Monday, October 30, 2006

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

We loaded up the truck with the dog and some gear and headed out to the lake for 4 days of MUCH NEEDED R&R!!
We got there early evening and it was a lil chilly, but nice and crisp.. perfect for fall weather!
after a great night of sleep we awoke to the nastiest storm.. it was cold, it was pouring down rain, it was incredibly windy! it was perfect napping weather.. or catchin up on your reading.. our reading of choice is usually whatever entertainment mags are around.. usually people (or as we call it .. pee-o-poly rhymes with monoply), US, Entertainment weekly, TV guide.. etc and it wouldn't be halloween without a viewing "It's the great pumpkin Charlie Brown"



Saturday we spent antiquing at all the little shops in town.. and got a really cool piece for the living room.
we saw the funniest sign on the side of the road.. that I totally took a picture of and sent in to leno for headlines.. I mean it is headline worthy! I will share it here at a later date.
Saturday night the sky was clear and you could see stars for miles.. but there was a eerie fog coming off the lake.. I mean seriously eerie.. I tried to get a good shot of it but didn't really.


Sunday was the most beautiful of the days.. we had a late lunch.. and drove around town to check out new houses and just see the leaves and be outside! After we got home I took the pup out for a run and normally she hates water, but she wandered down the boat ramp and had to check it out.. now whenever the little waves would come in she would run away..
CHECKIN THINGS OUT!!!



in other fun stuff.. have you seen The Class?? it's on CBS on monday nights and it is absolutely the most hysterical of the new shows! Jason Ritter is the star (you know.. son of the late John Ritter?) It is the funniest quirky little show that for some reason a lot of people haven't seen. They moved "how I met your mother" so that it runs before the class hopefull to get some of their holdover audience.. I really hope more people start tuning in.. cause it really is very funny! It revolves around ritter's character getting back in touch with his third grade classmates so that he can ask his girlfriend (that he met in third grade) to marry him. She turns him down and hilarity ensues! If you haven't checked it out yet! please do! you will be glad you did! There's the geeky guy who falls in love with one of the classmates and during their date, runs over her and breaks her legs. Her cynical sarcastic sister who befriends the Ritter character. The uppity TV newscaster who is married to an obviously gay man (who either doesn't realize it or well we're not sure what) and their daughter, who they wanted to name after a strong woman, so they named her Oprah. And the guy she was in love in third grade who was the most popular boy in school and who now lives with his boyfriend (and her husband makes obvious remarks about how cute the boyfriend is) and a host of other just hysterical characters.. If you loved friends, or seinfeld or any other well written smartly acted show.. check out "the class" mondays at 8:30 on CBS!

(more pictures from the weekend trip later.. blogger is having an issue uploading pictures at the moment!)

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Happy Birthday !!!

tonight we spent b's birthday wtih friends at dinner.. we had a blast and there was actually a good photo taken of both of us.. usually it's just a good picture of her.. but this time we both looked presentable!


the star of the evening was our lil babe! since we are honorary aunts, it is always nice to spend time with her and both of her moms. I took one other good picture last night..



How CUTE is that little one!!!???? and you can see her lil "teefers" comin in on the bottom there.. We are in complete and total love with all the lil ones in our lives..
here's a shot of our lil boy on the phone with us..



and our sweet niece



it is so good to have young life around.. kids keep ya young.. I cherish whatever time I can spend with the little ones in our lives.. It's been a fantastic weekend and hopefully the week will be just as great!
Life is good

IT'S LEATHA WEATHA!!!!!!

ohhh it has begun.. the cool down that reminds us that Halloween is right around the corner, and christmas is on the way! It's been cold here the past few nights.. so it was time for both my first vat of chili of the season.. and my grandmother's vegetable vermicelli soup. A few people have asked for the chili recipe, so I'm gonna post it here.. enjoy! and stay warm!


2 lbs ground chuck or sirloin (or whatever you like.. the leaner the better)
1 large onion chopped
3 cloves garlic chopped fine
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
2 16 oz cans tomato sauce
1 can dark kidney beans
1 can light kidney beans
1 can pinto beans
paprika
oregano
salt
chili powder
cumin
pepper
cayenne pepper




brown beef in fryin pan, drain, leaving just a tiny bit of fat in the bottom of the pan to cook the onions and garlic. transfer beef from frying pan to large saucepan. cook onions and garlic. add to beef once onions are translucent. stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and beans. add 8 oz of water (half a can) to pot.. stir.. simmer on medium low or low heat (depending on your stove.. don't wanna burn it) for at least 30 minutes.. but the longer you cook it.. the better it is..

I mix my own spices to taste, you can try 1/4 teaspon of the first 5 spices and see if you like that combo, add more of whatever you like.. ( i like more paprika in mine for example) add black pepper to taste, finish it off with as big a pinch of cayenne pepper as you like..
top with shredded cheddar and/or sour cream and scallions and cornbread.

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