Slow Cooking Thursday!

All my slow cooking recipes are now online and starting today, I will add all the recipes shared weekly to my online del.icio.us site too. So if you're wanting to find ALL the slow cooked recipes that have been shared since the first SLOW COOKING THURSDAY, here is the link for you.

Don't forget to add your name to Mr Linky and a link back to your SCT post so others can come by and see your recipe too.

Today's recipe is what I'm actually making for dinner tonight. Usually the day before payday we're low on food and I go for the quickest and easiest using whatever is left in the pantry and freezer.

Next week's Slow Cooking Thursday will be a themed one......BREAKFAST. So bring out your best oatmeals and casseroles or anything else that is breakfast related. You don't HAVE to stick to the theme, obviously if you don't have any breakfast recipes you're more than welcome to post whatever you wish but if you do have some to share, we would LOVE to see them :)

I don't have a photo of the saucy hamburgers yet, so I just put this one up, this is of the Sirloin Burgers I made last week.

SAUCY HAMBURGERS

1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 onion, sliced into rings
1 c. ketchup
1/2 to 3/4 c. water
2 T. butter, melted
2 T. sugarg
salt and pepper to taste
6 hamburger buns, split

Form ground beef into 6 patties. Brown in a skillet over medium heat; drain. Combine remaining ingredients except buns in a slow cooker; stir to blend. Add hamburgers; cover and cook on low setting for 3 to 4 hours. Serve on buns. Makes 6 sandwiches.

Sights and Sounds!

Have you ever wondered what it's like living on an Air Force Base? I mean do you ever wonder what we see, what we hear, what we do? I thought today I would share a little of our daily noise around here, just so you can understand how powerful these Jets are, because they are clear on the other side of the base, actually on the other side of the street. Here let me show you how far we are from the flight line.

As you can see we are quite a ways away from the Flight Line so you would think when the Jets were taking off or being worked on, we wouldn't even hear right? Right? WRONG! LOL

Good thing is that you get used to the sound even at night when you're trying to sleep and all you hear is this thundering boom all over.

And right about the time you hear that you usually see this in the sky....I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing the F16's so close, the kids just love them.

Now look at the sky in that pic above, that's directly in front of my house, across the street.......see how it looks greyish......now if you walk to the back yard, then you get THIS kind of sky.

Who knew that just a few steps from each other, the sky would be so different looking? I'm loving the moon though :)

Anyway, moving on, a couple of you have asked me some questions and I didn't have the chance to answer before, so I'll do that now. Quite a few like the borders I use on my photos and wanted to know how I did that. I use PaintShop Pro, but I'm sure any other graphics program will do, I have a couple of borders like those above that I paste my photos into. That's all, it's nothing weird or hard to do and just because I love you all, I've uploaded 2 of the frames online, just click on the links below and save it to your computers!

Photo Frame 1
Photo Frame 2

If you have any problems or questions just email me ok?

Others wanted to know about my blogs and the templates I use, whether I made my own templates etc. YES, I do. I taught myself to make them about a year ago and though it was confusing at first trying to learn all the HTML and what does what, but I'm glad I did it, this way I don't have to pay everytime I feel like changing, which if you've been reading my blog for a while, you know happens quite often LOL

Last night I watched Christy: Return to Cutter Gap and though I really enjoyed it I was a big confused because of some many changes to the main actors. I loved David Grantland in the first series and in this one I wasn't too thrilled with him, mainly because it was a completely new actor but also the way he was portrayed was just so different to the first one. Weird!

Where I found myself rooting for Christy and David in the first series, in this one I'm rooting for Christy and Dr MacNeill.....how about that? Either it's a huge change or I'm wishy washy *shrug* LOL

I'm trying to get my water drinking in but it's SO hard for me, I am not a water person at ALL. I managed 4 glasses yesterday and thought I was going to drown, I spent every 5 minutes in the bathroom and felt like I was floating.....but I did feel better, it made me not as hungry as before, hence I wasn't running around eating all day. Guess it's all about balance right?

I have a house to clean and laundry to do, I also need to mop and sweep the floors but I think I'll leave the mopping for tomorrow, when I got up this morning both kids had climbed into bed with me and both pugs had come along for the ride. Next thing I knew there was giggling and laughing, dogs chasing their tails and I tried to get in on the game but ended up straining my lower back. You ever have that happen? You bend down or reach down for something and get this shooting pain in your lower back, makes you sick to your stomach and it's hard to walk around afterwards. So instead of adding to it by mopping, I think I'll give my back a rest today and mop tomorrow.

I better get going, have a great wednesday everyone :)

There IS life outside of computers.....

You know it's so easy to get caught up on the computer and internet and blogging....let's face it, nowadays everything is done online, at least for me. Banking and paying bills, watching movies, buying things, learning things.....everything, you name it, you can find it online.

But it also takes away from what is around you, so this week I've made it a point to distance myself from the computer. I get on in the morning, check my email, do any bills or banking or whatever that has to be done, write my blog post and visit my readers and that's IT. I step out the rest of the day and do what has to be done around the house, and contrary to belief, I don't shrivel away in a corner or go crazy because I can't be online. It's as they say "everything in good measure".

I've found that instead of leaving my computer time to chance, I've scheduled it into my routine so that I know during those 2 hours that is my time and whatever I don't get to that day, will just have to wait until the morning.

The reason I'm even mentioning this is because I didn't realize how much around me I was missing out on, even just a simple thing as seeing the grass starting to peek through the stones outside in my front yard. Usually I would just step right on over on my way in and out of the house and not even notice.


The past few days I've really gotten into photographing the sky, there's just something about the way the clouds are displayed, sometimes fluffy huge ones, other times dark grey wisps stretching across the sky. So don't be surprised if you see daily sky photos here on my blog, at least until I'm over this current obsession :)

These two were taken last night as I took the dogs out, there was the threat of rain again and this is what it looked like:

See how the green leaves are starting to appear on this tree? Isn't it amazing.....a huge tree with nothing but bare branches and then a few scattered green leaves here and there.

Then this morning I got up and we have clear dark blue skies. They remind me a lot of the skies back home in South Africa so it makes me smile and then I had to snap this picture because I can't get over the huge palm tree in my front yard. It's HUGE and I'm always staring up at it with a mix of awe and fear LOL
I keep praying it's strong enough to withstand strong winds....LOL

Now moving on.........like I said, I'm taking time away from the computer and getting things done around here.

Remember this fabric?


I was having a hard time figuring out what to make with it, but I've finally made a choice. You're looking at my new comforter for my bed, I have enough to make it and I can't wait to see it finished, I'll show you the pictures once it's ready. If I have any scraps over, I'll probably use them together with some white fabric to make some patchwork pillows to match.

Yesterday afternoon, I had a ton of laundry, I literally dumped all my laundry baskets on my bed and brought out the ironing board. I turned on Lifetime Channel and while I ironed, folded and put the clothes away, I watched "Plain Truth", which is actually a movie made from Jodi Picoult's book about an Amish community and a young teenage girl that gets pregnant, hides the pregnancy from the family and community and then has the baby. The baby dies and her lawyer played by Mariska Hargitay (Law and Order) has to become her guardian and live in the community to try and prove her innocence.

As you know I'm also reading "Christy" right now, it's funny to read a book after you've seen the movie, there's scenes in there that never made it on screen and I feel should have, there's others that happen ONE way in the book and have been changed for the movie. I'm really enjoying the book though I have to say the only little thing bothering me so far is the way that David Grantland is being portrayed in the book, it's just not coinciding with the movie for me. Guess I'll have to see how I feel once I'm done.

Well, I'm going to sweep and mop my floors and make some more progress on my Comforter. Hope everyone is having a wonderful Tuesday.


Feeling - Inspired

Drinking - Water (Trying to loose weight and going for the 8 glasses a day goal)

Writing - Grocery lists and menus for the week to come

Thinking - that I can't wait to read the next pages in the "Christy" book

Contemplating - A sandwich or a salad for lunch

Knowing - that in about 3 months I'll be in South Africa

Listening - to Martha Stewart on the TV

Jumping - everytime the phone rings, it doesn't ring often so when it does it comes as surprise

Savoring - The Jane Austen Masterpiece Theatre movies

Resisting - The temptation to eat a candy bar

Eating - Nothing right now

Hiding - My worry over everything that has to be done for our trip

Feeling - amazed by the beauty in nature around us

Rain, Jane Austen and a Cup of Tea!

Good Morning everyone....I know I know, it's actually afternoon but I'm kinda slow today, dragging myself around the house and not really wanting to do anything. Problem is if I don't, then who does???

After a full weekend of rain NON.STOP....this morning we woke up to a beautiful sky, no rain and just a wonderful breeze. It feels wonderful outside and just look at these pictures? There's something magical about the sun's early light, it casts all these wonderful colors and shadows on the sky.



So last night after the kids were asleep, I crept into bed and got nice and comfy to watch "Mansfield Park". I LOVE Jane Austen, and no matter how many times I watch her movies or read her books, I just can't get enough, I end up falling in love with the characters all over again.



Since I had missed "Northanger Abbey" last sunday I was able to actually find it on youtube and watched it yesterday afternoon. To say that I was running on pure Jane Austen adrenaline is an understatement. For those of you that missed Mansfield Park, I did record it on my computer and have a full copy of the movie if you're interested, just let me know and I'll split it up and upload it online for you.

Meanwhile, here is Northanger Abbey on YouTube.......just go to Scampostrini's Videos and you will find the whole movie from part 1 to 16.

I'm drawing a blank today, you ever have those days when you feel like you have so much to say but nothing comes to mind? Because that's how I feel, so I think instead of talking I'll just give you some linky love to what's going on in blog land.

Kelli at "There is no Place Like Home" just posted a bunch of great links and recipes for everyone from her Seasonal Delights magazine. Go on over and take a look.

The Pioneer Woman posted a great recipe for the Superbowl....Quesadilla Party. Again as always YUMMY is all I have to say to her blog.

If you look on my sidebar I've added a new section for Homesteading Blogs. You might want to take a look at those, they are amazing and I'm learning such great things from them on budgetting, making your own stuff and living a simple life.

