Friday, April 30, 2010

Friday Show And Tell . . .

Victory Garden 2010

(WWII poster)
Yesterday we got started planting our 2010 garden.

(another WWII poster)

Years ago we planted a big garden each spring.
I remember planting potatoes on
St. Patrick's day when it was so cold
I thought my fingers were going to fall off.
Last year we planted a little garden
that could be seen from our kitchen window.
We enjoyed sunflowers, okra, bell peppers, egg plant, cucumber,
bell peppers, zucchini, yellow neck squash,
and a few tomatoes.

We're hoping for a better tomato crop
this year. We bought 6 heirloom tomato plants.
The varieties we planted are
Kellogg Breakfast (yellow)
Red Brandy Wine
Carbon (purple)
Sioux
Brandy Wine Cherry (small tomatoes)

We also planted peppers (Jupiter Bell)
and egg plants (Pingtung Long & Rose of Bianca).


We transplanted some volunteer sunflower plants
that came up. They don't look very good so
we may have to plant some seeds.

Hubby planted . . .



then gave each plant a good soaking.


This weekend we're going to plant
cucumber, yellow squash , zucchini, and corn.
We're skipping the okra this year.
We still have a lot in the freezer.


Do any of you plant a garden? I'd like to hear about it if you do!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

PW Egg-In-The-Hole . . .

This fun recipe is found on pages 46-47
in Pioneer Woman Cooks.
The first time I ate egg-in-the-hole was
at Cracker Barrel a few years ago.
They called it egg-in-a-basket.
I have fixed it for myself a few times
since my Cracker Barrel experience.
It's an easy way to have your eggs and toast.


I decided to cut a star instead of a
circle in the wheat bread.
When Ethan's older I think he might enjoy
eating his egg in a star.

PW calls for 2 to 3 tablespoons of butter in
the skillet, but I reduced it to 2 teaspoons.


After the skillet heats up add your egg.
Isn't that adorable?!?


After I flipped the toast over and let
it cook a few minutes I flipped it again
so the star shape could be seen.
If you don't do this the other side
doesn't look like a star.


I toasted the star shape in the skillet
then drizzled it with a little honey.


I think kids and adults of all ages will
enjoy this little variation of
egg-in-the-hole, I sure did!



Hope you return next Tuesday for
another PW recipe. I've been reading through
the book and have a couple of recipes in mind.
Pay Denise a visit, she's also doing PW every Tuesday.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Random Monday Memories #6 . . .

Learning To Drive
I learned to drive in a 1957 Chevrolet like this one.
On our way to piano lessons in the country
my Mother would move over as close as she could
get to the door and I would scoot over to take the steering wheel.
On Sunday afternoon my Dad would take me
out on the country roads and I got
to practice driving in the driver's seat.


This was a cool car. Loved the color.
I was so sad when Dad sold it.

This is the car I took my driver's test in.
It was big and beautiful.
Both of these Chevrolets were automatic drive.


One day my Dad brought home a cute
little car for a test drive.
Meet the Buick Opel Kadett.
It was standard shift.
He told me he was going to buy this car if I could drive it.
Hello, I had never driven a standard shift!!!
It was time for my little sister, Susan,
to go back to school after lunch.
The three of us got in the car
with me behind the wheel.
Well, you can imagine how the trip was since
I had never even tried to drive a standard shift.
There was a lot of gear grinding and jerking.
My Dad was trying to give instructions on how to navigate.
I was scared and frustrated.
I was so relieved when we finally made it home.
It was evident that I couldn't drive this cute little car.
That evening when Dad came home for supper
he was driving the little white car.
I became a master of the standard shift
and drove that car for many a mile.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Weekly Words To Live By #5 . . .

The wise man built his house upon the rock . . .

A parable from Jesus . . .


Matthew 7:24-29

24 "Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.
25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse, because it is built on rock.
26 But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.
27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will fall with a mighty crash."
28 After Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,
29 for he taught as one who had real authority -- quite unlike the teachers of religious law.


