Introducing...Bella

When there's nothing good on TV, what do two brilliant (adult) kids (#1 and #5) do? They sit around and make up silly songs and laugh...and laugh...and laugh...

Shhhhh...they don't know I'm blogging this...


This silly song is, they are saying, "The Chihuahua Rally Theme Song." They are making up the words and singing it to the old tune "I am a C, I am a C-h, I am a C-h-r-i-s-t-i-a-n..." (Spell the words.)


I am a c, I am a c-h, I am a c-h-i-h-u-a-h-u-a
And I am m-e-a-n-e-r that your s-i-s-t-e-r
I will b-i-t-e-y-o-u-r-f-a-c-e off.


Laughlaughlaugh


Introducing...Bella!

Look at her smile!
Almost a year ago, my kid #2 called and begged, "Mom, I bought a dog for , and she can't keep the puppy in her apartment. I've called and asked everyone I know if they want the dog, but nobody wants her. Please, Mom, will you take her?"
Well...how could I say no?
34 did not like my accommodations. Our dogs in the past had been big, massive, barking hunks of meat that scare away possums, skunks, coyotes, rabbits, and if they caught 'em, they ate 'em.
Except for the skunk. Our first German Shepherd was Donner Von Blitzen VII (translated Thunder and Lightning). A gorgeous and loyal dog. The next shepherd was Diefenbacher, named for the Royal Canadian Mounties' dog in that 1980's TV show. My kids grew up with him. Kid #2 loved that dog and buried him. We were all heartbroken.
Enter Bella. Tiny, petite Bella. Three point three pounds of adorable. And 34? You should see them when he comes home on the weekends...how the greet each other...how the play...how they cuddle. I wish I were a chihuahua...I wish I were a chihuahua...I wish I were a chihuahua...
It's been a huge adjustment on my part. No one else has had a problem. No one else potty trained but me. No one else makes her mind but me. No one else loves her but me. She's my dog, you hear, my dog!
The next time there's nothing good on TV, Bella and I will be found cuddling on the couch, singing, "I am a c, I am a c-h, I am a c-h-i-h-u-a-h-u-a..."
See you in the funny papers!

Always Time For Chocolate

If you would ask my kid #5 the three things she loves most in the world, her answer would be chicken, cheese, and chocolate, not necessarily in that order and depending on her day. 34 would add to her list 'Cowboys,' as in Dallas.

Around here, our chocolate comes in many forms: Those yummy Slim-Fast shakes, candy bars, chocolate pies, rocky road ice cream...the usual ways. When the kids were small, we would 'play' a silly game which evolved over the years to 'Find the Chocolate.' (I blame my wonderful in-laws for this.) I would hide bags of candy all over the house to keep the kiddos from gorging themselves. One year, I put the whole stash in a zip-lock bag and slid it between my mattress and box springs. And one day, while having the kids change the sheets on all the beds, someone found it. I much later discovered it myself - a zipped-up zip-lock bag with empty candy wrappers under the mattress. They all fessed up and laughed at me. I'm telling you, not even my underwear drawer is safe from nosy little imps.

Eons ago BC (before children), I became the favored recipient of a 'secret' recipe from my boss's wife, Mrs. Kenneth Brundidge. (Dr. Brundidge was head of the Meteorology Department at Texas A&M University in College Station back in the mid-1970's. He and I also shared the same birthday.) I begged for this hot chocolate recipe, and I'm now letting the cat out of the bag. (I could make millions!)
As you can see, we've tried many jars, cans, and packets of all kinds of hot chocolate mix, all good, but I always return to my favorite:

The Ultimate in Hot Chocolate

1-11 oz. jar of good coffee creamer

1-8 qt. box powdered milk

1-16 oz. can of Nestle's Quik (or other brand of mix)

1-1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 c. granulated sugar

3 tsp. cinnamon

Sift together three times. Store in a tight container.

Use 1/3 to 1/2 cup (+/-) mix per 1 cup boiling water.

