Bugged?

Today Patrick and I had an appointment in a nearby city. As I pulled into the parking lot there wasn't very many parking spots to choose from. Once I found one and pulled the truck into the parking slot, we couldn't believe what we seen!



We went to our appointment and much to our surprise, when we came back out to get into our vehicle, the buggy vehicle was still parked beside us. Patrick wanted my iPhone to take another picture.



It keeps getting worse...



and finally...



This car was full of larva, adult carcass, small and large and every size in between! I don't know if they car had spent most of it's days in a barn or where, but I think I would be a bit afraid to drive it thinking something would be crawling up my back or in my pant legs! Ewww!

I couldn't believe it. Patrick wanted to wait around to see who the vehicle belonged too, but I was afraid to!

Another Day of Spirit Week

A few blog posts ago, I reported how Patrick's spirit week was going. Thursday of Spirit Week was multiplicity day. As many students as you wanted could dress alike for the day. Patrick and one of his buddies decided they wanted to wear a suit and tie. After going through the closet, Patrick and his buddy decided on a blue jacket, white shirt and red tie.

I think the outcome was pretty handsome:

October 2009

Patrick is on Fall Break this week, yes, all week, so I decided to take a vacation from work too. Plans were to go to Tennessee, but Ric wasn't able to get off from his work (another long story that I don't care to re-tell at this time) so, it ending up being Patrick and I who went on a short 2-night stay at Spring Mill Inn.



It was beautiful as always and the food was delicious. I never got a picture of the dining area, the food that was available, or any inside pictures at all. We played ping pong, went swimming in the indoor heated pool, played checkers and did puzzles and video games. It was a nice little get-a-way for a couple days of all the drama that goes on here in the 'burg.

Monday was simply beautiful so we decided to walk to the mill. The creek was full of water, some of the shops were open and we even got to see the mill at work, grinding some corn!



I can't recall how many times I've taken the exact same picture above. Seems like 100's or 1,000's, but every time I'm there I take another because it's so beautiful. On my facebook page, I have the entire album posted, so make sure to check out those photos as well.

Here's the website you can copy/paste to your browser:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2729759&id=675904006

On our way back to the 'burg, we decided to stop and get some lunch meat and head up Skyline Drive. Again, I don't know how many times I've taken the next couple of shots, but again, it seems like 100's and every time it seems more beautiful...









I thank God for His beauty and for being able to enjoy the scenery.

Hopefully, everyone will be able to get outdoors and enjoy a little of the beautiful fall colors nature has provided for us this year! Enjoy yourselves!


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80's Day

This week at our local junior/senior high school the students are participating in Spirit Week. Always the week of a sports sectional the entire week the students do crazy things to show their spirit for the particular sporting event. This week it's volleyball. The events for this week include, pajama day, camo day, 80's/neon day, multiplicity day/twin day, (trying to get as many people to dress alike as possible) and Friday caps it off with red and white day.

I don't remember all the things we dressed like on spirit week, but I do remember red/white day and dress like your favorite TV character day. (That day, my best friend Robin and I dressed like the stars from Rescue 911). We also had 50's day.

To me, the 50's were easy to duplicate. Bright red lipstick, skirts with poodle dogs on them, bobbie socks, greased back hair, you know like John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in the movie Grease. That time was easy to come up with ideas.

Patrick comes home Monday with a sheet of paper telling me what the week consists of. Today, Wednesday was 80's day. What? Did we do something in the 80's that is so different from what the kids do know? I mean, come on! Compare the 50's to the 70's and look at the difference! Spirit week in the 70's was easy.

For the 80's (which don't seem that long ago...) the paper said to wear bright colors and your glam jewelry. (don't kids still do that today?)

Anyhow this is what Patrick came up with...




I DO NOT recall anyone looking like this in the 80's (DID WE?)

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A Blast From the Past

This week a friend from school paid me a visit. His son works at the school in maintenance. The school recently demolished a barn that was probably used for storage more than anything else. The contents of the barn was moved before barn was torn down and evidently some of the contents were getting thrown away. My friend said he found something and knew exactly where it belonged.



When he handed me the envelope with the above picture on the front, I didn't really realize what I was looking at. As soon as I turned it over I knew exactly what I was looking at.



Notice the name at the top.



I knew this belonged to my brother, from a few years ago. Actually, it would be way back in 1974-75 era. When I opened up the prize and seen the contents inside I had to smile.



