Decorating ideas

Teaching the Next Generation

Sorry I haven't posted but we had a big storm come through a couple of days ago. It could have been a mini hurricane by the way the wind whipped through our neighborhood. It really made a mess of things. There were trees that blew over into the road, split a good size one in the neighbor's yard, and it even knocked out our power for nearly four hours. We've been cleaning up. Hubby worked in the back yard picking up tree limbs and pine cones while I picked up three large bags of pine needles from our driveway and front porch. My poor birds. I'm not sure where they took off to but they are back tonight. I can hear them tweeting from the tree outside my french doors.

As soon as I finished cleaning up the driveway and porch I began organizing the garage. I came across my empty peanut butter containers along with several other type of containers. I began filling them up with nails and screws when it occured to me....this is something that my grandfather use to do. I use to watch him in his shop do this very thing years ago. Not only did he do this but I've seen my father do it as well. This got me thinking of other things that I picked up on as little girl. My grandmother loved humming birds and had to have a humming bird feeder near the back window so she could watch them. I have a humming bird feeder in my back yard near my back window so I can watch them. My mother cooked chocolate chip cookies on rainy weekends. I cook chocolate chip cookies on rainy weekends. Hmmm........

What little things has your grandparents/parents taught you that you do today?

College Football

My hubby and I are so excited that football season is here. My hubby is a LSU Tiger and I went to U of O (Oregon). But we proudly fly the purple and gold flag on the house. Where did y'all go to school and what team are rooting for this season?


Geaux Tigers!!!


Go Ducks!!!

It's time for Fall decorating...

I had such a great time reading about how everyone spends their fall season. It made me so hungry reading about gumbo, soups, stews, sweet potato pie, and pumpkin spice milkshakes. One word, "YUMMY." It got me in the mood to finally decorate for the season. Let me take y'all on my fall decor tour....

I picked this cutie up at a garage sale over the summer for $1.00. At the time I couldn't figure out what I was going to do with it but I knew it would come in handy. I decided to put it to good use and make it a fall centerpiece. What do y'all think?

I decided to put my old books in the corner of our fireplace. I picked up this cute scarecrow at a thrift store for .25 cents. I thought it was cute.

Here's our mantel. The walls in our house are being painted green. I have no idea what to do with this fireplace. I don't like the color of the wood mantel. I'm thinking about having it stained a dark brown to match the mirror. But the brick is a ugly dull color. I'm absolutely clueless on what to do with it. Any suggestions?


Here's our guest bathroom.

This is my french wire basket. I love collecting them. I used this basket to display my soaps.

This really has nothing to do with fall but I love my tea soaps. They are made out of tea and you pour them into your bath water. The aroma is delicious and I immediately begin relaxing once they begin to dissolve. My favorite is the Lavender tea.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out all my fall decorations....

Howdy!!!

Howdy to all my blogging sista's! Sorry I've been MIA but my schedule has been truly hectic. I finally got some down time and I'm taking full advantage of catching up on my Sunday comics and blogging. I want to express how much I appreciate all your kind comments on my cooking blog. Y'all are the best! I'm sorry I haven't had time to reply but I'll work on that this evening.
I just received some fantastic new recipes that I can't wait to share with you and will begin to post tonight.

I look forward to stopping by y'alls blogs and reading your posts to see what y'all been up to. Before I zip on down the road to blogger land I must ask your opinion:

1.) What are your family traditions for fall? Do you watch a favorite movie, bake a special dish, play family games, etc....

2.) Do you decorate your home for fall and how?

3.) What is your favorite fall dessert?

MY NEW COOKING BLOG

Hi Y'all, I just wanted to share with you my new cooking blog. I absolutely love cooking and I'm going to start posting all my recipes to share with my family and friends. Stop by and take a look. I just started posting so I only have two recipes posted at the moment but I have more coming in the next couple of days so be on the look out. http://gigikitchen.blogspot.com/ This holiday season is going to be tons of fun so be sure to check in.

Thanks, y'all!!!

TEXAS CORNBREAD RECIPE

TEXAS CORNBREAD

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 c buttermilk

1 large egg, lightly beaten

2 tblsp melted butter

1/4 c chopped chili peppers, mild or hot, or chopped and drained

Jalapeno chili peppers to taste

1 c cream-style corn

1 c cream-style corn

1 c shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Directions

1.) Preheat the oven to 425 degrees (or 400 if glass baking dish). In mixing bowl, combine cornmeal, salt, and baking soda.

2.) Add buttermilk and egg; beat until batter is smooth. Place butter in 8 inch square pan or baking dish in preheated oven.

3.) Pour half of the batter into hot pan. Spoon cream-style corn evenly over batter, scatter chili peppers over corn layer, and sprinkle with cheddar cheese.

