDwyDUCT3IdX_5Wyg6-6b9FbtK9mHzEKQS8oxWo5OnAs1ObEz-QyR0RTQWH/s1600/stairs.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDYZApBFkWwUTqX8rYXKINhLoyfuUutGa7thzVHtXHQQgnSsDxWqRCCET_A-vpGHdaRQolHYONCGUe5isiWDwyDUCT3IdX_5Wyg6-6b9FbtK9mHzEKQS8oxWo5OnAs1ObEz-QyR0RTQWH/s400/stairs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613333554756710082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >These were so cool looking!</span><span style="font-size:78%;"> </span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCubtiiIcs5ei1ZlyCnmaI5t0bRTmUQU1xHNjMpp4TZU3gWKDrtK6vVQpjrAGgnIoXryx7Gh3YVjIwSCWfjO98B6vAtOO500TqJ76aEqy0EKTz5R-sSs9b0xk-qxhGdsqqZ2UVavekI5fR/s1600/robbers-cave-2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCubtiiIcs5ei1ZlyCnmaI5t0bRTmUQU1xHNjMpp4TZU3gWKDrtK6vVQpjrAGgnIoXryx7Gh3YVjIwSCWfjO98B6vAtOO500TqJ76aEqy0EKTz5R-sSs9b0xk-qxhGdsqqZ2UVavekI5fR/s400/robbers-cave-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613333551890757202" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVAOKZPaczavgTs-yh_koVB-Xc-RFDdLfBHzDpR3V5tdMULq3MyLuBtnNJFJSlDXaGIm3b-Ec3lL6UWggb2MU66ovIJsC0Lnw25KaM2QRpNBjmib_gdn00NPJKZ5olH-VCCvFFrHiIoVL/s1600/Ow.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVAOKZPaczavgTs-yh_koVB-Xc-RFDdLfBHzDpR3V5tdMULq3MyLuBtnNJFJSlDXaGIm3b-Ec3lL6UWggb2MU66ovIJsC0Lnw25KaM2QRpNBjmib_gdn00NPJKZ5olH-VCCvFFrHiIoVL/s400/Ow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613333551397846450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Bear damage!!!!</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;"> (that's my story at least)</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVS-h3jehrSK1EH4JZ1IEWl0nTbDu-YVz6GoIXUFRG96FRGvV5J5VVGDaadAZLU3Ac9zYLRL_7FzShGPdq8BAjGQc7h_GeTboVW0Wm0y0K6gkc8kd0LBirD6cVXNIV5442nqnAZRZsnaE8/s1600/IMG_9241.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVS-h3jehrSK1EH4JZ1IEWl0nTbDu-YVz6GoIXUFRG96FRGvV5J5VVGDaadAZLU3Ac9zYLRL_7FzShGPdq8BAjGQc7h_GeTboVW0Wm0y0K6gkc8kd0LBirD6cVXNIV5442nqnAZRZsnaE8/s400/IMG_9241.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613333546194432050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">I thought these looked like big green hairy butt cheeks!</span></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvpAPWeidAFzWQKjMuwPyN14gFx9AiVHxceRR1naUwzsHZl2chU5B6aqGaNxyVL-HZpmZWh_lbBUV7yTcoPkGhiVZOM6BZPPFfh9RxydewiIMVa372-2BRQdg0Kc-n7boK9R3akjAs4Og/s1600/drivetocave.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvpAPWeidAFzWQKjMuwPyN14gFx9AiVHxceRR1naUwzsHZl2chU5B6aqGaNxyVL-HZpmZWh_lbBUV7yTcoPkGhiVZOM6BZPPFfh9RxydewiIMVa372-2BRQdg0Kc-n7boK9R3akjAs4Og/s400/drivetocave.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613332127230227522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">On the way to the cave</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3AZjTWJ8MGvDqeKGzti7_W_16OK-3DXHEhZ9HkxlX2ruq1xHdCinyEfT9kARo6xLWVTjm6iK64Geybe84S6SMqvoL8B7uU86W_t2Cg3Siv-QsEwdANDM4THJj1pTswSHFL1VdRrkSp7R/s1600/IMG_9211.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3AZjTWJ8MGvDqeKGzti7_W_16OK-3DXHEhZ9HkxlX2ruq1xHdCinyEfT9kARo6xLWVTjm6iK64Geybe84S6SMqvoL8B7uU86W_t2Cg3Siv-QsEwdANDM4THJj1pTswSHFL1VdRrkSp7R/s400/IMG_9211.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613332139830631394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Trail marker to the cave</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-8jMq9uD7213lr2OBI5IGzKf7k-Ze-Hr98UrRkr-NmKxzl_nohGuhZH9eMqaLfBX4fZZuKH5hx4jKHnIeSz7t4faqW8_rIR8IeRyFyqj1Rrk5ybOVztORH4dN2-XURUGCES1VAZWkacm/s1600/IMG_9205.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-8jMq9uD7213lr2OBI5IGzKf7k-Ze-Hr98UrRkr-NmKxzl_nohGuhZH9eMqaLfBX4fZZuKH5hx4jKHnIeSz7t4faqW8_rIR8IeRyFyqj1Rrk5ybOVztORH4dN2-XURUGCES1VAZWkacm/s400/IMG_9205.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613332138380800466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNBOdjHmcHxfPiP-xkbs1EUot7uAbLAXy3rIm7T28EIyWhu8q4Sjjzkgxt3vwHpA4gXgO8Bi3dFvzGft8iaBca75wNPSErmfEuEivYeABTEx6IoKDvlRHr0vwLJx-5_FwEd-HVsD8so0f/s1600/IMG_9290.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNBOdjHmcHxfPiP-xkbs1EUot7uAbLAXy3rIm7T28EIyWhu8q4Sjjzkgxt3vwHpA4gXgO8Bi3dFvzGft8iaBca75wNPSErmfEuEivYeABTEx6IoKDvlRHr0vwLJx-5_FwEd-HVsD8so0f/s400/IMG_9290.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613332122161641442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">She's looking shiny and pretty thanks to Route 66 Tint & Toys in Bristow (great detail job . . THANKS!)