Saturday, February 16, 2008

Friendship Cake & French Onion soup

SoupI guess I was in a cooking mood tonight! First, I made a friendship cake. You know the kind that you get a starter for and you add stuff and stir it for 30 days? One of those....today was the 31st day. So I baked one full size cake and 6 small loafs!! I have 5 starters--anyone need one??? lol! I had to add 12 eggs, 3 yellow cake mixes, 2 c. oil, 3 boxes of vanilla pudding. And all I had was one bite! My husband ate all of a small loaf except a small piece--I teased him and asked him why he didn't carry it to bed with him!



After that, I decided to try a new recipe for French Onion Soup. (That's not mine up there though!) I haven't even gotten to the part where I add the cheese. I cooked it in the crock pot tonight and stuck it in the fridge to finish tomorrow. But I did have a little bowl of it and dipped some french bread in it and it was DELICIOUS!! Here's the recipe:



2 T. butter



1 lb. onions



2½ c. chicken broth



1 bay leaf



salt & pepper to taste



4 slices french bread



1 c. shredded cheddar





Melt butter over medium heat. Add onions & cook 8 minutes, until golden brown. Add broth, bay leaf, salt & pepper. Bring to a boil and transfer to slow cooker for 7-10 hours on low. To serve, preheat broiler to high. Put bread in an oven proof bowl, sprinkle cheese on top, pour soup over the bread & cheese. Place under broiler until cheese is golden.



~~~~~yum!!~~~~~~~



Tomorrow I'm going to Babies 'R Us...no, not for me! My brother & his gf are having a baby in April and her shower is Thursday, so I get to go buy some baby stuff! Just down the road, all in one shopping center, are some of my favorite places to shop & eat--Michael's, PetSmart, Atlanta Bread Co., Kirkland's  & Hancock's fabrics! Maybe I can at least go buy some fresh bread while I'm there! Books-a-Million is in the same building as Babies 'R Us. I should stay outta there--we already have enough books for a library!



Studio update:
Trim is cut for the bathroom--waiting to be painted. I am dying to get my new silver mirror in there that I painted!



Thursday, February 14, 2008

Happy Valentine's Day!!

I'm here at the office so I don't have any photos of my own to use. Sooooo....I thought I'd make a list of some stuff that I would like to have for Valentine's Day, along with some photos I searched for on the internet. I'm thinking big here...



1. An old truck



Image236000 



2. A house like this--built in the woods right down the road from my parents





Index_3 



3. A French Bulldog.....I actually want this one! Her name is Doxie and she is up for adoption at http://www.frenchbulldogrescue.org/htdocs/available/doxie.html. I actually saw her somewhere else last year--I think at petfinder.com but she is in Canada and doesn't like cats. :( She is deaf too, but that wouldn't bother me at all. Anyway--I don't think it is meant for me to have her, but its funny that when I was looking for a picture of a French bulldog, I found her on another site! If I ever DO get a French bulldog or any other dog, I would definitely adopt one, not buy one!



Doxie9 Doxie13



4. Wine & Cheese...okay, not really wine. But I love cheese--especially Blue cheeses!!





Cheesewine0599_2 



5. A whole bunch of feedsacks



Feedsacks 



6. Cash



Cash 



I'm sure I could think of more, but it will be time to go home in about 2 minutes!!



I may be getting myself a little gift--I may be bringing home a couple of cats that were scheduled to be euthanized today. Poor kitties--I guess my motto should be "the more, the merrier!" 



Tuesday, February 12, 2008

And the winner is....

And_the_winner_is



Congratulations, Michelle! I'll be in touch for your mailing address. I hope you love your new ornament!!



Thursday, February 7, 2008

Pit Bulls are gorgeous!

5 days left to enter to win the Valentine ornament. See it on the left?? After you read this post, click on the link on the left to enter!!



Pit_bull_calendar Now...Pit Bulls....I think they are gorgeous! And I recently found a website called "The Unexpected Pit Bull" that sells calendars. Go there-- www.theunexpectedpitbull.com --read everything on there....hopefully order a calendar. I just ordered mine! Their mission:



"By illustrating stories of pit bulls sharing their lives with a variety of people and animals, we hope to help inspire a better understanding and appreciation of pit bulls, and combat the negative stereotype held against these dogs."



