Friday, December 27, 2019

It Didn't Happen

Well, I did have good intentions to post once a week, but as the title of this post states ... It Didn't Happen.

It's been a very busy few weeks and months! The hustle of the holidays didn't help with anything either! We did have a blessed Christmas Day and continue to find blessings every day in all we do!

With the New Year arriving quickly we all need to reflect on our past and make sure our paths are straight and not cluttered as we continue to move quickly into 2020.

I will post again soon and share some of my blessings. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Sunday, November 10, 2019

I Am Back!

Can you believe it? I have logged back into my blog page and plan on writing a story or comment at least once a week! Can I do it? Maybe. Time will tell. Wish me luck! Glad to be back with you.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Crack Potatoes

2 - 16 oz containers sour cream
2 Cups cheddar cheese
2 - 3oz bags of real bacon bits
2 packages ranch dip powdered dip mix
1 large bag of frozen tater tots

Combine sour cream, shredded cheese, bacon, and ranch dip. Mix well.

Add potatoes. Mix.

Spread into a 9 x 13 pan that has been coated with nonstick spray.

Bake at 400° for 45 to 60 minutes.

Wednesday, January 08, 2014

Party Time

The holiday season is a busy time with parties, family, friends, cooking, baking, shopping, etc.

That being said, a group of good friends got together recently to celebrate the holidays and just being friends!

To start off our night, we were picked up in style


It rained all night long, but each time we stopped the rain let up long enough for us to get in the building without using an umbrella or getting drenched.

Our first stop in Indy was Rick's Café Boatyard



This was Ric and I's first time there, but was impressed with the atmosphere of the Café. I ordered the Cajun fish, slaw, broccoli, seasoned fries, and sauce. It was nice and hot, just like I expected!



If you noticed in the second photo the Café had Long Island Ice Tea's for $5. Yes, I had one, I mean some, YUM!

We made a promise in the beginning that what went on in the limo and what happened during the entire night would stay between all of us. However, I did manage to get some photos of us, that allows me to keep my promise, but I can share with out any problems.



We already have the date set for what is now going to be our annual outing in December. Well, unless I can talk everyone into doing it before then!


CHEERS!


Tuesday, January 07, 2014

Everyone Is Talking About It

The weather. The hot topic for the last several days.

The deep freeze, dangerously cold air, and a new word ... Polar Vortex. I'm sure this word will be added to the dictionary later this year, since 'selfie' and 'twerking' was added in 2013.

Frigid air from the north pole, swirling down on top of us making the temperature colder than the temperature on Mars!

January 6, 2014 picture at 8:00am from our local bank


I kept checking the weather throughout the day on my weather map app on my phone. At 11:55am on the same date, it was a negative 8 degrees. With the wind chill factored in the temperature was a bone chilling negative 28 degrees! Yes, that is cold!


I seen several videos of people boiling water, going outside and throwing the hot water up in the cold air, creating instant frozen water. I didn't try that, but I'm sure it works since I seen it on Facebook!

If you're going to boil some water, I'd suggest adding some instant hot chocolate mix to it and stay inside and enjoy a good book or a movie! Stay warm!




Friday, January 03, 2014

Daily Rules To Live By

Happy New Year! It's a new year, another year to make resolutions, another year to strive to be better than the previous year(s).

I ran across this quote and thought it was too good not to share with everyone...

Daily Rules To Live By:

Wake up

Be thankful

Try new things

Help others

Trust yourself

Worry less

Keep Going

Love unconditionally

Dream big

Those rules pretty much sums it up on how to stay happy and be successful. One I am going to add and do my best to do through 2014 is BE POSITIVE!

Again, Happy New Year to all!



Monday, December 30, 2013

Toy and Food Drive and More Food

On December 21st the local FFA Chapter delivered over 5 ton of food to the needy Vernon Township residents wtih their annual Toy and Food Drive. Their advisor, Linda Maxie, asked me to cook for the workers who were there to help with the delivery.

