Linking up again with Kate and Kati

for the GOOD, the BAD and the UGLY....

 

For the most part, I must say - my weekends are always good. They seem to fly by and before I know it - it's that dreaded day of the week - MONDAY.

 

MY good, bad and ugly all have to do with just one thing this past weekend - PLUMS....

 

 

Last week hubby picked plums from our plum tree. 10+lbs of plums. I brought quiet a few to my co-workers, we ate some - but still I had @8lbs left over. So I decided I would make jelly. Now I have made jelly in the past with my grandmother, my mom and even my mother-in-law. But never have I attempted such a task on my own....OMGosh......3 1/2 hours later - I have 12 jars (and some left over in a bowl) of homemade plum jelly.....I AM EXHAUSTED! I told my husband, never do I want to live like the pioneer women of the past...give my WAL-MART anyday of the week!

I managed a few pics.......

before:

 

I got so caught up in the cooking that I forgot to take pics during

after

Had to "bath" the jars when finished (this seals the tops - who knew??)

 

I had plum juice all over the counter, the stove, me, the sink, floor, the dogs (they were under my feet all day), dishtowels............

EVERY WHERE !!!

 

Finished product

 

I am proud that I completed the task and hubby gave a big thumbs up to the finished product! (that makes it all worthwhile)

 

Once again I am linking up with Lauren - http://www.frommygreydeskblog.com/

1.     First week with no students – it has been vewry, vewry quiet at the office, a scary quiet…but I am not complaining – I can do this for a few months.

2.    Kitchen update – new stove installed.

     Understand, in my house, nothing is EVER simple. We picked it up first thing Saturday morning, but because of all our other commitments, hubby didn’t get around to installing it until late Sunday evening. Old one out – new one in;  BUTTTTTTTT – when he goes to attach the  PLUG, guess what - they sent the wrong wiring ! What – are you kidding me??  Luckily and because my hubby is super smart – he took the one off the old one and was able to use it on the new one!!  It was midnight before he finished, but he did and I can’t wait to cook  “sumptin”  Thank you honey !!  Updated pics next week…

3.    Four of my co-workers retired this year. 

Henry, Vic, Harold and Chris

On Monday we had a retirement celebration (happy hour if you will – but we can’t actually put that in our email invites at work) So happy for all of them and jealous too. They all came to this department after me and are leaving before me – what’s wrong with that picture?

Good luck guys and gals - I'm gonna miss ya!

4.    Solo –

     our newest dog baby seems to be settling in very well. She still isn’t sure about the cat. She turns her head side to side and then paws at her. She was a little taken back by the horse too. I think she thinks that the cat is one TINY dog and that the horse is one really BIG dog.

The other two are accepting her and we are becoming one big happy family !!

5.    And last, but not least, I made my first visit to . I know for those of you that have been there you are thinking, “What rock did you just crawl out from under?” Understand the closet one to me is an hour and half away. You have to go on a tollway,through the most frustrating roadway detours and construction. So I just haven’t done it. But with my new kitchen underway – I wanted an island.  Searching high and low – is where I found a couple that sparked my interest.

                                    

Sooooooooooooo – yesterday I talked (pleaded actually) with my husband into taking a road trip with me. OMGosh…..I am in love. It is a good thing it is so far away. I found my island, plus a few other items.

I could have had so much more, but we were in the car – not the truck ! I did manage

to make a decision...

 

and believe me - it was gonna fit in the car.....one way or the other....

But next time……oh yea!!!

Have a great FRIDAY ya’ll

GBU

Linking up today with Kati and Kate for the

It is gonna be hard for me to fine anything but GOOD from this weekend...it was busy, and it's Monday already.....but it was a GOOD weekend...

GOOD:  If you read my blog, you know hubby and I have been searching for a new church home. We haven't been to church on a regular basis in quiet sometime, and we both knew we were missing that in our lives.

On Easter Sunday we visited the PARKER COUNTY COWBOY CHURCH - and have been attending ever since. This is not your traditional church. You come in your boots, your hat, your shorts, your sandals, you come anyway you want. It's not about what you look like, it's about hearing the word of GOD. We are truly blessed to have found such a wonderful place to worship GOD. We are the "newbies", still learning the "ropes" - but the church is filling our needs.

 The past Saturday they had one of their many FAMILY FELLOWSHIPS.

The day started with team roping, playday, wagon rides and horse clinics. The evening meal was prepared by the chuckwagin team. They served prime rib, corn, taters, rolls, salad and all the fixins....YUMMMY...

(photos courtesty of the PCCC facebook page)

The rest of the members were asked to bring a dessert to share. I made cake pops and hubby did his famous peach cobbler in the dutch oven.

After dinner, the fellowship moved inside to the "sanctuary" for a little boot scootin'. The band was amazing and fun was had by all - young and old !

(photos courtesy of PCCC facebook page)

BAD: Living in the country has it's ups and downs....this is the BAD part. This apparently is what was left of a "bird" next to my driveway. I am thinking a coyote had bird for dinner....



