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August 1 - August 7 (Sunday thru Saturday)

Just joined the dog owner club...

This here is Jazz.

Hubs and I have been talking for awhile now of getting a dog for the boys. I was looking at the local Humane Society and when I saw this little critter, well he stole my heart.

Hubs and I agreed - smallish dogs ONLY!

Found this little guy and well.....

Me and the boys went to 'meet' him today with strict orders from hubs 'DO NOT COMMIT TO ANYTHING!' (he doesn't know me to well do he? lol)

I asked if I could take the dog to hubs work so that he could meet him.....then basically told hubs it was a done deal. (Just between you and me, he already loves him).

Hoss didn't want to come inside this afternoon (like he has all Summer long) he wanted to stay out with Jazz. Yay!

***ANY ADVICE WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED***

doppelganger

We were suppose to go to a music festival (Bret Michaels and then some) yesterday. Middle of last week we got to thinking - 6 hour drive (round trip), 2 kids to try to settle and chill for 12 hours of music, having to possibly rent a car and then maybe a hotel --- did not = 'fun' to us.

A girlfriend of mine asked us to go camping instead = FUN!

We stayed in the state and just 2 hours from home is BEAUTIFUL, mountain views and HUGE lakes! We have been here 5+ years and have never been to a lake here (coming from the gulf coast, it just seemed wrong).

Spent a couple hours yesterday at the lake and then today about 4 hours (that is something I realized about us and our friends....we come from the gulf coast, there you go to the beach for a few hours and leave....our friends that grew up on the west coast can spend ALL DAY at the beach). Anyway---

We even went canoeing! Last time hubs and I did that we kept going in circles (that was about 12 years ago). Found out today that hubs doesn't much like canoeing...something about 'small' boats easily flipped. So, he and I took the boys out once and he didn't get back in the canoe after...poor guy.

We saw bald eagles! 5+years here and never have we seen a bald eagle in this state...go away for the weekend and we see about 20. At the lake we could watch them hunt/fish and hear their songs...it was very cool!

This morning we took our tent down and we were sitting on the picnic table waiting on our friends, when this woman walked by.
I see her and watch her, I whisper to hubs 'that looks like ma', he replies 'I was just thinking that'. Everything about this woman was ma. From her reddish hair pulled back in a ponytail, to her white capri pants, to her stance, to her build, to her walk, to her chin! OMG! I watched her and I was wondering why ma wasn't coming to talk to us. She looked more like ma's TWIN than her actual twin looks to her (no offense). A few moments later she was in the passenger seat of a truck that went by and she even smoked! This woman was the exact image of what ma was about 10 years ago (which is how I remember her). NO JOKE! Not until after she had come and gone did hubs ask 'did you take her picture? Because no one will believe us otherwise'. Do you know what??? No I didn't take her picture, now I am wishing I had thought of it.

Here are just a few of the pictures I did happen to take---enjoy.



*ACTUAL SIZE* big, BIG BumbleBee



I love birch trees.



I always have to take pictures of flowers wherever we go. Here are a few flowers and a baseball size dandelion.















This here is 1 of 2 of the snake friends we met. We first get to the lake and hubs reaches down and picks one up...a while later, Hoss does the same thing! (ma would have been so proud! There were many times where she would just reach down and pick up random snakes...)







In the 8+ years its been since we last went camping...the ground has not gotten any softer.



I call myself a 'hotel type of girl'(<~ that could be taken way wrong), but after the fun we had this weekend, I might consider going camping again.

Relay 4 Life

We walked the Relay for Life on Friday night.

It is hot here in my little part of the world. The relay started at 6p, with a temperature of 101* (Ouch!) It's a dry heat, but 101 is a 101!





Much cooler in the evening...

Sewing...

What to do with all those receiving blankets you get (or take) from the hospital or what friends/family give you/hand down to you???

I was shocked to see just how many blankets we had. I've kept them, telling myself that 'one day I will do something with them'. Well, that day was yesterday (what else is there to do on a B-E-A-U-tiful, July, Sunny, Warm day? Stay in and sew, sew, sew).
*I have a lot of extra miscellaneous material too...just sitting there taking up space.



The blankets are not all the same size...some had to be cut down.



Sewing...
(I don't have a iron or ironing board *gasp*...so, I used painters tape to hold down the seams---the tape just peels right off)



Ugh...pulling out the seams (I can't tell you how many times I had to do this).



Sewing some more...



Sprouts 'new' blanket. I said I have lots of miscellaneous material or flat sheets that I don't use...ever.



My 'new' blanket.



I also made a 'new' blanket for Hoss, using leftover flannel material and misc stuff.
Hubs will also (I say 'will' because I am currently working on his). I am using a yellow blanket that we got from his grandparents (it's been stowed away for 10+ years...never used). With some more (yes, MORE) receiving blankets to back this yellow beast...that will be his.

