Tuesday Thinkers "Garfield"

"Be fit for more that the one thing you are now doing."

"If the power to do hard work is not talent, it is the best possible substitute for it."

"I would rather be beaten in right than succeed in wrong."

James Abram Garfield (19 November 1831 – 19 September 1881) was the 20th President of the United States (1881), and the second U.S. President to be assassinated. His term was the second shortest in U.S. history, after William Henry Harrison's. Holding office from March to September of 1881, President Garfield was in office for a total of just six months and fifteen days.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_A._Garfield 



Not my photo but thought it was just the cutest



On a light note Garfield also said,“Man cannot live by bread alone; he must have peanut butter.”

Monday Recipe "Quiche"

Goat Cheese and Ham Quiche

Goat Cheese and Ham Quiche                                                 

6 eggs

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup half and half

1/2 cup goat cheese (my Goat cheese had chives)

2 slices deli ham

dash of salt and pepper

blend in blender till combined

pour into cooked pie shell

cook on 375 for 45 min

cover with foil if getting to browned

I Love Quiche.. really any kind.. I am pretty easy going when it comes to quiches I just throw what I have in the blender.. then in the crust it goes ....and of course I pop it in the oven and I'm set...I think the hardest part is the pie crust and I just spread that out in the pie plate with my paws cause I'm lazy :)

Quiche run down stick to 

1 to 2 cups of milk or half and half... or.. (hmm like sour cream or mayo..but only half of these like half mayo half milk)

to 4-6 egg ratio

than decide seasonings and ingredients

that's what I like about quiches you can put in what you like

whatever you do... don't forget the cheese only saying ..because to me cheese makes everything better

These are some options for recipes

(WELL I MAY HAVE GIVEN YOU TO MANY  :)

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/light-and-fluffy-spinach-quiche/detail.aspx

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Italian-Quiches

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/caramelized_onion_quiche/

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/04/quiche/

http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2012/04/over-the-top-mushroom-quiche/

http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/asparagus-spinach-feta-quiche/

http://guiltykitchen.com/2009/11/06/fully-loaded-quiche/

Friday Foto " Beach Rock"

Thursday Life Moments "Battleship Jaunt"

Our family decided to go somewhere anywhere just not the apartment... it was exhilarating to explore

The BattleShip was right up my boys alley they enjoyed every minute of it

I could not believe how massive it was... from far away it just looks like a boat in the water :)

The ship decking is what got me excited it was phenomenal just look

The grain the color its just gorgeous

We saw a little alligator off the starboard side of the battleship couldn't pass up the photo op

Than we drove and drove and drove till my Ox took me to see this

It was a cold and gloomy day but I didn't care I could of stayed right here forever

PERFECTION



Hump Day Hookerry "Crochet Cable Square 4"

I woke up this morning discombobulated I swore that I was on my last cable 4 square ...went to take pictures and looked high and low for 3 finished squares well guess what there is only TWO!!! (what no way) ...two complete squares... I still am in love with this square but a little disappointed in my progress ...you know that goal of having a May... Tad-ah!!... I still have high hopes that it will happen

Tuesday Thinkers "RUNNING"

I just started running again I know I need to but I don't want to?

Any one out there feel that way ????

The feeling of my muscles aching makes me HAPPY

yup I said it HAPPY

Friday Foto Dainty White

Thursday Life Moments " Pin Up Girls"

I have found the most.....OH gosh I'm lost for words just look

http://www.pinupgirlclothing.com/

I want a closet filled with these clothes a whole new wardrobe I have major wanties no must haves now

ONE OF EACH ITEM

PRETTY PLEASE

ESPECIALLY THE DOTS

They make me giddy

JUST LOOK

 at the POLKA DOTS oh my gracious

I AM SMITTEN :)

Hump Day Hookerry "Progress on the Cables"

Look at the sun coming in it makes me Happy

If y'all have counted that is 12 complete squares (hallelujah!) can you believe it I've had my hook on this week its been a fantastic week and better yet the fourth cable block has tugged at my heart and made me soar its a splendid cable that has definitely hit the top of my charts as the best cable

Yup its magnificent!!!

