The Needle in a Haystack

Beep Beep Baby

  I admit I am a girlie girl.. I love all things frilly and pretty... but deep down somewhere is a side of me that just LOVES muscle cars  When we first met Chris was driving  a charger ( or maybe a challenger), and then progressed to a Lemans when we got married... but my all time favorite of all his muscle cars was the 1071 Plymouth Roadrunner... that car was a treasure!  The boys were young and just loved the roadrunner decal on the back of the car.  I think Jamie & Jeremy knew what a Mopar catalog was before  they  even played their first Nintendo game!

......We out grew them, sort of,  a couple of Saturdays ago we ahd gone out to lunch and a stream of muscle cars were driving through town and we HAD to pull over and watch~ sigh~ remember~  maybe someday again..

......Grocery shopping and gardening done today... I  bought all the fixings and prepared for 3 new raised beds using a kids swimming pool.  Our soil is so horrible that I would have had to strt preparing last fall with a good worm  bed to ahve a decent soil for the summer.  This is a short cut till we can get the  worms going again.

Hope you all have a fine night... Remember to pray for dave and Becky Black  as they begin  serving in Ethiopia for the next month

Strawberry Tuesday

One of the great benefits of living in rural NC is the large number of pick your own farms within  20 minutes or so of home.  This is the one time of year where the big city folks come to us... right now we are still hot and heavy into strawberries.  If the weather continues in the 90's though through this week, our strawberry time will be running thin.
I bought a gallon of berries today and Christopher and I have been feasting on berries and cream all evening long... Thursday I'll pick a huge quantity and do our jams and some for the freezer.

....This is the first week in along time I haven't been on the run somewhere.  I hardly know what to do with myself!   I finished up my 12 preemie hats for a children's hospital and finished the ripple and mailed it out  for my godmother.  I made the card as clear as possible  as to who the lapghan was from.  Sometimes she remembers, some times she doesn't.  I hope  she will know it was made by someone who loves her even if she can only remember me as a little girl most of the time.

......Monday's are rough with Chris heading back to New Bern... I spent the evening watching a show on the Discovery Channel about a homeschool family the  Duggars  Apparently they only had 16 children when the filmed the show... number 17 is on the way...   I know some of you have eyes bugging out right now about 17 children... but I really wish I had had more children.  I always wanted 8... We had 4 boys, one stillborn and 2 miscarriages ..I still think of my unborns......Chris and I can only wait for grands now...

.....time to tuck myself into  bed and read a bit before I fall asleep... tomorrow I need to get up early and do some gardening before the temps hit the 90's... I have 4 more square foot beds to set up...

so.... enjoy  life...and have a fine day.. all day long

Happy Memorial Day~

We had such a great weekend.... Christopher's best friend Daniel graduated from highschool  Daniel has lived just about everyday  at our home since he was 11.  We have taken him on vacation... I home schooled him last year...he attends our family Bible Studies and my husband helped lead him to the Lord.... Daniel is almost our own~ He lives near us with his grandparents.  They ordered a cake for him and we spent the afternoon fellowshipping with them and enjoying Daniel's success.  He will attend a community college to major in video gaming graphics... Daniel is one of those kids who will make it, not necessarily from his home life... but because he wants to be better.... We are very proud of him~~

....This weekend we went to see "Pirates, World's End"... I'm a Depp fan... and I loved it!  We went to the matinée at 5.00 a pop and spent 12.50 total on the bucket of popcorn, 3 drinks and  some candy... all well worth the money....
..The it was dinner with Josh and Jess... great visit.

...Today Chris has to work in New Bern, so Christopher and I will just lounge at home...

We will fly our flag to remember:

D. James Wilson USAF Korea
Drexel Wilson USAF  Korea / VietNam
Richard Wilson USAF  Korea

John Russell USAF Fighter Unit  WWII
Perry Cummins  USAF Helicopter unit in Scotland WWII

....and a big thank you to those who serve now: Especially you Josh~~

Hump Day

I'm sure I accomplished SOMETHING today, but as I look around... I can't see a major thing accomplished today... I hate days like this when I am running on a hamster wheel... I like to at least at the end of the day to say " I have finished this"...

