Homemade Chili in July

Roger discovered how to use the pressure cooker! The result was this wonderful homemade chili! This again, was a Chef Jaque Pepin recipe.

Food Processing in July

Roger and Danny decided they were going to try their hand at cooking dinner. They watched several episodes of Chef Jaque Pepin and decided on a menu. They started with potato pancakes, made homemade chili, and finished with a lovely pear dessert. To make the potato pancakes, Danny had to use a food processor. I didn't have one, so Roger bought one at Costco! Dinner was fantastic!!!!

Meatballs in July

I was watching Throwdown with Bobby Flay this summer. He challanged a chef in New York to see who could make the better meatball. Great episode! The chef, Mike Maroni, won the throwdown. I had to try it! His meat balls are the best I have ever tried! Click here for the recipe. Enjoy!!!

Plinking in July

Danny was plinking in the backyard with his airsoft gun. He hit one of the soda cans - it's flying off the box!! Nice way to spend a hot July afternoon.

Hot Days - July

Heat wave in July. The hot air just burns the lungs... Way too hot for me!!!

I'm Back

Greeting all! It's been a while since I've been here and I am sorry about that. I've got a few pictures to share with you, so please don't give up on me and check back again shortly. I hope to post a few this evening or tomorrow!! See you soon

Dinner Anyone??

CAUGHT by Danny

CLEANED by Roger


(INSPECTED by Clifford)

COOKED by Judi

Summer Meals - a Family Affair

Tennessee Map 196.365

We put about 1,000 miles on our rental car. We traveled across the state twice! So much driving here and there and everywhere! It's good to be home!!

Nashville 195.365

What kind of visit would it be to Nashville without going to the Grand Ole Opry? Here we are in front of the Opry prior to taking the tour.

The tour was fun. We saw various dressing rooms, the green room, and the backstage. The highlight, of course, was getting to go on stage. We even got to stand on the same spot where all the country great stand when they perform!!

Memphis Part II 194.365

We stopped at the National Civil Rights Museum. It was pretty interesting. The tour takes you through the Lorraine Motel. You see the rooms that Martin Luther King, Jr. and his group occupied the days before his assassination. Then the tour takes you to the boarding home where James Earl Ray lived and the bathroom where he was when he fired the shot that killed MLK. It was interesting and eerie at the same time.

Memphis 193.365

Welcome to Graceland!!! We took the tour of the mansion as well as other exhibits. Going through the mansion was like going back in time - back to the 70's! It was interesting to go through the rooms and learn more about Elvis. He accomplished so much in his short life.

We also went to Beale St. - home of the blues and rock and roll. These are some of the interesting signs on the street.

Kentucky Lake Part II 192.365

One of the best things we did at Kentucky Lake was to go boating on Uncle Larry's pontoon and then swim in the lake. That was so much fun and so very relaxing!!

Kentucky Lake 191.365

After spending a few days in Gatlinburg, TN, we drove about six hours west to Paris Landing, on Kentucky Lake. We visited my Tita Pat and Uncle Larry. These were the best two days of our trip. Uncle Larry fried up lots of catfish that he caught - yummy!! Then he cooked up some BBQ ribs - best ribs anywhere!!! Mom and Tita Pat spent every moment catching up with each other. We also lit lot of firecrackers. The kids enjoyed doing this - but not as much as the adults did!!

Great Smoky Mountains Day 190.365

This little guy was just "hangin'" around just outside our condo. He was about 40 or 45 feet up in the tree. I was on the 5th floor when I took this photo. (We are in Gatlinburg, TN.)

We went hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains. These mountains are so lush and green. We hiked through the forest, enjoying the greenery and the rushing streams. We even walked over a few log bridges and up into a cave. We had so much fun.

Days 187 - 189 Start of Tennessee Trip

Day 187.365

First day of family trip. Just a traveling day. We went on vacation with my brother's family, my mom and sister. There was a total of 10 of us traveling about the state of Tennessee. Here we are at the airport - neices Samantha and Selena, nephew Andrew, mom (Grandma Cat) and Danny. Grandma gave them 4th of July hats.

Day 188.365

We watched the fireworks from the main drag in Gatlinburg. It was an outstanding show with a phenomenal finale!!

Day 189.365

We were driving from Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg with a thunderstorm hit. I was so glad that Roger was driving!! The rain was so hard and heavy, the windshield wipers couldn't keep up and we could hardly see. I was like someone shooting a water cannon at our car!!!

Days 183 - 186

Day 183.365

Another Bunco night! I love spending time with these ladies!!

Day 184.365

Do you remember eating creamcicles (50-50 bars to some people)? These are the orange popcicles with the creamy center. My favorite!!! I found an outstanding recipe to make the creamcicles, but in a loaf that is easy to share for dessert!! YUMMY!!!

Day 185.365

Poor Clifford is hot! (and so am I!!) He goes from room to room to find the coolest spot to rest. I caught him on the fireplace hearth. Poor guy can't even fit on the thing!

Day 186.365

Pretty Pink Flower in a hanging basket. Makes me smile.

Green Apples 182.365

I love to see fresh fruit in the fruit bowl on the counter.

BTW, today is day 182 of 365. I am half way through the year!

