A Little Help from Her Friend!

I called home last night from work as I always do to see how Allison's day went. She was picked on by two kids at our after school care and wanted to cuddle with the kitty while doing homework. Simba is so tolerant of her and pretty much lets her do anything to him. I remember when I was little, my collie dog, Lassie, was my comfort when I was sad too.

By the way, the owner of the day care handled the situation with the two kids at the day care and hopefully, this will be the last we hear of it.

Have Fun!

Pin It

Menu Plan Monday ~ Sept. 29th!

It's the beginning of another week so it's time for Menu Plan Monday. After checking at what we'll be having for dinner this week, click on over to The Organized Junkie and see what hundreds of others are serving to their families this week too.

Since the weather is starting to cool down here and the leaves are starting to fall, it's time for some warm comfort food. Curtis requested Chicken Pot Pie a week or so ago so I thought it was time for it to appear on our menu. Also, the new recipe for Crock Pot Swiss Steak that I tried last week came out so yummy. If you want the recipe, you can check it out on my cooking blog.

Monday ~ Mom works late so it's up to Daddy to decide and make dinner for him and Allison.

Tuesday ~ Italian Smoked Sausage Pasta (I'll share this recipe on my cooking blog sometime this week.)

Wednesday - Tuna Noodle Casserole. This was on last week's menu but I had no plans of making it. It was there to cover for the surprise family get together we had at Curtis' brother's house for Curtis' birthday.

Thursday - Chicken Pot Pie.

Friday - Pizza Night.

Saturday - Dinner at Grandma's

Sunday - We are going to Oil City for a train ride with the Brownies so we'll probably be picking up take out somewhere on the way home for dinner.

Have Fun!

Pin It

A "Hi" from Me!

Hey!

Do you miss me?

I'm sorry I haven't posted since Sunday. I know no one probably even noticed but humor me and say you missed me. Please?

Thanks!

I knew you loved me!

Anyway, I don't have time for a post today either so there will be no Show & Tell Friday. I'm sorry but I've been a busy girl! In a few minutes I have to get my day started and tonight after work, I'm heading over to another one of our locations to judge their Bartender Championship so I won't be home until after midnight! I'm praying that this old Mom can keep her eyes open!

I have lots to share and hopefully, I'll have some time this weekend for a few posts.

In the meantime, here is a funny that my sister sent me. It made me laugh so I thought I would share it with all of you! After all, can't we all use a laugh now and again?

WHY MEN ARE NEVER DEPRESSED:
Men Are Just Happier People – What do you expect from such simple creatures?
Your last name stays put.
The garage is all yours.
Wedding plans take care of themselves.
Chocolate is just another snack.
You can be President.
You can never be pregnant.
You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
You can wear NO shirt to a water park.
Car mechanics tell you the truth.
The world is your urinal.
You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
Same work, more pay.
Wrinkles add character.
Wedding dress is $5000, tux rental is $100.
People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
You know stuff about tanks.
A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
You can open all of your jars.
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
Flowers solve everything.
If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
You almost never have strap problems in public.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
Everything on your face stays its original colour.
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
You don't have to shave below your neck.
You can play with toys all your life.
You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife.
You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.
No wonder men are happier!

Have Fun!

Pin It

Menu Plan Monday Family Favorites ~ Sept. 22nd!

It's a special week for Menu Plan Monday. It the Family Favorites Edition. Laura (who hosts Menu Plan Monday) asked to post one or more recipes or links for the items that are on our menu. This is so that all of you out in blogland will know that you will see a recipe on every person's menu they have posted. I can't say that the items on my menu this week are my family favorites but that's what's for dinner this week. It is my goal that every menu item I have posted will have a link to my cooking blog with the recipe. This will of course take some time so please stick with me. Last week Pierogi Skillet Dinner was on my menu. Click on the link to see that recipe. After you check out my menu for the week visit Laura's blog "I'm an Organizing Junkie" to see what hundreds of others have planned for their meals this week.

This week's menu:

Monday ~ I work late and usually it's Daddy's night to figure it out for him and Allison but this week, I prepped the ground beef and pizza sauce for him for Pronto Pasta Italiano. This is a good kid friendly meal. I'll heat the leftovers up Tuesday morning to put in Allison's thermos for her lunch. The recipe and the picture are both from Kraft Foods.

Tuesday ~ Since this next dish was on the menu a couple of weeks ago and we didn't get to it, Curtis has requested Southwest Chicken, oven fries & corn. This recipe is from a restaurant I used to work at years ago. It's so simple. You just bake or grill chicken breasts and then baste them with barbecue sauce just prior to them being done. Cover them with shredded cheddar cheese and put them under the broiler to melt the cheese. Once the cheese is melted, place them on the serving plate and sprinkle fresh diced tomatoes and bacon bits on top. Serve with extra barbecue sauce for dipping.