..I did drive Christopher and Nick to the last Networks for this session.  I missed the turn off 85 to pick up 40 and had to drive about 40 some miles out of my way to get where I needed to be... I decided to treat myself to a Mint cookie and cream milk shake from Chick-filla  they looked so good on the commercials and I had a coupon ( yep I AM  a product of consumerism)... It was um.... HORRIBLE.... I dug around for another coupon since I had an hour and a half left to kill from the milkshake disappointment... Schloskys... hmmm  still not great... when will I learn to pack my supper... eating out is rarely a treat anymore unless it has real silver and linen tablecloths..

....and the winner of yesterday's "What am I doing" quiz.... Melissa!!  For all you Eagles fans... I'm standing on a corner in Winslow AZ.   " such a fine sight to see"...
Love it!!

While I didn't get a cool pic of the lovely couple at the wedding..Chris's cousin Steve,( who I might add has one of the sweetest little fellows in the world) snapped a few good ones... he also has a UTUBE that I haven't watched but will pass on  anyhow...here  are some pics he took, none of me but some cute ones of the newlyweds  if you don't want to click , Steven, I snagged a pic
 

What are you doing????

I was going through some photos trying to sort them for a scrapbook on our trip out west...( this was our second cross country trip)..This time we traveled I-40 till we hit the other coast, visiting sights along the way... Chris and I love to travel...
Anyhow, does anyone want to take a gander at what I'm doing in this picture It was taken at 6:00 in the morning in Winslow Arizona ... the minute we saw the sign for Winslow  we burst into a song and then HAD to take this pic..... any guesses?  I'll tell ya tomorrow

.... I kept very busy today finishing up a few WIP... I also worked on squares for this  square for a large crochet quilt of sorts for an auction... It was really fun to do and I am fighting the urge to make one for myself .... must resist~~~~~~~

....When Chris and I were traveling through New Mexico , we stopped for lunch one afternoon and was introduced to what has to be our favorite burger...I thought I would share what we came up with to replicate it!

1 quarter lb hamburger pattie grilled... we do ours medium to medium well
placed on toasted rye bread with a little mayo
colby jack cheese and caramelized onions
lettuce and tomato

... I ordered mine with a fruit iced tea, half regular ice tea and half pineapple juice..... we were licking our lips afterwards.... good stuff... give it a try!  The caramelized onions and rye bread really make a difference...

....Christopher got his EOGs back today... not as well as we would have liked ( 10 pts off his goal for National Honor Society) but still well above average.  We see he needs to work on comprehension skills next year  but over all I can say I think we had a good year...  Chris and I are already looking at books for next year.  I try to give myself the whole summer to  set up lessons for our school year.

So, have a bit of fun... and have a fine day... all day long!

Its Monday!~~

One of the goodies I made yesterday for the family was homemade pizza.  Years ago I worked my way through college at Domino's Pizza, and later as a career in PR with the new store set ups.... as a matter of fact, all you NC folks can thank me for introducing you to your first bite of the stuff!  When I moved to NC to plan the first store, a large cheese pizza was 4.50 and a small cheese was 2.50.  My then boss, Tom Monaghan  believed in keeping it simple...just pizza and coke... guess they sort of lost track of all that .  I have never tired of pizza .  Its been years since i have worked at Domino's but still use some of the secrets in making our own.

Pizza Crust
2 cup hot water
1T yeast
2T sugar
1t salt
1/8c olive oil
5 cups bread flour
Proof yeast  in water with sugar... then add salt , oil & flour.  I actually mix and give mine a raise in the bread machine on the dough cycle.  This dough only needs one rising.

This recipe makes 2 large pizzas.  I free form a sort of round dough on a pizza stone but sometimes I use a jellyroll pan or round pizza pan.. make sure if you are not using a stone to grease the pan!