The drink is rich and creamy and makes a great homemade gift for teachers, the office party, the boss, acquaintances, and whoever is lucky enough to get some. Fill a thermos for those chilly football games this fall.

My willow tree has bag worms, so I'm off to Tractor Supply this morning. See you in the funny papers!

Queen Mother Survivor

Survivor.












My beautiful Mom. Caretaker. Friend. Counselor. Helper. Encourager. Giver. Lover. Merry-Maker. Party Girl. Laugh-a-minute.

What is she doing?

A few short weeks ago, my dad's spirit departed his body to join his Savior Jesus. Just up and changed his permanent address... and left the Party Girl after 55 years... with another battle.

Dad fought his own good fight with Parkinsons and other junk that goes with that. The Caretaker fought with him and gave all she could: Her love, her strength, her heart. The Lover was strong even in her weakest moments because of the deep love she had for Dad and the Wondrous LOVE of God lavished on her.

Tonight, the Merry-Maker is staying with her mother and her sister in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area who are also survivors. Grandmother (who is 108!) is a survivor of cancer since 1977. My aunt has been cancer-free for five years. And, the Friend is a survivor, spoken in faith. Praise God.

Some time before Dad passed, the Giver had signs. Following a myriad of doctor appointments and a diagnosis and prognosis, she is now in the mid-throes of radiation treatments. I hear that she's a bright spot in the cancer center. A yellow rose, a blue sky, a sweet word of encouragement, a friendly face. God bless her.

So, what is she doing? After driving her 75-year-old-self for three-plus hours home, doing some chores, and sleeping in her bed (aahhhhh), the Helper high-tailed it to our rent house Saturday morning where kid #1 and kid #3 were working to make her livable and comfortable. (Cheap rent = slave labor) The Encourager was a workhorse on fall flower arrangements and drawer liners! The energy! God bless her.

And see the cute Hottie installing the sink faucet? What a man! ("Mom, don't say that. That's embarrassing." "What? You're not a man?")

See why I say "Survivor" about Queen Mother? God bless her. God bless the man.

P.S. That horrid paneling will go away! Now taking applications from volunteer laborers!

Fall Chores

I love fall. My favorite memory of fall is driving through the countryside at dusk with a light, misty rain falling and seeing a little farm house illuminated on a bluff overlooking the harvest fields. Reminds me of a Thomas Kinkade painting. I don't know why that still memory stirs such a peaceful emotion in my soul.

I love the activities of fall: Watching football games, catching floating leaves in the air, gathering the last tomatos, planting the broccoli, making the hot chocolate mix, collecting pumpkins, preparing for the Christmas play... Seems like autumn just doesn't last long enough.

Today, fall chores are in full swing. My middle of the middle, Jeremiah, has the awesome jobs of cleaning the gutters of pinestraw and weedeating before heading off to his paying job. When he was very little and really cute, 34 gave him the lengthy nickname of -- get ready -- Hottie-dot,baby-doll,scooter-bug,hoss-fly,dude. See Hottie clean the gutters. (He's still cute!)

I can surely understand why the pioneers wanted so many children.

Your fall trivia question: Does anyone know what this plant is called? Amy at the Potting Shed called it the 'elbow' plant, but when I google 'elbow plant,' this particular picture does not come up. If anyone can tell me, I'll send you a cutting. Just poke it in the planter, keep it watered, and see the result.

Enjoy the day!

Fall 2009 Renovations

See this?

This is my livingroom. My whole house looks like this -- yep -- every room. You and I are about to embark on a fun-filled, thrilling renovation adventure of my entire house. Aren't you excited...

34 and I bought this two-story little jewel sitting on ten acres (I hate to say it) 6+ years ago. Believe me. I've had people BEG me to borrow MORE money to finish it, but I just can't do it. So, here we are. Paying as we go.

We had planned to gut and reappoint the kitchen and 3 baths (one down and two up) quickly and move in. Upon tearing out the rotten flooring under the kitchen sink and the toilet stained ceiling in the kitchen (gag), we found the PVC not even glued together! So we tore out more...and more...and more...