I remember my brother playing the drums during the boys basketball games and doing a solo to the song, "Hawaii Five-O". The song "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" and the theme from "Mission Impossible" was also some great music. I can't read music, but I'm sure if I heard the songs "Something" and "The Horse" I would know the song as soon as I heard the music.



It's funny how some things from the past you just never forget and it only takes a little picture to recapture some great memories!

10-10-09

Today my husband is celebrating his 52nd birthday. A great friend, a great husband, and a great father...



Sometimes his wild side shows, but I still love him!

Happy birthday Ric!

Octoberrrrr

I'm in mourning. We closed our pool last week! We really should have done it a few weeks ago, but I was holding out for one more blast of hot, ok just warm would be nice, weather.

Instead we got rain, rain, rain, then cooler (cold) weather. Anymore it seems I freeze and can't get warm! I've gotten the long sleeve shirts out of storage earlier than normal.

Only good thing about this year going my so fast is pretty soon it will be spring time, the flowers will be blooming, the trees will be budding, AND the cover will be off the pool again!!

Intersection

I'm not sure if anyone else has noticed this problem or not, but I'm sure after reading this, you'll notice it the next time you are at an intersection, because it happens to me almost every time I drive!

Lots of you might not remember Carl Witt, but he was my drivers' education instructor back in the day. Mr. Witt was cool. (That's a complement coming from a teenager at the time) I remember so many things about him and all the good times we had during the course. At first I was mad I didn't get the other instructor, but after getting to know Mr. Witt, it was all good.

One thing Mr. Witt taught us is how to navigate a vehicle through the intersections. Sad thing is, there are millions of drivers that didn't have Mr. Witt, and millions more who didn't learn how to navigate the intersections!

Millions don't realize when they are stopped at an intersection because of a red light, when the green arrow is displayed to turn left, the driver is to proceed to turn left. As long as the green arrow is displayed, the vehicles should continue to turn. After the green arrow, the traffic light displays a yellow arrow. This signal means to continue turning left, with caution of course.

Some traffic signals will then display just the green light. This signal means the driver may still turn left, if nothing is coming from the opposite direction. It does not mean to sit behind the cross walk and continue sitting there until the green arrow appears again! For crying out loud, with the green light displayed, there should be 3-4 vehicles and possibly 5-6 vehicles that can make it through the intersection is nothing is coming in the opposite direction!

What really gets confusing for some of these drivers is when there is a green light only! They don't realize green means GO. When the signal turns green, some drivers just sit there waiting for a clear lane opposite of them, which most of the time never happens.

Usually what happens then, there is only one car that makes it through the intersection. They wait to turn when the green light has turned yellow to red. This usually leaves a string of cars still sitting at the intersection waiting to turn left.

I'm usually the vehicle sitting 2-3 vehicles behind you, waiting my turn, to turn left. I'm not hard to miss...I'm the vehicle with the steam rolling from the windows!

First Day of Autumn

I love this time of year...Autumn. The leaves getting their beautiful colors, the cool, crisp air in the mornings. Being able to raise the windows and have the freshness of the outdoors on the inside...I love it!

My only wish is that it would get a bit cooler so I could wear my new jacket...



Tony rocks!

Good Food...Good Times...Good Memories!

Sunday night Patrick's house youth group was at our home for the evening. I think the way it works is which ever home you are at for the week, what you eat is their child's favorite food. At least that is the way it was last night at our home! I had 10 pounds of cheesy potatoes, 4 boxes of mac and cheese, 20 pounds of chicken breast, batches of ultimate chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cup cookies, sweet tea, mountain dew, big red and root beer. It was lots and lots and lots of food, but everyone enjoyed it and almost all of it was gone!

Today I'm going to share with you the way I made my chicken. I got the recipe from my good friend, Mike Hall, with The Pines Restaurant. His blog can be found here:

http://pinesponderings.com/

First I started with thawed chicken breast. I cut them up into nugget size bites.



I then made a batch of flour and Marion-Kay Spices and coated the nuggets.



I placed some oil in the pan and placed the flour coated nuggets in the hot oil.



I let the nuggets get a golden brown before turning them. I don't cook them too fast, as it causes them to get a little tough. Cooking them slowly ensures they are cooked through thoroughly.



I didn't get a picture of the completed batch, however, I did manage a picture after the evening was over...



I guess they were as good as they looked! I had just a few pieces left and everyone left with a full stomach and smiles on their faces!

In my next blog I will try to give everyone another recipe to try, and please let me know how it turns out for you!

The secret to the chicken is the spice.



99-X from Marion-Kay. You can't go wrong! Enjoy!