Old Man Winter

Yes, Old Man Winter is still playing jokes on us here in the upper-Midwest! And i ain't laughin'. This, dear friends, is what 17 inches of new, fluffy snow looks like. As if we didn't have enough to begin with! The real kicker is that March is usually our snowiest month of the year! I'm thinkin we won't be doing any grilling tonight.

View from the dining room....doesn't the hanging basket look like a cone-head???

View from the office.Wishing you a happy,warm, snow-free day!

The Day of Love

I hope you have a wonderful day with everyone you love!

In Love with Blogland, USA

There are so many wonderful blogs out there in blogland! I just marvel at how talented people are! I would definitely love to have lunch and treats at the above party! Mary Jane's daughter, Kari, at thebeehivecottage is responsible for this spread. I think i can speak for us all when i say-i wish she was my sister, neighbor, or friend!
And then there is Amy. All i can say is OMG! You have to visit her at her cottage. I wish someone would come in and help me pull together my decorating like this. I swear i would never leave my house. I just love the name of the market featured on her site: Ruffles & Rust. Isn't that just soooo cleaver???

Thoughtless Thursday

What ???

Basket Full of Posies

Ta-da! It is finished. Back in December each person in our Quilt Guild, Hands Across the Lake, took a packet of similar material and were instructed to create a "basket" block set on point. I chose to applique mine. i think it turned out quite spiffy if i say so myself. and i do. there are three flowers that are 3-dimensional. can you figure out which ones they are? its a little hard to tell in the photo, but they are the ones with "pointy" petals.

I have to admit i'm a little lax in the motivational department these days. Is it the winter blues? all the snow? cold temps? Why yes it is. All of those things.

Heaven on a Bun

Yes, my dears, it really is that good.

After foraging thru the cupboards i found i only had the ingredients for The Pioneer Womans Basic Drip Beef recipe. It was so good, i will definately try the Italian one next time. I did make just a couple adjustments to the recipe (including the name), so here it is:

Yummy Shredded Beef

1- 2.5 to 4 lb. chuck roast

3 Tbsp. Butter

1 large onion, sliced thick

1 Tbsp. chopped garlic

1/2 c. soy sauce

1 c. cooking Sherry

2 1/2 c. water

3 beef bullion cubes

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter in your stock pot, add onions. Cook till tender. Slap yer roast right on top. I mixed everything else up in a bowl, then poured it over the top. Put the lid on and throw it in the oven for 1 hr. then decrease your oven temp to 250 degrees and leave it in there another 4-5 hrs. Do not even lift the lid. I kid you not. this thing is so tender and easy to shred that it almost falls apart just looking at it.

I served mine on hoggie buns with melted swiss on top.

School's On!

Oh, my yes! I swear i could hear one huge glorious sigh as i awoke this morn. Mothers across the land breathing a sigh of relief as children crawled out of bed to attend the first day back to school after a 6 day break. It is now above 0 degrees. its funny how that used to feel cold, but everyone you meet has a smile and greets you with "nice day, isn't it?" And they really mean it!

Now, moving on. I have found yet another favorite. It is the Pioneer Woman blogsite. Please visit her. Below is her picture of Italian Drip Beef. This i will attempt for tonight's dinner. It looks soooo yummy! You can find the recipe on her page, and if it turns out for me, i will post it also very soon.

Have a wonderful Friday.

Thoughtless Thursday

Still no school, the interstate is closed.....

Have Mercy!

This morning as i post this it is -23, with wind chills of -36. That beats my post of a few days ago. Just to the northwest of us the windchill is -46. Mercy, i say, Mercy!!! Sunday thru Monday we accumulated 10 inches of fresh, fluffy snow. Then came the wind. Now for those of you who aren't accustomed to this, it means that every road in the county is continually drifted shut. Therefore, school has been cancelled for 3, yes 3, days in a row. Now, for me that's not so bad as my daughter is older and has her own schedule.

But, here is the typical household: Monday. Yippee, no school! Mom says, Lets watch a movie and bake some cookies, call Grandma and do a craft. Tuesday. Wow, no school! Mom says, Lets sleep in, watch cartoons, do a puzzle and clean your room. Wednesday. Boy, no school. Mom says, This is really getting old. What am i gonna do with 'em today? Seriously, is it that cold? are the roads that bad? What are those school officials thinking??? Send the kids to the Library than to an indoor pool somewhere. I can jump start the truck, i know i can.....

Good news on the horizon:

NO SHADOW!