Traveling to Texas

Guest writer for today: Jessie
Hello everyone!  First let me thank Louise for sharing her blog with me.  I will love to have a record to look back at and see what happened over the year.  Hopefully it will encourage more picture taking around here as well.  I also mostly love having one place that links me to all the blogs of my friends and what goes on in their much more interesting lives!  Speaking of friends I just bought my plane ticket to visit some great ones! I am heading to Texas to drop in on Joy and her family (can't wait to meet S and O!) and meet up with my friend Kristen!  I miss these girls so much. (You too Jon!)  Needless to say I am very excited...it has been too long.  Here are the dear and smiling faces that await me!

Wish I was seeing Leah, Megan, and Beth as well.  Soon!?!

Carrot Pants

Amazing carrot pants discovered and photographed by Jo!  (Maggie in the background with crazy eyes!)  I thought I'd share this double wonder for your viewing enjoyment.

Make Way for Cookies

So Jess has managed nothing today except for a nap and a few encouraging words to Daron as he did the taxes.  But as soon as the idea of cookies enters her mind, up she comes.  This happening all the while she is cutting back on my food "for the sake of my health".  What came out of the refrigerator to make way for trays of these cookies you ask?  Celery.  You are an inspiration.

As far as my weight loss journey, I thought I'd do some documenting on here.  I currently weigh in at 18 lbs. which some think is a little heavy but I like to think of as well insulated.  I'm off my grazing and down to twice a day feedings.  I really wish "My Fitness Pal" would diversify.  I can't find my brand of kibbles anywhere in their database.

I know these look like the result of a hairball and Jess is no chef to mimic, but just in case you have had a nap, watched someone do taxes, and are looking for the next item on your to do list, here is the recipe.
(Thanks to Allison Carchi)


Haystacks

• 1/4 cup shorting (off to a good start already!)
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 package of butterscotch chips
• 6 cups of Cornflakes
• 2/3 cup of miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Melt shortening, peanut butter, and butterscotch chips in a large saucepan on low heat.
2. Stir until melted and smooth.
3. Pour mixture onto cornflakes and mix until coated.
4. Add chocolate chips.
5. Spoon out onto wax paper and refrigerate until firm.

Barber Shop

So its haircut day in our house.  Shaggy McShaggerson needed a trim (see below).  I also decided I could use a new do (see further below).  Daron's cut took about an hour and a half.  He kept asking Jess to cinch up the cape around his neck...probably to pass out and be free from the stress of scissors amateurly careening over his scalp.    
All in all he came out presentable- at least for most lower scale venues.
I'll spare you any pictures of the bathroom aftermath, but if they ever complain about my shedding again...

oo la la!

Garden Stones

I had most of the day to myself today.  (Thankfully)  It reminded me of the days when Jess actaully worked...  She started the day with some quality time with Ian her nephew.  Jess was very excited that her name is one of his easy-off-the-tongue words these days.  Then she decided to get crafty with Denise.  Denise was the craft coach for this project. (patient woman) 


First they went to get supplies...

• Fine concrete
• Concrete color powder
• Planter trays
• Small rocks and stones

Next they made a rather large mess.

Lastly they ended up with some fine garden stones!  Just what the lawn needs...more rocks.  They will really showcase the weeds.  Now if only Jess can stay motivated about the garden for more than a few weeks this summer.

What's for dinner?

Cheez-It's.....no thanks.

Country Crock.....ummm...no.

That's more like it.

Jackpot!

Heart Throb!

I thought I would document a few happening around here of late because Jess isn't giving me too much material just snacking on beef jerky and watching Excused this morning.  She is currently waiting on a ride to go get her purse which was left at a gathering last night.  She wisely decided not to make Daron turn the car around...she would go pick it up today.  Fat chance as it sits there harboring her only set of keys.  I guess its not nearly as bad as the "keys lost in the woods while geocaching" incident of 2008? 09?  If this makes her miss her lunch date to eat a giant plate of re-fried beans at San Jose's she will not be happy.  If this causes her to not be able to return our house guests this afternoon I will not be happy.


Anyways, happenings from recent history... For Valentine's Day Daron and Jessie decided to show their buddies (and what great buddies they are!) a little love.  The plan was more grandiose at different point along the course of planning, including handmade stuffed animal gifts. (The one attempt was ugly as sin- nice call scrapping that idea.) There was also to be a menu where the pals could actually order from various selections. (Also a no go...hard with one oven.)  So the evening turned out with this itinerary:


8:00- Guests Arrive, appetizers served
8:15- Opening Ceremonies (picture montage with Golden Girls theme accompaniment)
8:30- Dinner (Parmesan chicken, twice baked potatoes, bacon wrapped green beans)
9:00- A rousing game of HeartThrob also known as Beefcakes and Tongans
9:30- Supposed to watch the Bachelor, but fail for the DVR.
9:31- Watched The Voice and Castle.
***So far rooting for Mathai on The Voice!


Here is a breakdown of how Beefcakes and Tongans works:
1. Each player chooses a gentleman card and sets it out on the table for all to see.
2. Names are drawn for each gentleman.
3. Each player chooses who they think each of their friends' dream dates are.  They also 
    select their favorite gentleman just based on photos.
4. Round 2: A fact card about each guy is overturned.  Repeat step 3 based on photo and 
    fact.
5. Two more rounds each reveling a fact are played and then players tell who they selected 
    for each round. Points are awarded for every correct guess you made for your friends.


Jess based this off the game Heart Throb she used to play as a kid.  Looked for one to buy on-line...like $100 bucks!  She should have kept it.  I'm including some photos of the top men of the evening.

Here is one of the Valentines gang.

Good news!  The keys are in hand thanks to Jess's wonderful Father-in-law!  She is off for beans!  I will take a cat nap...what other kind of nap would I take?

Hello!

Hello!  

I love checking out the life and times of all of Jessie and Daron's friends on their blogs so I thought I would periodically write about what goes on around here. (Not much...hence the periodically)  So far I have spent an hour trying to make a blog roll call thingy.  Not off to the best start.  Here is what I have observed around this place so far today...

• Jess making jerky with the new food dehydrator!  Thanks Jane for the recipe!
• Two guest dogs Penny and Koda lounging around on my couches.  Hoping J & J are enjoying the cruise!
• Jess spent about an hour reading a diet blog...ran for about ten minutes, and then laid under the fan eating a rather large bowl of chili.

And yep that's it.  Gotta love Mid-winter break!  I know I have hooked you all and you will be eagerly awaiting the next thrilling update.

The next picture will probably be of an overturned dehydrator and two happy dogs.