THE GOODE LIFE

ALLISON'S BRIDAL SHOWER

2010-05-09T00:20:00.000-07:00

10 THINGS I LEARNED DURING MY KITCHEN MAKEOVER

2010-05-08T23:59:00.000-07:00

1. Allow for extra gas costs in your budget. You will go to Home Depot/Lowes/Wal-Mart/Ace Hardware at least 6 times per day.

2. When you return from one of these trips, remember to take your favorite black purse immediately to the back portion of your house. If you set it near the paint zone, white paint will suddenly appear on it. )<:

3. Never allow your sweet husband to carry any of the kitchen drawers. Enough said!

4. Do not be alarmed when you look in the mirror after a long week of sanding/painting. You have not turned into a “construction guy”! Quickly take a hot shower, wash your hair, put on makeup and throw away the painting outfit that you have worn continuously for a week. You will turn back into the woman that you once were.

5. You can do without water and your stove for up to 5 days. However, you will get cranky after that.

6. Remember to stay calm when a family member says, “You are still painting? I don’t think you will ever get finished. Maybe sometime in the summer, Ha, Ha, Ha!” They don’t understand and violence never helps a thing.

7. Strolling around your house looking for cooking utensils/serving dishes, etc. can be made into a fun event if you pretend that you are shopping. You can also get reacquainted with the items that were stored in the top of your cabinets.

8. Men do not understand that cabinet hardware is considered jewelry for your cabinets.

9. Man caves are not a fun to place to paint in and you can forget using the power tools. You have to wait until he gets home.

10. Always be thankful for a sweet husband who comes home and says, “Wow, this looks great! I think that you could do this professionally!” (Forget it sweet husband, I will not flip a house!)

KITCHEN MAKEOVER PART 3

2010-05-08T23:13:00.000-07:00

So, Can #8 was taken back to Sherwin Williams and another call to the District Manager resulted in him picking up paint from 3 different stores around the Houston area. Back to our local SW store I went with a cabinet door in tow. I had learned not to let them paint a small piece of cardboard as a test piece. Sure enough, Paint cans #9, 10 & 11 all left a sandy substance in the finish. Ahhhhhh!!

Did I learn from my mistakes? No, I actually let them talk me into taking their new paint product that was replacing the oil paint that I had been using. In my defense, they did give me 3 free gallons (#12, 13, & 14) and reassured me that although I would have to start.. all.. over… again.., I would be very pleased with the new paint. Several days earlier, I had resigned myself to the fact that I would have to re do everything, so I took the news calmly and walked out with the new paint. So, everything had to be stripped/sanded down. Ugh! What a tedious mess. It took me over a week to do all of that (I’m by myself here with the sweet husband back at work) and then the painting began. I only painted the cabinets, no doors or drawers. There was no sandy substance, but lots of streaking. I thought it would even out with 3 coats, but after a week of painting, I now know that the new paint will have to go back to the drawing board. It is impossible to work with. When you paint one small section, it looks good. However, when you move your brush to a new section, if you touch the “just painted section” at all, the result is a streak. This process is tedious and impossible. I have had so many friends tell me that they only use SW paint for their walls. I did paint the walls around my window and yes, it went on beautifully. However, painting on wood is an entirely different matter. Of course, the EPA is partly to blame for this. They are regulating the paint industry and all paint manufactures are struggling to roll out replacement paint that satisfies the new green laws.

So, I threw down my brush and did what I should have done in the beginning. I went to the mall and purchased this:

I am happy to report that my old faithful and favorite paint came through for me. Due to prior commitments, life events and getting discouraged with all of the paint problems, I found myself having less and less painting time. I was able to get some of my other commitments completed and I devoted all of last week to hours of painting. Oh, it feels so good to finally accomplish something. My inside cabinets have had 8 coats of paint on them. That is so ridiculous and it is no wonder that I have been so frustrated! However, I am definitely on a roll now.

I will say this for Sherwin Williams. While they definitely have paint problems with their oil paint and now the replacement paint for cabinets, they are great on customer service. Although they did not get the problem solved, they definitely tried. I know that Lowe’s and Home Depot have never been very helpful with problems.

I am hoping that this will soon be gone!

KITCHEN MAKEOVER PART 2

2010-04-06T20:18:00.000-07:00

After my dear husband went back to work, I spent the next week locked down in the Man Cave painting 23 doors and 7 drawers!

I got to the final coat and needed more paint. Back to Sherwin Williams for a quart to finish up the final coat of paint and then we could hang up our beautiful doors. I opened Paint Can #3 and painted all 23 doors.

I noticed the paint did not seem as smooth, but felt it would dry fine. WRONG! (Never use Sherwin Williams Paint!) There were bumps all in the finish. It looked as though sand was in the paint. I literally sat down and cried. Of course, a call to SW resulted in them convincing me that I had something in the brush – the expensive brush that I had bought from them! My sweet husband felt so sorry for me that he went to SW, bought two new paint brushes and another can of paint (Paint Can #4). He also bought a new air compressor so that he could blow the doors off as I had to sand them all again. We made sure there was not an ounce of dust on any of them.

We started our Easter holiday with Paint Can #3 and as we applied the paint, we could clearly the sand/grains. We opened the new can (#4) and had the same results. We spent that day and the next going to 3 SW stores and all had contaminated paint (Cans # 5, 6, & 7). SW’s brilliant solution – they would give us paint that sort of matched and we could use that. A call to Corporate Headquarters on Monday resulted in that solution going away and today I went to pick up a new gallon of paint (Can #8) that had been strained 4 times. Hello, who has to strain brand new paint? I came home and applied the paint to one of the doors. The straining helped. Instead of large grains in the paint, there are millions of small ones! Have I mentioned never to use Sherwin Williams Paint! Can # 8 will go back to Sherwin Williams tomorrow.

Our house has been torn apart for 3 weeks now. This is just a small portion of the mess!

I am afraid that I am going to have to sand everything down and start all over, including the finished cabinets in the house. Oh did I mention that it will not be with Sherwin Williams paint if I have to do that! Not only have we wasted tons of time and energy, we have went through $$$$ of paint supplies and gas. Anyone have any advice?

Sorry, the picture has a yellow hue to it, but these cabinets are white and gorgeous. I do not want to have to sand them and start all over. HELP!!!!!!

On a positive note, we have managed to do some other projects in the kitchen. I will give you just a little peek!

It is going to be gorgeous, but at this rate, I will not be able to show you the finished kitchen until summer!

WHAT WE DID ON OUR SPRING BREAK, EASTER WEEKEND AND ALL OF OUR SPARE TIME FOR THREE WEEKS AND STILL COUNTING!

2010-04-06T19:14:00.000-07:00

I decided to do some updating to my kitchen. She has served us well, but look at her!

Oh sure, her walls have been painted several colors throughout the years and the appliances replaced and upgraded each time. Several years back, a beautiful tile floor was added, but it just wasn’t enough to make her beautiful. The cabinets have been touched up and several coats of poly have been added throughout the years, but they were very worn and tired looking. Also, the awful, green countertops should have been replaced years ago. Still, there are a lot of memories. So many meals have been cooked there. I look at the place where the highchair for my three beautiful children sat for years and feel so nostalgic. However, nostalgia only carries one so far. Changes had to be made.

We were going to paint these cabinets white and then move on to the den to paint the paneling white. They do one room in two days on Trading Spaces, so we doubled it and figured we could finish two rooms in eight days. Oh how foolish we were!!!! So, we started on Friday before Spring Break and spent a day taping, putting down plastic, sanding, cleaning the surfaces, etc.

We sprang ahead with full confidence. I have painted this whole house inside and out several times so how hard can painting wood be? Now to our credit, there have been so many problems with the paint. You see, we upgraded to Sherwin Williams paint. Only the best for our kitchen cabinets! Mistake! DO NOT USE SHERWIN WILLIAMS PAINT! The primer went on fine, but the first can of Semi-Gloss White was like thick icing. You could put it on with a knife. Forget about brushing it on. We wasted a whole day getting conflicting advice from various Sherwin Williams employees. We were finally told to add a product, bought at Sherwin Williams, to thin the paint and to follow the instructions exactly as stated on the bottle. It turned the paint in to soup. Another trip back to SW and oh no, they didn’t realize that the instructions on the bottle were not correct. So, we had to get another gallon of paint. Let’s call it Gallon # 2. (Never use Sherwin Williams Paint!) Now two days have been wasted getting paint. We then spent three long days putting on 3 coats of paint to the cabinets inside.

We had some conflicts along the way. You see, my sweet husband decided not to pull out the fridge to do the side of the cabinet or the trim. After all, the fridge would never be out of there. I could not handle that which slowly made him see that he was also not going to be able to handle it either!

So, we had to deal with this a week, but I feel so much better knowing that area is painted.

Next, we had to face these!

I got to work in the "Man Cave". I thought that was going to be really fun, but it quickly lost its charm! Now, these doors and drawers also required sanding, cleaning, priming and 3 coats of paint. Sonny’s Spring Break was up by the time we got to the first coat of paint. I was left alone with 23 doors and 7 drawers! (Remember, never use Sherwin Williams paint!)

TO BE CONTINUED

FORGOTTEN RECIPE FRIDAY

2010-03-02T16:15:00.000-08:00

This 1938 appliance recipe booklet is one of my latest finds at the junk stores. I really love the pictures of the food on the covers of these vintage booklets. I have noticed that the food pictures inside the booklets are usually in black and white. I am sure that was a cost cutting method, but it would really be great if they were in color as they do not look as appetizing or as interesting when presented in black, white and shades of gray.

Did you notice the frozen fruit salad served on the lettuce leaves? That picture is the reason I bought this booklet. I thought it was so pretty and unusual. Hope you enjoy this recipe.

FROZEN FRUIT SALAD

2 three-ounce cakes of cream cheese

1 tsp. salt

1/2 cup mayonnaise

Juice of 1 lemon

1/2 cup crushed pineapple

2 medium size bananas

1/2 cup walnut meats

1/2 cup maraschino cherries in halves

1 cup whipping cream

Crisp lettuce leaves

Mix cream cheese with salt, mayonnaise, and lemon juice; then add pineapple, sliced bananas, nut meats and maraschino cherries. Fold in whipped cream and pour into Frigidaire freezing tray.

When frozen, serve in slices on crisp lettuce leaves. Garnish with fresh fruit. Fresh, whole strawberries are very attractive.

OK readers, what do you think a Frigidaire freezing tray is? Judging by the picture, it must have been shaped like a loaf pan. Please comment if you are familiar with a freezing tray used in the 1930's.

COLORADO FASHION

2010-02-09T18:17:00.000-08:00

Before going to Colorado, Jenny spent weeks making sure that we had the proper clothes. We all had to buy “snow” everything – boots, socks, pants, coats, gloves, etc. etc. It had to be waterproof. Try to find that in good old H Town and at a reasonable price. However, my wonderful and very organized daughter watched store ads and sent us to all the right places to outfit us.

As you know by the previous post, we went snow tubing on Copper Mountain. The low was -17 degrees. Yes, you read that right. -17! I donned all of my layers and felt very smug that I was ready for anything, as I quickly felt like I was going to die from heat stroke while standing in their apartment. Yes, with my many layers and all waterproof, I was ready for any snow adventure. Bring on the cold!!!!

Unfortunately, I didn’t think about a little action that we do when we get into a car. You have to be able to bend to sit down. Well, dear readers, it was not a pretty sight. I .. just… could… not …. bend! I finally leaned into the car and fell into the seat. This was definitely not good. Surely, I just needed to break my snow gear in and riding in the car would probably loosen things up.

It was quickly determined that we would have to stop at Target. Everyone needed a few items and my sunglasses broke in half when I put them on. Can Texas sunglasses not take the cold? Jenny also determined that I did not have a warm hat. I hate hats. Jenny had us on a tight schedule and we only had 20 minutes in Target. I had to make two fashion decisions in 20 minutes! Oh my! All of the sunglasses looked alike so not much time was taken there, but the hats were another story. They had hundreds of hats and did I mention that I hate hats. With Jenny ~~harassing~~ helping me, she kept saying,“ Hurry up, that looks fine, now hurry up.” I quickly became confused. However, a lady walked in with her entire family to outfit them with a hat she had bought the previous day. She claimed it was absolutely the warmest hat she had ever owned and they did have one left in pink. So, I grabbed up the below hat in pink with brown fur.

Yes, folks, having no mirror to look at myself, I did purchase a pink trooper style, aviator hat with brown fur. I believe this style hat was last featured on “Leave It To Beaver”. Beaver wore a brown one to school every winter as all good 1950's boys did. I wish I could have gotten the white fur one. Little did I know that the brown fur made me look like my bangs started at the top of my head and that I had dyed them brown!

After riding several hours in the car to reach Copper Mountain, I discovered my clothes still would not bend so I rolled myself out of the car. It was then that I noticed that I walked stiff legged with my arms held out just like the bundled up little boys in the movie, "A Christmas Story". We had to walk through snow to reach the bus to the ski lodge, so I continued to try to break my clothes in. It quickly became apparent that nothing was working. So, I spent the time we had in the ski lodge securing our tickets, etc., trying not to sit down.

Please notice these folks can bend!

Soon, everyone was enjoying the beautiful view of the mountains and our snow tube run. However, I was filled with dread at the thought of trying to sit down on my snow tube. We secured our tubes and rode up the mountain on a conveyor belt system. Thankfully, we stood on the belt to ride up the mountain!

At the top, Sonny got my tube in place and told me to sit down. I think I must have looked like a dog does before it settles in its bed for the night. You know how they will circle their bed several times in both directions before finally sitting down on it. Yes, that was me. I circled that tube several times and tried several different ways to sit on it without success. My dear husband grew very impatient as I held up the line. He soon half snarled in my ear,“ What is wrong? GET IN THE TUBE!” Finally out of desperation, I stood in front of the tube, calculated the distance, closed my eyes and fell backwards. What form! What grace!!! I did managed to land half way in the tube. Sonny quickly pushed me all the way in so that the handsome, athletic young man in charge of keeping the line moving could shove me down the hill. I am afraid that all of my visions of being a beautiful, stylish and graceful snow bunny were shattered. And no, it did not get any better. Every single time I went up the mountain, I had to fall backwards into my tube and every single time the ride was over, my dear husband had to haul me up out of the tube!

And then of course, there was THE HAT! Look at my new, huge brown bangs! You may also notice that my beautiful daughter, who looks great in hats, took hers off for the picture! Why didn't I think of that?

I might not have been stylish and I could not bend, but my hat and all the many layers of my snow clothes did keep me warm. I just hope my family will go snow tubing with me again!

ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS 2009

2010-02-05T09:49:00.000-08:00

We did something very different for Christmas this year. We were not in Texas. Usually, even if we travel during the holidays, we always come back for Christmas with the family. This year, we went to Colorado to celebrate Christmas with Jenny and Matt. Ryan was also able to join us. I have seen very little snow in my life and to have the privilege to spend the Christmas holidays in such a beautiful place was a dream come true. It actually snowed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so I was absolutely thrilled.

We spent Christmas Eve on Copper Mountain. Guess what we did?

We went snow tubing and it was so much fun. Notice we are pretty bundled up. It was -17 degrees!! Even I was forced to wear a hat. No comments please!

Me and my sweet children

The snow view from Jenny and Matt's apartment.

And now, the DOWNSIDE to snow and ice!!!!

Did you know that when you go anywhere in a car, you have to allow at least 20 minutes to de-ice the car? This South Texas girl did not know that. Every time we stopped to eat or sight see, this process would have to be repeated! Thank you Sonny, Ryan, Jenny & Matt for letting me be the Princess.

FORGOTTEN RECIPE FRIDAY

2010-02-03T22:33:00.000-08:00

As a little girl, I remember my Mom telling me how blessed I was to have "The Dime Store". Every time I got my allowance, I would beg to go to The Dime Store so that I could purchase some candy. It would take me quite a long time to decide whether to buy a chocolate bar, an all day cherry lollipop, Sugar Babies or M & M's. Of course toys with candy inside were also a temptation. 1950's & 60's candy were the best!

