The 6-S Ranch

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

2011-04-03T21:35:00.000-07:00

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Start with:

One 12-inch pre-baked pizza crust (like Boboli, or par-bake your own recipe)

Spread on:

Your favorite pizza sauce

Then sprinkle with:

A blend of mozzarella, provolone, asiago, parmesan, and fontina cheeses

And:

Cooked, chopped, chicken, that's been mixed with:

Frank's Red Hot Sauce;

Cooked and crumbled bacon, and

Finely diced celery and purple onion.

Bake at 450 F. degrees for about 8-10 min. or until done.

Enjoy!

Happy Spring!

2011-03-24T16:56:00.000-07:00

Nothing says "it's spring" like daffodils, and I can never resist these ones from Trader Joe's!

Sew Cute!

2011-03-23T13:14:00.000-07:00

The girls have been sewing together some felt animals from an American Girls Craft Kit that I bought at Michael's Craft Store. It's been so much fun working together on these projects that we are going to make some Angry Birds next.

But what I really wanted to show you are these heart pins that I found.

I don't remember how much they cost, but when I saw them at JoAnn's Craft Store, I knew I had to have them!

They add a lot of charm to any project you're working on, and they are so much easier to put in and pull out than your standard plain old pin.

And with all the colors that they come in, they are sure to be a crafter's delight!

Cheeseburger Cupcakes

2011-02-07T17:11:00.000-08:00

I put my cake decorating skills to good use this weekend and made these cute cupcakes!

Happy Holidays

2010-12-27T16:33:00.000-08:00

This Christmas we...

...counted down to Christmas on this cute magnetic advent calendar from Hallmark,

attempted to make a snowglobe,

found a tree that would fit in our trailer,

and another one that glitters and sparkles from Target,

hung homemade ornaments on the tree,

decorated giant gingerbread men from Trader Joe's,

that tasted quite disgusting (oh well!),

decorated a gingerbread village,

ate birthday cupcakes,

chatted with Santa,

opened gifts on Christmas Eve,

hung out in the kitchen with good food and good company,

wore matching sweater dresses,

and admired the beautiful dessert table! Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Good Things!

2010-12-27T16:07:00.001-08:00

Martha Stewart is right: these are good things!

http://www.marthastewart.com/goodthings/gumdrop-pops

Oven-Roasted Butternut Squash With Garlic And Thyme

2009-10-22T15:48:00.000-07:00

***Oven-Roasted Butternut Squash With Garlic And Thyme***

1 butternut squash, halved, seeded, peeled and cubed
1-2 onions, peeled and cut into wedges
2-3 cloves of pressed garlic
olive oil
kosher salt
pepper
sprigs of fresh thyme

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Spread butternut squash and onions on a baking sheet. Drizzle with a good olive oil. Sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper and pressed garlic; use hands to toss together until combined. Add springs of fresh thyme and bake for 35 minutes (or until tender), stirring every so often. Serve immediately.

*NOTE* Peeled and cubed butternut squash is usually available at Trader Joe's, making this dish even easier to make!

Apple Spice Cake

2009-09-17T09:33:00.000-07:00

Run, don't walk to your kitchen, and make this cake NOW!!! It's THAT good.

***Apple Spice Cake***

1 1/3 cups vegetable oil
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
3 to 4 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (3 cups)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 12-cup Bundt pan; set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine vegetable oil, sugar, and eggs; mix on high speed until lemon yellow.

4. With mixer on medium speed, gradually add in dry ingredients until just incorporated.

5. Add apples to batter; mix to combine. Add vanilla, mixing until incorporated.

6. Pour batter into prepared pan, and bake until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 75 to 90 minutes.

7. Remove from oven, and cool slightly on a wire rack.

8. Invert cake onto rack; turn cake right-side up to cool completely on rack, and serve drizzled with caramel sauce.

***Caramel Sauce***

1 cup light-brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

Combine ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until thickened to desired consistency.

Polka Dots & Picket Fences

2009-09-13T09:47:00.000-07:00

I've started another blog that I'm really excited about! It's based on the premise that 10 of us gals separately post on the same topic each week from our different perspectives. To see what we all have to say or share about one subject, just click on any of the topics under "Labels." It's a fun way to garner different ideas! If you're interested in contributing, let me know, and I'll add you on! And please visit our new blog at:

www.polkadotspicketfences.blogspot.com

Bandana Couture

2009-08-25T13:51:00.000-07:00

"I don't know what I want to be when I grow up, but I know I want to be the Boss Lady." ~Kara, Real Housewives of Orange County

Biscuits & Gravy

2009-08-01T18:43:00.000-07:00

A wonderful Sunday morning breakfast!

~Biscuits~

Stir together:
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon salt

Cut in:
1/2 cup butter

When mixture resembles coarse crumbs, make a well in the center and add:

2/3 cup milk

Stir until moistened. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Quickly knead dough by gently folding and pressing dough 10 to 12 strokes or until nearly smooth. Pat or lightly roll dough to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut dough with a floured biscuit cutter. Place biscuits on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in a 450 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden.

Meanwhile make this:
(Yes, it has to be this brand because it is the very best!)

Remove biscuits from baking sheet, split open, and serve with hot gravy. Enjoy!

Back To The Basics

2009-07-29T10:42:00.000-07:00

Last week, my 30 year-old dryer kicked the bucket (it was a GE, in case you're wondering.) So, in the meantime, I've been drying laundry the old-fashioned way and I've discovered that there's something extremely satisfying about hanging your laundry on a clothesline. I'm not sure what it is, but I think it just feels good not to be reliant on a machine or electricity. Or, it could just be that I am of the rare breed that actually likes to do housework. Whatever the case may be, I will be glad to have a working dryer again, but I think I'll continue using the clothesline until the weather no longer permits. Give it a try...you might like it too!

Caveman Atari

2009-07-25T22:32:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, while I was on the phone, I noticed that The Buckaroos were playing a newly invented game of theirs.

The Foreman would lay on the ground and roll away from the couch and then towards the couch.

And then away from the couch and then towards the couch again and again.

While the girls tried to jump "over" him.

And I say "over" because they were really trying to jump...

ON him!!!

It didn't take them long to figure out that the possibility of inflicting pain on a sibling makes the game MUCH more entertaining than just simply jumping over them. (And, sickly, I have to agree!)

I'm sure many a caveman child played this very same game back before the invention of Atari and all those other new-fangled video game machines that children play today.

Do My Ears Deceive Me?

2009-06-14T20:31:00.000-07:00

I just heard The Foreman say that he wasn't ready to go to bed yet because he didn't get a chance to clean his room...

Really???

...'cause hearing a phrase like THAT gets me excited like few things can!

