Tis the Season

Thanksgiving is in 3 days, or 2 depending on how you count. Where did this year go? Sheez! I've cooked many a meals in many different ovens over my 29 years (yes, I'm still in my twenties!) and many a times I have never had enough cooking space. The stove top burners, oven, slow cooker, grill, the space is always so limited. Or at least it is on my budget. 

To the rescue comes this multi-tier oven rack from Sur la table. Problem solved and at such a great price too! I can image this contraption coming to the rescue allowing us to cook more than one dish at a time in that hasty effort to get the food on the table before another dish gets cold or guests get cranky. 

Good luck with the beginning of what I hope will be many holiday dinners and gatherings for this season!

Cheers!

Happy Father's Day

First watch this one.....

Then watch this one second....

Thank you to my wonderful Dad for being the best man that I know. I love you with all my heart. Thank you to my Grandpas, Uncles, my Father-in-Law, and all the men out there who love their children and act as that 'father figure' to others. 

Cheers. 

Another year older...

Happy Birthday, O Captain, MY Captain! 

I'm so very proud of you; your accomplishments, attitude, goals and your life in general. You continuously amaze me with your love and support, with your ever present positive outlook, and your endeavor for improvement.

I like you. A whole lot. 

Happy Birthday!

Love, J

Salty Air

Recently, we vacationed in one of our most favorite places on Earth, enjoying 4 days of salty, sunny bliss. 

The Captain caught a 3 ft baby Hammerhead Shark. It was awesome. Surprised us all in relatively shallow water with frozen shrimp. We cut the line and wished him well. 

I caught no less than a dozen puffer fish throughout the day.

Still smiling 5 years, 1 month and 2 days to the hour in the place.

                                                                                   

Cheers. 

To Bartlesville Who Raised Us

It seems like years ago but that's just because I stalk people on facespace instead of updating my blog. However, earlier last month I got to meet the lovely Ree during her latest book signing in Midtown.

Most of you would know her as The Pioneer Woman from her blog but I found out about her while living in Hawaii as we are from the same hometown, Marlboro Man and the ranch being a mer hour or so away. I still enjoy her love of Oklahoma and enjoy her cooking but find her blog to have become pretty commercialized with a lot of other contributers. 

So, book signing, disappointed also. She came out said hello, answered 4 questions and sat down with her pen. Granted, there were at least a couple hundred people with line assignments, many with more than one book, however I would have thought it a bit more enjoyable to hear her read an excerpt. I appreciate her awareness of how long the evening was going to be but a funny story or an Ethel impersonation would have been fun!

I introduced myself and stated how nice it was to see another Bartin around the area. She was shocked and I explained how I do live her, and we chatted about the hometown, how she thought I looked like one of her friends' sisters, how my FIL and her Dad were work colleagues, and how I chat with Mike when I meet my SIL for lunch at the hospital cafeteria. She was a lovely lady. We smiled for what I consider a great picture, I'm terribly critical of myself, and away I was ushered. 

Overall, it was nice. I was happy to meet her. Marlboro Man was there also but I don't like myself in those photos so you don't get to see them. 

Cheers!

Of all the weekends...

The lineup for the 2011 Beale Street Music Festival (BSMF) was announced today and it made me elated for about 10 minutes, then I more closely looked at the dates.

MGMT. In my backyard. Freakin' awesome. Rockin' out on Friday night, after Cake, after The Flaming Lips---yes please!

The whole lineup looks much more awesome than last year. I'm not a fan of Earth, Wind and Fire or Bret Michaels. Bigger headliners this year, or at least in my musical world.

I could totally take a nap all morning to recover from getting up 4 AM to watch William and Kate get married. However, the Captain is a groomsman in his best friends wedding that weekend 2 states away. Doh.

I shake my fist at those that plan REALLY COOL things in the Memphis area the one weekend I can not and will not change my plans.

For those of your that are going to be in the area, or wouldn't mind a drive (I promise it will be worth it!) check out the website. Just don't send me a postcard telling me how awesome it was.

Fingers crossed for next year.

Cheers!

Lately....

The Captain and I went on a vacation where were used 4 whole bottles of sunscreen. None less than 30 SPF. I'm a fan of bronze skin but not skin cancer, and since it's only February we didn't need to get burnt yet, so we lathered up and enjoyed ourselves. All of these varieties of sunscreen, the sun, sweating, salt water, etc resulted in a breakout of the undesired kind on our faces. Thank God for concealer!

After 5 years of moving from Norman to Hawaii to Portland to Memphis (with more homes in each location) we payed off our credit card! Hip-Hip-Hooray! That piece of plastic has saved our butts numerous times and allowed us to do what we needed to do when we needed to do. However, it also was the root of many heated discussions, angry nights, worrisome weeks, and stress. We are no longer a salve to the lender and feel a great relief off of ourselves. We did it!! Now to knock out the rest of my school debt....

Weather has been sporadic lately. Sunny and gorgeous one day ending in an evening enjoying patio dining with some friends. The next overcast and 50. Rain, no wait, now it's muggy sunshine. Hooray for springtime! The daffodils are blooming and I can't get enough of their fragrant smell.