and of course SUN wonderful SUN LIGHT

Tuesday Thinker

“What greater thing is there for two human souls, than to feel that they are joined for life--to strengthen each other in all labor, to rest on each other in all sorrow, to minister to each other in all pain, to be one with each other in silent unspeakable memories at the moment of the last parting?”
― George Eliot

George Eliot

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Mary Anne (alternatively Mary Ann or Marian) Evans (22 November 1819 – 22 December 1880), better known by her pen name George Eliot, was an English novelist, journalist and translator, and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era. She is the author of seven novels, including Adam Bede (1859), The Mill on the Floss (1860), Silas Marner (1861), Middlemarch (1871–72), and Daniel Deronda (1876), most of them set in provincial England and known for their realism and psychological insight.
She used a male pen name, she said, to ensure her works would be taken seriously. Female authors were published under their own names during Eliot's life, but she wanted to escape the stereotype of women only writing lighthearted romances. An additional factor in her use of a pen name may have been a desire to shield her private life from public scrutiny and to prevent scandals attending her relationship with the married George Henry Lewes, with whom she lived for over 20 years.^[1]
Her 1872 work, Middlemarch, has been described as the greatest novel in the English language by Martin Amis^[2] and by Julian Barnes.^[3]

Monday Recipe "Snickerdoodle"

SNICKER DOODLE MUFFINS

recipe found at http://sweetpeaskitchen.com/2012/02/snickerdoodle-muffins/

Snickerdoodle Muffins

Yield: 16 muffins

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes

Ingredients:

2 ¼ cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 sticks (16 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup buttermilk
For the Topping:
2/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line muffin cups with muffin liners. (Do not use cooking spray.)
In a large bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cream of tarter, nutmeg, and salt; set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla extract. Beat in half of the dry ingredients. Beat in the sour cream and buttermilk. Beat in remaining dry ingredients until just incorporated (batter will be soft).
To make the topping, in a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon.
Using an ice cream or large cookie scooper, drop the scoop of batter into the bowl with the sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle the dough with the mixture and roll it around until it is covered completely in cinnamon sugar. Place the ball into the muffin liner. Repeat with remaining batter. Sprinkle the leftover cinnamon sugar onto the tops the muffins.
Bake until muffin tops are golden brown, 18 to 22 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out with a few moist crumbs attached. Set on wire rack to cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove muffins from tin and serve warm.

Source: adapted from Very Culinary originally adapted from Culinary Concoctions by Peabody


I also made homemade spaghetti O's this week ..I was pretty pleased with these recipes I just mixed and matched recipes from different sites and prayed it turned out all right the kiddos had seconds on them so I consider that a success most importantly I pureed those carrots and added them to the sauce and they didn't even know there was a veggie in it  
http://www.seededatthetable.com/2012/07/09/diy-homemade-spaghettios/
http://too-much-time.com/2012/10/healthy-homemade-spaghettios.html

Not the best pic but hey Im not perfect

Friday Foto

Thursday Life Moments "Dreaming of Summer"

The youngins have went to the pool and gone swimming 2 days in a row.. I stuck my big toe in that pool  and I swear my toe went numb in a matter of seconds... when I'm sitting there watching those crazy kiddos swimming... all I can think of is

and dreaming of this

Hump Day Hookerry "New Life"

As Ox's family prepares funeral arrangements for a death in the family ... they have also had a beautiful life enter their world last week and crochet gears went whirling in my mind so here is what I've been up to

I used coral and turquoise for a beachy summer time feel 

 pattern used for the hat came from

http://allicrafts.blogspot.com/2011/03/free-pattern-cluster-hat-newborn.html

The shoe pattern came from here

http://www.whistleandivy.com/2013/03/little-dot-mary-janes-pattern.html

I just found the original blog post for this pattern today and it touched my heart please visit

The Crochet Cable Blanket is coming along ... I just started the 3rd cable pattern and truly am in LOVE with the stacked canoe pattern (it has brang new life to this blanket)  my mind has so many childhood memories of boundary water canoe trips, Minnesota lakes, and the beautiful wilderness well crocheting canoes its exciting and renewing

Stacked Canoes

Tuesday and My Thoughts

No farewell words were spoken

by Unknown Author

 

No farewell words were spoken,
no time to say goodbye, you were
gone before we knew it, and only
God knows why

 