Starting off the day, it was pouring down the rain. Good thing it wasn't cold, but it sure was wet! I had made biscuits and gravy to start off the morning and we had extra fruit to slice for everyone.

Ninety-six biscuits later, I was out of gravy! The workers stomachs were full and ready to start their day! I got the dirty dishes all cleaned and the room straightened up to begin the lunch process. It was still a little early to begin, so I made my way to the small gymnasium where everything was happening.

The local volunteer fire department men and women were there to drive the kids to their destinations. This year the fire department had called people who had covered trailers and horse trailers to haul the food, and kids, since it was raining so hard. Thankfully, it was warm, mid 50's, and not freezing. However, a little snow would have made it feel a little more like Christmas!

I believe there were over 90 families helped along with the elderly at the apartment complex in the Town of Crothersville. This is something you have to see to believe. Each year there is a glitch or two, but each year is more rewarding than the previous, and we are constantly looking at ways to improve on the process.

After I took a break for a few minutes, I headed back to Ms. Maxie's room to begin making lunch. I had a roster full of chili, along with an electric skillet full of sloppy joe's for everyone who braved the weather and stayed till all the deliveries were made.

Around noon. most of the cold, wet workers made their way to Ms. Maxie's room. Warm food on a cold day ... it don't get much better


It didn't take long till we were out of the sloppy joe's and another roster full of food was history!


The 2013 FFA Toy and Food Drive was another success and plans are being made to make the 2014 delivery even better. If you're not part of the day, the weekend before Christmas, make plans now to be. You will be blessed!

Thursday, December 19, 2013

'Tis The Season

I've been pretty busy for the last few months but I did find time this past weekend to make some Christmas goodies.

Chocolate is a good thing and anything covered in chocolate is even better!


These are chocolate covered cherries, with a chocolate kiss and sliced almonds. I use melted almond bark for the eyes with a green sprinkle for the eyeball. Some of the little mice I placed on half of an oreo cookie. The others I just dipped the cherry, with the stem, into the melted chocolate and placed on the wax paper to dry.






Next, I rolled several hundred peanut butter balls. The recipe I used called for smooth peanut butter. Why? I love nuts, so I used the extra crunchy peanut butter and had no problem.


Placing the balls in the freezer for a few minutes to make the balls firm is the trick. I then dipped them in chocolate, but left the top un-dipped to create a buckeye.


Some of the peanut butter balls I placed on a pretzel, topped it with a pretzel, and gently squeezed them together. I then placed the pretzel in the freezer for a few minutes before dipping them, half way, in the melted chocolate.



It seemed I was unwrapping kisses for days. Regular kisses. Mint kisses. Caramel filled kisses. Hug kisses. If I wasn't unwrapping the kiss, I was lining up pretzels on a baking sheet.


Place the pretzel and kiss in a 225 degree oven for 2-3 minutes. Just long enough to soften the chocolate kiss.


After I remove the baking sheet from the oven, I begin placing M&M's on the kiss and mashing it down slightly into the pretzel. There are several different kinds of M&M's. I use the peanut ones, because I love nuts! I also used the peanut butter filled ones this time too and they were delicious!


The hug kisses make an attractive desgn.



I also found some peppermint kisses and made some on a pretzel, but also made some on a cookie that was rolled in Christmas sprinkles.
























I'm not a big fan of marshmallows, but they are easy to work with when baking and using for recipes. But as I said, anything dipped or covered in chocolate can't have a bad flavor.


The bottom are round crackers with extra crunchy peanut butter spread between them then covered with chocolate. I then dip half of the marshmallow in the melted chocolate and place on top of the cracker. After they are set, I decorate the marshmallow with sprinkles to create the holly. Actually, it is pretty simple!

I try to do things with the white almond bark and the dark chocolate.


Peppermint candy canes with melted chocolate and sprinkles added. The recipe said to place the candy canes in the oven for a few minutes to soften them so they could be formed into a heart. I did not do this, I just used the candy cane as it was in the package, place it around a kabob stick and filled the cane with the melted almond bark.



Most of my designs used pretzels, M&M's, chocolate, Oreos, and sprinkles. Why not add all that together and call it Christmas Bark?