I wonder what my kitties would think if one of these guys moved in with us?



Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Transporting kitties

Cat_transport_4 On Saturday I volunteered to pick up 5 kitties and help transport them. We picked up 4 Pixie Bobs and 1 extra cute little white kitten. We drove to Manchester, TN and met a lady at Cracker Barrel to pick them all up. Then we drove to Chattanooga, TN with 4 carriers with paws reaching out for us most of the way. :) They were all pretty quiet except the kitten (Lily). She really wanted some attention! We met Lily's new owners at the Cracker Barrel in Chattanooga and they were so happy to have her! They had a long ride, so I'm sure they were all glad to get out of the carriers and to their new homes. We met Cheryl from Atlanta Persian & Siamese Rescue (www.cat-rescue.org) and they picked up the 4 other kitties and took them to Georgia. Oh....did you notice I said I volunteered...but we went to get them? I talked my husband into going. He wasn't too excited about driving that far, but I think he enjoyed the trip and he was checking out all the kitties! Here are a couple of photos Cheryl sent....



Kitty1 Kitty2 



It was a very rewarding thing to do & I'll be doing it again, I'm sure. You should consider it--if you can't adopt a pet, this is a good way to help them get a chance at a new home. Look at my links on the left and you can sign up for the Transport List. Who knows, maybe there are some pets coming through your town that you could help transport!



Be sure not to forget about my Valentine ornament giveaway. Click on the heart ornie photo on the left or click here and you'll go to the post and see how to enter. You have until Feb. 12!



Now...for the latest pictures of my crazy cats!!!



What_the We knew we had the room too hot when we saw Sweet Pea lying around like this! This is not a shot where I happened to catch him stretching....he actually kept his leg up like this for a long time! Please don't give him a hard time about his big belly--I call him my big marshmallow!



Sweet_pea 



Pumpkin Pumpkin in his house--the photo isn't turned wrong--the house was turned on its back and I was standing over the top of him to take his picture!



Cat_transport_2 One of the kitties I transported--I wanted to get them all out and snuggle with them!



Possum Okay...this isn't my baby 'possum, but I wish it was! Someone sent me this photo and now I kinda wish I would find a baby 'possum! If only they all wore pink bows on their heads......



Tuesday, February 5, 2008

101 ways to romance your lady....

Happy_valentines_day_2 These aren't just for Valentines--but for all year round! I guess I am a romantic....and I appreciate the little things the most (like most women, I'll bet!!) Ladies--leave this up on your computer screen or print it out some maybe your better half will accidentally see it!! :) Me--I'll probably print it out too--pretend I am "proof-reading" it...ha!



1. Enter to win the Valentine ornament on my blog....if you win, give it to her!



2. Send her flowers at work.



3. Buy her chocolate--if she says she is on a diet, tell her she is perfect just like she is.



4. Give her a foot massage.



5. Clean the house for her.



6. Get her grocery list from the fridge and buy everything on it. (Even better--put it away before she gets home. Replace the list with everything marked through....)



7. Call or email her just to tell her you love her.



8. Fix her a bubble bath with lots of lit candles.



9. Walk the dogs or feed the cats.



10. If you're already married, propose to renew your vows.



11. Remember that project you have been putting off? Do it without asking...



12. Cook dinner for her.



13. Go for a drive.



14. Reenact your first date.



15. Put on the outfit you wore on a special occasion and remind her when you wore it.



16. Reminisce about your first date, when  you proposed, etc.



17. Tell her she's pretty.



18. Bring home a bottle of wine.



19. Pack a picnic basket, complete with a blanket to lie on, and take her on a surprise picnic.



20. Buy her something she would never splurge on for herself.



21. Rent a romantic movie.



22. Sprinkle rose petals all over the bed.



23. Offer to watch the kids, pick up the dry cleaning, etc.



24. Go for a walk with her.



25. Order take out so she won't have to cook.



26. Wink at her across the room.



27. Hold hands with her.



28. Tell her everything you love about her.



29. Listen to her talk--really listen.