Guess who gets to stay up late?

My Score

2009-06-07T15:04:00.000-07:00

What 9 bags and $241 worth of stuff from Trader Joe's looks like.

Books That My Kids Love

2009-06-04T09:16:00.000-07:00

Summer break is almost here (God help us all), and I would like to share some of my kids' favorite books for those of you looking to impress the kid(s) in your life.

Let's start with these. The Diary Of A Wimpy Kid series is an easy read that is in no way challenging, but is very funny. They are guaranteed to get your kid(s) interested in reading in a way that very few books can. My kids have had many a hysterical laughing fit over these. And, okay, I have too.

Then there's this little gem. A follow-up to the series where your kid(s) can create their own funny scenarios. It's like a directive journal if you will.

On this page, the author suggests that the reader make a greeting card. This is The Foreman's greeting to his sister:

(Front:) I'm so sorry Ivy...
(Inside:) ...that you're poisonous, bad tempered, and a bad sport.

Can you feel the love? I can too.

The next book is a grade level activity book that my youngest likes.

I like it too and am thinking about implementing it in my "military homeschool" curriculum this summer.

Gotta keep the kids stimulated.

Another favorite book of ours in this fun coin-collecting album. I originally saw it on the Martha Stewart Show a while back and it really is a "good thing!"

Here is a page for placing pennies in chronological order by the year that they were struck.

A page for all coins made in the year 2000. (It's getting harder to find those!)

And a page for all of the oldest coins that you possess.

This is the state coin section. The best part about this book is that it doesn't really require you to go out and spend a fortune on coins. All of these were coins that we already had, pulled straight out of our piggy banks. It really makes beginning coin-collecting fun and accessible to all kids, and they like learning about the money that they have.

Garlic Rosemary Bread

2009-06-03T17:34:00.000-07:00

Use the best ciabatta you can find! I get mine and Trader Joe's and it's pretty damn near perfect tasting.

***Garlic Rosemary Bread***

1 loaf of ciabatta bread, sliced in half lengthwise
1 stick of butter, at room temperature
1 clove of garlic, peeled and cut in half
fresh rosemary leaves, coarsely chopped

Spread both halves of bread with butter and broil until golden brown. Remove from oven and rub with cut side of garlic. Sprinkle on rosemary. Cut into slices and serve warm.

Thyme Bread

2009-06-03T17:19:00.000-07:00

So easy, you will kick yourself for not thinking of it first! Glad Pioneer Woman did.

***Thyme Bread***

1 loaf of french bread, sliced in half lengthwise
1 stick of butter, at room temperature
fresh thyme leaves, coarsely chopped

Spread both halves of bread with butter and broil until golden brown. Remove from oven and sprinkle on thyme leaves. Cut into slices and serve warm.

Need a little variation? Try Garlic Rosemary Bread.

Spaghetti With Clams

2009-06-03T16:10:00.000-07:00

I made this wonderful and easy Gallo Family recipe for dinner one night and the whole family liked it. Helpful Hint: Do NOT tell your kids these are clams, lest their gagging reflexes kick into overdrive!

***Spaghetti with Clams***

1 lb. Thick Spaghetti
3 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil (plus more for garnishing)
3 Garlic Cloves, minced
1/4 cup Gallo Family Vineyards Pinot Grigio (I used Chardonnay, see below)
1/4 tsp. Red Chili Flakes
2 cans (6.5oz each) Chopped Clams, in broth
1/2 cup Italian Parsley, coarsely chopped
Salt & Pepper, to taste

Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil over high heat. Season generously with salt, add the pasta, and cook al dente as directed.

While the pasta is cooking, make the sauce. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over a medium burner. Add the garlic and cook until translucent, about one minute. Add the wine and reduce by half. Strain the clams from the broth with a slotted spoon and set them aside. Add the clam broth and chili flakes and reduce by half over high heat, then turn the heat to low. Drain the Spaghetti and add it to the skillet. Add the reserved clams and parsley, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss well and serve with a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

Serve with Thyme Bread:

And really good wine!

Signs Of Spring

2009-04-14T10:07:00.000-07:00

Leaves on trees: check.

Bird nest on front door wreath: check.

Spring cleaning done: check.

Double check.

Backyard looking good: check.

Flowers in bloom: check.

Check.

Check.

Check.

Check.

Lamb's ear: (Gotta have that!) Check.

Even my weeds look good! It's definitely spring:)

Mama's Home Cookin'

2009-04-03T22:03:00.000-07:00

The other night we had meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, and peas and carrots. Or did we??? You might want to take a closer look.

We've had this meal before:

The first time they were fooled, the second time...not so much!

Over The Weekend

2009-03-30T11:45:00.000-07:00

Mini petunias planted on the porch.

Beautiful strawberries for a snack.

Heirloom tomatoes and basil planted in washtubs.

And a cast-iron skillet full of fried eggs for breakfast.

Sassy Chicken Salad

2009-03-29T09:52:00.000-07:00

I'm a big chicken salad fan and this has got to be one of my favorites! It's straight from the the recipe packet that comes with Kirkland's canned chicken at Costco.

***Sassy Chicken Salad***

1 (10 oz.) can diced tomatoes and green chilies, drained
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon honey
1 (12.5 oz.) can Kirkland canned chicken breast, drained
1 cup celery, thinly sliced
1 cup grapes, halved
1/3 cup pecans, roughly chopped

Directions:

In a medium bowl, combine tomatoes, mayonnaise and honey.

Stir in chicken, celery, grapes, and pecans.

Cover and chill. May be served in hollowed out melons, avocados or papayas. I like to serve them in croissants (the ones from Costco are the best!)

Disappearing Fruit Dip

2009-03-27T19:38:00.000-07:00

Need an awesome fruit dip recipe? My friend, Julie, did and she even sent me some photos of the finished product! Blogging doesn't get any easier than that:) Enjoy!

***Disappearing Fruit Dip***

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 jar (7 ounces) marshmallow creme
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon grated lime peel
Dash ground ginger
Assorted fresh fruit

(A lemon or an orange can be substituted for the lime.)

Mmmm, this takes strawberries to a new level.

The First Step Is To Identify Your Addiction

2009-03-26T13:47:00.000-07:00

Mine.

Crafty Nests

2009-03-21T10:53:00.000-07:00

I would love to be more crafty, but I just don't have the space in my small home:) So, in the meantime, I like to "collect" ideas from all those amazingly gifted crafters out there!

I think this one is do-able for me...can't wait to try it!

This one is just adorable inside, but for some reason I couldn't copy the photos. It had numbered plastic eggs inside all decorated differently for the kids to open each day like a countdown calendar. You can check it out here though!

And my friend Jamie's idea was way too cute not to share!

