Hodge Podge Hump Day...

Today is the last chance to register for our Giveaway. We will draw at 7:00 tonight and announce the winner tomorrow for our Micro Egg and Prep Bowl Giveaway. If you haven't registered to win, simply become a follower and leave me a comment with what your favorite kitchen gadget is. If you are already a follower, just leave the comment telling me about your favorite gadget. It's that simple.

Things are moving along on my car situation. We signed the paperwork Friday accepting that they totaled the Cadillac and the salvage company picked it up on Monday. I'm test driving a couple of cars from my Car Guy right now. Here is the one I drove all day yesterday.

It's a Ford 500 SEL. I'm supposed to go back today to drive an Infinity that he has on the lot. Those were my top two choices. But after driving this one, I am in love. I'll go ahead and drive the Infinity but this 500 is a dream. She handles these old country roads like a pro. The body style, interior and handling put me in mind of the Lincoln LS I had for four years. The only difference is the interior of the Ford is much roomier than the LS.

It's a one-owner and in excellent condition.

I love the trunk space. That's always one of the things that I like in a car...lots of trunk space. I'll go drive the Infinity today and then see which one I like, but I gotta tell you I'm really loving this Ford.

This is my collection of miniature antique bottles. When I was a young girl, my sister and I collected these but over the years we got rid of them. I found some at a yard sale a few years ago and snatched them up for my kitchen. When I was antiquing a couple of weeks ago, I saw a set just like this in an antique store. Their price: $70.00 for the set! I think I got a better deal on mine. My cost? Only 25 cents for the entire set. At $70 I would have just done without them.



That's my hodge podge of thoughts for the day. Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday.

A celebration luncheon....

Are you looking for ideas for a quick and easy summer meal for your next get-together?

My sister, Rachel, just held a celebration for my mother's 81st birthday. Here is the menu:

Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Chicken Salad on a croissant with leaf lettuce

Potato Chips

Hidden Valley Ranch Dip Mix ( Mix packet with 16 oz. of sour creme)

Cheese cubes ( Colby Jack cheese and Cheddar Cheese) Served with snack crackers

Olives and pickles

Mandarin Orange Pie

 She used a lot of her Fiestaware in Purple and Yellow. In keeping with that theme she purchased yellow gift bags and purple tissue paper to fix up a little gift for each of the ladies. Mom is the one in the middle and those are her two sisters with her.

After lunch, they spent the afternoon visiting on Rachel's front porch and just enjoying the beautiful day. Here are my two aunts, Frances & Dee Dee

This is my sister Rachel with Mom.

Thanks Rachel for sharing your wonderful day with us.

Start the week off right....

YAWN...

STRETCH...

WALK INTO KITCHEN....

GET CAFFEINE...

THAT'S MY VERSION OF EXERCISE. HAVE A GREAT MONDAY!





A rose by any other name....

According to Holiday Insights today is National Red Rose day, although they say the day does vary according to who you ask. But we will stick with their thoughts and honor the rose today. My mom had a beautiful rose bush when we were growing up. This is a blurry picture but here is the only picture I could find of it.

Yes, that's me and yes you may laugh. Check out the crazy clothes and the pony tails, not to mention the silly "look at me" pose. I was 16, what can I say. Anyway, I digress. The rose bush was so pretty and it grew to be huge. It inspired my love of roses.

In honor of Red Rose day, I thought I would post what the individual color of roses represents.

The red rose represents love, beauty, courage and respect.

The white rose represents purity and innocence. It also represents reverence and humility.

A pink rose represents appreciation, admiration, gratitude, grace and perfect happiness.

A yellow rose represents joy, gladness, friendship, delight; the promise of a new beginning.

The orange rose signifies desire and enthusiasm.

I present to you, my faithful followers, this assorted bouquet of roses, representing my love and respect for each of you and my enthusiasm that you each have a life filled with joy, love, gladness and friendship.



What's wrong with this picture?

This is my new Pampered Chef pie pan. What's wrong with it? It has no pie in it. Do you know why? I don't know how to make a pie.

Yes, that's right, the Mamaw who can bake any sweets she can find a recipe for does not know how to make a pie. For years, I've loved to bake and have become pretty well known for someone who can always bring a good dessert to a get-together.

I don't eat pie (except graham cracker pie, which hubby always makes) so therefore I've never learned how to make a good pie.

I need your help dear readers. I want to make a good old-fashioned homemade apple pie for my hubby. Does anybody have a recipe that will guarantee me a good flaky pie crust with a wonderful apple pie filling?

I would love your help on this. Thanks. You can post it here or email me to mamawsplace@gmail.com .

Five Question Friday

http://fivecrookedhalos.blogspot.com/

1. How close to your childhood dreams is your life now?

I always wanted to have a loving husband, a little boy and a little girl and work in an office. I have the best husband in the world. He loves to cook and clean and he always helps around the house. Thirty-three years ago, I gave birth to twins...a boy and a girl. I've worked in an office ever since I graduated high school and moved up the ranks, learning as I went until I was finally able to open my own business. So I would say I am definitely living my dreams.

(My twins as adults, Diana & Chris)

2. What is one must have item for the summer?

A new grill. We cook out all the time, even with snow on the ground. Our grill has finally worn out and the replacement parts will cost more than a new grill so we are in the market and just trying to figure out what we want.

3. Do you have your kids stay up on school stuff during summer vacation? (Or, if you don't have kiddos, did your parents make you keep up on school stuff during summer?)

When my kids were little, I never had them stay up on school stuff. I always felt like summers were for relaxation and fun since they both worked very hard during the year. They made very good grades and kept up their homework so I gave them a break over summer. That's how my parents were with us so I guess that's why I was the same way.

4. Do you can or freeze fresh produce?

Not really. I'm not much for canning. Although, every September when the Rome apples come in, we put up about 80 jars of homemade apple butter. Since we don't garden, any fresh produce we get we just eat.

5. Do you get ready for the day first thing in the morning?

I am an early riser and I work from home. So I usually get up, have breakfast and plan my day. Then I do my Facebook and blogs before I get dressed and ready for the day. I have to be careful or I would stay in my jammies all day.



Farewell old friend....

I sit here with mixed emotions. About a year ago I bought a Cadillac Deville. About one month later, I regretted my decision. I just was not happy with it. It was a very good car and ran so smooth. It was very clean and was a one owner. But for some reason I never did "bond" with "her". She has been a good car and has gotten me where I wanted to go. But still I never did "feel the love" for her. I have contemplated on more than one occassion the feasibility of just trading her back in for a different model, but I just kept driving her. She was very dependable and was always there for me when I needed her.

In our hail storm a couple of weeks ago, she took a severe beating. Major damages to the hood, roof and trunk as well as some minor pings on the doors and fender panels. She has some busted trim and a cracked windshield. Mr. Adjuster Man came to visit last week and took a gander at her damages. He passed his findings on to the Insurance Dude. Bottom line, they are totaling her and she'll go to that great salvage yard where all beaten and trodden vehicles go. I thought I would be so glad for a chance to get something new, but now that it is time to bid farewell, I find myself a tad emotional and realize that I must have been bonding with her all along. So farewell old friend and thanks for the miles and the memories.