Sunday, August 7, 2011

One of the best days ever - 8/6/11

I think that while we're children, we connect things in a much different process than we do as adults.  For this reason, certain things stick out in our minds more than, perhaps more deserving, others.  For instance, I'm sure that my dad listened to an assortment of music, and therefore bands, when I was a kid; the radio was always on.  But aside from the radio (usually oldies, but always rock) I remember hearing ZZ Top.  Winter, summer, it didn't matter.  When I was about twelve, he bought every album on CD.  I memorized almost all of the songs without even knowing I had them memorized until he died.  I made my discovery when I listened with my eyes closed, pretending he was the one who hit Play.  To this day, if I'm having a hard time or missing my dad extra, I pop in a ZZ Top CD and things get better.  So, now to the point...


I saw ZZ Top live.  Last night.  I was literally 100 feet away from them.  




I also decided last night that I will see this band every single time it's an option for me, until either they don't perform anymore, or they're dead.  That was the best show I've ever been to, hands down.  And I didn't drink so that I could remember everything, exactly as it was.  So worth it.


Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Yesterday was my Uncle Greg's funeral.  He died last Thursday morning and I hung out with my Aunt Cathy and the family over the weekend, but I had to work yesterday.  :(  Boo.  After work though, at 8 PM, I finally got to see everyone.  Their house was Party Central (yep, that's as original as I'm getting today) and my aunt was gushing about how good it felt to smile and laugh.  :)  She's soooo cute when she's drunk.  Anyways, besides the nice bonding and family time, I tried a new shot and it was AWESOME.  Thanks to my cousin's wife, Carrie, this will be my shot of choice if Apple Pie isn't available.  It's RumChata and it really does taste like Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal.  YUM.  I kind of want to have a party just to have an excuse to drink this...Drinking at canning parties probably make everything taste better.






I've said it before and I'll say it again, I can't wait to start canning!  I got this awesome recipe from Sheri's Sweet Life and it's doing the equivalent of money burning holes in pockets.  EEEeeep!




Applesauce with Honey
16 c apples- peeled, cored, cut up
1 c water
2 t lemon juice
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t allspice
Start with 3 T honey, up to 1/4 c of honey to your taste

Put apples, lemon and water in pot, bring to boil and cook until soft.  Add the honey and spices at the end, cooking a few more minutes.  Either smash with wooden spoon if desiring chunky, or put in blender if desiring a smoother texture. Follow your manufacturer's guide to canning.  Can be frozen in containers with good results as well.


I've taken a few days off of JM's 30 Day Shred and I need to get motivated to start again.  I thought for sure those few days of laziness would undo whatever firmness was starting to make its way through winter padding but it hasn't.  Which is pretty much why I stopped.  I'm done with my job after tomorrow, so I'll just make working out like a job.  If I pretend I'm getting paid, I'll pretty much do anything.



Monday, August 1, 2011

Monday Jonesing

Coolest giveaway ever by Kaelah Bee!  Lomography Fisheye "I love U" camera!  Totally jonesing...

I hardly got through the first chapter of Bound South without being distracted by a brilliant idea.  I'm already up to my elbows in yardwork but I need a rock garden.  I found a bunch of ideas on this website and I feel like it'd be easier to manage than our vegetable garden which is hosting a lovely little celebration of weeds right now.  I mean, they're rocks.  They crush unwanted plants.  I just want to paint a bunch and lay them out so that I can pretend I have time to meditate in a colorful place with my eyes closed.  I'm kidding myself, I have no time to paint rocks.  But I do need to find time to hit up the field across the road and sneak some rocks home to arrange in such a fashion that stops tension in its tracks.  Heck, maybe I'll get one of those speaker rocks so I can blast relaxing nature sounds...Oh, and I need some more solar-powered globe lights (like these).  I'll get some low-maintenance perennials from my mom's next week...Here's what I'm thinking:

Sedum aizoon in garden
Seedum - Stonecrop
Hen & Chicks

Eep!  I need these little guys, too!
Design Toscano The Knothole Window Gnome Garden Welcome Tree Sculpture



need this nail polish, too.