Keepin' it real....

I live in a shoebox....okay, not really...but close...lol....so to say our house gets cluttered up quite often is putting it mildly...

we don't have much storage space and tend to cram anything and everything into the spaces we do....case in point....the front closet...

(disclaimer, the last time this was opened was to shove the winter coats inside...LOL)

holy cow that is a mess!!....

so I cleaned it (which inevitably means a trip up to the crawlspace in the attic to store more stuff...go me)

now it looks like this

I wonder how long that will last??

and these kids of mine...oy, they are just as bad...(at least mine was behind a closed door)

technically this is supposed to be the "linen closet"....notice the lack of well, a door for starters...and decent shelving.....and well, anything that makes it "linen  closet-ish"....

did I mention this obviously had to be designed by a man who has NO concept of storage space??...lol

the tote at the bottom is actually our kitty litter box....lol...

let's take a closer look at the mess

oh my

apparently T decided to just shove all the stuff he brought home on the last day of school on the shelves....nice...

the comic book catastrophe....totally C's doing...

so once again I cleaned it...because they don't clean it....they just mess it up...eww....look at the dust in that last pic....blah

there, much better....until the next time....

I really want to make deeper shelves and box it in and put a cabinet type door on it....maybe someday

also....T found a baby mantis

isn't it cute....and wow...those are some grubby, been playing in the dirt, fingers....right...

if you don't hear from me...it's because I'm trying to relax....but I keep feeling like there are things weighing me down...

wonder what it could be?

Hope ya'll have a great day!

Guess who's back....

Back again....

Nikki's back...tell a friend....

guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back...na na na na nahhhhh!!

okay, I'm not making promises of daily postings or anything...but I am going to try to start squeezing posts in here and there when I find the time...

so let's see...just to throw some stuff out there...

I made a headboard....(yes, I'll post about that)....

my wonderful, awesome, fantastic, and the best Grandpa ever...passed away in April....he's back together with my Me-Me now in heaven...but I'm still sad...but I'll see them again some day...

I've been making ice cream....got an ice cream maker for my birthday...anybody want recipes?

I'm very busy most days....so, I let the blog slide because I felt like I needed to post all the time and I really didn't have the time to spare...so, you'll just have to bear with me as I ease back in....

oh, and I'm babysitting my sister's dog for 3 months while she's gone (and her lizard)....it's not as big of a deal as you might think....we are enjoying it so far...though, it is entirely possible that she may have to get her dog surgically removed from my hiney when she comes to get him...he's decided I'm the one for him....LOL...

One more thing....if you like sweet potatoes....you need to try this recipe....oh baby, it totally rocks my socks...
grilled sweet potatoes with cilantro and lime.....

I'll write more soon....

later ya'll

Sept 11, Heroes, and Grieving....

I've been gone for quite a while...I apologize....I have my reasons and this post will explain some of them....I intend for this to be my only post on the subject, because my emotions are still too raw....the pain still too much....

On September 11, 2001, I was at home...glued to the television, crying....my boys were ,at the time, both 1....because it was exactly one month until T's 2nd birthday....

I remember being angry, and hurt, and feeling my heart break for all those who lost their lives that day...and for the families they left behind....and feeling a sense of gratefulness for those who became heroes that day....Every year I still say a prayer of thanks....for all that they did....and a prayer for all the families....who's lives were forever changed on that day...

This year was different....I still said my prayers....but this year, my family was included in my prayers....you see, because of that day, nine years ago....we were burying a loved on.....on the anniversary of that fateful day....

this is my nephew (more accurately, The Man's nephew...but family is family...be it by blood or marriage)...

Bryn Todd

he was 20 yrs. old.....he was killed on August 28, 2010 in Afghanistan when an RPG went through the driver's side window of the vehicle he was driving....Also killed in that incident Captain Ellery Wallace (who left behind a wife and 4 children...say a prayer for them, please)....2 others were injured....

he had just been visiting on leave a few weeks before....I feel blessed in the fact that I was able to give him one last hug....share one last laugh....

Bryn was a fun loving, energetic, outdoorsy young man....always quick with a smile, joke, or other kind word....he liked making people happy....he joined the army, following in his grandfather's footsteps....My FIL was a Korean War vet....they now rest side by side....

Bryn was an MP.....he loved his job....he was selfless, helpful, and never complained...

he gave his life protecting his country, his family, his fellow man....

On September 9, 2010....we welcomed him home...our hero....

the rain that preceded his arrival made it seem as if the heavens were mourning with us....the downpour was heavy, and brutal....and delayed his flight by 3 hours....once the plane arrived, the rain began to subside....and by the time the procession left for the funeral home, it was a sprinkle...

We were honored to have the Patriot Guard Riders with us on Sept. 9, 10, and 11.....they led the way, stood with flags at the funeral home, church, and cemetery, and rode in front of the procession on Saturday....Thank you to all who rode...

if you are unfamiliar with the Patriot Guard Riders please go here.... http://www.patriotguard.org/

this flag was flown by the fire department at Bryn's funeral....that is his cousin and grandmother in the picture (I think she smiled because she saw me with the camera...lol)

many people lined the sides of the road to pay their respects as we rode to the cemetery....I was in awe of how many people showed their support on the 9th and the 11th....thank you all...

there were marquees in town and the other communities along the way to the cemetery....I think this one sums it up as best as anyone can....

and this one as well....

he was laid to rest next to his Grandfather...Sgt. Kenneth W. Raver

His service was touching...it honored Bryn, his faith, and his country.....his medals were given to his father and his 3 yr.old daughter, as well as the flags....

