Monsieur Puppy

This little guy has stolen our hearts...

Sweet Rocco

Puppy Yoga

The Big 1-0!

Aubri turned 10 recently and we crammed her birthday party in right before the last soccer game of the season.

Puppy Love

Last week Emi brought home the CUTEST little pup. He was only 6 weeks old and was as big as Gracie was full grown! She had named him “Rocco” already and would not let me rename him to “Toblerone” even though he looks like a “Toby”… so yummy! His dad is an Australian Shepherd and his mom is a Labrador so he is an Aussiedor. He’s quite a bit like a new born human baby in that he sleeps a lot and sometimes he’s frustrated that he can’t communicate his needs to us.

This is Rocco on the Monday night that Emi brought him home.

Look at those cute kissing marks and his pot belly!

What da heck?

Scott woke me up asking if I was ok because I was turned away from him and all the way to the edge of the bed. I had been having a really strange dream….

It started off in 1978. I was Elaine Benes riding in a bus in a big city. My friend Bob was driving the bus, and he looked like a young Bobby De Niro. I just happened to have Bob’s 2018 cell phone for some reason, so I texted him to let him know that he was driving the bus! And that he looked like somebody famous (You talking to me?). Then I was at a co-worker’s baby shower in their studio apartment. The space was small and lined with closed circuit cameras. I took out some Visine while the guests were in the other room and sprayed all of the camera lenses (there were a lot of them) to disable them. I guess this also disabled the lights because the room went dim and the next thing I knew, I was putting a 3-4 month smiling baby girl into a carrier in the front seat of my car like no big deal. We were driving off when Scott woke me up…

Zombie Birthday

David turned 11 last month and it was a crazy time. He had wanted a bounce house and we envisioned 20 rowdy boys playing Zombie Tag in the backyard running off the perpetual energy that boys seem to have. It was not to be though because of the rain. We had to adjust things a bit and move things indoors... with all those energetic boys! So we decided to get gross with the food and go all out zombie with decorations too.

The food was my favorite. I found quite a few goodies online. I made feetloaf (in this case, it was really just a footloaf) and zombie entrails...

Filipino Food to Cook this Fall

Recently I heard Amy Besa on Splendid Table discussing native Filipino food and how Filipinos made tamales (bubuto) using rice and banana leaves instead of corn and corn husks. I was very surprised to hear of this because while I knew about some history of the Philippines and have eaten many lumpia rolls and cassava cakes in my lifetime, and I have Besa’s book, but I did not know about the Mexican influences in PI. The first Spanish settlers were Mexicans. Wow! I grow banana trees in my yard, but I have not successfully grown bananas yet. This past summer, my mom’s cousin was at her house gathering her banana leaves in order to make those wonderful rice treats for us. I was intrigued, but not exactly stoked about using my leaves for sweet treats. Now I know I must be making some sweet and savory rice merienda (snacks) with the banana leaves while I can!

Three dishes/methods:

• adobo – braise with vinegar
• sinigan – soured broth (citris)
• kinilaw  - PI version of ceviche

Some recipes:

Cassava Suman (Filipino rice cake (kakanin)) https://panlasangpinoy.com/2013/05/10/cassava-suman-recipe/

Filipino Tamales https://www.kawalingpinoy.com/filipino-tamales/

All Dogs Go To Heaven

My baby girl got sick a month ago.  She was lethargic and looking sad, so we took her into the vet. Her liver enzymes were elevated and they found something in her fecal test so she was put on antibiotics and some liver supplements with a recheck scheduled in a month.

Snuggling with My Sweet Little Muse (8/27/18)

Gingerly

My mom sent me 3 dozen Butterfly Ginger plants back in June. I didn't expect so many roots, so I didn't have a bed ready for them. I had to do some major rearranging in The Long Bed.

Established 1995

First Date, May 1995

Today

Playcation Last Day

On the last day we finally got to visit my sister!

