My Reading Blog

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about my CHEF and his new stove.  In addition to that new stove, he got a smoker for his grill. He's been reading about smokin', watching the Food Channel, getting all his supplies and food together.  He told me to send out an e-mail to several of our neighbors and our best friends, asking them to be guinea pigs.  They promptly replied and said they would be delighted to come.  (They have sampled many of his meals before and none have disappointed them.) The pork butt roast was thawed as was the ribs.  The wood was soaked.  The meat was marinated.  Rain was in the forecast for Friday, so he decided he'd get everything going on Thursday and then warm it all up. He started his smoker at 9:00 a.m. and got the temp just right.  He put the roast and ribs on to start a slow cook.  He checked the temperature many times and fed it more wood.  Four hours later the ribs came off - smelling wonderful and lookin...

There's not many times that we can say "we had a perfectly delicious day" in the middle of August in the Ozarks, but Sunday was just that kind of day! I sat outside on the back patio, reading a book, watching the hummingbirds flit around wondering when I would leave so they could stop and take a drink. I sat on the front porch watching the butterflies and birds, listening to the cars passing by, lawn mowers purring, locusts chirping their song, watching the puffy clouds slowly moving across the sky and the man at the pond fishing without a care in the world. I took my glass of wine with me to sit by the pond, watching the dragonflies skim across the water, the fish jumping and making ripples in the smooth water. Feeling the cool breeze along with the warmth of the sunshine.  Feeling the presence of God in this moment - calm, peace, joy, happiness and wonder. A Perfectly "Delicious" Day that God has blessed us with in the middle of a hot and humid summe...

Deb Day pinned this thought on Pinterest and it gave me a slice: If you had a box labelled happiness, what would you put in it? Here's a few things to go in my Happiness Box: Chocolate & Wine    Travel      Ability to help others               Peace in our country and world                      Springtime, Fall - Sunshine and clouds, rain                              Water, Electricity, heat and air conditioning                                  Good health                                     Max, our dog and other pets                      ...

So many pictures over a short six years.   Which ones to choose?   So many of them together.  So few alone.   Some with Mommy,  Some with Daddy.   Grandma, Grandpa, Nana & Papa Some with smiles.   Some with frowns.   Walking, running, riding, reading.   Fun times,   Birthdays, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas.   Visits to Arkansas.   Vacations to Florida First Day of Preschool First Day of Kindergarten Flower girls Swimmers Ballarinas Tap dancers Then to add some journaling for when they look back at their childhood years. Some snippets that Mommy has captured on her blog Their stories have just begun and I can't believe all that they've accomplished in their first six years.  So much more to see and do.  (Keep the pictures and comments coming, Mommy!)

Hubby is the CHEF in our family - I assist with a little preparation (pulling ingredients out of the fridge).  Oh, and probably the most difficult - I have to decide what we're having. Hubby is an EXCELLENT CHEF - just ask me, our family, our friends. How he pulls this off, I haven't a clue.  I have never liked to cook, but if I have to, I can (minimally). When we lived in Illinois, we had a gas stove.  When we moved to Arkansas and lived in the country, everything was electric.  He wasn't happy, but still did a fabulous job of preparing delicious meals. When we moved to our new home last year, everything was still electric, but....  we were hooked up to the natural gas lines and they were in the house.  Now a year later, the decision was made - WE NEED (want) A GAS RANGE!  We have been looking off an on for the past month and finally decided that we (he) had found the PERFECT stove.  When we walked into the store, the saleman, of course, ...