First Morning of July

Was unusually cool for Dallas.
To open a window in July--well, is pretty unheard of--except for today. As I got ready for work, two Tuxies, who are brother and sister, took full advantage of the cool down:

.....and tomorrow morning may be even better! Stay tuned. 

Dallas Summer Day

Watermelon kitty chill...

Kinda says it all, huh? 

Friday Take On

Such an adventure to hold conversations with a man born in 1985.  

My life is their history. In 1985, Live Aid was on MTV--which I think still played only music videos. He has never known life without a computer or cell phone. Gasoline has always been over a dollar. Never known vinyl, unless his parents played some of their "old school" music.

When  look at him, I see a grown man, yet I see a kid who was born when I was out trippin' the light fantastic. By 1985, I moved back to my hometown for the THIRD time.  For whatever reason I wasn't quite making it on my own and my Ramen Noodles had done me in. While he was new to the world, wrapped in love with his parents.

Then I see the grown man again. And I wonder why in the world didn't they look like him when I was 28??? 

Summer Read 1997

OK.

Although the Summer of '97 was 16 years ago, this book is brand new for me:

I love Sandra Brown. 

I admit not being much into Ms. Brown's (or really anybody else's) romance novels, yet her mystery/suspense novels have been favorites of mine since--well, maybe a bit before 1997.  Ms. Brown's stories are great page turners--which engage my long dormant love for reading and I pray continues to ignite my even longer dormant zest for my own writing.

Stay tuned.

Tabby On Tuesday...

Naw. Not a one. 

Glass Vase Vamp

One Salvation Army Thrift Store glass vase displays its four sides. Martha Stewarts Gloss Glass paint was used on my newest crafty piece!  Specifically, I used two blues: Pool and Greek Tile, with one yellow: Yellow Jacket.  I think Martha's glass paints are the creamiest and yummiest paints I've used.

 Instead of painting the colors on the vase, with a sponge or brush, I squeezed the paint directly on the vase from the bottle. The plastic paint bottles have a pointy end, which makes things easier. Working with one side at a time, I squeezed each color in random this way/that way lines. And then comes the FUN part!

Rolled up a piece of Saran Wrap (or any plastic wrap)  and began to dab the paint over the vase. Think as if you're sponge painting. Some sides I squeezed out more blue, another side more yellow. I think the Saran Wrap dab gives a cool and different texture/look than sponge painting does. Who knew?

 Since the paint seemed pretty thick (next time I may not use as much paint), I let the vase dry overnight.  The next morning, as I got ready for work, I popped the vase in a cold oven, set to 350 F degrees to bake for 30 minutes.  After baking, I left the vase in my oven to cool.

What a nice surprise to come home to!   

**I love getting to learn my inner-crafty self** 

Ham it Up Sunday

I must be getting into the Food Network more than I have in the past. Why? Because my stove got turned on again. Nope, not for another pie. In fact, I am await Big Valley's Egg Pie verdict tomorrow at work. Turns out Big Valley put a photo of my pie on his Instagram page--so nice surprise there.

OK, back to why my stove was on again today. I fried up some prosciutto.

Yes, I know the Italian ham is usually served uncooked (like the photo below), yet I wasn't ready to cross over on the gondola yet. Please be patient with me.  :)  In the meantime, I must say the  fried prosciutto

was crispy and quite tasty--a big ol' forks up from me. 

Stay tuned. 

Magic Egg Custard Baked

Happy to report the Egg Custard Pie got baked-although an adventures occurred before and during the actual process. Wednesday night, I rounded up all my ingredients, check to make sure I had a glass pie pan (the majority of the recipes called for glass) and got ready to be Betty Bake Off Thursday night.

Come Thursday night, I was hot and tired and wanted to whip this pie up. I opened my cabinet to get my pie plate. Imagine my surprise this was NOT a pie plate, just a round dinner plate. In my "for-sure-ness" Wednesday, I just saw a plate, on the shelf, 'knew' it was THE pie plate and didn't bother to pick it up.

Ya know what folks say about 'assume'--well, my forehead could barely fit all of it. What to do? Where could I go, have the least amount of hassle of parking, crowds, long lines for just one item?  The Goodwill. Yep. Just 5 minutes--if that--up the street. Picked up a 9 inch Pyrex pie pan for a buck 99. Happy baker was I!

OK, my recipe called for butter: 2/3 cup of butter, melted. How many tablespoons is that?  So I head to the iPad. Learned 2/3 cup of butter is  almost 11 tablespoons.  Melt the butter and about to pour it in my filling.  Something said, "Look at that recipe again. "

Good thing, because the recipe didn't call for 2/3 cup, oh no--it was 2/3 STICK which is just 6 tablespoons! A 5 tablespoon difference! What did I do with the butter just melted? Put it in a jar inside the fridge for topping popped corn. After all that, the baking went off without a hitch. My oven seems to burn a bit more on one side, so I covered the pie with tin foil.

My co-worker, Big Valley, said he'd dig into the pie tonight, with big ol' glass of milk. I think when it's our work, we see flaws. Honestly, that is why I didn't snap a photo for you all to see. With the way Big Valley beamed as he checked out t the Egg Custard Pie--maybe the flaws won't be as noticeable.

Big Valley's verdict is what I wait for.  Always enjoyed making pies. I wonder if  Egg Custard will be added to my repertoire.  Stay tuned.

Egg Bake Soon

There here is a slice of Egg Pie. I admit to never made one. Except come Thursday night, if all goes well, that story will change.

A co-worker, I'll call Barkley, perked up when I mentioned I like to bake pies. Before I finished he asks, "Can you make an Egg Pie?" I stare at him. There is such a thing? I asked. Turns out yes...yes there is. I searched online and found this photo. Barkley announced "THAT's IT!" and about devoured the screen.  Barkley said  Egg Pie, was similar to a Chess Pie, only richer.

Now, I admit to also not knowing what a Chess Pie was until I moved to Dallas. However, I have since baked a few Chess Pies, They've received forks up and empty plates. So Thursday night I will bake this for Barkley and take it to work on Friday.

Barkley is 6'5, 28 years old, played college football and is on a workout regimen that makes this Saturday his 'cheat day' with food. He has the whole menu planned, except the dessert.  When I mentioned baking pies, Barkley offered to pay for his  beloved Egg Pie.

Stay tuned.

Magnet Cat

A glass magnet with the most purr-fect of models. 

I await the verdict from my model who checks out his likeness.

While I wait, I will let you know the base is 2 x 3 inch rectangular glass piece,  

One-fourth inch thick.  Purchased online from  SunMoonCraftKits who

Were super quick in their delivery. None of the

Ten piece order were broken. 

Uh-oh, I think the model is about to 

Meow me his thoughts...

Stay tuned. 

Father's Day 2013

Another time, another place.....

At the beginning of our life adventure--
I smile of the memories of Dad picking me up and
Twirling me around, our walks, talks, and card games
When he seemed to change the rules at every junction--and
Those times when I had to leave and go
Back to my life in Dallas, Dad forever said, "Be my prettiest girl"
So hard to believe he's been gone since 2001
I miss my Daddy.