Boys 2 Men

Little boys. This is the second time in the last week that James has hurt "that" finger. And of course, he has to show it to me! How do I explain what that "sign" means? He is only 4 and he thinks the moon is a moom. And that Batman has a soup. (suit) Innocence doesn't last forever. I think I'll kiss the boo-boo and let it go for another year.



Men. My man. Wonder what's got him riled up? Could it be that his only daughter is almost 16? Beware, boys. Be VERY afraid. Next thing he'll be doing is writing names on the bullets.

Two recipes in one day!

Tonight I'm going to a Soup Party! Guess I'm taking soup! A good standby...Potato Leek. What you see, is what you get! Red potatoes, 3 leeks chopped, some parsley and salt for seasoning. Boil.


A handy utensil, the soup ladle! I had to buy an new one, because "I" left my old one in the woods after using it to dig holes and only the Lord knows what else. Or maybe one of my boys did that. I can't remember anything important these days and believe me, ladles are important! I have been doing without one for about 6 months now. When my old one turned up dead (cracked) I knew it was time to stop hoping it would turn up in the toy box and decided to break down and buy a new one. Thank you, Winn Dixie for your overpriced ladle.


Anywho, here is the finished product, mashed with a potato masher, and with about 6 oz. cream added.


Ready to go to the soup party! Just as soon as I get off work.....

Wake-You-Up Sunday Roast

Sunday afternoons are for napping, right? In our house, there is almost always somebody taking their weekly Nazarene Nap. I drink a cup of coffee before church to stay awake, but after lunch....there's nothing sweeter than a Sunday snooze. Coffee is for the mornings, but this recipe calls for coffee in the roast! You heard me right! When I heard of this recipe from a friend, I had to try it. "Rich, dark gravy" is how she described it to me and I was hooked.

Here's how:
Sear the roast in a skillet


Because I have two young ones and a couple older picky eaters, I process a whole onion and a few mushrooms in my food processor and cook it for a few minutes in olive oil (or butter) until translucent.


Here's the "wake-you-up" part. Add a cup of coffee to the roast in the crock-pot! (I did about 4 cups the first time I made it, but found it to be too bitter. Next time I'll do 1 cup.)


Season with this.


Put it all together in your crock-pot and simmer on low until done. I did mine overnight.


Remove roast from gravy. Shred and remove fat. Thicken gravy with cornstarch and return meat to gravy. Serve over rice or potatoes! (brown rice shown here)


Really, really yummy! The coffee in it wasn't enough to keep me from missing my Nazarene Nap, either. ;-)

What have we been up to lately? Well, for sure, it's been a bit nuts around here.


Back in November, we annoyed the heck out of the kids by kissing in public.


While at the Stuart Air Show, Rebecca decided to try and take her daddy down inside a Boeing transport carrier. To get out of her grip, all that was needed was a strategically placed "pinch".


More important news! Rob graduated from Palm Beach State College! Woo-hoo! I'm so proud of him! He is now a certified machinist. :-)


Somebody got braces. Tee-hee-hee.

It just wouldn't be Christmas if Rebecca and I didn't go to the annual Ladies Christmas Tea at NHF in Palm City. They certainly outdid themselves this year! The all purpose room was transformed into a Winter Wonderland! Think falling snow (strategically placed snow flake cutouts) snow covered trees (bare limbs spray painted white) and icy air! (A/C lowered to shivering levels) The food was fabulous, the dozens of tables decorated in beautiful china, good friends to sit with and enjoy the beautiful program....to sum it up, an event to remember!

Rebecca, Katrina and Emily pose on a park bench.


Chance of snow...100%. Aren't the food tables lovely?


The table I decorated for the young ladies of our group.


Mother and daughter!