My First Tomato!! 181.365

Anyone who know me, knows that I have a black thumb! When students give me flowers or plants as gifts, I rush them home to give to Roger. They have a better chance with him caring for them!! Anyway, my aide, Anne gave me a Purple Cherokee Tomato plant for my birthday way back in April. I eventually planted it in one of those Topsy Turvey things. I have been diligent about watering this plant. Today I spied my first tomato!!

Errands 180.365

I'm off to run errands this afternoon. Right next to me in the car: my shopping list, the store ad, my reusable grocery bags (more in the back), and my purse... If Danny were with me, then he would be in the seat instead. :)

Sleepy Head 179.365

I read on Ali Edward's blog about taking a picture of RIGHT NOW.

So, right now:

• It's 8:00a.m.
• My baby is "napping" after getting out of bed.
• Right before this picture was taken, I had coffee in one hand and the crossword in the other.
• We're both very glad it is summer vacation!!

Paper Crafting Project 178.365

I started out with a pile of matchbooks and scrap patterned paper and turned them into this:

A box full of drawers...

There are 24 tiny drawers in this box. The original project was for an Advent Calendar.

Each drawer is painted and lined.

Hydrangeas 177.365

Aren't these beautiful??!! I spied these Hydrangeas at Lowe's.

Junk Drawer 176.365

After about 5 years, I FINALLY cleaned out and organized the junk drawer! Boy does it feel good to be able to actually open the drawer all the way!. Found this organizer many years ago, but it got buried under all the junk in the drawer. The section that holds the pencils and binder clips slides to the right and opens up to more compartments. It's nice that at least one drawer in my kitchen is organized... :)

Father's Day 175.365

Happy Father's Day to Roger, the wonderful father to our son Danny. To Roger, Sr. the wonderful father to Roger, Jr. and me. To my father, Rafael, who though is not with us anymore, made me the person that I am today. I LOVE ALL OF YOU!!

Plane ride 174.365

We were invited to a BBQ at a friend's hanger. Her husband is a pilot and gave me a ride in his Cessna 150. It's a small, two-seater - cramped quarters in the cockpit. Flew over the city for about 15 minutes. The white building / complex is the Mormon Temple. This was my first time in a small plane. I was nervous and a little worried because I get air sick when I fly on commercial planes. But this was not bad at all. My stomach lurched just a little on the descent. I can't wait to go up there again!!!

Palms 173.365

This grove of palms is right next to a cloverleaf onramp of a freeway. I was waiting my turn for the metered light to get on the freeway, so I took the shot.

Dinner 172.365

Danny likes simple dinners. So tonight we are having beans and ground turkey, seasoned with lots of garlic, oregano, salt and pepper served over rice. Very simple and scrumptious.

Refreshed 171.365

My just watered tomato plant.

The plant is backlit by the sun. The water droplets are on the other side of the leaf.

Facebook

Last Thanksgiving, my brother convinced me to join Facebook (FB). With some trepidation, I started inputting my information, added friends, and even posted what I was doing. At first, I was slightly addicted to it, wondering what my “friends” were doing, and taking quizzes – my Aura is purple and the band that represents me is Journey.

I have learned to enjoy my time on FB. I log on only every few days now, instead of every few hours. The best thing about FB is connecting with old friends. Today, I had lunch with my friend Cheri. Cheri found me on FB. We haven’t seen each other since high school – 23 years ago! Cheri was my very first friend I made when my family moved from Chicago to California. We were both 10 years old when we met. It was great to catch up with her after all these years, reminiscing about our families, and telling each other what our families are doing now. What a great way to spend the afternoon! I hope this reconnection will continue and that our old friendship be renewed.

Twilight 170.365

Yesterday was my "official" first day of summer vacation. :) I spent the day reading Twighlight. It was the rage in the jr. high classes and even some of my 3rd graders started to read it. So, yes, I was sucked up into the hype, and sat down to read this book. I finished the 500 pages in two days! I must say, it was an easy read, but it did keep me flipping the pages. The story was enjoyable, the characters likeable (what's up with Rosalie??), and the action suspenseful. This is definitley a good summer book, beach book, traveling book, etc. I have already bought New Moon and am debating starting that one today or waiting a little bit. ( I really need to clean my scrapbook room and get restarted in some scrapping!!!)

Happy summer to all!

Wedding 169.365

This past Saturday I attended the wedding of the daughter of a friend of mine. It was an elegant affair. The bride was stunning and the groom quite handsome. This is the wedding cake. I thought it was so cute that they had all the mini cakes for the guests to eat. The colors of the wedding were sage green, white and black.

Congratulations to Adam and Kelly!!

Textures and Patterns Days 162 - 168

I enjoy textures and patterns. I think that is why I enjoy traditional scrapbooking over digital scrapbooking. I enjoy books that are tactile. So, the following photos have some sort of texture or pattern to them. These were shot on various walks that I have taken.

Palm tree trunk

Student mailboxes at the local University

Another palm tree trunk. I really like this one....

Still another palm tree trunk. close up

I needed to paint a pink pig for school. The art teacher gave me paper, but not butcher paper to paint the pig on. The paper had a glossy layer on the surface. When the paint dried, it crackled. I liked the look of it.

Tree bark

Trunk from a coniferous tree.