Guitar and Record Cakes

I did these for my Dad's B-day back in June. I scanned them in and so I am having a difficult time trying to actually get them to post properly. Oh well - at least I am posting.

D's Bday Cake

Made D a B-day Cake and it turned out rather colorful and crazy. I had problems with crumbs getting in the icing, but this is the best border I have ever made and the smoothest I have ever got the icing.

Random Pics

I got D an outdoor fireplace for his B-day. He used it to trap the cat. That cat did not think this was fun.

A few weeks ago we had some people over and Terry wanted to drink the girly drink so I made him drink it out of the girly glass as I never get to use my cool martini glasses. So we took a pic. Nothing is funnier than a big man drinking out od a pretty glass.

That same night we bough corn to grill and we got a wierd genetically altered one. I took a pic and I won't lie, I ate the corn and so did D. My children will probably now have extra toes or something.

Mainly for Wes 1 - Den

Wes - These pics are mainly for you as you haven't seen my house yet. This is the den where we spend most of the time. I should have put the vaccum cleaner away before taking the pic but what the heck... In these pics the wood panel seems rather overwhelming, but actually it isn't that bad.

Mainly for Wes 2 - Kitchen

Here is the kitchen. See the little shelves with the terra cotta pots under the grow sign? I intended to have herbs growing in there, but they died. Apparently they wanted to rebel against the grow sign. I may fill them with fake greenery so they don't look so patheitic. Mac is laying on the table being bad. The hanging copper pot now has a plant in it too (which is doing well). I made the window valences all be myself and D did all of the tile after we both tore down terrible wall paper

Mainly for Wes 3 - Backyard

Here are some pics of the backyard, including the garden that we built and the cute little gnome that D got me as an anniversary present. He meant it as sort of a joke but I thought it was adorable! The one pic is of some of the tulips that were grew out front - but it is also a view of the back yard and deck from the kitchen.

That's My Dad!

So, Friday night Connie and I came home from work (we carpool) and noticed that my Dad wasn't home. Turns out he was working overtime. So, I go home and D and I went out to dinner and come home to go to bed. We were watching the news when a preview for the next story came on and mention a "different" kind of escape from a local prison. I started joking with D that my dad was going to be on the news - that perhaps he broke something, created such a big disturbance that the news had been called up. (My Dad does maintenance at a prison) Then the story came on. You can imagine my surprise when I saw that my Dad really was on the news! Luckily he had not broke anything! He was, however, rescuing a cat which funny if you know my dad because he really doesn't care for cats. So, here is a link to the story Cats Disappearance Prompts Frantic Dig 05/05/2006 11:35.

I watched the story on a different channel. It was on all 3 local channels and on two others the next day. The one that I watched actually mentioned his name - enjoy. He is the one with the jackhammer by the way.

Tonight Connie and I are going to create a T-Shirt for him that says "PCI Cat Rescue Team" LOL . He'll love it.

Easter Cake

This is my Easter Cake.

Dancing, Cakes, and Other Projects

Just a quick update. I am loving my dance classes. I get really sweaty, and yet do not ever have the urge to destroy the instructor. With most aerobics classes, I end up staring at the instructor with a look of intent to cause harm and wishind for Superman-like beams to shoot out of my eyes and drop the instructor so that we do not have to go on. LOL Seriously, though, I am actually having fun while working out.

I am makeing a cake this weekend for Easter. The plan is for it to look like a big, colorful Easter basket complete with handle and chocolate bunny. This is my most ambititous cake yet, but I was inspired by cakes from the likes of Colette Peters. Not that mine will be nearly as spectacular, but I do admire her work.

I was flipping through channels this weekend and on TBS Dinner & a Movie was on and they gave tips about what to do with leftover fresh herbs. This is always a dilemma for me as I do love to buy fresh herbs, but always feel I waste a lot of them. So, this weekend I made a crockpot chicken, apples, onion thing with rosemary and had a ton leftover and followed the directions of Dinner & a Movie and chopped up the rosemary and put it in ice cube trays with water to use later in soups, or other dishes that could melt the ice. Isn't that a super idea? I think so.

Some recommendations on the recipe though, I made it wth both boneless chicken breasts and with drumsticks. the drumsticks were so sweet and delicious, but the breasts were really bland. Also, the apples and onions became a big mushy mess. Perhaps I will use less liquid next time. I need a way to harness these flavors without the grey mush that resluts. Suggestions?

