Monday, November 30, 2009

Do I Make You Proud?


This sweet video comes from my friend Kristi, who raises Leader Dog puppies for the blind.

Grab a Kleenex and enjoy!

Friday, November 27, 2009

Woodson More Than A Football Player

I am participating in Six Word Saturday, hosted by Cate at Show My Face.





If you read this blog, even a little bit, you know I'm a Packer Backer. And a Brett Favre fan.
Even when Brett is wearing purple. And I love to love Donald Driver too. But my eyes have been opened to another player, who is really amazing.

Charles Woodson is a little guy. But he is big in many ways. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1997, while a Junior at the University of Michigan. He took the award over such future football greats as Peyton Manning and Randy Moss. He became the first defensive player to win college football's most prestigious individual honor. But that is only the beginning.




Before the start of the Thanksgiving Day game between the Pack and the Detroit Lions, in Detroit, it was announced that Charles Woodson had given $2,000,000 to the new University of Michigan's Mott Children's Hospital.

He said his mom always gave her best to people, even when she had little to give. She is his role model. After he had his first child, he has wanted to make a difference in a deeper way than just playing football. "My reason for working so hard has always been to be a part of something great," Woodson said.

Charles Woodson is a very bright spot in a world of selfish, self-destructive professional athletes and musicians and actors in such abundance these days. Think I'll go out a buy a jersey!

If your kids want a sports hero to look up to, why look any farther than Charles Woodson?
(Did I mention that he is gorgeous, too?) Think I'm ready to let Brett go...






Black Friday

Look familiar?


I've only done this once. Went to Target at 4 in the morning, years ago, and cannot even remember what I was hunting for. I do remember that whatever it was, I did NOT get it. And made a resolution to stay in bed, digesting turkey and pumpkin pie, on all future Black Fridays.


But not this year. You see, now it is 3:25 a.m. and I just finished shopping online. I was in bed early, pooped from the long day of cooking and cleaning. My eyes popped open at 2:00 or so and could not get back to sleep. So I got online, to browse, and ended up with three great deals.


Wish I could tell you what they were, but my kids read this blog. (Hi, boys). Amazon had a Lightning Deal and I took it. Turns out that by the time I went back to shop some more, it was already gone. Saved 50% on something I was going to pay full price for in a store. Something that is never discounted. So I scored, and in my pj's, too!


So, after I congratulate myself, I'm having a piece of pumpkin pie, with lots of whipped cream, and going back to bed!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Crock Pot Stuffing

At Thanksgiving, when oven space is at a premium, I like to make my stuffing in the crock pot.

Another benefit of not preparing the stuffing in the bird is not having to worry about the internal temperature of the stuffing, to avoid possible food poisioning issues. That said, here's a very easy, fool proof crock pot stuffing recipe.



In 1 cup of butter, saute 2 cups each chopped onion & celery. Add 1/4 cup chopped parsley.
Season with:
1 tsp. poultry seasoning
1 1/2 tsp. sage
1 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. marjoram
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper


Pour this over 12 cups bread cubes.
Stir in 4 1/2 cups chicken broth, and 2 beaten eggs.
Mix well. Put in slow cooker.

Cook on High 45 minutes, or on Low 4-8 hours.

This basic recipe can be doctored any way you wish. I love the ease of using the crock pot. It is served from the crock pot, so it never has a chance to get cold and gummy on the buffet table!

Friday, November 13, 2009

The Boys & Their Boards/version 2

When I checked in this morning, I had three comments. Two were lovely comments from good followers who comment frequently. One was not. Turns out, it was spam. Porn spam.
If any of my readers opened it, I apologize! I now have word verification in place to eliminate the problem. Please let me know how the word verification is working, as my book tells me it is not seen by the author. Guess it was bound to happen sooner or later. What a world...







Today is the day Soccer Boy has been counting down to on his calendar. His brother comes home from college for the weekend. They are planning to eat junk, stay up late, play XBox and skateboard.

Longboard, excuse me!

I love this shot of them. Like peas in a pod. I hope that when I am long gone, they are still the best of buddies! That's what it's all about, after all.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Grammar Police


No, I'm not a teacher. Just an everyday user of the English language. And a bit of a detail freak.
Some would say a perfectionist. Others, worse.

So when I heard a local radio personality pushing a trip to the Caribbean recently, and excitedly proclaiming that "Travel Company XYZ has arranged for you to join my wife Amy and I," I cringed.

I could hear my Dad's voice gently correcting me, at least 40 years ago, after making just such an error. He would patiently ask me questions to get me to see my mistake, and lead me to correct it on my own. And no, Dad wasn't an English teacher. He sold houses and insurance.

So, Dear Local Radio Celeb, let's just say that for the moment, your wife was staying home.
(Sorry, Amy). Would you then say "Travel Company XYZ has arranged for you to join I?"

Didn't think so. Of course," you are invited to join Wife Amy and me on that lovely trip to the

Southern Caribbean." is how the ad should have been written. Lesson learned. Thanks, Dad!



Thursday, November 5, 2009

Dry Spell

Ok, it's November 6th and my last post was pre-Halloween! I'd call that a major dry spell.

How to get over a dry spell...hmmmm..........Think I'll have a beer first,







and then make some lists or something.

After dinner, (guests tonight) and the dishes are done, and homework checked and laundry folded. And it's a nice night, so maybe after the dogs get a little walk. Yeah, that's a good idea. Pretty soon, it'll be too cold to walk them.

Oh jeez, I have to run out and get turkey for Soccer Boy's lunch tonight too. And milk. Probably need to stop at the gas station first. Did I mail that bill today? Better run by the Post Office, too.

Probably be too tired to write after all that.

I can't even imagine what life was like for my Grandma. She did all this without a dishwasher, electric oven, washing machine, refrigerator, or car. Of course, she could pick veggies from her garden, or the root cellar, so she didn't need to run into town every day. And the turkey would have been one whose neck she chopped off, and whose feathers she plucked! The dog didn't need walking. He went down and brought the cows up to the barn twice a day for milking.


And she definitely would not have had a beer! It would have been a brandy.