My Mom and her sisters were not so lucky. They did not live close to a store that had a candy counter and being raised during the Depression, they didn't have extra money for candy. However, they did have Taffy Pulls. I loved to listen to her stories of my Grandmother making taffy and then handing it over to my Mom, her sisters and their friends to pull. She described in great detail the technique they used to pull the hot taffy into long ropes between two people, the great smell and even the color it turned as it started to cool. I could picture my Grandmother laying the pulled and ready to eat taffy on the kitchen table and cutting it in to pieces with scissors so everyone could have a taste. I was ready to hand over my store bought chocolate, cherry lollipops and even my Sugar Babies for one taste of that marvelous taffy. Here is the recipe for that almost forgotten candy.

OLD FASHION TAFFY

3/4 cup water

2 cups sugar

1 1/4 cups corn syrup

2 tablespoons butter

Vanilla flavoring

1 teaspoon salt

Measure 2 cups sugar, l 1/4 cups corn syrup, 3/4 cup water, 1 teaspoon salt into a saucepan and blend well with a wooden spoon. Place over low heat until sugar has dissolved, stirring continuously. Increase the heat and do not stir during the rest of the cooking. Wash the sides of the pan with a brush or fork covered with muslin and dipped in water, using an upward motion. This will prevent the formation of crystals which might cause the candy to sugar. Cook syrup to hard boil stage and then remove candy from heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter. Stir very gently. When cool enough to handle, grease hands with butter and let the pulling begin.

Pull the taffy out at least 12 inches. Next, quickly fold the taffy back from one hand to the other, catching the center, and then pulling again. Add the vanilla while pulling and continue to pull until the flavoring is thoroughly mixed in. When the taffy is very hard to pull and holds its shape when laid out on a platter, it’s ready to cut into pieces. Rub a pair of kitchen scissors with unsalted butter, and then cut the hardened taffy into bite-size pieces.

Enjoy!

CHRISTMAS VISITOR

2010-01-17T15:41:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of my dining room table. My mom said it was one of her favorite centerpieces that I have done.

These gold presents came from Pier One several years back and they are so versatile. I simply lift the lid and can easily change out the color. Many times I use napkins but I used pink tissue paper in these. Not only are these a great centerpiece at Christmas, I have also used them for birthday parties.

Now please notice that the center box no longer has the pink tissue paper in it and here is the reason why!!!

This guy did not stay on his tree. Instead, he decided to take up residence in my gold box! I was not very happy at all. At first glance, I thought the shadows outside were casting a dark spot on my beautiful pink tissue paper. However, when I passed by again, something did not look right. On closer inspection and much to my horror, this monster head peered out at me. Of course, I let out a blood curdling scream. My dear husband was not home to rescue me, so I was on my own. I shook the box, demanded he leave and even shook the table, but he never moved. I decided he was dead so I poked at him with a knife, but he jumped, then scooted down into the tissue which caused me to scream again. I left him alone for awhile but then decided to scare him with the vacuum cleaner. I turned it on right beside the table but he only retreated further into the safety of the tissue.

Several hours later, my dear husband arrived home and was not my Knight in Shining Armor. Of course, he was tired and cold, but still. He suggested that we leave him in the box as they eat bugs and went off to bed. I didn't sleep well that night which means he did not sleep well. I was worried that the visitor might decide our bed would be a safe haven from the vacuum cleaner. The next morning, he was basking on top of the pink tissue paper - sunning himself in the morning light. That was it. I demanded he be taken outside and it better be immediately. My husband didn't want to waste the pink tissue paper and thought that he should bring it back inside to be used again. I made him put it in the outside garbage can, so rest easy all of my friends. Should you receive a gift from me, it will not contain recycled lizard tissue paper!

I got to thinking. What if I had held a Ladies Christmas Lunch? I shudder at the image of my visitor poking his head out of the delicate pink tissue paper inside my beautiful gold box. He probably would have took one look at all of us and decided to run across several of the ladies' plates. I would have never lived that down!!!

FORGOTTEN RECIPE FRIDAY

2010-01-17T15:12:00.000-08:00

Here is a recipe from 1875 called Mock Chicken Salad. Obviously it does not contain chicken. My question was, why not make Real Chicken Salad? Well "mock" in cooking terms means to use a reliable substitute and upon further investigation, I discovered the reason a substitute was used for the chicken. Mock chicken salads were made from cubes of roast pork, which were less expensive than chicken. After all, chickens were a source of eggs for families. In 1875, you just did not kill your chickens.

MOCK CHICKEN SALAD

4 cups coarsely chopped roast pork

1 cup chopped celery

3/4 cup chopped red bell pepper

1/2 cup pimento-stuffed green olives

1/2 cup mayo or boiled dressing

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper

Combine pork, celery, bell pepper, olives, mayo, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate for several hours. Store leftover salad in a covered container in the refrigerator.

OK, do you think that they had refrigerators in 1875?

MORE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS 2009

2010-01-14T18:15:00.000-08:00

Those of you who know me know that I am all about white and pastels. My husband claims that I will spray paint anything white and he is right. However, a strange occurrence happened this year. It started with this:

My new obsession with bronze! You know how I am about those white pumpkins and yet, I fell in love with bronze this year and in a previous post, I told you all about how I made these pumpkins. OK, so bronze is a "Fall Color" and I thought it would stop there. I was wrong. Look at this:

I found a large container of bronze Christmas ornaments for 50 % off at Hob Lob and poured them into my bronze square container. The result was stunning. This is my kitchen table and since the top is made with hand painted sun flower tiles, it is hard to see that this does indeed match the kitchen area. The brown tones in the sunflowers, the wood trim around the tiles and the kitchen chairs perfectly compliment this centerpiece. The picture does not show it very well, but the bronze ornaments are different textures. The glitter and jewel cut ornaments really catch the light and look so rich. I got more compliments on this than I did on any of my other decorations. Even my husband liked it, which is saying alot!

Pictures of my Snow Village.

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS 2009

2010-01-14T16:40:00.000-08:00

Since we were away for Christmas, I decorated with a light hand this year. Here are some highlights!

FORGOTTEN RECIPE FRIDAY

2010-01-10T15:19:00.000-08:00

Since it is the Christmas season, I thought I would post one of my fudge recipes. This recipe was passed down from my Mom and probably came from the 1950 or 60's. She got it off of the back of the Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels Bag. With all of the fudge booths I see at Craft Fairs, I think old fashioned fudge is making a come back.

Toll House Famous Fudge

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

2/3 cup Carnation Evaporated Milk

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 cups miniature marshmallows

1 1/2 cups (9 oz.) Nestles Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

LINE 8-inch-square baking pan with foil.

COMBINE sugar, evaporated milk, butter and salt in medium, heavy-duty saucepan. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil, stirring constantly, for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

STIR in marshmallows, morsels, nuts and vanilla extract. Stir vigorously for 1 minute or until marshmallows are melted. Pour into prepared baking pan; refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm. Lift from pan; remove foil. Cut into pieces.

FOR MILK CHOCOLATE FUDGE:

SUBSTITUTE 1 3/4 cups (11.5-oz. pkg.) Nestles Milk Chocolate Morsels for Semi-Sweet Morsels.

LET IT SNOW

2010-01-10T15:09:00.000-08:00

It all started on a warm day. My sweet husband went to Wally Mart and came back with this silver glitter Christmas Ornament. He propped it in my kitchen window to remind me that we were going to have a white Christmas this year. My first ever! It was even more exciting because we would be spending it in Colorado with Jenny and Matt in their new home. Each time I stood in front of my kitchen sink, this was my view. I dreamed about all of the snow I would see in Colorado. Well, guess what happened!

This did! And this is not in Colorado. No, this picture is my front yard and as you can see, the snow is really coming down. It snowed for several hours. Unbelievable!

I was standing on the road when I took this shot of our house. Our roof is normally a medium brown, so note the amount of snow on that roof.

Who knew that this little sign would apply to our town this year. I couldn't resist putting it in the snow and taking a picture.

Sonny arrived home just in time to take a picture with me holding my little LET IT SNOW sign. As you can see, the snow is still falling! I think I will put this out next year and see if it happens again.

FORGOTTEN RECIPE FRIDAY

2010-01-10T14:42:00.000-08:00

In honor of Thanksgiving, I thought that I would pull one out from my childhood. Any child of the 1950's should remember the good old green jello salad that was served by every school cafeteria for Thanksgiving and I think every other holiday also. Remember the vegetables floating in it. All together now - Eeeewwwwww! So here it is, one of those recipes that needs to stay forgotten!

VEGETABLE SALAD MOLD

(or Icky Green Jello Salad)

1 (3 oz.) lime Jello

1 (3 oz.) lemon Jello

3 1/2 c. boiling water

1 tbsp. vinegar

4 tbsp. sugar

1 tsp. salt

1/2 c. salad dressing

2 c. chopped cabbage

1/2 c. chopped celery

1/4 c. green pepper

1/2 c. grated carrot

2 tbsp. onion

Stir together Jello, boiling water, vinegar, sugar, and salt. When nearly congealed, add 1/2 cup salad dressing and beat until frothy. Add the vegetables, stir well, and mold.

THANKSGIVING 2009

2010-01-10T14:25:00.000-08:00

I have had this plate for years and I decided that I would keep it out all of 2009 and change out the ribbon and sayings each month. I am proud to say that I did it and really enjoyed it. I attended the Nutcracker Market with my cousin Carol and there was a booth with all shapes and sizes of these plates. However, they had added something new. These cute ceramic shapes. This pumpkin has a magnet glued on the back and you take another magnet and place it on the back of the large plate and presto - the pumpkin stays in place. I also stole their idea of writing - We are Thankful for - on the pumpkin and then putting the names of family members that attended Thanksgiving Dinner. OK, so Matt and Jenny were in Colorado having their first Thanksgiving away from the family, but I just couldn't leave them off.

Here's the Gang!

And here is too much food! Hey, at least I got a picture of it. However, I can't find my picture of the pies and they are my favorite part!

THANKSGIVING TABLESCAPE

2010-01-10T14:13:00.000-08:00

You know I can't help it. I love to decorate my table.

I normally decorate with white pumpkins, but this year, I fell in love with bronze pumpkins. You will note them scattered about on the table. These pumpkins started their lives as ugly, bright orange pumpkins in a bag at Wally Mart. They were very cheap but very ugly. You know I love to spray paint so I bought a can of Metallic Bronze and sprayed away. This was the result and I love them. Of course, I have to have place cards. These cute turkey ones were available from Martha Stewart's web site for free.

The jeweled bronze candle holders with the diamond pendants are a new addition. I got these at the Michael's half price sale and just love them. An added bonus was that when I lit the candles, the light dancing against the bronze was beautiful and I wasn't expecting that. A nice surprise! I got lots of compliments and it made the tablescape feel elegant. That is quite a feat when you consider there were turkeys and pumpkins all over the table.

FORGOTTEN RECIPE FRIDAY

2010-01-10T13:28:00.000-08:00

Since my last post was about the Mission Trip to Romania, this week's Forgotten Recipe Friday will be my sweet husband's favorite Romanian dish, Sarmale in foi de varza dulce, or Sarmales (in a thick Texas drawl) as he calls them. I have not had the privilege to try these, but he adores them.

There is not much to buy in Romania, but I love books and Sonny has provided me and the grandkids with several books on Romanian culture complete with beautiful landscape photography. We are not sure where they took the photographs in these books, as we have never seen these beautiful areas, but they are suppose to be in Romania somewhere! This trip I requested a Romanian cookbook since cookbooks are one of my favorite books. He actually managed to find one so the following recipe is from "100 Romanian Recipes, A tasty souvenir from Romania!" Now you have to love the title of this cookbook. Below is the recipe for Sarmales. Anyone interested in helping me make these?

SARMALE IN FOI DE VARZA DULCE

The English translation: Fresh Cabbage Meat Rolls

300 gr. pork

200 gr. beef

100 gr. rice

150 gr. fat

150 gr. onions

50 gr. tomato sauce

300 gr. tomatoes

cabbage

ground pepper

cinnabar

Use blender to mince the meat together with part of the diced onions, previously half fried. Add the rice (soaked in hot water), pepper and salt. Mix well and roll small meat balls into fresh cabbage leaves that have been taken apart and soaked in hot water, borsch or preserved sauerkraut juice. For a bitter taste, add tomato slices among the meat rolls layers.

Half fry the onions in fat, add tomato sauce and water. Stir well. Place some of it in the sauce on the bottom of a pot and then layers of meat rolls. The first and last layer should always be sauce. Cover with tomato slices, pepper grains and cinnabar, then boil for 3-4 hours at low heat. Occasionally, rattle the pot to prevent from sticking and add hot water when necessary.

Cover the pot and cook for another while in the heated oven, at low heat, when nearly ready take the lid off to get a nice crust. Make sure that there is always enough water.

Serve with sour cream and corn mush.

OK, again, I have not had these but Sonny loves them so they must be good. I really love the way that recipe is written. I'm not sure how much was lost in translation, but how many American cook books tell you to rattle the pot? Julia Child would have loved it!

NOVEMBER MISSION TRIP

2010-01-10T12:54:00.000-08:00

For many years, my husband has traveled to Romania with several from our Church. The US teachers teach classes, preach, and have one on one Bible studies at the seven Churches that have been established in Romania. I know you are thinking, "Wow, he can speak Romanian!" The answer is ""NO". While my husband has a pretty good command of the English language and can speak a little Spanish, he and the other American teachers do not even attempt to teach or preach in Romanian. He as well as the other Americans are provided a translator and while it is a little tricky at first, trying to learn to pace your words so that the translator doesn't get too far behind or even ahead of you (which is scary), one adapts very quickly. I have had the privilege to go on one trip with him and it is such a blessing to get to know these sweet people.

The ladies at the Church in Pitesti meet each week to sew together. They make quilts for the many in Romanians who face harsh winters with very little income. Most of these ladies also have very limited incomes and are facing soaring prices on all goods available in Romania, but they have a true servant's heart. I am very humbled by them.

Pitesti is a large city, but many of the other seven Churches are in the countryside. It can be quite startling to adjust to having to use outdoor facilities instead of the nice Ladies' Rooms that we have in our Churches here in the US. My mind goes back to one that had 4 walls, but no roof! I guess if something had to be missing, I would rather it be the roof. While the cities in Romania are not picturesque, the countryside can be quite beautiful and quaint. (Except for the above mentioned outdoor facilities!)

Also, when you go to the Churches located in the villages, you get to meet sweet people like these. This building use to be a bar. From what I hear, the owner made a very good living selling the favorite Romanian wine. When he became a Christian, he closed the bar and now Church services are held here each Sunday. We are continually awed by his commitment to God. I bet the devil didn't like that one bit! All of these people walk to Worship Services. Cars are definitely a luxury item. As you can see by the way everyone is bundled up, it was a cold day and many walk long distances. Yes, we continue to be humbled and learn so much from our brothers and sisters in Romania.

FORGOTTEN RECIPE FRIDAY

2009-12-14T14:41:00.000-08:00

My favorite daughter-in-law, Carey, (OK, I only have one, but she is still my favorite) bought this book for me. It is a wonderful book full of stories and recipes from the Great Depression. The author of the book, Clara, is 94 years old.

Adam and Carey have been on a tight budget and Carey has been using the recipes in this book to save money on their grocery bill. Since bread is one of the cheapest and most versatile food items, people relied on it heavily during the Depression. In the cookbook, Clara included the recipe that her mother used to make 6 loaves of bread, twice a week, for the family. My daughter-in-law, Carey, now makes this bread for her family.

I have heard many stories from my parents about the depression and know that most everything was home grown and homemade. Most food items were made from scratch. Only the basics like sugar, flour, cornmeal, etc. were purchased at the store. Making everything yourself is alot of work, but it tastes so good. Everything is fresh and so flavorful when it has not been filled with preservatives.

I have alot of cookbooks and not one of them include a recipe for ketchup. It definitely is a forgotten recipe.

HOMEMADE KETCHUP

6 ounces tomato paste (homemade or canned)

1/4 cup water

1 clove garlic, pressed

2 TBS. vinegar

1/2 tsp. salt

Mix all the ingredients together and put in a sterilized jar. Keep refrigerated.

FORGOTTEN RECIPE FRIDAY

2009-11-06T00:04:00.000-08:00

I did not post a Friday Recipe last week since I was at First Monday in Canton. However, I have a special treat for this week. As I mentioned in my last post, I did find a few cookbooks in Canton to add to my collection. I was very excited to find "The El Chico Cookbook". Now there are still a few El Chico Restaurants around, but they can be hard to find. Let me give you some background information so that you can understand why El Chico holds a place in my heart.

