Vegas here I come...

I am rolling up my quarters because I am the last of the big time spenders. I am headed out to Vegas to see if I can win enough money to pay for my taxes.
Ain't that the truth?
Gone are the days of winning a few extra dollars to splurge on a new pair of shoes for the baby which now cost so much they would surely break the bank.
I confess that I find Vegas such a religious experience.
I pray to God every time I pull that slot handle.
Oh, if I spot Elvis you can bet that I will post his photo here next week after I sell the photo to the
National Inquirer.

Things that I see that drive me nuts...

I just read this on someones blog (sorry I forget which blog) that Oprah had a show on what not to do in the car while driving. I honestly can't figure out why so many people drive with one hand and talk on the phone. When I see them texting I really get upset. What in the world is so important that it can't wait for you to turn off your car and then talk or text? I especially go bonkers with the parents who are talking on the phone on the highway and have kids in the car seat. A total disrespect for lives. What are they thinking?

Texting and driving is = to having 8 drinks and driving.

Talking on the cell is = to having 4 drinks and driving.

Am I the only person who thinks this behavior is selfish and insane?
Inquiring minds want to know.

Soup Exchange...Mosaic Monday...

click on photo

Today is Mosaic Monday hosted HERE by Mary at little red house blogspot. So head on over for more fun photos.

My daughter hosted a soup exchange including homemade breads Sunday afternoon. Each guest was asked to bring three one quart containers of homemade soup of their choice along with a copy of the recipe. One quart for sampling and two for exchange.

After all the tasty soups were sampled each guest picked a number to determine the order in which they would pick a soup to bring home. The last person to pick in the first round was then the first person to pick in the second round. It worked out well for everyone leaving with two different and delicious quarts of homemade soup. The general consensus is that they will definitely do another soup exchange next winter.

Missing socks and belly fat ...

Why is it that you can never find the one sock of the pair that is lost?

The lost sock never finds the way back no matter how many times you look in the washer, between the sheets, under the bed and on the closet floor.

Poof!
Vanished!
Gone forever into the great sock dimension of all time never to return again!

Why is it that belly fat ALWAYS seems to find it's way back?

No matter how many times you try your best to loose belly fat it finds a way back before you even cut the tags off of your new bathing suit.

It seems to have a GPS system using my belly button to track me as the location site.
I guess I better wait to sign up for those belly dancing lessons.
Do you have the same problems?

Inquiring minds want to know.

"It's complicated"...movie review...

"It's complicated" staring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin & Steve Martin forms a love triangle that will make you laugh from beginning until the end.

There is the most incredible bakery set along with chocolate croissants and other muffins and pastries to tempt your pallet.

For those who like to decorate you will be treated to an incredible home.

Gardeners will be delighted to view the most amazing garden.

So if you are looking for a comedy to view over this holiday weekend I would suggest you treat a loved one or a good friend along with a bag of popcorn and enjoy this fun movie.

While researching the movie I came across a wonderful blog Cinema Style that describes the sets and has many wonderful set photos. HERE

*WARNING this movie will have you craving chocolate croissants!

Crockpot Porkchops with Sauerkraut and Apples...Foodie Friday...

My daughter and her husband and Mr. Vundervants are living in our building temporarily until they find a new home to purchase. It certainly has it's perks living so close to Mom & Dad. One of the perks is that you can buy a new cookbook at Cosco and bring it up to Mom's and Mom can be enticed to try a new recipe and cook your dinner. It is ironic that I own the crockpot and now she owns the cookbook. Why do I think my crockpot will be packing up and going to her new home? I certainly do not mind cooking and helping her out while she is teaching special education. The trade off is that I get to see Mr. Vundervants when they come to pick up their dinner. Not that Mr. Vundervants eats any foods other then chicken nuggets or Mac n Cheese. Vegetables are a green item that he thinks only dinosaurs eat.

Pork Chops with Sauerkraut and Apples sounded like a delicious recipe with a brown sugar base and Dijon mustard with sauteed onions. I found the recipe quick and easy and on a scale of 1-10 I would rate it 8. This dish is a comfort type food and best if served with mashed potatoes to soak up all the juices. If you like a meat and fruit combo taste then this is a recipe you may enjoy on a cold winters day. I thought the left overs were even better.


