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Sunday, October 31, 2010

Day 304, 2010

A little carrot, onion and celery diced

Cook in bacon drippins to make it happy

A little bacon... we'll use that later


Add some chicken stock and thickening

A little sharp cheddar and half and half..

Coming along

Ahhh.. one of my family's favorites... Baked Potato Soup


Here's the recipe:

Baked Potato Soup
8-10 slices of bacon, diced, about 6 ounces
4 TBS butter
1/2 C diced celery
1/4 C mined carrots
1 bunch green onions (about 8 onions) thinly diced
1/3 C flour
3 C chicken broth
2 C half and half
4 Large baking potatoes, baked Peeled and diced
t tsp salt, or to taste
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
8 ounces sour cream
8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese
sliced green onion for garnish

In a Dutch oven or large kettle over medium heat, cook bacon until crisp.  Remove bacon to papertowel to drain and pour bacon drippings into a cup leaving 2 TBS in dutch oven, add butter, chopped onion, carrots and celery.  Cook, stirring until vegetables are tender.  Stir in the sliced green onion and flour until blended.  Stir in chicken broth; cover and continue cooking stirring frequently until the mixture is thickened and vegetables are very tender.  Stir in half-and-half, diced potatoes, salt, pepper and cheese.  Continue to cook until cheese is melted.  Blend about half the soup in batches until smooth (I just put an emulsion blender right into the dutch oven for a few seconds).  Add blended soup back in pot and add sour cream.    Cook stirring constantly until soup is hot.  Serve soup garnished with bacon and green onion.  Serves 8

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Day 303, 2010

Finished my mini album from my Girls Weekend.  The complete album is on my other blog if you're interested in seeing it.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Day 302, 2010

My 19 year old son... dressed up as Mario for Halloween!  Those boys certainly have a lot of fun!!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

  Upgraded my Iphoto and ran into an issue  after three days of trying to fix it myself I called Apple.  Apple is working on it with their engineers.. yea.. regular support, turned it over to Senior support... who turned it over to engineers... isn't that comforting???  Can't mess with my photos right now on my laptop and so in the mean time I have to put them on this one.  so.. so glad I upgraded to this New Improved Software  :{

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Day 300, 2010

Day 300... can you believe it!?!?!   WOW!    Alex's birthday is November 1.  I made his card so I could get it in the mail so he gets it on time.  Yes, sadly I won't see him.  Halloween is a huge weekend at IU.  He's got lots of things planned, a football game on Saturday, among other things.. there's lots of Halloween Parties.. and of course his birthday to celebrate with his friends... So... for the first time ever, I'm going to miss it... :(    I am leaving for a trip for work on Tuesday, so I won't see him till probably Thanksgiving, but he is going to get his birthday present tonight.. he wants a new phone... a DroidX... whoooo! :)   He has to take a bus to get to the Verizon store, and a friend was going to go tonight, so he's getting it a few days early.

He told me a funny story... he was in class today and four kids in costumes walked in the class and said to the professor.. "we're sorry to interrupt your class, but we feel a party".. and they started dancing... then left.  LOL   Isn't that funny?!!!

Day 299, 2010

Not a good shot, but we had to get Daisy a bigger "house".  She had been using a much smaller crate that we had from Katie.  This thing is very big and looks just lovely in my family room.... NOT!  LOL   But at least now Daisy can stretch out.  She has been getting up in the middle of the night just to roll around on the floor... I think she was getting cramped in the old crate.. so here's hoping she sleeps through the night now.....!

Monday, October 25, 2010

Day 298, 2010

 This is the shot I tried to show before... remember the wallpaper going up the stairs
 Obviously a shot of the stairwell.  There used to be very drab beige wallpaper with blue flowers going all the way up the stairs and all down the upstairs hallway.  It was very country looking.
 This is the upstairs hall.  Looks 1000% better.  That's Alex's doorway :)... my craft room is directly behind me.. and you can't see it, but the guest room is to the left of Alex's door as you are looking at the photo...
The front doors... they were a "Poopy brown" color (sorry, but they really were).  They look so much better white.

So the painters are all done (finished up around noon today).  I'm so glad it's done.  They also painted and repaired a ceiling in my formal dining room that had some water damage from the previous owners.  It doesn't look like big project, but there was 3 layers of wallpaper, latex and oil based paint layers under that... plus it's the entryway to the house.  I've done all the rest of the painting and wallpaper removal in the house myself, but I just didn't want to tackle this.  So glad it's done before Thanksgiving!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Day 293, 2010

I know I've posted before.. but we went for a drive today.  I just love the changing leaves.  Most of the leaves are falling now.. so there's not a ton of full colorful trees, but caught these today.

