Ella's Crack(er) Story

This is Tauna, my Evil Twin and Ella's niece Susan.

You have got to go here and read the cutest story on Tauna's blog!

It is a small world!

Naughty or Nice

My EVIL TWIN, Nurse Tauna, who lives in the Arctic Tundra of Idaho

bestowed this little meme upon me the first of the week.

I am always a day late and a dollar short

or either I'm just to hot to think straight.

That is how it has been this week!

WAY TO HOT!!

(I hate these things because I'm just so boring, I bore myself)

#1: What is the silliest prank you've ever played on someone?
When Harrison dropped off Reagan (3 yrs old) on Tuesday morning she had a "Mina" aka Pacifier wrapped up in her shirt hiding it from me. I broke her of that Mina while we were on spring break with the girls and their parents weren't around. I dared them to give it back or even mention it to her when she got back home. Well, she has done real well. When she had her tonsils out a few weeks ago her daddy bought her a new one!
(I could choke his guts out, in a nice way of course.)
Back to the story, I got it away from her and turned around and acted like Bentley Boo Dog got it from me then told her that he ate her Mina (pacifier). She was mad at him and wanted him to give it back. I told her he couldn't that it would just come out in his poop. She whined a little and not 10 minutes later she told me Bentley had to go bathroom he needed to poop. She watched him all day hoping she could some how get that thing back. I asked her what we would do with it if we found it, she said we could wash it!!! Now, that is wanting that thing BAD! That night she told both her mama and daddy about that bad dog. Next day she asked me if he went poop and I found her "mina". She was willing to get it back any way she could. I know that wasn't really a silliest prank but that's the best I could do and I'm evil like that :)

#2: If you could go on a trip anywhere out of this country, where would it be? I'd go to Scotland with Tauna and then make her go to Ireland with me. Italy always looks nice in the movies too.

#3: Who played an influential role in your life? Both my parents, in different ways. I'm a lot like both of them.

#4: Are you OK with your spouse being friends with an ex? Um, never had to think about that one so I guess I just don't know, probably not so much.

#5: Favorite candle scent? Yankee candle, pineapple tropic

#6: Next movie I'm excited about seeing. No earthly clue.

#7: You must have one word to be banned from the dictionary and no longer spoken or used. What is it? I HATE hearing anyone use the Lord's name in vain! But I wouldn't want it banned from the dictionary. The word to ban would be the f bomb.

#8: Do you have a relative in jail? I don't but the Sweetheart does. In fact he has a few more that I wish were there too.

#9: What crazy fads were popular when you were in high school? Platform shoes and hip hugger pants with a wide white belt with your shirt tucked in.

#10: Have you ever been mentioned in a newspaper or on TV?
Yes, my baby announcement and my wedding announcement and a few other times.

If you are finding yourself looking for something to blog about then take this little naughty or nice test and blog on!

Midweek~Blues

Picture taken at Sea World, Florida I LOVE this picture and can't believe that I took it :) Join the mid ~week blues by clicking on the above picture.

July 26

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART

I love you much.

Sunday~Stills

Sunday Stills

Back to Basics: Rule of Thirds

Upside Down

Saturday~Photohunt

This weeks theme: Hanging

Even little girls climb trees.

Check this site out for more Saturday Photo Hunters!

Friday Shoot Out

Friday Shoot Out

This weeks theme: Feet and Shoes

A run on the beach.

Can you tell what is wrong with this picture?

Wearing flip flops takes great effort sometimes.

These people were sitting next to us at the fire work on the 4th of July.

Socks and flip flops just don't get it.

She was a little over dressed for the occasion.

I love their little bare feet.


Nothing like sandy baby feet.

And sandy little girls feet.

Learning to crawl.

Willies.

Engagement.

The Sweetheart's leg and shoes.

Photo Shoot.

Puppy feet.

Newborn feet.

My tennis shoes.

Reagan's little Croc's.

Maxwell Sterling

To play along or to view other Friday Shoot Out Photo's check this site.

Randomness With Pictures

It is 2:00 PM

It is 95* with a heat index of 107* out side today!

I am not leaving the house.

I went to the garden this morning and nearly had a heat stroke.

This is my FIL, Clemon H. Griffis

He had a quadruple By Pass done on Monday.

He is doing well and they had him up walking yesterday.

He will go to a Rehab place for a few days when

he is released from the hospital on Monday.

