Not just for the 4th of July!

Today is a holiday.  I live in the suburbs of Atlanta, so it's also a big race day for all those people who think it's fun to get up BEFORE the crack of dawn to run.  Hmmmmm.  Well, to each his own, I guess.


Me?  I got up around 7:30.  My husband came downstairs first to put the "butt rub" on the big pork butt we bought yesterday and to crank up the smoker.  Ten hours from now we'll have a yummy pulled pork dinner, with roasted corn (recipe is listed on past recipes!) and yellow squash and zucchini on the grill.   Oh, and caramel/chocolate chip brownies for dessert!!  (Today's recipe....look on the side!!!)


I can't believe it's been over half a year since I posted anything on this blog. 


Here are some highlights and lowlights of the last 7 months:

The ETSY business is doing pretty well.  I find myself painting more and I've added lots of collectibles to my inventory.  It's fun searching for unique items to include in my shop.

I love the old planters!!

One of my original paintings...

My daughter got engaged around Christmas time.  She's getting married in 10 days!!!  Christmas was exciting as we welcomed Erik and Faith into our family.

the kids at Christmas

Kelli's (almost) family!!

Bride's room at Kelli's Venue...the Cotton Warehouse

I did a special diet starting early in March.  I went to the doctor and did the HCG diet.  You inject yourself with the hormone every day for 30 days and eat like a bird for a month, then add some calories for a couple more weeks.  I lost 25 pounds and have kept all but 3 pounds off!!!  

(Okay...I ate this AFTER the diet...)
Dark Chocolate Covered Key Lime Pie on a Stick
from the rehearsal dinner
(Best Thing Ever)

My son got married in April in Panama City.  It was beautiful and we had a wonderful time!  There's something special about seeing you child marrying his sweetheart AND getting a beach vacation all at the same time.  I ate until I almost popped!!!

Cutest Ring Bearer EVER

Vows

Family (minus Amanda, Erik, and Faith)

Beautiful sunset AND couple!!

Love this one!!

Before the final shading, fingerprints for leaves, and names and date,
 I painted this for the newlyweds to use as their guestbook.

During the reception...!

Our grandson turned two in June...he's growing like a weed. I can't believe he's been here two years, but it's hard to remember life without him.  We keep him every Monday and most Wednesdays and he's SO much fun!

Add caption

David and I both turned another year older, but those birthdays aren't as much fun as turning two... 


On a much sadder note...


We had to put down all three of our big dogs.  January, two weeks apart, took Bo and Buddy.  They were our oldest two dogs and it was so terribly hard to lose them both.  Kirby, our husky, was diagnosed with mouth cancer about a year ago.  We had to take him in last month and tell him goodbye.  (I'm crying now...)

Bo Girl, the old lady of the house

Sweet Buddy Dog, going for a ride

My Kirby

 So the little munchkin Aubie is the only canine left in our house.  Going from four to one is hard.

I'm sure lots of other things have taken place in seven months, but between planning rehearsal dinners and weddings and receptions, finding dresses and shoes, going to wedding showers, and losing our (furry) family members, I can't remember anything else.  Oh, and writing checks.  There's been LOTS of that...!


So if you see either of us on the side of the road begging for change or if we show up at your door looking for dinner, take pity.  We're broke!

Thanksgiving

I am thankful for:

My husband.  He doesn't have the beard now.  But I've never seen him...NEVER...without the mustache.  He also wasn't asleep here.  He just hates to have his picture taken.

My kids.  And their significant others.  My children have chosen people who make their lives richer, fuller and brighter.  I'm proud of them.  All of them.

My grandson.  He's beautiful, funny, smart and loving.  I'm sure there will be others.  And I'll love them just as much.

My furry babies.  Mikko, Itty, Bo, Kirby, Buddy, Aubie, in that order.  No picture of Dude, the Siamese cat. And as much as Buddy barks, as much as Kirby sheds, as much as Itty claws, etc...I still love them.  They make me smile.

My extra children.  The ones we've "adopted" over the years.  The ones who have become family.  The ones pictured here and the ones not pictured.  They know they're loved and always welcome at our house.

There are so many other things I'm thankful for; I couldn't even begin to list them all.  My parents and sisters and friends...

This is what I know:  there are 364 other days to be thankful.  It's not a one day special.  So I'll try to take more moments, every day, and stop and be thankful for all that is good in my life.  That's my Thanksgiving Day resolution. ;o)

Just a Recipe...but OH, MY, what a recipe!!!

S’mores Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe from Picky Palate

2 sticks (8 ounces) softened butter
1 cup granulated sugar
¾ cup packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
3½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

24 graham cracker quarters or 12 full sheets separated at perforations
3 Hershey Bars, broken into rows of 3 bars
12 large marshmallows cut in half lengthwise

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a large baking sheet with parchment or a silpat liner.

2. In a stand or electric mixer, beat the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat until well combined.

3. Place flour, salt and baking soda into a bowl; mix to combine then add slowly to wet ingredients along with the chocolate chips.

4. Layer a graham cracker quarter with 3 Hershey chocolate squares and 2 marshmallow halves. Close with another graham cracker. (see below)

5. Top s’more with a large scoop of cookie dough. Place in hands and place another large scoop on bottom then front and back sides as needed. Form dough around s’mores. It is much easier than it sounds, just make sure your dough is around room temperature, and make one big disc shape. Pinch off excess dough if you have too much.

5. Place large cookies onto prepared baking sheet and bake for 15-17 minutes or until edges are golden and centers are cooked through. Let cool for 10 minutes before transferring to cooling rack or serving plate.

The High Chair!

It's done!  This is the pictorial evolution of an old wooden high chair, spray painted white for a first child, fancied up for the second!

Nice chair, but boring, right?

Bought all the paints, excited to get started.

Jackie picked the colors from several samples I brought home; left it up to me to decide  where they went.

Trying to come up with a plan!

Along about now, I was thinking "this isn't as easy as I thought it would be?!?"

I like the color combination!

Wondering what to do next...

Love the blue and pink, but too predictable.

The orangey color is my favorite!

Wondering if I should stop...

Starting to add the details.

This is fun!  (Hoping I'll know when to stop!)

OK.  At this point I decided the seat was too solid.  Even though Jackie doesn't like yellow, I thought it needed either white or yellow for a pop.  So I made a home depot run and bought some paint tape and took a chance!

Yellow.  Like the centers of the flowers.  Hope it looks alright.

Now what?  Not crazy about the stripes.

Maybe if the stripes are in more places?!?

And I know I'm going to put dots on the legs, so why not in the seat!?

It's coming together!  I think I like!

We're about 2 weeks in at this point.  Hmmmmmm.

I'm liking it, but I need to add the flowers to the inside of the arms too.  And I think I'll stripe the top of the arms like the back.  Apparently at this point I had decided to never quit painting on this chair...

I think the details are cute!

It's time to do the tray!

Had Jackie choose the font she wanted from about 10 or 12 options.  She narrowed it down to two.

For some reason, I didn't take any pictures of the tray until it was almost done.  Oh, and those are my toes...

I like.

Decided the arms of the tray needed a little something too.

Finished.  Just adding the 5 coats of sealer......

Put it all together to see how it looked.

Juliette is getting a high chair for her first birthday November 1st.

Shhhhh.  Don't tell her.  It's a secret!!

Love you Jackie!  Hope you love it!!!  And you can show Jason that it's not ALL purple!!