Day 297, 2010

Well I decided to just upload the photos from my other computer (I try to keep all my P365 stuff on my laptop, so I'm not going back and forth when I make my layouts trying to find the photos) - but just heard from Apple and it's going to be Monday before they call me back. :(

Anyway... is there anything better than homemade mac 'n cheese?  Yummo!  I made a batch and made too much sauce, so I made a second batch and sent it home with Ashlea.  I know.. another food shot... seriously.. I have no photographic subjects!!  It's getting dark so early here it's hard to get out and take shots after dinner... so.. here ya go.. another food shot! :)

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Day 296, 2010

Had a hair appointment today.  Cut off over 4".  Looks much healthier now.  It was the longest I've had in a looong time.  Past my bra strap in the back.  Anyway.  That's all I have to report for today.  It's rainy, dreary and we just lit the first fire of the season in the fireplace.  night-night.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Day 295, 2010

 Doug and I invited Kandy and her daughter, Jaden, over for a lobster boil tonight.  We had a great time.  Jaden's birthday was yesterday... she turned 6.  It was a casual, messy, laid back evening.  Just what we all needed this week.





Thursday, October 21, 2010

Day 294, 2010


My photography class ends tomorrow.  I'm loving these blurred background shots.  The first one of course is my favorite subject to photograph... Daisy May! :)  The second is the Chili we had for dinner tonight.  Doug made this batch last night, but since I ended up at Hacienda (yes, I go there alot.  It's right down the road from where I live), we had it for dinner tonight.  Yummy!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Day 293, 2010

Kandy invited me to join her, her daughter and her daughter's friend at Hacienda.  We had a great time.  Some people are just really easy to talk/laugh with.  It's been a rough week so far, so it was good to get out and have fun for a few hours.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Day 292, 2010

Doug made the most incredible beef stew tonight.  YUUUUUUMMMMY!

Monday, October 18, 2010

Day 291, 2010

The painters are here starting today for the entire week.  They are removing what is left of old wallpaper that I've wanted to get rid of forever.  I forgot to take a total before shot, but here's one wall they've removed (THERE WERE THREE LAYERS!).. and you can see the old paper going up the stairs.. that's also coming down.  Can't wait to see the finale.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

 I never really took a pic of me with my camera.. which is somewhat expected.. right!?!?  lol  SO this is my new facebook profile pic.  I'm digging this camera class.. I can't practice enough.. however.. I have no subjects :(


And for all you west coasters... here's another leaf shot. This is the tree just to the left of my driveway.  It is just absolutely fabulous this time of year in Indiana.  It's like this everywhere.. unfortunately it only lasts a few weeks then we have several months of ugly as the leaves fall off the trees and leave them bare.... unless it snows...which it will!  :)  Today we spent the morning moving all the lawn furniture to the shed (can't leave those fabric cushions out with the leaves falling and the winter months ahead.)  So for fall/winter I put out my plastic green Anorondack chairs (OK. so I know that's misspelled)...  I know it's a pain.. but we do have pretty leaves!! :)

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Day 289, 2010

Tried a new dish called Pasta Alla Bravo.. it's a tomato cream sauce with Prosciutto, nutmeg and mushrooms.  It turned out pretty good. :)  Of course, Ashlea and Richie were here and I didn't take a photo of them... just the food!  (I swear, I'm losing it sometimes!) :(

Pasta Alla Bravo

Classic Tomato Sauce (see below- Note - you can use your own favorite marinara homemade or jar sauce if you like)
1 TBS Butter
1 C sliced mushrooms (3 ounces)
1/2 C chopped prosciutto or fully cooked ham (about 4 ounces)
2 Med green onions, thinly sliced
1 C heavy whipping cream
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1 pkg fettuccine (16 oz)
1/2 C freshly grated or shredded parmesan

  1. Make Classic Tomato Sauce
  2. While sauce is simmering, melt butter in saucempan over med high heat.  Cook mushrooms, prosciutto and onions in buter abut 5 minutes, stirring frequently  until onions are tender
  3. Stir in whipping cream, nutmeg and pepper.  Heat to boiling, reduce heat and simmer uncovered about 20 minutes, stirring frequently until thickened.
  4. Stir in sauce.  Heat to boiling, reduce heat.  Simmer uncovered about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened
  5. While sauce is simmering, cook fettucine as directed on package.  Drain and return to sauce pan.  Add sauce, toss gently until evenly coated.  Sprinkle with Parmesan and serve.
Classic Tomato Sauce


1 TBS Olive Oil
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 small onion, chopped (1/4 C)
2 cans Italian style pear shaped (plum) tomatoes drained
2 TBS chopped fresh or 2 tsp dried basil
2 TBL chopped fresh or 2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