Wednesday ~ Tuna Noodle Casserole

This is not my picture but it looks very close to mine.

Thursday ~ Slow Cooker Swiss Steak. This is a new recipe for me. Curtis loves the recipe that I found online somewhere but it's too tomatoey (if that's even a word). I found this recipe on Betty Crocker. It's almost identical to the other recipe except it adds beef gravy to it. I think this will solve my tomato problem.
Friday ~ Pizza Night.

This picture is mine and if you want the story of the odd looking pizza, click here. Oh and by the way, when you read that entry please know that I am not a home made pizza virgin any more! I made it a couple of Friday's ago when I was on vacation and it came out awesome! Curtis ate 8 pieces!
Saturday ~ Dinner at Grandmas.

Sunday ~ Pork Tenderloin. I am open to new recipes here! Please let me know if you have a recipe that you would like to share. I'll take any and all ideas...oven, slow cooker, etc. Thank you!

Have Fun!

Pin It

Yesterday was My Sweetie's Birthday!

I'm a little late in posting this but I still wanted to celebrate the day God gave my sweetie life. Thank you Curtis for being a wonderful partner and an awesome Dad. I know it bothers you that you are getting older but you still are as handsome as the day we first met and twice as sexy!

We love you!

“The older the fiddler, the sweeter the tune.”

Pope Paul VI

Have Fun!

Pin It

Show and Tell Friday, Sept. 19th!

It's Show & Tell Friday! Be sure to stop over at Kelli's to see the other show and tellers!

This week I'm sharing my little donkey planter. It used to be my Ba Ba's (grandmother). As a little girl I remember it sitting on one of the shelves that were above her kitchen window. You know what type of shelves I'm talking about. They were two, I believe, on the end of the cupboards where they stopped for the window above her sink. She used to keep little planters with plants in them on those shelves. I can still see this planter there on those shelves in my mind. It's a warm memory for me. I luckily inherited it and a few other planters after my Aunt Carole passed away. I keep them in my window curio....and as you can see, I apparently don't dust inside it very often. Please ignore the dust on the greenery!
Here is the window curio where I keep it. I've talked about it before on my blog. If you are interested to see what else is in there, you can click here.

Have Fun!

Pin It

What is it?????

I came home from work last night did the dinner dishes and went straight to bed. I didn't go into the living room. This morning I came downstairs and settled at the computer to do my morning email and blog check. I turned around and this is what I saw on the floor. A nice little pile of erasers. Please tell me what the attraction is to these little things that don't get used as actual erasers! Why are they in every birthday treat bag she brings home from school? What is it about them that she loves? Why does she have to collect them? I'm trying to understand but I just don't get it.

Have Fun!

Pin It

Menu Plan Monday ~ Sept. 15th!

I know. This is my second post of the day and it's not Monday yet. Am I nuts? Anyway. Laura posted Mister Linky a little earlier this week so I figure I might as well get mine posted too. After you check out my menu for the week, click on over to Laura's blog and see what everyone else has planned for their families.

Last week's menu went really well. I had to change the days a little. Miss Allison was sick on Wednesday so I moved the Chicken Noodle Soup to that day. I also loved the new recipe for Eggplant Parmesan. I'll be sharing that in the next couple of days on my new cooking blog. I also made homemade pizza this week for the VERY FIRST TIME! I couldn't believe I did it. I was so proud! Curtis ate 8 slices so I am guessing he liked it!

My menu!

Monday ~ I work late so it's up to Curtis what he's making for himself and Allison.

Tuesday ~ Grilled Chicken Salads.

Wednesday ~ Swiss Steak in the Crockpot.

Thursday ~ Pierogi Skillet Dinner.

Friday ~ Pizza Night.

Saturday ~ Dinner at Grandma's.

Sunday ~ We'll eat at our Parish Picnic. I'm taking Cucumbers & Tomatoes in a vinegar based dressing.

Have Fun!

Pin It

BIG News!

I did it! I started another blog! It never really crossed my mind until I received and email from one of my readers suggesting that I start a food/cooking blog to showcase my recipes. I can't even tell you how flattered I was at the suggestion. So, I am throwing caution to the wind and starting one! I would love for you to join me on my new journey. I've named it "From The Heart of My Kitchen" and you can click on the link to get there. I've also included a link in my sidebar to the right on this blog for future reference. I do not profess to be an expert on cooking but I have some great recipes to share. I also like to take recipes and make them simpler or alter them to fit my family. When you click on over there, be sure you read the first post. It explains what my intentions are with that blog. If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to let me know. As always, I love hearing from you!

