Sunday Morning Ride

I had a wonderful time! The Longview L.O.H. (Ladies of Harley) met in Longview today for a ride. Sam rode with me to Longview - it's about 40 miles. Then he went on his merry way and a wonderful group of ladies babysat me. They are so patient and gave me many pointers even to tell me where there was a good parking lot near me where I can practice going slow and turns. I was put behind the road captain in second place.

I do pretty good until I slow down. That's bad...LOL I can stop decently - have a tendency to sneak up on the stop sign and am working on that. I got thumbs up several times towards the end of my ride. Starting up from a stop is no fun at all, especially if a turn is involved. I'll get there though. I did ride solo for a few miles. The ladies were going to continue their ride by going around Lake o' the Pines, but when we passed within a few miles of my home, I rode on home...they knew of course.

Sam said that he'd not been home long when he heard me. He was waiting in front of the garage when I pulled up. I now have over 500 miles on my bike having put about 143 on it today. ;o)

Stuff

I purposely have not posted anything the week so that I could keep my first anniversary blog give-away up front (top) and center. Quite a bit has gone on this past week.

My views of the election: Bummer

These photographs are from my property.

The neighbor's horse enjoying the day. MOF, this is the only thing that neighbor has that doesn't bother or irritate us.

When we first moved in, Sam caught their son skateboarding on our front porch. When Sam opened the door and startled the kid he said, "Oh, I didn't know anyone was home." Yep, raise your eyebrow here.

Their two big dogs are never put up and come onto our property to do their dirty work: poop-piles not two feet from the front porch, new shrubs dug up, $200 pool cover clawed and torn. The little dog yaps at us when we are in our yard. We have ten acres - he yaps at us even if we are on the back corner. Gimme a break! After the two big dogs killed another neighbor's little dog, I called to let them know that my son was coming in with his dachshund and would they please put their dogs up for two days/one night. Nope. Sigh...

These two big oaks are the same variety. Look at the green leaves! (That tree lost half of itself when the storm from Hurricane Rita passed through.)

We have leaves falling all winter into...

This went on all winter last year as Sam wanted to see how much trouble it would be to not cover the pool. Talk about a nuisance! When the skimmer basket gets full of leaves, water can't flow so it gurgles and burps until you dump the basket. Thirty minutes later, you've got to clean it out again. I kept asking him even through January and February before the catkins (blossoms) started falling in the spring to puleeze cover the pool. The cover is still not on the pool...

Clouds behind the front this Thursday.

And The Winner Is...

I woke at 6:30 this morning and got straight to work. After double checking the names and verifying that no one is a relative of mine or an employee of my company (oops....I don't have a company) or any of my subsidiaries (oh, no company - no subsidiaries), no one sent any bribe money or goodies or even chocolate - rats! I then started the ardous task of hand-writing all the names of the many people who entered this fabulous give-away opportunity.

After breakfast and watching my three quilting/sewing programs on PBS this morning, I read a chapter in a Sharon Sala book (my favorite new author). When I saw how late it had become, I showered and sorted laundry.

Oh, back to the task at hand. And the winner - drum roll - is.

Congratulations, Lindsay aka Saved Sinnr!!!

1st Anniversary Giveaway

I knew the competition would be hot and heavy! ;o) We are coming down to the wire. Friday, when we return from the drive across the Talimena Drive - yeah!!! - I will check back and have the names ready for Sam to do the drawing. Thanks for the compliments on my blog. I told "Your Son" about being called "fascinating." He laughed and said he had another word in mind. I know...he's not to far off from getting cut out of the will.

To celebrate the first birthday of my blog, I've decided to have a blog giveaway. For a chance at a machine embroidered patch for your motorcycle vest, just leave a comment. For a second chance, mention this on your blog (let me know so that I can come take a look). This is one of only four that I've made. While I 'designed' the layout, the embroidery designs were from http://www.annthegran.com/ .

I know that this will be a heavily sought after prize (LOL) and that the competition will be hot and heavy. I will do my best to keep up with your comments. Last date to enter will be Friday, November 7.

This is Sam's sewn on his vest.

Beautiful Day

What an absolutely beautiful fall day! We woke to temps in the mid-50s and it just got better - no higher than 77. After lunch, Sam and I took a ride and rode about a hundred miles. Before hitting the main roads, I told Sam I wanted to stop in the 'bottom' before getting to the farm-to-market road and 'shoot landings.' Well, the landings aren't the problem, it's the take-offs I'm having trouble with. I am so tired of stuttering, stumbling, burping, and killing the engine when I get started. Sure enough. First time I stopped and tried to start, I killed the bike three times. THEN, I realized that I wasn't in first gear. Sigh. Finally got going and was able to repeat several good starts until we got to the stop sign and the main road. I even did decent there! On the whole trip, I didn't have but two bad starts. Improving by baby steps - one at a time. Most importantly - I haven't dropped my bike since the first outing!

