Gustav wears combat boots!

Gustav is marching across the gulf. . . my heart breaks for all those needing to evacuate from Alabama to Texas. So many people are just starting to get back in their homes and settling into neighborhoods and now having to run again.

As for New Orleans, Mayor Nagin and all the officials are showing how busy they have been the past three years - wow, even pet carriers for those who do not have them! I am impressed! Seems as if all the i's are dotted and t's are crossed. I hope all in that area respect what the leadership has obviously worked so hared to plan and implement!

May God bless you all!

I do not live on the coast, several hundred miles in, but we do get the feeder bans and the tropical depressions/storms left (I am somewhat of a hurricane junkie). This time we are receiving just the bans. They started yesterday and have increased some today. One minute blue skies and the next rain clouds and right back to blue skies. Ooops, this one has some showers - just chased the teen mower in from mowing, gotta get it done!

Good Luck Gulf Coast! You are in my prayers!

Ramlbings and Tumblings and Pleasantries

So many thoughts and choosing what to put down is like nailing jello to the wall, so what to write? I will just ramble . . . .

First - A Favorite . . .

I don’t know if this flavor is distributed nationwide – but it is the “bombdiggety” (ok, old school). I have watched for it all summer, and now I know, it does not come out until August, and I am not sure how long they keep it on the shelves, but I do know from past years, NOT LONG! It has little round pie crust wafers in it and real chunks of peaches.

It is really good – try some!

Now tumbling . . . Dead limbs falling . . .as in trees . . . .

Fay left us with 8 inches of rain in our yard, other areas 10"-24" inches of rain.

And all the moisture left us with:

Pretty neat how they pop up in all different shapes and sizes.

So now the yard needs a haircut, otherwise known as mowing :) . Of course limbs and pinecones and tree trash have to be picked up first, we do not own one of those awesome yard vacuum things I hear my kids talking about. We did the first round of picking up Monday evening, but we were chased inside by more rain and tornado warnings (luckily no tornadoes). Tuesday the day broke bright and sunny. No new tree trash down. Then yesterday - Wednesday, We get home and what do we have, more limbs down.

Why do dead limbs stay up during storms and always fall on the sunny pleasant days?

Now Pleasant . . .

Running this small business limits time with friends. My closest friend also changed jobs and had the nerve to change to a job in another town . . .45 minutes away and maybe a little closer to her home, I mean! Her new job keeps her very busy and tied down - so lunches are not just limited - they are non-existent. She called today to have lunch, but I couldn't since I am the only one at the shop today. But it was great to talk to her. Her driving from one town to the other gave her time to chat that we would not ordinarily have (yes, we are aware about cell phones and driving - oops) . It was a nice time catching up - not completely, but closer.

It is a good day!

The Gathering

"The Gathering" was for my step-daughter's 21st Birthday.

One thing to note about blended families, by the time all sides and Grandparents have all taken their turn, Birthdays and Christmas celbrations could have gone on for a week or two, which, especially for birthdays, is great! Why should it be limited to one day?!? Life should be celebrated!


But I have to say I was ready to get this gathering over . . . it was the last after a busy summer of "gatherings"


. . . two weeks ago for my now 15 year old.


. . . three weeks before that for my now 12 year old


. . . one week before that - at the beach with a smaller crowd for dear hubbies b-day


. . . four weeks before that for my 18 year old step son (it was smaller and at a restaurant but
still planning)


. . . three weeks before that it was stepson's graduation - Our side and all his mom's side came to
our haciendi for lunch afterwards


. . . three weeks before that my MIL
. . . three weeks before that my Mom


With the close of Saturday evening's celebration, we have a break until Christmas and then it picks up again next April.

A friend at church makes these wonderful 7 or 13 or 15 - whichever you request - layer cakes. My MIL had a coupon for one so that was the birthday cake- it was great!

and from the other side . . .

This was actually preceded by real food - Pastor Ryan's (Pioneer Woman) Roasted Roma Tomatoes, Watermelon Fruit Bowl, Mashed Potatoes, Addictive Cream of Broccoli Soup { these are listed first since they are meatless and my stepdaughter is a vegetarian} and then Fried Chicken and a Rotisserie Chicken

She enjoyed seeing everyone again in one spot. She has been in Amsterdam for the last 8 month - studying abroad and visiting her boyfriend who lives there. She left yesterday for her last year of her undergraduate degree - Theatre. As here license plate says - she is a drama queen, not a shy bone in her body (somehow I was left with the shy bone - well, maybe not shy but easily embarrassed - that bone was not removed)

She took over singing Happy Birthday to herslelf in Dutch - here it is:

Now it is time for a new week. Everyone will now be back into their regular routines and schedules . . . and we begin to countdown to College Graduation . . . . 8 months 2 weeks . . .

