Cake for Supper and Dirt for Dessert

We're friends, right?

And friends share recipes and exchange our impressively creative ideas with each other, right?

This is one of the many, many benefits to blogging: all the paramount ideas we can learn from one another. I got the idea for dinner today from one such blogger, Karen at Surviving Motherhood, and now I have the privilege of sharing it with YOU.

We did something like this several years ago, but I didn't get any pictures of it then.

1. I didn't have a camera.
2. I wasn't blogging yet, so it didn't matter.

But today, I'm getting pictures. Because you wouldn't believe me if I didn't get them.

Menu for the Day:

Breakfast
Vanilla Ice Cream scoops with chocolate syrup
(drop biscuit scoops with warm Nutella poured over the top)

 Breakfast of the Year 2010

Lil'bit enjoying his "hot fudge sundae" breakfast

Lunch
Fish Sticks with mac & cheese
(vanilla wafer cookies covered in peanut butter and "breaded" with crushed corn flakes; mac & cheese was real)

 Fish Sticks that fell from heaven

Brown Eyes was pretty fooled with this one; he had no idea until he bit into it.

Dinner
Chocolate cake with white icing
(meatloaf cake frosted with mashed potatoes, served with real green beans...I can't help myself.)

Lil'bit was the only one so fooled by this one. He kept asking if he could "lick the bowl."

Dinner was really fun...

Lil'bit was "less than impressed" with his "cake"

Mini me enjoying his "cake"

Red Juice Cocktail
(which was really red jell-o in a glass with a straw)

Mini me's thinkin', "How am I supposed to drink THIS?"

Dessert
Flower Pot Dirt Cake
(crushed oreos on top of pudding/coolwhip/cream cheese concoction)

 Complete with Easter lilies

The last time we did this, we made cupcakes the same way as the cake; just make meatloaf in muffin cups, and "frost" with colored mashed potatoes. We also made green beans out of green jolly rancher chews, which was really fun.

Hope you guys had a great April Fool's Day...I know we did.

Have a Happy Resurrection Day!

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

FYI:  This post has nothing to do with Mr. Rogers. Except that it was a beautiful day in our neighborhood. So if Mr. Rogers was your draw here, then, feel free to carry on.

When we came home from Texas, one of the things we brought back with us was a picnic table and benches that my grandpa built when I was young.

The story is that he was driving in town one day and spotted a set in the back of someone else's truck. He liked the shape of them, so he came home and explained it to my grandmother: "This is what I want to build!"

The fact that I am visual in my creativity in that I need to "see" something before I can create something (even if it's in my own mind) is a characteristic I got honestly. From Grandma. She couldn't see it from description alone. So he took out some cardboard and drew his pattern for her to see and him to use.

The result is a beautiful picnic table and bench set that is as unique as he was.

When I was little, he used to tell me, "Matchabelli..." (as in, Prince Matchabelli perfume...I told you -- unique)...he'd say, "Matchabelli, you need to drink all that orange juice. It'll make your eyes curly and your hair blue." I'd laugh, and he'd look at me like, "What's so funny?" And then grin that precious smile of his.

Grandpa was the one who would squeeze me so tight that I had to hold my breath. I simply couldn't take any air in my lungs while he hugged me. Grandma would get onto him for hugging me so tight, but he loved me so much he couldn't help it. Those were great hugs.

Grandpa was also the one who, when I was four years old and loving the Love Boat show, promised me that when I was 16 he would take me on the Love Boat. And the summer before my 16th birthday, gave up his dream to take an Alaskan cruise because I had always pictured a tropical one, and took me and Grandma to the Bahamas.

He was a great man.

So, back to the picnic table.

Grandma didn't have room for it anymore, so she asked if we wanted it.

Um, that would be a yes.

Today was so much the perfect blue-sky-crisp-breeze-birds-singing-in-the-trees kind of day that we took a break from school to have lunch on Grandpa's picnic table.

Thank you, Lord, for a special Grandpa, warm memories, some awesome boys, and an uber-gorgeous day.

Flashback Friday

Linda at Mocha with Linda has started a meme called Flashback Friday! Here's her prompt for this week:

What was Easter like when you were little? For example, did you receive a basket with toys and candy? Was the Easter Bunny part of your family's celebration? Did your family integrate both secular and spiritual aspects of the day? Did you dye Easter eggs. . . .and did your family eat them afterwards? Did you usually get a new outfit? (Post a picture if you have one!) Does any Easter stand out particularly? You might also share how your Easter today is similar or different to your childhood?