My husband and I hated Mexican food of any kind when we were children. We connected Mexican food to our Mother's tacos. Both of our mothers bought those hard shell tacos that came in a package, added ground beef to them and baked them in the oven. Can you say gross? As teens, Monterey House was as good as it got for us. Then El Chico came on the scene. It was Tex-Mex at it's finest. They featured Quesadillas, Chilies Relleno, Mole Sauce, Empanadas and Flan before there was a Pappasitos.

I dug this El Chico cookbook out of a pile of books on a shelf from a vendor that had tables full of, well, junk. This cookbook is from the 1970's. Since I missed posting a recipe last Friday, I will post two today.

The first recipe is for regular cheese nachos. My husband and I recently were complaining that Mexican Food restaurants seem to have forgotten how to make plain, old fashioned nachos. They pile them high with meats and Guacamole. There is nothing better than the simple nachos from the 1970's. Simple can be better. Here is El Chico's recipe.

REGULAR CHEESE NACHOS

Grated Cheddar Cheese
Corn or Flour Tortillas

Spread grated cheddar cheese over tortillas cut into the shape of triangles. Place in oven at 375 degrees until cheese is melted. It takes 3 to 5 minutes. Place a small jalapeno pepper atop each nacho once the cheese has melted.

The next recipe is a favorite of my husband. It may sound different but it really is good.

MOLE SAUCE

2 cups Enchilada sauce
3 cloves garlic chopped very fine
1/4 cup chopped almonds
3 Tbs. peanut butter
1/4 cup cooking oil
3 tbs. chocolate syrup
2 tbs. sesame seed, pureed
2 tbs. coriander of fresh cilantro
Salt to taste

Saute the almonds in the oil. Mix all the other ingredients and add sauteed almonds. Serve over chicken or enchiladas.

Enjoy!

NOVEMBER FIRST MONDAY

2009-11-05T23:06:00.000-08:00

Last week I went to Lake Livingston to visit Bubba and Dorothy. On Thursday, Dorothy and I got up early and went to Canton for First Monday Trade Days. The threat of rain kept alot of people away, which made Dorothy and I happy.

There are always fads and trends at Canton and I thought that I would share some of them with you.

The first thing we noticed was that an unusual number of women were sporting these boots. Now granted, it was suppose to rain, but all too soon it became clear that these were more of a fashion statement than a way to keep your feet dry. These boots came in a number of colors and styles. The animal prints were very popular and most booths were sold out the first day. Many of the women wore these with their jeans stuffed in them so that the whole boot was displayed. Also, a number of ladies had shirts that matched their boots. However, we were really amazed at the ladies that wore these boots with dresses. As usual, Dorothy and I were way ahead of the trend. I bought pink rubber boots in Galveston 4 years ago, but I used them when I beach combed in the winter. Dorothy also has a polka dot pair that she has worn for several years while she dug clams in Oregon. We were so silly - we thought these were for muddy activities!

On the craft scene, old silver platters were re-purposed. I really loved this as I love menu boards of all kinds. This is so cute and so simple. Why can't I think of these things!

Of course, what would Canton be if it did not have tons of booths selling dry mixes of all types. You know the ones! You only have to add a few ingredients and presto, you have a gourmet dish. We saw booth after booth displaying samples of every kind of soup or cheese ball known to mankind but we were very skeptical. Then we discovered Homemade Gourmet. Dorothy and I were very unsure about these mixes as they are just so "instant" to us. Not that we are against easy, but we want a homemade taste. We had to be coaxed into trying the samples but one taste and we were sold. We really loved the Chocolate Pecan Cheesecake Mix.

Of course, Dorothy added to her wrought iron collection and I added to my vintage cookbooks. Yes, it was a successful trip!

KITCHEN GADGETS

2009-10-23T16:30:00.000-07:00

I love kitchen gadgets and I can be easily persuaded to purchase them. In my defense, I have purchased many that proved to be great time savers and performed as promised. And, my dear husband totally encourages me in this endeavor, as he looks hungrily at the pictures of the tempting food displayed on the box of the latest miracle gadget. However, not all can be winners, right? Who knew that the omelet pan that was divided in half, so that you could fold the other half over to make the perfect omelet could never be perfected. Oh yes, and there was the stove top pancake maker that closed so that you could flip the pan instead of having to flip the pancake. The problem with that was that it worked perfectly, but you could only slowly make one pancake at a time. I still love the boiled egg maker that is shaped like a chicken and clucks when the eggs are ready! And then there was the . . . well, you get the picture.

My husband is a huge breakfast person, but how many ways can you fix eggs? It can be quite a challenge. Frankly, I have just about run out of breakfast ideas, especially those that do not require hours in the kitchen. Besides the typical eggs and bacon, I've made every type of french toast, pancakes and muffins known to Southern cooks. Also, we have run the full gamut of cereals. I had to give up my Cocoa Cocoa Pebbles for Kashi and you know that is no fun! I have also made every variation of oatmeal and grits, and they are not the instant kind.

So, I was quite excited when I was at Marshalls, in Katy Mills, and came across this egg thingey. This new gadget cooks omelets in the microwave. I know, you are thinking, yeah right, but I decided to try it.

You crack two eggs in a bowl, mix them well with a fork and then add your favorite omelet ingredients. This was for my dear husband, who was watching this whole procedure with skepticism in his eyes. I then added cream cheese and fresh diced tomatoes, onions and cilantro. So far so good, as this is so easy and much faster than a traditional omelet. Last, you put the lid on and microwave for 2 minutes and 30 seconds. OK, I'm impressed.

Out of the microwave it came, off came the lid and well, I had what looked like an egg ball that had been deflated. At this point, my husband began slowly inching towards the cereal box, never mind it was Kashi with flax seeds and wheat germ. Oh ye of little faith! Let me at least dump it out onto a plate and get a closer look.

That was the secret. Once on a plate, you chop it with a fork and it magically unfolds to a full size omelet that is soft, fluffy, and absolutely delicious. Now granted, it is not your neatly folded kind, but it sure tasted like it. We were amazed. If you insist on the traditional folded omelet, just close your eyes while you eat it. You will never know the difference.

I am so glad that I had sense enough to buy two of these so that I could make breakfast for both of us at the same time and in only 5 minutes. My dear husband, who is known for dropping things, decided I should buy at least one more, just in case there was an accident. After all, it is shaped like a slippery egg with no handles, so we know it is just an accident waiting to happen. So, off to Marshalls I go and every other kitchen store. There are none to be found and it has been several months since I have been on this egg hunt. So, if you happen to see these, grab them. Oh and please pick me up at least one more.

FORGOTTEN RECIPES FRIDAY

2009-10-22T18:49:00.000-07:00

Well, I just could not resist this one. Today's Forgotten Recipe is Tomato Soup Cake. This recipe came from a 1935 advertising booklet titled "Successful Baking" by Martha Lee Anderson. It is printed by Church & Dwight Co., Inc. which was established in 1846. Wow! That was before the Civil War. This booklet features recipes using Arm and Hammer or Cow Brand Baking Soda. I vaguely remember this cake when I was a little girl.

Tomato Soup Cake

2 cups sifted flour

1 1/2 tsp. Arm & Hammer or Cow Brand Baking Soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg, well beaten

1 cup raisins, cut once

1 can tomato soup

Sift flour once, measure, add baking soda, salt and spices and sift together three times. Work butter with spoon until creamy. Add sugar gradually and beat after each addition until light and fluffy. Add egg; blend well. Add raisins. Add flour alternately with tomato soup, a small amount at a time, beating until smooth after each addition. Turn into two greased 8" layer pans and bake in moderate oven (350 degrees) 40 minutes. Frost with Boiled Frosting flavored with orange and almond.

Boiled Frosting

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

2 egg whites, stiffly beaten

1/2 tsp. vanilla

Cook sugar and water together stirring only until sugar has dissolved. Continue cooking until syrup spins a thread when dropped from the tip of a spoon. (238 degrees). Remove from fire. When syrup stops bubbling, pour in thin stream over egg whites, beating constantly. Continue beating until frosting stands in peaks. Add vanilla.

I know that tomato soup as a cake ingredient is a little strange, but remember that tomatoes are a fruit.

Enjoy!

FORGOTTEN RECIPES FRIDAY

2009-10-15T20:48:00.000-07:00

I have decided to start a Friday series called Forgotten Recipes. I love cookbooks and have been collecting them for years. A few years ago, I decided I wanted to make Red Velvet Cake which was a favorite of mine when I was a little girl. I called my Mom and she couldn't find the recipe. I looked through all of my cookbooks and not one of them had a recipe for Red Velvet Cake. A search of the Internet provided a modern version, but I wanted the original, old fashioned recipe that I so fondly remembered my Mom making.

A month later, while I was at Canton Trade Days, I dug through a pile of old cookbooks laying on a dusty shelf in the back of a booth. I found a 1950's Red Velvet Cake recipe in one of the cookbooks, along with a trip down memory lane of the party foods of my childhood. Thus began my love for Vintage cookbooks!

I can spend hours in an Antique Shop looking through the bookshelves, on the hunt for my next vintage cookbook. Just ask Dorothy Kay! I really enjoy cookbooks from the 1940's, 50's,60's & 70's. I have found if they are any older than the 40's, the ingredients can be hard to find.
Some of the best recipes come from the recipe booklets that were included with kitchen appliances and the vintage pictures of old stoves, mixers, etc. are really great. I also like the Advertising Cookbooks that were put out by companies such as Jello, Nestle, and Pet Milk, just to name a few.

For years, I have collected community and fund raising cookbooks, especially when I travel, as that is the best way to get regional recipes. I consider it my souvenir. So, when I find a vintage one, I feel like I have hit the jack-pot. Of course, no one is probably surprised that I snatch up all of the vintage French Cookbooks. I don't have very many of those, but there is always tomorrow.

To me, vintage cookbooks are like history books. They give you a glimpse of the life and culture of another decade. Throughout time, most important events, holidays, and family occasions are celebrated with meals. Reading cookbooks that describe those long ago meals and celebrations is like stepping back in time. So, if you have any old cookbooks lying around that you want to get rid of, please send them my way. I will give them a good home and you might even get a chance to sample something that I have made from them.

Red Velvet Cake was and still is most common in the South. Due to the red food coloring that is used in the cake, it became very unpopular in the 1970's when red food coloring was linked with behavior problems in children. Despite the fact that red food coloring formulas were changed, the damage was done and red velvet cake virtually disappeared. It began to gain popularity again after a red velvet cake was featured in the movie Steel Magnolias. The armadillo shaped red velvet cake served as a groom's cake for one of main characters. In recent years, it has become so popular that you can find it on many menus and in bakeries. Since my search for Old Fashioned Red Velvet Cake started my love for vintage cookbooks, it is only fitting that the very first Friday post pay honor to it.

RED VELVET CAKE

For the cake:

2½ cups cake flour

1½ cups sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1½ cups vegetable oil

1 cup buttermilk

2 tablespoons (1 oz.) red food coloring

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar

1.Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, cocoa, and salt into a medium bowl.

3. Beat eggs, oil, buttermilk, food coloring, vanilla, and vinegar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until well combined. Add dry ingredients and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes.

4. Divide batter evenly between 3 greased and floured 8″ round cake pans.

5. Bake cakes, rotating halfway through, until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean, 25-30 minutes. Let cakes cool 5 minutes, then invert each onto a plate, then invert again onto a cooling rack. Let cakes cool completely.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 pound cream cheese, softened

4 cups sifted powdered (confectioners') sugar

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or with a hand-held electric mixer in a large bowl, mix the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and butter on low speed until incorporated. Increase the speed to high, and mix until light and fluffy, approximately 5 minutes. NOTE: Occasionally turn the mixer off, and scrape the down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
Reduce the speed of the mixer to low. Add the vanilla extract; raise the speed to high and mix briefly until fluffy (scrape down the bowl occasionally).
Store in the refrigerator until somewhat stiff, before using. NOTE: May be stored in the refrigerator for 3 days.
Makes enough to frost a 3 layer (9-inch) cake.

Put 1 cake layer on a cake plate, level off with a serrated knife, and spread one-quarter of the frosting on top.

Set another layer on top, level, and repeat frosting.

Set remaining layer on top, level, and frost top and sides with the remaining frosting.

Tip: after leveling cake, turn it upside down to reduce numbers of crumbs. .
Chill for 2 hours to set frosting.

* There are many icings that are associated with red velvet cake. When I was very small, Mom made a 7 Minute Icing, which is a white fluffy icing that reminds me of marshmallow cream. However, she began making the cream cheese icing when I was older and it is my favorite, so that is why I have included that icing recipe.

**To make this even more delicious, I add a layer of chocolate ganache to each cake layer. Remember to let the ganache dry on the cake before spreading the cream cheese icing. Also, I love cupcakes and recently have been making red velvet cupcakes instead of the layer cake. Again I put a layer of chocolate ganache and then the cream cheese icing. For a recent bridal shower, I baked a chocolate kiss in the middle of the cupcake to give it that chocolate punch and I think I like that even better.

Enjoy!

MY BLOG DOESN'T KNOW SUMMER HAS ENDED!!

2009-10-15T19:46:00.000-07:00

It is October, mid-October, and the weather, my allergies and my blog still think it is summer. I was so happy because I had no allergies during my usual time of late spring to Sept. Of course, I realized that it was because of the drought which kept the Johnson grass from blooming. However, I thought that Johnson grass had a season to bloom like wildflowers. If the Bluebonnets have a bad year due to drought, it is over until the next year. Apparently that is not the case for Texas Johnson Grass, but I didn't know it.

I happily spent all spring and summer traveling and doing outdoor activities, instead of writing on this blog. I was free from allergies and asthma. Free to enjoy the outdoors. I was so excited when Sept. came and thought I was home free. After all, Fall and Winter are my allergy free seasons. However, between the rain and heat in September, the Johnson Grass came forth like there was no tomorrow. The bad side of this is that I haven't felt like doing anything for the last 6 weeks because I can't breathe. The good side is that I have cleared out lots of space on the DVR so that Sonny can record his hunting and fishing shows.

Apparently the weather in this area does not know that summer has ended either. We have only had two cool days so far. The high for today was 91 degrees and the "feels like" temperature was 101 degrees. Don't you just love these fall days in the Houston area.

Also, my blog doesn't know summer is over because I have a back up of summer time postings. Here are a few of the summer happenings below:Cousin Day in Chappell Hill at Jeremy's and Aunt Victoria's.

Notice that Victoria and I are smiling because we are about to have lunch at a wonderful Italian restaurant in Brenham.

Papaw with Ethan, Jeremy and Emma.

Notice how he is smiling and looking so rested in this picture. He took all of the Goode grandchildren swimming at the Blue Bell Aquatic Center, by himself. He didn't look as rested when he returned from an action packed day of swimming, McDonald's and soccer practice. He was still smiling!

We also celebrated Ryan's birthday in late August. We had fun but missed Matt and Jenny.

Ryan usually requests a homemade cookie cake for his birthday. Of course, Mom always makes him one. These are the pictures that I took before anyone arrived. However, I did my usual thing of laying the camera down as soon as the first person arrived and never picked it back up. So, I have no pictures of the other food or the guest of honor. I hate it when that happens.

SUMMER PROJECT PHASE II

2009-09-14T11:14:00.001-07:00

AND NOW HERE ARE THE "AFTER" PICTURES!!!!!!!!

The patio was expanded to include an area for my swing.
A new sitting area!

We also now have a nice place to keep all of our pits.

This was one of my old patio tables that was painted white. I just could not get rid of it as it has always been my favorite table. So, I painted it chocolate brown to match the new furniture. It really turned out well. I love Rustoleum spray paint!

SUMMER PROJECT

2009-09-14T10:45:00.000-07:00

For our summer home improvement project, we decided to "re-do" our patio. As you can see, it really needed it.

Sonny says that these are not really "Before" pictures as we had already cleared off all of the old furniture and junk before we remembered to take pictures. For some reason, he refused to put it all back just for a picture!

This old patio served us well and there are lots of memories here, but it was time to update it. We spent alot of time trying to decide whether we should build a deck, tile it or go with concrete.

We decided to pour right over it and expand it. By the way, remember the drought that we were having? It had not rained in weeks and it rained the day we poured, of course.

This is the "during" picture.