  1. Heat Oil in saucepan over med high heat.  Cook garlic and onions in oil about 5 minutes, stirring frequently until onion is tender.
  2. Place tomatoes in food processor or blender.  Cover and process until smooth.  Stir tomatoes and remaining ingredient into onion mixture.  Heat to boiling, reduce heat.  Simmer uncovered about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally
  3. Use sauce immediately or cover and refrigerate up to 48 hours or freeze up to 2 months

Friday, October 15, 2010

Day 288 2010

My spice cabinet.  Doug and I love to cook and it seems we've got quite the collection of spices.  I never really thought about it until my girlfriend was over here and I opened the cupboard to add something to the chili.. and she was like... WHOA.. that's not normal! LOL 

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Day 287, 2010


I saw a picture of a necklace that I really liked and sent it to my friend Deb to see if she could make something similar for me.  She nailed it  I love this.  The photo doesn't do it justice, but it's a fun casual necklace with jeans and a t-shirt or you can dress it up.  Love it.
Also... today is my big brother, Scott's birthday!  Happy Birthday, Scott... Love you!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Day 286, 2010

So, Katie sleeps with me (I know, I've told you that before), but now she's taken to staying in bed when I get up to get ready.  I swear to you this is exactly how she sleeps all night long.  She's a bed hog but at least she doesn't snore and she sleeps with her mouth closed!  LOL

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Day 285, 2010

I think this is my favorite time of year.  These are the trees on my street. I just love it when the leaves change colors and the smell of burning leaves is in the air.. (ok.. so I hate the mess on the ground that gets dragged into the house)... but it's so pretty.  The weather is perfect, not too hot, not too cold...

Day 284, 2010

 Well today is my birthday.  A 44th Birthday to be exact.  Doug got me flowers and had them on the counter when I came out to feed the cats this morning.   Happy Birthday to me! :P!


While I had the camera out... couldn't resist the photo op of Daisy.  She looks like she's winking doesn't she!?!?  LOL  Would've been a great photo if she hadn't done that!  Crazy dog.  Notice the chewed up piece of that stuff you put under rugs so they don't slide.... bad dog, Daisy. :(

Day 283, 2010

Looks Like I wasn't the only one who missed Alex while he's been at school.  Here he is waiting for his ride to pick him up.  Katie had to get some lovins before he left again.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Day 282, 2010


I was sleeping last night and I felt a tap on my shoulder.  I opened my eyes to see ALEX!  He surprised me by coming home for my birthday!  That little stinker.  I had been asking him to come home, but he has had a lot of exams and told me he had three exams next week to study for, and even went so far as to let me mail him a care package out on Friday.  Ashlea knew about him coming home.  I was surprised, those two have never been able to keep a secret!  LOL  Anyway... we all went out to breakfast this morning.  I was so excited I couldn't get my shower quick enough I wanted to run out and spend every minute with him.   After breakfast we went and bought him a new coat since he was wearing his high school letterman jacket last winter.  He got a very nice looking black peacoat.  He's not my little boy anymore, but a wonderful young man.  :)

Friday, October 8, 2010

Day 281, 2010

It's Friday!! Woohoo.  Back to work today and nothing really all that exciting happening.  I'm still catching up on rest from my Girls Weekend.. (I'm too old for 2am bedtimes! :)  )   I finally started on my Girl's Weekend 2010 scrapbook.  Traditionally we all start our books on the last night of our weekend, but things were so busy I didn't start mine till now.   Not real happy with the cover, but then again I always go back and tweek.  We all had the same papers and color schemes to work with, so it will be fun to see how everyone's books are put together.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Day 280, 2010

As I was walking into work today I was stopped at the door and told don't go in there!  You could hear this really loud sound which sounded like someone opened up a steam valve (a really big steam valve).  Apparently, they were digging in front of our building and hit a main high pressure gas line and natural gas was spewing into the air).  They had to evacuate several of the surrounding buildings.  My co-worker and I went with some other evacuees to a nearby restaurant to "wait it out", but we were soon informed it was going to be an all day repair, so my boss said we could go home.  It made CNN news... I guess it was a kind of a big deal.    The had to close down the entire South Bend downtown as a spark from a car or whatever could cause an explosion.  Yikes

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Day 279, 2010

When Robyn and I were talking about her visit... she made the comment... "only thing missing is Chocolate on my pillow and slippers"... well I made these as a joke.. and put them on the girls pillows along with a fuzzy pair of socks.  The second nights I made the nugget boxes, but I didn't get a photo of those.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Day 278, 2010

Gumbo for dinner tonight. It was delish.  It's been very cool here, so soup sounded really good.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Day 277, 2010

Today was my friend, Kandy's birthday.  She loves all things Chef Ramsey... I made her a funny little video.. if you follow my facebook you can see it there.  Anyway.. Happy Birthday, Kandy!!
This is Kandy.