</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXx7vI8zLKxniczoo7eZXxv5PILlkWKfcH5j-dDQ4a3BSCgJwUtht091Z2UmykzVEcEcJYxIBngODGLZhFsT-xLLCKKtVPVKwEoMJYbRDEeCSmymTqqxdwd-eZqHXHhlCsPmiA4g7nrbhJ/s1600/brave.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXx7vI8zLKxniczoo7eZXxv5PILlkWKfcH5j-dDQ4a3BSCgJwUtht091Z2UmykzVEcEcJYxIBngODGLZhFsT-xLLCKKtVPVKwEoMJYbRDEeCSmymTqqxdwd-eZqHXHhlCsPmiA4g7nrbhJ/s400/brave.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613332133334792370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">I know . . the crack looks small here . . but stand on top of it . . it went down to CHINA!!</span></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> (I could have died. . . honestly</span>)</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /></span> </span>Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-13201633786508803242011-05-30T19:23:00.003-05:002011-05-30T19:31:03.864-05:00Watch Out! There are Chupacabras in Oklahoma!<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">So . . we were driving down this little sleepy country road somewhere out of Wilberton, OK (near Robber's Cave) . . and all of a sudden from this house . . comes a REAL LIVE CHUPACABRA!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Although . . it could be a domesticated Hyena also . . . who knows?</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jOCV8rl7vkj7AXsp1y9v9dXNrWq4i0Ro2kmfWxzAo4eusO0LkHJN6YTD6EBy31TwlQHNFTpw_iZMI3-6L4qbEUZqajmHOa5kya1io_plNoR2Ku6su6lLgazDKiBa5y0meXwd8vFMEaxg/s1600/Chupacabra.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 362px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jOCV8rl7vkj7AXsp1y9v9dXNrWq4i0Ro2kmfWxzAo4eusO0LkHJN6YTD6EBy31TwlQHNFTpw_iZMI3-6L4qbEUZqajmHOa5kya1io_plNoR2Ku6su6lLgazDKiBa5y0meXwd8vFMEaxg/s400/Chupacabra.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612669520675448994" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Go ahead . . Google "Chupacabra" . . . you know you want to!</span></span>Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-22582314826949802092011-05-30T18:59:00.002-05:002011-05-30T19:07:52.265-05:00Who says that nature doesn't have a sense of humor?Just plant a carrot patch! (rocky soil helps). It's GREAT entertainment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxbnMMBoOuwVslbMvqgdPHEzFmWqoXdWm13LEX4l07tt3Ix4cS9Y0XqjZFe_sNDAs1IbcpGX2mXEOvT3QdHp_S6S4xQKIRXhSlg_Y9y8feBJtbVozHI66aju5XWR80KYqcnwsBf-dp-_q/s1600/BadCarrots.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxbnMMBoOuwVslbMvqgdPHEzFmWqoXdWm13LEX4l07tt3Ix4cS9Y0XqjZFe_sNDAs1IbcpGX2mXEOvT3QdHp_S6S4xQKIRXhSlg_Y9y8feBJtbVozHI66aju5XWR80KYqcnwsBf-dp-_q/s400/BadCarrots.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612664233811391570" border="0" /></a>Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-32689667609152937012011-02-25T23:14:00.003-06:002011-02-25T23:19:28.596-06:00Who knew?<span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Banana Distribution? in Oklahoma? . . who knew?</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> (maybe that explains Frank's tomato truck . . it is right across the street . . . hmmmm)</span><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmgUJHfPAcWJ2TEwZDlqvoVrOm9ovdSUKcyH1a5vUu4cX4MJkH-oy2DcKJA4DAzELPP-ptHsfRplwoC3Q4_h1Maz3H-KM94kz7DOyslxnLmHh7Y6zgXdqSwfSz6KuwouZ3FpkzT03TjVz/s1600/bananadist.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmgUJHfPAcWJ2TEwZDlqvoVrOm9ovdSUKcyH1a5vUu4cX4MJkH-oy2DcKJA4DAzELPP-ptHsfRplwoC3Q4_h1Maz3H-KM94kz7DOyslxnLmHh7Y6zgXdqSwfSz6KuwouZ3FpkzT03TjVz/s400/bananadist.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577862584863828402" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBTzcB4IVjPqKnXflTG1lt3exQ4WhPQqrlM4m17kjUbXUpqw06iL9IlmsrhjvkB5RCLHCzXptlvRlwjP3AcI60VhFRDXprsxJ5JXJ-BnGk7qUY-TnYYOdguaQ1a1v7gdqxjWUuBMKN4JU/s1600/100_3799.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBTzcB4IVjPqKnXflTG1lt3exQ4WhPQqrlM4m17kjUbXUpqw06iL9IlmsrhjvkB5RCLHCzXptlvRlwjP3AcI60VhFRDXprsxJ5JXJ-BnGk7qUY-TnYYOdguaQ1a1v7gdqxjWUuBMKN4JU/s400/100_3799.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577862579401261922" border="0" /></a>Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-86825136582388717542011-02-25T22:50:00.006-06:002011-02-25T23:11:29.128-06:00An afternoon in the city!