My House Divided

Finally, something for me!

2007-10-15T14:50:00.001-05:00

I finally made something for me! I found this really easy Amy Butler pattern and gave it a shot. Although you can't really see it, I also put my initials on both sides. I love these brown/blue prints. Now on to "Friday Night Aprons"! Woo Hoo!

Paula's Tomato Pie

2007-07-16T10:52:00.000-05:00

4 tomatoes, peeled and sliced
10 fresh basil leaves, chopped
1/2 cup chopped green onion
1 (9-inch) prebaked deep dish pie shell
1 cup grated mozzarella
1 cup grated cheddar
1 cup mayonnaise
Salt and pepper
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Place the tomatoes in a colander in the sink in 1 layer. Sprinkle with salt and allow to drain for 10 minutes.
Layer the tomato slices, basil, and onion in pie shell. Season with salt and pepper. Combine the grated cheeses and mayonnaise together. Spread mixture on top of the tomatoes and bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned.
To serve, cut into slices and serve warm.

This is going to be one of my all time favorites!

My family is not big on onion, so I left that out. I used paper towels to make sure the tomotoes were drained well.

This was great leftover and heated in the microwave.

My Shoes Are Barking

2007-06-01T14:45:00.000-05:00

So unlike Abby, I rarely will spend big dollars on shoes no matter how much I like them. I am a huge fan of Clark shoes because I can wear them to work in our very casual atmosphere and really be considered dressed up. I bought these recently in red and coughed up the $80 without much hesitation because they are so cute and comfortable. I wore them to work one day and loved them. Today I wore them to work again and I started noticing something. At first I'm thinking it is my imagination. It sounded like there was a puppy in the background barking. Ok, so really I thought this was my guilty conscious because I would not let Dana bring home the abandoned puppy she found last night at Taco Bell, after all I know God has a sense of humor. After a few trips to the bathroom and to other offices and up and down the stairs at work I finally figure out the source of the barking. My new wonderfully expensive right shoe is making a barking noise everytime my right foot hits the ground and the cushion releases the air from the pressure of each footstep. Now this might not bother some people but it aggrevates me. I have to wonder what the sales rep at Dillard's will have to say when I return them this weekend? What if their return policy states they won't accept worn shoe returns for barking? What then?

You Can't Eat Just One!

2007-05-09T10:26:00.000-05:00

But the great news is you get three in a package! Woo Hoo! These are the best 100 calorie snacks that has made it's way to market as far as I'm concerned. The biggest problem is the price. I paid $3.99 for a box of six packages. The second biggest problem is they are hard to find. I had to pick these up at Target. For a chocoholic like me, I'll cough up the $4 and enjoy!

Plastic vs Glass?

2007-05-03T11:03:00.000-05:00

I cannot stand to drink out of a plastic cup/container when I drink anything in the liquid form. Glass for me please!

Who is with me? What's your choice?

P.S. Not an exceptionally cultural, newsworthy, intellectual, thought provoking topic but none the less it is something that has become a big discussion at work recently. Results here are mixed! 50 / 50 (with a .005 percent margin of error because we voted for a couple of people without their knowledge).

Care packages are not what they use to be.....

2007-05-02T11:08:00.000-05:00

Dana has begun the last week of her first year at college. Finals start in a few days and she moves home next Friday.

Abby and I sent her a care package in the mail. We shopped until we found just the right thing to send to help her get through the rough days and all nighters. One might think, diet cokes, chocolate, cookies, pizzas. One would be wrong.

Our care package included one thing....... a pair of fantastic Nine West Chocolate/Bronze High Heel Shoes.

Bread Pudding

2007-04-09T16:05:00.000-05:00

Before I give you the wonderful recipe I have to give you a little background. I never liked bread pudding until about 14 years ago when a wonderful Italian lady I worked with brought some to work. It was the same bread pudding her husband made and sold at his little restaurant in a rural Arkansas town about 30 miles away. After I left that work place I never had the bread pudding again but have tried it many times in different restaurants. Recently a different local Italian lady had her own cookbook published. I am proud to say I have two signed copies. In this book she was allowed to print the original bread pudding recipe.