That's it, I have to get on the phone with Social Security and the IRS and have laundry to put away as well. Have a great monday.
Btw, my Menu Plan is posted on my food blog, so don't forget to give it a look and if you're interested in joining in, just head to Laura's Blog.

It's a cloudy rainy day and I LOVE it!

We hardly get rain over here, it's usually dry and hot, so when the rain comes I welcome it with open arms and quickly become the mom sitting on the couch with the blanket and the book in her hand, the cup of hot tea at my side and a silly grin on my face.


Last night at around 6pm, we were all sitting around doing the usual things, some playing games on computers, others watching tv, me about to blog and Jasmine was in her bedroom, her door closed and her tv on. She was watching cartoons while drawing. She's always had a love for crayons and drawing and coloring so she's perfectly happy sitting on the floor in her room surrounded by paper and colors.

I had just finished taking my shower, my towel was still wrapped around my hair and I sat at the computer desk....."I'll check on my bloglines and maybe visit some blogs"......the minute I touched the mouse POOF. There was a power outtage all over the base. Jasmine is screaming her head off in her bedroom, poor thing had the blinds and curtains closed AND her door closed so she was terrified (though I'm sorry but I still laugh about it LOL). I slowly make my way to her bedroom......and I mean SLOWLY because you could not see a hand in front of your face, it's the most petrifying feeling in the world.

I reached her and she clung to me as we made our way back to the living room. One good thing about knowing where everything is, I was able to reach the display cases that hold all my candles and had left the lighter on there too, I started lighting them and our house became this glow of candlelit lights. It was comfy and cozy.


I took one of the candles to my bedroom and removed the towel from my hair, brushed it out and threw on some sweat pants to go outside. When I say it was pitch black, I am NOT joking. The whole base was like a scene from one of those movies about the end of the world?


People slowly emerging from their homes, talking in hushed tones, people running to their cars looking for batteries and others like us, with flashlights in hand, staring around, trying to figure out what the problem was. My mind of course went straight to "I Am Legend", I had just seen the movie last week and now I wished I dug a hole in the backyard and filled it with extra food LOL


While outside, the kids of course enjoyed using the flashlights to make scary faces and to play, while I simply marveled at the beautiful stars, the sky a soft pinkish hue from the big cloud just behind us and the rest, dark, black, menacing with tiny little spots of lights spread out, visible nebulas and clusters of stars. You know me, before we even left the house, the camera was in hand.......while the rest of the family is saying "wow, we have a black out", I'm running to the door saying "come on, hurry up, this is my blog post for tomorrow" LOL
Don't even try to deny it, I KNOW most of you bloggers out there do the same!

I just love this one LOL Their cute little faces make me smile :)

Love this one too, there's something about catching the little ones off guard, just doing their own thing.

Here's a picture I took of the night sky, I LOVE astronomy photos as a matter of fact, if you've been reading my blog for a while you know that we are avid Star Gazers and Amateur Astrophotographers.

I am just in awe and so fascinated by this one. I can't figure out what the heck it is. All I've done to the photo is lighten it and then duplicated the original and did a "Dodge" on it, which pretty much just makes any light source brighter. If you can figure out what the heck is on the photo, please let me know LOL


We sat in the backyard for a good 30 to 45 minutes, in the dark, flashlights turned off and just the light of the stars and the night......Jasmine enjoyed sitting on the swing, softly pumping her legs and enjoying the fresh air, she even said "this is so nice, we never get to do this". And it's true, we don't!

Funny thing, after we had been outside we all came back in and sat around, it showed me and again reminded me that nowadays people are SO dependent on technology for entertainment that when faced with a power outage they have no clue what to do. We even had a good laugh when Curt turned to us and said "Man, I guess we have to talk to each other now" LOL

All in all it was a good night, we sat around by candle light, we talked, we laughed and it was deadly quiet all around. Something I actually enjoyed......usually there's so much noise in the house, there's kids and us and tv's and computers and radios, there's noise outside and neighbors cars driving by with the music blaring. But last night for those few hours we had no electricity.....NOTHING, just quiet and calm. Thank you Lord, thank you for giving us a reprieve from the craziness of everyday life and noise, I enjoyed it and I woke up this morning feeling refreshed and thankful for everything that I have in my life.

I remembered the pioneer days and the fact that they made do without running water and power, there was no show on television or game on the computer or even music on the radio, they just lived with what they had and even though there were struggles, they still managed to be happy. How envious I am at times.

The rain is still pouring outside, so I'm going to try and get some reading done, but before I leave, I want to remind those of you who are Jane Austen Fans.....PBS is doing a Masterpiece Theatre of Jane Austen's Movies and tonight they're showing Mansfield Park.

Here's the list of upcoming ones:

• 

  January 13, 2008
  PERSUASION
  Sally Hawkins appears as Anne Elliot, a woman destined for spinsterhood after a proposal eight years earlier. Then her spurned suitor reappears.

• 

  January 20, 2008
  NORTHANGER ABBEY
  In a medieval house that appeals to her most lurid fantasies, romance addict Catherine Moreland (Felicity Jones) begins a relationship with the younger son of the estate.

• 

  January 27, 2008
  MANSFIELD PARK
  After being sent to live at Mansfield Park, Fanny Price played by Billie Piper, navigates a labyrinth of intrigues and affairs among its occupants.

• 

  February 3, 2008
  MISS AUSTEN REGRETS
  Courtship she knew well; only the last act eluded her. A film biography that dramatizes the author's lost loves.

• 

  February 10, 17 and 24, 2008
  PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
  Colin Firth is Mr. Darcy and Jennifer Ehle is Elizabeth Bennet in the definitive adaptation of the most-loved of all Austen novels.

• 

  March 23, 2008
  EMMA
  Kate Beckinsale stars in the title role as the tireless matchmaker who professes no interest in matrimony for herself, only for her orphaned protégée, Harriet Smith (Samantha Morton).

• 

  March 30 and April 6, 2008
  SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
  Though poor, levelheaded Elinor Dashwood (Hattie Morahan) and her impulsive sister Marianne (Charity Wakefield) attract a trio of promising gentlemen.

• 

  April 13, 2008
  A ROOM WITH A VIEW
  Elaine Cassidy is Lucy Honeychurch, who arrives at an Italian guest house and is offered a room with a view by Mr. Emerson and his eccentric son George. Adapted by Andrew Davies.

• 

  April 20, 2008
  MY BOY JACK
  Daniel Radcliffe, in his first TV role since finding fame as Harry Potter, plays Jack, the son of Rudyard Kipling, in this moving family drama set during World War I. Also stars Kim Cattrall.

• 

  May 4, 11 and 18, 2008
  CRANFORD
  In 1842, Cranford is a village on the brink of change, where some find romance and opportunity, and others fear the breakdown of social order. Cast includes Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins, Imelda Staunton.

Have a blessed Sunday everyone :)

Christy...Christy....Christy.........

Why? Why would you end it just like that? Was I not good enough for you or is this the whole "It's not you it's ME" conversation?


So Friday afternoon I got the mail and low and behold the Netflix people had really stopped all they were doing to send me my movies. (Not really, they've always been fast, but I'm just choosing to believe it's due to my shout out LOL). I literally run home, kids in my trail waving their arms to get through the dust cloud I left in my path. *I am exaggerating but whatever*

Jasmine went off to a friends house for an hour and Nicholas wanted to be left alone with his Yoshi. He and that cuddly toy enjoy spending an hour in front of the tv, jumping through hoops and smashing their heads on little cubes that drop down shells that you can use to slam in the face of a big balloon head. Don't ask!!! It's his video game and it's very confusing to me. Anyway, I don't have a DVD player in my computer so I went over to Curt's....one of the perks of having multiple computers in the house, one of them is bound to have what you need.

I popped in the first DVD. Oh but wait *hahahahahahahahaha* you are just going to think I'm pathetic when I tell you what I did. When I got the first 2 Series DVD's in, I put in the first one and watched the 3 episodes then became slightly annoyed because I could have sworn the cover said "3 hours" yet, I watched the whole thing in about 1 hour. *shrug*
I reached for the second one and started it and about 10 minutes into the first episode I get this overwhelming feeling of stupidity. I just told myself to please check the DVD cover again and what do you know......there's a side A and a side B. LOL

Boy did I feel dumb. So out goes the second DVD and back goes the first, newly flipped over to side B. I don't know why I'm telling you this stuff, chances are you're probably sitting there laughing at my expense, I guess I felt that I should mention this in case anyone else is about to watch Christy. LOL


Anyway, going back to my story....there is one I promise. I pop it into Curt's computer and quickly run around the house doing the laundry, the dishes and sweeping and everything else I had to do that morning. I didn't want to sit down to watch it and then get interrupted by the dryer or the dishwasher etc. I had a lapse of memory for a minute because I had forgotten how terribly addictive this series is, I kept watching and watching, pausing to help the kids with whatever they needed and then again to start dinner. By nighttime, after dinner and doing the dishes, I took my shower and handed the kids over to hubby, he gladly took them for the rest of the night so I could finish my movies, and that is what I did.

I watched all the DVD's and finished the series. I loved it, absolutely LOVED it....but.....and there is a BUT......what the heck was with the ending????
Aren't things supposed to end in a way that explains what is going on or gives you some closure or something? I'm no ENDING expert but from my experience watching movies and tv shows....I thought the ending was just that. You walked away knowing who was with who, or who went where, what they're doing etc. NOTHING.......Christy abandoned me, just like that.

SPOILER:::::::: (If you want to watch it and don't want to know anything about it, don't read this spoiler....I'm warning you LOL)

The Reverend David who I absolutely adored, asked Christy to marry him and next thing I know here comes the doctor on a horse. She stops between them both and does the crying teary thing, looks to one and to the other, much like I do between donuts when I'm trying to figure out if I should have the plain maple or the boston creme filling.......and that's it. It's over. No choosing of anyone, not even a hint. Again I say WHAT THE HECK? LOL

I went to bed frustrated and woke up this morning determined to find out what happened. I made a trip to the library for some books and right in between those is Christy by Catherine Marshall. Yeah she thought she could get away with not filling in the blanks for me, but guess what, I got her number.