BIRTHDAY GIRLS

2009-09-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

Here are the July Birthday Girls having a birthday lunch at McCormick & Schmick's.

They really spoil you at this restaurant. Each of our menus were printed with our names and birth dates. They also served us this delicious dessert.

WHAT WE DID ON OUR SUMMER VACATION PART 2

2009-08-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

We have always enjoyed New Braunfels and loved spending time there this summer. We had so much fun at Schlitterbahn and especially enjoyed the local restaurants. Being tourists, the local citizens have always been friendly and warm and have welcomed us adding to their local economy. However, this trip was different. We ran into a bunch of New Braunfels residents that were, well, I might as well just say it, rude! It was a good thing that we did not have our hearts set on playing golf, because these residents took over the golf course and could obviously care less if anyone got to play!
If you look up into the left hand corner of the below picture, you can see that they had no regard for the golfers trying to finish their game. Why these guys would just walk across the green and give a dirty look to anyone who dared played while they were around. They held up many a game.

The really bad part is that they are not tax paying citizens, yet they seem to think that they run the golf course!

They are not very friendly either. I tried to take this guy's picture and he turned and just walked off. Also, you will notice that he is giving me the evil eye. This picture was taken when the golf course was closed for the day. Obviously, everyone is suppose to be off the course. However, these guys don't care. As a matter of fact, even more of their friends joined them. I tried to get a close up of the trespassers, but they would run as they obviously did not want their crime to be documented on film. We got out of our car to try to get a good shot, but they were not happy at all about that. They even posted lookouts to watch us. All I can say is that they better enjoy it now. November 1 might bring an end to their life of crime.

WHAT WE DID ON OUR SUMMER VACATION

2009-08-12T14:33:00.000-07:00

We love the Hill Country and always try to visit at least once a year. This year we spent our summer vacation enjoying all of our favorite spots there.

One of our favorite restaurants is The Gristmill.

This is one of Sonny's favorite foods to order when we are there. I admit that even I like them and I am not a french fry girl.

We always enjoy the view of the water from our table.

And you cannot get much better than this as far as a sunset. Thank you God for blessing Texas with the Hill Country.

VACATION PHOTOS OF ME!

2009-07-19T14:24:00.000-07:00

Why am I showing you my shoes and hat without me in them? Well, as I have looked back through my photos, I have discovered that the majority of my vacation pictures show me in these type of shoes. Yes, they are water shoes, instead of one of the many pairs of cute and fashionable heels that I own. Yes, water shoes! Now they may have been different colors over the years, as they tend to wear out pretty quickly, but they are still water shoes. You will note that they are very unglamorous water shoes at that! You see, most of our vacations involve water - ocean water, lake water, river water, Schlitterbahn water, underground cave water and even Louisiana swamp water. There are probably more, but you get the idea. These same vacation photos also show me in a variety of very unglamorous hats like the one shown below. I am also usually in some type of bathing suit cover up or a very large t-shirt, slathered in suntan lotions of various kinds. Are you getting the picture yet. There is an opening in the back of the below hat. My hair is usually in a pony tail, hanging out of the back opening. My bangs are also smashed flat by the bill of the hat. Not a very pretty sight!

Looking back at all of these pictures, I am always soaking wet, so the hat, shoes and shirt/cover up really look limp, baggy and generally very unfashionable, along with my hair, which may have even started out as a summery and cute "do".

I also have alot of pictures with "snorkel mask face". This is what happens when you push your snorkel mask up on to the top of your head and your husband takes a picture of you with a huge red ring around the upper part of your face. Oh yes, and your hair is also pushed up and stuck underneath the mask in a very unbecoming manner.

I even have a variety of pictures that show me in a tube floating down Hill Country rivers. No matter who you are, these are never flattering. I usually have on a cowgirl hat, much to my daughter's complete embarrassment.

Now I do have cute bathing suits and cover ups, but you can't wear them during our water activities. They just will not hold up to black tubes and river water or salt water. Also, one trip to Schlitterbahn leaves them in shreds.

As I sadly looked back over these photos the other day, I thought about what future generations would think of their great, great grandmother pictured in various forms of soggy attire. Sure there are family holiday pictures of me all dressed up, but there are many, many more of these soggy vacation pictures. They will think that I spent all of my spare time participating in some water activity. Then I realized something. Since the majority of these pictures show me happily involved in a water sport, my future heirs will think what a cool, athletic woman I was! They will say, "Wow, wasn't she something! She was a total water athlete and at her age, can you believe it. I bet that is why little Karen (named after me of course) is so athletic!!!" It made me smile. Those of you who know me well would never even think of using the word "athletic" in your description of me. So, I tucked all of those pictures back into their various boxes and albums, secure and happy in the knowledge that a whole new generation of relatives will think I was an ATHLETE!

Note to self: Delete this post when I get a little older so that future generations will not read this, which would totally spoil my athletic image!

CLOSET PROJECT

2009-07-18T12:50:00.001-07:00

This use to be an entrance hall coat closet. It has now been redone into a sewing/craft closet. Did my husband do this for me? No! Is this my closet in my home? No! Instead, this closet is in the home of son and daughter-in-law, Adam and Carey. Why is this not in my home? I don't know. Not that Carey doesn't really, really deserve this. After all, she did give us three wonderful grandchildren. Also, she sews better than anyone that I know. She is so talented. She also sews alot!!
Notice how when the door is opened, you see this! A neatly organized and creative space. Did my husband, father of Adam and Papaw of the 3 gorgeous grandchildren help with this project? No! Did he even show any interest in letting Adam teach him how to do this? No! Instead he was just very impressed and so proud that Adam and Carey created and completed this beautiful work space.

Not that I am bitter about this in anyway. Carey sews alot of what the grandchildren wear, complete with elaborate costumes for school activities. She even recovered a couch in the blink of an eyes. I am constantly amazed. However, I do wish that my husband would also take an interest in home improvements like his son!! Hint! Hint!

OK, so I don't sew much anymore but I can still be jealous of this space. Dear husband, if you are reading this, maybe I would sew more if I had this space. Or maybe not! However, I do love organized and pretty spaces and who wouldn't love to open up a closet and see these beautiful color coordinated jars of ribbons and notions. It is definitely inspiring.

Adam and Carey, can you keep the talent a little more hidden? You are making the rest of us look very bad! Love you two!!!

FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND DESSERT BAR

2009-07-17T14:12:00.000-07:00

I also love to decorate my dessert bar. I like to put my dessert forks in some type of holder. This is a shell vase that I have and it was perfect for my forks.

I threw a decorative net over my buffet to complete the look. These nets are available in Wal-Mart's party section. These are the same ones I have used before on my table. Just throw them over your tablecloth for a nautical tablescape . Carey made a cream cheese pecan pie, but I do not have any pictures of it. It was delicious. I will get the recipe from her and share it with you. However, I did get a picture of these cute little babies!

These are brownies and let me tell you how I made them. Bake your favorite brownie recipe in a mini muffin pan. While the brownies are cooling, make the hamburgers. For this, you will need mini vanilla wafers and 4 small bowls of butter cream icing. Tint the icing brown, red, yellow and green. Take one mini vanilla wafer and turn it upside down. You will then layer the icing-brown for the hamburger patty, red for ketchup or tomato, yellow for mustard and green for lettuce. Then top with another mini vanilla wafer. You can use a knife to spread each layer, but I used cake decorating bags with a round tip.

When you place the hamburgers on top of the brownies, dab a little icing on top of the brownie to help hold the burger in place.

So cute and very easy. Enjoy!!

FOURTH WEEKEND DINNER

2009-07-17T13:20:00.001-07:00

Normally, I use the traditional red, white and blue decorations for my table on the Fourth of July. However, this year I did something different. I decided to have a nautical tablescape.

Please notice the wicker chargers with the shell border. Last year, I forced, um I mean, I had Sonny accompany me into Pottery Barn. He looked around and finally said, "Out of all of this junk, I actually like these." He was pointing at these chargers which were on a table in the bedding section. I picked up one and almost fainted at the price. Two weeks later, I had an appointment near the same Pottery Barn. To kill some time, I forced myself to go in. In the clearance section, there were 2 of the shell chargers marked 80% off. I grabbed a sales lady to check in the back for more, but I was told those were the only two, which was why they were marked so low. Then I remembered the table in the bedding section, which I had thought was strange when Sonny & I saw it there on our previous visit. The chargers were still there because everyone had forgotten about that table and they gave them to me at the same price. The runner is also from Pottery Barn. I found that in Austin. It was $6.99! There are bargains to be had at Pottery Barn, but you have to be there at the right time, which can be hard to do.

I used my shell dishes and placed cute decorated cookies as a favor at each place setting.

These hurricanes are some that I have had for several years and that I usually use in the Fall. I partially filled them with white decorator sand and placed silver coated shells on top of the sand. The silver shells are available at Pottery Barn. However, wait until the end of the season, like I did, and they deeply discount them.

The napkin ring holders are from Target. They were in the party section and were $1.99 for a set of four.

This tablescape was fun and easy. We made the food easy also. We threw steaks on the grill and had a yummy salad and a really easy potato dish that I will post soon.

FOURTH OF JULY

2009-07-17T12:46:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the Fourth. Sonny has a good friend who works in the Federal Reserve Building. Every year The Fed hosts a Fourth of July party. The big downtown Houston celebration is right in their back yard. Tinsley Park is across the street. Clay Walker preformed and we had a front row seat for the fireworks. We also were treated to dinner and a V.I.P. tour of The Fed. Have you ever tried to pick up a gold bar? They are really heavy! We also got to tour the historical section that included Confederate and Union money among other old bills. Also, a $10,000.00 bill and a $5,000.00 bill were displayed.

We were able to take along some of the younger Goodes. Ethan was absolutely fascinated with the large clear columns filled with shredded worn out bills that had be taken out of circulation. Everyone received a small tube that contained 20 shredded bills of various denominations. He was very disappointed when he was told that he would be unable to piece them back together. Still - the possibility kept him pumped all night.

You will notice that we were so close to the stage that Ben had to wear ear protectors. Ethan looks a little sleepy in this picture (probably dreaming of all that he could buy if he could piece those bills together) and Emma is not pictured as she never sat down. She found a new friend to play with. It was a fun evening and the fireworks were fantastic.

DIRT CAKE RECIPE

2009-07-08T13:55:00.000-07:00

As promised, here is the Dirt Cake Recipe:

Dirt Cake

¼ cup (1/2 stick) margarine
8 oz cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar (sift before adding to mixture)
3 ½ cups milk
2 3-oz pkgs INSTANT French vanilla pudding mix
12 oz. Cool Whip (defrost in the fridge – not on the cabinet)
1 large pkg Oreo cookies
A flower pot or a pail large enough to hold 3 quarts
Gummy worms or silk or plastic flowers

Crush the cookies and set aside .Mix the butter, powdered sugar
and cream cheese until smooth. In another bowl, prepare pudding
by beating pudding mix and milk together; fold in Cool Whip.
Fold the cream cheese mixture and the pudding mixture together.
Wash flower pot or pail well, then line with aluminum foil.
Layer the crushed cookies and the pudding mixture in the pot or
pail as follows: 1/3 cookies, 1/2 pudding mixture, 1/3 cookies,
1/2 pudding, 1/3 cookies. Chill to set.
To serve: garnish pail of "dirt" with gummy worms or flower
pot filled with "dirt" with silk or plastic flowers.

This is the original recipe that I cut out from the Houston Chronicle many, many years ago. Now, I have to tell you that if you make the above recipe, it will not turn out like mine. We do not use instant anything around here, much less instant pudding. However, it would sure be alot easier to use it and hey, if your family is use to it, why not. Another change that I usually make to the original recipe is that I make chocolate pudding most of the time. Not that the vanilla is not good, but we are a bunch of chocoholics around here.

I usually serve this in a flower pot, but since my tablescape was an "ocean theme", I decided to use sand pails. The pails are so much easier because there is not a hole in the bottom like there is in flower pots. Also, you do not have to worry about the lead content of the pot and that saves you from lining it in plastic wrap and foil like I usually do. To get the cookie layer to look like dirt, I highly recommend using a food processor. It is fast and easy. The first layer is the cookie mixture, followed by the pudding layer and you alternate layers until the bucket is full, ending with the cookie layer.

Here is the finished product. When I do this in a flower pot, I put gummy worms on top along with a silk flower. It is really a cute dessert. Also, I have been known to put gummy worms in each dirt layer so that when you spoon it out of the pot, worms hang off the spoon with each scoop like they do in real dirt. Now this is a little too realistic for me, but try telling that to your little girl who thinks that would be the greatest thing. Never mind that several party guests would not eat it. (Jenny Birthday Memories!)

Another variation on this that I have done, especially when you are using a sand pail for a nautical theme party, is to crush shortbread cookies or vanilla sandwich cookies. The cookie layer will then look like sand. I added a little brown sugar on the top layer of the vanilla cookie mixture which made it look even more like sand. I also laid chocolate shells on the top of the final "sand" layer. It was really cute.

Enjoy!

WHAT HAPPENED TO MY JUNE BLOGS!

2009-06-27T18:15:00.000-07:00

Alot of people don't blog very often because they just don't have anything they wish to share or they forgot to take pictures. I have a ton of pictures and happening that I need to share with you so that is not my excuse for not blogging in June. Sometimes bloggers just don't have the time. I will admit that I am behind because we were only home 8 days in a 4 week time period. However, the main reason that I have not kept up with my blogging is that I have been traumatized. What Mother wouldn't be when her daughter/baby ups and suddenly decides to move across the country. How can one blog during times like these? Well, OK, if you read the post directly below this one, you know that she did prepare me somewhat, but still! I'm traumatized! However, I did manage to pull myself together and give her a going away party.

Matt & Jenny love the ocean so that was the theme.
I got the cute palm leaf place mats at the Pottery Barn Outlet. The fish netting that I used as a runner was purchased at Wal Mart in their clearance bin. The menu consisted of some of Jenny's favorite dishes. Notice those pink sand pails - they contain one of her favorite desserts, Dirt Cake. I will post the recipe later. No need for a centerpiece when you can use the dessert as one.

All the guests were asked to bring a Texas themed gift.

What Texas girl can leave the state and survive without an ice tray that produces ice shaped like Texas!

Also, the number one complaint of displaced Texans is the lack of good picante sauce once you leave Texas. So we fixed them up complete with a Texas shaped crystal sauce bowl in which to serve it.

Jenny and Matt are now safely in Colorado and have settled nicely into their new home. They love it and have already been camping in the mountains. However, Jenny has found a few drawbacks. She cannot find Blue Bell Ice Cream, even though she was told that the Russell Stover candy shops carry it. I think that is about to become a crisis! Also, Colorado does not have the Hair Salon Chain that she uses. She did find one in Wyoming, but Matt would not give the OK for her to make that drive when she needs to get her hair done. Sometimes men just don't understand! (<;

MY BABY IS GONE!!!!!

2009-06-25T11:53:00.001-07:00

Yes, it is official, my baby is gone. She moved! Right out of the state of Texas to Colorado! She sold her house and got another job in Colorado. She also took her sweet, wonderful husband, dog, cat and fancy "green" washing machine with her. Yes, I am afraid she really is gone! Not that she didn't warn me or prepare me for this moment. Let me tell you our story. You see, she was not suppose to make it into this world. After many prayers and the doctors declaring her a miracle, God gave our family this precious little girl.
Her pediatrician remembers seeing me sitting in her waiting room for the first time. I was all dressed up in my pink suit with matching shoes and purse. Sitting beside me were two precious and well behaved little boys dressed in their neatly pressed, preppy clothes. The doctor and her nurse, whom I was about to interview to see if they were worthy to care for my precious baby, watched as I carefully explained to the boys that they were not allowed to run and jump in the waiting room like the other children. I then handed them color books and crayons from my perfectly color coordinated toy bag and they quietly colored as we waited. At that point, the doctor turned to the nurse and said, "I think God looked down on this perfect little picture of a mom with her children and decided to liven things up a bit." Oh sure, she tried to tell me that critically ill babies, like the one that I was about to have, had to be fighters, had tremendous wills to live, very strong personalities, and used words like stubborn, head strong, high strung, a challenge to raise, etc. but did I believe her? If I did, that all went right out of my mind the first time I held that tiny, perfect, beautiful little girl with all those dark curls.

