2 pound challenge

Well after my good doctor report, I began to slip a little in my eating. I'm ashamed to say I even gained back a few pounds. Sorry to report Lucy has done the same. We decided to have a little game to help make it interesting. We have resolved to lose 2 pounds each this week. We will celebrate by sharing frozen yogurt. Only 2 pound losers get to have it. Ooooo, maybe non losers should watch the loser eat theirs. Anyway I'm off to a good start. Eating out is both of our downfall. Here is dinner last night.

 

 

My rule is half the plate produce, one fourth protein and one fourth whole grain. That is pepper steak (or something like it that I managed to make by pawing around in the fridge so I would not have to go to the store) made out of leftover steak. Shhh don't tell Ed it is leftovers.

 

Went dorm shopping with Lu.

 

Bed Bath and Beyond had it all. Too bad you can't see a picture of her stuff. You will just have to enjoy this shot of my bra strap.

 

Here is my favorite new gadget.

 

It looks like a piece of manicotti but it is a garlic peeler. I love fresh garlic but hate to peel it. You just put a clove of garlic in it and roll it on the counter and the peeled clove rolls out. Amazing. It is just a sleeve of rubbery plastic. Great birthday gift. Thanks, Jan.

 

Now it is raining, so the pool is out. Need something I can do inside. Any suggestions? Ivy just woke up and allowed me to share the shocking experience with y'all.

 

Yikes. Due to an unfortunate hair dye incident her hair is not in the best of shape. However it has a shape all it's own. 





 

 

 

 

Petting zoo

...so ready for the rest of the story? The Fun Friday story that is. After the pool and a power nap at Nana's, Brody was ready for a trip to the local petting zoo. He had to go no further than his cousin Mary Grace and Ryan's house. Since Brody has been born, I understand why we called Dad's first cousin Uncle Woody. They are so close and seem more like aunts and uncles than cousins. And why can you be a great aunt but not a great cousin? Anyway here is some of the zoo line up.

 

One of the girls.

 

He loved Buddy the bunny.

 

Here he was watching Daphne play soccer. His favorite was Dupree. I think he found his size pleasing.

 

Went to Paul and Sophie's for a little birthday celebration for his Mom. I took a dismal bunch of photos. Here is a cute one of Brenda and her birthday cake.

 

Paul's dad Rick looked down just as I took it. Their house just gets better all the time. We enjoyed their new chalkboard wall in the office. Check it out on her blog. But you must  promise to come back to mine even though hers is quite superior to mine. It is The Hourly Reporter at BlogSpot.com. 







 

 



Pig in a Poke

What do you do with an abundance of cucumber? Put them in vinegar with onion and dill. Almost no calories

 

 

Summer thunderstorms keep rolling in from nowhere these days.

 

Not everyone likes them.

 

I love this picture. Candy, Chris, Lucy and I met MG and Ryan yesterday morning at Another Broken Egg. She had just come from a minor medical procedure (she is fine), but she was tired.

 

Lucy and I

 

 

Mom and daughter

 

Somehow did not get Chris. Don't we all look pleased with out ridiculously expensive brunch in our bellies?

 

This morning, my breakfast that cost a 100th of the cost of the restaurant meal.

 

The girls and I always called this a Pig in a Poke. Not sure why , some people call it Egg in a hole. I used to cut it like that so they could easily eat it flying out the door to school.

 

Fun Friday! Brody came to the pool!

 

He loved it. Jan's friend Carol came with her granddaughter too. Two grannies!

 

Brody enjoying his whatever those things are. Then he got a little of the pizza we were eating.

 

Not sure if you can see but one of those storms came up and we grabbed the baby and huddled under the umbrella. It poured for about 10 minutes and then left. It is so fun to be going to this same pool with the next generation.









 

Great weekend

Fun 4th . Almost no pictures. That usually means I was having too nice of a time to take photos. Let's see what I got.

 

Ribs. One shot and it is food. Ed made these excellent babies on Friday. My friend Medea from Mobile came to visit. It was so great to see her. On Saturday we went to Bev's to see slides from their recent trip to Europe. Pam, Medea and Bev had such a lovely trip and we enjoyed sharing it with them. Wish I had taken a picture of the tomato tart I made. Tomatoes are perfect now due I'm sure to all the rain.

 

Guess I'll just post another result of all the rain. Y'all know how I love my fungi.

 

Look at these little guys peeking out from my foundation rock. The rock came from my Dad's old home place in Carthage.

 

These were growing out of a hole nearby.

 

This one looked like a little pumpkin.

 

Another big success. We got the wedding dress! Here it is in the backseat. That is all you can see until November 1! It was so exciting. The staff were so excited because it was one they don't carry and we had order it. It is so perfect for Mary Grace.