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_H5vJKuVnDzsE-zwQm4agbARjWpWgIuFxhrevvUSsZLVrdQzQGn9yDJDEh5wUDEwIqgKeDhnqpd9lpbijUIhY2IBMeZomczwyzhTlw2nlyr2VM8Q2teVD6M01xV6kbLgouGdjXsQZcaC/s1600/old-building.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_H5vJKuVnDzsE-zwQm4agbARjWpWgIuFxhrevvUSsZLVrdQzQGn9yDJDEh5wUDEwIqgKeDhnqpd9lpbijUIhY2IBMeZomczwyzhTlw2nlyr2VM8Q2teVD6M01xV6kbLgouGdjXsQZcaC/s400/old-building.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577860296584686114" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >My friend Holly and I decided to bum around Oklahoma City today . . we headed to the Stockyard district using my trusty <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">iPhone's</span> GPS maps (snort . . ) and got <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">distracted</span> by the fascinating old Farmers Market area.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGmIf1qy2fkIKBbuQyWw_5rgfM-wX8qqRZ0LzDp0gj66rTLMcMomo6Qmijm8zmcvPIEuTwJ3C_9eP-Ufzqry3OjXo1Gu2yuH9Bx_t7jkD98aoCp3tDyNDwMKbJGPmJaLlyhvBTleqA37p/s1600/farmerspublicbuilding.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGmIf1qy2fkIKBbuQyWw_5rgfM-wX8qqRZ0LzDp0gj66rTLMcMomo6Qmijm8zmcvPIEuTwJ3C_9eP-Ufzqry3OjXo1Gu2yuH9Bx_t7jkD98aoCp3tDyNDwMKbJGPmJaLlyhvBTleqA37p/s400/farmerspublicbuilding.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577859391421653714" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We happened upon a gorgeous old building that displayed the faint painted letters "FARMERS PUBLIC MARKET" and by the signage around it, hoped it contained antiques. (not true, huge sigh) . . but being the nosy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ol</span>' broads we are. We marched in and treated ourselves </span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >to a self tour of an amazing building.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">People were carrying wedding items in by the armload, (they were getting ready for a bridal show) so we just boldly blended in and walked around like we knew what we were d</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">oing</span>!!<br /><br />We met the handyman upstairs who said we were welcome to nose around . . the only ones he that aren't welcome are the homeless (I thought he said "holiness" . . at which I turned to Holly and said . . "now what does he have against the holiness?" . . when she got done giggling, she said, "No, he said as long as we're not HOMELESS" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">LOL</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1hZw_hD18iXCsrIwRYoZZYxQkil8JJikggpgvyX37Zd-lhxmiiYd0dH0PExDzx7n3B6kulN6oPq-ksYCmrOv7dSN_749nXJhiWW3icTZBt0Mt4lvinS0wuE7JorUCObPNPHJT4qkmffr/s1600/mural-two.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1hZw_hD18iXCsrIwRYoZZYxQkil8JJikggpgvyX37Zd-lhxmiiYd0dH0PExDzx7n3B6kulN6oPq-ksYCmrOv7dSN_749nXJhiWW3icTZBt0Mt4lvinS0wuE7JorUCObPNPHJT4qkmffr/s400/mural-two.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577859396807182594" border="0" /></a></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">He told us the owner has put over a half a million dollars restoring the building and they still haven't hardly scratched the surface. It says booked for events for almost a year in advance.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">I wish I would have taken more pics of the building inside and out. But all I had with me was</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> a little Kodak digital camera . . why I left for a road trip without my big camera . . who knows??<br /><br /><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8MIgJOMH-nrHJP0_umi-vmf7aqEZiX3bCMyLrTua865A6z0srAxFdxvE3mDz7GxJyRw0FhFqpHvbwkwwJMfnqWlXIEN-ri_NfEZj8GKL07bacbi3d-KKeTUntVQpqUu32-gy03I2xGk75/s1600/mural-one.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8MIgJOMH-nrHJP0_umi-vmf7aqEZiX3bCMyLrTua865A6z0srAxFdxvE3mDz7GxJyRw0FhFqpHvbwkwwJMfnqWlXIEN-ri_NfEZj8GKL07bacbi3d-KKeTUntVQpqUu32-gy03I2xGk75/s400/mural-one.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577859390769109234" border="0" /></a></span><br />There are the most amazing hand painted murals everywhere. The entry is painted a most wonderful deep tomato red . . truly an amazing building. I can't wait to revisit and watch the remodeling progress. It does the heart good to see people appreciate and bring back to life historic buildings.