( I can spin a pizza on my fist, toss in the air and catch it on my fist again...everyone has to have SOME talent~smile~)

For sauce I use any tomato sauce.  I got this idea from Laine it is inexpensive and tastes great
1 can tomato sauce ( yep the cheap stuff)
1 T olive oil
minced garlic and Italian seasoning to taste
a pinch of cayenne pepper\
salt and pepper to taste

use about a half an 8 oz can per pizza... making sure you leave at least a half inch rim around the pie for a good crust...

I sometimes brush the rim with olive oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds... you would not believe how that perks a crust up!

Next are toppings... lite cheese to the edge of the sauce, flat veggies, flat meats, chunky veggies, chunky meats & then extra cheese...make sure toppings leave a "hole in the middle of the pie..toppings slide to the middle so make sure they go to the edge of the sauce..
Toppings go in that order so they don't burn....

One of the most important parts of the process is the oven... Bake in a preheated 425 to 450 degree oven for about 12-15 minutes... don't gunk on the cheese too much or the dough won't cook...

Slice the pizza straight out of the oven so it will cut easily...

Cost is about 3.00 a person for greenpepper, cheese, onion and a meat( ham or pepperoni)  I eat veggie pizzas which tend to be even cheaper!

... One of the pizza places in near my home town in Yellow Springs Oh was(is) called HaHa's... they make the most awesome whole wheat crust which I have tried but can't quite perfect yet... BUT they had asparagus, & feta pizza that is to die for!  Also broccoli and cream cheese ( don't knock it til you try it)

I really really hope you give this a try... it is so good and so much fun to make.....

... Big C left for New Bern this afternoon.... missing him already!  I kept myself busy with my new PK 99 Little Doilies and finished 2 of them!  Caught up on the latest with my mom & Grams... checked in on Jamie with his first day of work and heard from Jeremy  & Josh.... Christopher is developing  a serious case of end of the year blues.... life seems so much more important then Biology and Algebra.... who can diagram a sentence with good basketball playing weather?????

So, spin a pizza..and have a fine day... all day long!

.....

The Wedding

The wedding was of course well planned and beautiful Laura and her family are OBVIOUSLY list folks, no detail left un- attended to  The lighting was horrible for digital pics, even with my night option on.  I did manage a few pics, Josh and Laura and and the photographer and the wedding cake ( Kahlua filing), a pan of the reception hall before the folks showed up
.. and the youngest member to attend, sporting a tie to boot!  His mum was a bridesmaid from LA and scheduled his birth so she could fly up to be in the wedding.. THAT was a true friend eh?

We shared a table with our oldest friends Judy and Warren ,Christopher and Jeremy and Heather..We spent the day relaxing.... DH needed a bit of extra TLC so I made his favorite foods and gave him lots of kisses....
So celebrate new beginnings..... dress your best... and have a fine day... all day long!

Show &Tell Friday

Kelli  is hosting Show & Tell Friday again...... can you see this little face?  Its a wood sprite, carved into a beautiful walking stick.   I'm not sure you can see his impish smile and puffy cheeks too well but he IS a cutie!

... A few years back, My hubby's good friend Dan and his wife Christine asked us to come sing and their families church in Marion NC which is in the Blue Ridge Mts of NC.  Not only was singing to this group of Believers a treat, but we hit the jackpot with our host couple.  Their home sat on a mountain that had been in the family since the 1700's.   We could look over fields  and gardens that had been in use for generations.  Breakfast was a treat in itself... Homemade sausage, farm fresh eggs and corn cake made in an old cast iron skillet.  We walked the gardens and my hostess bent and broke off cuttings and gave us seeds that still flourish in our own garden here at End of the Road.  She also gave me the sweetest potholder in the cathedral window pattern... Not to be out done, her elderly husband called me out to his wood shed.... there he showed me a fairy land of hand carved walking sticks, each with little imps , fairies and sprites carved into them.  "You pick", he said....
Oh however could I choose !!!!! I finally picked this little imp and he happily lives in the corner of my bedroom!  What a blessing to visit with this elderly couple.!  The husband passed away a couple of years ago but the wife is very faithful with cards and letters as we are back...

....Today starts a busy weekend... My BIL is getting married tomorrow so today we are fluffing and grooming for the rehearsal dinner tonight at Caffe Luna in Raleigh...  the boys are all in a tail spin about the "ties required" memo from their Grammy Sue last night... they'll survive!

