Been super busy here lately. Have not had much time to post. 

We had our annual chili cook off at church last week and I won 2nd place. I have posted the recipe on this blog if you want to know how to make it.

Doesn't that look delish? My youngest has a dance coming up next week so we will be dress shopping on Fri. I hope can find we can find something age appropriate yet cute.

Do do do do, do do do do

Watch "Toms Diner [Long Version] DNA feat Suzanne Vega (1990).flv" on YouTube

When you see me looking all pensive and I'm  getting ready to have this massive breakthrough. This is really all that is going through my head.

Cat lady

Dogs are great but I consider cats the superior animal.

 

Cats pretty much have you at their beck and call. IF they want to you to pet them they will let you. Nothing other than permission is acceptable. I like that kind of spunk.

 

 

Here is my daughter's cat Kitty. She kindly allowed me to take her pic.

 

Cats also expect you to entertain them.

 

 

Dogs on the other hand will take anything they can get from you. They would even be happy to be laying a few feet away from you. The unconditional love they give you but is nice but sometimes it can get annoying. I can't tell you how many times I have tripped over a dog laying behind me while I am cooking.

 

 

Here is Puppy Boy, yup that's his name. He is very sweet and loves to play ball. He only has three legs and one stump. You would never know he didn't have all of them when he is running. He can stay just right in front of you especially when you are trying to catch him.

 

 Here is a video illustrating some of the pros and cons of ownership of cats and dogs.

  

 

I love all my animals but I think cats got a really good thing going.

kitchen cupboard must haves

There are some things that I just can't live without in my kitchen.

My hubby is such a chocolate junkie I always keep this on hand. I can whip up some brownies lickety split.

I love paprika. It adds depth to so many things from chili to fish.

Now to my all time favorite' Lawry's garlic salt. There is no other brand out there that tastes good. It can be used in almost anything.

sausage gravy

Gravy is magical. I know it's a weird thing to say but unless you have never made gravy you wouldn't know what I was talking about.

You only need 3 things.

Sausage

3 cups of milk

3 tablespoons of flour

Brown your sausage. Do not drain the grease. You will need it.

While you are doing that blend the flour and one cup of the milk. Make sure you stir out all the lumps.

Add the remaining milk to the browned sausage and heat it almost to a boil. The grease will rise to the top and it will look icky but patience my young grasshopper.

When it has warmed up slowly add in the milk/flour mixture. Keep stirring constantly.

Then like magic it turns into a smooth, creamy, gravy.

I love mine over homemade biscuits.

scarves

Scarves are such wonderful things. They keep you warm and are stylish. My sister Becky made me this scarf several years ago but it's still my favorite!

let there be light

Have you tried these energy efficient light bulbs yet? They are amazing. I replaced the old type with these when I moved into my house 6 years ago and most of them are still going strong. I think it's very admirable that a company we would invest in a technology that would make people buy less of them but still do because it's better for the planet. If only we could all be so forward thinking.