Egg Nog Cinnamon Rolls

This morning the kids asked for cinnamon rolls.  We use canned biscuits: flatten them out, smear with 1/4 C melted butter, 1/4 C cinnamon & 1/2 C sugar, roll them up, slice & cook.  After getting them in the oven I realized we didn't have powdered sugar to make icing :(  

TIP:  Always check your ingredients BEFORE starting.

 hmmm, sugar & milk = icing....what can we substitute?   syrup was a no-go...

!! Egg nog ??  YES!  It's delicious!  put a little eggnog over the cinnamon roll, throw it in the microwave for a few seconds & yummy Christmas snackage!

My first successful batch of pralines!

I can't tell you how many times my mama tried to explain the soft ball stage, guess it finally sunk in with the help of a YouTube video, haha.

The shiny ones came out first, the scratchy looking ones were the last. Now to lick the bowl!

 

Pronunciation Guide for folks who aren't from around here ;)

pecans = puh cahns

pralines = prah leens

technically speaking you don't have to say 'pecan pralines', if there aren't pecans in them they are a different kind of candy :)

 

The recipe is from the 2012 'A Country Christmas' put out by the Lauderdale County MSU ExtensionService

 

Easiest Pecan Pralines

1 lb box brown sugar

1 c. whipping cream

2 c. pecan halves

2 T. butter

 

Stir together brown sugar and whipping cream in a 4-quart micorwave safe bowl.  Microwave on HIGH for 5 minutes; stir well.  Microwave one more minute.  Remove mixture from microwave; stir in pecan halves and butter.  Stir one minute or just until candy starts to lose its luster.  Working rapidly, drop by rounded teaspoonful's onto waxpaper; let stand until firm.  Makes about 3 dozen.

 

TIPS:

*I had to put the mix back in the microwave for about 6 more minutes for the candy to harden.

*I've used dark brown sugar and light brown sugar, both are yummy.  Dark brown has a little more intense molasses flavor. 

*You can use evaporated milk instead of whipping cream. 

*You're cooking to the soft ball stage.  That's when you drop about half a spoonfull of the syrup into icy cold water and it can be formed into a soft ball that will hold it's shape but is still squishable.

Red's moving in!!

I saw you pull up with that noisy trailer, where are we going this time? 

 

 

 

Are we there yet?

 

 

 

I wouldn't show my face either if my mane looked like yours.

 

 

 

Home at last!

Can somebody shut this dog up?  She's harshing my meadow.

 

 

 

Christmas tree hunt

Make your own travel mug

fixer upper: fast forward about 18 years...

Our crooked little house

 



 

 Like the bricks?  They're hiding an ugly secret....

 Please notice how someone cut a hole in the front of the house to install the A/C.  Beats a fan, I guess :D


but this is the real reason we are here....

Fixer Upper: The story of Sugar Daddy & me

        You know that thing about hindsight being 20/20?  hahahahhahaha 
                I
Before Sugar Daddy & I were 'we', I was on Active Duty and lived WAAYYYY out in the woods in a rented trailer (super cheap rent, btw).  A handsome, young Engineer Officer (before he was Sugar Daddy) kept urging me to 'build a house'- 'don't rent if you can own' -  He wanted to get into the construction business but being young and needing practical experience, offered to act as my General Contractor for the OJT/work cred. 

          footnote:  Does everyone know what a General Contractor does?  He is the person who works for the homeowner, in charge of the workers that build your house; he makes the HOME OWNER's wishes a reality:
     HomeOwner, "I wish my kitchen had an artsy, mosaic tile backsplash"
     GC:    "OK, I can make that happen!  How much do  you want to spend?"
     HO:  "I wish my house had 14 doors opening onto a back patio with a heated inground lap pool with palm trees, a cabana & a monkey"
     GC:   "OK, I can make that happen! How much do you want to spend?"
     HO:  " I wish _________________________...."
     GC:  " your wish is my command, write the check"

 Having long lived the life of a wanderer, I couldn't imagine being tied to a house and SO NEVER TOOK HIM UP ON THE OFFER  <hindsight: significant decision>. 

Perfuming letter

TIP: if spritzing perfume on a letter, lick the envelope first :P

I wonder if Sugar Daddy reads my blog....

We have been invaded

Snoozin' in the sun

Now that's a Nail

Handy tool!

Gotta love a magnet on a stick!!

Sugar Daddy is working hard for my horse

This auger thing makes it easier but still not easy. Imagine what my Papaw had to do to put up a fence!

Sunday morning view from the shed

View from my new shed

True love: Sugar Daddy put a special window in the back corner just for me <3

This shot from inside the old shed makes me wonder what in the world chewed its way in here?!?

Does your horse eat acorns?

I guess if its good enough for deer & turkey..,

Brrrr

Little quilts

These were the grand prizes for the marathon winners. The fastest time was a 45 yo woman from Texas: 26.2 miles in 3:32:43!!!

Here we go!

Forgot my time already but it was around 3:40. I'm too tired to think, lol

Alone time & marathon prep

Kids r gone to school, Sugar Daddy is working & I'm alone at the house for the first time in...,forever. Kinda strange to spend the morning however I want to, lol.