I mixed all the ingredients together, poured the melted almond bark over it, sprinkled with Christmas M&M's and sprinkles. After the bark dries, I broke it into bite size pieces. Place the broken pieces in a candy dish to snack on.

Don't be surprised if you are filling up the candy dish all the time!

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Just Like A Pencil

Remember I said I was going shopping?

Remember I said I had my Christmas shopping done?

Remember I said I was looking for a pencil tree?

Well, yesterday was a success!

A picture of a tree. This one is actually in my house!


Exactly what I have been looking for this year!

Found it at Sears. On sale! And I even managed talking them into giving me an additional 18% off the sale price! How cool is that?

'Tis the season!

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

It's Beginning To Look Like Christmas (A Little)

All my shopping is complete, however, will be going shopping today, on the weekends, and Christmas Eve. Not looking for anything particular, just enjoy having time to do it, plus people watching. Sometimes people watching can last for hours. I often wonder if some people watchers are looking at me thinking 'what is that crazy lady doing?'

Anyhow, I love the winter. Not necessarily the holiday since The reason for the season has taken on a whole new meaning in recent years. Seems too many people have forgotten it's Jesus' birthday, not seeing who can out-do each other. (That's a whole other story)

Time with family and friends, parties, reflections of those no longer with us, and just spending good quality time together makes me really love this time of year.

A tree is up!



It's not mine, but it's a picture of a tree that is up!

Sunday, December 08, 2013

Wintery Blast

For over a week the meteorologists talked about the end of the week's wintery storms. From the beginning of the week they were saying we could expect 3-5 inches of snow. By the end of the week, the totals were as high as 9-12 inches of the white stuff! When the first storm was done Friday evening we ended up with around 7 inches in Crothersville.


All Jackson County schools were closed Friday, along with all Friday and weekend basketball games being canceled. Just got an update about an hour ago the school will be closed Monday as well. With the low temperatue in the single digits till mid-week, it looks like the kiddos will have some days to make up during the school year!

The following picture is from Saturday morning.


I do love the snow and the cold weather that goes along with it...however, experiencing my toes in the water and ass in the sand sounds good about now :D

Thursday, December 05, 2013

Six Less Days

What am I missing? All the radio stations and commercials have everyone in a panic because they are saying there are six less shopping days for the Christmas holiday season this year. Really?

That would mean in 2013 there were only 359 days! It wasn't a Leap Year, so February had the usual 28 days, instead of 29. I don't remember a month with only 24 or 25 days this year. Where did the six days we are missing go to?

I use to decorate for the Christmas season and have my decorations up right after the Thanksgiving holiday and not take them down till after the first of the year.

Recently I have begun to resent seeing the end of the year get here, because of all the hoopla. Christmas isn't about the biggest sales and racing to see who can open first on Black Friday, or now, it's Thanksgiving Day!


What has happened to spending time with friends and family, traditions, and just good ole rest and relaxation?

Today, depending on who you listen to, we are preparing for 3-7 or 9-12 inches of snow in our region. People are out grocery shopping and running the food stores out of bread, milk, and eggs. Panic mode has set in once again.

Thank goodness there are six less days in 2013! Some people couldn't handle all three hundred and sixty five of 'em! :D

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

New Word?

recently, I read the new word added to the dictionary is 'selfie'

A selfie is a type of self-portrait photograph, typically taken with a hand-held digital camera or camera phone, and are usually taken in a slightly tilted manner.

What's next?

Duck-face?


Happy Thanksgiving to all my followers!

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Thanking A Veteran


Some of the Veterans in my family.

Top left to right are James "Ed" Scifres, my grandfather, WWI. Dwight J Sweazy, my father-in-law, WWII. Barton Riley, my dad, Air Force during the Korean War. Bottom row, left to right are Harold "Bud" Scifres, my uncle, Army during the Korean War. Guy L Riley, Navy, my oldest brother, and Larry J Riley, Navy, my younger brother.