 Written above where Bryn slept in Afghanistan was this quote....

“You can always live in fear, sometimes you have to face the unknown.”

Thank you Bryn for facing the unknown....thank you for your selflessness, courage, love, and sacrifice....we love you....we miss you....

thank you to everyone who is fighting for our freedom or has a loved one who is fighting....our freedom isn't free....it is paid for with blood, sweat, and tears....

This Friday, the 17th....would have been Bryn's 21st birthday....so many of our soldiers over there are just boys/girls, really...so young....so remember them in your prayers....pray for those who are fighting....for those who have sacrificed their lives in the fight....for those who will soon be in the fight....you never know who will make it home....

Love you Bryn....miss you....I will see you again some day....

Chilled Spinach Dip

It is HOT here....I'm talkin' the walk outside and you melt into a puddle of goo kind of hot.....so this dip recipe is good because there is no cooking required....

you need water chestnuts

 frozen spinach thawed and drained

16 oz of sour cream

mayo

and leek soup mix (vegetable works too, but leek is better)

In a bowl.....add the sour cream

3/4 cup of mayo

the leek soup mix

now...chop up you water chestnuts into tiny pieces (I have since started doing it in the food processor and like it much better)

add those in and stir it up...

stir in your spinach a little at a time...

put into a container and let chill for several hours (overnight is better)

serve with crackers or bread chunks....mmm, mmm, good...


Chilled Spinach Dip

Ingredients

1 8 oz can of water chestnuts, drained and chopped
1 10 oz package of frozen spinach, thawed and drained
1 16 oz container of sour cream
1 8 oz package of leek soup mix
3/4 cup of mayo

combine the sour cream, mayo, soup mix, and water chestnuts....stir in spinach a little at a time....chill for 4 hours or overnight. Serve with crackers or bread chunks...

Hello Blogland....is anybody there?

Hiya!!


Yes, I know...I dropped off the face of the earth....I sowwy (bats eyelashes in an innocent manner)....

there were a lot of things going on....and by the time it settled down...I had just been away for a while...and it was (and is) so hot....I'm not doing a lot of cooking in the kitchen...it's like an inferno in there....

but...I am back...I have a few recipes that I have ready to post and shall jump back into zee blogosphere with both feet....

wait....

hello?.....

Hellooooooooooooo..........


is this thing working?.........

hmmm......

"Gunslinger burritos"

The Man found this recipe in a Men's health and fitness  ages and ages ago....I can't even remember if it had an actual name...this was back when he was doing some fitness thing with Cupp and required healthy foods...lol

he still likes to eat them today....of course I learned long ago to double the recipe from what it was originally...

I would like to point out that these actually are NOT burritos..but that is just what The Man calls them...due to the tortillas...he's funny like that...

First boil 4 to 6 chicken boobs in some water

see, it's not really much to look at...

While you are doing that....you need to core and thinly slice half of a green cabbage...

Then we make our sauce for the cabbage

you need a can of these

you only need 1 or 2 of them....these freeze fine and that way one jar last for several batches of  "burritos"

why hello there my little chipotle.....

In your blender or food processor combine 1 or 2 of these suckers...I like to add a few of the onion-y bits and stuff in there too...

with 3/4 cup of fat free mayonnaise....I warn you...2 of these suckers with the mayo is spicy....enter at your own risk...

and 2 tablespoons of lime juice....sometimes I add 3...cause well, that's how I roll....

Process/blend until the peppers are chopped into tiny pieces and combined with the mayo

dump that spicy goodness on your cabbage

mix it up well...and set aside

once your chicken is done boiling and has cooled...shred it up 

add about 1/2 cup of your favorite bbq sauce....you don't want to smother it...just lightly coat it...

and now you are ready to make up your "burritos"

warm your tortillas slightly in the microwave...then grab one and put it on a plate...

this is the soft taco size....

add about 2 heaping spoonfuls of cabbage

followed by 2 heaping spoonfuls of chicken

fold up, secure with a toothpick and enjoy....

Gunslinger Burritos

Ingredients

4 to 6 chicken breasts cooked and shredded
1/2 head of cabbage, cored and thinly sliced
1 or 2 chipotle peppers
3/4 cup of fat free mayo
2 tablespoons of lime juice
1/2 cup of bbq sauce
1 package of soft taco size tortillas

Boil and shred chicken. Core, halve, and slice cabbage thinly. In a food processor or blender combine peppers, mayo, and lime juice. Once that is blended add to cabbage and mix well. Add 1/2 cup of bbq sauce to the shredded chicken and stir to coat.  Warm tortillas in the microwave. Place 2 large spoonfuls of  cabbage on tortilla, followed by 2 large spoonfuls of chicken. Fold up and secure with a toothpick. Makes about 8 "burritos"