2 sticks margarine, melted
2 1/2 cups sugar
8 eggs
4 cups milk
1 or 2 T vanilla
Hamburger buns

Mix first 5 ingredients together, adding melted margarine slowly and after it has cooled a little.

Line large pan with approximatley 14-16 large hamburger buns (tops and bottoms) in layers. On top of each layer put the custard listed above and sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture to your liking. We were able to get 3-4 layers in a pan depending on the size pan we used. Pat down each layer until moist.

Bake 350 for 1 1/2 hours.

Sauce:

Beat 2 eggs until foamy. Add 1/2 sugar, 1 cup margarine, melted and 1 teaspoon of burbon or flavoring of choice. Spoon over individual servings when served.

Here are a couple of our tips we learned from making this two times this weekend.... The recipe is fine when divided in half. When we divided it in half we used about 7 buns (top and bottom) and had about 3-4 layers. The pan we used was an oval casserole dish slightly smaller than a 9x13 pan. We cooked it about 35-45 minutes. When removed from the oven it should not be dry or it will be overcooked. We did NOT cut the sauce recipe in half, I remembered how great it was and knew we would manage to use it all. We did. I did not have any bourbon so I used 1 1/2 T vanilla instead.

Even Dana loved it and she is our toughest critic! As Abby says so often........ Enjoy!

20 Reasons to Buy More Fabric

2007-03-12T09:39:00.000-05:00

1. It is a patriotic duty to support cotton farmers, textile mills and fabric shops.
2. "Oh, it's not for me! I'm buying it for a friend!"
3. It's on sale.
4. I need extra weight in the trunk of my car for traction on snowy, icy roads. This is important, even in Florida and Southern California, as you never know when the weather will change.
5. It's non-fattening.
6. Like dust, it's good for protecting previously empty spaces in the house.
7. Because it's there.
8. It's much cheaper to cover the floor with fabric than new carpeting.
9. The devil made you do it.
10. It's the only remotely artistic thing I have ever done.
11. I can't live without it.
12. I have new shelves for fabric storage.
13. It will go with some I bought last year.
14. It's so pretty, and I'll use it some day.
15. I want my daughter to have a proper inheritance.
16. Without fabric, I would have nothing to do with my rotary cutter and my mat and my sewing machine.
17. It does not promote tooth decay.
18. It calms the nerves, gratifies the soul and makes one feel good.
19. If I don't buy it now, I may never see it again.
20. A large fabric stash is the sign of a creative mind.

Sew What?

2007-03-06T10:55:00.000-06:00

I would like to say it was two years in the making but in fact it took almost two years to get the courage to try to make it!

I finally really got down to making Abby's t-shirt rag quilt in January and after a couple of months and lots of impatience (on Abby's part), the job is complete.

I'm not gonna lie, I had tears in my eyes when I looked down and it was complete. Although it only took me a couple of months I look at this quilt and see years of wonderful, exciting, life changing memories not only for Abby but for us as a family. We as a family were part of some of the occasions these shirts represent.

It is the first quilt that I have made for Abby, hopefully it won't be the last.

Now it is time to change gears and get started on Dana's Razorback quilt. Wish me luck and quilting time!

Walmart Intends To Close Fabric Departments

2007-01-30T10:45:00.000-06:00

I have a huge problem with Walmart closing down the fabric departments. Turns out I use it more than I would like to admit. I'm there once a week for sure. We have no quilt store in town, nor do we have any kind of fabric store in the area. The ladies that work in the fabric department in the West Memphis store indicates that the idea is to keep the fabric department open in the Amish area stores only.

Not only do I use the fabric department, but so do the local underpriviliged kids that are taking "home economics" in junior high school and have class projects. How the heck are they suppose to get fabric....online? I don't think so.

Some of the most loyal customers are senior citizens that feel safe in their local store and do not drive far from home.

Please take a moment and send Walmart as much email, letters etc indicating your concerns and/or outrage!

Smack the Penguin!

2006-12-21T08:33:00.000-06:00

http://n.ethz.ch/student/mkos/pinguin.swf

I'm not going to lie, I might have enjoyed this a little to much!