The Crothersville FFA had a tribute to the Veterans on Novermber 11, 2013 at 11:00am. They had asked the public for pictures of Veterans and these are the ones I sent to them. I have several other Veterans in my family, but couldn't get the pictures of them in time. Even though they aren't pictured here, I still thank them for the freedoms we all share today.

I'm going to make it a point to thank the men and women who have fought and continue to fight for our freedom. Not just on Veterans Day, but everyday!

Wednesday, November 06, 2013

Greed

greed
noun \ˈgrēd\

: a selfish desire to have more of something (especially money)

I find it really odd that a sibling doesn't know what county their own father died in, and even stranger than that is how the same deceased father is able to sign his signature on legal documents.

I guess it's true ... wonders NEVER cease!

I won't have any trouble laying my head comfortably on my pillow tonight. Not sure if everyone else will have the same results.

Sad. Really, really sad.

Regardless, I'm sure the sun will rise tomorrow.

Monday, November 04, 2013

Phone of Tomorrow

I received an email recently that I had to chuckle about. It was simply three pictures of phones.

Today's phone of a six year old:


The phone my son had when he was a six year old:


And finally the phone I had as a six year old:


Sure has been some changes over the last several years. I think it will be interesting to see what my grand children and great-grand children will have to communicate, uh, play with when they are six years old!

Friday, October 25, 2013

Tuesday, October 08, 2013

Indiana University Football

Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana, also known as The Rock.

I had a chance to go there again this year on Saturday, October 5, 2013. It was the opening day of the Big Ten Conference.

It was fun to get back in the 'Hoosier' groove again. Hooo-Hooo-Hoosiers could be heard from the Stadium and I'm sure for blocks away from The Rock. The Marching Hundred band were awesome, like always.


The scoreboard was amazing to watch. The 'Kiss Cam' got some interesting people to give their loved one a smooch.

The most exciting thing that happened was the IU Hoosiers defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions for the first time in sixteen tries by a score of 44-24. Actually, they spanked them!

Even though it was a rainy day, it was worth the 1 1/2 hour drive to Bloomington and well worth the five hours we sat on the cold aluminum bleachers.

I can still hear the announcer saying, "It's third down, let's make some noise!" Or my favorite was, "First down Hoooooosiers!"


Can't wait to go back!

Monday, September 16, 2013

The Tale of Two Companies

There are two companies we order our bills, checks, etc. from about every other year. Recently, we placed an order with Company A for utility bills with our current address on them. When we received them I immediately put them to use with the August billing.

What a headache I created!

As I was looking through the bills I noticed some were tearing apart easily, but made sure to put a piece of tape on it so it wouldn't be a problem with the post office.

Little did I realize that was the small problem!

After giving them to the local post office, they sent them to Indianapolis to be sorted. The Indy post office had a terrible experience with them tearing apart, getting stuck in their sorting machine and only half of the bill being saved.

When we learned of the problem we immediately called Company A and asked if they had changed anything on their end. Of course, they denied any changes and couldn't figure out why we would be having a problem.

Before my next billing in September I went through 800 bills and taped the perforated edges to insure they would not tear apart when the post office began their sorting process. When we took the bills to the local post office to send to Indianapolis, we explained to our local postmaster what we were doing. The following day she calls me to tell me the Indy office could not run the bills because they were still tearing apart as they ran them in their sorting machines.

Again we call Company A and they advise us to send all the bills we recently purchased back to them and they would check and see if there was something wrong with the newly order bills. Within a couple days Company A calls us to say nothing is wrong! REALLY?

We have a second company we do business with also, I'll call them Company B. We make a call to them and ask if they can print our billing cards. That same day, Company B sends us a sample with quotes of the price. We explain the problem we were having with the bills tearing apart and tell them the weight of the paper. Without delay, they tell us that is the wrong paper to use because they had problems with it. Interesting!

Doing business with Company B has been an eye opener. They are working on new billing cards for me to use for the October billing. They couldn't promise the bills would be here by the end of the month, but they are doing their best to satisfy our needs.

Looks like Company A lost a good, honest, loyal customer!