Yesterday changed by the sound of a ding I was out with my baby girl enjoying a most gorgeous day at the nursery buying herbs (to put out on my patio) we were soaking in all the beautiful flowers around us when we got to the counter and the ding ding went off on my phone well I was paying I was distraught well I read could barely get through the transaction started walking out the door reading what just came through on my phone ..a close family member on Ox's side past away suddenly... the name was there staring at me but I couldn't take it in he was only 32 he has two little babies 3 and 5  no this must be a mistake there is no way what I was reading was true and the last part was please notify Ox and his family... My heart was going out to the family but how do I tell my Ox

Ecclesiastes 3

King James Version (KJV)

3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

² A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
³ A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
⁴ A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
⁵ A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
⁶ A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
⁷ A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
⁸ A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
⁹ What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
¹⁰ I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
¹¹ He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
¹² I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
¹³ And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
¹⁴ I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
¹⁵ That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
¹⁶ And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
¹⁷ I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
¹⁸ I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
¹⁹ For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
²⁰ All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
²¹ Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
²² Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

Monday Recipe "Let's Talk Biscuits"

Well, Butter My Butt and Call Me a Biscuit!


The  Lowly Biscuits was not a pebble in my heel it was a boulder on my chest ..I married a southern man who loves his biscuits more than gravy and the first biscuits I ever made were not even edible (hockey pucks that's what they were if we had ice we could of played a round) how can such an easy thing like biscuits kick this girl in the hiney so hard ..now I had a lot of living up to do I had tasted Ox's Granny's biscuits and to this day there is no comparing she had somethings special in those biscuits that I haven't even come close to and no other biscuit has either but I have taught myself a thing or two about these golden round pieces of goodness and out of everything it was finding the right recipe for me ... the only recipe I have stuck with for 5 years (remember I've been married 17 so that's 12 years of biscuits chaos)  now is from Southern Living Cookbook from 2007

Fluffy Buttermilk Biscuits

3 1/2 cups self rising flour
2 1/4 tsp. baking powder
2 1/4 tsp. sugar
1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup butter chilled and cut into pieces
1 1/2 cups buttermilk

1/2 to 1 cup flour for rolling out the biscuits
1 Tbsp butter melted to brush on biscuit tops

mix, roll, brush, bake
Key points dry ingredients mixed together first... than butter and shortening cut in till crumbs, follow with the buttermilk DO NOT OVER MIX BATTER
bake at 500F for 9 to 11

I usually put the bacon or sausage in the oven on a cookie sheet well the oven is warming up when the oven reaches 500 the bacon or sausage is usually done than I pop the biscuits in

Baking is big in the South—whether it’s a biscuit or a roll, we love something in our hand to put some butter on, or to sop up pot liquor. - Paula Deen

Thursday Life Moments "Wine Night"

Getting ready for my first wine night ..okay take that back first anything..I have never thrown a party at any house I lived in SURPRISED?? Well not that we haven't done parties I just never have had one in my home I'm yes a little overwhelmed
This is kind of sort of what I'm going for

Simple Very Simple Casual not Stuffy Comfortable

Hump Day Hookerry "Crochet Beginnings"

When did I start Crocheting?

This involves a jealous competitive sister yes, that sister was me, I was always the crafty thing the girl who took sewing in school and wanted to...Well my sister was musically inclined.. Me and my sister have never been extremely close but when she got pregnant with her first and I found out I was pregnant with my third at the same time we had something in common so we were talking every week to each other (since we maybe talk once a month in phone call or text you see this is unusual behavior :) )...but it was a special time..well my sister never the crafty homemaking type was talking to me one day she said I got a "learn how to crochet book" I'm going to crochet a blanket for my baby..I was knocked off the wall shocked..then this feeling of on my goodness you cant do that...that is my thing you cant become crafty :).. well I ran out that day and got a "learn how to crochet book" too.. there was no way she was going to beat me at my thing (Yes, I'm horrible see why we don't talk much.. I have that mean streak) To sum it up I learned how to crochet out of pure rivalry

My First Crochet Project was a BABY SWEATER (There's no way I could of done a blanket :) have to be different)

this project was 11 years ago and just to let ya know I fell in love with the hook and am so thankful for that little fire that burns in me because I never would of discovered the world of crochet without it my sister gets bombarded with my projects through text now and she told me the other day she tried to pick up a hook and could not remember the first thing to do of course that made me just a little gloaty

These are some more projects  made for my daughter 2 maybe 3 years ago

She picked all the colors I let her have free range

I'm not as adventurous with colors!!