Fay and Needing something yummy to eat

Another day of Fay. I hate so many are dealing with high winds and flooding. I wish everyone could experience the pleasant change in weather that we have. August is usually hotter than hades! Yesterday's high- 77! I loved it. We usually have no wind, no breeze, this wind/breeze reminds me of being in the Rockies when I was little. The rain has been mostly a drizzle with just regular rain here and there. I hope that will be all Alabama and Mississippi will get . . . Stay dry, rent a great movie and , well why not have something great to eat

Balsamic Pork Tenderloin

1 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. salt

1 Tbsp. Rosemary (fresh)
1 Tbsp. thyme (fresh)
1Tbsp. Olive Oil
1 Tbsp. Balsamic Vinegar

1 1/2 - 2 lbs pork tenderloin

3 cloves garlic

Cut garlic cloves into slivers. In bowl mix first 6 ingredients. Set aside. With paring knife, cut 5 or 6 slit in tenderloin - or enough to accomodate garlic slivers - add more if you LOVE garlic. Insert garlic slivers in slits. Rub mixture from the bowl over tenderloins. Let marinade at least 30 minutes. It is is even better if you marinade longer.

Preheat oven to 500 degrees (trust me, this is great -unless your oven is really splattery, then it might smoke).

Place tenderloin in baking dish. Roast for 20-25 minutes until cooked to desired doneness. We like ours a little pink - but juices run clear. If you have a meat thermometer - 160 deg internal temp.

Enjoy!!

Learner's Permit - Yippee !!

My oldest turned 15 last week. He has been counting down the days, eager to get his learner's permit. I checked him out of school early on Friday and off we headed to the DMV to take the test and leave with the much anticipated license.

Evidently I was a little more nervous about this milestone than I realized - first I left his birth certificate in the car. Then when we reached the counter to get the number, I realized I had left his attendance record at home! Such a dingbat! So, while he took his test, I rushed home to get the certificate and be back in time for his picture being taken. About the time I reached the house I recieve a text message: "I'm finished, I passed." Yeah- but boy was that fast - he must know his stuff! I rush back to the DMV with attendance certificate in hand. Picture is taken. Then I get to take one:

We leave, with him driving. We drive all around for the next hour. He takes me to run a few of the errands that need to be done. He is so proud how well he parked.

He did great!

I thought, "wow, this is going to be a breeze!"

Fast forward 72 hours . . . .

WHAT WAS I THINKING!!!!!

My two favorite phrases: "I didn't see the stop sign" and "How was I suppose to know that the light went straight from yellow to red?" ummmmm, DUH??? Obviously that was not on the test!!

This morning we took his middle school brother to school and Newbie drove. We get in the turning lane to turn left, there is a car in front of us, they ease out enough across the line to go if the light turns yellow - thus we are safe and snug behind the line - a good bit. The light turns yellow, the car in front waits for the last car to make the intersection and goes. I am expecting to sit there - what's this, we are moving? STOP that is a red light!!! "why can't I go, I thought you can turn left on some red lights and right on some, why are you yelling!"

. . . oh what was I thinking (and what is in the book these days anyway!!)

Billy Graham

I saw this on Serious Eats and was so impressed ~ this is great! I envy those that are artistic - I can barely build a decent sand castle (drip castles is about it). Can you imagine butter? One slip - parkay!!



http://www.seriouseats.com/2008/08/olympic-gymnast-shawn-johnson-butter-sculpture-iowa-state-fair.html

Oral Fixations - Of The Innocent Kind

Oral Fixations

Conjures up so many different ideas. I have a 12 year old that is constantly talking or chewing on something (talking when nothing is otherwise occupying his mouth). Mechanical pencils are suppose to last, right? Not if they are used as a teething ring. I looked up oral fixations online today. Okay, so according to Freud I did something wrong feeding him as a child – back to it is always the mothers fault – either I did not feed him enough and neglected him or I fed him too much and overindulged him. Hmmmm . . . I remember those feedings every hour and half. As he latched on my toes would curl and sweat would break out – painful. So then I guess I overindulged the crumb snatcher and now he is still latching on to whatever he can find.

Straws

Mechanical pencils

Pens

Strange pieces of plastic

Shirt Collars

BUT – what to do? My search was to find how to help him before he takes up smoking or over imbibing (not to find out I AM the source of his fixation)

Ok, so I googled curing oral fixations . . . some interesting solutions hmmm. . . . not appropriate though . . . but what’s this . . . oral fixation can lead to sexual addiction. Got a get this boy on the right path before I end up a grandma too soon!

More searching . . ..

I found the answer – according to a 22 year old ex smoker ex finger nail biter – a tongue stud will fix it. Instead of chewing on something or smoking or drinking or over eating or over talking – he plays with the tongue ring!!

Ahh, the worlds problems solved by something as simple as body piercing.

Now I can enjoy my cup of coffee - and schedule him an appointment to get his tongue pierced. He will be the most hip 7th grader at his school!

New Blogger

I have truly enjoyed reading blogs and surfing through all the pages. I love Pioneer Woman and The Country Doctor's Wife. There pages have led to many others I have enjoyed reading.
I decided I might need an outlet, a way to connect, so I will now give blogging go.

Here is our crew:

And the youngest - not sure how he ended up NOT in the picture above: