Boo's Basket: 2011

HiGh FIve FrIDaY

Again, the blogs have taken over. I continue to find so much and yet so little time. Where were all these things when my boys were little....oh the things I could have done!

My first High Five Friday is CROCK POT LASAGNA:

This is no ordinary lasagna and let me tell you, "it don't get no easier than this". It is to die for.

2 lbs ground beef, browned. Add a large jar of your favorite spagetti sauce.

(Gary likes a lot of sauce so I added a small can of tomato sauce also)

2 cups cottage cheese and 2 cups shredded mozarella cheese (mixed together)

(reserve a handful for top of lasgana)

Box Lasagna noodles (uncooked)

In crock pot, first layer - beef mixture, second layer

noodles,

third layer - cheese mixture.

Continue to alternate layers and end with meat sauce mixture on top

(sprinkle with remainng cheese mixture)

Turn on crock pot on HIGH, cook for hour - then reduce to low and continue for 4-5 hours.

Second HFF: Maxine

She is such a DOLL !!!

Third HFF: Tea Cookies

My husand's mom was a wonderful COOK and one of the best cookies I ever placed in my mouth were HER tea cookies (sometimes known as Mexican Wedding Cookies) I had this idea that this were some kind of time consuming, lots of ingredients, blah blah blah cookies to make. They simply melted in my mouth. In my grueling and hard work of reading blogs this week, I came across this recipe in BLISSFUL AND DOMESTIC blog (PICTURED BELOW)
OMGosh.....I couldn't belive how easy. In fact, when I made them - I had to stop and see what I left out. I couldn't believe it was that simple, but it was and they are good. (not as good as MAMMAWS) but pretty darn close.

I will think of her with every bite!

Preheat oven to 350*
Cream 1 cup butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar until smooth. Add remaining ingredients. 2 cups flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp vanilla and 1 cup chopped pecans. Roll into balls about the size of a small walnut. Bake for 12 15 minutes. Roll in powdered sugar while still warm.

At last but not least

Number 5 HFF:

It's Friday and I have one more week before I get two weeks off.

All my kids and my g-babies will be here!

I am so excited - I can hardly wait!!

High Five Friday

In looking and searching this week - the many blogs I am now addicted too - I discovered one that I can't stop reading, http://www.thesmallthingsblog.com/ - this girl has got it going on. I have already discovered new ways to do my do. Her sister has a blog, http://www.frommygreydeskblog.com/ she rocks it too. Then to top it off, they have a Etsy website (and if you don't know what that is, you are way behind times) Their Etsy website is Elisabeth Ashlie Jewerly. Another of my addiction. (maybe I should check into a 12-step program) From these blogs, I have expanded waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay beyond the galaxy. I have discovered
HIGH FIVE FRIDAY...it's where - on Friday- (duh) you list the HIGH FIVE things for the week. Of course, I have way more than five, but these are things I have been working on and completed or that brought a smile to my face.

My first edition of HIGH FIVE FRIDAY:

The newly discoverd blogs are my first/second HIGH FIVE...thank you girls.

My third HIGH FIVE is MAXINE:
I was visited by very own Elf on the Shelf. If you aren't familiar with the book, run out right now and get it. Especially if you have kids. Of course my KIDS are grown and gone...but I am sure that my elf came along to be with Boo and Pops and help them with the Christmas season.

My fourth HIGH FIVE is my other vice "PINTEREST" A must know about for anyone. I love crafts and especially love doing crafts for others. My g-babies are first in line. This I found for my girls, Jaycee and Annabelle. I mailed them today- can't wait to see how they like them.

And then number five HIGH FIVE - something new for the Christmas season. I will be putting this on my front porch this year. Simple - yet festive!!

You too can have your HIGH FIVE FRIDAY'S !!

Amen..

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, one can only reflect on all the things we have to be thankful for. We do this, because this time of year is all anyone thinks about - Thank you, thanks, give thanks, get thanks, want thanks, THANK YOU, NO THANK YOU (Gary and the boys will understand). We all have plenty to be thankful for. Some days - more than others.
I have the obvious to be thankful for....my loving and amazing husband of 37+ years. My two wonderful sons. What fine gentlemen they have grown to be. They make a mom very proud. My two daughter-in-laws. They are true blessings in my life. And of course, the ever precious g-babies. Being a grandparent is a GRAND thing to be thankful for. I have good health, I have a job, I have friends and I have the Lord above looking down on me everyday.

I was searching the internet - no really - I was working....and came across a few notable Thanksgiving quotes:

What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?
- Erma Bombeck

Thanksgiving, when the Indians said, "Well, this has been fun, but we know you have a long voyage back to England”. - Jay Leno

*It took me three weeks to stuff the turkey. I stuffed it through the beak.
- Phyllis Diller

Thanksgiving is an emotional time. People travel thousands of miles to be with people they only see once a year. And then discover once a year is way too often.
- Johnny Carson

**********************************************

With all that said, one of my favorite presidents was

John F.Kennedy.

This is a quote by him. It speaks volumes, as he did.