At 6 months old, this beautiful child dressed head to toe in pink and lace complete with a pink bow in her dark curls, arrived back in the doctor's office. It was for the third time in one week, with a haggard looking mother demanding tests be run. Surely the baby was in pain. She went from a sleeping angel with a soft feminine cry to a bellowing, screaming machine. One brother, at 3:00am in the morning, sleepily asked if we could take her back to the hospital and leave her! After determining that indeed, Baby Jenny was progressing nicely, the doctor reminded me of that strong personality that she had warned me of. However, she also pointed out that these children are natural born leaders, outgoing, courageous, very intelligent, motivated, achievers, fearless, strong and provide challenges in parenting. Obviously I had alot of work to do!

I was determined that she would indeed be the image of what I imagined a daughter to be. I would provide her with every opportunity to be a sweet, calm little girl. I imagined her sitting happily in her pink carpeted room with her canopied bed playing with all of her dolls and tea sets. And I did provide those! However, I can still see her tossing the dolls aside and picking up one of her brother's large metal Tonka trucks and trying to hit him over the head with it.

She declared her independence at age one! She refused to put on any clothes I picked out for her. At age 4, she found out about college and declared that she would go and would definitely live on campus, away from me. Dolls, tea sets, ballet and tap lessons were very quickly replaced with stuffed and plastic animals of all kinds followed by a real horse and riding lessons. I adjusted. I admired her toughness, fearlessness and courage. Every time I had to tell her no, which was quite often, she told me she could not wait to be on her own.

I don't know if she sensed that I needed help to let her go or if she loved me enough to prepare me, but in her teen years, she often told me she was moving out the day she turned 18. Finding out that she would need me to help pay college bills, she then tried to go to college as far away as she could, which to her was in California. She almost made it, but settled for Texas A & M. When she graduated from college, she also gave me plenty of time to adjust to her next stage of independence. She got engaged to Matt, whom we loved, and she followed the proper wedding time line so there was plenty of time to prepare. The wedding was beautiful and fun, just like she wanted it. They bought a house and lived a mere 30 minutes away. AND THEN they lived happily ever after close to family and friends. Not! This is what happened next!

This picture represents everything that Jenny and Matt own and it is headed for Colorado. OK, to be fair, she did start preparing me 2 years ago. Each time she and Matt made a trip to Colorado, she called me and said, "You do know we are serious about moving to Colorado, right?" Who would have thought that with the economy in the state it is in, house sales down, and unemployment up, that they could pull this off. Not me! Wasn't going to happen at least not any time soon, right? Wrong! I forgot that beautiful baby with those dark curls did grow up to be a born leader, outgoing, courageous, very intelligent, motivated, an achiever, fearless and strong. Of course they would be able to sell their house and find great jobs and a great place to live in Colorado.

I'm happy for them, no I really am. It makes parents proud when their children achieve their goals and live their dreams. But does it have to be in Colorado? No, I really am happy for them, I really, really am. Yes, my daughter grew up to be everything that I could hope for. She even turned into the dainty, very feminine lady that I wanted her to be, as you can see by the below picture.

OK, maybe not, but a girl has to have one last fight with her older brother before she leaves for Colorado, right?!! Love you and miss you Jenny and Matt!

TEXAS BIRTHDAY DINNER

2009-06-08T14:51:00.001-07:00

We celebrated Michael's and Jenny's birthday. I decided on a Texas theme. Michael loves the Houston Rodeo and country music and Jenny has always loved horses and riding. Of course, I love anything Texas and bluebonnets are my favorite! For those of you looking for tablescape ideas, the red stars are cookie cutters and the runner is actually two dish towels from Kohl's clearance table.

The silverware are in a blue jean pocket and the napkin ring holder is a Texas cookie cutter. I was not able to find enough Texas shaped cookie cutters, so some place settings have cowboy hat cookie cutters. Believe it or not, I found those for $1.00 each at Sur la Table. The place card holder is a red heart (for deep in the heart of TX) and I also used these at my Valentine's Day Bunco party. I found these paper sheriff's badges on the internet, which I printed on card stock, and wrote each person's name on them as a place card.

Here is my sweet family and we enjoyed a good old Texas supper of Haystacks. I will include the recipe below. Happy Birthday to Michael and Jenny!

HAYSTACKS

1 bowl of cooked white rice

1 bag Fritos

1 pot of your favorite Chili

Shredded Lettuce

Chopped Tomatoes

Chopped Avocados

Chopped Onions

Favorite Shredded Cheese

Put all of the above in serving bowls in a line on a serving table or counter. Starting with the first ingredient, put the rice on your plate, followed by some Fritos on top of the rice. Next add Chili on top of the Fritos and well you get the picture. You keep building with the rest of the ingredients and create a "hay stack". This dish is great for everyone as each person can make their own hay stack according to their likes/dislikes and dietary needs. Dieters can just have the salad! Of course, we had cherry tarts and blackberry cobbler for dessert and that is not diet!

Enjoy!

FISH FRY

2009-05-28T16:53:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in my last post, Bubba fried fish for us. Please note Saturday's catch in the square pan. Bubba even fried the fish in two different kinds of batter - half in beer batter and half in corn meal batter. Let me tell you, Sonny just kept eating those fish as fast as Bubba could fry them. Of course, that was just so that he could decide which batter he liked best. To be completely fair, Sonny decided that we were going to have to go up another weekend and let Bubba fry another batch. He can then do another taste test, and maybe reach a final decision! This could take all summer - get the frying pan ready Bubba!!

Dorothy has decorated her house beautifully. We stay in the "Rose Bedroom" when we visit and it is as pretty as any Bed and Breakfast that you have ever been to. (Also, remember the pancakes!) So it was with much horror that I discovered the above bag full of bait sitting on Dorothy's pretty kitchen counter tops. I know that Dorothy is probably use to it, but still . . .!!!

Thankfully they did not stay in the house to long. Instead, they went in the boat with the fishermen and were partly responsible for the below picture! Mrs. 25 lb. Catfish decided to have an afternoon snack and did not realize that 3 men were waiting for her. It took one man to drive the boat, one to hook her on the line and another to haul her in the boat with a net to keep the line from breaking or her slipping off the hook. As you can see, they were successful. That is alot of catfish fillets!!

Over our three day stay, the men fished most of the time and they really caught alot of fish! The guys did allow us to go with them the first afternoon and it was so nice to be on the lake.

However, they really got down to business after that and that did not include us, as I think we cramped their style. The lake might be Sonny's favorite spot, but while he is off fishing, I am enjoying my favorite spot. "Sonny, can you bring me a glass of tea before you take off fishing?"

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

2009-05-28T16:37:00.001-07:00

For Memorial Day Weekend, we went to Lake Livingston to see Buffy and Daphne who are pictured above. They run the house. However, they did let their people come out and play with us, so we also had a good time with Bubba and Dorothy Kay.

Now Bubba and Dorothy are some of the most hospitable people that we know. If you spend the weekend with them, Dorothy will fix you a fabulous breakfast using fresh farm eggs and her pancakes are to die for. Bubba also cooks for us. As you can see, we had a fish fry, but more about that in the next post. Let me tell you, there is nothing better than Bubba's home cooking on the porch.

This is the beautiful view that we enjoyed as we ate our meals on their front porch. Thanks for a great, relaxing weekend!

APRIL IN PARIS

2009-05-21T07:51:00.000-07:00

I always try to change my dining room

decorations every month.

April in Paris is one of my favorite themes and I confess that I have kept it through May. Guess I should call it Spring Time in Paris.

I wish I could say that I got all of these items at the Dollar Store, but that was not the case. I was close however. Most everything came from Marshalls so it was at a deep discount.

Sylvia, Donnie and Christine gave me a gift certificate from Pier One and that is where I found these beautiful runners. An added bonus is that they are reversible. On the other side is a beautiful flower pattern. I was so excited as the striped pattern side of the runner matches my Eiffel Tower Picture, that I have had for several years.

Since I am now working with a very large table (and I don't even have all of the leaves in) I have found that most runners are too short. My solution is to put two runners together and place the center decoration over the seam to disguise it. It really works well.

OK girlfriends! Where are all of you? You better clear your calendars because I have some Paris dishes that need using!!!!!

MOTHER'S DAY

2009-05-21T07:20:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day was fun. We all went to P.F. Changs to celebrate. We sat at one of the kitchen tables. You can't see it, but the kitchen is right behind me. These tables are suppose to be premium tables and many people reserve them because you can watch the cooks prepare your food. I guess you are suppose to feel like you get the bonus of seeing a cooking demonstration. As a veteran of many cooking classes, it was not instructional at all, it was just noisy! However, the company was great!!!

Notice the most important part of the meal. That would be the dessert shots.

In case you don't recognize the paper on that huge present, it is from Williams and Sonoma. You can't got wrong with that. Michael, Ryan, Jenny & Matt, thanks for a great time and I will definitely enjoy the presents!

TODAY'S FLOWERS IN THE GARDEN

2009-05-13T07:03:00.001-07:00

Another pretty day and another beautiful flower day. Better enjoy them now before the summer heat melts them all away!

Guess which one is my favorite!!! (Hint - think pink!)

CROSBY PEP RALLY

2009-05-05T17:01:00.000-07:00

My niece, Taylor, is a 7th grade Crosby Middle School Cheerleader. I was so excited to go to her Pep Rally and watch her cheer. She did such a good job and please note how beautiful she is!

I have to explain about the video. For some reason, the first girl in line kept jumping in front of Taylor. Didn't she know I did not want her in the video?(: Then, my sister, to help me get a better view of Taylor, took my camera and turned it sideways! I did manage to film Taylor's back flip. She has worked so hard on that and tells me that she will soon be able to do it without using her hands. Obviously, she did not get this talent from her Aunt! Also, Congratulations Taylor for making 8th grade Cheerleader!

TRIP TO GALVESTON

2009-04-28T17:19:00.000-07:00

Galveston has always been special to Sonny and I. We both have so many great childhood memories of trips there - even camping trips. We now really sympathize with our poor Mothers when we think about that, but that is another story.

We took our own children on lots of outings to Galveston. Even now, one of our favorite ways to spend a Saturday is to go down to Galveston, sit on the sea wall and read, wander around the historic district and eat at a favorite restaurant. Since Hurricane Ike, we had not been to our beloved city because we knew it would break our hearts.

I saw a tiny bit of the destruction going to and from the cruise terminal. However, Sonny explored alot of the island when he dropped us off for the cruise. He decided I could handle it and we drove down two weeks ago. As long as you stay on the sea wall, things are not so bad. The first picture was included to show you the cruise ship we travled on leaving Galveston for another cruise. As you can see, the sea wall and the jetties are still there. One good thing is there is alot more beach in some places as the city has been hauling in alot of sand. Most of the seawall restaurants are open for business also.

It is sad that the fishing piers are gone and all that is left of Murdocks is just a few sticks standing in the water.

So, I was holding up pretty well until we went down Broadway to go to the historic district to eat. The first thing I noticed was that all of the beautiful flowers and oleanders are either gone or dead. Those beautiful oak trees that lined Broadway were bare just as though it was winter. Most all the plant life is dead. I was so shocked I didn't even take a picture. It was that way pretty much throughout downtown also. The businesses are slowly coming back to life, but alot are still in the rebuilding process, especially on the strand. I know it could have been worse, but it is still sad.

As we drove around, we saw two beautiful weddings, so life goes on, even without trees.

EASTER DINNER

2009-04-28T16:58:00.000-07:00

Michael, Ryan, Jenny, Matt & Mom celebrated Easter dinner with us. While I prepared the usual menu with some help with the side dishes from Jenny & Mom, I got a little carried away with the desserts. Having just arrived home from the cruise, maybe I felt that I needed to prepare a dessert bar since we had experienced 7 days of dessert bars. Or maybe I felt the need to finally have desserts that tasted good. Whatever the reason, I went on a baking spree.

Matt, Mom and Michael really enjoyed the carrot cake.

Blackberry cobbler is a favorite of Sonny's and has been Ryan's favorite dessert since he was old enough to pick the blackberries from the back field.

Last but not least, these cherry tarts were for Jenny.

Here is everyone full and happy!

GOODE EASTER EGG HUNT

2009-04-28T16:24:00.000-07:00

Our grandchildren are fast and when you tell them there are 100 eggs filled with candy and bonus eggs with money inside, they are even faster! I took at least 25 pictures of them hunting the eggs, and all of them are of their backs!

No matter how hard I tried, they would briefly look at the camera and then take off right as I was snapping the picture. As you can see, Benjamin caught on fast this year. After finding 2 eggs, he knew exactly what to do and that there was candy inside!

I finally had everyone sit down after all of the eggs were found and this was the only one that I was able to get of all of them looking at the camera.

Oh yes, the adults were not left out. Each Mom got to take home a flower pot full of eggs shaped cookies and suckers.

GOODE FRIDAY

2009-04-28T15:43:00.000-07:00

Sorry I am so late posting my Easter pictures. Sunday of last week, Sonny experienced what we thought was one of his occasional health issues. Instead, it turned out to be a small virus. We know this because within 24 hours, I had a very, very big virus. It laid me out for the whole week. Yuck!

On to a happier event. We had the Goode side of the family over for Good Friday.

I really enjoy decorating for Easter. Spring is my favorite time of year.

We could hardly get the grandchildren to eat as they were so excited about the Easter Egg Hunt.

While the children were all excited about the Easter Egg candy to be found, all of the adults could not wait to dig into Carey's chocolate cheesecake courtesy of Paula Deen. It was yummy!

SPOILED!!!!!!

2009-04-14T12:18:00.001-07:00

Before we even got off the boat, I told Mom that she was going to miss being pampered. Seven days of non stop service will do that to you. I also told her not to call Sonny and I and say any of the following because we were not picking up where the cruise left off!!!!

Why is my bed not turned down and a cute towel animal on my pillow?

I need my hot tub and pool!

What happened to the beautiful water outside my window?

Where is the fabulous French dining room with all of the wonderful waiters?

I want to eat lunch in either the Monet dining room, the Lido deck buffet, the pool side grill, or maybe I should just order room service!

Yes, I warned her. Don't think she hasn't tried to at least get us to fold her some cute towel animals. It is hard to come back to reality. Well, to tell you the truth, right about now I wouldn't mind having lunch at the pool side grill or maybe even some room service! Glad you had such a wonderful time Mom!

CRUISIN' FOOD

2009-04-14T10:43:00.000-07:00

If you have ever been on a cruise, you know that one of the highlights is the food. Mom quickly discovered that this was one aspect of cruising that she could become spoiled to. Not only do you spend seven days not having to plan menus, go to the grocery store or cook, but wonderful food is available 24 hours a day. She quickly adapted to having a waiter drop her beautifully folded napkin in to her lap and bringing her whatever she wanted to eat with a mere wave of her hand.

Claiming to have never had room service before, she was elated to have breakfast served to her on china in our room. She even learned how to order it herself.
She also came to appreciate the beautiful desserts that the chefs create. I am always amazed what a pastry chef can do with a little bit of flour or spun sugar. However, these beautiful desserts are only good to look at. Mom discovered, as I have, that European pastry chefs are all about the presentation, not about the taste.

As beautiful as all of these desserts are, they just cannot compare to good old Texas desserts. Give me cobblers, pies, M & M cookies, Texas Sheet Cake and cake balls anytime, especially those made from my family's heirloom recipes.

Sorry dear readers, but those fancy, French culinary trained pastry chefs need a few lessons from a Texas home cook. Maybe our desserts are a little lacking on presentation (however, I think I do a pretty good job of presentation when I set my mind to it), but Texas homemade desserts have these beat by a long shot when it comes to taste.

Even the classics such as cheesecake, creme brulee, and the simple cupcake fall short in the taste department. I'll put my 40 year old cheese cake recipes, cupcake recipes and Louisiana creme brulee recipe up against theirs any time. However, I will give them credit for creating spun sugar that looks like coral. Maybe that is the problem. They spend all of their time shaping pastry to cover a fruit pudding boat and hours spinning sugar. The chef is too exhausted to worry about how the dessert actually tastes!

Of course, I have heard that Americans like things too sweet and that is why we do not care for European desserts. I am not sure about that theory, but I know good desserts when I taste them and these are not it! Still, I always enjoy looking at them and taking pictures.

Now mind you, we did not go without sugar for seven days. All cruises have ice cream machines that are open 24 hours a day. Mom especially looked forward to the chocolate ice cream. Now that I think about it, since Galveston is their home port, that ice cream must have been Blue Bell! No wonder we liked it!