Visit Tracey for more Weekly Words To Live By . . .

Saturday, April 24, 2010

The Other Pioneer Woman . . .

There's another Pioneer Woman
who resides in Oklahoma.



THE PIONEER WOMAN STATUE

This Pioneer Woman can be seen in Ponca City, Oklahoma at the Pioneer Woman Museum.


The vision of a statue honoring the pioneer women of this country belonged to E.W. Marland, Ponca City resident, oilman, philanthropist, U.S. Congressman, and 10th governor of the state of Oklahoma. In 1926, Marland invited 17 leading sculptors to submit designs in the form of small models. Four months later, the models were exhibited across the nation and 750,000 persons cast votes for their preference. Bryant Baker’s vision of the pioneer woman was the clear winner. Located across the street from the museum, the Pioneer Woman is a heroic bronze statue of a young, sun bonneted pioneer mother, leading her son by the hand, striding confidently, head held high—a woman of sturdy beauty and dignity, whose eyes are fixed on the far southwestern horizon.
Unveiling ceremonies were held on April 22, 1930, with a dedication service described by national writers as the most stirring outdoor event in the history of Oklahoma.The statue, dedicated to all pioneer women of the United States, carries the following inscription: “In appreciation of the heroic character of the women who braved the dangers and endured the hardships incident to daily life of the pioneer and homesteader in this country."
I haven't been to Ponca City in years.
This would be a great day trip adventure.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Friday Show And Tell . . .

Close Encounters Of The Blog Kind

When I started blogging almost 2 years ago I had no idea
how blessed I'd be to meet some of the nicest people.
Last Saturday I was fortunate enough
to meet two of my blogland friends face to face.

Meet Sherry and Valerie.
They drove quite a ways from where they
live in Oklahoma to have lunch
with Kari, Ethan, and me.
We met them at the Riverwalk Crossing in Jenks.
We ate delicious Italian food and had a
great time visiting and getting to know each other.

Sherry and Valerie, thank you so much for coming for a visit!

We look forward to seeing you again real soon!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

In His Hands . . .

HAPPY

Let's keep doing our part to take care of
God's beautiful world.



Remember the lyrics to this old folk song?


He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.

He's got my brothers and my sisters in His hands,
He's got my brothers and my sisters in His hands,
He's got my brothers and my sisters in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.

He's got the sun and the rain in His hands,
He's got the moon and the stars in His hands,
He's got the wind and the clouds in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.

He's got the rivers and the mountains in His hands,
He's got the oceans and the seas in His hands,
He's got you and he's got me in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.

He's got everybody here in His hands,
He's got everybody there in His hands,
He's got everybody everywhere in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.


I'm going to start teaching this song to Ethan.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Fun Facts . . .




My niece, April,challenged me to list 7 fun facts about myself.
So here goes . . .
#1 Hallmark commercials make me cry.
#2 I'm hooked on Dancing With The Stars, American Idol and The Biggest Loser.
Oh, I almost forgot HGTV !
#3 I enjoy baking cookies & keeping the cookie jar full.
#4 I'm a certified night owl.
#5 I love making memories with my family.
#6 I love the old hymns I was raised on, the words have such a wonderful message.
#7 My favorite cake is red velvet.



Be sure to visit April and check out her blog!

;-)

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

PW Pancakes . . .

It's Tuesday which means it's time for
another Pioneer Woman recipe.
Edna Mae's
Sour Cream Pancakes
makes about a dozen 4-inch pancakes
Start out with 1 cup sour cream
Add
7 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
stir together gently
whisk 2 eggs in separate bowl
add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
pour egg mixture into sour cream/flour mixture
stir gently until combined



After I finished mixing, my lovely assistant (Hubby) cooked the pancakes.

We didn't add any butter to the griddle as PW woman instructed.

The griddle is set at about 350 degrees.
Each pancake is 1/4 cup.

Flip pancakes over when you see lots of little holes.


Add butter & syrup.
Yummy in the tummy!!!
Try it you'll like it!!!