Bunny Cakes

2009-03-20T09:24:00.000-07:00

Is it too soon for Easter bunnies??? (Notice how quickly they multiplied...not unlike real bunnies.)

"May You Live All The Days Of Your Life"

2009-03-17T12:15:00.000-07:00

...and I do. Do you?

Happy St. Patrick's Day and may the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty!

Our leprechaun box...

to be filled by leprechauns with gold!

And they did! It always pays to be Irish:)

I've got my Harris Ranch corned beef all ready to go and I'm ready to get my celebration on!

Breakfast For Dinner

2009-03-15T21:24:00.000-07:00

As I'm sure you all know by now, an easy meal that I frequently make for dinner is breakfast. Here's one of the latest "dinners" that I made.

***Huevos Rancheros***

4 (6 inch) corn tortillas
1 cup canned refried beans
8 fried eggs
1/2 cup monterey jack cheese, grated
1 avocado
2 teaspoons lime juice, fresh
1/2 cup prepared salsa
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
1 green onion, white and green parts (thinly sliced on the bias)

******

1. Preheat the broiler.

2. Heat the tortillas by toasting them one at a time in a dry cast-iron skillet or directly over a gas flame until lightly toasted.

3. Place on a baking sheet, spread each tortilla with ¼ cup of refried beans, and cover to keep warm.

4. While tortillas are toasting, fry eggs in a separate pan; season with salt and pepper.

5. Top each tortilla with 2 fried eggs and 2 tablespoons of the grated cheese. Slide the tortillas under the broiler to melt the cheese.

6. Meanwhile, dice the avocado and toss with the lime juice to prevent the avocado from discoloring.

7. Top each serving with 2 tablespoons salsa and 2 tablespoons sour cream. Divide the avocado evenly among the tortillas. Garnish each tortilla with 1 tablespoon cilantro and 1 tablespoon green onion and serve.

856 Sea Breeze Avenue

2009-03-15T12:15:00.000-07:00

A fun giveaway at Sunday Baker...go enter!

Garden Spells

2009-03-12T12:44:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading this book and I enjoyed it so much, that I'm going to recommend it to all the ladies out there who love to garden and cook. Please do not read this book for the storyline, which is somewhat entertaining and "good enough" to see you through to the end, but read it for the pleasing springtime aesthetics that the author conjures up for the reader to enjoy. (Think of it as the springtime version of Under The Tuscan Sun.) What makes this book so wonderful is the vivid imagery of what's growing in the garden and the flowery descriptions of the meals being dished. It's the perfect book to transition you from winter into spring.

Here are some of my own garden spells...apple blossoms in bloom on my new little tree.

Nest Update

2009-03-10T08:43:00.000-07:00

Remember the mama hummingbird from this pos t ?

It's baby is getting big.

And almost ready to fly out of the nest.

Antipasto Salad

2009-03-09T14:39:00.000-07:00

Long ago, I worked at Chi Chi's Pizza where I regularly consumed Pepperoni and Mushroom Pizza, piping hot sourdough rolls dipped in Blue Cheese dressing, and the most delicious Antipasto Salad I've ever had! Luckily, it's easy enough to replicate and when I do, I get great feedback.

***Antipasto Salad***

Romaine lettuce
Mozzarella, cubed or grated
Pepperoni slices
Salami slices
Tomatoes, sliced
Red onion, sliced
Peppercionis
Sliced black olives
Artichoke hearts (optional)

Start with a bowl of washed and torn romaine lettuce and add in small cubes of mozzarella cheese (I just chop up string cheese, but if you want to be authentic, Chi Chi's always put blocks of mozzarella through a clean meat grinder and ended up with little strings of cheese), sliced pepperoni and salami, sliced tomatoes, red onion, peppercionis, and sliced black olives. I took a little liberty with my salad and omitted the onions and added quartered artichokes hearts. Toss well. Add dressing (see below) right before serving and toss again.

***Red Wine Vinegar Dressing***

Mix together:

1/4 cup good red wine vinegar
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 clove of pressed garlic

Then add:
1/4 cup extra light olive oil

Blend well.

The Farm Chicks Give Away!

2009-03-04T16:15:00.000-08:00

I just discovered a new blog and their adorableness is almost too much to bear!

And, they're having a give away!

And a new book coming out!

Go look and see!

Made From The Best Stuff On Earth

2009-03-01T20:56:00.000-08:00

If you're an iced tea lover like me, you have to try this Snapple Mango Green Tea. It's ever so slightly sweetened so that there's no bitterness. Just a lot of good flavor.

Grandma's Kitchen

2009-02-28T10:41:00.001-08:00

My grandma was a southern cook, and a DAMN good one! Each morning my mom would pack us up and take us over to Granny's house for breakfast, and she never would never disappoint. She would have orange juice, cranberry juice, or an occasional pineapple juice waiting for us at her kitchen table. Coffee would be brewing. Bacon or sausage and toast or biscuits would be made and ready to go. Sometimes, she would switch it up with fried potatoes, cinnamon rolls, oatmeal, or grapefruit halves. Other times we would have pancakes or waffles. But we always had eggs. Each and every morning she would be ready to cook us up our eggs: made to order. If I was in the mood for scrambled, she'd make scrambled, and if I was in the mood for fried, she'd make fried. She made "comfort" food an everyday part of my life, and she never once fixed a bad meal.

At a young age, I showed an interest in cooking. From the time I was five, I would help my granny in the kitchen, usually cracking and beating eggs, or stirring fried potatoes. One of the reasons I like to cook so much, is that I want to relive eating that wonderful food she made for us. Every time I cook, I strive to make mine taste like hers. The difference is that I'm dependent on good recipes, and she rarely used one.

Lucky for me, my family is full of good cooks, and I eat pretty damn good! My dad was a short order cook in a steak house. My Aunt Cindy makes awesome Navajo tacos, tri-tip sandwiches, string beans, and crawfish omletes. My cousin Nancy effortlessly puts together wonderful food that is so good, it reminds me of my grandma's cooking. My sister Erin, makes the best lamb chops we've ever had, and is the only person who can fry eggs and potatoes better than me. My paternal grandmother made the most delicious pasties (meat and potato hand pies) that took me years to replicate. My cousin Pat can fry up a steak like nobody else and really knows how to put together a great meal for a crowd. Even my mom, who hates to cook, rarely makes anything that tastes bad. She knows how to cook a holiday meal as good as any my grandma ever made.

Because I want my kids to have the same wonderful experience with food that I have, I often do things that grandma did. One of her little tricks was to lay slices of bacon on the waffle batter before closing the waffle iron:

Feel free to use more bacon than I did. You almost can't have too much.

And, waffles never tasted so good!