Easter when I was little was really more secular than anything. I never made the connection between what I saw as Easter and the Resurrection of Christ until I was much older.

But most of my early Easters were spent at my Granny's house in the beautiful hill country of Texas. My favorite memories of all those Easters are encompassed in one thing: bluebonnets.

I used to take a basket out in the meadow and pick as many bluebonnets as I could fit in it. Now, if you pull over on the side of the road and try to do that, you'll get heckled and honked at by drivers on the highway. Rumor has it you can even get arrested for it! (at least that's what they say *wink*) 

Bottom Line: You're flat not supposed to pick bluebonnets on the Texas highway; you're taking away from everybody else's enjoyment of them when you do that.

But if you're on private land, now that's a diff'rnt story. And my Granny's land had more bluebonnets than dirt during the spring time, so propagating them wasn't really an issue.

So I would pick me a big basket full and take them back to Granny's house and make designs on the back porch with them. I would lay them out in the shape of Easter baskets, bunny rabbits, eggs (decorated with other wildflowers like buttercups and indian blankets):

Then the Easter bunny would come and fill the "baskets" I had made for all the family...each person got their own basket. My basket always included these staples: hollow chocolate bunny, a ceramic Easter "knick-knack," and a stuffed animal. I adored stuffed animals.

My other favorite memories include many walks down that old country road wearing my new Easter dress (Grandma was always so faithful to get me a new dress for Easter). I truly enjoyed the birds singing and the bright sun warming my face as I walked down Granny's driveway, which had to be a half mile long.

What a beautiful place she had.

As for now, we don't really buy into all the bunny hype for Easter. I think it rather takes away from the point of the celebration. I usually wake the boys for church by saying, "Happy Resurrection Day!" For which I always get a sleepy smile.

We don't do Easter baskets anymore, since we don't have bluebonnets here, but we usually do dye eggs a day or so before and then have an egg hunt in the yard. I don't usually buy the hollow bunnies, but last year I did find some chocolate crosses, which I was thrilled to see and buy for my boys. And we may not give many material gifts to each other, but we gift the gift of ourselves to each other.

After church, we usually spend the rest of the day cooking brisket, beans, and potato salad, some kind of yummy dessert (like banana pudding), and drinking sweet tea. And after the egg hunt is done, we find all the "Resurrection Eggs" out of our baskets, and go through them one at a time retelling the story of Jesus' death on the Cross and Resurrection on that blessed Easter morning.

Just special family time to celebrate a special family Holy-day.

What about you? Do you have any special Easter memories? What do you do for Easter to stay focused on the true meaning? Be sure and check out Linda's and others' answers at Mocha with Linda!

Where In Sam Hill is...Sam Hill?

So I got this to-the-point comment from a great blogging buddy the other day. Basically, she just wanted to know where in the “sam hill” I’ve been lately.

So now I’m inspired to share.

Right now it’s 3:30 am, {as in morning} and I’m in the family truck headed to Texas. Our quad cab is stuffed to the door jams with favorite pillows, cuddly teddy bears, overflowing food bags filled with junk food we don’t ordinarily eat (and a few pieces of fruit thrown in for “balance”). We have no less than five large travel coffee mugs (for only two adults, mind you)… and it’s all surrounded by windows full of obscurity…except for the reflective white lines that disappear into it.

We’re somewhere in Alabama right now, and I have to tell you, since there is nobody else awake in this state besides the few of us on the road, it feels more like we’re running on an oversized asphalt treadmill rather than actually going anywhere.

Now don’t get me wrong, Alabama is a beautiful state…with all its rolling green hills and tall, thick evergreens. It’s just that I can’t see any of that right now. All I can see is pitch black all around, and a relatively short portion of road illuminated before us. Sometimes I catch a glimpse of another’s presence on the journey, but all I see are headlights. Or taillights. I can’t see who’s in the vehicle, where they’re going, or what they’re doing to stay awake. All I know is they are either ahead of me to some degree, or maybe coming up behind me, or just plain going in the opposite direction.

Some are even pulled over on the side of the road, resting.

We have guidelines to follow that show us the way, signs posted to alert us to what is up ahead, and the capacity to decide if we’ll stay on the road, obeying the directions, or suffer the consequences of veering off road.

I’m struck with the parallels of life here: Limited view. Sometimes, a WAY limited view. The necessity of following the written directions established by the Authority…or face impending danger if they are ignored one too many times. Occasional glances into the journey of others; and the stillness, perhaps even brokenness of a few along the way.

