{ The Pillars of the Earth }

Ooohhh I just love a good Period Drama and I couldn't have asked for anything better than The Pillars of the Earth....Starz new TV series.

I'm sure many of you have read the book by Ken Follett, I personally haven't but I've heard nothing but great reviews on it. If you have read it then you know what this show is about but for those who haven't, here is a little burb I found online:

It follows the building of a cathedral in a town in England during the 12th century, and the drama that surrounds the project and the characters involved. Getting the cathedral built proves to be more challenging than just stacking stones as there is an ongoing struggle for power between the recently deceased king’s daughter Maud and his nephew Stephen. While some involved, including the corrupt Bishop and the Hamleigh family, use the strife for their own personal and political gain, the people of Kingsbridge, including Tom Builder and Prior Philip, attempt to get their cathedral built. From political drama, to romance and plenty of suspense, the book is more than just a story about a church being built. It’s the classic good versus evil tale where most of the characters fall firmly on one side or the other.


I'm usually a little skeptical of books turned movies and tv shows, just because there are so many examples of a good story turned bad, or a show that deviates so far off from the book that you're left wondering if it's even the same thing.

Yet, I have to admit that I'm an avid book-turned-movie viewer.

When the buzz first started about this production I went online and literally searched dozens and dozens of websites and reviews and thoughts from others eager to watch it too. Then as the trailers started emerging I got even more excited because I started seeing not only what looked to be an outstanding show but littered with familiar amazing actors, all of which I'm a huge fan of.


If you have the Starz channel, you really must give this show a shot and let me know what you think.

For those like me who don't have Starz, you can watch the episodes on Netflix, it uploads a new one every week and you get to watch in HD quality.

You can also watch Episode 1 - Anarchy and Episode 2 - Master Builder on the Starz website.


The scenery, the sets, the characters are all amazing, and I think some of my favorite all time male actors are in this series, like Matthew Macfadyen who potrays the wise, principled Prior Philip, Rufus Sewell as Tom Builder and Donald Sutherland as Bartholomew.

Now of course I'm sure those who read the book may have a totally opinion than mine and may find things on the show that are wrongly depicted or completely different, but I'm watching as a totally new viewer and so I have to go by what I see on screen, and what I see is a really good series, it's suspenseful, it's entertaining and it's definitely going to keep me tuning in each week.

{ Birthday Giveaway Winner }

First I have to start by thanking you all for the Birthday Wishes, you sure know how to make a girl feel special :)

Now for the Amazon $20 Gift Card.....I used Random.org and the number that came up was:


#5 - Flowerlady at Flowerlady's Musings

Congratulations! Your Amazon Gift Card is being sent through email, hope you enjoy it :)

{ Cooking Thursday - August 12th}

Won't you join me and share with us one of your new recipes, or an old family favorite, you can even throw in a recipe for homemade soaps or detergents (just remember to specify).

For the guidelines, you can go here.

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

*Butter Chicken*
Credit: The English Kitchen
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

Deliciously tender chicken breasts, dipped in egg and cracker crumbs, and then baked with butter. It's naughty, but very, very nice.

2 large eggs, beaten
8 ounces of buttery round crackers, crushed
(1 cup)
1/4 tsp garlic powder, or 1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
4 ounces butter, cut into bits
(1/2 cup)

Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/Gas mark5. Place the eggs into a shallow bowl. Place the crackercrumbs into another shallow bowl and mix together with the garlic powder and the pepper. Dip the chicken breasts, first into the egg and then roll them in the cracker crumb mixture, coating them well. Place them in a 9 by 13 inch baking dish. Drop the pieces of butter all around the pieces of the chicken. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven until the chicken is no longer pink inside, the juices run clear and the crumbs are nicely browned.

{ It's my Birthday and I'll blog if I want to }

Just because I can and just because I actually woke up in a good mood which hardly ever happens on my birthday. I think the older I get, the less I look forward to this day, and so I usually don't feel anything but "darn, I'm a year older and none the wiser" LOL

I guess that's not true, I AM a little wiser, I hope.

So here I am, turning 29, it's such a great age to be isn't it? *snicker*

Truthfully I'm turning 36 years old and I don't feel it, which I think is a good thing, now if I can just keep this positive thinking going, I'll be fine LOL

I wanted to take this moment to thank you all, for being such wonderful blog readers, for always being there whenever I need a prayer or a word of encouragement, I truthfully feel like many of you have watched me and my children grow through this blog.

So won't you help me celebrate my Birthday, have a slice of cake for me or a glass of wine and in return, I'm going to be giving away a $20 Amazon Gift Card. I know it's not much, but it's my way of thanking you all.

The giveaway is open to US and Canada residents. Just leave me a comment and I'll enter your name into the drawing which will happen on Friday the 13th.

{ First day of School }

Shadow pics are disturbing....this makes me look so weird and so much bigger than I am.

It's just me! Instead of 3 shadows in the back yard, there's just one.

I was kinda sorta hoping this day wouldn't come for a little while longer, as much as the kids were eating me out of house and home, I just hate sending them off for hours and not seeing them.

I miss them....like....a LOT.

Is that wimpy of me?

Anyway, here's the obligatory Back to School photos. I just can't believe how much they've grown, they need to slow down a bit.
It's hard to think that I have a Sixth Grader and a Second Grader, but then again, I AM turning 36 tomorrow. BLECH....forget I said that, I'm turning 30. Yes, 30!

Nicholas is starting Second Grade and he's excited for it, and yet all I can think about is....Oh No...no more bathrooms inside the classrooms, he has to go to the big boy bathroom....I mean, really, is anyone else as paranoid as I am?

I said on Facebook earlier, these precious freckles warm my heart, though I have freckles myself but can't stand them on me LOL

Oh boy, Lord have mercy. This girl is growing so fast, so so extremely fast that it's starting to scare me.

Jasmine is starting Sixth Grade and at this point I'm only allowed to show affection behind closed doors, when we're in public it's NO CAN DO. Persona non grata!

She has grown so much and she's becoming such a stunning young lady. Curt has started talking about shotguns and no dating and all that kinda stuff that I really don't even want to think about yet.....but then I look at her and all I can think about is high school and dances and all that fun part of becoming a young adult and I can't help but be excited for her.

But anyway, I've been counting the minutes and staring at the clock all day long, I miss them. I miss them terribly and I can't wait to pick them up from school.

Maybe homeschooling is the way to go for me LOL Then again, wouldn't that be unfair to them? I can't just home school because I want them with me all the time.....can I?