VACATION!!!!!!

Well, the day has finally arrived when we will be leaving for vacation.  I think everyone needs some kind of vacation from time to time.  Otherwise we would all go insane. 
The bags are packed, car is loaded and I am sitting here waiting for Ray to get home so that we can leave. 

 

Relaxing

Peaceful

Calming

Restful

 

These are the only things that I want to concentrate on for the next several days!  No Schedules.  Leave the cares and worries of life behind and take a break from the daily grind. 
 

Air your brain out. 

Get refreshed and recharged.

So whether you have been, are getting ready to, or can't take a vacation away from home...Take time out to enjoy an evening, a sunrise, a sunset, a walk in the park, a picnic, an ice cream cone with a friend.  You get the picture.  Life is so busy.  Sometimes you have to make time stand still, seize the moment and breath.

Enjoy your Summer!

See you when I get back.

Random Pictures

 

This past week hasn't been anything really special. 

Just a normal week for the most part.

However the temperature did get crazy Thursday and Friday.  When the Central Air unit, the window A/C unit, ceiling fan, and two other fans are running and it is still in the 80's in the house....yes I think we can say that we have been having very hot weather. 

We had a thunderstorm last night and they are calling for more today and tomorrow.  Hopefully that will cool things off a little.

I downloaded some pictures off of my camera phone.  Just a couple things from around the house.

A new wreath for the door.  Nothing special just a simple ivy vine wreath, but the yellow bow makes it cheerful.

 

I have been so anxious (impatient is more like it) for our vacation.

So, I decorated my mantel with a beach theme.  The sign is one that my mom had bought for me.  There is a story as to why it is crooked.  The sign that I had there before only took one nail.  This sign takes two.  So, I went ahead and put it up there with the intentions of having Ray fix it for me.  Well, we didn't get around to doing that for a few days.  When I finally said something to him, he said "I like it that way.  It looks relaxed."  I have to say it has kind of grown on me too. 

So we just left it.

Everything looks and shows up better than it does in the picture.  Below are some close ups.

The candle holder that was free from Khol's.  Mom's battery operated pillar candle.  My Grandmother's sea shells.  I can still picture them sitting on the book shelf by the door, where she kept them.

I reused some glass jars that I had accumulated from the store.  The next time you buy something and it comes in a glass jar, keep it.  There are several uses for it.  I put sand in the bottom.  Found some blue rock air freshener from the Dollar Tree.  Some sea shells and candles.  Then I tied a piece of string around the tops.  A few sprigs of white daisies for a finishing touch.

 

I had a candle and some sea shells left over so they went on my kitchen table.  Look at those beautiful fresh tomatoes and avocado.  That's what I love about summer.

That is a silk flower that I had on hand.  It looks so real!

 

Pizza Burgers

So simple and so good.  Simply make your hamburgers.  Take a loaf of Italian or French bread.  Cut it in half and then in individual sizes.  Toast it in the oven for a couple minutes.  Remove from oven.  Add cheese to both sides.  Place hamburger on bread and top with pizza sauce and more cheese.

Put it back in the oven just long enough for cheese to melt.  Yum!

 

 



 

Strawberries!

 

A guy that works with Ray asked if I would make a cake for his daughter. 

I was told that she loves strawberries.

I did a strawberry cake with buttercream icing.  Put a strawberry filling in between layers and made chocolate covered strawberries for the top. 

There are more pictures under Cake.

Ray took it to work with him yesterday morning.  Last night he received a text from the guy saying that it was awesome.  He also sent a picture of what was left...just some crumbs.

Five more days to go before we leave!!!

Enjoy your summer!

No Dough Pizza

Yesterday Ray sent me an email with a recipe that a

friend had shared with him. 

It was intriguing but I wasn't completely on board for

making it for supper. 

Today however, I went to the store and bought the ingredients. 

Came home and made it and I am so glad that I did. 

It sounds strange and when you whip up

the bottom layer it looks strange...

but trust me you will be glad that you made it.

No Dough Pizza

Check it out under recipes

Hushpuppies

Here recently I just have not had much inspiration

for cooking and planning menus.

This evening was not any different.

I did have a bag of frozen shrimp in the freezer that I had

bought back when they were on sale.

So, I had my meat.  Now what to put with it. 

???

We have had rice, a regular staple in our house,

 for 2-3 nights straight. 

So that option wasn't appealing, same goes for pasta. 

 

French Fries!  Yes, that is what sounded good to me. 

 

So I finally had a plan...

Shrimp, French fries, coleslaw and hushpuppies.

 

I had gone to the store for a couple things so I thought that I would cheat and buy some frozen hushpuppies.  I just didn't feel like making them from scratch and the box mix was over $3 just for the dry ingredients.  I searched and searched...nothing.  It even took a long time to find the box mix.

 

Come on!  What is wrong with these northerners? 

???

 

I remember back when I was first married and tried to buy some.

I couldn't find them then either.

A friend had told me that

they were more of a Southern thing.

Well, I guess they are.

These people up here need to get with the program.

Don't they know that when you have fish and shrimp you have to have HUSHPUPPIES!!!