Just being helpful

What kind of friend would I be if I didn't share this little piece of advice with all of you, my best bloggin buddies!

If this is what you have left over from Saturday night.

Take it and hide it from your kiddo's.

Or if you don't have any kiddo's.

Hit the stores today and snatch up some of that candy that's on sale.

Because you are going to need it.

Christmas is coming and there are stockings to stuff!

And then there is Super Bowl Sunday with all the great food.

Throw a bowl of that candy right in the middle of the table.

And the last little bit of candy you have make Valentine bags for all your friends.

Way to RECYCLE!

Sorry

Sorry Friday Shoot Out Gang Members

I opt out today.

Read post below this one and you can see why.

Thank you.

To check out other members click here.

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Hope you all have a safe and fun Halloween!

Who knows?

I'm just not sure what to even call this post.

It's random.

Maybe I should call it life.

I'm in way over my head with life.

Let's start with Gizmo, "Mo" for short.

He is a Maine Coon. He weighs 26lbs.

He is the Sweethearts baby.

His last check up about two months ago, he was healthy as a horse and almost as big.

He's been on diet cat food since he was 2 years old.

It's not working! He's still big~boned.

Well...

he has started peeing on the bedroom carpet in Harrison's old room.
(Short of killing him, I've been thinking about sending him to live at the shop. Shop cat, that sounds good to me.)

We've been sleeping in that room while we remodel our bedroom to make it more handicap accessible for the Sweetheart.

So we decided that we would replace the carpet with tile.
As we were ripping up the carpet we found a surprise lurking beyond the baseboard and wall.

I was scared to death that it was termites.
Upon inspection I was relieved to know that it was not.
Only to find out that it was really Carpenter Ants.



They are extremely destructive!!


They make a really big mess.


After the treatment this is what we are left with.
Looks like, though, there is only two studs that have to be replaced as well as the insulation.
Once that is done we will but the sheet rock back up and then cover the whole wall with 4 inch bead board.
I'll be glad when that is all done.
November makes 30 years we have lived in this house.


We went ahead and had the tile laid yesterday.
This is James Young.
He lives in Waycross, GA.
He does and excellent job.
He has laid tile in the homes of both our boys and Christon's parents.
If you live in the area and need some tile work done, contact me for his phone number.

He came back today to grout the tile.
He was just getting started and you know what he said?
He asked me if I knew what a Tile Man's worst nightmare was??
Thinking this was a funny joke, I say "no what?"
His answer, "Black Grout"
Oh, I couldn't help but laugh.
Sorry James.
I chose Retro White tile with black grout.
You know me, I love black and white!

The second crop of tomatoes are in, in Waycross.

They are $6.00 a 5 gallon bucket full.

As James and his dad were laying the tile yesterday I was canning this vegetable soup.
Recipe, thanks to Connie again. I tell ya, she inspires me.

We talked all about canning and gardens and farms.

About an hour after he left yesterday he called and said that he and his wife were going to Maynard to pick tomatoes that evening and wanted to know if I wanted some??
HELLO! Yes! and thank you very much!
James only lives about 15 minutes from Maynard, where we get our tomatoes. He brought them this morning.
I'm having a tomato sandwich for lunch, yum!

Wasn't that about the nicest thing ever?

I start taking Photoshop for Photographers on Monday evening.
I'm excited.

I've got a lot going on and a lot to do.
So you might not see me around much in the next few weeks.

Wish me luck!

~

One more thing, it is a beautiful day here in south Georgia. Blue Sky's no clouds and 85*!

Wordless Wednesday

The Redneck in my life bought this as his souvenir.

Just where does he think I'm going to let him put it??

He can take it to the shop :) it will look perfect there.

P. S. He bought both the boys one too!

Tasty Tuesday

When you have plenty of apples on hand and you see an interesting recipe such as this, you know you have to try it out!

And I'm so glad I did!

~~

De~lish!!

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Apple Pudding
2 cups grated apples
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup shortening
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour (I used 1 whole wheat and 1 white)
2 tsp. soda
3/4 tsp salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional but really good)
Cream butter, shortening and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Add grated apples.
Add dry ingredients and mix well. Add nuts.
Pour into 9x13 greased pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

Sauce
2 cups brown sugar
2 T. flour
2 T. cornstarch
3 cups water
2 T. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix sugar, flour and cornstarch together. Add water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, add butter and vanilla.
Cut cake and place on plate. Pour warm sauce over top. Can top with whipped cream or ice cream.

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Thanks once again Connie!

Apple Peeler

I highly recommend that you buy one of these.

If you happen to be driving through Ellijay, Georgia on one of their Apple Festival weekends and stop at one of the many apple stores.

And if you buy a bushel or two of these Rome Beauty apples.

And if you come across these canning jars on clearance at Wal~mart and you buy 10 cases.

And if you read Connie's blog.

~

And she inspires you!

~

And you say to yourself, "self, you too can make apple pie filling, just like Connie!"