My dog is still scared of thunderstorms. As well as the sweeper, hair dryer, real fires, football, and heated discussions. She will however, eat anything.

Reading from my Kindle is very enjoyable. I loaded it up with books for our trip and it was so much more enjoyable than lugging 30 lbs of books because I'm never sure what kind of mood I'm going to be in.

I need a pedicure. And to quit biting my nails. And to quit procrastinating from my job related work that needs done and didn't take a vacation!

The Captain and I reversed sleeping roles over our time in Florida. I was struggling to stay awake past 9 AM but ready to start my day by 7, he however stayed up till midnight every night. At least we balance each other out!

Cheers!

Snow Daze

First the snow graced us with a lovely couple of inches that weren't good for making snowpeople. 

Though Callie and I enjoyed it. 

No, I don't like to take down my Christmas decorations. The wreaths stayed up till the snow started to melt. Satisfied?

We then got a snow fall that lasted a whole 2 hours in the bight sunshine and looked like a cotton field.

            Now, I'm ready to grill out. You bringing the steaks? 

Above are pleasant stories of lovely snow. Stay tuned for photos of destructions. Hope you are staying warm wherever you might be!

Cheers!

Comment on my blog, not facespace

  The Memphis Weather Blog I check posted this map of snow and ice fall to expect in the next few days. Of course Memphis is supposed to get light rain on Tuesday. Which coincidently is Groundhog day, so for a free spicy chicken sandwich from Chick Valet, monitor the shadow!

But back to the weather....nothing in Memphis. On one hand, I'm thankful. The winter weather ruins my workout plans because the gym classes are cancelled if school is. Lame. Yoga and Zumba @ Heartsong have also been cancelled in the past month due to winter weather. I am of course, thankful the instructors are cautious and concerned for our well-being but if the gym is open and well as most businesses, the instructors should be there. I need motivation to get to the gym!

On the other hand, I want snow! Snow that will keep The Captain home and allow or rather encourage him to romp through the snow with Callie and I and slide on the ice. Unfortunately the airline industry is a 366 day a year job, 25/8.

So as one sister enjoys -5 degree weather in North Dakota, another is enjoying snow days working for the Ark City School System, and my brother is doing lots of praying school is cancelled a little further south, I'll be hanging out here in Memphis amazed at how the weather changes and is so different one state east and on the other side of the Mississippi.

Cheers.

We ship boxes!

I would like to clarify that I am from a brown family. My Dad has been a driver for over a decade. My brother (in-law technically) owns 2 stores and is in negotiations for his 3rd. My sister (in-law technically) is a UPS commercial superstar around the Northeast Oklahoma area. My niece said she didn't like to fly into Memphis because there were too many purple planes.

 However, I do live in Memphis, therefore I turn a little purple every once in a while. As it is, it was a sad day in our area yesterday as news came across the lines that we no longer were the busiest airport for cargo transportation. The title now belongs to the Hong Kong Airport whom transported 4.1 million metric tons. Our 3.9 million metric tons just couldn't compete. 18 years was a good run though!

Cheers!

Excessive Strength

I love Post-its. I'm very thankfully Romy and Michelle invented them. My world would be lost without them. Perhaps not lost, but at least more dull, less colorful, unorganized.

However, I am not a fan of the new and improved super sticky ones. They have excessive strength and often are hard to get off the paper and sometimes take the top layer with them. I can never seem to find pretty colored ones, no original yellow for me, in the fan-pop-up ones for my dispenser. So I have to get the super sticky ones. All for the sake of color. The sacrifices I make for happiness.

It is supposed to be near 65 degrees here tomorrow, though I'm sure we will get more snow next week! It's been crazy weather time here this year. Maybe it will get my skin used to seeing the sun for our escape in a couple of weeks. W00t W00t

Cheers.

Must Protect this House

My delightful little four-legged black daughter barks at everything when in our backyard. No more than 3 seconds after we let her outside she is barking, at what we have no idea. At all hours of the day and night. It is rather unnecessary.

So...facts: She has always been an inside dog but has spent extended periods outside. She is spoiled but can go camping without an RV or hotel.

Fact: I don't want to eliminate barking FOREVA because I still need the guard dog aspect, within a reasonable definition.

Fact: We have wooden privacy fence in the current backyard, our dog barks. Dog left in backyard over 3-day weekend, returned to have neighbors complaining that she barked till nearly midnight every night. They then think she just wore herself out or she would have continued.

Fact: Our house was not broken in to that weekend. There was not a murder most foul nor vandalism.

Fact: Home prior to had a wooden privacy fence, dog did not bark as much. Dog was left in backyard many times over the weekend with no problems or complaining from neighbors. Minus the time the cops were called because there wasn't enough shade.....another story. There was shade.

Fact: Our current housing situation is one of those where the backyard borders the alley/street. Garage is in the back of the house, unlike 'normal' houses where garage in front or on side, does that make sense?

Fact: Previous place of residence backyard bordered other backyards.

