Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Food!!!!

I dislike the term "stealing" when it comes to these things. Lets just say I am "borrowing" this from Anna and leave it at that.

How do you like your eggs?
I rarely eat breakfast out. I have never found any restaurant eggs that I liked at all. At home I eat eggs 2-3 times a week. Usually over-easy and runny, cooked in real butter, but sometimes I scramble them. I eat them with ciabatta or an English muffin.

How do you take your coffee/tea?
Being a Texan and a Southerner you'd think I would drink sweet iced tea but I don't. I drink UNsweet iced tea, decaf only.

Favorite breakfast food?
Cold pizza hands down. Or, if you mean "real" breakfast food, then biscuits and ham gravy(although I rarely make this meal). I love reading about breakfasts from other cultures because they are mostly all about the savory and spicy. Sweet stuff that early in the day makes me sick to my stomach.

Peanut butter: Smooth or crunchy?
Extra crunchy! I have to have something in it to chew or I'll gag.

What kind of dressing on your salad?
I love ranch but don't eat it often. Mostly I make my own from olive oil and raspberry balsamic vinegar with seasonings. If I have a lemon it is that much better!

Coke or Pepsi?
Here in Texas its all "coke" to us! Just like asking for a Kleenex will get you anything from a Puffs Plus to a napkin from Dairy Queen dug out from the bottom of someone's purse or glove box. You have to specify what KIND of coke you want, Pepsi, Sprite, Dr. Pepper, Mr. Pibb, or Mountain Dew. I'd prefer Dr. Pepper please, but I'll drink whatever we have. I'd rather have my tea though and tend to take it with me when I'm out(but not to restaurants).

You're feeling lazy, what do you make?
Our lazy meals are usually baked potatoes with butter, cheese and sour cream(and scallions if we have them) or easy tostadas with canned refried beans, cheese, and salsa.

You're feeling really lazy. What kind of pizza do you order?
We don't order pizza but occasionally will get a pepperoni from Little Caesar's. I really love homemade but rarely remember to start dough.

You feel like cooking. What do you make?
Enchiladas, spaghetti, stir fry, a casserole or skillet dish. I love to cook but don't have as much time to do so as when the kids were little(we are in the car too often these days). I don't really follow recipes, mainly just get inspiration from them and do things my own way.

Do any foods bring back good memories?
I used to eat Cheetos with a friend of mine in elementary school, pretty much til the bag was gone. I remember my grandmother's big family lunches with fried okra and squash, fried chicken, green beans, fresh tomatoes and rolls. Oh my. And tacos at home, I would start the meat cooking before my parents got home from work.

Do any foods bring back bad memories?
No, not really.

Is there a food you refuse to eat?
I am not sure. It isn't like I'm confronted with weird stuff to eat. I can't think of anything I really don't like.

What was your favorite food as a child?
Kraft mac and cheese! I still love it.

Is there a food that you hated as a child but now like?
As a small child I didn't like tomatoes but love them now.

Favorite junk food?
Potato chips

Do you have any weird food habits?
My normal is some other person's weird and vice versa. I don't like syrup on my pancakes, is that weird?

Favorite dessert?
Oh gosh, I really don't love sweets all that much. I'd probably have to say birthday cake or brownies with ice cream appeal to me more than cheesecake or pudding or pies, usually anyway.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Summer so far....

We have had a busy summer this year! Mark and Ryan have spent hours and hours helping Papaw with long overdue yardwork. Because of his mom's illnesses she was unwilling to let anything get done there. They are making up for years of neglect and its tough!

I have been decluttering our house, doing a few improvement projects and learning to crochet with thread. We've also rescued several dogs, all returned to their rightful owners thankfully.



(crochet flower ornament)


It has been ungodly hot here in east Texas this year! Most summers are hot but we've had temps well over 100 for at least 6 weeks now, with no end in sight. As of today, 72% of Texas is in extreme drought. Its not pretty. Crops have failed, livestock are dying, fires have destroyed acres upon acres of land. I am thankful we live in the eastern part of the state, so far no major fires here. Can't wait for some cooler temps though!



The kids have had a banner year for socializing! Sarah now has four neighborhood girls to hang out with, something she's never got to do before. Ryan had a huge birthday pool party in May and continues to entertain friends by the droves. Currently two friends are staying the week and a pasture campout will happen tonight with an additional several coming out for the adventure. The girls and I have plans for a spa night after we return from a marshmallow roasting visitation.


(one of about a gazillion cicadas so far this year!)


(Tibert isn't stupid)


(Mark resting on Papaw's porch at last weekend's work session there)


(assorted pots gathered from the yard)


(pulling vines out of the trees is hard work!)


(newly painted dining table!)


(fire from the boys night out in Papaw's pasture)


The day after Mark's mom's funeral, his dad told him who his biological mother is. So we have been finding assorted birth relatives for the past few weeks. Pictures as well as information have been provided from his aunt's family. These are Mark's biological maternal grandparents, he looks very much like his grandfather! My mom is a genealogy genius and has zipped his birth family all the way back to Jamestown and then some! It is fascinating to find out things that we've always suspected(a Native American ancestor) are actually true. Anyway, we have plans to meet his half-brother this fall when we visit my parents. One of his cousins lives 3 blocks from us and we will meet up with him soon too. It is neat for our kids to be able to know the biological ties to their ancestry.



(pool on a good day)


(this guy has the right idea!)

Friday, July 1, 2011

Friday Fifteen...

A glimpse into our June, in random order...


(weather)


(laundry shenanigans)


(cousins)


(viand)


(harvest)


(me)


(creating)


(thrift store score)


(temp-june 2nd)


(sad day)


(monkey suit)


(sweet boy)


(sweeter boy)


(spied)


(respite)