The wallboard was not so bad, we thought. IT STUNK! Literally. Apparently, a cat or dog or something had shared space. Phew! A spur-of-the-moment decision: The kids and I pulled off 1500 square feet of sheetrock, threw it all out the windows, and had more fun that day!

New discovery! The wiring was bad. No junction boxes. No electrical tape used. I'm afraid to say "fire!"

Needless to say, all wiring and plumbing have been replaced, except for the master bathroom tub. That's our next project. I'll have pictures.

In the meantime, we tore off the cheap exterior siding and replaced it with HardiePlank Lap Siding (http://www.jameshardie.com/). Ain't it purdy? Can you see all my stuff there - hat, camera case, cell phone, water jug, sweaty scarf... You can't see it in this picture, but our five porch posts are in need and in the process of being repainted. Pictures later.

We added another 500 square feet, where all the Dallas Cowboy and Texas Ranger games will be viewed (and I can shut the door), a half-bath, and a large walk-in closet. The pink stuff will be re-purposed for sound-proofing and installed by 34 and myself. I love 34.

But, this weekend, we are going to a neighboring city where my grown kids are fighting over the rent house and who's getting which bedroom and furniture and blahblahblah... That's another project for another day for another blog.
See you in the funny papers! See the pretty bird?

Autumn Chili

Around here, when we think of fall, we think of chili. Being the first day of autumn and our favorite season, a small celebration was in order.

A great Texas dish, it's a favorite of my family. My girls were travelling today and called me, saying, "Mom, don't worry about dinner. We'll stop and get something to bring home."

I smiled. "Come on in. I've got chili on the stove." *excited screams*

The history of chili is varied. Some report that a Catholic nun in Spain concocted the first recipe in the 1600's; however, most sources say that chili originated with the 18th century Spanish settlers in San Antonio where they cooked venison, goat, or bits of beef along with chilies into a stew. This tasty dish has continued to be a staple food all these years with variations of meat, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and sometimes beans, which is how we like ours.

My recipe is simple. Since I'm not a technically-involved woman in the kitchen, I look for EASY ways to make great tasting food. 34 really gets into chili and goes to more trouble. Of course, use your personal preferences, if you wish. Here's my version:

DEBBIE'S AUTUMN CHILI

1-1/2 lbs. ground beef

1 packet Williams' chili seasonings (for 2 lbs. meat)

1/2 large onion, chopped

1 can stewed tomatoes

1 can tomato paste

2 cans chili beans

2 cans of water

optional: 1 jalepeno, chopped, with or without seeds

Brown meat and onion in a dutch oven or soup pot.

Stir in remaining ingredients.

Simmer on low for 2 hours or in crock pot 4-6 hours.

This recipe will be spicy (and hot with the peppers).

Serve with cheese, crackers, cornbread, or whatever floats your boat.

Have to run now. After showers, we girls will settle in to watch a flick and eat Ben and Jerry's to top off the chili. I have to have the ice cream -- settles the early morning heartburn, you know... *burp*

(Note the old Premium cracker box in the picture. I've had that can for over 30 years. It's a family heirloom already.)

Getting My Feet Wet

Hello! Yes, I'm getting my feet wet in blogworld!

My lovely husband (I'll call him '34') tells my five kids that "Mom is attracted to shiny objects." That's true. Just last week, I was cleaning my nasty rent house and found a small wedding band on a window sill. I put it on. It fit perfectly. Naturally, it grossed my daughter out: "Gross, Mom! You don't know where that thing has been!" Who cares? It has (teensy, tiny) diamonds!

(breath) Ok, so please take note of the three lovely words under the heading with the non-shiny objects: Life, light, laughter. I figure that all things fall into one of those three categories. With my 34, five grown kids, a chihuahua named Bella, a small living space, and harem-scarem, will you join me here with house renovations, gardening, sewing, reading, and just being together sharing life, light and laughter? I'll put on a big, thick, steaming pot of 34's chili.

I hope you enjoy "Attracted to Shiny Objects!"