The 3 Arlene's

My Mother, Janice Arlene

Me, Gigi Arlene

And my niece, Amelia Arlene

I also have a Great Aunt, Betty Arlene

She has a daughter Becky Arlene

And also several cousins with the name Arlene.

I don't think that any one of us even go by the name

it's just our middle name.

When the Sweetheart and I were on vacation back in May

I called to talk to the oldest GRAND~girl.

I asked her what she wanted me to bring her from Michigan.

She thought about it a minute and said,

"I believe I want some 'Beef Jerky'"

I'm, like, "are you sure"?

She said "yes".

So that is what we brought her along

with a couple of summer dresses.

As you can see I still have that beef jerky.

She doesn't like beef jerky??

I asked her, "then why did you want me to bring you some?"
She didn't know.

So into the food storage it goes.

This is how the Sweetheart enjoys the beach.

What EVER!

More cake, yum!

A friend celebrated her 40th birthday last month and this was her cake!

Different but good.

Sweet Little House

I took this picture on Mackinac Island, Michigan

Play along with Midweek Blues!

Colors, moods, music, poetry...be as creative as you like!

Keeping a Secret

This is my friend Ella Keeney.

She has a great recipe and everyone wanted it.

For 20 years I've had that recipe and never

made it because it is her special "thing."

People have been begging her to share that recipe and she wouldn't.

She would tell them, "when I die, you can get it from Gigi."

So I've been the keeper of the prized secret recipe!!

I feel special and I have kept her secret.

This is what we affectionately call "C.R.A.C.K"

It got it's nickname because it's hard to get out of

the pan and it just cracks out in all different shapes and sizes.

It is very addictive just like a drug :)

Now that there is a drug that goes by the name of "crack"

we have to be more careful what we call this recipe.

We are now trying to call it "Cracker Candy."

Well, Mrs. Ella decided that she wanted to finally share the recipe

for her famous Crack!

And now I don't have to keep the secret any more!!

She invited her friends to a party and

didn't tell them why they were coming.

I knew of course because I was her assistant for the evening.

She called it, Her Unveiling!!

Every one screamed with excitement!


They were finally going to get her secret recipe!


So now it is only fair that I share this
wonderful chocolate CRACK recipe with all of you,
My Best Blogging Friends!!


Preheat the oven to 425*
Butter a jelly roll pan or cookie sheet with sides.


Line the pan with crackers.
She uses Nabisco unsalted tops.
Because she uses salted butter.
If you use unsalted butter then use salted top crackers.


In a heavy sauce pan put two sticks of good quality butter (1 cup)
and 1 cup of light brown sugar.
On med to high heat stir until butter is melted and comes to a low boil.


Stir with wooden spoon and cook for about
5 minutes or until it comes to a soft ball stage.
(forms soft balls in ice water)

Pour over crackers.

Spread it out carefully over the crackers.

Put in the oven and bake for 3 to 5 minutes

watching carefully until it bubbles all over.

Take out of oven and immediately pour a package of

milk chocolate chips over hot crackers.
( If you are a dark chocolate lover then use dark chocolate, or you can also use semi-sweet)

Spread the melted chocolate all the way to the edges.

Cool.

Then put in refrigerator until hard.

Then hit the pan on the edge of the counter and crack out the pieces.

Enjoy!!

Okay!!

This was the first time I made it and I skipped the "butter the Pan step" and just sprayed it with Pam.

It came right out of the pan in the crackers shaped squares.

I thought that was a good thing but Mrs Ella said that was cheating and that takes half the fun out of making the Crack(er) Candy!

Either way you do this it's the bomb!!

Ella's Cracker Candy
40 saltine crackers
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1 cup light brown sugar
8 ounces milk chocolate chips (about 1¹⁄3 cups)

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a large jellyroll the saltine crackers.
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar together and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and pour over the crackers, covering them evenly. Put the jellyroll pan into the oven and watch closely. Bake for 3 to 5 minutes, or until just bubbly. Remove from the oven and pour the chocolate chips over the crackers. When the chips melt a bit, spread them over the crackers with a knife. Transfer the pan to the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until completely cold. They will form one big sheet. Break up into pieces. Store in an airtight container and I keep it in the frig, just because.

Old Wash Pot

Over My Head Photo Challenge

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~~~~~~~~

Shutter Love Tuesday

This weeks theme : Faces

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and join Shutter Love Tuesday by

adding your beautiful picture of "faces".