Slinky on the edge

Today I watched a video of a slinky...

It is memorizing will it fall off? Look at that incredible save. Then I start singing

Oops. I think I am showing my true colors.

So did you watch all three minutes of the slinky video? It is crazy, I forgot how much fun slinky are. Then I remember the self destructive Slinky's that I had as a child. They always got tangled and twisted and laughed that evil laugh when I tried to save it from itself. Not cool evil slinky! I should get a slinky for the kids but every time I see one looking innocent on the store self I remember that horrible laugh. It is haunting. What if we get the evil slinky terrible cousin with pretty red hair? I am scared.

I hope that you have a lovely day filled with love and laughter. Be well my friends.

Macaroni Salad

We are having a BBQ later today with some friends. As you know I planned to make Macaroni Salad mostly because I can only stand potato salad like twice a year. I get a little burnt out on staple dishes. Potato salad was my job for about five years for every occasion with our very close friends because he was allergic to mayo so I made my own dressing experimenting until it was perfect. I made it a lot then we moved away from them and I stopped making it except when I am asked to bring it along or help out in the kitchen. Well if you know me I probably weaseled my way into the kitchen and took over under the guise of getting a glass of wine. That is right I will lie to you so that I can get my hands in to the meal preparation. Wait how did I get on potato salad? Moving to the original theme of this long winded story I have never made macaroni salad before and I have to say I really like this American classic.  I don't know if you already have a recipe but just in case here is my version.

First I want to show the printout I got for Macaroni salad. I added a few things...

 

I am in love with this yummy bowl of macaroni

Will you be my, won't you be my neighbor?

Here is the original recipe's link www.sixsistersstuff.com/2011/08/traditional-american-macaroni-salad

Ingredients



 2 cups dry macaroni, cooked, rinsed, and drained (I used the whole bag of macaroni)
1/3 cup diced celery (I used two stalks)
1/4 cup minced red onion (I used a small one from my garden and diced it)
1/2 cup diced vine ripened tomatoes (I used a lot of pink lady cherry tomatoes and cut them in half)
1 tablespoon minced parsley  (check)
1 can of olives cut into quarters (I added this to the recipe)
3 small bell peppers of different colors (I had a red, purple, and green in the garden. They were small so used you judgement and personal taste to how much you might like in it)
1 cucumber peeled and diced (addition I love)
a small bunch of Dill minced (Believe it or not dill adds a great fresh taste to the whole salad)

Dressing
1/2 cup mayonnaise (I use light miracle whip because I like it so if you have a favorite mayo use it)
3/4 teaspoon dry mustard (check)
1 1/2 teaspoon sugar (check)
1 1/2 tablespoon cider vinegar (I used half a tablespoon of cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon of the new fig balsamic vinegar I got from a local place. You can mix up your favorite vinegars. Balsamic is a fail safe. It is never wrong)
3 tablespoons sour cream (I used greek yogurt because it is awesome!)
dash of cayenne pepper (It evens out the sweetness of the sauce)
a dash of olive oil (I used lemon olive oil. I think you could leave this out if you wanted)
Salt
pepper

Directions

In a large bowl mix the vegetables and macaroni noodles together. In a small whisk together the remaining ingredients to make the dressing. Then combine the two bowls. I did not use all of the dressing I made because I don't like my food drowning. I recommend that you add and mix a little at a time until you find the constancy that you like best. If you like it saucy add it all in.

I hope you enjoyed today's recipe.

Happy Memorial weekend! I hope it is filled with love and laughter. Be well my friends.

New thoughts on old ideas

I am sure you noticed that I stopped doing the photo of the day. I ran out of steam on day 23 which was technology, day 24 something new and so on. I just did not find the creativity in these days plus I miss updating about my garden, crafts, cooking and schooling. The picture of the day is fun but it gets to be a little overwhelming towards the end. So I think I will lay off trying to be so consistent  on one single topic. This month I have found my love all thing homemade including ketchup, and crackers. I have made two sets of matching hats and scarves with at least one more coming in the next week. I starting making a log cabin quilt for a dear friend's children (one is still cooking. So I am waiting to get the news on where to add pink or add monsters). Honestly I want to try and focus on me, me, me. Well on the things that I am interested in. I want to be able to give you new ideas to try out or just share my new ideas. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed taking pictures and I had some fun working on the picture of the day. I just feel like it is time to move on. I hope you will continue to read along on this crazy jumble of words and thoughts that I call life. I enjoy sharing the pieces of me with you friends.

Today I am planing a BBQ to celebrate Memorial Day hamburgers, macaroni salad / pasta salad, baked beans, grilled corn salad, and a blackberry cobbler. I am just waiting on some replies to my guests. I found some flavored water that sounds yummy, and just now I want a lemon drop martini in a mason jar. Summer is coming which is always exciting but now that I live near the sun (I mean south Texas) summer takes on a whole new meaning of heat. Fortunately for us the pool is finally open so we all will be getting more exercise by way of walking to and from the pool in the mornings.