Hostess Sushi

Here is the promised pic of my Hostess Sushi. I took the ide from www.NotMartha.org, so check out her website if you want details on it.

Never Give a Clutz a 4-Wheeler

And here is what happened after I rode my new four wheeler. I it a runt funny and it tipped over on me. This is my thigh. Yummy, huh?

Mt. Pilot, NC

You know on the Andy Girffin Show when they talk about Mt. Pilot, which was supossed to be the next big town over? There really is a Mt. Pilot, NC! It is the highest point in NC. D and I passed it on our road trip to pick up my four wheeler (purchased on E-Bay). Here are pics of Mt. Pilot. We drove to the top of it and the view was nice.

Fisheys 3

The first pic here uis a shark ray that they call "Sweet Pea". Appparently, there are very few in captivity. Also they had a lorikeet garden. I love the lorikeets. The one by D's head stole the whole cup of nectar from us and poured it out. It was cute.

Fisheys 2

These are pics from a road trip in February to see the Newport Aquarium. Note my comments and helpful hints in the fist post called Fisheys. There were lost of tunnels to walk through and the fish swam overhead. Also there were divers in the tanks. The pic above with the diver in it also shows a pufferfish in the foreground...that was one big fish.

Party Report and Dancing

Hostess Sushi was not that tastey but cute...as noted by Not Martha. I also made a craft she suggested on her site. It was this little set of magnets that was so easy and cute.

At the gathering I gave reading assingments to Shan and Laurie. I will have mini book chats with each. I am listening to Bridget Jone's Diary on CD during the commute with step-mom every morning. Have read both books and have noted that when I read them/listen to them on CD I write in manner of Bridget Jones. Anyhow, they are hilarious and quite good to listen to.

I have a zillion and one pics to post and will do so this weekend.

At work they are offering line dancing twice weekly during the lunch hour. We had a free demo class today and it was so fun. I got really sweaty though and am feeling less than sure this afternoon as a result. Nonethelss, I plan to continue. On future dance days, however, I really need to pack a t-shirt and deodorant. Also I should note this is not hokey country line dancing but hip-hop R&B style line dancing. Thus it is cool.

That Deserves an Arbor Mist

Tonight Shan and Laurie are coming over and we are going to eat Hostess Sushi, as seen on Not Martha's website. It is an improptu celebration as well because Laurie was just accepted to grad school. I told her that deserves an Arbor Mist (remember those commercials?). So, for those of you who can't make it we'll think of you foundly as we sip Arbor Mist. Chrissy will now post a comment about how only the uncivilized drink Arbor Mist. But it's cheap, it tastes good, and one large bottle will get me drunk! These are, of course, the three criteria I use when choosing an adult beverage.

Pics of my desert sushi to come. I am so excited about it!

All...be sure to see my post title Fisheys. It was drafted a long time ago, but I juts posted it today, so it went on the blog out of order...but it is new. More pics of the aquarium to come.

Toilet Paper Rant

Someone sent me an e-mail with the title "If Women Were in Charge of the World" and it had funny photos and this was one of them. I share this because it looks like the toilet stall in Kenosha that I was so amazed by. Also, becasue not replacing the toilet paper is among my top ten annoyances. I have considered several options for getting the toilet paper roll changed. One was to hide the all of the toilet paper and write on the spindle where I had hidden it. Thus forcing the empty tube to be removed from the spindle in order to locate more toilet paper. I figured if you had to go that far into the process just to find the toilet paper you'd might as well put a fresh roll on the actual spindle while you're at it. The other was to tape a copy of this article to the next empty tube I found. I ruled both out. The first option might cause some sort of embarassment if guests were over and the second just seemed a little too mean. One option that I actually did try was to simply get rid of the spindle altogether but that was unpopular with a certain someone in my household (hint: it wasn't the cat). Oh, how I long for the day when I can simply stock my own bathroom with this many rolls of toilet paper. Then, again, I might just be doubley pissed to go in and find all 20 rolls empty. Will there ever be a solution?