Lisa's Holiday Eating Tips

2006-12-14T09:23:00.000-06:00

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday
buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact,
if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where
they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine
single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than
single-malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year
but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories
in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an
eggnog-aholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one
for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole
point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make
a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy.
Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with
skim milk or whole milk. If it's sk im, pass. Why bother?
It's like buying a sports car with an automatic
transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort
to control your eating. The whole point of going to a
Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots
of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now
and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have
nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which
you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a
10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet
table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size
of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have
as many as you can before becoming the center of attention.
They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them
behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pie s. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of
each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and
one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have
more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with
the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all
cost. I mean, have SOME standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave
the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying
attention. Reread tips; start over, but hurry, January is
just around the corner.

Remember this motto to live by:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the
intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well
preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in
one hand, martini in the other, totally worn out and
screaming, "WOO HOO what a ride!"

Prancer and I are like this

2006-12-13T13:42:00.000-06:00

You Are Prancer

You are the perfect reindeer, with perfect hooves and perfect flying form.

Why You're Naughty: Because you're Santa's pet, and you won't let anyone show you up.

Why You're Nice: You have the softest fur and the sweetest carrot breath.

Which of Santa's Reindeer Are You?

I am so a tree!

2006-12-13T09:17:00.000-06:00

You Are a Tree

You love every part of the holidays, down to the candy canes and stockings. And you're goofy enough to put a Christmas tree ornament on your tree!

What Christmas Ornament Are You?

http://www.blogthings.com/whatchristmasornamentareyouquiz/

Lifetime and wasting time

2006-12-07T23:02:00.000-06:00

It occurs to me that any time I want to put off doing something I become addicted to the Lifetime channel and the current movie. I will sit for two hours at a time and watch something that ordinarily I would not have any interest. Then I suddenly realize time has magically passed and yet again I have not finished something that I vowed to complete. You know, like cleaning the bathrooms, folding laundry, wrapping presents, unloading the dishwasher. I think I should see if there is a support group out there for people like me.

20 Questions......well 34 really!

2006-12-06T09:27:00.000-06:00

You can only answer with one word.

1. Yourself: Worrier
2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend (spouse): Loyal
3. Your hair: Colored
4. Your mother: Missed
5. Your sister: rocks
6. Your favorite item: embroidery
7. Your dream last night: questionable
8. Your favorite drink: icy
9. Your dream car: paid
10. The room you are in: office
11. Your ex: nope
12. Your fear: multi
13. What you want to be in 10 years? healthy
14. Who you hung out with last night? Abby
15. What you're not? energetic
16. Muffins: rarely
17. One of your wish list items: travels
18. Time: 9:38 a.m.
19. The last thing you did: email
20. What you are wearing: jeans
21. Your favorite weather: springlike
22. Your favorite book: lots
23. The last thing you ate: biscuit
24. Your life: rushed
25. Your mood: antsy
26. Your best friend: Kirk
27. What are you thinking about right now? Christmas
28. Your car: SUV
29. What are you doing at the moment? blogging
30. Your summer: vague
31. Your relationship status: married
32. What is on your TV? lifetime
33. What is the weather like? cold
34. When is the last time you laughed? currently

Babysitting a ...... fish!

2006-11-30T16:31:00.000-06:00

Yes that's what I mean. I am the proud temporary custodial parent of a beta fish named Sooie. Dana left the fish in my possesion when she returned to college for her last two weeks of her first wonderful semester of college. Please note the name of said beta..... Sooie!

My instructions are simple and clear. Feed him once in the morning and once in the evening and don't let him die. Well they seem simple and clear. There appears to be a major flaw in this procedure. I can't remember if I fed him. I walk past Dana's room and Sooie's temporary housing area several dozen times a day and I'm seriously afraid, he is either hungry or stuffed. I try to retrace my steps to determine if it is time for food, but retracing doesn't update the memory process.

The other unforeseen problem is the fact that Lucy, our spoiled childlike dog, is obsessed with sitting in the floor and barking at Sooie. She appears to be jealous that Sooie has her own room.

I'm seriously afraid that I should not be trusted with grandchildren. I'm just saying.