I'm not sure what recipe I'll try next.
Come back next Tuesday to find out!

Monday, April 19, 2010

Random Monday Memories #5 . . .

Remembering
a tragic day in the history of Oklahoma. . .


Lives were changed forever that day.



The Oklahoma City bombing occurred on April 19, 1995 when American militia sympathizer, Timothy McVeigh detonated a truck filled with explosives parked in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. McVeigh's co-conspirator, Terry Nichols, had assisted in the bomb preparation. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001, attacks, claiming 168 lives, including 19 children under the age of 6. More than 680 people were injured. The blast destroyed or damaged 324 buildings within a sixteen-block radius,destroyed or burned 86 cars, and shattered glass in 258 nearby buildings. The bomb was estimated to have caused at least $652 million worth of damage.





I remember where I was and what I was doing on this day 15 years ago. Our 4th graders where rehearsing for our annual presentation of the musical, Oklahoma. A co-worker who taught 4th with me was called to the office. She was told about the bombing by a family member.Her niece worked in the Murrah Building. Sadly, we were told several hours later that she died in the explosion.
Pray today for those who lost loved ones and the
survivors who are still coping with the horrible memories
and injuries from this senseless act.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Weekly Words To Live By #4 . . .


Ask, and it shall be given you;
seek, and ye shall find;

knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Matthew 7:7

Friday, April 16, 2010

Friday Show & Tell . . .

I'm showing off some pictures of Ethan today.


He's crawling all over the place and likes
to go exploring.

He likes snooping in the draws
of the kitchen desk.



He's probably wondering why Nana & Papaw
have so many junk drawers.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

PW Angel Sugar Cookies . . .

Welcome to the first installment of
my attempt to cook my way through
The Pioneer Woman Cooks.


If you like cookies like we do in our house,
I think you're going to LOVE this recipe.
Angel Sugar Cookies
(p. 236)

You know it's going to be great if the recipe
calls for 2 sticks of softened butter.

cream together the eggs


1 cup canola oil
(I used vegetable oil)




1 cup sugar


1 cup powdered sugar


1 teaspoon vanilla



add the rest of the ingredients
4 cups flour
plus 2 tablespoons


1 teaspoon each
baking soda
salt
cream of tartar
refrigerate for 1 hour


Using a cookie scoop or spoon
drop the balls of cough onto an
ungreased cookie sheet.

smear butter on the bottom of a glass, then dip it in sugar



use the class to flatten the balls of dough
dipping again into the sugar each time.
Bake for 9 to 11 minutes,
until the cookies are just barely
turning brown around the edges.

These cookies are large & yummy!


So large they barely fit in my cookies jar!


Next Tuesday I'll be featuring
Edna Mae's
Sour Cream Pancakes

Monday, April 12, 2010

Random Monday Memories #4 . . .

HISTORY OF HAIRSTYLING
MY FIRST 18 YEARS
I was born bald & really didn't have
much hair until 5 years old.
I sometimes wore braided pigtails to school.
My Mother curled my hair
with rags on Saturdays so I would have
a pretty head full of curls for church.
In 3rd grade all that came to a halt
when I was given my first home perm.


I hated the whole process of getting a home permanent.
Stinky and a painful day of agony.
My Grandma Minnie treated me to a salon permanent so
I would have a great hairstyle for 8th grade graduation.
They timed the perm with the wall clock. Oops!!!
The battery was dead. My hair was badly burned.
Not a good look for a special occasion.
Finally that came to an end in high school.
I began getting curls in another way.

My friends and I actually thought it was fashionable to
wear a curler bonnet downtown on Saturday when we'd meet to hangout.


Had to have a little bit of this . . .

so we could do this . . .

and this.



Some of us were lucky to have one of these.
No hand held hairdryers yet.


Finally a miracle invention appeared in stores.

No more sleeping in curlers.
Just plug it in, heat, curl, wait 20 to 30 minutes,
remove curlers, brush out. Instant beauty!



Thanks for letting me share my memories with you!