Oh and for another stupid stunt on my part..........don't ever flip to the back of the book to see the ending LOL I could just slap myself for it, what can I say, in my defense it's all Christy's fault, she just left me without a second thought.

Anyway, these are the books I picked up:

Beverly Lewis - The Postcard
Peter Ho Davies - The Welsh Girl
Catherine Marshall - Christy
Phillipa Gregory - The Boleyn Inheritance
Eloisa James - Enchanting Pleasures
Eloisa James - Midnight Pleasures

I still have 3 books at home to read....what can I say I'm either a fast reader or love to be surrounded by books. There's something about having a FULL TBR shelf that makes me happy.

In the middle of all this reading and movie watching there's also real life and craziness. Please say a prayer that I can get all my paperwork and stuff done for our trip to Africa, right now it seems we take one step forward and 2 steps back. I can't claim EIC on my tax return because I don't have a social security number, at first they said we could because I'm a Legal Resident but now they say no. So it's been put on hold until I get my Social Security Number, which will take 14 days. In the meantime I've got mine and the kids passports to get, tickets to buy, money to save and I don't know......more stuff to do? I know there's lot more things going on, but I see the time just slipping away and we're now almost 3 months away from the trip.

With that I'm leaving, I have an urging to go drown myself in Hot Tea and start the Christy Book. Dinner tonight is leftovers, we had a late lunch so no one is hungry.....it's fine by me :)
But lookie at the burgers we had last night for dinner? YUMMY.....Sirloin Burger with caramelized onions. Help yourself!

Greatest Places on Earth! *Dartmoor*

Do you remember my Greatest Places on Earth posts??? Last year I used to do them every friday, it was a way for me to learn about new places but also share them with you all and not to mention my kids LOVED these posts.

Because I haven't done them in soooo long, I thought I would start up again, hey, at least I don't have to sit and wrack my brain for something to blog about.

Before I pack my bags to leave though, here are the other Greatest Places Posts if you're interested:

Switzerland
Scotland
Greek Islands
Port Elizabeth
Egypt
Machu Picchu

So where are we going today you wonder? Well how about Dartmoor in England!

I have always been fascinated with the beautiful English countryside and Dartmoor is one of those places I wish I could visit. So come with me, let's go on a trip.

************************************************

DARTMOOR

All images used in this post are NOT mine. Credit goes to the websites online.

Over the past 12,000 years man has hunted, farmed, mined, quarried and lived on and around Dartmoor. From the early Mesolithic hunter gatherers to the modern day 'moorman', humans have left their marks on its landscape. Dartmoor has been described as the 'last wilderness' and sometimes when walking deep in that 'wilderness' it is not hard to believe that you are the first to set foot on its virgin soil. Don't even go there, just stop and have a good look and it's guaranteed that within eyesight will be the mark of someone being there before you. It may be a solitary standing stone on the horizon, built by the 'Men of Bronze' or it may be a small heap of stones left there by the old tinners, but somewhere there will be something. Every tor, mire, stream, gully, wood or valley will have a name, granted many of them won't appear on the modern map and lots have been forgotten in the mists of time but they will all have a name showing evidence of the presence of man. Therefore if man has been associated with the area for so long it is inevitable that there has been a wealth of tradition, archaeology, history, folklore and legend left for us to explore today.

Credit: 1976design.com

Dartmoor is an area of moorland in the centre of the English county of Devon. Protected by National Park status, it covers 953 km² (368 square miles).

The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops (known as tors), providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The highest point is High Willhays, 621 m above sea level. The entire area is rich in antiquities.

Dartmoor is managed by the National Park Authority whose 26 members are drawn from Devon County Council, local District Councils and Government.

Parts of Dartmoor have been used as a military firing range for over 200 years. The public enjoy extensive access rights to the rest of Dartmoor, and it is a popular tourist destination.

Great Links Tor

Dartmoor is known for its tors — large hills, topped with outcrops of bedrock, which in granite country such as this are usually rounded boulder-like formations. There are over 160 tors on Dartmoor. They are the focus of an annual event known as the Ten Tors Challenge, when over a thousand people, aged between 14 and 21, walk for distances of 35, 45 or 55 miles over 10 tors on many differing routes. While many of the hills of Dartmoor have the word "Tor" in them quite a number do not, however this does not appear to relate to whether there is an outcrop of rock on their summit.

The highest points on Dartmoor are High Willhays and Yes Tor on the northern moor. Eylesbarrow and Ryder's Hill are the highest points on the southern moor. Probably the best known tor on Dartmoor is Haytor .

High Willhays


Yes Tor


Eylesbarrow


Ryder's Hill


Haytor

**********************************************

THE VIDEOS

Wistman's Wood on Dartmoor



Dartmoor An Inspirational Place



Dartmoor Ponies

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THE RECIPES

Bubble and Squeak

Credit: everythingisfood.blogspot.com

Ingredients:

25g/1oz Butter

1 Onion, chopped

450g/1lb Cooked Potatoes, mashed

225g/8oz Cooked Cabbage, chopped

4-6 sliced cooked Beef chopped

Salt and Pepper



Instructions


1. Melt the butter in a large frying pan, add the onion and sauté gently for 5-6 minutes until soft, stirring from time to time.

2. Raise the heat to medium hot, add the potatoes, cabbage, beef, salt and pepper and continue to fry for 15 minutes, stirring from time to time, until browned and crispy. The crispy bits should be mixed throughout. Serve immediately.

***************************************

Bread and Butter Pudding

Ingredients:

6 slices well buttered Bread

50g/2oz Sultanas

4 Eggs

25g/1oz Sugar

600ml/20fl.oz. Milk

A little extra Sugar



Instructions


1. Preheat the oven to 170C, 325F, Gas mark 3. Grease a 7.5cm/3 inch deep ovenproof dish.

2. Remove the crusts from the buttered bread and cut into quarters (triangles or squares). Reserve 4 quarters for the top and arrange the rest in layers in the dish, sprinkling the sultanas between each layer. Top with the reserved quarters.

3. In a saucepan, heat the milk to hot but not boiling. In a large bowl, mix together the eggs and sugar then add the hot milk, stirring well.

4. Slowly strain over the bread and fruit, being careful not to dislodge the top layer of bread. Leave to stand for 10 minutes.

5. Sprinkle with a little sugar and bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes until the top is browned and crispy.

***************************************

All my slow cooking recipes are now online and starting today, I will add all the recipes shared weekly to my online del.icio.us site too. So if you're wanting to find ALL the slow cooked recipes that have been shared since the first SLOW COOKING THURSDAY, here is the link for you.

Don't forget to add your name to Mr Linky and a link back to your SCT post so others can come by and see your recipe too.

Today's recipe is inspired by my Hot Chocolate and coffee this morning, I just had to share this one.

Triple Delicious Hot Chocolate

credit: Rival Crockpot Book

1/3 cup sugar
1/4 unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups milk, divided
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup heavy cream
1 square (1 ounce) bittersweet chocolate
1 square (1 ounce) white chocolate
3/4 cup whipped topping
6 teaspoons mini chocolate chips or shaved bittersweet chocolate


Combine sugar, cocoa, salt and 1/2 cup milk in medium bowl. Beat until smooth. Pour into slow cooker. Add remaining 2 1/2 cups milk and vanilla. Cover; cook on LOW 2 hours.

Add cream. Cover and cook on LOW 10 minutes. Stir in bittersweet and white chocolates until melted.

Pour hot chocolate into 6 coffee cups. Top each with 2 tablespoons whipped cream and 1 teaspoon chocolate chips.

The "can't think of a title" post......

Mountain Home AFB Stables

I woke up with a cold. Yes, I think......honestly I don't really know what it is LOL I am congested, sneezing, my eyes are watery and my voice sounds like I've been up all night with a bottle of bourbon and some good cigars. Curt thinks it's sexy, I personally think it's creepy. *shrug*

It's going to be a slow day, I can tell. I've had one cup of coffee but I look over to the counter and feel like the coffee machine is taunting me "have another, have another, you know you want to" and really, who am I to deny such a great suggestion? So because I've already had one normal cup, I decided to spice it up a bit, I like trying new things.....so I'm going to leave you for a minute, just to run over and grab another.

Ok I'm back with a Mocha Coffee, some whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon and BOY is it good. I actually got the inspiration from Kelli this morning, I was on my first cup of coffee when I went to her blog and read this post. I mean, come on now....you can't just expect me to walk away and do nothing about it?

Same way I couldn't make Tamale Pie last night and have just one serving. Go ahead and make fun of me, throw out the comments about how fattening it is and how many calories or whatever....but my hips were happy and that made ME happy, which in turn made the kids happy and in turn made the daddy happy. So you see, I really was just thinking about the family's welfare? LOL


If you think you're that much stronger than I, go ahead and see if you can resist a bite of it. Here you go.

I have a question for you all about my Food Blog, I really only post in there mostly as a place for me to keep an archive of my recipes but obviously I get happy when I see a comment here and there and know that someone has tried a recipe and enjoyed it. Now the thing is, I see SO many visitors each day but yet weeks go by without a single comment on any of the recipes LOL
Why? I guess I never understood this blogging thing, what makes some blogs get tons of comments even when they're just talking about the weather, and some get nothing?

Could one of you bloggy experts explain the intricacies of blogging to this confused soul?

But now moving on to some sad news............Heath Ledger!

I don't know him personally, of course, but he was one of my favorite actors and it's just extremely sad to think that he is gone, a young man with amazing talent, gone, just like that. It's the kind of news that you find yourself watching on tv and in complete denial........, I still can't believe he's really dead. My heart goes out to his daughter Matilda and his family and friends.

And here I sit with his movie "A Knight's Tale" in my hand....I had just picked it out of our movie cabinet a few days ago wanting to rewatch it. How's that for weird?