The scenery was absolutely gorgeous. So many trees are changing colors. Sam and I want to take a day car trip to Mena AR, drive across the Talimena Drive and then back home. We better hurry and do it before the color is gone. I don't think I could hold up to riding my bike that far right now...just one hour does me in. I also need to get something to exercise my clutch hand. It gets so tired; especially on winding farm-to-market roads like we were on today.

We stopped at a Sonic in Atlanta (TX not GA!). While we were sitting at one of the tables, one of the 'courtesy' employees asked if we needed napkins, mints, anything. Then she looked at me and asked if I road my own bike. I told her, "Yes." She smiled and said, "You go, girl!"

Oh, before I forget and I should've already posted this...friends in our H.O.G. chapter...their 17-year old son was killed in an auto accident earlier this week. Such a tragic loss. Please be praying for this family.

Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce

Delicious! No photo today, just too lazy to get the camera out. My first mother-in-law, Dorothy Jordan, taught me to make bread pudding with leftover biscuits...the cheap-o kind in the whampum cans in the dairy case at the grocery store. You need about a dozen of them. After breakfast, IF you have any left, just put them in a bag in the freezer until you have enough. If you don't have leftover biscuits, or if you are like me and make homemade biscuits, then just bake a can full. Wait until they are a day old before making the pudding.

BREAD PUDDING
12 buttered biscuits, day old
2 lightly beaten eggs
3/4 to 1 cup sugar
1/2 to 1 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch or two of salt
1 cup evaporated milk
1 cup boiling water
1 teaspoon vanilla
cinnamon sugar

Tear the biscuits into several pieces and place in a greased 2-quart baking dish. Mix eggs, sugar, cinnamon, salt, milk, and water and pour over biscuits. Let stand for 20 minutes. Add more milk if it's not mushy enough. (Mushy is a technical terms we domestic goddesses use.) Add vanilla and stir. Sprinkle with a good covering of cinnamon sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

RUM SAUCE
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup cream
2 tablespoons rum
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Stir sugar and butter in a heavy saucepan over medium heat until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes. Add cream, rum, and cinnamon and bring to a simmer. Simmer until sauce thickens and is reduced to 1 1/2 cups, about 5 minutes. Serve warm. Can be prepared a couple of days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Warm before serving.

Sam also like this over two scoops of Blue Bell's homemade vanilla flavored ice cream.

Happy Birthday to My Blog!

I can't believe I forgot to throw a party! My blog was one year old on October 28.

How about a "Happy Birthday" in the languages of my ancestry?!

Gaelic (Irish and Scottish): La-breithe mhaith agat!

Dutch (I had several choices here!): Ne gelukkege verjoardach!

German (Prussian): Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!

French: Joyeux Anniversaire!

Huh! Navajo listed, but not Cherokee...oh well.

And in the Queen's English! Parrrrtttteeeee!

Invitation to Supper

I worked at the library today while Earlene took her mother to a scheduled doctor's visit. About 4:30 I received a call from my sister-in-law inviting me to a supper of homemade beef stew. Well, yes! Sam was already there helping his brother, Elton, stub out the plumbing for a new metal building. (We are getting one built too, smaller and less plumbing. Sam already has his plumbing done, and the foundation people will be working the concrete for us tomorrow.)

When I got there and saw dessert, I asked for half a bowl of stew and half a slice of cornbread so that I could have a whole slice of brownie! Ah! Chocolate! One of the top necessary food categories! ;o)

Remodeled T-Shirt

Lately I have seen several women with so cute t-shirts that have buttons, beads, tiny shells, etc. sewn on them. I decided to do the same with a new long sleeved t-shirt I purchased at Wal-Mart for 7 or 8 dollars.

After sorting through my button stash, I positioned and repositioned the buttons until I had them where I wanted them. Then, using a washable glue stick, I glued them down. This morning (just because I didn't want to mess with it last night) I took a needle and thread and sewed the buttons down. I'm rather pleased with the results.

Speaking of things red...Sam and I were eating pizza last night. When a white-bearded gentleman with ample girth sat down, he caused quite a stir with two small little boys. Yes, he was really Santa Claus passing through on his way to the North Pole! He gave the parents his business card. When he receives letters from children, he writes back! Have your little ones send letters to:

Santa Clause

2371 CR 4660

Mt. Pleasant TX 75455

Socks on Circular Needles

LOL Does not work for me!

I have all the supplies, the book, beautiful Harmony wood needles from Knit Picks (http://www.knitpicks.com/knitting+needles.html) in sizes 1, 2, 3 and 4 with 40" cables. Sat down with two different color yarns just like the book said and started juggling needles, cable, yarn, tails, and everything else within arm's reach. This is not easy to do. Just look at this tangled mess I pulled out of my tote.

I struggled through and was determined to at least finish the two little socks I had started. First, I found the ladders. Big, wide ladders.



Then, I found THE hole.

Put everything back in my tote bag and went to my stash closet for that pretty variegated purple and red yarn I bought on clearance from Knit Picks last year. Ah, my beloved DPNs. When I first started with them last year I just knew that I would poke an eye out. Now they are like a long lost friend.



I WILL pick up the circular needles try 2 socks at a time again. At a later date. A much...much later date.