Sometimes it feels like I’m running like a dog, but not actually going anywhere. Tonight is reminding me that it’s all about perspective. When I’m 75, am I really going to feel like I didn’t go anywhere? I don’t think so. Because by then, I’ll be able to do something I just can’t do now: see the journey as a whole.

Right now, I can only see a few feet in front of me. All the time. That’s why it feels like there’s no progress. But those white lines were painted on my road before the foundation of the world. That’s something one can trust.

Lord, help me keep my eyes and my heart focused on what You have given me to do with this life You have redeemed.

I guess this is one of those “life is like…” posts. But you know what? As long as the journey takes me to the closest Whataburger once in a while, I’m just going to enjoy the ride.

Random Dozen - Olympic Style

1. If you could compete in one Olympic event (not necessarily winter sports) what would it be?

As long as ability doesn't necessarily need to play in the equation, and in light of the fact that this happens to be the sport I watched today, I could see me loving the women's snowboarding. I mean, that is if I was that young, athletically trained competitor that saw snow more than 10 times in her whole life.

2. Do remember a specific Olympic moment from the past?

I remember Dorothy Hamill winning the gold in 1976 in figure skating. Well, actually the only reason I really remember it is because mine was one of those moms who flocked to the barber shops to get her only 4-year old kid a matching haircut.

3. Have you ever known anyone who competed in the Olympics?

Yes! In the women's ministry, WOVEN, of which I am a part, we had a guest speaker at our very first conference in Fort Worth, Texas. Her name was Kim Macklin, and she was a competitive swimmer on the 1984 Olympic swim team. Her story was awesome, because she spoke of our identity in Christ as women and as believers. Her point to drive home was that even having your picture on the front of a Wheaties box can't give you the identity our hearts long for. It was a touching story.

4. If everyday activities were Olympic-worthy, which activity would you have a gold medal in?

I would have to say...couponing! I saved over $112 two weeks ago!

5. Do you know anything about your ethnic heritage?

Yeah, this IS random...I just know that my mom's maternal side came from Sicily, and her paternal from Germany. I think all of my dad's family came from a part of Czechoslovakia that used to be known as Bohemia. Well, I think it's still referred to as Bohemia within the Czech Republic...or...

Well, you asked if I knew ANYTHING. That was SOMEthing.

6. Do you enjoy sleeping late?

I enjoy it while I'm in my warm flannel sheets and the house is a cool 65 degrees. But then I don't enjoy after I get up and I feel like my day is already half over before I start the coffee. I'd rather be up early...as long as I'm not up too late at night. Like now.

7. Have you ever performed CPR on anyone? Do you know how? (Yes, that's two, I know. Whatevs.)

I have never performed CPR because I don't know how to. That's also something I don't think I've ever had to admit "out loud." I don't like it.

8. Name one country you'd like to visit and explain why.

Are you kidding? Just ONE? I would have to say Israel. God has given me a love for His people, and I want to go there and get to know them some day.

9. Have you ever fixed up a couple romantically?

I called and asked my now-husband to meet me half-way between our towns (which was still a two-hour drive!) for our first date. That counts, right?

10. What is the last book you read?

The last one I actually finished: The Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens.
The last one I actually picked up to read: Way too many to list here.

11. Do you enjoy sleeping late? NO, YOU write the question! How's that for random??

Lidna, I hope you're reading this, because I have the most extreme respect for you right now. I don't know how you've come up with all these questions for us...I can't think of ONE that you haven't already asked!


12. What is your favorite meal at your favorite restaurant?

If you've read any recent posts lately (like in the last several months) you already know that we are currently engaged in the Dave Ramsey program. We don't eat out much these days, so I almost can't remember!

But the last thing I ate out was pretty stinkin' good, so I'll put that. And before you think you're going to call the Dave Ramsey Police on me, DH got money for his birthday, so he took me on a date. How cool is that?

So we went to this Cuban-Style Mexican restaurant named La Parrilla, and I had a killer fish taco plate. It was REALLY good. New fave.

And it looked just like that, too.

Now, grab ya a second cup, and head on over to Lidna's to see what everyone else is saying. Go ahead...it's fun!

WANTED: A Good Laugh

My husband (DH) has gone over the top.

He is an addicted craigslist-er. He can't stay away. He shops for things he has no business buying, no plan of buying, and no resource for buying. But he can't stay away from the entertainment of it.