Have Fun!

Pin It

She's Leaving on a Jet Plane!

Well it's not a jet plane but it's a red Ford Explorer and she's gone!

Our house guest has left our home!

Poor baby. Doesn't she look sad to leave Aunt Cindi?

It's okay Ginger. Anyone with this license plate loves you very much and will take good care of you!
(For those of you who don't get my humor, this really isn't my sister's license plate. I wouldn't post her actual license number online or any one's for that matter. I just thought I would have a little fun with her.)

One more thing before I go for those younger ones out there who don't get my title. It's a play on words from a song written by John Denver in 1967 and made a hit by Peter, Paul & Mary in 1969. If you don't know who John Denver is or who Peter, Paul & Mary are, you can Google it to learn more.

Here are some lyrics from the song:

So kiss me and smile for me

Tell me that you'll wait for me

Hold me like you'll never let me go

cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane

Dont know when I'll be back again

Oh babe, I hate to go

Sadly, John Denver died in a plane crash in 1997 at the age of 53.

Have Fun!

Pin It

Show & Tell Friday, Sept. 12th!

It's Show & Tell Friday! Be sure to stop over at Kelli's and checkout the other Show & Tellers.

This week I am sharing one of my favorite pictures. It was a gift from Curtis. He surprised me with it on Easter about 6 1/2 years ago. Just days before Easter, Curtis, Allison and I were walking in the mall. Allison was a little over 8 months old. As we were walking, this picture caught my eye. It was way up on a wall towards the ceiling in a floral shop. I stopped dead in my tracks. I felt like I was looking into my future. I didn't know at the time that days later, Curtis would surprise me with this picture. This picture is what I imagined Allison would grow to be. Curly long auburn hair with rosy round cheeks all dressed up in a girly little dress with lots of lace.
Here is a close-up for comparison. Allison does have the long curly hair and although her hair isn't auburn, she has a lot of auburn in it. I only wish her hair was as thick as the little girl's in the picture. Considering Allison was completely bald when I saw this picture, I wasn't too far off in my imagination. Her cheeks are not quite as round or quite as rosy but I think she's just as pretty as the little girl in the picture.
I love you baby! You are everything I imagined and more!

Thank you Curtis for the beautiful picture and my beautiful little girl!

Have Fun!

Pin It

An Unexpected House Guest!

We have an unexpected house guest at our home.

She comes with her own food, toys and medical supplies.

She also comes with her own leash.
And a list of instructions. No. Let me correct myself. TWO lists of instructions.
Simba watches her from around the corner.
Princess makes herself comfortable in her home away from home.
We have had to protect the cat's food and water dishes.
This is her.

Yes. Ginger, my sister's dog, is visiting us by herself from Tuesday night to Saturday morning. She has a wound from another dog...a playground accident. She also has a respiratory thing and the vet wanted her not to go to doggy daycare. Aparantly there are more than one dog that has this respiratory thing and her kennel and two other kennels in the area are shutting down for a week so they can sanitize everything. It's going around. Unfortunately, my sister couldn't get the time off this week, so I volunteered. No, I wasn't drinking at the time! I might need one when Saturday comes but I wasn't at the time when I volunteered. You know I am only kidding. Right? I don't think anything could make me turn to booze. Now cheesecake? That's a whole other story!

Anyway. This is how I like her. Laying away from me.

This is how SHE likes it. Laying right beside me! Touching me! That is my leg in the picture. I swiveled around on the computer chair and she is right there! In fact, she is right there where ever I am! If I'm doing dishes, I can feel her fur on the back of my feet. If I need to use the potty, she's in the room before I can even shut the door! And when I took a shower, yup there was a dog snout peeking in to see if I was still there! Is there no privacy to a dog?

The first night she was with us, I panicked when I woke up soon after I went to bed and she wasn't on her bed on the floor next to me. I wondered what trouble she had gotten into. I called out her name and then I heard the tags on her collar.....next to me....on the bed! She managed to jump up onto our bed! It's really high. I actually had trouble getting into it when we first got it and last time she couldn't get up. She must have been practicing because for the last two nights, she's jumped up and slept with Curtis and me!

Don't get me wrong. She's a nice dog. A very nice dog. She listens and is no trouble...well not that much. I wouldn't have agreed to doggy sit if she was trouble the last time she stayed overnight with us. We don't mind her. Heck, even the cats aren't bothered by her. They watch each other from afar and walk right past each other without any problems. They don't even sniff each other. It's just that I am more of a cat person. They are calmer, more graceful, can be left alone for long periods of time, don't need constant attention, you don't have to take them outside to do their business and they have DRY kisses!