I would love to hear about your grandma's cooking! Please de-lurk and tell me about your grandma's kitchen! What kind of cook was she? What comfort food did she fix for you? What was the best part about her kitchen? Or, if you knew my grandma, what kind of wonderful food did she fix you???

Bacon Waffles
*************

1 egg, beaten
2 cups flour
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups milk
3 tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
12-16 strips of cooked bacon

In medium bowl, combine all ingredients except bacon, and mix until smooth. Add approximately 2/3 cup of batter to a pre-heated waffle iron, laying slices of cooked bacon on top of batter. Close waffle iron and cook according to manufacturer's instructions. When waffle is done, top with butter and syrup and serve immediately. Yields: 4 waffles

Soup's On!

2009-02-26T09:28:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite soups. It's easy to make and it tastes just like enchiladas.

***Enchilada Soup***

7 corn tortillas, cut in strips
1 small onion, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 tablespoon oil
1 can chopped green chilies
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can beef broth
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can condensed chicken broth
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cups water
2 cups diced chicken
1 tablespoon A-1 steak sauce
2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon ground red chili powder
1/8 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 cups shredded cheese

Garnish with:
cilantro, sour cream, and avocado

1. Cut tortillas in 1/2" strips (set aside).

2. Saute onion and garlic in oil.

3. Add next 12 ingredients.

4. Bring to boil.

5. Reduce heat and simmer covered, 1 hour.

6. Add tortilla strips and cheese.

7. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.

8. Garnish with cheese, cilantro, sour cream, and avocado.

Problem Solved...I Think

2009-02-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

Sometimes parenting brings some interesting challenges. Like how to explain what "flipping the bird" means to a first grader, who doesn't even know what the "f-word" is yet.

Or maybe she does, but I didn't want to ask her. I simply told her that the middle finger means a bad word so don't hold it up. "What bad word?" she wanted to know.

"The 'f-word,'" I said.

What's the 'f-word?'"

"I'm not going to tell you because it's bad."

(Un)fortunately for her, I'm not the only one who knows what the "f-word" means, and she quickly discovered someone else who knew the secret. A day later, with much pride and accomplishment, she informed me that she too now knew what the "f-word" was, thanks to her older brother (who really does know what it is.) Yikes!

"It's ....'FOOTBALL HEAD!'"

That's exactly right.

Crafty Frame

2009-02-24T12:35:00.000-08:00

I recently saw this frame on Two Pea's In a Bucket...it's such a great idea that I had to share it! Unfortunately, none of our names start with an A, B, D, O, P, Q, or R. But if yours does, I'd love to see what you can make!

Strawberry Heart Napoleons

2009-02-24T11:57:00.000-08:00

***Strawberry Heart Napoleons***

Very easy... perfect for Valentine's Day!

***Ingredients***

1 package frozen puff pastry
1 cup cold milk (I used Fat-Free)
1 (3.4 oz.) package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 (8 oz.) container Cool Whip (I used Fat-Free)
3 cups sliced fresh strawberries

Confectioners' sugar

1) Thaw puff pastry according to package direction. Use a heart cookie cutter to cut out 12 hearts. Place on baking sheets and bake at 400 degrees for 8-11 minutes or until golden brown. remove to wire racks to cool.

2) Meanwhile, whisk together milk and pudding mix for two minutes. Fold in Cool Whip.

3) Split puff pastry hearts in half. Spoon vanilla cream filling over each bottom half. Top with strawberries and pastry tops. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and serve.

Nesting

2009-02-20T09:04:00.000-08:00

I love nests and my mom is lucky enough to have this one in a rosebush right outside her front window. It was taken by a friend of hers named Wendy. How she got that close while the hummingbird was still inside, I will never know, but this little hummingbird is so adorable all nestled inside its cozy nest.

Is it weird to post a picture of artichokes on your blog???

2009-02-18T22:04:00.000-08:00

If it is, that explains a lot:) I made these on Valentine's Day, and they were so pretty that I had to photograph them. I steamed them in a big roaster pan in the oven and then we dipped them in Garlic Parmesan Butter...mmm, so good! We also had Chicken Alfredo...

White Chocolate Martinis...

and Strawberry Napoleons.

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

2009-02-18T14:01:00.000-08:00

We had a beautiful rainbow in the sky the other day and I snapped some quick pictures of it before it faded away.

Not For The Squeamish

2009-02-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

Nope, it's not Cousin It ...or Benji. This is all the hair I cut off of The Foreman, who was in the process of growing out his hair. I just couldn't stand looking at his BEDhead anymore.

Getting What You Paid For

2009-02-14T13:45:00.000-08:00

Wanted this:
{Ethan Allen Hurricane}

*****

Found this instead:

{Target Hurricane}

It was only a $200 difference. YES!!! You heard me ~~read me???~~ right...two hundred dollar difference. I still like the Ethan Allen one best, but I can NOT bring myself to pay that much for a hurricane.

The Way To A Man's Heart Is Through His Stomach

2009-02-13T11:14:00.000-08:00

...or in The Marshal's case, it's through firearms. But these are a lot less expensive and the waiting period is shorter.

***Cheddar Garlic Biscuits***

2 cups flour
1 T. baking powder
2 t. sugar
1/2 t. cream of tartar
1/4 t. salt
1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup milk
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

***Plus***

1 stick of butter
1/2 t. garlic powder

Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, cream of tartar, and salt. Cut in 1/2 cup of butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add in cheddar cheese and stir to combine. Make a well in center. Add milk all at once; stir until moistened.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Quickly knead 10-12 strokes. Pat or lightly roll into 1/2 inch thickness. Cut out heart shapes.

Place on an ungreased baking sheet 1 inch apart and bake in a 450 degree oven for 10-12 minutes.

Melt remaining butter and add garlic powder. Spoon or brush melted garlic butter over baked biscuits. Serve hot.

Enjoy!

Rubbing Shoulders With The Real Housewives Of Orange County

2009-02-10T15:19:00.000-08:00

My mom lives in the OC, so I guess she qualifies as a real housewife. Last weekend when we ventured down to Orange County to celebrate The Foreman's 9th birthday, we went to the South Coast Plaza (one of the few malls I LOVE...and this is coming from someone who avoids malls at all costs) to eat lunch at the Rain Forest Cafe.

After lunch, my mom wanted to take the kids for a spin on the carousel, which is fine with me as long as I don't have to ride. I get motion sickness just looking at it, so I usually sit back and watch, which is what I was doing when I noticed my mom talking and talking to a gal in the line in front of her. I saw my mom point to me and look over. I smiled, and she smiled. I didn't give it a second thought, (but I sure liked her striped rainboots) until my mom came back and said to me, "That lady was so nice. Boy, did she talk a lot, but she was so nice! She said her husband is in a band called The Offspring. Have you heard of them?" What??? Really? Cool.