CRUISIN' ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON

2009-04-13T13:08:00.000-07:00

My Mom has an extreme gene. Thankfully, while she has passed it on to innocent family members, it is in a much weaker form. Mom has the "motion sickness" gene and it is the worse kind. She doesn't even have to be on a moving object to experience motion sickness. She can merely look at a floating boat, moving car or flying plane and become deathly ill. She also does not bother with such things as patches or pills to prevent becoming ill. Thus, no one in the family will willingly travel with her.

It became her goal to take a vacation and after many, many months of negotiations, she
convinced me to go on a cruise. Now mind you, starting six months out, I called her every day to remind her to get patches, pills, motion sickness bracelets, and any other motion sickness remedy known to mankind. She also had to promise that she would actually use them while on the trip. Many family members called or wrote me to first see if I was out of my mind, and then, once they were satisfied that I was indeed sane, warned me of the big mistake that I was making.

Thus, it was with a heavy heart that I got on the boat with her and watched land slowly disappear. However, miracles do still occur. I am pleased and proud to report that Mom did not get sick. She used all of her meds. and cruised like a veteran sailor. Who knew!
It was a great time of the year to cruise. The seas were beautiful and for the most part, calm. However, with all schools back in session after spring break, I will tell you that 75% of the people on the boat were her age and older. My single sons were glad to learn that bit of information so that they could better time their cruise should they decide to schedule one.

These pictures were taken in Key West, Freeport and Nassau. Mom had a great time and is ready to get back on the boat!

PAYING YOUR CHILDREN BACK!!

2009-03-27T11:48:00.001-07:00

We had lots of "safety rules" for our children while they were growing up. Many, I am sure, were ignored by them when we were out of sight.

Our children now have lots of "safety rules" for us when we are in charge of the grandchildren. Many of those, it seems, are ignored when we are now out of their sight!

Playing around the water can be hazardous, especially when playing on the rocks!

Mountain climbing can also be dangerous!

Swimming can be unsafe, especially when you dive from the tops of the trees!

I'm not sure why a picture of this sign was taken except maybe to prove that they did take showers during the trip!

*Note, the author of this blog is not responsible or liable for any of the content/pictures of the post titled "Paying Your Children Back" and does not necessarily represent the views of said author.

TUBING AT GARNER

2009-03-27T11:34:00.000-07:00

Getting ready to tube?
Ethan shooting the rapids

Jeremy riding the rapids

Yes, sometimes you just have to get out and walk!

MORE GARNER HIGHLIGHTS

2009-03-27T11:16:00.000-07:00

The boys will tell you that Papaw does not take the easy trails up Old Baldy. Since Jenny set the bar by climbing the hardest trails when she was only 9 years old, all grandsons must now also do it or Papaw will remind them that a girl beat them!

Let me tell you, Papaw says this set of grandsons are the best and are very tough. Papaw also says that he is really missing Ethan and Jeremy this week. I think he might have had more fun than they did.

GRANDSONS' GARNER TRIP

2009-03-27T10:39:00.000-07:00

Sonny and grandson's Ethan and Jeremy celebrated Spring Break in Garner State Park. The tradition of going to Garner State Park was started by my parents. Some of my fondest vacation memories are of cousins, tubing, camp fires, and sleeping under the stars at Garner. We were fortunate enough to be there during the golden years of the 1960's and 1970's. Naturally, I wanted my children to have the same great experiences. Sonny and I believe that all children need to camp out in tents at least one time. We fulfilled that obligation with our children and I was grateful when we moved up to cabins. However, he wanted to next generation to also start by tent camping and so they went on a "guys only" trip, with my full blessings.

No Garner camping trip would be complete without climbing Old Baldy. I also remember climbing Old Baldy while I was in elementary school. Was it that long ago?

It is always a great accomplishment when you get to the top for the first time. It is even more fun to have Papaw take your picture standing right on the edge for Mom and Dad to see!

By all reports, everyone had a great time! Some highlights included the boys earning nicknames of Rock and Tripper, making s'mores, telling ghost stories around the camp fire, and putting shaving cream in Papaw shoes. (Boys, you were not suppose to tell Papaw that the shaving cream was my idea!)

MORE GRANDDAUGHTER ACTIVITIES

2009-03-21T01:56:00.000-07:00

When you are on an outing with grandchildren, one of the privileges that comes with being a grandparent is that you no longer have to follow the rules that you had for your own children. A stop at a cute cupcake shop for yet another dessert, in the middle of the afternoon, is definitely OK in grandparent land. (Sorry Adam and Carey!!! Well, maybe not!!!)

Sugarbaby's is one of the new "cupcakes only" bakeries that are the latest rage. This place is so cute. It has black and white tiling with elegant pink decor. Cupcake merchandise fills the shelves. Emma was quite taken with the cupcake bath fizzes. I had a hard time leaving behind the cupcake and Paris dishes. However, the beautiful cupcakes displayed in the large bakery case makes you forget about the other merchandise. Sugarbaby's caters to those of us who love icing! Emma chose the chocolate truffle cupcake. As you can see, it has a huge pile of chocolate icing with chocolate shavings sprinkled on top. What you can't see is that a chocolate truffle is baked inside! It is really yummy, but can cause a chocolate overload! Emma was not able to finish the cupcake (I'm sure much to her Mom and Dad's relief) so we had yet another item to share back home with them!

If you get a chance to go into to Houston, put Sugarbaby's on your list as a place to visit. Emma and I might have to go back and try out those chocolate dipped strawberry cupcakes! I think the grandsons might demand to go with us!

Sorry about the small pictures. These were taken with my camera phone as Sonny has our camera to record his Spring Break Trip with the grandsons! More on that later, if he remembers to take pictures!!!

MORE SPRING BREAK HAPPENINGS

2009-03-19T22:25:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, Emma and I made a trip to downtown Houston. Emma was very impressed with the downtown area. Our first stop was lunch at the Dessert Gallery. While the food was very good, dessert was definitely Emma's favorite part.

She ordered the "Design your own cookie platter". Now this is a great idea. The plate arrived with 2 plain sugar cookies and assorted colored icings and sprinkles. Emma decorated and ate a pink bear and was able to take home the fish cookie, icings and sprinkles in a take out box so that she could decorate the other cookie at home to be enjoyed by Mom, Dad and Ben.

Our next stop was The Mad Potter. This is one of those cute places where you can paint a ceramic item of your choice. Emma chose a unicorn. We have to wait a week for it to be fired, but I can tell you that Emma shares my love of pink so it will definitely be a beautiful unicorn.

Granddaughters are so much fun!!!!

SPRING BREAK IN ROCKPORT

2009-03-17T18:39:00.001-07:00

Daryl N. left on the Spring Break Romania Mission Trip last Thursday. Sonny was not able to go this time and agreed to fill in at The Bent Oaks Church of Christ in Rockport, where Daryl is currently preaching. Daryl and Ann graciously let us stay at their place in Rockport, which is right on the water. Note the gorgeous view!

Although it rained alot and was very cold (lower 40's), we hated to complain as all of Texas really needs the rain. Too bad it made the fishing off. However, Sonny did manage to catch two of his favorite fish - Speckled Trout.

We really enjoyed our time on the water and the Bent Oaks congregation treated us so warmly. We enjoyed getting to know all of them. If you are in Rockport, make sure you take the opportunity to worship with them. I bet Daryl will even let you fish off his pier!

FRENCH MACARONS

2009-03-13T22:35:00.000-07:00

I love French macarons. While they come in all sorts of wonderful flavors, I really love the chocolate ones. Of course, I love all things chocolate.

I wish that I could say that I made these in the pictures, but I have yet to achieve that. The pastry chef at Central Market provided these samples.

Usually, I can tackle any type of recipe with courage and ease, but not these French macarons. I have combed all of my recipe books and found several recipes guaranteed to produce authentic macarons like those in Paris. I have diligently studied recipes provided by respectable cooking magazines. I have even spent time researching the best macaron recipe on the Internet. However, I am intimidated by the thought of them.

After all the effort put in to finding the perfect recipe, I struggle at comprehending it. The ingredients are usually listed in grams. Also, what is the "powdered almonds" ingredient that they all seem to list? Many recipes insist that one must beat the egg whites with a wooden spoon - delicately. There are even instructions to do this with a downward motion and back up the side of the bowl. If that is not labor intensive enough for you, each wafer must be squeezed out from a parchment bag.

These little babies can't be baked in a normal 350 degree oven. No, they must be baked in a 180 degree oven with the door propped open. After baking, they have to be removed from the oven with the aid of a glass of water?!! The water has to be placed between the wax paper and baking sheet in order to achieve a water vapor to help release them from the paper when they cool. Now, we have not even gotten to the filling but I think that you get the picture!

Most of the instructions end with a footnote of "This recipe is really delicate, but well worth the effort!" I also failed to mention that these recipes make 50 macarons. Now I really like them, but I do not want 50 of any type of food at my house!

So, have any of you made these? Do you have an incredibly fast and easy recipe for me? Maybe I should post one of my collection of macaron recipes and let some of you bakers accept it as a challenge. I'll be your taste tester!

Another thought is that I could go back to Paris and enjoy macarons on every corner! That sounds like a great idea to me. Anyone want to come along? I know where all the best ones are.

I guess I better continue to be practical. On my occasional trip to Central Market, I go by the bakery and see if the pastry chef felt like doing anything delicate that day. If I am lucky, there are some in the case. I pay my 75 cents and bring a few home.

If I have made you hungry, let me know and you can join me on my next trip to Central Market. It is alot cheaper than airfare to Paris. (At least that is what I keep telling Sonny!)

BROWNIE POPS

2009-03-10T22:48:00.000-07:00

These are the latest thing from Wilton. They are really fun to decorate. Use your favorite brownie recipe and the new silicone molds by Wilton.

I have several tips after making alot of these. They will not come out of the mold in one piece unless you let them cool completely. I mean cold! I now believe that this is the reason that silicone pans are not liked by many bakers. It goes against all the rules of conventional baking. One of the first things we learn is to get a cake out of the pan before it completely cools or it will stick. So, this new rule can be hard to deal with!

The second tip is to buy more than one pan. I got a great deal on mine with a 50% off coupon at Michael's. However, I will watch for another coupon and buy another pan before I make these again. Since you have to wait for them to cool completely, this project will take you all day with one pan. I got so frustrated that I almost caved in and went to Michael's to buy a pan at full price!

Last, I think that using "chunky" sprinkles really makes these cute. They give more of a 3 D effect. I also think they look more professionally done.

This is a fun and easy project and great for kids!

2009-03-07T18:33:00.000-08:00

BRAD WIMS

1974 - 2009

The Heart of a Fighter

Face of an angel

A smile that couldn't be brighter!

Strong-willed---a true Aggie -

He had the heart of a fighter!

Husband, father, son,

servant, teacher, and friend--

He touched all who knew him

With God's Love that never will end.

Valiant, always honest,

Celebrating life through laughter and tears.

Living each day with such zest for life,

Never showing any fear.

Even though life threw him a curve,

He turned this into lessons for all.

Brad's battle has drawn us closer to Christ

As he sang praises to God, until he answered His call.

Aggies, Astros, Rockets and Texans

Christ, Family, Bucky and Friends

His precious Jenny, his Zekey and KK-

His love for them had no end.

We have peace and comfort in knowing

That his soul now flies higher.

We are left with precious memories of our Brad-

He had the heart of a fighter!

Written by his loving family

Brad, we will miss you so much, but will see you again!

MORE BUNCO/DINNER CLUB RECIPES

2009-02-23T11:21:00.000-08:00

Several of you asked for recipes.

The casserole recipe was from a magazine called Home Cooking.

HASH BROWN CHICKEN CASSEROLE

1 (32-ounce) package frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
2 cups cut-up cooked chicken
1 cup melted margarine, divided
1 10 ¾ ounce can cream of mushroom soup
8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
1 small onion, chopped
1 8 ounce container sour cream
2 cups crushed cornflakes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine hash browns and chicken in an ungreased
13x9x2 inch baking dish. Mix together ½ cup margarine,
mushroom soup, cheese, onion, and sour cream.
Pour over potatoes and chicken. Top with cornflakes.
Drizzle remaining ½ cup margarine over top.
Bake uncovered 45 minutes.

This recipe is a Life Enrichment favorite given to me by Sheila Kincaid.

Overnight Fruit Salad

1 pkg vanilla pudding mix (regular, not instant) 3 ¾ oz
1 ½ juice from pineapple, peaches, and pears
1 (20 oz) can pineapple chunks, drained (reserve liquid)
1 (15 oz) can sliced peaches, drained (reserve liquid)
1 (15 oz) can sliced pears, drained (reserve liquid)
2 (11 oz) cans mandarin oranges, drained
Maraschino cherries, cut up
3 bananas, cut up (I don’t include bananas)

Cook pudding as directed on pkg using fruit juice
for the liquid. Cool, fold in fruit, refrigerate overnight.

Enjoy!

WORLD TRAVLERS

2009-02-20T12:13:00.000-08:00

My friend Vickie is a world traveler. She has had the opportunity to live in several great places (London & Venice to name a few) while her husband was on temporary assignment for his company. Vickie and Roland have brought us back "little treats" as she calls them, from many of these travels. I have pink silverware from the Middle East, fabric from England, heart shaped cups and saucers from India and chocolates from everywhere. Sonny really appreciates the chocolates and we both really appreciate their generous and giving hearts.

Vickie also does alot of traveling in our local area. When I am going somewhere, I stick to my agenda. I may see some interesting restaurant/shop and I will make a mental note to visit that sometimes in the future. Of course, I usually forget about it. Not Vickie! She is one of those people who sees something interesting and turns the car around so she can explore. Not only will she check out the business that caught her eye, but she will go to all of the surrounding shops. She really finds great places! The pictures above are of truffles from RainDrop Chocolates located off Waugh Drive. The box alone is really cute and unique so I loved that. However, the truffles are fabulous. I think that they are the best that I have ever had. You will notice that I only have one left! I have mentioned this to Vickie several times, but she just smiles. Do you think that she is getting the hint! Thanks for the special treat Vickie!!!

VALENTINE'S BUNCO/DINNER CLUB

2009-02-15T12:51:00.001-08:00

BEFORE!

AFTER!! Here is the Valentine's Table ready for the girls. I always have so much fun planning and making menus, favors, etc. for my month.

And . . . here are all of my sweet sisters! It was a tight squeeze, but we did it. Thanks to Denise and Mary Jane as they became waitresses when anyone needed anything. Unfortunately, that is what happens when you sit on the end!

THE CHAIR ARRIVED!!!

2009-02-11T10:40:00.001-08:00

Obviously, the Customer Service lady that I spoke to about needing my replacement chair has a Bunco/Dinner Club group. As I mentioned before, she seemed to really understand that I needed that chair. It arrived Saturday.

Here is my sweet husband putting the chair together instead of working on his boat trailer like he had planned to do. He obviously understands about Bunco/Dinner Club also.

My conclusion - the decorator sources are right. It is better, cheaper, easier and faster to buy furniture on the Internet.

NEW CHAIRS

2009-02-07T10:03:00.001-08:00

The new chairs are here! After patiently shopping on the internet, waiting for coupons and the offer of free shipping, I finally purchased chairs to match the new table. While they are not Pottery Barn chairs, they are a close match, solid wood, and a quarter of the cost! So we were really pleased.

I think that they match the table really well and it is a nice change to have sleek, more modern chairs instead of the huge high back chairs that we have had for so long. However, it was hard to say goodbye as alot of memories went out the door with them.

Now, here is the problem. The chairs to the right are a little dark and hard to see with the lighting in this picture, but you can definitely see the shining spot where there is no chair. One of them had a damaged seat. It has now been two weeks and the replacement chair is suppose to be "in the mail". Hopefully it will arrive soon. I did let a lady in customer service know that it was essential that I have that chair before my Bunco party. I'm sure that really hurried things up! According to all of my decorator sources, buying furniture over the internet is now the best and cheapest way to go. I'll let you know!

MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY

2009-02-06T22:39:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday. I love hearts, chocolate, the colors pink and red, and those are in abundance on Valentine's Day. I just love everything that goes with it. Decorating the house is really fun for me. Pink and hearts - you can't get any better than that!