Anyway, this brings my thoughts to the soldiers overseas too, because everyday there is one seriously hurt or killed and I don't think we focus enough on them and their families. So please, if you have a spare moment, say a prayer for the troops in Iraq and everywhere else they may be, pray that they stay safe and that they return home to their families soon.

With that I'm heading out, here's my to do list for today:

1. 3 baskets of clean laundry to put away
2. Take out chicken and sausage for tonight's Chicken and Sausage Ragu
3. Try to catch up on my reading "A Wanted Man" by Linda Lael Miller

What I wouldn't give for her hair!

Credit: ImageZoo

Last night after the kids bath, I was in the bathroom blow drying Jasmine's hair and I just had to snap a picture of it from the back. It's one of those hairs that make you wince and envy and feel like "Ugh.....why can't I have it?"
She is always being complimented on her hair and at first she loved it and said thank you, now she is getting to the age where it becomes annoying to her. (I still find it adorable) I can understand how she feels a little frustrated when she's stopped every two steps because someone wants to mention it LOL

But just look at it? How can anyone not think it's gorgeous?


And while this was going on, Mr Nicholas was on the couch trying to get his Yoshi to the next level in his "Yoshi's Story" video game. At some point he lost cause he cried out in this very sad voice "Noooooooo........I worked so haaarrddd" hahahahahaah

I just want to keep running my hands through it......and I did, see my hand down there in the left corner? She was getting frustrated with me "can you just take the picture already, and quit PETTING me!" LOL

Curt is working a weird schedule this week, he goes in at 11 am and doesn't get home until long after everyone is asleep. I can't stand this schedule, it's like working Swing Shifts, which means he gets up after Jasmine is at school and gets home AFTER she's asleep.....they won't see each other until this weekend and it's tough on the kids. But it's military life and just one of the sacrifices we make as a family.....they're all worth it in the end though, believe me!

We got the Superbowl coming up, it's going to be at the Cardinals Stadium which is just down the street from base, it's already crazy around here with the preparations and the influx of sports enthusiasts in town. I'm just hoping I can snap some pictures of the Giants and the Patriots....and no, it's not because I LIKE watching sports, but hey, why not....it's a huge thing here in the States....right???

Yesterday I was watching TLC and caught a whole day of "Kids By the Dozen"....I didn't know at first if I would like it or not, but after watching a couple episodes I was hooked. I just can't believe that these huge families are so organized, I mean, I have a hard time with just two children at times LOL And here are these mothers with 16 kids, everything runs smoothly, they have a great routine and budget going and these children look happy and well taken care of. Just amazing to me!

I know I'm babbling and I apologize, if you've been reading my blog for a while you know that I don't do *one theme* posts, it's more like a huge hodgepodge of whatever comes to mind and always said like you're sitting here next to me.

Anyway, I have to head out, have to run to the store to grab milk and then on to the BX to get some birthday cards to mail out.

Hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday. Oh and before I forget, I did post the recipe for the Mashed potatoes and Carrots, though I wouldn't really call it a recipe, I mean, if you can make mashed potatoes then you can make this.

A look back at my childhood!

I was trying to come up with something to blog about tonight and I couldn't for the life of me come up with anything that I thought would be interesting. Oh sure, I could do the usual...this is what's going on, this is what I'm cooking or sewing.......so and so is sick or well or happy or sad. But I didn't want to do that.

I wanted something different, so I thought I would bring you in images, some of my favorite childhood memories......the songs and the food, the toys and the tv shows. Whatever made an impact on ME and who I am today....so enjoy, who knows...you may just see something that will remind you of YOUR younger years.

I have to tell you.........Jasmine was listening to the 80's songs with me and watching the videos on YouTube and she said "Wow, those costumes they wear are cool" Hahahahahahahahaha
I almost died, I think my eye twitched cause I turned back to her and said "Uh....those aren't costumes, that's how we used to dress" LOL

THE MOVIES

THE TV SHOWS

Perfect Strangers


The Littles

The Gummi Bears


Dallas


Three's Company

THE SONGS

Rock me Amadeus - Falco
Woodpecker from Space - Video Kids
Red Red Wine - UB40
Gloria - Laura Branigan
Take my Breath away - Berlin
I heard a rumor - Bananarama
Papa don't preach - Madonna
These Dreams - Heart
Two of Hearts - Stacey Q
Respectable - Mel & Kim
Walk Like an Egyptian - The Bangles
Little Lies - Fleetwood Mac
Heaven is a Place on Earth - Belinda Carlisle
The Loco-Motion - Kylie Minogue
When it's Love - Van Halen

THE FOOD AND DRINKS

Chicklets



Mello Yello



Tab



Pop Rocks



Twinkies

THE GAMES & TOYS

Rubix Cube

Cabbage Patch Kids



Pacman



King's Quest



Mastermind



Battleship



********************************************

I could seriously go on forever, but you get the idea :) If any of you decide to join in and share your favorite stuff growing up, let me know so I can come and check it out.

Tagged!

The sweet Stephanie at "The Hearts of Hartmann" has tagged me for this meme. I have to list 5 random things about myself. Hmmmm.....you know what's sad? I found it easier to list 7 weird things about me than I do now LOL

But here goes:

- I can't function in the morning, unless I have a cup of coffee first

- I met Curt on the internet....and NO, I wouldn't recommend it to my own daughter, but it worked for us, we've been together 11 years and will be married for 10 this August.

- I hate wearing socks....hate hate hate......even in the winter it bothers me LOL

- I can't sleep on my left side, unless I have a pillow between my legs and under my stomach. I KNOW it's weird, but it's a habit I picked up when I was pregnant and can't seem to break it. Have pity on me........don't laugh. LOL

- I'm just absolutely obsessed fascinated with the Victorian and Edwardian Eras.

Now I'm supposed to tag someone else but I really don't know who has done this already. So I'll leave it open, if you want to tag yourself, go ahead but let me know so that I can come and see it :)

Christy!

No time for talking today, I'm completely ADDICTED to Christy. Who knew?? Well actually, I should have known, same way I got addicted to Anne of Green Gables and watched it all in a weekend, I'm doing the same with Christy....only problem is that I'm getting these from Netflix and once I'm done with Disc 2 I have to mail it off and then nervously wait in anticipation for the next discs to arrive.

Please Please Netflix people, if you're out there reading, just on the off chance that you read my blog (I know I know, but weirder things have happened).......when you see my Christy Movies coming back, STOP everything you're doing and mail the next discs out to me. ASAP! You don't want to be blamed for a 33 year old mom going loony in her home or nail-less from all the biting I'll do while waiting for the movies. Just saying!

Christy

At 17, Christy Huddleston decides to leave her comfortable life in Asheville, N.C., to teach at a mission schoolhouse in a rural Appalachian community. The school is run by strong-willed Quaker Alice Henderson, whose speech in a church inspired Christie to take this enormous leap of faith. Once in Cutter Gap, Tenn., she finds herself the object of attentions from two very different men: the Rev. David Grantland, a minister from Boston, and Dr. Neil MacNeill, a Cutter Gap native struggling to bring 20th century medicine to this backwoods community. Christie also discovers a good friend in mountain woman Fairlight Spencer.

And you guys sitting around here reading the blogs.......go watch Christy.....go go.....I promise you will love it.

Weekends and Weekdays Switched?!?!?!?

You know how when your kids are tiny babies, you bring them home from the hospital and then the first few weeks they have their days and nights switched? I don't mean ALL babies, but a lot do, well mine did at least.

They sleep all day long and then keep you up all night! Well it seems my children have Weekends and Weekdays switched too. Go figure. During the week when there's school and errands to run etc, I can't for the life of me get them out of bed early, I plead and beg and threaten and bribe and it's just "I'm tired, I don't want to get up".
But then come the weekends and 6:30am they're up and ready to go and then I'm the one laying in bed "But I'm too tired, let me sleep, go back to bed". I have to drag myself out and walk around at snail's pace, the first 2 hours of the day are a blur to me, I go through the motions of breakfast and get them fed and dressed etc. Then when they're settled in drawing or playing or watching cartoons, I make my way to the coffee machine, put in a new filter, put in the water and turn it on........then I sit back and wonder why my coffee is clear! *sigh*


I don't do it everyday, not by a long shot, but there have been times, I admit, that I've been so tired that I ended up forgetting to add the coffee. I end up with a pot full of boiling water....LOL

So I'm sitting here this morning, the kids are off doing their own thing and Curt is at work, he got weekend duty......which.......if you're a military wife you know exactly how annoying and frustrating it is because they never tell them in advance, so you make plans for the weekend and then Friday night they come home and say "Oh by the way, I have weekend duty" that's when my eye starts twitching. See there's something non military wives don't understand........when you marry a soldier, you marry all of the Armed Forces. Really, you do!
When you plan things you have to take into account whether the squadron will be fine with it or if they'll have an opinion LOL Don't believe me? Just ask another military wife. How many times do plans get postponed and vacations cancelled etc.?

We had all these errands planned for today but instead we'll just stay at home. I'm going to clean the house, do the usual daily things and then either take the kids to the library or maybe go rent a movie to watch or something. I'm not sure exactly what I'll be doing, but something will pop up.


I've started the Nicholas Sparks book and I'm enjoying it so far, I still have another 3 to get through before returning them to the library, but you know this doesn't stop me from going there again and getting more LOL I have this love for books that is just indescribable, I can't begin to explain why or how or what, it just is. Nothing makes me happier than a new book in my hands.

Now switching gears, last night for dinner I made the Best Chili Ever, if you haven't tried this recipe yet, you have no idea what you're missing. It's so good. First time I made it I wondered how the Ranch seasoning would work in there, it was one of those...."well I'll try it, but never would have thought of using it myself". But now I realize without it, it just wouldn't be the same, it's THAT good. So if you're interested in trying out the chili, just go visit the sweet Betsy and get her recipe.

For tonight I'm making some Bifes Panados com Pure de batata e cenoura.......did you understand that?I didn't think so....sorry.....ok it's pretty much Chicken Fried Steak but then I make mashed potatoes WITH carrots. My stepmom used to make it when we were kids, it was a way for us to eat the carrots too LOL I'll have the step by step on my food blog later tonight, but pretty much all you do is throw in some diced up carrots with your potatoes and then mash it all together, it comes out this wonderful orange color and it's SO good. :)

Before I step out I'll leave you with what's going on around me.