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">If you get a chance, wander in, they don't mind . . it's on the way to the stockyards and is truly a feast for the eyes.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1Y3ROgIBwAcw5VPouXXZmnPa3VnvsOXS6YNmf-wx0h49iVglSRU4ZBk6Sdslm4pZF_WCugAVZl8kO8jLW_ipnMktcJNA5VcSfWf31t6uTGsenQxa30bEFMA2BaVjA4YbUlx6rk6_DEV4/s1600/lanterns.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1Y3ROgIBwAcw5VPouXXZmnPa3VnvsOXS6YNmf-wx0h49iVglSRU4ZBk6Sdslm4pZF_WCugAVZl8kO8jLW_ipnMktcJNA5VcSfWf31t6uTGsenQxa30bEFMA2BaVjA4YbUlx6rk6_DEV4/s400/lanterns.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577859398123787314" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-73804690948059915402011-02-25T22:40:00.006-06:002011-02-25T22:49:17.693-06:00You say "Tomato" . . I say "Banana" . . .<span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Dear Frank,<br /> Please rethink your advertising agency, that is not a tomato.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> (and by the way . . let them know that using an octopus for a model was a bad move)</span></span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IWiHmwyGZPFlfd7AlWRm_4IWSAky8YvEyaBvfJdO4JZEqwuoiGRumfFyygwGST0zD-w8bOCsbvAE0I2pMxqsXHqlcIoG-bDNPbM4bZ5l_nqX_lou73w4eTQp9ixlzJ-8htFDgqbYLY8B/s1600/Tomatoes.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IWiHmwyGZPFlfd7AlWRm_4IWSAky8YvEyaBvfJdO4JZEqwuoiGRumfFyygwGST0zD-w8bOCsbvAE0I2pMxqsXHqlcIoG-bDNPbM4bZ5l_nqX_lou73w4eTQp9ixlzJ-8htFDgqbYLY8B/s400/Tomatoes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577854628616915426" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkFYvxvIV-6EiUTCvAvH2bQWb6isTZ6IsC_LOEt35FJ034vZBJp4zzyc4YwYsdUYsoRcnn0Z2VbIHUE2laqxxJtP33Kll-jGQ-GeFmskhC37ud7TCFOTvXynxhS_MltPuDb4SFAmYbS-e/s1600/Tomatoes.jpg"><br /></a>Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-53638590308285539932011-02-15T14:44:00.004-06:002011-02-15T15:04:01.001-06:00My Heart . . .<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Since February is the month of love (by retail standards at least LOL) . . I thought I would share one of my very most favorite pieces of jewelry with you.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It never fails to brings comments when I wear it and I treasure it above even very expensive pieces of jewelry I own . . in fact I think if the house was on fire and I could only save ONE piece of jewelry, this would be it.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMyJu_aPAbM9d_YpgH8PISIFq4wBREkFQqFkK4OW3G_HpJXPcdsQQKcdKTJher9EWHH6HyNZShZICNZH_G9uk55Lx8jQ7ln9fzOEr69Aa6uXlUI81rVo3ei2biF5mjjiO2grLsw0NpWYP/s1600/MyHeart.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMyJu_aPAbM9d_YpgH8PISIFq4wBREkFQqFkK4OW3G_HpJXPcdsQQKcdKTJher9EWHH6HyNZShZICNZH_G9uk55Lx8jQ7ln9fzOEr69Aa6uXlUI81rVo3ei2biF5mjjiO2grLsw0NpWYP/s400/MyHeart.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574023111384149506" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;" >It is made of clay by the then 10 year hands of my son, Nicholas . . and very carefully, scratched in the back are the initials "N.V. 1993</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">", and the love shows in every bubble, flaw and fingerprint it contains.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6oIHNW1ThB-yq5n7WLT_1a79OBRkMgJl6t2TOiJMzTJwGGiauqPdSiv1dlJTCt34ch4NDrqvLxm6bzy_hX1X3uFoOwv_2AF1pnUxAbWnkmvmAXOn0LpdJT15Fiq6VgkFGq6i-30_qG0f/s1600/back.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 337px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6oIHNW1ThB-yq5n7WLT_1a79OBRkMgJl6t2TOiJMzTJwGGiauqPdSiv1dlJTCt34ch4NDrqvLxm6bzy_hX1X3uFoOwv_2AF1pnUxAbWnkmvmAXOn0LpdJT15Fiq6VgkFGq6i-30_qG0f/s400/back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574024583465879378" border="0" /></a></span></span></span><br /></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">I love all the fun stuff the kids have given us through the years . . . and treasure each one and the thought and effort that was extended to make them. Jim and I both actually still display and use most of them.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">After all . . how can you NOT treasure a gift that was given purely by the heart?