I can't tell you how many laughs we've had at some of the posts people will put on there. And I won't even go into all the grammatical issues that we see.

But some of them make you think they must not be from this country. Take this, for example:

i might take something on trade or just cash would be best its well worth the price and yes the price is firm ive got more than that in it im asking in it you must pick up thanks for your time [phone number deleted] mark also has new starter drive that was 30 dollars be glad to start it and you can ride i just want to say i dont have to sell just dont need watch what happens come spring ill also at good cb radio

I didn't have to look more than 3.2 minutes to find this shining example.

And then there are the ones advertising "1989 Jeep Creampuff!" and "Guy Stuff for Trade or Sale -- What'dya have?" or how about "Massage for Pine Straw or Compost!" You just can't pass this stuff up.

So DH went ahead and posted one of his own. Oh, it's a real post, alright. He means what he says about what he's looking for, and what he has to trade. He just went over the top in creativity, and I thought y'all might need a good laugh.

Here's how it went:

Post Title: My Wife Needs a Riding Lawnmower

I can weld just about anything. I can't weld the "crack of dawn" or a "broken heart," so don't send me your sob stories and expect me to "fix" them. If you have issues, get a Harley. You don't see a Harley parked in front of a Psychologist's office. However, if you have something made of metal, send it to me and your metal "issues" will be over.

I need a riding lawnmower for my wife. She is taking way to long to get dinner on the table in the evenings during the Summer. She doesn't have time to fix it either, so it must run now.

P.S. Ride Hard, Pray Harder!!!! 

I told him he needs to get his own blog. Such the comodian comedian.

Who Dat Won the Super Bowl?

Well I may not have lost my voice tonight like some o' you Cajuns down there in N'Orlins, but that was a great game...and I did my share of yellin' besides. I thought I'd share some of my favorite highlights of the night. So let's reminisce together, shall we?

Did you see Wynton Marsalis, the legendary jazz trumpeter, during the pre-game show? I thought he was great. He's from New Orleans, and had a few things to say about it.

Favorite Wynton Marsalis pre-game quotes:

"Ah, those N'Orleans Saints...confined to a purgatory of their own making...where fathers bounce kids on their knees while explainin' how we'd certainly blow a 30 point halftime lead by game's end. And the Saints did not disappoint."

"Have you ever waited for sumthin' so long, that waiting for it becomes the sumthin'?"

"We're with our Saints even when we ain't."

"Here comes that unflagging optimism and tabascco tough spirit..."


"It's like waiting fowty-three years for someone to say, 'I love you back.' And they do."

Love it.



More highlights:

Tim Tebo commercials. If you missed what these highly-offensive {insert sarcasm here} pro-life commercials were about, go here.

Obama's 30 minutes of more fame talking about the Health care stuff...again. NOT!

Honestly, don't we see him enough on national TV as it is? Do we really have to go over that during the Super Bowl pre-game? Seriously? And while I'm on my soap box, I've had enough of Katie Couric, too.

Drew Brees' special story...even though Couric did that one, too. I loved the parallel he made about his injury recovery lining up with the city's recovery from Katrina. It was a beautiful picture.

Missing Man formation after the National Anthem. It gets me every time.

A Cowboy heading up the coin toss.

"Don't put yo' hands on my momma, and don't touch my Doritos."

"Men, it's time to wear the pants again." Dockers commercial...too funny. Although I have to say I was a little concerned at the beginning watching that group of men walking and singing through an empty field in their underwear.

Watching the refs peel NFL players like an onion after the half only to reveal after much anticipation...

Saints' ball!

I came in from the kitchen right before the Saints' touchdown in the 3rd quarter. Good times.

This guy is camping in Africa...he sleepwalks waving to a cheetah, bumps into the rump of an elephant, crosses a river and almost gets eaten by a hippo. He finds a hut with a refrigerator and  a coke inside. That's it, but we were absolutely mesmerized.

Six minutes left in the fourth quarter: "The points are good." 

Yes! Touchdown Saints!

Screaming chickens. Screaming chicken in space. Free grand slam at Denny's on Tuesday. Free food is definitely a highlight.

Interception and 74 yard run with 3 minutes left in the game~! Game OVAH!

Drew Brees with tears in his eyes and holding his one year old son after the big win.

This isn't the image I'm talking about, but I'll come back and edit it if I can find it.
But this one's pretty good, too.

[Edit: Here's what I'm talkin' about.]