Playcation Day 4

Morning Sunshine!

Playcation Day 3

We started off the 3rd day at Latin Grill for a Cuban breakfast. Only picture I got was outside of the restaurant. ;.(

Playcation Day 2

The next day would be a little different. Emi didn't want to go to the beach with us, so we gave her a pass. I was tired and a little sunburned so I thought I might stay home too, but we were meeting my cousins, so I bucked up. My mom convinced us to drive her old car that had been sitting a while. She replaced the battery while we were on the ocean the day before and that was about it. I still wanted to take our reliable car, but she and Scott said there was more room in her car for the gear. I lost that battle.

Note: She didn't tell us that the A/C wasn't working in her car until after we loaded up and were driving down the driveway.

Playcation Day 1

We decided to squeeze in a road trip to visit family in Florida. We left Oklahoma at 8pm on Friday and drove through the night to get to my mom’s house less than 24 hours later. It was a grueling drive in some parts, but we had a driver to help us out this trip.

Our 3rd Driver Power Napping After Her Shift

Helping Out

Helping Daddy Hang the Lights

Helping Mommy Make Biscuits and Gravy

Blessed Daddy

Get Out!

Friday evening we ventured out to hear musical stylings of friends and look at local art downtown. We started out near Stash in this area because they had beer here and I spent the day with children so...

Love their signs!

Summer Breeze Flossing

We got out to our first Summer Breeze concert this past weekend and it was the perfect night. My favorite furry kid was with me...

Muse

a person or personified force who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist.

synonyms: inspiration, creative influence, stimulus; formal afflatus "the poet's muse"

WHO rescued WHOM?

My Happy Plate

I saw this video on FaceBook the other day and knew I had to try this recipe out very soon. I spent the first decade of my life in South Florida and I go back occasionally but I had never experienced a toston burger! I needed to find out soon if this would work for my family.

Derby Party Reflections

This year I added a few new items to the decor:

My interpretation of the "Twin Spires" was an interim solution decoration

Blessed Mama

Cinco de Derby Party

Oh boy! THAT was fun!

This year I kept it simple and just "Put a bird on it!"

It was a perfect day to have a yard party!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

After I recovered my old couch - here's another picture of her with me and Bobbie McGee in 1996 - I had an empty(ish) spot in the sunroom and a drop cloth that had been covering said couch.

I sure do miss my little Bobbie McGee!

Recovery (Part 3)

My original couch had 2 cushions with removable covers but I decided to make 1 ginormous cushion and forego the option of removal. I kludged together a couch cushion with the foam that I had left over, and wrapped it in cotton batting before starting the process of hand sewing the seams. 

Recovery (Part 2)

I loved these cute little round feet!

Hippie Entry

In trying to pretty up this neglected area of our property (back drive), we cleared out the volunteer weed trees and added some English Ivy cuttings. I looked for a "Hippie Entrance" metal sign for the gate but I could not find one to purchase.

This gate needs a sign for the hippies!

Recovery (Part 1)

When my mom was in town in February for my nephew's wedding, we found a rich plum upholstery fabric on sale at the fabric store and I vowed to finally recover my college couch that has taken up residence in the sun room for the past few years. I bought that couch in 1992 and it's been through 6 moves. I took countless naps on that sweet striped couch, see?

Caught napping in 1995...

I got the couch because it was so functional - it has a twin bed and a cedar storage area under the removable ottoman.  This is why I've never let her go!

#nailedit

The cute PEEPS® Easter Garden Cake that served as the inspiration for our sweet Easter project:

Purple Haze

PMPing It Up

So, lately I have been working towards getting my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Documenting my experience and Professional Development Units (PDUs) - oftentimes second-guessing my decision to move in this direction after 20+ years in Configuration Management (CM).

I took workshops and classes and stayed up late studying until my eyes wouldn't stay open! Even though I am dead ass tired from work and home life, I am done!!

The word 'listen' contains the same letters as the word 'silent'