.....I'm off to get girlied up and enjoy myself....I hope everyone has a fine day... all day long!

A Tuesday

Isn't this little church a hoot?  You can read more about it here   My cousin Donna and I use to dub it as our favorite place in the world...I've visited several times, the first being with my grandparents in the late 60's... My grandparents loved to travel and we made a day trip of it.  This church, Blackwater Falls and Seneca Caverns.  Gram would pack a picnic and we would set off early and arrive late... Not sure life got any better!

.... Do you ever have days when your really out of sorts and you can't figure out why?  I could ahve stayed in jammies all day but it was much to pretty outside ...I did seem to get alot done on my "list"  but I sit here tonight and think.. what REALLY did you get done....

...did get a quick call from Jamie who passed his class and sits for his license on Thursday.. Go Jam!  I know you can do it!

....I woke up this morning to my secret pal assignment in my mailbox... very fun!  I already made a little something for her today... I also got a top secret email from my unknown secret pal... she was so funny...

......Did you know today was Chocolate Chip Cookie day???? I'm not sure how I let that one slip up on me.... since I am a bit anal about things and did not have " bake chocolate chip cookies" on my list... I quickly put it on tomorrows  to do's..

Martha Stewart's Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Makes About 3 Dozen

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed dark-brown sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 large whole egg, plus 1 large egg white
12 oz. semisweet chocolate chunks (about 2 cups)

Preheat the oven to 375F, with racks in the upper and lower thirds. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and both sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Add the vanilla, whole egg, and egg white. Beat on low speed until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, about 1 minute. Add flour mixture in two batches; mix until just combined. Mix in chocolate.

Shape 2 heaping tablespoons of dough at a time into balls and place about 1 1/2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until cookies are golden brown, about 18 minutes. Transfer parchment and cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Cookies can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.

Yep... right up there at the top of the list for tomorrow....

... so let me know your favorite cookie..... and have a fine day... all day long!

I found the Culprit(s)

For the last few days I could NOT figure out how my yarn skeins were being taken out of the bin and scattered all over the craft room... I always made sure the door was shut since C.D.'s ebay stuff is also int here... ahhh... guess who can crawl under the door... I caught these little critters red pawed.....the bin they are sitting in was full of yarn... it must have been a team effort since they are on the second bin level....naughty babies!!

... Monday's are always blah days with CD leaving for New Bern... He stayed up late reading and so is functioning on 3 1/2 hours sleep... I HOPE he is napping  a bit before he goes back in to check on the jobsite.... Only 5 more weeks or so to go....

.....I on purpose set myself up with tons of projects this week plus a baby shower invite for this weekend that I won't be able to attend since we have wedding of the year on Fri & Sat. ( BIL)...

For the baby shower I decided on a Baby It's Cold Outside   they work up fast and I have a ton of baby yarn...I am using a sweet little TLC Baby yarn in blues and greens... ( are you humming the Bing Crosby song....did he do that with Doris Day????

....I'm also working on 2 projects from the Happy Hooker book, a fat bottom bag ( so far so good) and the Knot Ugly Shrug... add to that the lapghan & a few doilies...and a couple of pillowcases int he mix... yep... I'm pretty much craft ADD today... clean the bathroom, fat bottom bag.... clean the bedroom, shrug... clean the kitchen, BICO.... you get the point... it keeps me from sitting on my bum eating powdered donuts and watching HGTV or the History Channel ( I think if I hear the NutraSystem commercial one more time I'm writing hate mail"....

... One exception to having the tube on today was Mythbusters.... going to start a Jamie Hyneman fan club..... I am almost totally addicted to that show... which is weird since I am the furthest thing from a techie....I never really did like science.... I DO like adventure.. but his show isn't so adventuresome... I have no clue what my fascination is but I love it!  4:00 when I can finds me glued to the tube..

..... Nothing  exciting coming out of the kitchen... the kitchen is closed/ chef is busy with a gazzillion crochet projects.....

So.... don't try this at home.... and have a fine day.... all day long!