</span></span>Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-26694300651119375502011-01-23T23:27:00.002-06:002011-01-23T23:48:23.289-06:00<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is late, I cannot sleep . . . so I am up dreaming. Of green grass, warm earth and gardens to be.<br /><br />The wood stove is crackling, the house is quiet and I am surrounded by stacks of gardening magazines . . the new Burpee and new Gurney's catalogs . . . dreaming.<br /><br />"What shall I plant this year?" It always holds so much possibilities (I never have enough garden room LOL).<br /><br />Last year, I planted corn . . won't do that again. While it was satisfying to watch it visibly grow in the Oklahoma heat . . the valuable real estate it occupies and the fighting the ear worms is not worth it. I think this year, I will concentrate on items I can put up for the winter. We have really enjoyed the quarts of tomatoes, pickles and jams earlier in the year.<br /><br />This year, I think I will put into practice "Square Foot Gardening" pioneered by garden guru, Mel Bartholomew . . which is getting the most out of what space I have.<br /><br />I remember reading about SFG in the 80's in The Mother Earth News (for which I just purchased a subscription . . . another danger of not sleeping . . . internet shopping!!)<br /></span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoQl9HxwCxTZTwzJvdiucdnyRQtr1W8j6hLlVoNPeJJsoLp_KnKI_eH-fAWadxw-PkoXVZRcdmyC6w2hWi9s5xLnC9tb5Xsld1e0yULjsQVs18G4M4RZlXu-rklz_M2zTA7-KPRMifqRe/s1600/dreaming.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoQl9HxwCxTZTwzJvdiucdnyRQtr1W8j6hLlVoNPeJJsoLp_KnKI_eH-fAWadxw-PkoXVZRcdmyC6w2hWi9s5xLnC9tb5Xsld1e0yULjsQVs18G4M4RZlXu-rklz_M2zTA7-KPRMifqRe/s400/dreaming.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565620048799354274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So far, on my list for spring is LOADS of herbs, green beans, peas, more cucumbers (the pickles were the BOMB), </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">a smaller, climbing variety of cantalope and loads of green onions and salad greens . . . Ooooo and potatoes . . . and GIANT heirloom tomatoes . . . . </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I think I need a bigger garden!</span></span>Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-27898022612941228062011-01-17T14:49:00.003-06:002011-01-17T15:01:08.197-06:00It's bound to happy . . . .<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Only I would get a fortune cookie with a typo.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I got this several years ago and found it yesterday when I was cleaning out a bunch of boxes in the garage (explains the time worn appearance of it!) . . I've kept it because it always brings a smile to my face and makes me happy LOL.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">When you really think about it though . . it works.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Just exchange the word "happen" with "happy" and see the fun you can have.<br /><br />I forgive them their mistake . . after all, with all the millions of fortune cookies they make in a day . . it's bound to happy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinmkWOm0xt4dmfy5DX3DPSYdh7f-JQyjjXv-djHYvaBgBMZBrt99_290Je5ut2qnGF10T5oekaulAAge-S_y9elR1jMcu4WXclZJI8eQFtyQeikk8Q6VdkeQySlUpbuBLpukgwmZzgr0OT/s1600/happy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinmkWOm0xt4dmfy5DX3DPSYdh7f-JQyjjXv-djHYvaBgBMZBrt99_290Je5ut2qnGF10T5oekaulAAge-S_y9elR1jMcu4WXclZJI8eQFtyQeikk8Q6VdkeQySlUpbuBLpukgwmZzgr0OT/s400/happy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563262155639761090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></span></span>Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-10128123369824718332011-01-07T12:34:00.005-06:002011-01-07T13:25:56.164-06:00Mmmmm Smokey Paprika Chicken & Cinnamon Beans (this is for YOU Kitty!)<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >The wind is howling outside and snow is coming our way . . . I thought it was a great time to play in the kitchen!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >This is for Kitty, who's hubby has been recently diagnosed with high cholesterol </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >and swears he will now starve to death!! Also, she says he is on a bean kick these days LOL</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Cinnamon Beans!