Not Martha

Firends,
I just came across this blog...is this not me? She has the cutest little craft ideas!. The best was an idea for twinkie sushi. I don't want to give it away as it will debute at my next party, but tell me that this person is not just like me! I love it!

http://www.notmartha.org/

Recent Books

Recently I have read a few books that I would like to endorse (I realize I am not exactly Oprah)

Anyhow, I read the children's book Because of Winn Dixie and I enjoyed it because it was simple and yet met all my criteria for being a good book. It had quirky characters, a southern town and taught a lesson about being a better person. A cute, quick, easy read.

After that, I read The Time Traveler's Wife by Aurdey Niffenegger. It was fabulous! It's about a husband and wife and their love story. However, there is a twist, the husband has a disease that causes him to uncontrollably travel in time. On the surface it sounded a little too sci-fi for me but it is written in a realistic and beleiveable way. It is closer to magic realism than it is to sci-fi. I really want for someone else to read this book. This is one of those books that makes you question love, fate, and purpose and the need to discuss it is great. After reading it, I went online to see if I could find a book discussion group and the local library had JUST finished one about this book. I was so mad for not having read it earlier!

If anyone wants to borrow it, I am more than willing to lend it out.

Also, in my quest for a good reading group I considered starting my own. Would anyone be interested? One thing that I really miss from being in school is reading and then talking about what was just read with others. I thought if we made one then everyone could have a turn suggesting a book with the group and then we could meet once a month and talk about it.

P.S. Now that all of my good friends have blogs, I feel obligated to blog more.

Extreme 007ing

This was from News of the Wierd.

In February, Kimberly Dasilva, 40, was charged in Boston with putting explosives into condoms and mailing them to people she believes are associated with her longstanding mistreatment by men, including two strip clubs where she used to work.

Apparently hotdogs weren't strong enough to satisfy her taste for revenge.

Fisheys

All - I drafted this post a while ago, but never actually posted, so here it is.

D and I went to the Newport Aquarium....a 1 million gallon aquarium. It was pretty cool, but all of the little kids crowding the place and yelling "Look there's Nemo!" got really annoying. We will go back sometime during a weekday. When I have kids I am telling them to shove through an make room for mommy and daddy in front of the display, I am tired of backing down so that all of these little kids can hog up the prime viewing area with their parents.
Also, once you see the penguins, beware....if you want to see anything else again, you need to turn around and see it, otherwise you will be guided to through to the end of the exhibits and dumped off in a gift shop and not allowed to re-enter. Otherwise it was cool , they have one of the only Shark Rays on display in the world and these cool tunnels of water and divers get in and that really gives you some perspective of the size of the tank and the creatures within. Also, I couldn't get a pic, but they had bioluminesscent fish their (they have a bacteria in their eyes that glow a blue color.)

Abover were otters. They were cute and had wee babies.

Gold Star for D

I know I do a lot of complaining about D on here, so I would like to take a moment to give him some compliments.

We were busy for two weeks (right after Christmas) redecorating our kitchen. (By the way, wallpaper should be considered a sin!) Anyhow, in the process, our house became this huge mess of chaos and fast food wrappers (because we didn't want to eat meals garnished with grout and drywall dust). Also, we neglected the over the top Christmas lights and decorations that we put outside (we were lit up like Vegas, baby). So we looked like a bunch of hillbillies with holiday decor STILL up. Being new in the neighborhood it probably caused a great deal of complaining by the neighbor's. We were already pushing it this season with the neighbor's, being the only people on the cul-de-sac to go bold with multi-colored lights.

Anyhow, all of this accumulated and I was looking toward a drab weekend of endless chores, but, I came home on Wednesday to find that my wonderful husband, cleaned the house, took down the Christmas lights, and was cooking dinner for me! What a lucky girl I am.

Christmas 2005

Here are the pics we took Christmas morning. I am posting these so that Wes can see the living room. Please - if possible - divert your eyes from my gigantic hips clad in spandex or blindness may occur.
Also, these are mainly of Maple opening her Christmas present. She was excited about that! Mac on the other hand could have cared less about his gift. Instead, he wanted to destroy the decorations on the tree. Ungrateful beast!

Photos Extravaganza 2

This one is mainly for Wes ans others who may not have seen my house. I din't take pics of the rooms specifically, but you can get the idea.

Left - Maple frolics with D's parent's dogs in the back yard. Maple is the slender one. :)















Above - D and Mac chilling in the den.
Below- Maple likes to lick the last few drips from the beer bottle in the kitchen. This was at the OSU Michigan party.