On my bedside table:
At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks
Circle of Quilters by Jennifer Chiaverini
The Quilters Homecoming by Jennifer Chiaverini
A Wanted Man by Linda Lael Miller

On board from Netflix:
Christy the Series - Disc 1
Christy the Series - Disc 2

Latest interests:
Ghost Stories
Relearning all my Portuguese Culture
Finding blogs from All over the World

On my mind:
My trip to South Africa
Getting through all my TBR Pile

Learning:
How to have patience
Corel PaintShop Pro Photo
To like the base we are stationed at

Making:
Homemade Soaps
Portuguese Desserts

Looking forward to:
Seeing my family
One day returning to Idaho
A trip to the bookstore

Enjoying:
The New Ghost Hunters International
My children and Husband
All the planning involved in a big trip
Making new bloggy friends

Edit to add a meme :)

Cara at "Deep Fried Apple Pies" tagged me for this meme, so here we go.....
I need to list 7 weird things about myself.


1. I hate raw tomatoes, just eeewwwww, but I love them cooked in any recipe.

2. I always have to have the toilet paper with the end on the top, not underneath, otherwise I freak out. I don't know what it is....but please, if I come by your house, make sure it's on top. LOL

3. I like scratching my head. Not in a "I'm confused" kinda way....just for nothing, for no reason. Go figure.

4. I love anything to do with the paranormal and watch every scary movie or show on tv that is about hauntings and ghosts etc.........but I'm TERRIFIED of them for real and don't like seeing them for myself.

5. I don't like old movies....anything that is before the 1980's I won't watch.

6. I have to put Tabasco on pretty much everything I eat, especially scrambled eggs

7. I don't like wearing any kind of pants with a top that doesn't cover my behind. I always feel like I'm walking down the street and every set of eyes is on my butt. I know, I know I'm weird.

Alright, that's my weird stuff, now I'm going to tag:

Samantha (tee hee) - The corner of insanity and chaos
Katy - The Country Blossom
Jennwa - Ramblings of a Crazy Woman
Mari-Nanci - Smilnsigh
Bonnie - Simple Beauty

Yeah yeah, these are my victims for today LOL But don't the rest of you think you're off the hook, I'm sure I was tagged somewhere else and it will be coming round to you *muahahahaha*

And just like that it's it's gone........

Could someone point me in the direction of the kids on/off attitude button? Please!!!

I just realized yesterday that there has to be a button hidden somewhere under those cute faces, just HAS to be. There is no way that they can be sweet and sugary one minute and then back sassing and downright annoying the next......I have to believe that there's a way to control this LOL

Thank you all for the wonderful insight and advice you've given me about Jasmine and dealing with kids in general, so what I got from it was....

• It's a phase but it never really runs out *snort*
• It's normal - doesn't make me any happier, but ok.....lol
• I'm not the only one dealing with it - YAY (sorry but really, I'm just glad I'm not alone lol)

She was just pleasant as can be yesterday, like nothing had happened. I'm sure she was doing this behind my back though

Just a feeling I get! *shrug*

Anyway, I just finished updating my food blog, I've added recipes for Chicken Enchiladas and my Fettucine Alfredo, I also redid the recipe for the Feijoada (Portuguese beans). So if you're interested, or hungry or just bored, whichever the case.......go on over and take a look. If anything just go click on the photos, there's nothing like food up close to make you hungry LOL

I'm slowly going to make my rounds around blogland, I just hope you have coffee and a bag of energy for me, if not, I may just end up asleep on your couch.

I think some of you gave me awards or meme's or something, I truly apologize for not having done them, maybe this weekend since Curt has weekend duty and I'll be home alone with the kids. Just hope their OFF buttons are working right or else


My allergies are having a field day today, the construction across the street is picking up again and there's so much dust around, it's hard to breathe........I look out my front door and that is what I see, I just want to walk over there and tell them to knock it off, but that would be wrong and uncalled for. So I'll take my Claritin and be off in happy land LOL

No, but seriously, the allergies are frustrating as all heck to deal with. I never had any until last year April and then suddenly it hit me so hard I had no idea what it was, I honestly confused an allergy attack for a really bad congested nose, which in turn made me continuously use nose spray which in TURN made me get....uhhhh......I can't for the life of me remember the name, but it's when your nose then goes beserk has an adverse reaction to it. The more you use them the more congested it becomes until you feel like your whole head is about to explode.

So not a pretty thing. Maybe I really should go across the street and have a talk with them? LOL

I'm about to throw my dinner into the crockpot, with the allergies the last thing I want to do is....well........anything actually. I got the whole house cleaned yesterday, the laundry is all done and put away, the bathrooms and kitchen are clean, the bedrooms are tidy and the beds are made. There really isn't anything for me to do today other than feed the kids and husband when time calls for it.....wow! It feels good knowing that I can do nothing but read or catch up online or watch tv. Doesn't happen very often around here!

I'm going to head out and get the Best Chili Ever started, then make lunch for Nicholas and I. I'll leave you with some photos of Sun City in South Africa. It's one of my favorite places to go for the day and the kids are dying to visit.

Stop the roller coaster......

Please, I need out! I feel like I've been on an endless up and down this week and I'm running out of energy and patience, I need to be let out so I can breathe. UGH!

I'm so sorry I haven't been around, my poor family is probably wondering where I disappeared to, good news is I'm fine, we're all fine. Just overwhelmed and I don't know......

Jasmine is finally over her cold, she's back at school and being her usual perky, back talking, attitude throwing almost 9 year old. I swear it's like she's 9 going on 19!

I've had a really rough time with her this week, we've been butting heads to say the least. Is it always like this? Everyone says it's a phase but when does it stop? Cause I would like to know just for sure, I want to prepare myself, if there even is a way to do that. I'm just at my wits end, it's frustrating when you're a parent and you find yourself at a loss of what to do. Nothing like your child slamming doors while yelling "I hate you" to make you foresee the wonderful teenage years ahead. Help me mommy! LOL

Anyway, aside from mine and Jasmine's wonderful bonding moments *snicker*, things are ok. Curt is working weird hours this week so it tends to throw the whole schedule for a loop. Nicholas is doing good, he's got a bit of a cold just like I do, but we've been drinking lots of fluids and taking it easy, so we're keeping it at bay.

I haven't done much, I haven't read, I haven't blogged, I haven't watched tv. Quite frankly I don't know where the past few days have gone, I'm exhausted but can't give you details of why I got there. So if you see my energy laying around somewhere, go ahead and send it on back, I truly truly need it.

One thing I have been able to watch is the American Idol premieres and LOL No Words! I've just come to the conclusion that some people go on there for their 15 minutes of fame, knowing full well in advance that they can't sing or dance or apparently get dressed in matching clothes either. But yet I can't look away, it's like a bad train wreck, it's awful and you don't want to look but you can't pull away. Go figure!

I just got my Netflix movies today and I'm starting a series called "Christy" it's along the lines of Anne of Green Gables, so I'm really excited to start it, hopefully this weekend, if I get some time to myself.

Based on author Catherine Marshall's best-seller, this series centers on Christy Huddleston (Kellie Martin), an idealistic 19-year-old who leaves her upper-class city home for the rural community of Cutter Gap, Tenn., to teach impoverished children. Set in turn-of-the-century Appalachia, this heartwarming family drama also stars Tyne Daly and Randall Batinkoff.

**************************************

I've got a few recipes to post on my food blog but I don't have the time right now, so I'll do it in the morning.

Speaking of recipes, thank you all for the great ones you have been sharing in my Slow Cooking Thursday. They are wonderful and I can't wait to try them...I also noticed quite a few Weight Watcher recipes being posted, I'm so pleased because my poor hips are begging for a reprieve from junk food. Problem is I'm too weak, I can't fight the food cravings LOL

Anyway, I just wanted to come in and touch bases with you all, I will try to drop by your blogs tomorrow.

God Bless,

Slow Cooking Thursday!

All my slow cooking recipes are now online and starting today, I will add all the recipes shared weekly to my online del.icio.us site too. So if you're wanting to find ALL the slow cooked recipes that have been shared since the first SLOW COOKING THURSDAY, here is the link for you.



Don't forget to add your name to Mr Linky and a link back to your SCT post so others can come by and see your recipe too.

I haven't tried this recipe yet but it's on my menus for the upcoming weeks. In the meantime if one of you try it and like it, let me know ok???

SZECHUAN RIBS

4 pounds pork spare ribs, cut into single-rib portions
1 bottle (20-ounce) hoisin sauce
1/2 cup apricot preserves
3 scallions, chopped
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
2 tablespoons Szechuan seasoning
1 tablespoon bottled chopped ginger

Place ribs in a 5-quart slow cooker.

In a medium bowl, combine hoisin sauce, preserves, scallions, sesame seeds, Szechuan Seasoning and ginger. Pour over ribs, stirring to coat.

Cover and cook on low heat setting for 6 to 8 hours.

I feel like I've been put through the ringer.....

Which way is up? Cause I can't really tell, I woke up this morning and didn't even know what day it was.

Having a sick child just takes everything out of you, it's not just the emotional toll, but physically you have to find the strength somewhere, anywhere. I won't say I LOVE sleep, but I do enjoy a few hours a night, at least....just saying!

Jasmine seems to be doing better, I think her fever finally broke yesterday, but the poor thing has been laying around complaining she's tired and not feeling well. She has this horrible cough now and a congested nose, two things that she didn't in the beginning, but what can we do? It's all part of the cold and I'm sure it will take a few more days to completely get over everything.

She tried to go to a friend's house yesterday, but after one hour of being there and just watching tv, she had to come home. Climbed into my bed and stayed there until dinner.

Now this is where it gets to me.........I KNOW that this is normal and I KNOW that when I'm sick, I am tired and want to just lay in bed and sleep. But when it's one of my children, all of that goes out the window, suddenly I'm looking at every little pain and every moan differently and my mind is annoying....to say the least. It just won't stop with the "what if's" UGH UGH!