</span><br />This is an old favorite in Jim's family. The original contains a lot of bacon, so I reworked it without the fat & bacon and was very surprised at how good the flavor still was. For those </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">of you who are still allowed to eat bacon . . throw some in (directions at the end) . . the flavor combination</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> is amazing.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I have also paired it Smoked Paprika Chicken . . . (I'm on a self discovery of</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> what's new in the spice isle these days) . . . Smoked Spanish Paprika is world's apart from th</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">e regular Paprika or Hungarian Paprika that you have always used. . . . unbelievable aroma and taste!!!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfiTRrjzEZ_pXoCv-WDhXihExNY7lZ_551wFQ_uCCFOX3am0iQySU4GQFhI8sxgbkuDKbB6IuDwvpUUpVhiDse0AuNX4669TrN2fLb1JeJPwiVa-DusSQHqB1lhLtipIhwMpzqAfe42Nr/s1600/SmokeyPaprikaChicken%2526CinnamonBeans.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfiTRrjzEZ_pXoCv-WDhXihExNY7lZ_551wFQ_uCCFOX3am0iQySU4GQFhI8sxgbkuDKbB6IuDwvpUUpVhiDse0AuNX4669TrN2fLb1JeJPwiVa-DusSQHqB1lhLtipIhwMpzqAfe42Nr/s400/SmokeyPaprikaChicken%2526CinnamonBeans.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559522984855969282" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" >So here goes (Kitty . . PAY ATTENTION!!)<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >First . . the Cinnamon Beans</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">You need:</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Get our your crock pot and a non-stick frying pan first</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">3 cans of pinto beans (any brand, I use WalMart generic)</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">2 cups of low sodium chicken broth</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">1 medium onion, chopped into small pieces</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">3 T. Olive Oil (more or less . . I tend to cook by the seat of my pants and not measure anything)</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">2 T. Roasted Saigon Cinnamon (available at WalMart) this has much more depth than regular cinnamon<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianHUXbk-JFL8WxxX4BuUPnV0a43YTNR4CI9SoNuJc4mDExzEiAe-tHSVN1hy70PDSJ1JH2dRg2msbPqix9h5_q5gAm9J39j1abyxm-QekT2KH84PAqEUJqlX9Qm-LvYRXHzf_Bc7KLp4g/s1600/pintobeans.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianHUXbk-JFL8WxxX4BuUPnV0a43YTNR4CI9SoNuJc4mDExzEiAe-tHSVN1hy70PDSJ1JH2dRg2msbPqix9h5_q5gAm9J39j1abyxm-QekT2KH84PAqEUJqlX9Qm-LvYRXHzf_Bc7KLp4g/s400/pintobeans.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559522989327551282" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Open the </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">beans, drain and rinse them in a colander and toss into your crockpot (on High until crock warms, the turn down to Low)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianHUXbk-JFL8WxxX4BuUPnV0a43YTNR4CI9SoNuJc4mDExzEiAe-tHSVN1hy70PDSJ1JH2dRg2msbPqix9h5_q5gAm9J39j1abyxm-QekT2KH84PAqEUJqlX9Qm-LvYRXHzf_Bc7KLp4g/s1600/pintobeans.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUh1oX6gXk8RWdXVDSVIAfRB-gZQVMl7DuD3jMowAk2daS04AGKfzf4TJ5nMWPjAGTTr1uuHOpo-GCnXCFz1Zn-6JLA8ZCnf-BJ4MRtObH1XiGPytCEw-kWjBjtXJ1E2L3s4VabsaD0Yt7/s1600/rinsed-beans.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUh1oX6gXk8RWdXVDSVIAfRB-gZQVMl7DuD3jMowAk2daS04AGKfzf4TJ5nMWPjAGTTr1uuHOpo-GCnXCFz1Zn-6JLA8ZCnf-BJ4MRtObH1XiGPytCEw-kWjBjtXJ1E2L3s4VabsaD0Yt7/s400/rinsed-beans.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559522989372083698" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianHUXbk-JFL8WxxX4BuUPnV0a43YTNR4CI9SoNuJc4mDExzEiAe-tHSVN1hy70PDSJ1JH2dRg2msbPqix9h5_q5gAm9J39j1abyxm-QekT2KH84PAqEUJqlX9Qm-LvYRXHzf_Bc7KLp4g/s1600/pintobeans.