 

One last shot of my babies enjoying the sun.

 

It has been cool enough to actually be outside.













Proud to be an American

Every summer we get Toby cut very close all over. He loves it. But here is the funny back story. I called Diva Dog from Candy's phone. She had the number from when she called earlier. I said "I need to make an appointment to have my Chihuahua shaved". Moment of silence. Heavy accent...wait one moment. Someone comes back. Yes? I repeat. What? I realize I have called Taqueria de Guadalupe. The number was left on her phone from when she ordered Mexican take out. Aye yiy yiy.

 

 

He won't be still

 

He immediately went outside and rolled in the grass.

 

Ok , this is a little embarrassing but I bought him this treat for being such a good dog. He had the arm in the car. Tee hee

 

 



 



some food and a birthday

I know, I know, my birthday often turns into a festival instead of a festivity.  But isn't that as it should be? You already heard about the friend birthday...here comes the family celebration. I do want to point out that sometime during the past year when I turned 55, I started thinking I was 56. Now I really am 56. So I think I'll be 55 this year and pick up at 57 next June. Ok?

 

After church Sunday, Mom, Jan, Sophie, Paul and I had lunch at Mr. Chen's. Jan and Mom gave me lovely presents. One of Mom's gifts made me laugh because of the way it was procured. We were in a department store buying makeup for her. I wandered away (attention problems) to the Estee Lauder counter to inquire about a fragrance I have always loved. The nice clerk said she had never heard of Azure but would be glad to check. It is the same perfume I have worn off and on since high school. Well she was surprised and delighted to find 2 bottles in a drawer apparently left there since the stone age. Or maybe they keep a couple on hand for me and the other woman who wears it still.

 

 

All the kids came over for dinner

 

Oh my gosh I could just die from the cuteness

 

Also celebrated a late Father's day

 

Ed promising Toby to share his snacks later

 

Thoughtful presents from all.

 

My favorite cake baked by sister Jan

 

Trying to think of a wish. What more could I want?

 

Ok, Lucy you can log off now. Food news alert. I have rediscovered popcorn. Candy has been making it the old fashioned way...in a pan...in oil. Coconut oil which is the new food that cures all. Apparently it does everything from healing dry hair and skin to curing cancer. Just google it for more info. The coconut oil producers accuse corn oil business of mounting a schmear campaign in the 80's. And I must admit I had heard all that.  I just think it tastes good.

 

Needs no butter. And there is only 3 tablespoons of oil to this entire pan of popcorn (we had already eaten most of it).

Okay here is the best corn cooking method ever. Mary Grace came up with it.

 

 

Trim silk ends off of unshucked corn. Rub with oil and cover with foil. Bake in the oven at 375 about 20-30 minutes depending on how many cobs.

 







 

 When done take off the husks. First cut off stem end. This makes it easy to just roll off the husk. Be careful it is hot. 

 

Season to taste. If you are Ryan that means lots of butter.



This little piggie...

...wanted me to have a happy birthday.

 

Bev gave him to me at my book club birthday get together. When asked what I would like to do for my party, I asked to go to someone's house instead of a restaurant. It seems like you can never hear all conversations at a big noisy place. Ok , maybe it has to do with our age, but still. Bev kindly offered her house. She has recently repainted outside and had plantings done. It looks great. It was raining so I didn't get good pics of the paint colors.

 

 

I did catch a cute one of this little guy. He liked the rain.

 

 

Love how she used all green and only texture for this corner.

 

Check out this pitcher plant. The sweet nectar inside attracts insects and then, slam, goes the top. Then the plant quietly digests it.

 

Here is the cute badger charm Lucy gave me. She is out of town , but Candy brought it. The badger is the mascot of Springhill College. I will think of her every time I look at it this fall.

 

Tons of rain this week has brought out great mushrooms.

 

All my plants love it .

 

 

Look at that little "hen and chicks".

 

 

Everybody but "the man" (my little jade plant)

 

A branch fell on him and broke it! I pressed the broken parts into soil in other pots. Hopefully soon I will have more plants. I always hated that tree. Not sure what it was, had thorns on it.

 

Anybody recognize it? weird berries. Dad would have  known.

 

Here are the cute gifts my friends gave me. I requested all white gifts. Not shown are a case of white wine from Candy and a bottle of Clos du Bois Pinot Grigio from Pam. Yum  yum. Food was great and healthy. Candy made my special craving - Chicken satay. It is grilled chicken with a great peanut sauce. Fruit, salad and some great cheeses. Friends make birthdays fun. Thanks, girls.