Fact: We live in a gated community (I know, we are soooo rich...but we don't have a limo). Therefore, we don't have lots of traffic and it's usually the same elderly ladies with their dogs or the same vehicles going down our back street.

Fact: Callie has sniffed every single post box, fire hydrant, rock, sidewalk, and dog we meet. Numerous times. She loves to meet people and other animals. Except when they nip at her.

Fact: She does not bark at the front facing part of the yard.

Therefore is she seeing more action through the wooden planks that she can't comprehend enough to know there is only one car going down the street? I'm not really sure but it has to be gotten under control. We have weekends at the lake which will be occurring on a regular basis in approximately 3 1/2 months where she will need to stay in the backyard. We also have trips planned in the meantime and I can't be worrying about cranky neighbors and an excessively barking dog.

So does anyone have any suggestions? Shock collar is not accepted.

The Capitan is going to tape black garbage bags or a dark tarp on the inside of the fence which hopefully will eliminate confusion on what her eyes see through the planks. Perhaps that will fix it?

I saw this Dog Spray Bark Control Collar at PetCo earlier and wondered about it. I have a friend who suggested I look into. Has anyone tried it or heard anything? I tried to read reviews from Amazon but the posts at the bottom were about whether atheists have dogs or condemning people for breeding puppies that are going to end up in shelters getting put to death. It was way off topic and weird.


Fact: At least I don't have 2-legged kids! 'Barking' all night in the backyard would be the least of my concerns-chuckle. :)

Cheers.

The Power of an Iron Skillet

For Christmas, the majority of the gifts I received were cooking related. Cookbooks, serving trays, warming trays, utensils, knives, deep fryer, immersion blender, and the likes. A cake carrier, lotions, polka dot galoshes, socks, Burts Bees products, gift cards, yoga mat and bag as well as measuring spoons shaped like flowers. Also included was cast iron skillet and a dutch oven. I'm pretty sure there was only one thing on my list I didn't get. Very blessed am I.

The first time I cooked in my skillet it was cheesy fried potato and apple hash. Trust me it's seriously yummy. However, the heat was turned up to high and I let it sit to long before I stirred it which caused the bottom layer to burn.

The first time I cooked in my dutch oven it was loaded baked potato soup. Intensely thick and just the right amount of creaminess and potato chunks. After the first servings were emptied into our bellies, we turned the back on the stove to warm the soup up again. After we dipped our second helpings up, the heat stayed on and of course I again under estimated the power of the iron cookware.

Point being: I love cooking with my cast iron ware. It adds a certain flavor and warmth to the food. However, it responds differently to heat and I need to pay closer attention to that or I'm going to end up burning things more often. It would remind the Captain of our first year of marriage though-HA!

Side note: this was also the week that I made homemade cheesy rosemary bread which didn't properly raise. It was heavy, very heavy. We didn't eat much of it so perhaps it was an off week for this cook in the kitchen.

I try. I also love cheese.

Cheers!

Come Rain or Come Shine

Five years ago today I became 'Mrs. Krause' on a very windy, very happy, very perfect day. 

Thank you for a novel worthy five years, babe! 

I love you!

More Candles

My  birthday is tomorrow and I wear a size 6. Oh wait...there is a slightly different version in red and I REALLY love red. I always feel jipped on my birthday. Everyone has over spent their budget on Christmas. They are worn out from Christmas cards and remembering to get gifts for everyone on their list. They are partied out from the holidays, food, friends and family and the weather is a big encourager of vegging out in flannel pants in front of the fire. The grunge of reality and school is bringing everyone down that I seldom receive the excitement for the day of my birth as I wish.

I do have some very good memories of birthdays in the past, of sleepovers, laughter, angel food cakes, and many times not having school to attend. However, because this is my blog and I have had a headache all day, I can focus on the negativity of my day. I can focus on the fact that important people have failed to call me on my birthday. I can vent about how people take the easy way out and give me $20 because they can't think of anything that I didn't get for Christmas that I would like. Way lame. I can post about how I never got to take cupcakes to school on my birthday and about how working from home sucks in that I won't have coworkers to take me out to lunch tomorrow or surprise me with a cake. I can vent about how my husband gives me a hard time because I'm hardcore birthday and I like balloons, singing, breakfast in bed, and not having dishes, laundry, floors or poop to scoop and special surprises that don't break the bank because yes, I over spent on the holidays as well.  I can vent about how I miss my college bars which would provide at least 3 new shirts for the next year. I can vent about how all my gifts are received within a month (Christmas, Birthday, Anniversary).  I get greedy.

Unfortunately I'm terribly blessed. Because the people who call me far outweighs those who just text or forget. Because I have a husband who will sing the birthday song for the 42nd time and take me wherever I want for my birthday dinner even if I end up only wanting to sit at home with a bottomless glass of wine and solve crimes. Because I have wonderful parents who birthed me out less than 30 yrs ago on a cold night with a full moon and provided a wonderful life molding whom I am today.

I can't party at this pity party for too long. Besides I just remembered that I forgot to pick up the cake and icing mixes for my birthday cake while at the market today. Kroeger is calling!

Cheers!