Truth be told. I don't mind having her here. I'm glad to help out my sister. The only thing that bothers me is her wound. I have a tender stomach as it is and her boo boo just makes my stomach turn. This picture if of the first night after her accident. She had 14 stitches. I said had because of where it is, almost all of them have pulled out. Now it's an open wound. Yuk! Her vet claims it will grow new tissue and heal but it is GROSS! Thank goodness Curtis is handling the wound care. I know I couldn't no way no how do it. I'll spare you the picture of what it looks like now. I don't want anyone losing their meals.

Have Fun! Pin It

A Big Year with a Vintage Dress!

Sunday was Allison's first day of 2nd Grade Catechism. This is a big year for her. She will receive two sacraments. The Sacrament of Penance in December and her First Holy Communion in May of 2009. She is so excited and I could not be prouder. She loves church and everything she learns there. This past Sunday she asked if she could go to church every day like she did school. Too sweet!

This picture if of me in my First Holy Communion dress. Don't I look cute? My Mom still has this dressed packed away. I am sure it's not as white as it is in the picture. After all, it IS 36 years old! Speaking of the dress, I have a question for all of you out in blogland. How do we get it white again?!? I know you've already guessed that I want Allison to wear my dress. Big surprise since I am the sentimental one! So! Any ideas? Are there vintage wedding dress cleaners out there? Do you have a home remedy or and ancient Chinese secret? Please send any ideas my way! I have about 7 months to try things before I give up and buy a new one...and I don't want to buy a new one.

Thanks everyone!

Have Fun! Pin It

Menu Plan Monday ~ Sept. 8th!

Well the first week of menu planning went well. It definitely reduced my stress of what to have for dinner. We had a small change last week on Thursday so I'm going to recycle that item this week. I didn't change the menu but we went out to dinner with Curtis's side of the family for his brother's birthday. After you check out my menu for the week, click on over to "I'm an Organizing Junkie" and check out what other families are having this week.

Monday - Stuffed Peppers (peppers from Dad's garden) in the Crockpot with Italian Bread. ( I work late on Monday nights. So I usually let Curtis decide what he is going to make but since I don't like Stuffed Peppers and it's his favorite. I thought I would surprise him and have it ready for him when he gets home.)

Tuesday - Baked Tilapia, Broccoli Cheese Rice & Chopped Broccoli. (Rescheduled from last week's menu.)

Wednesday - Eggplant (from Dad's garden) Parmesean with a Garden Salad. (I'm trying a new healthy way of doing it. If I like it, I'll share the recipe with all of you.)

Thursday - Southwest Chicken Breasts, Baked Fries and Green Beans.

Friday - Pizza Night.

Saturday - Dinner at Grandma's.

Sunday - Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup.

Have Fun!

Pin It

A Day in Pittsburgh with Friends!

On Friday I got the rare opportunity to do something non-family with a few of my friends. I hung out with them in Pittsburgh on the South Side. It was a hot, humid day but we had so much fun. Our friend, Emily, is home on vacation from her wonderful life in New York City. She flew in on Friday morning and had breakfast with her Dad and then he dropped her off to meet us. Besides me the other part of the us were Leo and Sean. Two friends I've known forever. I met Sean about 15 years ago when we worked together and have remained friends with ever since. Leo is one of my best friends that I met about 10 years ago when we began to work together. Emily is also a friend Leo and I met at work. She now resides in New York City. It suits her. She looks great and is so happy.

Here are a few pics from our day:

This is a view of Pittsburgh from across the river from the South Side. We parked our car here and walked the South Side Trail along the Monongahela River to the SouthSide Works. It was a beautiful day and although the trail was long, it was a nice walk. Lots of time to catch up.

Here Emily and I are with Leo in the Town Square of the SouthSide Works...

...and here we are with Sean.
After doing a little shopping and lunch at an authentic Mexican restaurant on Carson Street, we decided to walk back along Carson Street to take in the sights.
These next two pictures are of a couple of the buildings that had their sides painted. They are beautiful and very colorful.


This is looking down Carson Street.
Here Leo and I are at the end of our journey. A little tired and a little hot after our 20 block walk back to the car. At least we got to walk off some of that Mexican lunch!

Have Fun!

Pin It

Show and Tell Friday!

It's Show & Tell Friday! Be sure to stop over at Kelli's and checkout the other Show & Tellers!