Anyway, she's going back to school this morning, and she's looking forward to it, I've already told her not to overdo it, take it easy and not just jump in as if nothing's happened....we'll see how things go.

So it's Monday morning huh? Who knew? LOL

I have yet to do my menu plan for this week, or my grocery list for tomorrow, wow, I'm really behind. I know you noticed I haven't been around your blogs either. I'm sorry, I truly apologize and will try to make some time today for it. But you see, the house has been suffering too, it's yelling at me "Clean Me, Wash Me, Sweep Me"......not in that particular order, but just mumbled and thrown at me every hour or so, and since I live in it I figure I may want to answer it's call..... for fear of retaliation. Go ahead and laugh but I know the house can retaliate, light bulbs going out, dishwashers stop working etc. You get the picture!

I'm going to keep this one short, I have so much to catch up on and not enough hours in the day. I hope you're all having a wonderful Monday....

God Bless,

I think we're finally getting somewhere!

Jasmine slept good last night, she woke up twice I think and not even for very long, just to complain the first time that she was cold and the second time that she was hot.......yes my child is likes things to be even *snort*

She slept in until 9:30 am this morning, got up and took a shower and now she's playing computer games and feels a lot better. Her fever hasn't completely broken yet but it's not going above 101 and for that I'm being thankful....now the only thing bugging her is the cough, but I think that's the least of our problems. I can handle anything but a fever and especially when it's high enough to make them delirious. The funny thing is that during her delirious state she still manages to yell at her brother though he's nowhere near her LOL

Anyway, thank you all for the comments and the thoughts and prayers, she's amazed that so many ladies she doesn't know have been asking about her and praying for her, she sends her love :)

One thing I'm truly thankful for as well is being able to talk to my family at times like these, there's something about your child being sick that makes you want to run home to your mom and dad, climb back into your old bed and let THEM deal with the problems. Unfortunately if I tried to do that, I would have to hop a couple planes or swim across the ocean and really, by the time I got halfway the child would be all better and wondering why their mother was drowning somewhere in the ocean (Yes, I can't swim...what can I do?)

But it's great to pick up the phone or get on the computer and have my brothers talking to me and calming me down when my eye is twitching or I'm pulling my hair out. It's great LOL

But moving on from that......I finally finished "Redeeming Love", maybe I shouldn't say FINALLY it's not like it took me that long. You have to understand that this is a HUGE hardback book, 464 pages.......and it took me what? 3 days tops? I posted my review on my book blog, just click on the link above and it will take you right to the post.


Since I already have you clicking on links, I might as well have you click on this one for the Grandma Chiquinha's Orange Cake and go and check out the recipe. I made it yesterday, I think....wait I'm not sure, maybe it was the day before....I'm sorry all this non sleeping and sick kids thing has got me confused. Anyway, it's REALLY good, it's moist and orangy and oh sooo yummy. It's not exactly the one I used to make back in South Africa but it's good nonetheless.


For the past two days that Jasmine has been sick, Nicholas has had to keep himself entertained so this corner of the couch has become his personal property, he has his blanket and some of his toys and his video games. He misses his sister and asks about her constantly "what is she doing?", "is she still sleeping?" and "is Jasmine all better now?". He is dying for her to get better so they can play together again.

My trip to South Africa is moving along well and pretty soon I should have all our passports ready, now it's just the tickets left to buy and as soon as that is done, we'll start counting down the days. I'm beyond thrilled but then I don't think I need to say that again, I keep repeating it over and over.......sorry, I would tell you that it wouldn't happen again but chances are before I even close off this post I'll say it again LOL

I noticed that some of you had given me awards, I so appreciate them and I'm sorry I have been so slow in passing them, but I'm sure you understand how crazy things have been here.

Both Karen and Jeannene have passed on some wonderful awards to me and thank them both from the bottom of my heart, they're such amazing ladies and I'm glad to have met them through my blog.

I'm going to post all the awards and then I'm passing them on to every single person on my blogroll because obviously if you are on there it means I love your blogs and visit them often....you've all made an impact in my life, one way or another, some of you are inspiring, some make me laugh so hard, others continuously teach me how to be a better wife and mother but most of all, you're all there, if I'm having a bad day or a good day, you're there to leave words of encouragement or to celebrate with me and for that I am so thankful and so truly blessed.

And with that my dear family and friends.......I'm off for the day. I am going to make the kids some lunch, then we're going to sit on the couch all cuddled up to read some books......once we've done that and they start watching their movie, I'll go do some housework and hopefully start in on my next book.

Nicholas Sparks "At First Sight". Can't wait.

103 and not budging!

I'm off to the doctors with Jasmine this morning, her fever is just not budging. Once I give her the medicine, it drops down to 100 but as soon as it wears off, she's back at 103.

Poor kid is tired, she's weak from being in bed and from this horrible fever and we need to figure out what is going on.

I've left my Slow Cooking Post up for today, it's just below this one.

Please say a little prayer for this fever to go and for this cold or whatever it is to finally subside....poor child has been through the ringer the past few days, first with her eye and now this.

What a way to start the new year!

Blessings,


UPDATE: Took her to the doctor and they tested her for strep throat, thankfully it was negative. Doctor says she has a really bad flu and just keep doing what I'm doing, plenty of fluids, broth and motrin or tylenol for the fever and body aches.

We got home and I gave her the children's motrin....she took an hour nap and then woke up and said she was really dizzy, felt like she was tumbling around. I think it was due to the fact that she has really not had much to eat the past two days, she's weak and then the medicine obviously is a bit strong. After some chicken soup and some orange cake, she's feeling MUCH MUCH better, her fever is down to 99º and she's actually playing a game on the computer.

Thank you all for the thoughts and prayers, I know they have helped :)

Will it ever end????

I hate these seasonal colds and flus, they seem to stick around, hiding in the shadows and jumping out once every few weeks to knock you flat on your behind. Although I guess this time I can't place full blame on those, just indirectly because I think this one came from the kid that was over for Jasmine's sleepover......you know the one that kept me up all night coughing and then told me that she had been really sick with a cold and a fever????

Well I believe she gave whatever she had to Jasmine and then yesterday it started raining really hard when school let out and instead of waiting for me, she just walked home. This morning she woke up saying her body hurt, when I went to feel her she was burning up.

Great, school just started back up on monday and she's already absent.....but what can I do, I can't send her in with a high fever.

She's been in bed all day, coughing, headache and a fever of 103 that crept up during the afternoon, I had to do the whole lukewarm bath, cool washcloth etc and then I had to fight with her about not throwing on a gazillion blankets because it would just make it worse. But really how strong can you be when your child looks glossy eyed and is sitting there full of goosebumps crying that her body hurts and she's freezing????

This being a parent thing is definitely not for the weak of heart, I tell you!

She's on the couch right now, just laying there with that expression like you see on the picture above...just breaks my hearts :(

So dinner tonight was Homemade Chicken Soup and then I tried to make an Orange Cake. Ok let me tell you about this cake, I have made it so many times before when I was in South Africa, it was one of those real easy and fast recipes that always tasted like you had been in the kitchen all day long.

I can't for the life of me find my recipe so I went online and found another which was not exactly the same but hey, beggars can't be choosers and all that yada yada.......I set to work, fixed the cake and then spent an hour........AN.HOUR........going back and forth with the oven trying to get the cake to cook through. I gave up! The cake came out looking like a blop of sticky goo and I'm frustrated and annoyed. BUT I'm not giving up, no sirree, I'm going to have myself orange cake no matter what....now I'm going to try a different recipe.....right now, yes you heard me, you got something to say???? LOL Didn't think so!

I've had this one sitting around for a while and what better time than now to try it right? (Yes I said now, I know, but you don't understand I really need orange cake)

Grandma Chiquinha's Orange Cake

* 4 eggs, separated
* 500 ml (2 cups) sugar
* 500 ml (2 cups) all-purpose flour
* 1 tbsp. baking powder
* 500 ml (2 cups) freshly squeezed orange juice


1.Preheat oven to 350° F (180° C). Grease and flour a 13 X 9-inch (3.5 L) metal cake pan.


2. In bowl and using an electric mixer, beat egg whites until stiff.


3. In a separate large bowl, beat egg yolks with sugar. In another bowl, sift together flour and baking powder; add to yolk mixture alternately with 1 cup (250 mL) orange juice, making three additions of dry and two of wet. Fold in egg whites. Pour into prepared cake pan.


4. Bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.


5. After removing cake from the oven, use a fork to pierce holes on top of the cake and pour remaining orange juice on top. Cool cake in pan on wire rack. Cut into squares to serve.

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I'll bring you some when I come visit your blogs later ok??? And I promise to share the photos tomorrow.

Right now, I'm a woman on a mission...... with a big slice of orange cake as a reward. *snicker*

I'm going to give Jasmine her medicine again, make sure she's getting plenty of fluids and get her to bed, then I'll deal with Nicholas so that I can be all nice and comfy in bed by the time Wife Swap and Super Nanny start.......oh and I can't forget the new Ghost Hunters premiering tonight. YAY!
Of course between all this I'll be trying to finish "Redeeming Love".....LOVE it!

Good night everyone, sleep tight, don't let the orange cake bite hahahahah (I just can't get it off my mind...UGH)

God Bless,

What can I say? My kids love the camera!

They're nothing like me I tell you, when I see someone with a camera I immediately turn the other way or find a big book or newspaper to hide my face behind. I get frustrated, no matter how much I try I always hate the way I look in photos.

Jasmine and Nicholas???? ALL.FOR.IT, Jasmine even poses LOL Is it a girl thing??? Cause I've noticed my nieces like posing too and it's so darn cute on them.




See what I mean???? Proof is in the pudding blog.