That explains why I liked her boots so much:) Who has better taste than the real housewives of Orange County?

Random Picture Challenge

2009-01-24T14:57:00.000-08:00

Today's Random Picture Challenge by 4 Little Men & Girly Twins: August 2007, 30th picture.

I was in the throes of warfare...trying to save my tomatoes from HORNWORMS!!!

"Upon My Command..."

2009-01-24T14:30:00.000-08:00

This little soldier guy comes in very handy during meal times at The Ranch.

You wouldn't know it by looking at him, but he whips those buckaroos into shape without uttering a single word.

Ahhh, they are actually EATING lunch without any verbal reminders from me. (Shouldn't they do that anyway??? Apparently not.)

Somebody won! Now she gets to blow out the candle, and The ~~Pyromaniac~~ Foreman lights it again to see who will finish next. This seems to keep their minds off the "horrible" food they have to eat everyday. And keeps me from saying, "Eat your lunch," every 30 seconds. I like Mr. Soldier Guy:)

Gingerbread Scones

2009-01-24T14:08:00.000-08:00

We love these scones! Give them a try...they are so easy to make:)

Gingerbread Scones
******************

2 cups flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter
1 egg yolk, beaten
1/3 cup molasses
1/4 cup milk
sugar, for sprinkling
nutmeg, for sprinkling

1) In a large bowl, combine the first nine ingredients.
2) Cut in butter with pastry cutter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center.
3) In a small mixing bowl, stir together egg yolk, molasses and milk.
4) Add all at once to the center of flour mixture.
5) Stir with fork until combined (mixture may seem dry.)
6) Knead dough on a lightly floured surface for 10-12 strokes or until nearly smooth.
7) Pat dough into a circle; cut into 8 wedges.
8) Sprinkle with sugar and a little nutmeg.
9) Bake on an ungreased baking sheet at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes.
10) Cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes before serving.

Note***These taste better the next day, so I like to make them the night before I plan on serving them. Enjoy!

Another Random Picture Challnge

2009-01-17T12:34:00.001-08:00

This is what our kitchen looked like last year at this time. An improperly installed garden window caused quite a bit of water damage, and dare I say, "mold."

January 2007. 8th picture in my folder. To play along go here.

*******

The After Pictures

Random Picture Challenge

2009-01-10T10:47:00.000-08:00

A little game! Go to your May folder and post your 21st picture.

This picture was taken in my cousins' backyard. I originally posted about it here, but this picture didn't make the final cut. Enjoy!

Need A Recipe???

2009-01-07T11:45:00.000-08:00

I love posting recipes on my blog, so if you need a good recipe for something, or there's something you want to see me make...I'm taking requests.

Mr. Kid

2009-01-04T12:00:00.000-08:00

The Foreman has started a blog. Check it out. It might be funny, or it might not. Afterall, an 8-year-old writes it.

http://themisterkid.blogspot.com/

Mmm, Smells Like Sugar

2009-01-04T11:07:00.000-08:00

Have you ever smelled a Nintendo DS before? Well, why the hell not? This morning it was all too quiet in the girls' bedroom, so I snuck in and found them ~~playing~~ smelling their DS's when they were not supposed to be...or that was their explanation anyway. Pretty crafty. (Not really.) It takes a seven-year-old to come up with that one and actually think that someone who's older than seven will buy it. So I pretended to buy it:)

The Verdict

2009-01-04T11:02:00.000-08:00

While I think these cinnamon rolls are super tasty, I also think the thing that makes them so special is the glaze, rather than the dough. So, save yourself some time and use the frozen bread dough instead of making it from scratch and enjoy the wonderful glaze on top!!!

Mmmm, Make These Now!

2009-01-03T14:25:00.001-08:00

Live dangerously...make The Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls. Now!

January

2009-01-03T14:13:00.000-08:00

Take a look at this tree in my backyard. If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was still fall. I guess that's why they say California has two seasons: summer, and that "other" one...Fallwinterspring.

This Child Reminds Me Of Somebody

2008-12-31T13:15:00.000-08:00

I think I figured it out:)

Homemade Enchilada Sauce

2008-12-29T11:42:00.000-08:00

The other day I went to the grocery store and bought all the ingredients to make enchiladas, save one...the sauce. This seems to be a growing trend of mine, lately. I must've thought that I already had the sauce in my pantry because it never occured to me to buy some.

When dinner time rolled around, I quickly discovered my mistake and frantically searched online for a sauce recipe that would work. I figured dinner would be delayed by an hour, but to my surprise, homemade enchilada sauce is a lot easier and quicker to make than I expected. Plus, it tastes a whole darn lot better.

***Enchilada Sauce***

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cumin
2 tablespoons mild chili powder
4 tablespoons flour
3 1/2 cups water
4 chicken bouillon cubes
1 (8 oz. can tomato sauce)
salt to taste (about 1/2 tsp.)

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

1. Mix spices and flour in olive oil in saucepan over medium heat until fragrant and starting to brown.

2. Slowly add water, chicken bouillon cubes, and tomato sauce and cook and stir until thickened. Add salt to taste.

3. Use as red sauce over any beef, game, cheese or poultry enchiladas.

And it doesn't get any easier than that!

If you want to know how I made the rest, I just fried up some corn tortillas in canola oil for about 10 seconds on each side, and then drained them on paper towels. Then I dipped them in the sauce, stuffed them with cheddar and jack cheese, rolled them up and placed them seam side down on a tray.

I poured the remaining sauce over the enchiladas, sprinkled them with cheese and chopped cilantro, and baked them at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.

The sauce made them very authentic tasting, like the ones you get at a restaurant. And The Marshal and Buckaroos went crazy over them...you can't buy that from a can.

Santa Said These Were His Favorite Cookies

2008-12-29T11:10:00.000-08:00

These were a huge hit this year! Here's the recipe...enjoy!

***Oreo Truffles***

8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1 pkg (18 oz) Oreo cookies
Wilton Melting Chips
Holiday Sprinkles

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

Place entire bag of Oreos into a food processor and process until cookies are finely crushed. Add softened cream cheese and process until thoroughly mixed. Using a cookie scoop, measure out 1-inch balls of cookie mixture and roll between hands until smooth. Place on parchment paper lined cookie sheet and freeze until firm (about 30 minutes). Truffles can be stored in a Ziplock bag in freezer until ready to dip.

Melt Wilton Melting Chips according to package instructions. Dip frozen balls into the melted chips and gently lift out using a fork. Tap off excess chocolate into bowl and place truffle on parchment paper. Immediately sprinkle with holiday sprinkles. Once chocolate is set, return to fridge and store in a sealed air-tight container until ready to serve.

