Just Another Day in Summer

I haven't written in forever, because I typically steer clear of political posts.  But, I also generally write about the things I see and hear going on around me.  As a result, I have just kept my mouth shut lately!  That's quite a feat for me, indeed.

Flower has spent most of the summer at her dad's house out in South Carolina, but thankfully she will be home in less than a week!  I know she is having fun, but, I prefer having all my little chicks in my coop.  It has given me the opportunity to completely redo her room the way she has been begging for it to be done.  Hot pink, black, white, and music.  Barb Wire Man isn't too keen on the hot pink, but such is the life when you have a 10 year old daughter!

I've been putting a ton of energy into my garden this year, too.  If you've read much of this blog, you know that I'm cheap.  I'm cheap, and I like to make sure I have lots of food in my home all the time.  And it looks like I may be canning a ton of food soon.  This year, I have squash (which is putting out faster than a rabbit), jalapenos, radishes, carrots, beets, okra, cherry tomatoes, large tomatoes, onions, strawberries, green beans, rhubarb, and okra.  Closer to the end of summer I will also put some lettuce in.  Hopefully I'm going to be able to make lots of spaghetti sauce, salsa, some pickles, and some strawberry jam!

I know it is still a ways off, but Barb Wire Man and I are also planning our 10th anniversary!  We have about 2 years, but are planning a vow renewal ceremony.  I'm sure I will write a post on it later, but the long and short of it is, we came to the conclusion that we must spend more time focusing on us.  

That's it for today.  I'm sitting outside in 100 degree weather, watching Little Man play in the kiddie pool, and Barb Wire Man will be home soon.  I'm keeping cool with a delicious beer.  Maybe several delicious beers, but that is beside the point!

Be blessed today!

A Very Geographical Supper

I love my husband, but let me tell you, he is picky.  And not just your run of the mill picky, either.  That man is picky.  Among the things he can't stand are anything not beef (excluding fried ham and bacon), unless it is roast, which he also cannot stand.  If a dish has onions it in, it is no-go, and anything that has green peppers, avacado, artichoke, olives, and mushrooms is entirely out of the question.  Does the dish have cheese in it?  Better be mozzarella, chedder, or colby, and if he even thinks there might be sour cream, feta, or cottage cheese in it, he won't touch it.  Eggs?  Yeah right.

My cooking life kinda stinks.  No Pinterest recipes for me, for the most part.  I can usually tell, just by looking at the picture, if it is something Barb Wire Man will or will not eat.  I have my tried and true recipes I know he will eat, and I rarely stray very far from them.  I figure, the man works his butt off for us, so the least I can do is make sure he has a meal he will enjoy when he gets home.  But it gets so boring for a person like me, who will eat just about anything.  In fact, I can only think of three things I cannot stomach: green peas, gorgonzola cheese, and blue cheese.  That is all.  

I did branch out a little, however, and tried a couple of new Pinterest recipes Tuesday night.  

Mississippi Roast - by far, the best roast I have EVER eaten.

Source: bergecentral.blogspot.com via Emily on Pinterest

Our menu was Mississippi Roast (from Pinterest), Arkansas green beans (also from Pinterest), and roasted carrots (totally made up in my head, spur of the moment).

Friends, I love roast, and I love my plain-jane, tried and true roast.  But I don't think I will ever make it that way again.  Because this Mississippi roast was uh-maz-ing.  Best part of all was even Barb Wire Man liked it.  He even went so far as to say it was good.  Normally the response is "Well, I was hungry, so I ate it."  He did say it was a bit too salty, and I agree.  Since no salt is added, I think I may toss a potato in to absorb some of the salt.

The green beans were delish.  Flower and I both had two huge helpings.  Barb Wire Man didn't even say anything at first, he just looked at me, nodded his head, and said "MMM."   Healthy?  Yeah, I wouldn't go that far, but definitely worth it!  One word of caution, however.  It makes a lot of green beans.  We will probably have them for lunch tomorrow.  And supper again tomorrow night.  And we will probably still have left overs!

I think I scored a home run this time!

You can click on the pictures, or the links on the names, and they will take you directly to the blogs with the recipes.  I cannot recommend them enough!  

Arkansas Green Beans....yum, Yum, YUM!

Source: nancycreative.com via Emily on Pinterest