Cranberry Pecan Bars

Last night I decided to cook supper, because we seem to be eating out way too much, lately! We had broiled Pork chops with Barbeque sauce, a quick tossed salad, pan fried red potatos and onions, and Cranberry Pecan bars (pictured) for dessert. I got my recipe for the Pork Chops and the Cranberry bars out of Taste of Home magazine, which I have subscribed to since they began. I have one whole kitchen drawer dedicated to just hold these magazines! I can look through these any time, and be inspired with something to cook!

GrandTwin photo update!

"Ohhhhhh, pretty"! (GrandTwin #1)
"Hey mom....are you sure this thing doesn't bite"? (GrandTwin #1)

"These bubbles tickle!" (Grandtwin #2)

"Me and my rubber Ducky" (Grandtwin #2)

DD took these photos for a baby photo contest.

Whether or not they win, they are the cutest in Grandmommy's book! :)

Christy over at My Best Friend calls me Martha has really been inspiring me (crochetwise) lately. She has two different projects that I want to try. The crochet purse Halle is carrying in today's post (pattern for a similar one is in Ravelry, here), and a Lion toy she crocheted a while back, here. Michelle at Mik Knits, Crochets & Quilts, too has also been a sewing inspiration lately. Look at the cute curlers she found to make in her post today! Oiyi is also finding new things to sew, go check it out!

Tag you're it!

I've been tagged for a meme by Maizee.

Here are the rules:
1. Link back to the person who tagged you
2. Mention the rules on your blog
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking to them
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged bloggers blogs letting them know they've been tagged.

Six unspectacular quirks of mine:

1. I like organization!
2. I like to hear from my (grown) kids once a day (I have been known to become obsessive about it, just ask my daughter!)
3. I love fantasy movies and reading (A LOT).
4. I hate Spiders & Snakes (A LOT)!
5. I like driving my cars till the wheels fall off (seriously! My current vehicle, a 1994 Toyota Camry, has 330,000 miles on the only engine it has ever had! I'm hoping to reach at least 400,000!)
6. I like garage sale shopping!

I am going to tag:

1. Fiona, at Inkberryblue
2. Oiyi of Oiyi's Crafts
3. Christy at My best Friend calls me Martha
4. Christina at Little Wilds
5. Karen at Karen's Knitting and Crochet Parlor
6. Susan at Zenknit

That was then, this is now

Look closely. Does this look like the same kitchen to you? The top photo was taken in 2003, when we were considering whether or not to buy the house. The bottom photo was taken just a few minutes ago, 2008. I like to think that our constant hard work in remodeling is showing, I think these photos prove me right!

A Tale of Two Sinks.....

or better known as my weekends of treasure hunting.

The sink shown above has been in my kitchen for exactly 40 years! (Note the "retro" harvest gold color!) How do I know it has been here for 40 years? My SIL's father built the house himself, plus, on the bottom of the sink last night when DH took it out to replace it, he saw a date of 02/68 on the bottom. I found the sink in the photo below at a Garage sale yesterday, faucet and all, for $20.00. DH (being the absolutely fabulous handy-man that he is), put it in for me last night. The lady at the sale told us the sink was about a year old, and that she just wanted a different one.
The bench above was purchased a couple of weekend's ago for $20.00. It has storage under the seat, and it is my plan to paint the bench, make a seat cushion and some pillows, then place it in our mud room. The T.V. is a purchase we happened upon yesterday for my SIL. SIL's t.v. had gone out on her, and we purchased it for a mere $10.00. It has a great picture and works just fine!

TGI Friday!

This has seemed like the longest week for some reason! I am glad to see the weekend!

The photo above is Thai tea and Thai Coffee with Boba. Yum! We get this at our local Vietnamese restaurant (named "My Lan" over in Haltom City) where we love to go at least once a week. I've been on some kind of coffee kick this past week (I don't normally go anywhere near coffee). Another good recipe can be found here on Michelle's blog that tastes a lot like the iced coffee from McDonalds. Fast, easy and soooooo good! DH can drink a whole pan full in a day by himself, if I let him!

Here is a sneak peek at the "mystery crochet" baby project. I'm still not finished with it, but am still working to get 'er done!

In work related news, my other co-worker finally arrived yesterday. I have been waiting for her to transfer for six weeks! We worked together at the other branch, and when she applied for the second job that was open where we are now, the boss at the old branch REFUSED to let her transfer for six weeks, out of spite! You see now one of the reasons that we both wanted out so badly......

Over the Hill

DH had a birthday this week, and now he's officially "over the hill". We had a "surprise" family party the night before his birthday, with the obligatory black balloons and "over the hill" cake.

The next night (his real birthday), we ate at a quiet restaurant nearby, then he got to open his birthday goodies from Cabela's.

Still not any crafting going on around here lately. The heat in Texas this year has been intense, and doesn't make me want to pick up yarn, but I'm beginning to WANT to pick up yarn, and that is a step in the right direction! I still need to finish up the "mystery baby project" and the fat bottom purse I started at the end of June.