This week I want to share my "HOME" houses. They are more than just blocks of wood painted to look like primitive little houses. They capture a warm feeling of remembrance of my Mom's Mom (my Ba Ba). She was the only grandparent that I knew. My Noni on my Dad's side died when I was an infant and both my Grandfathers were gone before I arrived into this world. My Ba Ba was the typical old Polish grandmother. I always remember her in house dresses with an apron around her waist. She made the best homemade rolls and pierogies from scratch. I loved my week with her in the Summers. My Ba Ba was a homebody. There wasn't any place she would rather be. Her home was her haven. She was a nester and kept it clean and pretty for her family. Her and my Mom are a lot alike. My Mom likes to make a pretty home for her family too. I must have gotten my love of my home from both of them. I could stay at home and be a nester too....only if the pay was better....or there was any pay at all!
Anyway, my Ba Ba didn't go out of the house much. She would occasionally go visiting or shopping but when she arrived back to her house she would say with a contented breath of relief "Home!" She was glad to be back where she was most comfortable and content. So as you see, my "home" houses are so much more than decorative pieces, they remind me of my Ba Ba and all the special times I spent with her.

Have Fun!

Pin It

Bittersweet Blessings!

My Dad is an awesome gardener. He works out there for hours on end every Spring cultivating the land to prepare for his plants. He makes sure that each and every plant will succeed to produce an abundance of goodness for his family. He catches the rainwater from the drain spouts from the barn and building on his property in huge containers for the dry spells of the Summer. His garden is hard work. It's about an acre big and he has another small one back next to the barn. He takes great pride in the size and quality of the vegetables he grows. He is like a proud Pa Pa. He should be. God has given him this very special gift.

In my last post, I mentioned that he broke his knee two weeks ago. This was the end to the pampering he would be able to give his garden. He has been in the house recuperating for the last two weeks. Yesterday was the first day he left the house. I took him to his 2 week follow-up appointment. The Dr. said he is healing right on schedule but it takes time. He is getting better but his poor garden isn't. My sister stayed with them for a week the first week he broke his knee. She offered to work it for him but he declined. He said it just wasn't meant to be this year. It is so sad. They told some neighbors to take what they wanted but there still is a ton of it just rotting on the plants in the garden. He plants so much because he usually takes it to the auction and sells it. That's obviously not happening this year so there is plenty there. It breaks my heart that all of his hard work is just going to waste. I went out to pick some for me to take home and to share with Curtis's parents and brother but there was no way I could take all of it.

Here are some pictures I took of the state of his garden:

I don't know if you can see here but the pepper plants are falling over because of the weight of all of the peppers that are on them.

Here is a side view. Can you see the cornstalks in the back row? He plants them in stages so the corn comes in a little at a time. I have never seen the stalks that high. They are probably 10 feet high or higher. Usually after he picks all the corn off of them, he cuts them up for the cows. I wonder how high they will get? You can also see in this picture the tomato plants in the front drying up.
Here are some more tomato plants back against the barn. I was able to get 5 small tomatoes off of these. The rest is not ready or just rotting.

I thought I was being watched! Poor baby. He must miss my Dad.
I thought these were kind of interesting. They are Hungarian Wax HOT peppers. They grow towards the sky unlike the other kinds of peppers my Dad grows.
Here is what I brought home. Left to right are cubanelle peppers, more cubanelle peppers with the only tomatoes I was able to pick. Those red peppers are some kind of Italian pepper I don't remember the name to and the peppers on the right are the hot peppers. The cubanelle peppers are my favorite. They are considered sweet and they don't have the after taste of a green pepper. I like cutting them in half lengthwise and filling them with ground sausage, bread crumbs and an egg mixture. Then I cover them with pasta sauce and bake them in the oven. When they are just about done, I cover them with mozzarella cheese. Yummy!
Lastly, I was able to pick some eggplant, green peppers and a couple of red.

Have Fun!

Pin It

I'm Smiling Today!

I'm smiling because after today, I am off from work for 5 days! Woo Hoo!

My plan was to take those days and do some much needed projects around here. However, tomorrow I am going back home to take my Dad to a Dr.'s appointment. He broke his knee two weeks ago and this is a check-up to see how he's doing. I am also going to chauffeur my Mom to the bank and where ever she wants to go. It's been rough on her playing nursemaid. My sister visited over the weekend and gave her a break. I talked to her last night on the phone and she was sorry to see my sister go. I am hoping just getting her out of the house will do her some good. Then on Thursday, Allison has a Dr.'s appointment. It's in the middle of the day so I really can't get into any of the big projects. Friday is out for projects too. A friend of mine is flying home from New York and there are 4 of us that are just going to play around Pittsburgh for the day. I am so excited! Can you tell it's been a while since I've had a grown up play day?

Have Fun!

Pin It