Happy Thanksgiving

2006-11-21T15:49:00.000-06:00

We hope everyone has a wonderful, safe, healthy and happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy!

Kirk, Lisa, Abby and Dana

Making a list and checking it twice.....

2006-11-16T13:43:00.000-06:00

What is your favorite color(s)? Good news is fabric comes in all colors!

Favorite Candy/snack? I’m just not likely to turn any kind down.

Magazine? Quilting, scrapbooking and cooking but the list is endless really.

What size sock do you wear? Normal size, bright crazy colors.

Hobbies? Have you seen my sewing and scrapbooking room currently under construction?

What is your LEAST favorite smell? I really can’t deal with coconut.

Do you prefer to write with a pencil or pen? Depends on the job I’m doing at the time. Pencil is fine if I’m just jotting a thought or two, pen if I’m signing checks.

Are you collecting anything these days? Fabric, fabric & more fabric

What is your favorite scent (this season)? Vera Wang

What bookstore do you go to? I try to stay out of any bookstore because I spend way to much money in there.

What else do you want us to know? I’m a little compulsive about buying the perfect gift for everyone on my list so I’m secretly looking for gift receipt approval. Be warned.

Pumpkin Pie Dip

2006-10-19T15:53:00.000-05:00

1 can Pumpkin
1 large Cool Whip (can use vanilla flavored)
1 4oz Instant Vanilla Pudding, dry mix
1 tea. Pumpkin Pie Spice

Mix all together and serve with Graham Cracker Sticks.

Just a couple of notes.....

I used slightly less than the whole large cool whip, I didn't want to lessen the pumpkin taste!

I made a second batch using sugar free cool whip and sugar free pudding with very little taste difference.

It was almost better the second day!

Enjoy!

Razorbacks and Sooners

2006-09-12T11:18:00.000-05:00

I just want to go on record that I'm supporting both of my daughters and their favorite teams equally. I have on a Razorback shirt and my OU jacket as well because it is raining. I want bonus points from both my daughters for equal amounts of team spirit! I'm just saying......

I never was good at math.........

2006-09-07T08:55:00.000-05:00

So we double in square footage in the new house and mathmatically there should be more than enough room for everything in the new place, but for some scientific reason everything doesn't fit.

In the move I lost the advantage of having a walk in pantry (and apparently I was worried about having enough food stored for several months of bad weather). Now I have just a few kitchen cabinets and no room for said food. Hmmmm...... Abby needs to start cooking more, maybe that is the solution.

Do they make linen closets with enough shelves? Just wondering I don't think I have ever seen one.

On the other hand, Kirk and I have shared a closet for 15 years and I've now proven I was right (who thought otherwise besides him?). He took more than his share. We each have out own closets exactly the same size now. I have room to do lots of shopping. Kirk on the other hand cannot walk into his, literally.

My sewing room is eventually going to be wonderful, but so far it is "catching" things that don't currently have a home. I'm thinking that is what "Kirk's storage" room is for, things like sleeping bags. Now I have often thought of sewing until I fall over asleep but I'm hoping I'll have enough energy to walk to the bed and not need the sleeping bag close at hand.

The garage has been interesting.......... Abby is scared to death, Ms America is going to get wet, I on the other hand do not care if my car gets soaked so parking in the drive for a couple of days while I put 75 empty boxes in garage did not bother me to much. Apparently Ms America spent lots of hours complaining to Abby about it because Abby moved the boxes so cars could be parked back under the garage and locked securely.

Speaking of the drive, it is long and designed for one car width. Now four cars and a two car garage and single drive has created nine kinds of drama. The obvious solution, pour a double drive. The obvious problem with that? Have you priced concrete lately? In Marion, they obviously pour in a little gold dust. The other problem, with new housing booming, no one wants the job at any price. Go figure.

Can't wait for Dana to get home and figure out her room, we just set up the bed and moved a little furniture around. Boxes are calling.

Lucy is having a harder time adjusting. The house is so much bigger she can't stay close enough. She tries hard to just follow everyone, every step we make.

We are still working on the math/size/space problem in a couple of rooms. I'm sure it will be many years of "work in progess".