30. Paint her toenails.



31. Feed her fresh strawberries.



32. Take a yoga class together.



33. Buy her a candle in her favorite scent.



34. Turn off the t.v. and tell her you "just want to talk".



35. Snuggle with  her.



36. Adopt a puppy or kitten (only if she really wants one).



37. Let her tell you the same story you've heard 20 times and really enjoy it.



38. Make coupons she can redeem through the year (massages, dinner out, house cleaning, etc)



39. Buy her a romantic novel.



40. Bring her a little gift that reminds you of her.



41. Leave love notes where she will find them.



42. Read her a poem.



43. Write her a poem.



44. Sing her a love song.



45. While she is in the shower, sneak in and write a note or draw a heart on the mirror in the steam.



46. Give her a hug & a kiss when you get home from work.



47. Hug her for no reason.



48. Ask her "what do you want to do tonight?"



49. Write her a song.



50. Have your band friends serenade her.



51. Call her and play "I just called to say I love you".



52. Rub her back before she goes to sleep.



53. Wash, dry, fold & put away the towels while she is out. Don't even mention it--let her discover it.



54. Open the door for her.



55. Pull out her chair at the table.



56. When she is cleaning say, "Do you need any help?"



57. Call her "honey," "baby," or whatever she likes to be called.



58. Take  her on a "real date."



59. Get out old cd's/records/cassettes/8-tracks (depending on how old you are!) and spend the evening listening to them.



60. Have her favorite song playing when she gets home or when she gets in the car.



61. Fill her vehicle with gas and don't mention it. (She will notice!)



62. If she has a hobby, take her to a store that specialized in her hobby.



63. Think of something you used to do together when  you first met & don't do anymore--do it!



64. Bring her breakfast in bed.



65. Find something on the internet she would like and say, "I found something you would like...."



66. Go to a drive in movie.



67. Take dance classes together.



68. Check into a hotel with a jacuzzi or hot tub, even if you don't go out of town!



69. Clean out her car for her.



70. Help her make up the bed.



71. Leave chocolates on her pillow.



72. Go to bed early so you can lie in bed and talk.



73. Give her a massage.



74. Buy her a "kitchen closed" sign--give it to her when you bring take out home.



75. Hire a maid for a day (or even longer!)



76. Tell her how lucky you are to have her.



77. Plant flowers with her.



78. Sit on the swing with her.



79. Go to the park and play on the playground.



80. Go to the river/ocean/lake/pond, take off your shoes and dangle your feet in the water together.



81. Tell her you are calling off "guys night out" to spend time with her.



82. Hire a babysitter so you can go on a date.



83. Brush her hair.



84. Jump on a  trampoline together.



85. Pick some flowers and deliver them in person.



86. Look at old photos with her.



87. Ask her to tell you about when you met.



88. Take her to a concert.



89. Go to the library together.



90. Go to a coffee shop and drink coffee together...and talk!



91. Look at magazines with her.



92. Wake up before her and start a pot of coffee.



93. Ask her what her favorite food is....bring it home the next day.



94. If she's had a bad day, rub her shoulders & just listen to her complain.



95.  Sit beside her on the couch.



96. At a restaurant, sit beside her instead of across from her.



97. After dinner at  home, tell her to sit at the table while you wash the dishes and clean up  the kitchen.



98. Make something for her.



99. Come to bed wearing boxer shorts with hearts on them.



100. Slow dance.



101. Don't wait until Valentine's Day to do any of this stuff!



Sunday, February 3, 2008

Valentine Giveaway!!



Valentinecontest_2 I told y'all I was going to give something away!! I'm giving away this Valentine's Ornament. I sculpted it from paperclay and handpainted it, antiqued it, then sealed it. You can't see it in the picture, but it hangs by a green ribbon. I did a few of these and this is the last one left, but they are all unique because I don't use any molds for them, then I paint each one. All you have to do to enter is post a comment to this message before Feb. 12. Be sure to use a valid email address so I can contact you! If I don't hear from the winner by Feb. 14, I will pick another winner. So...good luck to you!!!



Valentine_giveaway