UGLY: It is so UGLY, I couldn't even share a pic with you. We were testing the waters with our newest dog baby - SOLO - . We let her out in the front yard with us while we worked in the yard. Not knowing if she would run, we put her on a chain (just until she gets use to her new "yard"). She got very excited at one point and wrapped the chain around my legs. I now have these amazing, deep, bruised chain marks on my calves. She did really well tho and will soon be able to run free outside while we work.

How as your weekend???

HiGh FiVE foR FRIDAY !!

For a 4 day work week – I thought FRIDAY would never get here!!

1.     Four day work week – duh – who doesn’t love those? And it is the last week of regular school – Hallelujah and AMEN…

2.    Last weekend we visited my oldest son –

     Chad and family – Jenn, Jaycee and Cody.

     Cody has been playing tee-ball and nearing the end of his season. We wanted to at least share one game with him. I must say – the boy has got game. He is really good and so much fun to watch! We also got to celebrate with the whole team at KALIEDASCOOP’s ice cream. Yummmmy. 

Good job Cody on a great baseball season!!

Boo and Pops are so very proud of you!

3.    Update – kitchen floor – is now complete. There are only a few baseboards to be put back down and we are done with the floor. My new stove (I still have the original one we installed 25years ago – it works, but it is being moved to hubby’s hunting lease) has been ordered and should be here Saturday and installed by Saturday night! WOOHOO – I am so excited…….

4.    For a “something different” and to celebrate a little more of our 38^th wedding anniversary – we traveled north to Oklahoma to the Choctaw Casino for the day on Monday. We stopped along the way and did some "junk shopping". Didn't find anything, put picked up some ideas. It was fun, great drive, quality time with my BFF (hubby) and a good way to let go of our cash! We weren’t winners (at least not in the CASH way) – so I guess we will have to go back and visit “our money”  we left behind. OH DARN....

5.    On my not on a diet, diet – I am down……-15 lbs!!  I do better with a "plan" so I have writing everything down. Makes me more aware of how much I am actually putting in my mouth! Also, I think you have to be in that "mindset" and for right I am and it is working. 

(insert) Pat on the back here !

Have a great FRIDAY ya’ll

Solo

I love dogs, well animals in general. We have 6 acres and in the last 26 years we have had horses (as many as 8, now down to 1), ducks, chickens, rabbits, dogs (as many as 5 and now 3), cats (too many to count), fish, hamsters, goats, turtles and various other species that were not welcomed - snakes and rats,(TEXAS size rats), field mice, spiders, skunks, coyotes, frogs, lizards..etc..

Living in the country offered us a life many other don't experience.

A couple of weeks ago, a co-worker asked me if I would be interested in a dog. WHAT - another one?
Well, what kind, how old, girl/boy...blah blah blah.....

Her name is SOLO (we renamed her from Precious) She is an 18month old chocolate lab. She is gorgeous. She belonged to my co-worker's niece. Her husband was unexpectedly deployed and he leaves behind his wife and 4 kids (all under the age of 11) The kids, work, single parenting has grown to be too much for her. She felt she had to give the dog away, (as opposed to the kids)

sooooooooooooooooooo guess who was willing take her?

ME - yep - SUCKERRRRRRRRRRRRR......

She is beautiful and needless to say my huntin' huband is thrilled. She does retrieve - a little - and is very loving. My two other dog babies - Samantha and Cappy - are being very protective right now - but I think she will fit in just fine.

Welcome home - SOLO - welcome home

High Five For Friday....

Yeah - it's fridaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyy....

Today my high five is only one....today is my 38th wedding anniversary!

I have been married to the most amazing man EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

He is a christian man, he is sweet, kind, thoughtful, smart, funny, loves life, loves his family, is gentle, comforting, understanding, likes to party, can talk to ANYONE, anywhere about anything and

he is MINE!

We have had an amazing life. We have been blessed in so many ways.

Our two boys are our pride and joy, they married amazing ladies and brought us the most beautiful grand kids. We have our health, we have a beautiful home, we have trusting and true friends, we have our jobs

and each and every day I thank GOD for him!

Happy Anniversary to my husband and BFF !!!

Weight Watcher Wednesday

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM...cooookkkies !!

I love chocolate chip cookies.....good CCC. One of my favorite sites for new WW recipes

 - Skinnytaste http://www.skinnytaste.com/ -

it is a great website/blog if you are following WW or if you are just looking for healthy recipes.
All of recipes list the fat, calories, sugars, proteins,carbs, fiber and WW points.

I found this  CCC recipe yesterday 

made them last night

ate them for breakfast today.

Even hubby gave them a thumbs up!