In Lieu Of Birthday Cake

2008-12-25T11:31:00.000-08:00

An easy holiday treat and a great alternative to birthday cake! One of Matthew Mead's creations. If you haven't heard of him him, you are missing out of some real talent. And, on the upside, everything he does is EASY!!!

The kids at my girls' birthday party all loved these, and even ate the carrot noses!

'Tis The Season To be Merry!

2008-12-25T10:23:00.000-08:00

Our holidays have been full of:

Christmas,

Reindeer,

Snowmen,

Gingerbread Houses,

Vintage Santas,

From Christmases

Long

Ago.

Our Christmas Tree,

Christmas Parties,

(The Marshal and I)

Friends,

Drunkenness,

And Breathalizer Tests!

Birthday Parties,

Birthday Girls,

And Cookie Decorating With Friends!

Christmas Lights On Balboa Island...

2008-12-25T10:17:00.000-08:00

...where they go ALL OUT.

Last Night's Bunco Score

2008-12-16T09:54:00.000-08:00

In a very "grinch-like" fashion, Kristin helped me steal these at Bunco last night. Luckily, Kristin is a lot smarter than me, and was able to mastermind the whole thing. And since my heart is two sizes too small, she easily convinced me to go along with the evil scheme. Bwahahahaha!

I tried giving them to "Holly Hobbie", but she was "too freaked out to wear them." (Her own words.)

On the other hand, "Miss Bossy Boots" aka. "The Pistol" couldn't wait to wear them to school. A perfect fit...the Grinch being a little more true to her nature.

Trim A Home

2008-12-11T11:15:00.000-08:00

I love vintage textiles, especially Christmas ones. There's something so nostalgic about them that I CAN'T resist collecting them.

When I found these oven mits, I HAD to have them!

The colors...the designs. So vintage looking, but they're not!

I got them at KMART of all places.

On sale for $1.50 each. I'm not the only one finding great things from there... I bought them right before The Desperate Diva posted this on her blog.

My First Dollar Found Earned In 9 1/2 Years

2008-12-11T11:09:00.000-08:00

See! Sometimes I do get paid for doing laundry. Usually not this much, though.

The Happiest Place On Earth

2008-12-10T20:45:00.000-08:00

Tuesday we went to Disneyland. We rode Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, Winnie The Pooh, Thunder Mountain, Matterhorn, Indiana Jones, Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin, Star Tours, It's a Small World, and saw Santa's Reindeer, Minnie's House, Mickey's House, Chip 'N Dale's Tree House, and Tarzan's Tree House. We tried to ride Splash Mountain, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, and Peter Pan, but all three were shut down while we were in line..."technical difficulties."

There Must Be Some Reason For This

2008-12-10T20:36:00.000-08:00

I don't know what he's doing, but he sure looks good doing it!

Hard Evidence That Elves Do Exist

2008-12-10T20:15:00.000-08:00

After discovering that something or someone ate all of his Peppermint Gum, The Foreman quickly concluded that it must've been elves and has been busy constructing traps to catch them ever since. This high-tech trap (stragetically placed near the Christmas tree) was designed to lure them in with candy canes and then capture elf-prints in the fake snow. Sure enough, the elves couldn't resist. I'm mean come on...peppermint!

The Most Deliciousist Chicken Ever

2008-12-10T19:16:00.000-08:00

Here's what you'll need to make the most deliciousist chicken ever:

Chicken Wings

Light Olive Oil

And this:

A delicious concoction of spices found at Smart & Final. If you can't find this, then use Kosher salt and pepper. Yes, it has to be Kosher salt...it makes a huge difference.

Place the wings on a baking sheet, and drizzle them with olive oil. I prefer light olive oil because it doesn't have that overwhelming olive flavor.

Sprinkle both sides with KOSHER salt and pepper or the above spice blend. I go a little heavy on the salt because I like salty, crispy skin, but you can definitely oversalt them if you're not careful...so be CAREFUL.

Bake in a pre-heated 400 degree oven for approximately 40 minutes.

And enjoy the most deliciousist chicken ever! At least that's what The Buckaroos call it, and they don't lie!

"I Don't Care If You Face Hurts...Smile Anyway, Damn It!"

2008-12-08T15:20:00.000-08:00

If you were within the vicinity of The Ranch yesterday while I was trying to take our Christmas card photo, that was one of the many phrases you probably would've overheard. Along with: "I hope none of Santa's elves are watching you right now!", and "If you can't smile, I'm telling Santa not to bring you any presents!" I'm all about traditions...and spirit, lots of Christmas spirit.

After 50 pictures like these, I have 2 that made the short list! Barely.

Get The Sopranos...Baby!

2008-12-01T18:26:00.000-08:00

The other day, my husband showed this to me with an awestruck look on his face like it was the best thing since sliced bread. I mean LOOK at how HUGE those cigars are! What man wouldn't love to get this for the holidays? You're sure to score big with this one...TRUST ME!

2008-11-30T12:52:00.000-08:00

Looking for the perfect gift ~~to give me~~ ? I love Corky's Personalized Ornaments...they are way too cute! Check them out!

Yam And Apple Bake

2008-11-30T12:28:00.000-08:00

This recipe is quickly becoming a Thanksgiving tradition. I've made it three years in a row, and it's definitely one of the most popular dishes on our spread. Frankly, I haven't tasted better yams, so I'm sharing this "too-good-not-to-share" recipe with YOU! Originally from Vickie at the Gooseberry Patch.

Yam & Apple Bake

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

6-8 yams

6-8 yellow delicious apples

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

1 teaspoon kosher salt

2 cups boiling water

1/2 cup butter

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

Parboil yams, peel and cut into pieces. Pare apples and slice. Mix sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a saucepan. Add boiling water and butter, stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Butter a casserole dish and place yams and apples in casserole in layers. Pour sauce evenly over. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. *Note: This makes a lot, so I use one of those deep 13X9 foil pans.

Thanksgiving Highlights

2008-11-30T11:36:00.001-08:00

This year, we spent Thanksgiving week in Dumont. I didn't really mean to ignore my blog for twenty days, but the prep work to get us ready to survive out in the middle of nowhere for a week was grueling and time-consuming.

Miss Bossy Boots and "Gobble," our homemade turkey bread basket. He's as much a part of Thanksgiving as the real turkey in our fryer.

The kids' table.

The men cooking the turkey in the fryer.

I love a man that can cook!

Mmmm, I don't know what was better: the turkey or the men cooking the turkey! Did I mention I like a man that can cook???

Waiting...

Still waiting...

Working hard.