I haven't had much time to come around and visit anyone, I'm planning our trip to South Africa which is now only 4.MONTHS.AWAY. I am so excited, actually, we're ALL excited. But it does take a lot of planning and budgeting for, so that's what I've been busy with. I bet you thought I was going to say I wasn't around much cause I was off on some amazing retreat, off on a deserted island sipping margaritas with my bikini on (LOL yeah right) and my toes in the beach sand. Sounds great, but it's SO far off the truth it's not even funny hahaha

Anyway, I've started Redeeming Love, I think I told you that already, if not....I just couldn't say it enough how good and powerful a book this is. I'm just in awe and I'm amazed at what an outstanding writer Francine Rivers, WOW!
If you have yet to read this book, do yourself a favor and go and grab it from the library or the bookstore or a friend or whatever, just go get it!

Sold into prostitution in childhood, Angel is a bitter young woman who trusts no man. But when God tells Michael Hosea to marry her, she learns to love and hope---until fear overwhelms her and she returns to her former life. Can she be redeemed? A skillful retelling of the biblical story of Gomer and Hosea, set amid the California gold rush.

I think I'm going to go back and read Hosea in the Bible again.

Now onto other stuff, Jasmine is back at school and of course really enjoying it but she's also counting the days until the end of this year, she's one of those kids that absolutely loves being at school but the getting up in the morning ruins it all for her LOL
She would be perfectly happy going to school around noon.....poor kid. Nicholas on the other hand is just not interested AT ALL. It's going to be fun since he starts kindergarten this year, I'll probably be spending many hours volunteering in his classroom.....I'll do it as much for him as for me, I don't think I'm ready for my little baby to go to school.

I thought I would share a pic of my little nieces and nephews today, they are just adorable and I know I'm biased, but they're beautiful and they're mine and I am so excited to see them all soon. I think there will be lots of spoiling going on. I'm sure my brothers appreciate it LOL Right????

From the back, left to right: Dylan, Tiffany
Middle: Colby (he looks SO much like Nicholas)
Bottom from left to right: Alyssa and Taryn-Lee

I can NOT wait to hug these little human beings, it's amazing how much love you feel for someone you have never met personally....you do know that the only one I've ever met and actually used to babysit was Tiffany, I left South Africa when she was barely 2 years old and now she's 10. Goodness!

And now I have to get out of here so that I can get the kids ready for bed and be able to come back afterwards to blog hop.....I haven't done it in a while, I'm all happy it's like I'm getting ready to go bar hopping, but instead of johnny walkers I'm having hot tea and instead of drunk on booze people, I have drunk on love family......it's perfect :)

Btw before I leave, for dinner tonight I made Lulas de Caldeirada - Calamari Stew......it's SO SO good. I've posted the recipe already if anyone is interested :)

Have a great night,

Uhhh....am I getting too old for sleepovers????

Image credit: Maggie Byer Sprinzeles

I don't mean for ME to have one per say, at this point in my life I just want to head to bed at 9pm and have a full night's sleep without being awakened by anyone or anything.

But for Jasmine to have a sleepover....I think I'm too old for this? Before you go getting all huppity about it let me explain.

Saturday night Jasmine had her sleepover, her eye is doing much better but it's still a little swollen and bruised and has that nasty cut, BUT she was determined to have her friends over nonetheless. It was fine, everything was going great until bed time. By 1am we had to force the girls to go to bed because Curt and I were dead tired and I have to be up early with Nicholas anyway.

Well it took 1 hour to get them all to stay in bed and quit running around, laughing and joking. For them I'm sure it was the BEST time, for me, not so much, I could feel my eye twitching and I thought of getting a recorder to replay over and over "Girls please quiet down, stop yelling, you're going to wake up Nicholas and the neighbors and the whole base, and Japan (not really but you know just for effect).....it's bed time, please go to sleep".

I must have repeated that sentence over and over to the point where I would just walk in there and blurt it out while my brain took a nap.

Anyway, around 2:15 am they finally fell asleep and I drug myself into bed, pulled the covers up over me and closed my eyes.

3 am - Sandra, Sandra (it was one of the girls)

I run out of bed and she's crying, she had a nightmare. So I comfort her, talk to her about it just being a dream, she's fine and she's safe and it's ok to go back to sleep....sit there for a while until she quiets down and proceed to drag myself back to bed.

Climb in again, pull the covers up over my shoulders and close my eyes....it's now 3:30am.

3:45 am - MOMMY......MOMMY (it's jasmine)

Jump out of bed again and run into her room....she had a bad dream, calm HER down and get her back to sleep.

In between these, we have the same girl that had the nightmares, coughing up a storm. Now I don't know about the rest of you but I don't feel comfortable just giving kids medicine without their parents permission, who knows what they're allergic to or can or can't have. But after a few hours of her coughing I gave her some Mucinex Mini Melts for the cough and it helped her a bit.

Anyway, I went back to bed, by this time I had the biggest headache and actually felt nauseous, you know when you have to get up in the middle of the night and you're so tired that you feel sick to your stomach??

Pull the frigging covers over my shoulders again, I think I was getting annoyed at the bed LOL

4 am - Sandra Sandra (same girl)

I go back in there and she's still having nightmares...then she wants me to turn on all the lights and I have to explain that it can't be done, she'll wake everyone else up. I show her there's 2 night lights and I've now turned on the bathroom light in the hallway too, PLUS she has Jasmine and Summer there too and the dogs. So she asks for water and I give her some, then she wants the tv on and again.......read above, I repeat the whole shebang about the lights and the kids sleeping etc.

She lays back down for a bit and Summer wakes up...now they're both sitting up talking and I'm sitting on the edge of Jasmine's bed thinking...I'm screwed, yep, I'm absolutely screwed. I'm not going to sleep at all tonight LOL

They finally lay back down and are quiet so I go back into the room, I don't even pull the covers anymore, I just keep my robe on and lay on the bed and low and behold....

5 am - Cough cough.....Sandra I can't sleep.......cough cough

I shuffle my feet back into the bedroom, Vicks in hand and rub some on her chest. Then I hear a voice behind me, it's Jasmine, now she's awake and gets into the blow up mattress with the other girls and they're all laughing and giggling.

YEP, it finally hit me, I'm getting NO sleep at all tonight. It's 6am now and I hear Nicholas stirring in his bed. It's time to get up. Boy do I feel refreshed......NOT! LOL

So that was the NonSleepOver but they had a blast and they're talking about the next one already which makes me cringe. I wonder if I should gear up for the next one, maybe stock up on cold and cough medicine, night lights, or maybe I should have the parents come sleep over too so they can watch their own kids? LOL

After the girls left yesterday I didn't get to sleep either, I think I was over tired and just not able to settle down so I went to the library and grabbed some books. I go through phases, there's months that I read nothing and then suddenly I can't get enough, it's like inhaling the pages of the books as fast as I can get my little fingers to flip through them.

LOVE this cookbook, it's got such great recipes, I can't wait to try.


The first three I got for free from the Airman's Attic..........then at the library I got:

Nicholas Sparks - At First Sight
Circle of Quilters
The Quilter's Homecoming
Wanted - Linda Lael Miller
Redeeming Love - Francine Rivers

Guess which one I'm already reading??? Yep, Francine Rivers and I'm in love with the book, in love with the story and the characters and just can't get enough. Wow, it's not just that she is an amazing author, she really does make you feel like you're there with the characters and the first few pages of the book are heartbreaking. Can't wait to read more.

Well I need to go get my Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore going or there will be no dinner tonight. My menu plan for this week has already been posted, so go check that out if you're interested.

Huge hugs and kisses to my family back in South Africa.........just 5 months more *wink wink*

The ONE thing I hate about being a mother!

Let me start by saying that I LOVE being a parent and I love my children more than anything in this world.........BUT there is one thing that I absolutely hate about being a mother and that is when your child gets hurt, and if there's lots of blood involved it's even worse.

The sleepover had to be cancelled last night, it's been moved to tonight because Jasmine got hurt.

I'll tell you right now, if blood makes you woozy just skip over this part, go have a cup of coffee and join me afterwards ok???

So Jasmine was out yesterday afternoon with two of her friends, they were at one of their houses playing. I get a knock at the door and see both her friends looking really freaked out and I just KNEW that something had happened. I rush to the door and the girls are both talking really fast and all I hear is "Jasmine hurt.........lot of blood". That is NOT what you want to hear about your children.

I ask where and they point to the sidewalk and I'm thinking....Ok maybe she fell when they were running and cut herself or something, so I start walking towards the sidewalk and then I see my neighbor come running with Jasmine in her arms and blood everywhere. I'm not joking, I think my heart dropped to my feet and I just remember running towards them. Jasmine was crying and screaming and her shirt was full of blood. Avert your eyes if it freaks you out..........

I thank my neighbor, grab her from her arms and RUN home, push through the door and run to the kitchen with Jasmine. All I knew at this point is what the neighbor said....they were in her house playing and Jasmine slipped and hit her eye on the corner of the table. OH.MY.GOSH..........eye things just freak me out.
I have to say I remained calm through this all....I set her down on the counter near the sink because her clothes were full of blood, so were her legs and arms. She had her eyes closed and I asked her to open them for me, she did and THANK GOD it wasn't the actual eye but the corner that got hit.....she has a huge cut, pretty deep.

Anyway, between holding her and comforting her, I grabbed the phone and called Curt at work to come quickly.....poor Nicholas was in the background with his hands over his ears and almost in tears himself, all I could hear was him saying "I'm sad, Jasmine is my sister and she got hurt bad". :(

We all know how anything around the eye bleeds a lot, it has all those little vessels.....but it's still scary to see.

She didn't need stitches, again Thank the Lord....and she's doing fine now. But I tell you, the helpless feeling you get when you see your child in pain and hurt and knowing that there's nothing you can do for them when all you want is to take it all away, it's just overwhelming. Poor Curt rushed home from work, I had her in the bath tub to wash up all that blood and by the time he saw her it wasn't so bad but even he got tears in his eyes. She kept crying for daddy, she wanted her daddy.........not her mommy HMPPHHH LOL But that's another post LOL

Look at my poor baby.........she was on the phone with her best friend Bethany, telling her all about it. These girls love each other so much even though they're far....they actually exchanged eye pictures through email...LOL She had me email her the eye picture and the shirt full of blood and her friend sent back pictures of when she had a black eye LOL

Anyway............for those that didn't want to see this, you're safe to return. Yes you in the back there with the coffee mug in your hand, looking all pale and woozy, you can come in now LOL

***********************************

So the sleepover is tonight, we're getting pizza, the girls are going to do each other's hair with the streak and style and beads and whatnot....they're also apparently going to play Dream Life and watch movies and all that fun sleepover stuff. My job is to supervise and to keep Nicholas entertained because I KNOW that within the first hour we will have him crying cause he wants to play too and Jasmine frustrated because "you need to leave us alone, get out of my room". The joys of sleepovers!