I did not use any batting, I did not want these to be that heavy. Just something for a cool Summer night.
*I still need to tack all of them down.

These will be great to toss on the ground for a picnic or just to lay out on.

I am no seamstress...this is just another talent I got from ma.

This time I knew I was dreaming...

This time I knew I was dreaming, but...

-Lately I wish that I could just pick up the phone and call her.




I have not been thinking of these little things. The only thing I think about is wanting to talk to her...not these little figurines.

*back story - many, many years ago - ma and I would buy each other fairy and angel figurines.

To the dream-

In the dream...I was at a book store. I started to walk. My arms are raised out (on the sides) and then not feeling anything grab or hold me...I was lifted up and carried swiftly to an isle and set down (I was lifted and carried, but then again I was also floating? walking? on a bed of feathers).

So, I was put back down and I was facing an angel figurine (set atop a bookshelf) and it was holding a little plaque that read 'PROUD'.

In my head I simply said 'Thanks mom'.

*it's the little signs that I get that help me realize that she (although no longer walking this earth, but in Heaven strolling her never ending beach. At dusk. With her dog, Friday, by her side) that she is still with me/looking out for me/thinking of me.

Weight lifting...

A girlfriend of mine has a trainer at another gym. I showed interest in lifting weights and she graciously offered her services to take me to my gym and show me around. I've gone 3x so far and I really like it!

The gym is not as intimidating when there is only 1 or 2 other people in there with you.

A Sloppy Mess...

With the leftover meatballs...




Regular white bread topped with cheese (of your choice) several meatballs, lettuce, and then top it with the spaghetti sauce (leftover). Served with tater tots.

Again, the plates were cleaned.

Fun with my camera

What do you get when you mix __________

Hoss and Sprout just love to watch iCarly (on Nick)...there is a food item that they speak of often---

Hoss asks me to make said item, and finally this week I caved and well...

Again with the store bought sauce (again - sad).



I made my own meatballs (I know, right! - I can make homemade pasta and meatballs, but I buy the sauce - lame!)

Recipe (everything is to taste)

2LBS meat
Italian bread crumbs (store bought)
S&P
Garlic Powder
Diced onion
1 egg
Parmesan Cheese *brain fart* I forgot to add this this go around, but still tasted rather yummy.

Then I pinched off a little (enough to make a large marble size), rolling in my hands to form a ball.

I took half the meatballs and cooked in the sauce (adding a little extra water to make sure they cook long and slow). Then put the other half in (of course, a Pyrex dish and baked off til done) - will use these at a later date.






So, what do you get when you add crunchy taco shells...



cooked pasta (store bought - sad)...



and meat sauce???



Spaghetti Tacos!



Sprout-



Hoss-



I *think* they liked it.



They were different, but good.

*If you fried up your own crunchy taco shells you could sprinkle them with garlic salt---that would be YUMMY!

Hubs and I agreed that this is not a first date meal. Nor will it be served at any 5 star restaurant.

Can't be a carb hater and eat these.

Im not Italian! (not that there is anything wrong w/ that)

Hoss asked me the other day if I was making pasta. My reply to that was 'maybe' (it is something I have always wanted to try).

This is my first and possibly last attempt at making homemade pasta.

I know from watching LOTS of t.v. that in order to make pasta you start with a 'well'. This here is my 'well':

2 cups flour
2 eggs
a little water
a little olive oil
dash of salt

(makes a bunch of pasta)



I know (again, from watching lots of t.v.) that you put all your ingredients in the center and mix, slowing pulling in the edges til you can break it without making a huge mess.



After mixing and kneading I put the ball of dough to the side to 'rest'. It rested for about one and a half hours (I took a little nap - Oops). It developed a little crust on it, but I worked with it anyway.

I cut the ball into fourths and then into eighths. Taking each little piece and rolling it out til I could almost see threw it.



The stuffing mixture was 4 baby portobella (sauteed w/ salt, pepper and garlic powder) , frozen spinach and half ricotta cheese - and salt to taste.






Taking one of the rolled out sheets and placing a dollop of the stuffing mix in the center. With water I went around the pieces (seeing little squares in my head).



I pulled over one side to make little pillows. Pressing down to seal the edges and then cut.



Boiled in salted chicken water (I boiled off some chicken to go along with)...More flavor.



I go through the hassle of making homemade pasta and use store bought Alfredo sauce (sad).



Aaaand..............




So, I made homemade pasta. Probably wouldn't have taken as long had I not stopped to take pictures here and there (hehe, but that's me).

It was time consuming. I am not patient enough to Make. Each. Individual. Pasta Pillow Thingy.

It was good though. In order for me to make it again though...they are going to have to ask real nice like. I am more of a one pot recipe kinda girl.