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words,

but to live by them. "

John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone !!

TaiLgAtInG 101......

As alumni of the University of Texas at Austin (well, at least Gary is, altho I did earn a P.H.T. (PUSHY HUBBY THROUGH) we continue to show love for OUR LONGHORNS. On average we try to make at least one football game and tailgate every year. We have a great group of alumni's that have opened up their tailgate to us and made us feel very welcome.

This past weekend, we made Austin and the Texas Tech vs UT game. It was beautiful weather and an amazing crowd.

Chad, Jenn, Cody and Jaycee joined us for the fun !

The "boys" went to game and the girls + Cody went to explore more of Austin.

What a grand city - I can't wait to get back down there on a permanent basis

(retirement is just around the corner)

We went to the Children's Museum,

made the movie - PUSS IN BOOTS (3D-awesome!)

Had some great burgers at BIG DADDY'S and finished up the night watching more football !

We never go to Austin without getting our cupcake fix. This time we made the Burnet location....

If you have never had a HEY CUPCAKE, you are missing out...they are to die for!

Jaycee and Cody visited the airstream in the back.....

What a great weekend, family, fun, football and the GREAT UT LONGHORNS !!

Hook 'em !!

Happy Halloween....

My Halloween Goblins......

Jaycee.....BEEEEE U TI FUL !!!!

Cody...Ninja scary !!!

Jaxson (on the right)and friend......
Square Heads Beware !!

And last, but surely not the least....

Annabelle

The yummiest of alllll...my little watermelon.....

Love you g-babies !!!

Best Friends

I graduated high school in 19** - a long time ago. You always have those girlfriends that you do the silliest of things with. You get away with all you can possibly get away. You swear you will be friends FOREVER and then life takes over. You graduate, you marry, you move, you have kids, you change jobs and some how that FOREVER fades away.
Facebook is a wonderful way to make contacts with those FOREVER friends and it has allowed me to do just that. I have an amazing friend I made in high school. I was in her wedding for pete's sake.We did alot of things together and we got away with....ALOT. I have been talking to her on FB...always saying "We need to get together" , but LIFE got in the way. This past weekend, we finally put life aside and made time for a get together.
We picked up right where we left off. We have changed, we both had kids, which are all grown up and married and made us GRANDparents (an amazing person to be, I might add). We had dinner together and then spent the evening just catching up.It was wonderful. WE already have plans to meet again in a couple of weeks.
Friends are priceless and when you have one that is near and dear to you, don't let them slip away.

Life is short, break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably and never regret anything (friends) that made you smile.....

Happy Trails to you.....

Gary and I recently spent the weekend at the BEAUMONT RANCH, in - of all places - Beaumont, Texas. This is a REAL working ranch, but as side kick, they also have music, food, zip lining, horse riding, roping, chuck wagons, weddings, gatherings....etc etc. It is a beautiful place

Comes with its very own little town and a marshal

and deputy and bad guy...

We went on a Saturday and joined in on the chuck wagon get-together. They feed you and then entertain you with music. The music was good ole country swing.

Ms. Devon and Outlaw Jesse. This is a collage group of COUNTRY OPRY singers that are housed in our very own Fort Worth Stockyards. They have what they call their "buckaroos" (18yoa and younger) and the older cowpokes. They play every Sunday on the steps of the Northside Coliseum in the stock yards. Other times, they be out doin' gigs like this one. They were amazing......
We sat with a great couple and now friends (even tho they were AGGIES)

Greg and Ann.....

(she really was having a good time.....)

A great weekend get-a-away..for a couple of a whole mess of folks!!

Ya'll come back, he'r....

Maryland...

We spent the last weekend in Maryland, visiting Corey and family. It is beautiful country. The trees were beginning to turn fall colors, the grass GREEN, the flowers blooming and there is actual water in the rivers and lakes. I miss them all terribly, but time with g-babies was priceless.

First Stop, DC CUPCAKES in Georgetown for a belated birthday treat.

YUM YUM

We drove to Gaver Farms for a fall pumpkin patch adventure.

This was really cool.

We started with a CORN PATCH MAZE....5 acres worth!

(we didn't actually walk the whole thing....)

We had an early Thanksgiving feast with family.

Watched the Texas Longhorns and Texas Rangers ball games,

visited Corey and Robyn's "other" work -

when not doing the FUN BUS events.

Got a grand tour of the Frederick area.

Shopped, laughed, played and had a wonderful time.

AND

Even managed some much needed one on one time !

Thanks Corey, Robyn, Jax and AB

Junk Gypsy.....

I have often wondered what makes us who we are. I know that most if not all of who I am and what I think came from my amazing grandmother. She was a owner of a dress shop in a very "high end" part of the city. She had clients like Mary Martin (Peter Pan). She 'dressed' some of the most important people of the great city. She taught me to be me. Not to be something I am not and not to be like everyone else.She taught me many things and to this day...she still talks to me when I dress. In my head I hear...(for the love of God) DO NOT tuck your shirt tail in unless you have a belt and don't have a "muffin" top. Don't go out before combing your hair and putting on lipstick. Remember to always say "yes ma'am" and "no ma'am" and "please and thank you" and yes that WOULD BE LOVELY....