Working harder. (Please notice the pregnant lady due at any second who was having contractions at that very minute...out in the middle of NOWHERE!!!)

Setting the table.

Making mashed potatoes.

Unicorns driving golf carts...wait, what?

Sisters, who both passionately love unicorns.

A trip to the North Pole!

Who knew it was in Dumont? Very conveinient, by the way.

Mailing our list to Santa. Good thing he has elves stationed in Dumont!

An almost happy family picture :) 4 out of 5 ain't bad!

Homemade Bread To Die (Kill?) For

2008-11-10T09:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was so cold and blustery that I decided to make some bread in my bread machine. I usually do this on rainy days to fill the house with delicious aromas, but today just seemed like a perfect day to bake bread. Little did I know it would be the best loaf of bread that my bread machine has turned out yet.

Not knowing this, I originally had no intentions of posting the recipe, which explains the picture above. The bread went so quickly (the neighborhood kids were devouring it) that the above picture is all I have to show you! Here's the recipe...enjoy!

Oatmeal Bread

3/4 cup water
1/2 cup buttermilk or (1/2 cup milk plus 1/2 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice)
1/8 cup oil
1/4 cup honey

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1 1/2 cups white flour
1 1/2 cups wheat flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon yeast

Put ingredients into bread maker in the order listed above. Check to see if a good ball is forming; if needed add a tablespoon of water or flour at a time to get a good dough ball. Bake according to manufacturer's directions.

***Additional Notes: I didn't have any wheat flour so I used all white and it still tasted wonderful. Also, I didn't have any buttermilk so I used milk + vinegar which always seems to work just as well in any recipe that I've tried it in. And, I baked my bread on the 2lb loaf, light setting...it came out perfect.

Favorite Photo Friday

2008-11-07T18:51:00.000-08:00

My favorite turkey (the one on the right.) Happy Birthday!!!

Toss Your Salad And Like It

2008-11-06T15:45:00.000-08:00

It's no secret that I don't like my own salads. They usually fall under the catergory of being "sub par." Then I found the recipe for this one, Winter Green Salad With Green Apple Vinaigrette by Bobby Flay, on my friend Alisa's blog, that her husband made for her. She proclaimed it was delicious, so how could I not make it??? Alisa doesn't lie...very much. No really, she doesn't... this is the best salad ever! Good ol' Bobby Flay knew what he was doing when he put this one together. Try it and see:

First make the vinaigrette:

Combine:

1 T. white vinegar
1 T. apple cider vinegar
1 T. finely diced shallot
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup olive oil

Then add some pre-washed assorted spring greens, like these, to a bowl.

Slice and core a green apple and toss that in with the greens.

Now add the vinaigrette.

And toss. Hehehehe..."toss your salad"...that's prison lingo for...well, nevermind.

Plate it and serve. Watch husband devour it, as kids turn their noses up at it. Explain that, "Yes, lettuce can be purple sometimes." Answer the question, "Why are there apples in the salad?" a hundred times. Threaten to throw away ALL the halloween candy while holding it over the trash can. Laugh in an evil hysterical way. Watch everyone eat salad and like it. Relish in the victory of another successful family dinner.

Experiment Gone Right

2008-11-04T10:32:00.000-08:00

Sunday, we went over to Jamie's house to make Slime, and it turned out fantastic!

First you add glue.

Then water and food coloring and a Borax/water solution.

Then you stir.

And in a few seconds you have...

...slime!

It worked great, and the kids had fun.

Technically Speaking

2008-11-02T18:37:00.000-08:00

Exactly

how

much

candy

too

much

candy?

Halloween Highlights

2008-10-31T21:44:00.000-07:00

This week we...

wrapped our friends into mummies,

carved pumpkins,

roasted the seeds (which didn't turn out very well),

removed pumpkin guts,

pretended to eat them...or not???

had fun,

designed our own jack-o-lanterns,

to look like ourselves,

cats,

and kittens.

We appeased the dead,

spookified the house,

tied all the spiderwebs by hand...not (but seriously, someone asked if I did!),

dressed up,

roamed the streets,

trick-or-treated,

admired the decorations,

the lights,

the cobwebs,

the skeletons,

the spooks,

the pumpkins,

and all the candy, candy, CANDY!

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T21:27:00.000-07:00

Conversations With Holly Hobbie

2008-10-30T08:45:00.000-07:00

Her: Do you believe in ghosts?

Me: Nope.

Her: I do. I believe in monsters too. I'm not a very smart kid, am I?

Vickie's Chandelier

2008-10-29T14:45:00.000-07:00

Isn't this a cute idea? I saw this in the e-letter from The Gooseberry Patch.

Vickie (from The Gooseberry Patch) starts her fall decorating every year by loading up the antique chandelier over her kitchen table with everything but the kitchen sink. "I usually start with a colorful garland, and begin tucking in whatever I can find...handmade felt ornaments, cookie cutters, vintage seed packets."

Vickie has been collecting decorations for her chandelier for about 10 years, and says adding little treasures to a simple chandelier is a fun and easy way to decorate. "Black birds, tin cut-outs, kitchen gadgets...even mini crocheted pot holders will work. I have a box of ornaments for every season. It's so easy to decorate one with any theme...a summer garden, farmhouse kitchen, or red & white diner kitsch!"

Pictures From Dumont

2008-10-29T09:24:00.000-07:00

We had a bit of a rough start...well, our friends did anyway. Two blowouts in Baker, and so much damage to their trailer that it caused a good-sized hole in their floor and shot wood chips EVERYWHERE! The only casualty: a toothbrush that was mysteriously sucked out of the bathroom cabinet into the hole, never to be seen again.

Hot guys changing the tire.

Four kids waiting while the tires are getting fixed and one that is mysteriously absent.

Golf cart rides at camp.

Kids having fun with the camera, unbeknowest to me.

By the looks of things, they were probably drinking all of our whiskey too!

And cute hairstyles by Ally.

Something To Brag About

2008-10-29T09:05:00.000-07:00

Some Halloween pieces by my favorite artists!

To The Bunco Ladies

2008-10-29T08:43:00.000-07:00

Warning: This chili will make you more popular than Rachel Ray if you make it for Bunco night.

Creamy White Chili

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon canola oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1-1/2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 large cans of chicken (I use Kirkland from Costco), drained
2 cans (15-1/2 ounces each) great northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) chicken broth
2 cans (4 ounces each) chopped green chilies
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions: In a large pot, saute the onion in oil until soft, approximately 10 minutes. Add the garlic powder, chicken, beans, broth, chilies and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in sour cream and cream. Yield: 7 servings.

Glitter Pumpkins

2008-10-19T10:58:00.000-07:00

Some of Martha's projects are actually do-able...like this one! The results are sure to please any crafter.