~

And then you take those apples to the house and wonder how in all the world you are going to peal, core and slice all those apples you bought in Ellijay.

Just run right over to Bed, Bath and Beyond and buy yourself one of those handy Apple Peelers and get to crackin.

Apple Pie Filling

4 1/2 cups sugar

1 tsp. salt

4 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup corn starch

1 tsp. nutmeg

3 Tablespoons lemon juice

2 to 3 drops yellow food coloring (optional)

Put first 5 ingredients in a large pan. Stir together. Add 10 cups water. Cook until thick. Add food coloring and lemon juice. Remove from heat. This is usually enough to cover 6 to 7 quarts of apples.

Fill the quart jars with the slices. Really push them in tight. Pour sauce over the apples in the jar. It may take a while for the thickened sauce to ooze over the apple slices. Do it one jar at a time so the apples don't darken. Place lids and rings on the jars and process in a water bath for 20 minutes. One jar makes an 8 inch pie. Can also be used for apple cobblers, topping for ice cream, or just out of the jar!

This recipe was copied from Connie's blog but the same recipe was in my little booklet that came with the apple peeler.

Thank you Connie

Sunday Stills

Sunday Stills

This weeks challenge: Landscapes (Fall Foliage)

Things down here in south Georgia are still pretty green.

Last week we went to north Georgia about 6 hours away hoping to find a little color.

On Tuesday we went to Blue Ridge and rode the Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad.
As you can see from these pictures we found very little color.

It was still a pretty ride and a great getaway for the two of us.

The 26 mile round trip follows along side the Taccoa River. It was really a pretty and peaceful ride.

The train ride starts at the historic depot, built in 1905 in downtown Blue Ridge, then stops for a layover in the quaint sister towns of McCaysville, Georgia and Copperhill, Tennessee. There is a blue line running through the middle of town. One side is Georgia and the other is Tennessee. With one foot on each side of the line you are standing in two states at once.

It was one of the few sunny days we had on our trip.

Sorry Sunday Still friends, this is the best I could do for "Fall Foliage".

It's just still to Green down here in the south.

Lighthouse

From Girls at the Pier

St. Simons Island, Georgia Lighthouse

Friday Shoot Out

Friday Shoot Out

This weeks theme: Classics of Childhood

Chosen by Ellisa

Sure am glad there are no rules in our gang :)

Play grounds and parks are the happiness of children and the relief of parents and grandparents!

For more Friday Shoot Out gang members click here.

Shella Bella

Rea In October

Tasty Tuesday

This salad makes me happy!

It's my Sister~in~law's recipe.

She made it for the Crenshaw Family Reunion a few weeks ago.

I've been craving more ever since then.

I've had her recipe for years and never made it until last night.

I ate two bowls full for supper.

FUMI Salad
In a salad bowl mix:
1 head chopped up cabbage
8 green onions, chopped
8 Tbsp. toasted almonds
8 Tbsp. toasted sesame seeds
2 pkgs. crushed, dry Ramen noodles
1 can chicken (optional)
1 8oz can drained mandarin oranges (optional)

1 small can pineapple drained (optional)

Dressing:

Pour on just before serving
3/4 cup oil
6 Tbsp. vinegar
4 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. black pepper
2 seasoning packets of Ramen noodles
1 tsp. Accent (or seasoning salt)
I made it last night with the chicken and no fruit.
It's so easy and sooooo good!

Wordless Wednesday

Sorry this picture of Collin didn't load this morning and then I've been gone all day and couldn't correct it. I'll try again :)

For a minute...

I thought I might be in the "Big Easy"

Sweet Mildred from Mildred's Menagerie lives in North Georgia and gave us a great suggestion, if we were traveling through Ellijay on our way home, be sure to stop at "The Cajun Depot Grill" for lunch.

They offered a blend of Cajun style cooking in a New Orleans atmosphere.

It was the best meal we had on our whole trip!

They specialize in seafood dishes and their crab cakes and seafood gumbo were the best I've ever eaten. Seeing as I've only been to New Orleans once, I'm probably not the best of judges but it was good enough to "make you wana slap yo mama!"

Thanks a bunch Mildred! We loved it.

Sunday Stills

Sunday Stills

This weeks theme: The Letter “C”

Canning Jars!

This is my souvenir from my trip last week!

The Walmart in Blairsville, GA. had these on clearance for $5.00!

They were getting rid of the Canning section until next spring.

This is all I could fit into one cart.

Collin

3 weeks

My mistake, 1 month old today :)

Saturday Photo~Hunt

Saturday Photo Hunter

This weeks theme: Free Week

Photos of your choice.

These were taken on Jekyll Island before the Shrimp and Grits Festival in September.

This is looking back toward Brunswick at the Sydney Lanier Bridge.

Friday Shoot Out

Friday Shoot Out: Sunrises and Sunsets

Chosen by Sherri

We've been traveling for the last week and it rained nearly every day so my photo's are coming from my archives.

Taken at the Brunswick waterfront.

These last two were taken on St. Simon's Island.

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