That's slightly misleading, I have 4 art quilts to bind & quilt TODAY!!!! I have to be at packet pickup from 2-8 this afternoon, I've arranged for Littlesis to bum a ride (thanks E!!), BigBro works 2-8, (I have no idea where the rest of the LEOs are hiding themselves);

its amazing how many people & details SugarDaddy has pulled together to make this race happen!

huge thank you to msA & LEO Prez E, who picked up all the race food last night; I have all the runners' fruit & buns stacked in my kitchen!

huge thank you to MrD, who helped with packet pickup last night & has all the perishables squeezed into his freezer & case of drinks in the bed of his truck;

Huge thank you to Mr & Mrs Q for coordinating the music & children's activities.

Huge thank you to Bonita Running club for guidance & 'specially MsE for helping with packet pickup!

These r just the few folks I dealt with last night, I know there are dozens more who've contributed their time and energy to making this marathon happen!

And let's not forget the runners!!!!

Check out the website for a full list of sponsors & more details!!

Www.leoruntoremember.org

Murphy's law of crafting & epic pixie stick info!!

When you are in a hurry to straighten up your work area, you will spill a big bag of sequins.

Ever notice how they seem to suck themselves down to the floor?


                                   *****IMPORTANT PIXIE STIK INFO******
Those wonderful, devilish little pixie sticks! full of almost unattainable sugary goodness :(
I've spent my life trying to gnaw them open with my teeth while trying not to slobber on the open end subsequently gumming up the flow.

Thanks goes out to my candy lovin' son who came home from school today with this tip:

                                                                     PINCH HERE!!!! :o

 

now just keep your lips off the end ;)

Look what almost came home with me

Found this sweet little girl @ the barn, apparently dropped off.

She followed me about 1/2 a mile to Red's water tank & back, squalling every step. Called around, nobody knew anything about her so threw her in the truck where she proceeded to make herself at home.

Drove home trying to figure out how to merge little kitty into our two-crazy-dog family; Stopped to get gas & a lady there didn't hesitate to open her heart & home to her. YAY!! A blessing for them both, I hope. (I left my # with her, jic)

4 mile day

Ran 4 while babysis was practicing soccer, Last 'long' run before the marathon Saturday. 2 miles Wednesday, 2 water aerobics Thursday, Friday off.

How do u dress for running in cold weather? I have a Long sleeved T-shirt & my crazy long leggings: First I was cold then I warmed up, then I was too warm now I'm cold again. Fixing to go sit in the truck, at least i'll be out of the wind

Sneak peek

Playing around with some mixed media quilts

WINDOWS!!

woo-hoo! the shed is now weather tight & the junk under the red barn has a home :)

 

 

I love this pic of Red!  I can't wait til he's home with us, Time to string some fence

 

Running Update:  no running this past week, I've been puny since the 8-miler :(

Actually taught water aerobics from the deck Thursday, that was a first for me.

Back to the jogging tomorrow:  4 miles 

Sugar Daddy (add "trainer" to his resume) suggests shorter runs (since I'm coming off a sick) from now til the marathon

meteor showers tonight!!

http://stardate.org/nightsky/meteors

of course, the best time to view is the early morning hours before dawn, hopefully I won't be awake then, lol.

ETA: (Sunday a.m.) the kids & I lay in the yard & saw about 5-6 meteors last night. Sugar Daddy & I went out this morning & saw a couple meteors, Venus & a satellite then SD hollered 'SKUNK!', jumped up & ran to the back door. I'm all tangled in quilts, trying to get up (trying not to spook the skunk) looking around, "where?where?"
Come to find out, he SMELLED a skunk. (All i could smell was the dog who'd been laying on the quilt) After my heart slowed back down (& he went inside) all I could hear were the legions of skunks searching thru the yard for me so I had to give it up.
.
Got the roof on the shed today, AT LAST!!  WOO-HOO!   What's left before we can cram it full of our junk?  windows, window trim, caulk & paint!  To be totally honest, I don't think the window trim, caulk & paint are going to hold me back, lol.

New oatmeal idea...

Caramel

Ooo, next time I'll try it in apple cinnamon!

need blogger advice...

I've almost figured out how to add a picture to my header BUT Blogger keeps turning my picture sideways...what am I doing wrong?

I've tried rotating the original thinking Blogger would rotate it into the proper orientation but no-go.

I've tried different sized pictures but still no difference.  Any suggestions are appreciated :)

Sitting @ soccer practice

I've gotten spoiled by Bigbrother driving Lilsis around. Now when he's working I've got to remember to have some entertainment on hand for these long practices.

Picked up 2 extra water aerobic classes this morning, worked some of the soreness out of my legs. I think I'll give myself one more day to recover before my next run.

8 miles this morning

And I'm pretty much useless for anything else today. I'm beginning to question the wisdom of this 1/2 marathon idea, lol

I ran by this house, I wish the weeds in my yard looked this pretty

should I make different posts for diffferent subjects?

Today was quilt guild & I was able to catch the last hour.  I hope noone cared I was still dripping from teaching 2 classes of water aerobics.  I really miss getting together with my little local group!


One of my 'invisible' friends, Carolyn (from the HGTV Quilting and Needlework site) sent me this adorable little hussif.  LOVE the dragon fabric! 

 

Love the colors!  The orange lace trim looks like dragon fire to me :D

This little beaded dragonfly was a kit she included, super cute!

 

The awesome dragon charm was also included & I added it to scissor fob I was gifted at the Circle of Friends retreat in Branson (I'm sorry, I don't remember from who)

Important stuff

This is good stuff & an ABSOLUTE necessity for runners whose thighs rub together (thanks Sugar Daddy!)

 

 Mississippi wildflowers @ 4 mph

 

 Mississippi wildflowers @ 0 mph