4.) Top with remaining batter. Bake cornbread until golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes. Serve hot!!!

Donna Reed, No. Lucy Ricardo, Yes!!!

You know those type of women that seem like they have it together? They look like a million bucks no matter where they are, when they walk they glide through the air, everything they touch and do is successful. Yeah, that's not me. I've been known to wear my Piggly Wiggly T-shirt's and jeans, I trip over air almost on a weekly basis, and almost everything I touch breaks. Donna Reed, absolutely not. Goofy Lucy Ricardo, yes. Poor Lucy, bless her little heart. She tries her best and for unknown reasons she gets herself in a mess. That is the story my life, y'all.

Yesterday I was meeting a friend for lunch. I finished up an appointment early and for the first time had some time to kill. I decided to run my car through one of those drive through car washes. We've gotten a few showers in Houston the past few weeks (not complaining because we need it). So, here I am driving through the car wash (you know, that tunnel thing). There's a young man (employee) waving me through. He's going to dry my car once I exit (not bad, I don't even have to get out of my car). Just as I reach the end I think I'm 100% out of the tunnel, right? Nope! I roll down my window to ask him a question and out of nowhere a water cannon goes off shooting me on the side of my face. It felt like someone had slugged me it was so much water. I quickly rolled up the window but electric takes it's sweet time. By the time I completely rolled out of the car wash I was soaking wet and so was the inside of my car. The young man is now rolling in laughter as well as the 50 other people standing there pointing. I felt like a complete idiot.

To make matters worse I had to go to lunch looking like a drowned rat. As soon as I stepped inside the restaurant my friend looked at me funny. Then looked outside at the sunny and dry afternoon. "Did it rain?" she asked while all trying to figure out why I'm soaking wet. "No, I had a incident at the car wash." She and the other patrons began chuckling. Does this stuff happen to anyone else or is it just me?

The "MeMe" Award

THE "MeMe" AWARD

Wow, I just received the "MeMe" blogging award from Libby over at Cooking with Libby I'm so excited because this is my second award since blogging. If y'all get an opportunity I suggest you stop by her blog when you get a chance. She has a ton of great recipes and she's a real sweetie. Thanks, Libby!!!

Not only did I receive this award but I also got tagged on the ABC's. Upon receiving this award you have to list the 7 personality traits about yourself. Then tag 7 more bloggers. I'm going to leave it open to everyone to answer these questions. I hope you do because it's a fun way for me to get to know y'all better. Let me know if y'all play along so I can stop by your blog. OK, here goes....

7 Personality Traits

1.) Happy ~ I'm generally a happy person. I have a hard time staying mad, angry, or depressed for very long.

2.) Forgiving ~ I'm quick to forgive and ask for forgiveness when I'm wrong.

3.) Kind ~ I've been in all sorts of situations so I try my best not to judge and show compassion towards others. You never know when it's going to be your turn to walk a mile in worn uncomfortable shoes.

4.) Funny ~ I think I'm hilarious- hee, hee!

5.) Outgoing~ I'm not afraid to try new things or walk up and talk to strangers. You'd be surprised how many friends I've met that way.

6.) Trustworthy ~ If I give you my word than I will do my best to fulfill it. Even if it means costing me big time.

7.) Loyal ~ I'm extremely loyal. Not very many people are loyal these days (want to ride the fence). Well, there's no fence riding for me. I've been tested on this a lot. This is where integrity comes with a price.

And here's my ABC's...

1. A – Available/Single? Married

2. B – Best friend? My husband

3. C – Cake or Pie? Cake

4. D – Drink of choice? Sweet Tea

5. E – Essential item you use every day? Lipstick (gotta have my lipstick)

6. F – Favorite color? Green

7. G – Gummy Bears Or Worms? Gummy Worms

8. H – Hometown? I live in Houston, Texas but I grew up in California

9. I – Indulgence? Chocolate

10. J – January or February? February

11. K – Kids & their names? Not yet

12. L – Life is incomplete without? Family

13. M – Marriage date? December 21

14. N – Number of siblings? 5

15. O – Oranges or Apples? Oranges

16. P – Phobias/Fears? Claustrophobia/snakes

17. Q – Quote for today? I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying

18. R – Reason to smile? My marriage

19. S – Season? Fall/Autumn

20. T – Tag 3 People? I'm tagging everyone

21. U – Unknown fact about me? I like to write

22. V – Vegetable you don't like? Brussel sprouts

23. W – Worst habit? Worry; I worry about everything.

24. X – X-rays you've had? Arm

25. Y – Your favorite food? Chinese

26. Z – Zodiac sign? Gemini