Awesome Baby Shower

Carey and Kara

Cute decorations: The M&M's on top of the elephants say Welcome Creed

Lemon cupcakes, butter cream cookies, and Red Velvet cupcakes

Gigi and Kara

Even the Lemon Cupcakes were decorated with elephants.

Erin, Kara and Amy

Angela reading answers to the quiz on elephants.

Gracie with a book called "Grumpy Gracie"

Joey showing off a onesie with Creed's name

Aria and Addison

Elephants for Creed's room

Maurine's famous sugar cookies, elephant style

Kara's baby shower was this afternoon.  Hosted by  Maurine, Angela, Keeley and Vickie. I keep saying it, but it really is so very nice to have a "Martha Stewart"  in the family.  It was great! (and I didn't even get photographs of all the food!)  As usual with anything that Maurine participates in, there was delicious food galore and adorable decorations.  Joey helped Kara open gifts and they got a lot of clothes and accessories for baby. One of my favorite outfits said, I pull all-nighters!  Thanks to the hostesses and guest for a great shower~

Same old song, different verse

The upcoming weeks forecast.

 Can you spell R E L I E F ~??  We sure need some~

Brothers

Outlaw Tim just shot by Sheriff Garry

All dressed up~ Tim and Joe



Cute in Suspenders



Joe, Dad, Tim



Cowboys Joe and Tim with Tippy

I was looking through some old photos and found these cute pictures. They reminded me of the cute pictures of Andrew and Owen, Tim's grandsons.

Tell it like it is...

Name badges for work?

Record Heatwave

Hot weather is not unusual for North Texas, but this summer is out to break all records.  See what we have to look forward to this next week? More of the same....it's rather boring...  We made national news for having over 50 days of 100 degree + weather. Click here for details.

So here is my gratitude list for Summer 2011:

No mosquitoes
No cricket/grasshopper invasion
No June bugs
No yard mowing  (but I really miss the sound of lawn mowers on a Saturday morning)
No watering of  perennials (they already died, along with the grass)
Air conditioner works great~
Electric bill under $200.00 Yahoo~

But I do miss our summer cookouts and visiting with neighbors in the evening and hanging out on my hammock, but right now, it's just too blasted hot~

Anxiously awaiting Autumn

Red Neck Chicken?

Uncle John gave me this recipe for Quick Roasted Chicken with Mustard and Garlic. Of course, I didn't have all the ingredients on hand when I decided to make it, so I improvised.  :)  Hence my renaming it Red Neck Chicken.    It turned out rather well for all of my replacement ingredients~  If you don't have the Herbes de Provence, you should buy it as it gave it a good flavor. (about $6 in the spice aisle) I imagine it would be good in a roast too.

1 four pound chicken  (I used chicken breast)

4 large garlic cloves, minced

2 T. Dijon Mustard  (I used French's mustard)

2 T. dry white wine (I used beer)

2 T. olive oil (I used Canola oil)

1 tsp. soy sauce

1 tsp. Tabasco

1 tsp. Herbes de Provence (made from Lavender and spices)

1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 450 degrees

Mix ingredients, turn breast side down and spread 1/2 of mixture, turn over chicken and repeat.

Set in large skillet and cook over high heat for 5 to 7 minutes until it starts to brown. Then place in oven for 30 minutes. Roast until browned. Let rest for 5 minutes, then cut into pieces. Enjoy~

Pecan Chewy Chocolate Cookies

Maurine found this recipe on line.  I have tried these before at different bakeries but I have never made them before. Of course, mine don't look as perfect as the ones from the blog, but they taste every bit as good as the ones that I have tried previously. You can find the recipe at this blog,  Not as Good as Pork Cracklins . She has several good recipes, so enjoy exploring her blog.