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Over Med High heat, put your olive oil into the fry pan and when it gets a shimmery look, throw in your chopped onions, turn heat down to Med and keep stirring them around until they are transparent (about 5 min)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Toss in the 2 Tablespoons of cinnamon onto top of the onions and stir around un</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">til onions are well coated and the smell begins to </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">"bloom" . . about 30 seconds (heating your spices brings out the very best flavors).<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FsUslQ9erO9OGH5SvygWLUFLXLuurUfeEXK9HtweRoGo84dJUxIL57KlBLHYd-rYfq8eg0aK-Ppuv8JPAmyr9mJtHCf9tAcLyDwiW3XOz2Td6tP2PZZB1mUvNozRBg5WPTCsbS8rDaWS/s1600/cinnamonone.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FsUslQ9erO9OGH5SvygWLUFLXLuurUfeEXK9HtweRoGo84dJUxIL57KlBLHYd-rYfq8eg0aK-Ppuv8JPAmyr9mJtHCf9tAcLyDwiW3XOz2Td6tP2PZZB1mUvNozRBg5WPTCsbS8rDaWS/s400/cinnamonone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559522988498224994" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Slowly stir 2 cups of Chicken Broth (for my vegan & veg friends . . use a dark beer . . it adds a won</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">derful taste to the beans)<br /><br />Add about 1 tsp of pepper and salt (or you can salt later at the table if you are on a limited salt diet)<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Ij7Xlj8mjQ3OHdxdZVhbK-dM2-o49cO8re4QT4QOUNW5-J3-zQr7sCXpOXRHZimAKREMLgi7DHG4GYMOR_Hdj2dca6-_jE_levioBToLixMwmebDJ-VggxqTcYCaOcaLyM9QMKm-t902/s1600/broth.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Ij7Xlj8mjQ3OHdxdZVhbK-dM2-o49cO8re4QT4QOUNW5-J3-zQr7sCXpOXRHZimAKREMLgi7DHG4GYMOR_Hdj2dca6-_jE_levioBToLixMwmebDJ-VggxqTcYCaOcaLyM9QMKm-t902/s400/broth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559522982308648994" border="0" /></a></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Bring this mix to a soft boil, stirring constantly and then pour on top of the beans in the crock pot . . give them a stir and let them mingle for a couple of hours . . . Mmmmm</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqp4WOkqJaNO4VL70QuDeg6WIdJzyVaDiH7qRMH7-_rSm4L6Ga7Zz9uGxPOqY7ALhcS7aZV2u0t0D8pOkSyh3naN4qiWzUicMKQ-JFvq3qg3hKhLmXYfBtSTLHAgf5Klr87llgroi7ALF-/s1600/sauce%2526beans.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqp4WOkqJaNO4VL70QuDeg6WIdJzyVaDiH7qRMH7-_rSm4L6Ga7Zz9uGxPOqY7ALhcS7aZV2u0t0D8pOkSyh3naN4qiWzUicMKQ-JFvq3qg3hKhLmXYfBtSTLHAgf5Klr87llgroi7ALF-/s400/sauce%2526beans.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559524040606020178" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">For those that can have bacon . . chop up a half of dozen strips of a good smokey bacon and fry until not quite crisp . . stir into the beans right after the onion mix & cinnamon mix . . . Yummmy!!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Serve over fried potatoes or corn bread . . or side by side with the chicken recipe below.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Smoked Paprika Chicken</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">2 Boneless chicken boobies, diced into quarter sized chunks</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">3 T. Olive oil</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Chicken Broth</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1 medium onion, diced</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">2 tsp. Smoked Spanish Paprika (don't be a cheap ass and use regular paprika . . just won't WORK!!)</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Salt & Pepper</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTmSO32jxVXe_oBsFnQE0YT8IXjRqit9uvJXDtDmeGdxf7YIJWSGrabN_KBd2UCJD2Baegd0MHnLOl8Nh4lMN3GRyrAMEx-o7t1CN8WQaUUmkzRA3BA1oBSe6LxRpCg9wJVpb4WyAu2xd/s1600/spices.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTmSO32jxVXe_oBsFnQE0YT8IXjRqit9uvJXDtDmeGdxf7YIJWSGrabN_KBd2UCJD2Baegd0MHnLOl8Nh4lMN3GRyrAMEx-o7t1CN8WQaUUmkzRA3BA1oBSe6LxRpCg9wJVpb4WyAu2xd/s400/spices.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559524042371396450" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Ok, same routine as the beans</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Heat the olive oil up in a pan, stir the onions until transparent (about 5 min)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Toss in the Smoked Paprika and stir until onions are well coated, about 30 seconds . . SMELL THAT?? Amazing isn't it?