What Did You Say?

2008-10-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, something prompted me to remember the following exchange that I had with The Foreman a couple of years ago...I forgot what.

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

The Foreman: Is that Daddy's car in front of us?

Me: No, that's a Toyota...Daddy has a Honda.

The Foreman: Oh....I have a Toyota.

Me: (Confused) What? No, you don't.

The Foreman: Yes I do. He tells Star Wars stories and trivia.

Me: Ohhhhh....a "TOY" YODA! Yeah, I guess you do have one of those.

(Snicker, snicker, laugh, laugh.)

Favorite Photo Friday

2008-10-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

These pictures are from Halloween 2006. I took them so that I would easily remember where I put all the decorations.

This year my decorationg does NOT look as good as this...yet. I don't know if it will...it's too hot and I'm just not "feeling it."

Does anyone else put pumpkins in the fireplace? I usually don't either, but that was the year that I ripped off the ugly old glass doors and screen curtains hanging on the fireplace to update its look. It was kind of a big eye sore without a screen, so I put some pumpkins in there.

Witchcraft

2008-10-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

My youngest two buckaroos made these cute witches from a Martha Stewart craft kit (which I highly recommend because all the pieces were self-adhesive.) "The Pistol" named her witch "Candy," appropriately enough.

However, my youngest named her witch "mommy." Hmmm, I'm thinkin' I should be worried.

Very Local Grown

2008-10-15T10:51:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, I bought all my pumpkins just a hop, skip, and a jump away at The Chesebrough Pumpkin Patch. My neighbors grew all of these beautiful pumpkins, gourds, and squash on their own land and have started up a pumpkin business on the weekends...couldn't ask for better timing AND prices. If you're lucky, you may stumble upon them too, and if you do, tell them The 6-S Ranch sent you!

Wait until you see what I have in store for these beauties.

Applesauce

2008-10-14T08:40:00.000-07:00

I'm making applesauce live on Twitter today, and it's alot easier if you have one of these apple peeler/corer/slicer things from Pampered Chef.

Monday Morning

2008-10-13T22:12:00.001-07:00

Inspired by a blog that I heard about, I'd like to post a photo each Monday that encapsulates the time, season, or whatever it is I happen to notice that morning. Today the mexican sage in my backyard is blooming beautifully...the hummingbirds love this stuff. And I love hummingbirds.

Pismo Beach: Wine Tasting

2008-10-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

While camping in Pismo, we couldn't help but notice all the wineries along the highway and we HAD to check them out! The first one we came across by accident. We went for a drive in search of firewood and found Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards and Winery instead. What a great find! It's small and quaint, and was the perfect place to spend an afternoon. The beautiful drive alone is worth it, but if you're there, you might as well picnic in the grassy vineyard with their peacocks and indulge in the delicious apple merlot and apple chardonnay that their winemaker Harold concocted. Not only were Harold's wines smooth and easy-drinking, but the apple wines would be perfect for Thanksgiving. I was thrilled we discovered this place...it has a very down-home feel to it. I'm so going back the next time we're in Pismo.

The next day we went to Laetitcia Vineyard & Winery. I didn't especially care for their wines, but I loved their vineyard and gardens. The wine was very earthy and robust. A little strong for me, but I know there are people out there that like that in a wine. The vineyards were situated on rolling hills and the grape leaves were all different shades of autumn colors...really beautiful.

Laetitcia Vineyard's Picnic Areas

They had a Bocci ball court. And a cute cat named Silver, but wasn't. We didn't get a picture of her.

Here we are in their garden.

Salisbury Vineyards & Winery is located in a 101 year-old restored schoolhouse. This was another great find just down the road from Kelsey See Canyon Winery.

All of their wines were smooth and easy to drink, fruity, light and nice.

The creme-de-la-creme was their Barlett Pear Chardonnay. Holy moly, was it good! A perfect autumn wine to celebrate the season of fall.

Spooky

2008-10-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

...because nothing is spookier than these extremely realistic looking Halloween decorations that I set out. (Please ignore any dust...it's my least favorite chore!)

Favorite Photo Friday

2008-10-10T20:09:00.000-07:00

My family!!!

For The Love Of Reading

2008-10-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

I love to read and have been a big reader for most of my life. But, I didn't always love reading. As a kid, I read those books in school that you have to read, but none of them really instilled a love of reading in me. It takes a ~~trashy~~ special book to do that, and most of us can remember that first book...the one that transported you into the world of reading for the rest of your life.

Right now, if you're not thinking of the very book that transformed you into the world of reading, you're probably wondering what book it was that I read way back when I was in the 7th grade. Well, with much fondness, I will tell you that it was called Flowers In The Attic by V. C. Andrews. (I'm sure every girl reading this is sighing and saying that they loved her books too, and all the guys are asking, "Who?") If you've ever read a V. C. Andrews book, then you know why I loved it, and if you haven't, then maybe you should.

Which is why I'm inspired to blog about these books: The Name Of This Book Is Secret, by Psuedonymous Bosch, and Star Wars: The Life And Legend Of Obi-Wan Kenobi, by Ryder Windham.

The Foreman, who is 8 1/2 years old, is reading these books simultaneously on his own time AND independent from school, and CANNOT physically put them down (even when it's time for dinner!) The Name Of This Book Is Secret is so secret, that the title cannot be shown, and the first chapter is written all in Xxxxx's. If that's not enticing, then I don't know what is.

The Life And Legend Of Obi-Wan Kenobi is just as exciting. It fills in a lot of gaps with information that is crucial to me any Star Wars fan. The Foreman has indulged some of this information to me...and it's pretty good stuff!
Especially to someone who spends his free time building fighter ships that are worthy of any Star Wars production.

I Used To Be A Boy Scout

2008-10-03T09:24:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I wasn't exactly a Boy Scout. Actually, I was an Explorer Scout, and technically, Explorers is insured by the Boy Scouts of America, so there you go! That's how I get off calling myself a Boy Scout.

Today is Favorite Photo Friday, and I just knew I wanted to post some photos from our Explorer days, back when we were gearing up for The Mud Run, and I ~~very willingly~~ was forced to hang out with all these hunky guys...one of them which I married!

Who wouldn't want to roll around in the mud with them, huh???? Now you know why I signed up.

Getting ready.

And here's The Marshal taping up his boots to keep the mud out. Isn't he prepared? He always knows just what to do...probably because he actually was a Boy Scout. An Eagle Scout to be exact.

Here we are after completing the run...after they hosed us down. I needed like three showers just to get clean again. And can someone tell me why I'm not smiling? Because, lord knows, I was happy to be around all those guys! Especially, The Marshal.