Another thing, Valentine's Day is a holiday where there is no pressure. There are no large meals to plan, no endless shopping lists or presents to wrap. It is a holiday that provides you with an opportunity to send a card or buy a chocolate treat for the ones that you love. Now Sonny has been known to buy jewelry for this occasion and that is OK too! I am so thankful to have a sweet and wonderful husband that makes Valentine's Day special for me because he knows how very much I love this holiday.

As far back as I can remember, my Dad always bought me something for Valentine's Day. As a child, he would usually buy me a heart shaped box of chocolates. I thought that was so glamorous! When I was older, it was usually something that would catch his eye while he was out shopping with Mom. One year it might be a red sweater with hearts and then the next year a heart necklace. He continued this even after I married and had children. Every year, I always knew that I would get at least one valentine - maybe something small and cute or maybe something extravagant. It was always a wonderful surprise. Dad continued this tradition for my sister and I even when he was ill during those last years he was with us, with a little help from Mom. What a wonderful Daddy. I sure miss him and will forever think of him, especially on Valentine's Day. He was my first love.

CHRISTMAS DAY TABLESCAPE

2009-02-06T18:13:00.001-08:00

I always make many different kinds of Christmas candies for the holidays. This year was no exception. However, by Christmas Day, everyone wanted pies. Chocolate is everyone's favorite so I had several chocolate pies.

We could not leave out Michael and Grandpa Goode so Matt and Jenny made pumpkin pies.

Here is the Christmas Day tablescape. Yes, it is traditional and I know I have gotten away from that. However, Sonny loves traditional Christmas decorations and he really liked this tablescape.

I love these plates. The dinner plate is edged in snowflakes but it is hard to see in this picture.

I decided to let the sled do double duty and used it to hold silverware.

While the tablescape is always fun for me, it is great having all of the family together. Love you guys!

PUPPY LOVE

2009-02-06T18:01:00.000-08:00

When Jenny was a toddler, my Mom made her a puppy quilt. Jenny is a huge animal lover and fell in love with that quilt at first sight. She slept with it and wrapped up in it when she was sick. Puppy blanket was really important to her. Puppy blanket went to A & M with her when she left for college. It also went with her when she and Matt got married. However, sadly, puppy blanket was really getting tattered. Mom found the original pattern and asked me if I thought Jenny would like another one. Of course, I knew she would and I asked her to try to make it in an adult size. Mom finished it in time for Christmas and Jenny was totally surprised. I think this was one of her favorite presents!! See that happy smile. Puppy blanket is back!!!!

CHRISTMAS EVE FUN

2009-02-06T17:46:00.000-08:00

As soon as family members arrive at our house, they start looking at the Christmas tree for the pickle! They all know if they find it, they get the pickle prize! To tempt them, we have the pickle prize wrapped in a beautiful box. The pickle is a small green ornament that is hand blown glass and looks exactly like a pickle. Hiding it on a Christmas tree and rewarding the finder with an extra Christmas gift is an old German Christmas tradition. As you can see, it can be quite competitive. Many have come up with inventive ways to find the pickle. There is the standing technique when everyone first arrives. That is soon followed by the squatting technique and finally the laying on the floor gazing up through the tree technique. We've had to get really inventive but so far, it takes awhile for someone to find it.

CHRISTMAS EVE TABLESCAPES

2009-02-06T17:37:00.000-08:00

BEFORE

AFTER

GOODE GRANDCHILDREN

2009-02-06T17:17:00.000-08:00

I love this picture! Ben was more interested in Papaw's dirt than his present. Emma finally opened it for him but he only had eyes for the dirt.

Here is Christine in a dress!

Emma the pretty princess!

Ethan and Jeremy patiently waiting to open presents.

NEW TABLE

2009-02-06T17:04:00.000-08:00

Here is the new "big table" ready for a Christmas party with the Goode side of the family. It was so nice to all sit at the same table for a change. If everyone had been able to attend, we might not have been able to all squeeze in as there are alot of us. I think the boys might have been just as happy eating outside on the patio.

This is very much a child proof table setting. Everything was a dollar except the glasses. They were $2.00 each. We have 4 active little boys eating at this table and I want all the mommies to be able to relax. We had lots of fun and made memories!

MORE CHRISTMAS TREES

2009-02-06T16:51:00.000-08:00

When I really get on a roll, I do my "girly" trees. This year was on of those years. Despite the problems with the main Christmas tree, I decorated my light pink tree with all of my "favorite things" ornaments and my glittery pink tree (thanks Bubba and Dorothy) with my Paris ornaments. I need a better camera that takes really good close ups (hint, hint, Sonny!) but the famous pink poodle is on the Paris tree. That is an inside family joke!

Now many friends and family wonder about Sonny and all of the pink. He does have a tree. It is very, very male. It has fish lights and fishing, police and hunting ornaments. The problem is, if you want a tree, then you have to put it up. He did that twice and it has never happened again. He's grown use to the girly stuff and would miss it if it was gone. Right Sweetheart? Sweetheart, that is right isn't it???

CHRISTMAS TREE

2009-02-06T16:27:00.001-08:00

OK, so while I was in Canton during Hurricane Ike, I went to a Christmas Store. They had really creative ideas and I quickly purchased a wire bucket so that I could recreate one of their beautiful trees. I really enjoy doing something different every year.

Getting that bucket into the tree was not as easy as I thought it would be. After taking it in and out several times over a 3 day time period, I finally called the store and had them guide me through it. Sylvia, recovering from her surgery, watched this whole process and on day three of trying to finish the tree, I announced that I was about ready to give up on the bucket. She stated that she would have thrown the whole tree out the back door three days ago. The idea behind this is that you can fill the bucket with lots of cute ornaments and even little presents for guests to take home. I was just charmed by that. However, the family was not. Each member that came over had an opinion and most were not favorable. The men were particularly harsh! Comments ranged from "It looks like a kangaroo tree", "It looks pregnant", all the way to "What the heck is that?" One son, after looking at it long and hard, stated that he knew that it must be the new thing in decorating, but what was it suppose to represent??!! Of course, Sonny absolutely hated it! I don't think that I am going to try again to do a "bucket tree" next year. One family member suggested that it might look nice under the tree with gifts in it. How boring!!!!

SNOW ON THE GULF COAST??

2009-02-04T22:43:00.000-08:00

Ok, now I am writing what should have been December posts. My friend Dorothy says that after a hurricane, you always have a cold winter. Guess she was right because it snowed December 10!! Not just a little bit, but enough to look like a winter wonderland (for the Gulf Coast). I can't remember when we have gotten so much! It started coming down at about 6:00 pm and we stayed up until 1:00 am admiring it and taking tons of pictures. Much to our surprise, it was still there the next morning. So, we had a great time making a snowman and throwing snowballs.

What a great pleasure during the Christmas season.

HURRICANE IKE BONUS

2009-02-03T15:18:00.000-08:00

There is always a silver lining to every cloud. So, Hurricane Ike was terrible, but he brought me a gift - I got a new table! Yes, this beauty is one that I have eyeing for two years. It is long!!!!! However, we need it with our large family. This picture is without the extra leaves. With those in, we can seat 12 - 14 at one table. Never mind that the person seating at one of the ends can easily reach over and open the front door and that the person at the other end has a view of the kitchen! Hey at least we can now seat you.

I love tablescapes and now I can play to my heart's content with the extra space! This is my fall tablescape. Notice the chairs do not match! Those go with my old table, but new chairs will be coming soon. I am patient and will find just the right ones on clearance. Who knew that chairs cost more than the table!!

PARIS ANYONE??!!!!

2009-02-03T15:05:00.000-08:00

While I was waiting for our electricity and water to be restored after Hurricane Ike, I decided to visit Paris. No, not as in France, but as in Texas. Those of you who have been to our house, know of my love for Paris and have seen my collection of Eiffel Towers. However, this Texas Eiffel Tower is my new favorite. What better way to crown the Eiffel Tower than with a red cowboy hat.

My uncle Johnny and his sweet wife Mary Ann live in Paris, TX. I had never been to their home and decided it was definitely time to visit them and see Paris. What a fun day it was. They indulged me by taking me to see this Texas version of the famous landmark and several shops so that I could buy a Texas Eiffel Tower to add to my collection. Thanks Uncle Johnny and Mary Ann!

WE ARE NAKED!!!

2009-02-03T14:54:00.000-08:00

Don't get excited!! It is our yard that is naked. Hurricane Ike has taken all of our trees! Here is Sonny spending yet another weekend cutting up the trees that Ike broke the tops off of. We waited to see if any could be saved, but they all had to come down. Jenny's special childhood tree, that was outside of her room, didn't make it. Sorry Jenny!

THE DIASTER

2009-02-03T14:34:00.001-08:00

OK, so the date says Feb. 3, 2009. Maybe I am a little late but at least I am trying to catch up! So I am going to just pick up where I left off , which would be to talk about the disruption of Hurricane Ike in our lives here on the Gulf Coast. This is what Hurricane Ike left behind at our house. Doesn't look so bad does it??!! Well, this is the cleaned up version because I was in Canton for 10 days during all of this. I couldn't come back because we had no electricity or water. My sweet husband came home within minutes after the storm passed and cleaned for the next week. I missed our house and yard looking like a bomb went off and he could not take "before" pictures because I had the camera! Yes, we had more damage than we would have liked (water in 4 rooms), but we were so blessed. So many had very little to come home to. As you can see, our house is still standing and we just love the new "blue tarp" roof. It matches all of our neighbors!

SUMMER OF DISRUPTIONS

2008-10-17T11:30:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile since I have posted. However, I actually have a reasonably good excuse. Our first disaster was our desktop crashed. Dead as a door nail!!! To make a long story short, we had no formal backup and some of our attempts at backup were just not adequate. I cried for one whole day over pictures that are now frozen on my old hard drive. I was also heartbroken over losing some of the recipes that friends had shared with me. So, if you know of any good and cheap techs that can get these pictures off of the old hard drive, please let me know.

Several $$$$$ later, we had the computer "redone" complete with a new external hard drive for back up. I couldn't work on the computer for weeks because every time I got on it, it was blank, wiped clean. Where were my Favorites???!!!!! I really stressed every time I turned it on. You never realize how much you have on it until it is gone.

While still in the recovery phase from that loss, the lap top got an Ad Ware bug. Those things are really bad! Back came the tech and after several days and several more $$$$ we had that back, up and running. We lost no data, just money!! There is always a silver lining.

After all of these tech problems, I got a much needed break. I traveled to San Antonio with my sister who was attending a conference. We had a "Girl's Trip" and had so much fun. I think I may have had more fun since she had to work. The San Antonio Riverwalk was so beautiful and one day we had a little "cool front" come in and were able to walk outside all day without doing a melt down.

Little did we know that this was just a lull before the real disaster came!

JELLY AND JAM

2008-06-29T22:21:00.001-07:00

This weekend we visited with our good friends, Bubba and Dorothy Kay who live on Lake Livingston. The last time we visited with them, Dorothy gave us this jar of homemade strawberry jam. It was so delicious and I have been saving this last little bit for that special piece of toast. However, I can now finish this jar off because she sent two more jars of jelly home with us.

Dorothy is a wonderful gardener. She has a flower garden, vegetable garden and grows fresh herbs. (She gave me some of those to take home also!) I am always amazed at her green thumb. While Dorothy does not especially like to cook, and I don't really know why because everything that she has made for us has been excellent, she does can all sorts of things. We are so glad that she likes to make our make our favorite - jelly.

This is her newest creation - BRB Jelly. That stands for Blueberry, Raspberry and Blackberry Jelly. We think it might be our new favorite. When the husbands went fishing on the lake, Dorothy made them peanut butter and jelly sandwiches using this fabulous jelly. My husband, Sonny, said it was the best jelly he has ever tasted.

Now before you even start asking, no this jelly is not for sale. All extra jars that Dorothy makes goes to us!

Thanks Dorothy and Bubba for a fun, relaxing weekend!

BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S PARTY

2008-06-26T22:55:00.000-07:00

What do you serve at a "Breakfast at Tiffany's Birthday Party? Breakfast food of course! This is a picture of the menu and it was a success!

The main course was Boil in a Bag Omelets. Yes, I know that sounds, well kinda gross, but let me assure you that they are wonderful. Each guest picks out their own ingredients for their omelet. Believe me, everyone was very skeptical as to whether the ingredients in their bag would ever resemble an omelet much less taste like one. However, they were pleasantly surprised at how tasty they were and so fun and easy.

Please notice the champagne glass on the left with the fruit salad in it. I bought these beautiful glasses at the Christmas clearance sale at Target. I purchased two sets for 50% off and loved them so much that I went back and was able to buy two more sets for 75% off. If you look close, you will see that the bottom of the glass looks like a crystal door knob complete with silver band. The fruit salad being served in each glass is one of my favorites.

I was not sure what to serve as a beverage until I remembered my friend Jane's Champagne Punch. It is delicious and non alcoholic so my nieces were able to drink it. Naturally, I served it in Champagne glasses.

I saved the best for last. My sister and I both share an adoration for Red Velvet Cake. So, I made Red Velvet Cupcakes for dessert. Red Velvet Cake seems to really be coming back in style now after being absent from the cake scene for a while. Or course, you must make it from scratch! Also, I now include a secret ingredient. One day while eating a piece of red velvet cake from a bakery in Houston, I noticed that it had something extra that made it really good. After a thorough investigation, (sometimes you have to eat two for research purposes), I discovered a layer of chocolate ganache. It really makes a difference in the flavor and makes it more chocolaty like it should be. Also, remember that presentation is everything. So in keeping with Tiffany's pearls and jewels, I used my pedestal cake plate that is dripping in crystals and scattered pearls around the base.

Here is my secret ingredient for Red Velvet Cake.

Ganache Recipe

8 ounces artisan chocolate of your choice, cut into small pieces
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoons vanilla or your favorite flavoring

Place the chopped chocolate in a medium sized stainless steel bowl. Set aside. Heat the cream and butter in a medium sized saucepan over medium heat. Bring just to a boil. Immediately pour the boiling cream over the chocolate and allow to stand for 5 minutes. Stir with a whisk until smooth. Add flavoring. Frost the top of cooled cupcake with ganache and let dry. Ice with homemade cream cheese icing.

Enjoy!

FAVORITE PARTY

2008-06-24T22:28:00.000-07:00

This has to have been one of my favorite parties! My sister loves Audrey Hepburn and we both love Breakfast at Tiffany's. So, for her birthday, I gave a Breakfast at Tiffany's' party. I had so much fun planning it. I used this poster for a "Save the Date" email to all the guests.

I printed the invitations on Tiffany Blue Stationary and used this picture of Audrey on the front of the invitation. Everyone was instructed to wear black and pearls. On the inside of the invitation I printed a jewelry box with a string of pearls in it. I glued real pearls on the necklace as an embellishment

Yes, I found tiaras, like Audrey's, for everyone to wear.

I must say, I thought that everyone would be a little more enthusiastic about them! There seem to be alot of complaining about having to wear them. (:

Here they all are with a smile on their faces! One important guest was missing. My daughter Jenny was sick and could not join us. We sure missed you Jenny!

Of course, I always love creating a tablescape. The Tiffany Boxes in the center of the table are actually real. No, my dear husband does not buy me jewelry from Tiffany's, but my favorite boss and his wife always buy me a Christmas ornament from Tiffany's every year and I just can't throw the boxes away. I found the Tiffany blue sacks and small boxes at a party store. I used the sack to hold the silverware. The favor boxes have pearl bracelets in them for each guest. I used double sided white satin ribbon for the bows, just like Tiffany's!

Please note my bargain deals! I needed something to go between the place mat and plate since both are Tiffany blue. I found white crochet doilies at the Dollar Tree for $1.00. Also, as a place card, I used a pearl initial of each guest's name on her plate. I found those at Michael's in their dollar bin. In keeping with the pearl theme, I used pearl napkin rings and scattered pearls down the center of the table.

I love to decorate, but I bet you are wondering about the party food. I'll give you the low down on my next post!

TO BUSY TO BLOG

2008-06-24T21:18:00.001-07:00

Yes, I have been to busy to blog, but not to busy to give parties! My daughter has been fussing at me because I have not continued my blogging. So Jenny, with your gentle nudging, I am back at it again.

I gave this party in January for my friends Jane, Shirley and Cindy. They have December and January Birthdays!