The pattern for the poncho can be found here

http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/us/pattern.php?id=63&lang=us

Yes I would of picked the colors in the pattern

but it wasn't for me no no 

It's Tuesday Thinker Time

Trying to get my inspiration, my creativity, my thinker, back I have felt really BLAH lately ..for insight today on those quirky quotes I write on Tuesdays.. I went to today in history

On this day in History Pope John Paul II past away


John Paul II (Latin: Ioannes Paulus PP. II, Italian: Giovanni Paolo II), sometimes called Blessed John Paul or John Paul the Great, born Karol Józef Wojtyła (Polish: [ˈkarɔl ˈjuzɛf vɔjˈtɨwa]; 18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005), reigned as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 until his death in 2005. He was the second-longest serving Pope in history and the first non-Italian since 1523. from Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_II

The great danger for family life, in the midst of any society whose idols are pleasure, comfort and independence, lies in the fact that people close their hearts and become selfish.
Pope John Paul II

To maintain a joyful family requires much from both the parents and the children. Each member of the family has to become, in a special way, the servant of the others.
Pope John Paul II

ONE OF MY FAVORITE

Stupidity is also a gift of God, but one mustn't misuse it.
Pope John Paul II

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/p/pope_john_paul_ii.html#kSXw1Hbcvs8YMGrf.99

Hans Christian Andersen..... was born on this day

Hans Christian Andersen (Danish: [ˈhanˀs ˈkʁæsdjan ˈɑnɐsn̩]; often referred to in Scandinavia as H. C. Andersen; April 2, 1805 – August 4, 1875) was a Danish author and poet. Although a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems, Andersen is best remembered for his fairy tales, a literary genre he so mastered that he himself has become as mythical as the tales he wrote. Andersen's popularity is not limited to children; his stories—called eventyr, or "fantastic tales"—express themes that transcend age and nationality.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Christian_Andersen



Statue in Central Park, New York commemorating Andersen and The Ugly Duckling



“Every man's life is a fairy tale, written by God's fingers.” ― Hans Christian Andersen

Monday Recipes Taco Tuesday

Why a Taco Night well Friday is Pizza Night at our house ...pizza is a favorite among my family no matter what type... take out, frozen, eating out, or homemade we enjoy pizza night .. My Stitch again got involved in the meal planning and said "Why cant we have Taco Night?" Well I said set a day we'll make it happen... Taco Tuesday begun my Ox is not a big taco eater but the kids love them so for the recipe today I want to share my favorite Tortilla Recipe now Ox may not like tacos but he can devour some homemade tortillas this recipe is from Homesick Texan
 http://homesicktexan.blogspot.com/2007/03/and-end-to-my-quest-flour-tortillas.html




Flour Tortillas
Ingredients:
Two cups of all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon of salt
2 teaspoons of vegetable oil
3/4 cups of warm milk

Method:
Mix together the flour, baking powder, salt and oil.
Slowly add the warm milk.
Stir until a loose, sticky ball is formed.
Knead for two minutes on a floured surface. Dough should be firm and soft.
Place dough in a bowl and cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap for 20 minutes.
After the dough has rested, break off eight sections, roll them into balls in your hands, place on a plate (make sure they aren’t touching) and then cover balls with damp cloth or plastic wrap for 10 minutes. (It’s very important to let the dough rest, otherwise it will be like elastic and won’t roll out to a proper thickness and shape.)
After dough has rested, one at a time place a dough ball on a floured surface, pat it out into a four-inch circle, and then roll with a rolling pin from the center until it’s thin and about eight inches in diameter. (If you roll out pie crusts you’ll have no problem with this.) Don’t over work the dough, or it’ll be stiff. Keep rolled-out tortillas covered until ready to cook.
In a dry iron skillet, cook the tortilla about thirty seconds on each side. It should start to puff a bit when it’s done.
Keep cooked tortillas covered wrapped in a napkin until ready to eat.