Here are a couple of summer songs to get you in the mood.

What is better then John Travolta? Well as long as you don't read the tabloids . . .

Hello Kieth Urban. "We should be together. . . Singing along with the radio."

You know you love to slow down for a minute and slow dance with your partner or child.

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend filled with love, laughter, and music. Be well my friends.

By The Dashboard Light

Everyday I have been posting for the photo challenge but I wanted to do something different. If you don't mind taking a little ride straight down the rabbit hole with me here are my song choices for you.

The truth is that this video made me laugh and the crazier it got I was happy to dance until I was hungry. . .

It's Meat Loaf y'all! I love the '70's in fact I am thinking of teasing and feathering my hair. I know I will look like Farrah or Meat loaf or some weird combination.

Baby you can drive my car, but I get to pick the radio station. Beep beep beep Yeah! It could be a fun trip to no where.

You know I would turn the music up and sing along. You may try to tune me out but I am perstint and soon you'll be screaming along with me "Juke Box Hero with stars in eyes." Sing out, you know you want to dance and bang your head. It looks cooler then what it feels like. . .

I know you thought I would throw Hot blooded in here on the road trip. Sometimes I just want to slow it down after all of that wild screaming.

I swear this is the last Foriegner song. Well today. Ever feel like you are in the wrong decade? " It's you and me baby. Head games"

I don't know how we got here but I am having fun in the 70's flash back. Lean back friend and let the music take you away.You know I never knew how long this song was. You can totally live a whole life in this one crazy song...

On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair...

We are getting close to our destantion. I know it's tempting to throw me out of the car so you can listen to the sounds of silence but I am holding on and you know I have no shame. It is a gift.

I know this how your feeling right about now.

Sometimes you have to speak up and tell me to stop.

This one is for you. Cause I love you. You are free to go.

I hope you have a sweet day filled with love and laughter. Be well my friends.

22. pink

Photo of the day for the month of May.

Day 22. Pink

I have a small confession. Last night the boys wanted to sleep with us and I always say there is always room in the bed. I love it when they want to be near us it is becoming a rare occasion with Damian. We have a queen sized bed so that we are forced to be next to each other no matter what. Mostly we can't stay mad at each other if we want to stay in the bed and so far we have only slept in separate rooms when the husband is out of town. Last night I realized how big both of my babies are. I would fall asleep and then wake up to hot, crowded, or just plain uncomfortable. I took my pillow out to the couch but I was to lazy to go to the other side of the house in the early morning hours to grab a blanket. So I would get cold, and go back to my bed and the cycle would begin all over. No room in the bed for mom. So it is safe to say that I got next to no sleep. It turns out I was not the only one who slept badly. The boys woke up cranky. Damian went back to bed and slept for another two hours. Me, well I have a lot to do so I have to skip the nap. Tonight is the last cub scout meeting and I need to make a dessert. I still have no idea what to make and the clock is ticking, ticking, and my eyes are so heavy. So when I went to take pictures of something pink I picked something really easy.

Here is the photos of the day:

With a house full of boys I had to go outside to find some pink.

This rose is called peppermint splash.

I hope that you take the time to smell some roses today and that your day is filled with love and laughter. Be well my friends.

21. where you stand

Photo of the Day for the Month of May
Day 21 Where you stand.

All morning I have been thinking about taking a picture of my feet somewhere. Then something amazing happened my baby, sorry I mean my big boy, started swinging by himself.

This is where I am standing, on the sideline of my kids life.

I know that I am still coaching but some days it is getting real.

This boy is learning how to fly.

I will be left standing while both of them leave the nest.

I love being their mom. I love that they are best friends. That they love each other.

Today I am standing still hope that they will grow a little slower, but I know they won't. I know that even though I want to hold on to these little people I also want to let them grow into adult men. I also know that I am going to need God's help to guide them down the road. I am praying that they know I am doing the best I can and that they will turn out happy adjusted people.

I hope that you are having a swinging day filled with love and laughter. Be well my friends.

20. something you can't live without

Photo of the day for the month of May.

Day 20 something you can't live with out

This is not my picture but I thought it was funny.

I decided that I can not live without a work toilet! No way, no how, not ever! I would rather explode then use an outhouse! Seriously those things stink to HELL, covered in hungry flys, and you never know what creepy thing is down there. Personally I am too afraid to look for fear of losing last weeks lunch. I remember some gross guy in the news last year or so that kept going in one of those port a potties so he can watch people do their business. My skin is crawling at the idea. What if there is a snake in that pile of stink, or a monster. I have see X-Files it could happen! Not just the out house that you have to hover over while trying not to touch anything with any part of your body or clothes while holding your breath. Have you ever had to pee behind a bush? Also not fun to have to keep watch, hover, and pray. So I can not live with out my toilet.

I hope you are haveing a wonderful day filled with love, and laughter. Be well my friends.