Notice my place card holders. These are chip bag clips! I found them at HEB in Rockport, TX and yes, they were on the chip aisle. I could not resist them. So cute! I would not let the girls take them home as favors as I plan on using them again!

Now I must admit that I really enjoyed making the party invitations. I love stationary and the computer has opened up a whole new world for me. You can make anything. I find myself wanting to give parties so that I can create a new invitation. I also love cupcakes so these were perfect.

While dessert is always our favorite thing, I served a dish called Avocado Slaw that everyone loved. I got this recipe from my Mother and it is so easy, yet delicious. Everyone tries to guess what the ingredients are. I think that the Hellman's mayo is what makes the difference.

AVOCADO SLAW

1 Bag Coleslaw Mix, (Wash & Dry)
1 bunch green onions, chopped
Hellman’s mayo (Only Hellman’s)
4 avocados, cubed
Toss coleslaw, onions, & avocados together. Add mayo until creamy. Serve immediately as avocados will turn brown.

Enjoy!

CHRISTMAS LADIES' LUNCHEON

2007-12-04T23:05:00.000-08:00

I really enjoy hosting luncheons for my girlfriends and family. While the holiday stress is already kicking into high gear, you can still make time to create a fun, relaxed lunch for your favorite girlfriends.

My creative side really goes in to overdrive when it comes to planning ladies' luncheons. I am a theme person and pink is my favorite color, so these dessert plates were perfect for my table. Guess where I got them - Dollar Tree! Each plate features a different wrapped gift in pink and green. Yes, they only cost $1.00 each. The white dinner plate underneath has raised snowflakes around the edges and they were also $1.00 at Dollar Tree. For $12.00 I have a beautiful table scape.

In my earlier tips on decorating your tree and home for the holidays, I mentioned not fighting your everyday decor. My dining room is done in pastel colors so these plates blend with items that I already have and make my pastel decor festive for the holidays!

Entertaining can be hectic this time of year, but what better way to show someone that they are special to you.

QUICK AND EASY RECIPE

2007-12-01T08:53:00.000-08:00

Here is another quick recipe to help you during all of the holiday rush. This recipe was given to me by my good friend Gina. She is a fabulous cook and has given me several recipes that have become my favorites.

GINA'S STROMBOLI

Frozen Bread Dough (8 in pkg)
Sliced Pepperoni
Deli Ham
Mozzarella Cheese

Take a jelly roll pan and prepare by spraying with a non-stick cooking spray. Also spray a sheet of saran wrap that is large enough to cover the cookie sheet. Take two loaves of the frozen bread dough and let rise all day on jelly roll pan. After the dough rises, punch down and roll out (use flour) as flat as you can. Now your dough is ready to be filled.

In the center, place deli ham, pepperoni, and cheese – one layer, or any of your favorite meat and cheese toppings.
After filling, take both sides and bring to center. Seal like a pocket.
Bake 350 for 20 – 30 min. Slice.

Serve with your favorite marinara sauce for dipping.

Enjoy

KROGER DOLLAR CHRISTMAS ITEMS

2007-11-28T12:37:00.000-08:00

Are you like me where there are some weeks that you are just lucky to have the time to get to a grocery store? As you rush through the aisles grabbing milk, bread and cereal, remember to slow down when you get to the seasonal items. Believe it or not, you can find dollar deals while doing your weekly grocery shopping.

Last week, I was in Kroger hurrying about to get last minute Thanksgiving items. I could not resist stopping on the Christmas aisle. Now, I am not really a fan of plastic dishware, but when I spotted this tray, I had to tap on it to see if it was china. It is plastic but a very classy looking plastic. The price was $1.99. It is a nice size serving tray and it looks like it came out of your Christmas china set.

Kroger had their center aisle loaded with all sort of Christmas items. I especially liked the $1.00 gift bags. As I moved on to the candy, I noticed individually wrapped chocolate snowflake shaped candy. They were a very generous size - as large as a coaster. I have seen similar candies that were in the $5.00-$6.00 range at other stores. Also, I have made candies like these, as I love snowflakes, and they cost considerably more than a $1.00 to make at home.

I was also very surprised to see Christmas shirts at Kroger. There were an assortment of t-shirts and sweat shirts with various Christmas themes ( Christmas trees, candy, snowflakes, etc.) stitched or printed on them. These shirts were a good quality and only $9.99.

My Mom is decorating her tree with poinsettias this year and in the Christmas ornament section, there was a box of white ornaments with pretty red poinsettias painted on them. Each box is priced at only $4.99. Mom added those to her basket. If you are not using a poinsettia theme this year, don't worry, there are many other colors to choose from.

Not enough dollar bargains for you? Well, on your way home from the grocery store, you can always make a quick stop in to your local Dollar tree. There are always bargains there!

2007 HOLIDAY DECO TRENDS

2007-11-26T17:31:00.000-08:00

What is the hottest trend in Christmas trees for 2007? Here it is - a black Christmas tree. I know it may sound, well . . . like you have a dead or burned tree to decorate, but it really can be quite attractive. No, you will not find one in my house, so don't expect it. My husband has still not recovered from my pink Christmas trees. However, black and white is a popular decorating scheme this year and it can look very classy if you want to get away from the traditional red and green. Most of the black trees have high gloss needles and can be very elegant. The ornaments must be bright and contrasting. I've also seen one decorated with solid white ornaments mixed with white ornaments that have a black flocked design on them. Target also has table linens to match the black and white holiday decor and they are actually quite attractive. I especially loved the black and white beaded table runner.

Other tree trends this year are green trees decorated in copper and teal ornaments. Copper is a very hot color in all home decor. Finish the look with brown feathers on top. This creates a very sophisticated look.

I am a huge fan of spray paint. My picture frames alone have been spray painted 4 different colors! I am known as the Spray Paint Queen in my family. However, even I had not thought to spray paint an artificial Christmas tree. Yes, you can do it and it really looks good. Pick the color that you would like to decorate with - for example, the new teal colors. You will need to have teal tree decorations that range from the very lightest color of teal to the darkest. Spray paint the outer branches lightly with the darkest tone of teal spray paint available. Once dry, layer your teal tree decorations light to dark. Very chic! Also, in keeping with the 2007 black and white trend, if you love white flocked trees, then get your spray paint out. Spray paint your ornaments black and then add silver and gun metal gray elements. This tree is stunning with icicles dripping on it.

Elements from nature are also a hot new look. Start with several tall glass vases. Spray paint branches from your yard using your theme color. Silver or gold are especially attractive. Put several inches of fake snow flakes (available at most stores) in the vases and then place the branches inside the vase. Very easy and cost effective! Along with the natural element trend, here is an idea to jazz up your wrapped packages. Spray paint leaves, twigs, pods, pine cones, etc. a metallic color. Tie or glue on to your wrapped packages. These really add elegance and are free!!

I also saw an idea for your wall area. In your entry way or a wall beside your tree, place one of the new Wall Decals. Here is how they work. Favorite holiday quotes are made into transfers. When completed, these transfers look as though they are printed on your wall. They are very elegantly done with scripted lettering and pretty flourishes. They are also very easy to apply. The transfers are printed on white paper. You place the paper on your wall and rub with a flat stick or burnishing tool. When you peel away the paper, the lettering is left on the wall. The great thing about this is that when the season is over, the lettering is completely removeable. It peels right off! My favorite quote was - "Faithful friends who are dear to us, gather near to us, once more." This was placed on the wall beside the Christmas tree. It was so beautiful. What a great way to make family and friends feel special.

Metallic trees are back and they are hotter than ever. I have seen them everywhere and in really bright colors - Teal, Purple, Hot Pink! One tree that was really stunning was a gold metallic tree decorated in green ornaments.

Here are some important tips to remember:

Work with what you have. Don't fight your everyday decor. Contrasting colors can really make a room pop for the holidays.

Accessorize for the holidays with items like curtains, throw rugs and pillows. It takes the room from everyday to holiday with no trouble at all.

Pre-strung garland and pre-lit trees are a great way to save time when decorating.

Finally, relax and enjoy it. After all, it only comes once per year!!!

HOLIDAY RUSH

2007-11-26T17:25:00.000-08:00

With all of the shopping, wrapping, decorating and food you have to prepare for the round of parties you will be attending, who has time to cook dinner?!!! You do - and here is how. Make a batch of Crock Pot Potatoe Soup. You will love this recipe.

CROCK POT POTATOE SOUP

6 large potatoes, peeled into ½” cubes
1 large onion chopped
3 14oz. cans seasoned chicken broth (I used 1 can of plain & 2 seasoned)
¼ cup butter cubed
1 ½ tsp. salt & pepper
1 cup whipping cream
1 cup Cheddar cheese
3 tbs. chives
Bacon
Sour Cream

Put first 5 ingredients into crock pot. Cover & cook on High 4 hours or Low 8 hours until tender. Mash coarsely some of the potatoes to thicken. Stir in cream, cheese & chives. Top bowls of soup with bacon and sour cream.

Enjoy your holiday happenings!!!

BLACK FRIDAY?????

2007-11-25T13:01:00.000-08:00

MERCURY GLASS TREES

I don't know that the retail stores considered it a "Black Friday", but the American Shopper definitely had a good weekend with bargains abounding. However, you do not have to get up at 4 a.m. and fight the crowds to find a bargain.

One of my finds of the year are these Mercury Glass Trees. For two years I have looked longingly at two mercury glass trees in the catalog of a trendy home decorating company. Their mercury trees sale for $29.00 (small tree) and $39.00 (large tree). I refuse to pay that much for items used once a year and despite my best efforts, I never found them on the 1/2 rack on Dec. 26th. So, once again, I received their 2007 catalog and tried to justify buying them yet again. While making my weekly Target run, I make a quick trip down the home decor aisle. Imagine my delight in seeing a mercury glass tree!! I knew the price had to be lower than $29.00, but imagine my surprise to see a price tag of $9.99! Needless to say, I snatched it up. Now you have to love Mercury Glass to appreciate this bargain. My sister shakes her head at my Mercury Glass collection as she does not understand the "shabby chic" look. However, I love Mercury Glass "anything" but cannot justify the high prices. Anything under $10.00 I can and will do! So, I left Target with visions of a Mercury Glass table scape for Christmas.

Several days later, I was in Wal-Mart and decided to check their Christmas Department. The aisles are divided by color and when I reach the end with silver items, there they were - 3 sizes of Mercury Glass Trees! Having memorized the size of the tree in the popular catalog I use as my home trend research guide, I selected the one most like theirs and looked for the price. I could not believe it was only $6.96! You have to love Wal-Mart. Granted, it took a while for the discount stores to catch up, but if you have patience, you can find a bargain.

In the "trendy home catalog", the small tree ($29.00) is on a pedestal. I placed my small tree from Target on a mercury glass pedestal candle base that I already own and you cannot tell that I did not buy it for the pricey home decor store. I will post pictures when I get my Christmas decorating done!

Happy Shopping!!

DOLLAR STORES

2007-11-23T00:18:00.000-08:00

PARTY FAVORS

My favorite shopping experience happens in the Dollar Stores! You may ask why? Well, I love a good bargain - and good bargains abound in the Dollar Stores. However, not all Dollar Stores are equal. I prefer the ones that have a set price for everything in the store - $1.00. My current favorite, and has been for years, is Dollar Tree. My favorite items - centerpieces and favors or take aways. Every guest feels special when they are given a little treat to take home.

The above picture shows purses that I bought at the dollar store for $1.00. I inserted small glass vases filled with water and inserted a flower in each, bought at the grocery store. Next I put pink tulle inside to cover the vase and tied a pink ribbon on the handles. Simple and cheap!

Dollar Stores can really stretch your entertaining budget. As a matter of fact, two major entertaining events are what opened my eyes to the value of a good Dollar Store. The two major events that threw me into a panic, uh, I mean had me planning and shopping were my middle son's graduation and my annual Bunco dinner. The Bunco dinner would involve hosting 12 ladies and I did not have 12 plates that matched. My middle son is the only one of my three children that inherited an appreciation of fine dining and all that goes with it (china, crystal, silver), so I was thrilled when he agreed to a garden party for his College Graduation. However, his guest list would include a large number of family and friends. Guests would be in all of the public rooms of the house and spill over unto our covered back patio which would become the main dining area. Paper plates would spoil the elegant image that I was trying to create. I went to the dollar store to find napkins and other entertaining items and that is where I made my first entertaining discovery - pastel, basket weave edged stoneware plates. I bought 20 for one dollar each! I found another Dollar Tree and bought 10 more. Thus began my love for Dollar Store Entertaining.

I believe in using what you have and often at ladies' lunches I would use my mother's dishes with my grandmother's serving pieces. More than one guest has shown great discomfort at the thought of dining on heirlooms. Now, I sprinkle alot of dollar store finds in with the "good stuff" and guests relax. This is great during family gatherings when children will be guests. My favorite story is when I hosted a gathering complete with my best silver. A guest came to me with a broken dish in hand. She was apologetic and mortified at the thought of breaking a precious family heirloom. I told her that if she paid for it, then all would be forgiven. She quickly agreed and I asked her to leave a dollar on the table! It was hard to convince her that the plate was only $1.00.

While the Dollar Store is a great resource, you must check the merchandise often. It is especially important to go at the beginning of each season. The good stuff goes first and fast

THE GOODE LIFE

ALLISON'S BRIDAL SHOWER

10 THINGS I LEARNED DURING MY KITCHEN MAKEOVER

KITCHEN MAKEOVER PART 3

KITCHEN MAKEOVER PART 2

WHAT WE DID ON OUR SPRING BREAK, EASTER WEEKEND AND ALL OF OUR SPARE TIME FOR THREE WEEKS AND STILL COUNTING!

FORGOTTEN RECIPE FRIDAY

COLORADO FASHION

ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS 2009

FORGOTTEN RECIPE FRIDAY

CHRISTMAS VISITOR

FORGOTTEN RECIPE FRIDAY

MORE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS 2009

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS 2009

FORGOTTEN RECIPE FRIDAY

LET IT SNOW

FORGOTTEN RECIPE FRIDAY

THANKSGIVING 2009

THANKSGIVING TABLESCAPE

FORGOTTEN RECIPE FRIDAY

NOVEMBER MISSION TRIP

FORGOTTEN RECIPE FRIDAY

FORGOTTEN RECIPE FRIDAY

NOVEMBER FIRST MONDAY

KITCHEN GADGETS

FORGOTTEN RECIPES FRIDAY

FORGOTTEN RECIPES FRIDAY

MY BLOG DOESN'T KNOW SUMMER HAS ENDED!!

SUMMER PROJECT PHASE II

SUMMER PROJECT

BIRTHDAY GIRLS

WHAT WE DID ON OUR SUMMER VACATION PART 2

WHAT WE DID ON OUR SUMMER VACATION

VACATION PHOTOS OF ME!

CLOSET PROJECT

FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND DESSERT BAR

FOURTH WEEKEND DINNER

FOURTH OF JULY

DIRT CAKE RECIPE

WHAT HAPPENED TO MY JUNE BLOGS!

MY BABY IS GONE!!!!!

TEXAS BIRTHDAY DINNER

FISH FRY

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

APRIL IN PARIS

MOTHER'S DAY

TODAY'S FLOWERS IN THE GARDEN

CROSBY PEP RALLY

TRIP TO GALVESTON

EASTER DINNER

GOODE EASTER EGG HUNT

GOODE FRIDAY

SPOILED!!!!!!

CRUISIN' FOOD

CRUISIN' ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON

PAYING YOUR CHILDREN BACK!!

TUBING AT GARNER

MORE GARNER HIGHLIGHTS

GRANDSONS' GARNER TRIP

MORE GRANDDAUGHTER ACTIVITIES

MORE SPRING BREAK HAPPENINGS

SPRING BREAK IN ROCKPORT

FRENCH MACARONS

BROWNIE POPS

MORE BUNCO/DINNER CLUB RECIPES

WORLD TRAVLERS

MENU

VALENTINE'S BUNCO/DINNER CLUB

THE CHAIR ARRIVED!!!

NEW CHAIRS

MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY

CHRISTMAS DAY TABLESCAPE

PUPPY LOVE

CHRISTMAS EVE FUN

CHRISTMAS EVE TABLESCAPES

GOODE GRANDCHILDREN

NEW TABLE

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CHRISTMAS TREE

SNOW ON THE GULF COAST??