Back to school shopping.....really?

2006-08-05T21:42:00.000-05:00

Back to school shopping took on a whole new twist this weekend. We were not on a mission to get the newest and the greatest glue stick or the biggest box of crayons. Our mission was.... one perfect pref night dress, world's perfect shoes for said dress, and lots of shorts, jeans and/or skirts for the four, yet unknown color t-shirts provided by the UofA Panhellenic for rush week. I'm proud to say our mission was a success, without the use of vallium but not without giving up a large chunk of my bank balance. In one week we take Dana to school and rush begins!

Can U-Haul boxes be appealing?

2006-07-26T10:06:00.000-05:00

For someone who likes a certain order to things, living in a house that is virtually empty except for bed, sofa, chairs and kitchen appliances such as a refrigerator and dishwasher is making me crazy. After 15 years, when I reach for the salt in the cabinet to the left of the stove it should be there but day after day I'm just shocked when I open that cabinet and it is empty. I should also add that showing a house with boxes stacked everywhere lends it own set of problems. Should I dust them? Are they arranged in such a fashion as to not offend any potential buyer? Do they think we stacked them in a particular place in order to hide something? Wonder what Designed to Sell would say? I'm just not talented and/or creative enough to make 15 years of U-Haul boxes look attractive to a buyer. I'm open to suggestions.

Kirk won 2nd place...... yippeee!

2006-06-25T21:59:00.000-05:00

So Kirk competed in the Arkansas Trucking Championship Rodeo for his 5th year. He always competes in the "twins" division. In the past he has placed third two times. This year he won 2nd place. In the event the winner has a wreck and can't compete Kirk goes to Nationals and competes in the twins division. Kirk was 13 points away from winning first place, turns out.

There were 9 Yellow Freight drivers competing this year. They had two 2nd place winners and 1 third place winner. A good time was had by all.

House for sale...........

2006-06-19T22:12:00.000-05:00

Turns out that after 15 years, I have had enough. We need more room. Nothing is big enough, not the bedrooms, storage room, bathrooms or the kitchen!! Or maybe it is just because Kirk made me go look at a house that is twice the size of this one and now I just want a new one. Kinda like new car fever only more expensive. Lots more expensive. On the other hand moving sounds like my worse nightmare come true. Well everyone, keep your fingers crossed that ours sells quick, I can't stand being in limbo and I really hate keeping the house in "show" state. Not that we have accomplished that yet anyway. I'm secretly dreaming of a "sewing room" just for me. I really hope a deadbolt and cable are available.

I'm on the lookout for.....

2006-05-31T20:57:00.000-05:00

I know it's out there, but no matter how many I've tried, I just can't find it. It being the world's best pasta salad. You know the kind. It is easy to make, has great flavor but light, even better the day after you make it. Any ideas?

Panzanella Salad

2006-05-31T10:25:00.000-05:00

INGREDIENTS:
6 cups day old Italian bread, torn into bite-size pieces
1/3 cup olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
4 medium ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges
3/4 cup sliced red onion
10 basil leaves, shredded
1/2 cup pitted and halved green olives
1 cup fresh mozzarella, cut into bite-size pieces

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
In a large bowl, toss bread with 1/3 cup olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic. Lay bread on a baking sheet, and toast in the preheated oven until golden, about 5 to 10 minutes; allow to cool slightly.
While the bread is in the oven, whisk together 1/4 cup of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Gently toss together the bread, tomatoes, onion, basil, olives, and mozzarella cheese. Toss with the vinaigrette and let stand for 20 minutes before serving.

I made it without the onion and it was great. The fresh basil was great, you could use less if you are not a big fan. Can't wait to make this using fresh tomatoes this summer. Enjoy!

Kirk, Abby & Dana

2006-05-29T21:20:00.000-05:00

Vanilla or Strawberry

2006-05-28T21:35:00.000-05:00

Homemade vanilla ice cream wins hands down over strawberry. Granny makes the best homemade ice cream (any flavor) ever!

A whole new world.....

2006-05-28T21:01:00.000-05:00

So I'm learning to communicate with family and friends through a blog! Who knew?