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Pour about a cup of chicken broth in the pan and make sure all the little bits of spices are well stirred into the mix.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Toss in the chicken chunks and stir to coat</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Continue cooking, stir chicken once in a while, until all the chicken is white and no longer transparent. About 3-4 minutes on med high.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Remove the chicken chunks from the mix (don't be slow . . things are cooking fast now)</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">and whisk in a bit more broth to make a thin gravy.<br /><br />Continue simmering until the sauce reduces and makes a thick sauce . . throw the chicken chunks back in and continue cooking for another min or so . . . until chicken is well coated and there hardly any liquid in the pan (don't overcook or your chicken will get tough)<br /><br />Salt & pepper to taste<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Easy as that!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">You can pair the chicken side by side with the beans or mix together for a very tasty, unique Chicken Chili</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">p.s. . . Kitty, don't tell Robert that there is cinnamon in the beans until AFTER he eats it</span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">!!! (we both know how he is . . ROFL)</span></span>Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-5624842050522042122010-12-17T17:33:00.003-06:002010-12-17T17:38:35.579-06:00The Hound from Hell . . .<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I bought a new iPhone today . . . fiddled with it all day (got absolutely NOTHING accomplished!) and finally got around to taking a photo.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Now, I am not certain whether I need more phone practice or I should worr</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">y about the the dog?</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQndCV-6vNeQZcOzCTL9RXSW6H97PEHYOhHMfERf1gPVGM2srFczsdjnLa9oH2MMpyzPNnI7BS6whOGO7POuy8ol-hXP4PMIfHaSGzGekpPSX6cUeHO8g9INRh9fUbazogX6ZtOCH5f_p/s1600/houndfromhell.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQndCV-6vNeQZcOzCTL9RXSW6H97PEHYOhHMfERf1gPVGM2srFczsdjnLa9oH2MMpyzPNnI7BS6whOGO7POuy8ol-hXP4PMIfHaSGzGekpPSX6cUeHO8g9INRh9fUbazogX6ZtOCH5f_p/s400/houndfromhell.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551798995996344802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">What do you think??</span></span>Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653590428616165476.post-24182679585011947262010-12-06T15:56:00.001-06:002010-12-06T16:12:04.582-06:00It's a bird, It's a plane . . Oh Noooo . . .<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Someone dropped off a box of cookies at the office (for which we are EXTREMELY thankful for!!)</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">In the box were a variety of gingerbread men . . . and the "thing" on the right.<br /><br />I was forced to put it out of it's misery . . . along with its companion (along with a cup of coffee) . . YUMMMM. But we are still uncertain what it was.<br /><br />Any guesses???</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxcRQQmigpDcLMdbA7iQUw7fHTNexM_hkam0jlCQhOl6hqmiKPJ6SCWkMnaMGbJtPF_UH0KNuIaM_qHlTL4VB5yYH7hKbTLFdKMgCg-gJnPBT37SMnjAOiiap2925lV5HKnBRki5GGRbt/s1600/WTH.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxcRQQmigpDcLMdbA7iQUw7fHTNexM_hkam0jlCQhOl6hqmiKPJ6SCWkMnaMGbJtPF_UH0KNuIaM_qHlTL4VB5yYH7hKbTLFdKMgCg-gJnPBT37SMnjAOiiap2925lV5HKnBRki5GGRbt/s400/WTH.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547692166843937746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4prMiywUax6SdrYFsKIuGtE7dSdkOCWBqYbQCVokVdNY_hXhLxlWSoJFQqa6t93sxogo-kAFOd3Y3btYIMjZUaf9UDHCsSGx7oVFPwnOA2RXtcHXvea14HtnOegQMmF-ZMGI53-EtluQY/s1600/OhNo.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4prMiywUax6SdrYFsKIuGtE7dSdkOCWBqYbQCVokVdNY_hXhLxlWSoJFQqa6t93sxogo-kAFOd3Y3btYIMjZUaf9UDHCsSGx7oVFPwnOA2RXtcHXvea14HtnOegQMmF-ZMGI53-EtluQY/s400/OhNo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547692164925082786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Shades of Mr. Bill LOL</span></span>Graciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17406184740145395651noreply@blogger.com0