Thank you Mimmie - I love you sooooooooooooo much !

I am not a "foo-foo" girl. Not into lots of make-up or fancy hair do's. Didn't wear bows in my hair when I was little. I have 3 brothers, so I was more of a "tom boy". Was never a cheerleader or ran with "the popular girls". Not into competing with the latest fashions or "what's in".
I like simple. I like real. I like to be "me". I want my house to be a place where everyone is comfortable, they want to come visit and aren't afraid to put their feet on the couch.
In searching for the "me" term and reading many blogs..I came across the term "junk gypsy". I love Miranda Lambert and her style. Just didn't know what that style was. Maybe her style has been around for awhile and I just wasn't aware...but I think it might be me too.

I ordered several items from the Texas Gypsyville. They came in the mail yesterday and OMG - I am in LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEE..

Check these sites out......and for those of you that know me....what do you think, is this me???

http://www.gypsyville.com/style.asp

http://junkgypsyblog.com/

Cutie Pies

Besides my family...my animals are my love. I have always, at least, had one dog.

Sometimes I have had as many as 5 dogs, plus an array of other animals.

They will always love you unconditionally.

They listen to you and always agree with you.

They are protective and guarding.

I raised my boys with animals and want and hope they pass that love on to their kids.

We have had chickens, ducks, goats, horses, rabbits, hamsters, fish, frogs,

dogs and cats.

Even pet "rocks"

At present I have 2 dogs and 2 cats (and a horse)

These are my cutie pies. I love them and they love me....unconditionally.

Sam, the black dog. Found in a Target parking lot when she was only about 6 weeks old.

Cappy, the brown dog. Adopted from the humane society. She was 3 years old at the time and had been given away by her previous owners.

Can't imagine why, she is a doll.

Stoney, the white cat and T.C. the orange tabby, 2 year old sisters.

Had them since they were born (their mom, sadly, no longer with us)

Rebel (horse, not pictured) is 13years old.

He was born on Corey's birthday, his senior year in high school.

His mom died the day Corey was married.....weird, huh??

He is good for eating and sleeping....life is good !

Love my CUTIE PIES.....

Now, that is soooooooooooo true

GUN CONTROL?

Endless possibilties.........the "IF'S"..........how many can you think of???

Happy Birthday JAXSON !!

Today, my youngest grandson turns the BIG "5"...

He is loving, caring, playful, smart, compassionate

He is quite the artist ....

He loves building Legos......happy building buddy!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !! Love, love, love you !!!

Come early, be loud, stay late and wear ORANGE !!

The games begin....2011

Hook 'Em Horns !!

HaPpY HaPpY JeNn !!

Besides the blessing of two loving, wonderful sons....I also have been blessed with equal daughter-in-laws! This weekend, Jennifer, the wife of my oldest, Chad turns the BIG 3-0! WooHoooooo.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENN!

Life is so precious....

Recently, a dear high school and still long time friend of ours underwent a lung transplant. She has been ill for the last 18-24 months. She had been called several times in the past, but there was always a reason she didn't get the transplant. This time she did. She is a wonderful, loving person and is so deserving.

On the other hand, a life was lost. But because of the kindness and the knowledge of how important organ donations are, my friend is recovering at a remarkable pace. Our hearts and love go to the family of the donor. They should know what has taken place is a great and wonderful thing. We thank you.

I am a organ donor. My husband is an organ donor and hopefully my family and friends are - or will - become organ donors.

If you have questions, or not sure if that is something you want to do...here is a link. You need to sign up through this link (or a similar one for your area/state). I understand that the designation on the back of a driver's liscense does not guarantee that your wishes will be granted.

It is important and you can save many lives......

https://www.donatelifetexas.org/

readin', writin' and rithmatic !

Today is the first day of school. My g-babies are growing too fast. Hope you guys have a great school year.

Love to all of you !!

Jaycee (3rd grader) and Cody (1st grader):

Annabelle and Jaxson

(relaxing at home (school) with Mom today!!

She says counting to 30 and letter of the week "J")

Say AAAAAAHHHH.......................

Many moons ago, it seems that if you were young and had any complaints of a sore throat, your tonsils were immediately removed. I know both my boys had theirs taken out at a young age. Last Friday, Jaycee had her tonsils out

.....get well baby girl!!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

BEFORE......

RECOVERY ROOM.......

THE RIDE HOME......

HOME AT LAST...with Miss Emily to watch over her...

Whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.....

My two oldest g-babies spent the last several days with us. Normally, we make a trip to Six Flags, but with the scorching heat, Pops and I decided water needed to be on our agenda. So we went to visit to the GREAT WOLF LODGE in Grapevine. What a place!!
The first words out of their mouths was WHOAAAAAAAAAAAA, this is big!

And yes it is....

The accomodations were great, the water park is exhausting - but fun - and the time with my g-babies is priceless. We didn't get any "water pics"....but here are a few others we snapped. We were having so much fun, we forgot to take pictures...