the classics

     I always try to keep a pantry meal on hand. I say try because sometimes I slip up. After helping Ryan take care of Mary Grace post wisdom teeth removal, I didn't want to stop at the store. Open the pantry for a few cans and there you have it. Classics...

Mom's salmon croquettes and Linda's scalloped tomatoes. Round that out with rice and a can of green veg of your choice. Ivy has gotten interested in cooking and made the croquettes. The scalloped tomatoes are so crunchy and good. Mary Grace is doing well and I had to solemnly swear I would not take pics and post them.

 

Now beware this next picture because it is highly addictive...

 

 

I'm strolling through the freezer section of my local Kroger, congratulating yourself. I had just passed through the Halloween section...hey, there's no other way to dog food! Staggering just a bit because I was slightly intoxicated by chocolate fumes and a little freaked out by some skull in a shapeless shift that yelled at me, I had made it all the way through the aisle without one bag of delicious candy in my cart. Not one baby Butterfinger, not one perfect two bite Payday, not even a trace of tiny, fresh, crunchy, exactly the right amount of chocolate per bite HEATH bars, so come on cut me a little slack here.  So I breath the cool, fresh , no scent air of the freezer section and round the corner almost home...and bam! Some cruel marketer had set up a cute little display filled with candy corn. It was set up like a continuous feed dog food bowl. You pulled out your little bag and another one drops into it's place. Oh, those little precious pumpkins! They would look so cute in a little dish on the counter. Beware. They taste good with your coffee. They taste wonderful with your salad. They taste even perfect just grabbing a few as you pass them on the way for a walk (ok I made that part up but I may go for a walk soon). So there are things even scarier than goblins and ghosts...like trying to zip last seasons jeans....muahahahahaha....



re. sea monkeys

    ok, you know I'm the curious sort so I couldn't resist googling sea monkeys (see previous post)

 

          They still EXIST!

 

 

Apparently they are a hybrid brine shrimp that can exist is an inanimate state when dry. They come to life when their eggs are placed in salt water. AAAAAAAHH!

 

 

Look Whitney, still available at Toys R Us. You are welcome. The kids need a pet. I have a feeling they no longer cost $1.25...

 

 

 

The search continues

     The search continues for more great stuff for the Woolverton new house. Nothing is more important to the daily life of the home than a kitchen table. Candy had this old table for many years and it will work beautifully as their breakfast table. It came out of her grandparents bar restaurant in Omaha, Nebraska. Wish it could tell us it's stories. So we set out to find the perfect chairs. After a minimum amount of searching and a break for sushi, we found these.

 

 

As a reward following the placement of the chairs, we sat in them and had this.

 

 

It is the best pistachio gelato. And I had the added treat of a Grinch spoon that changed color with the cold. I know you are jealous. Also check out those cute tiny bowls and what they say.

 

     My friend Medea came to visit this weekend. We had a lot of fun, but you wouldn't know it because I took no pictures. Well I took one. Mary Grace and Ryan made breakfast for us Saturday morning. It was so nice. Medea was impressed. Yes those are mimosas...

 

I had a big batch of flowers left from Sunday's church arrangement. Mom and I usually split them up and take them to people to cheer up their day, but I had some left. I saw this big jar on my garage shelves and it made me smile.

 

It is a big ole gallon jar that was my Mamaw Brown's. I always loved it. She always used it for Amazing Sea Monkeys. Now if you are younger than 40-50 you probably don't know what that is. I'm not even sure I know what they were. It was some kind of aquatic creature you could order through the mail! They looked like little swimming monkeys. I will have to google them to find out just what kind of horror we were creating with that idea. Anybody else know or remember them?

 

 

Need more baby?

    May I show you a couple more baby pics?? I thought so. Went to see Brody yesterday.

He was so sleepy that I had a hard time getting his picture with his eyes open. He has such a beautiful complexion.

 



 

Proud Mom. She asked Jan and I when would she stop feeling tired. We felt really bad that the answer is not for a loooong time :\

 

Ok, more on the design front. Candy is partially moved in to her new house. She and Lucy have beds and a fridge and chairs. The design of the den started with the perfect sofa. Then we turned around and saw the perfect bench. It is made from an old Turkish rug. It is 8 feet long and will be great in front of the bank of windows in the den.  I normally like to start with the rug, but when the right piece comes up you have to pounce.

 

    See? Isn't that fabulous? So that led on a quest for the perfect rug. I tried hard to buy one from my favorite rug dealer, but just didn't fall in love with any one. Heading home tired and hot (it has been steamy here), we saw a sale sign in another rug store. I went in and introduced myself because I know his mama from St. Catherine's . Good grief, I'm turning into my dad. He knew someone everywhere went. Well Mr. Right Rug was there waiting for us and jumped in the car. Here we are enjoying it .

 

                                   Well I'm not so much enjoying it as I'm surrendering to it.

 

The girls agree

 

 

A toast to success. See the bench beside it. I'll post more when it is finished.

 

You never know

     I never know what my kids will do next. We know Mary Grace loves fire but come on.....

 

 

Welding? They were building a desk out of metal scraps and reclaimed wood.

 

It always helps to have the right wardrobe.

 

 

So Sophie and Paul have been on a trip to Washington, DC. I have been feeding their cat. Mom went with me Sunday.

 

 

aren't they cute? Also another fun sight in their neighborhood is this pet...

 

 

Willow the miniature horse. She is so cute. On Sundays her owner takes her out being pulled in a cart big enough for one person. I saw the horse and cart before they became neighbers.

 

 

Check this out. Daphne in Dupree's tiny bed and he in her giant one. Those two are always good for a laugh.

 

 



 

by request

Whitney (and anyone else who wanted it) here is a clear version of the recipe.

Chewy chocolate cookies

1 1/4 C margarine softened
2 C sugar
2 eggs
2 t vanilla
2 C flour
3/4 C cocoa
1 t baking soda
powdered sugar

Cream butter and sugar, add eggs & vanilla. Combine dry ingredients and blend into creamed mixture. Drop by teaspoon on ungreased cookie sheet (I spray mine with pam). Bake at 350 9-11 minutes. Watch closely. Do Not overbake. Transfer to waxed paper, fine cooling rack or hard plastic plate. Sprinkle with powdered sugar when cool. Store in airtight container with slice of bread ( i don't usually do that but it probably helps).


Aunt Charlotte's brownies

1 C sugar
3 T cocoa (I use heaping T's)
2 eggs beaten
1 stick butter or margarine melted
1/2 C self rising flour
1 t vanilla
1 C pecans (optional)

Mix dry ingredients, mix in melted butter, stir in eggs and vanilla (nuts) Bake in greased pie pan or 8" square pan. Bake at 350 about 25 mins (depending on your oven and how much batter you ate)  Do not over bake. It should just barely get solid in middle. If you make it in a pie pan you can serve it as a great dessert with ice cream and chocolate sauce.

had to post these

     Took Cary and David some comfort food today...pimento cheese, pasta salad and Charlotte's brownies (they are the best). That baby is so cute . He looks so finished. You know I mean not too newbornish. See what you think. Check out those lips!

He looks like a baby doll.

 

 

Doesn't Cary look good?

 

 

His hair is so fair and pretty.

 

 

Now that right there is a miracle picture!! She really did well.