Oh Paul, if you're reading this, I took your advice and removed Vista from Jasmine's computer and installed Windows XP instead.......what a difference that makes.

The other day I was telling my brother Paul, who is a genius with computers btw, that we got Jasmine's computer in August and we hate it because it came preloaded with Windows Vista and it's sooooo slow, it's annoying to deal with, every little thing you try and do it asks you over and over "Are you sure?"........"But are you really sure you want to do that?"........"can I change your mind?" LOL
YES I'M SURE JUST OPEN THE FILE ALREADY.........Grrrrr!

My brother suggested installing Windows XP and that it would make a huge difference and boy was he right, it's like a brand new computer that runs at turbo speed instead of turtle speed. I love it.

***********************************

Here in a few minutes I'm heading to the Airman's Attic and to the library. I haven't been to an Airman's Attic since the one back in Idaho so I'm excited to see this one, I have some things to drop off and then just want to look through what they have.

The library, well, do I even need to say why I go there??? Nevermind the bookshelf that is full of books TBR (to be read) that is not the point. See those books I can read anytime, but the library has ones that I really really really want to read, like Francine Rivers. The wonderful Susanne keeps mentioning her and I have yet to read any of her books so I'm going to look for them this morning and hopefully find them there.

Then it's back home for some housework, here's my to do list:

• Dust
• Make the beds
• Quick sweep through the house (I already swept and mopped everything yesterday)
• Last load of laundry to wash, dry and put away

It's a short one today and I couldn't be happier, so I'm going to leave you and go do what I have to do.....I'm sure you also have things planned for today, unless you want to hang out at my blog which is fine too, I promise to leave some drinks and snacks around ok?

New Recipes and some Bloggy Links!

I haven't had much time for anything and right now I'm trying to get ready for Jasmine's sleep over tonight. She's having two friends over and if it's anything like last time.........Ugh, may the Lord give me strength.

I'm caught up in the middle of laundry and dishes and all that fun stuff, but I wanted to come in and say hi and let you all know that I'll be making my bloggy rounds this afternoon, so I hope you're all dressed and ready for me to show up.......well, look, I'll take just some hot coffee if you have any????

I've added a few recipes to my Food Blog, Grilled Chourico, Portuguese Chicken and Rice and Fish Cakes which I made for dinner last night. Go on over and take a look if you're interested.

I'm sure if you're one of my readers you'll notice that I'm on a Portuguese Food kick, there's nothing like going back to my roots and making the food that I grew up eating, also the one that brings back so many fond memories of family get togethers or just mid week meals, sitting at the table talking about the day or reminiscing about funny moments.


So the other night I was in the kitchen and I went to start the dishwasher only to realize that I had run out of detergent. My first instinct was to pout and stomp my feet......"I don't want to wash all this by hand??? Why does this always happen to me, come on.......I really don't want to do this"

Wow talk about whining, I could not believe that I sounded like that, just as quickly I filled the sinks with soap water and set to washing it all BY.HAND. And guess what? I didn't die and I wasn't struck by lightning, as a matter of fact I thoroughly enjoyed it......won't be too quick to do it again....I mean, I do love my dishwasher, but it goes to show how easily we get carried away with the technology and the easier way to do things.

Why do we try so hard to be as lazy as possible? I am talking about myself here, please don't think I'm pointing fingers at anyone, I don't even know what you guys do with your dishes in your own homes. But I got really frustrated with myself for the grating whining noise that was emitting from deep inside.....I literally yelled out "Oh grow up Sandra". Yes I did, nothing like telling yourself to snap out of it.

I washed the dishes, I thanked the Lord for HAVING dishes to wash and warm water to wash them with, I listened to music on the radio while I did it and I also took time to reflect and chat with the Lord. All in all it was a good night for me.

Why am I telling you this? I have no clue, you know me, I just babble about whatever is going on in my mind. LOL

Do you know Google Earth??? It's this really nifty Google Map program that allows you to zoom in and see your house etc, nevermind that it seems to have not been udpated for about 2 years, so the pics on there are about that old. BUT, last sunday I sat up until 4am with my older brother Paul, and we had the best time. We used the map to literally move through Johannesburg, street by street, marking houses we lived in, places we visited, old schools etc. It was so much fun being able to show my children where I grew up and them seeing it in 3D and not just a location on a map, seeing the houses and what the school looked like etc.

So, thank you Paul, it was a LOT of fun :)

Now quickly onto some bloggy links before I leave to tackle Mt. Laundry again *sigh*

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Cherry Hill Cottage - you HAVE to visit this blog, it's one of those oooohhh ahhhhh blogs that leave you in awe. This lady can cook and she has one of the most amazing houses I've ever seen.

From the Mixed-Up files of Crystal - She is SO funny and she also has a cooking blog....yay!

Karen's Korner - She's such a sweet lady and I'm so glad she found my blog, which in turn led me to find hers, which is a good good thing.

Simple Folk - Amy is one of my favorite bloggers, she's an extraordinary woman, just go on over and read about her, you won't be disappointed.

The Country Blossom - Katy has the cutest blog and she's a woman after my own heart with all her country decorating etc. Just love it!

I think that's all for linky love right now........just go have yourselves some coffee and peruse some great blogs while I go do.....I don't know....mommy stuff as usual???

I'll see you all tomorrow, God Bless,

Slow Cooking Thursday - January 3rd

All my slow cooking recipes are now online and starting today, I will add all the recipes shared weekly to my online del.icio.us site too. So if you're wanting to find ALL the slow cooked recipes that have been shared since the first SLOW COOKING THURSDAY, here is the link for you.



Don't forget to add your name to Mr Linky and a link back to your SCT post so others can come by and see your recipe too.

This one is taken from the Fix-It and Forget-It Lightly cookbook that the wonderful Elizabeth sent me :)

I LOVE Chicken Tortilla Soup so I was happy to find this low fat one.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

4 uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
2 15-oz. cans black beans, undrained
2 15-oz. cans low sodium Mexican stewed tomatoes, or Rotel tomatoes
1 cup low sodium salsa (mild, medium or hot)
4-oz. can chopped green chilies, undrained
141/2-oz. can low sodium tomato sauce
baked tortilla chips
2 cups grated fat-free cheese

Combine all ingredients except chips and cheese in a large slow cooker.
Cover. Cook on low 8 hours.
Just before serving, remove chicken breasts and slice into bite-sized pieces. Stir into soup.

To serve, put a handful of chips in each individual bowl. Ladle the soup over chips. Top with cheese.

Per serving: 330 calories

Slowly emerging......

Is it safe to come out now??? I've been counting down the minutes until I could finally say "I'm FREE from the holidays and the craziness".......not a minute too soon I tell you.
I'm so over all the food and the crowds, I long for my boring routine filled days of school, work, laundry and home cleaning.....I want to sit on the couch in the morning with my coffee mug, looking out into the sun filled back yard and just relax for a minute, knowing that Curt is at work and Jasmine is at school and I don't have to worry about cooking a huge meal, rushing to buy presents or avoiding checking the bank. What you don't do that?!?!?!

Anyway, I've been missing for a few days, been getting the house back in order and trying to catch up on some reading too.

I'm in the beginning of the book "Shopaholic and Baby" and I'm laughing so hard already. I'm a huge Sophie Kinsella fan and have pretty much all the Shopaholic books, I finally picked this one up yesterday during one of my runs to the BX for batteries........darn toys that come with none and I always forget to buy them at christmas.

Here's a small excerp from the first few pages.....Becky is at the OB getting an ultrasound of the baby and her husband and her decided they don't want to know the sex....the sonographer takes the husband outside to show him the phones so he can make a call and Becky reaches over for the ultrasound stick LOL

Leaning right over I manage to grab the ultrasound stick. I apply it
to the gel on my stomach-and at once the blurry image reappears on the
screen.
I did it!

There's the head. Wow, it's huge! And that must be-
My hand freezes and I catch my breath. I've just spotted it.
I've seen the sex of our baby! It's a boy!

She's all excited talking to the baby and she has tears in her eyes, her husband and the sonographer return and she gets scolded for messing around with the hospital equipment but she's so excited that she tells the husband to look at it...she saw the baby.

"Look, there's the head!" I point. "Hello, darling!"
"Where's it's face?"
Luke sounds a bit perturbed.
"Dunno. Round the other side." I give a little
wave. "It's Mummy and Daddy here! And we love you very---"
"Mrs. Brandon." The sonographer cuts me off. "You're talking to your bladder."

LOL LOL I spit out my drink when I read that, it is the funniest thing and it only gets better. If you like a funny book, you have got to read the Shopaholic series.

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I've got 2 recipes to share with you tomorrow on my Food Blog, one is to show you how we make "Chourico Assado", Grilled Chourico.......and the other is what we had for dinner tonight...."Galinha no Forno com Arroz" or Portuguese Chicken and Rice.
Also don't forget the Slow Cooking Thursday feature tomorrow, can't wait to see the recipes you'll share :)

I haven't had a chance to come by and visit anyone, the computer has been put away and off limits to me so that I could do other stuff, you know how it is, the minute you sit down in front of it you not only check blogs but go online and surf the internet, or buy something or watch a show or whatever. Believe me, I can find stuff that would keep me busy for HOURS LOL

I'll be back in the morning, for now I'm going to finish off the last load of laundry, get the kids bathed and take my own shower. Wife Swap and SuperNanny are new tonight and I want to watch those.....I find them both hilarious LOL

Have a wonderful night everyone,