Best Low-Fat Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever



Skinny Low-fat Chocolate Chip Cookies 
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 12 • Size: 2 cookies • Old Points: 4 pts • Points+: 5 pts
Calories: 170.7 • Fat: 5.0 g • Protein: 1.4 g • Carb: 34.5 g • Fiber: 1.4 g • Sugar: 25.4 g
Sodium: 113.1 mg

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp butter, melted
• 1 egg white
• 2 tbsp apple sauce
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°.  Line two cookie sheets with non-stick silicone baking liners such as Silpats (I highly recommend for best results) or lightly spray cookie sheets with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt and stir to blend. In another bowl, whisk the sugars, butter, egg white, applesauce and vanilla together until light and fluffy.

Whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in two additions until the batter is very well blended. If the batter looks more “crumbly” than smooth, add just a drop of water at a time (ONLY if needed) until it smooths out.

Fold in chocolate chips.
 
Drop by level spoonfuls about 1 inch apart onto baking sheets

Bake 8 - 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, and let them stand 5 minutes before removing the cookies from the pans to cool on wire racks

Makes 2 dozen cookies.
Adapted from Cooking Done Light

If I build it.....

I love scarfs, purses, belts, rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets

........it's just that sometimes I buy and never wear.

So I thought maybe if I build it, I will wear it.......

I bought this dress form from ABC Distributing many moons ago. Not sure why I bought it, but decided it would work great for my scarfs, belts and long necklaces.

I have a ton of bracelets.....and saw this on PINTEREST
(it's a paper towel holder)...works great !

This I bought at a garage sale, all it was doing was gathering dust sitting on the shelf

........so I put it to good use !

WOW - Monday already.....amazing how fast the weekend goes!!

THE GOOD.....the good definately had to be Friday - I have some girls that I volunteer with at the women's shelter - and while we don't do alot of things together - one thing we do every year is attend the BYRON NELSON GOLF TOURNAMENT. We pick one hole, plant out behinds in our chair,sit,watch, talk, eat, drink and have the best time. People watching is amazing, not to mention the fact that we are attending a major sporting event. It was a good day.....

THE BAD....My oldest son called to let me know that one of his best friends from high school had lost his mom Sunday morning. This is always a bad thing. It was unexpected and my heart goes out to him.

THE UGLY....I CLEANED house and I do mean CLEANED. My hard work left me in some major pain. What was I thinking? I think I waited to long, hoping some little house cleaning fairy would come along and lend a hand.....hoping and wishing...

Now it is a new week, and I have a 3 day weekend to look forward too! We will be heading down south to see my oldest grandson play teeball and spend some family time with my son and family. Can't wait!!

Happy Monday......

Weight Watcher Wednesday.....

I confess, I am a "chip-a-holic"....especially Lay's. Oh, and I can eat just one - ONE BAG - that is. I don't buy them for that very reason. Even if I am not hungry, I can eat potato chips. In my quest for healthy and satisfying foods......I discovered KALE CHIPS. Never eaten kale, wasn't even sure what to look for in the produce department. But I found it, pre packaged and ready to go.

Simply, simply, simply and GOOD.

Wash and pat dry with a paper towel. (either the packaged or the do it yourself tear apart)
Place the leafs on a cookie sheet, that has been lightly sprayed with cooking spray
Spirtz with butter or virgin olive oil
Sprinkle lightly with salt (I used seasoned salt)
Bake at 350 until crispy, about 8-10 mins

WALLLLLLLLAAAAA - chips - and they were good. I ate the whole cookie sheet. For WW points - 0 and for other calorie counters......very little and a great source of green veggies!

Gotta Love That Man....

I am a simple girl. I married a simple man. This is one of the presents he got me for mother's day.

When we got in the car Sunday, (leaving the second of 2 weddings we attended this weekend), he handed me this....(this is a local lumber yard)

I opened it and in it was this.....(cast iron)

And it will go here........

Gotta love that simple husband of mine !

Thanks for my present!

Love you !

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Linking up today with Kati from http://incorporatingcolor.blogspot.com/ for the weekend review.

THE GOOD....2 weddings and a graduation. Sounds like a movie title. I am blessed to have 3 nieces with major milestones in their lives.

Cayla, graduating from college on Friday night. Good Job Girl !

So proud of you...love ya!

Chelsea married Aaron. A very country wedding. Her entrance into the ceremony - the theme from the.....drum roll please....

THE GOOD, THE BAD and THE UGLY..priceless!!

Congrats to you both - love you !!

At last, but certainly not the least,

Katie and Jacob tied the knot on Sunday.

Blessing and love to you both!!

THE BAD......Mother's Day was very un-eventful. Hubby had to work. My kiddos were not home and I spent most of the day by myself.

THE UGLY...one of the things I do - that I love - is to volunteer. I think you can't get a greater since of knowing you are doing a good thing than to volunteer your time. I volunteer at both a women's shelter and as of last month have taken on the task of volunteering with an organization that sits with babies and toddlers that are in the hospital - as the result of domestic violence. On Sunday morning, I sat with a 2 year old little boy with a severe brain injury. He was removed from his family last Friday, completely. How UGLY is that - how in the world can anyone beat and abuse a child?

The children's hospital is amazing and wonderful, have the most loving and caring staff I have witnessed. This is a small blessings in the tragic/ugly lives of those little folks.