my green weekend

Sadie's last prom dress (sniff).

 my new favorite smoothie

 (handful of spinach, frozen banana, frozen mango, and vanilla coconut milk)

my new lemon leaf wreath

and a pic from my high school graduation...

going back to wisconsin this weekend to see my family and some of my very favorite gals from the glory days.  Break out the 

bon jovi,so excited!!!

dinner anyone?

Gregg is in China.  I usually travel with him this time of year, but since we're going with Sadie to Europe in June ( and since I've got a million things to do to get ready for her graduation), I stayed home.  This is the pic he text me yesterday...

With this caption: "Dinner last night!  Fried scorpions!"  I would NOT find it therapeutic to hunt these.

He also sent this ...

The Great Wall of China.

I must admit  I'm a little sad I couldn't go.  But, tonight is Sadie's very last high school dance (Gilbert's prom with Bransen), and I would have been more sad to miss that.

prom weekend

Another crazy week.  No new recipe post this past Monday, because I didn't find one worth writing home about, or blogging about for that matter.  I'll keep experimenting.

Sadie and Jackson went to Highland's prom on Saturday.

It was also Drew's last lacrosse game, so we had to divide and conquer.

a memory

I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin.  We lived near the railroad tracks.  As I walk through my childhood memories, they are peaceful and sweet.  I can remember lying in my bed at night, drifting off to sleep and hearing the train approaching.  The train whistle faint at first, then becoming louder.  The sound of the wheels rolling across the tracks.  And the sound of the whistle dimming as the train continued on.  My childhood was filled with other sounds too.  Crickets in the evening.  Bat wings at dusk.  Excited screams erupting from the night when someone was caught playing hide and seek.   The sound of my mom's voice calling us in for dinner.  The sound of my cat purring at my feet when I was safety tucked into bed.  The sound of rain pouring down on our roof as the water rushed on and down through the gutters.  And always, the sound of the train.  A train on it's way to another little town.  

 I still love the sound of a train whistle.  And happily, I still live near some train tracks.  And sometimes, late at night, when I close my eyes, I can still be that little midwest girl.  Safely tucked in her bed.

friday's entertainment

Gentry and her friend Kennedy went scorpion hunting tonight.  It's one of my kids favorite recreational activities.

 After Kennedy went home, Gentry talked me into "finishing the job" with her.  I actually found it to be kind of therapeutic.  I think we only hunted down 8 or 9.  On a good night in the middle of summer, the kids will take out 20 or 30.  It was 96 degrees today.  Scorpions love the heat, and I love that my kids have so much fun exterminating them.

Buongiorno

This is Sadie with her passport app.  Gregg, Sadie, and I are Europe bound in June.  Will I be blogging about our little adventure?  Yes I will. 

One of Sadie's requested stops in Italy.  

Now if I can just get through her graduation.  35 days.

go rachel ray

I've had the cooking blues lately.  Last week I tried  four new recipes.  This one was the winner.

Rachel Ray's My Sister Ria's Lazy Chicken:

Balsamic vinegar
11/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast cutlets (thinly sliced or pounded breast meat)
2 TB EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
2 medium white-skinned potatoes, thinly sliced
1 medium white onion, halved and thinly sliced
Montreal steak seasoning
1/2 cup white wine or chicken broth
1 small zucchini, thinly sliced
1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
10 leaves basil, torn or coarsely chopped
2 sprigs fresh oregano, leaves stripped from stem and chopped
1/2-2/3 cup shredded Italian cheese of your choice (provolone, mozzarella, asiago)

Rub a little splash of Balsamic vinegar onto each chicken breast.  Heat 1 TB EVOO in deep skillet over med-high heat.  Brown chicken for 2 minutes on each side, remove chicken.

Add 1 TB EVOO (once around the pan).  Add a layer of thinly sliced potatoes and onions.  Sprinkle the potatoes and onion with Montreal seasoning.  Let potatoes and onions cook, turning occasionally but maintaining a thin layer, utnil they begin to brown all over.  Add a little broth or wine to pan.  Spread a thin layer of zucchini across the pan on top of the potatoes and onions and sprinkle with a touch more of Montreal seasoning.  Top with layer of chicken breast.

Dump the crushed tomatoes evenly over the top.  Sprinkle with chopped herbs.  Cover and cook until chicken is cooked through and potatoes tender, 10-12 minutes.

Sprinkle with shredded Italian cheese.  Place pan under the broiler for a minute until cheese melts and begins to brown. Serve directly from the hot pan and the table, with a green salad on the side.


My whole family liked this, except Gentry, and she only likes grilled cheese.  The prep time was manageable.  About 30 minutes.  I'm trying four new recipes this week.  I'll announce the winner next Monday.

easter sunday

Finally, our easter pics. Beautiful day with our family.

The best choice so far to replace Picnik......check out this site Pic Monkey.  I think it's actually a break off/ redo of Picnik.  A sample of the Warhol selection (with some lovely easter colors).  Still learning how to navigate it, but so far, I like it. 

angels

This morning at 8:00 my door bell rang.  I was greeted by a very dear friend holding this bouquet of sweet peas.

I immediately thought of this talk by Elder Holland as I said a silent prayer of gratitude.   Heavenly Father blessed me with a little bouquet of sweet peas this morning....delivered by a angel who listened to a prompting.  I know God is aware of me and loves me, "meltdowns" and all.