The book contains more then 400 recipes which is a bargain at Cosco for $14.99. My only complaint is the ingredient list is printed in green and the size of the print is small. I wear eyeglasses and found this a bit difficult to read.

Pork Chops with Sauerkraut and Apples

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted (1 stick but I think you can use a little less)
4 Braeburn apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1/2 inch slices
1/2 cup Dijon mustard
1/2 cup light brown sugar
6 one inch loin pork chops (I squeezed 7 chops into the pot)
2 medium sweet onions cut into half moons
One 1-pound bag sauerkraut, rinsed and drained (I used sauerkraut in a jar)
1/2 cup apple juice

Pour half the butter into the insert of a 5-7 quart slow cooker.
Add apples and toss to coat.
Stir the mustard & sugar together in a small bowl and dot the apples with 1/4 cup of the mustard mixture.

Brush the pork chops with remaining mustard mixture & place pork chops over the apples.
Heat remaining butter in a large skillet over medium high heat and add the onions and saute until they begin to turn golden, about 15 minutes.

Add sauerkraut to the onions and stir to combine.
Spread the sauerkraut mixture over the pork and pour in the apple juice.
Cover and cook on high for 3 1/2 to 4 hrs on low for 6-8 hours, until pork is tender and cooked through.

Serve the pork chops with the apples and sauerkraut over mashed potatoes to soak up all the juices.

Makes 6 servings

If you would like to see some more wonderful recipes please visit our hostess designsbygollum HERE

Why am I dancing in my kitchen?

Why am I doing the happy dance in my kitchen this afternoon?

It certainly is not over the color of my hair which I detest or the big gray/white roots that need a coloring desperately.

It certainly is not the fact that it is still FREEZING here in Atlanta and my heating bill is going to be sky high and I will probably have a stroke from lack of global warming.

It certainly is not about the fact that my nose still has issues with the very young Dr. Doogie Howser ENT.

I am doing the happy dance because I won a giveaway from April Harris at her wonderful blog

21st century housewife HERE.

An oval baking dish by Le Creuset sponsored by Cookware.com HERE.

Now go and have a look at Aprils blog for some fun reading and then onto cookware. com and for some fun shopping.

Now what do you think I should bake in this first?

Perhaps a treat for my hair colorist, or my electric meter reader, or some baby food for Dr. Doogie Howser?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Let The Music Play...Mosaic Monday...

M U S I C
It's in the genes they say.
You're either born with an ear for music or not. Obviously Mr. Vundervants has the talent and love of music like his Poppi and Mom.

Of course my neighbors in our building probably do not agree because what I thought were hearing aids in their ears turns out to be ear plugs!

For more Mosaic Monday photos please visit Mary HERE

Quick & Easy...Spicy Chicken Soup in a Crock Pot...Foodie Friday.

I have to say that I often try new recipes posted on other blogger's sites.
This easy Spicy Chicken Soup recipe that can be made in a crock-pot was posted by:

Barbara @ barbarabakes.com Here

Recipe can be found HERE

Barbara has a passion for baking and cooking and I have made several recipes that she has posted in the past. All were delicious. This week with the Artic blast of wind chills of -3 here in Atlanta I wanted a bowl of steaming hot soup so I tried this recipe. I found it so flavorful. I now know why Barbara's friends all ask her to share this recipe. This will be a repeat recipe in our home from now on. Make this soup today and your friends will be asking for the recipe too. The only change I made was to add less chili powder to satisfy my families taste. You can always add more chili powder individually. I made this in a large oval crock pot and it filled to the brim. I was lucky to remember to take a quick a photo of the last bowl...I am telling you it was that good!

If you would like to see more shared recipes please visit our wonderful hostess at:
designsbygollum.blogspot./com

Global warming....bring it on...

Global warming?

Bring it on Al Gore!

I am freezing and need a trip to Miami even if I gained the dreaded holiday weight and my
bathing suit no longer fits.

Honestly I can cope with buying a larger size bathing suit.

I can't cope with these frigid temperatures.

I just need to feel the warmth of the sun on my face and wiggle my toes in the hot sand!

Now the weather person is saying an Artic flash all the way to Miami by this weekend?

Come on Mother Nature get a hot flash!

Anyone else ready to jump on a flight to Miami today?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Outdoor Wednesday...Leonardo da Vinci

On Sunday we took a tour at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta to see some of the works of Leonardo da Vinci which is on exhibit until Feb. 21st.

The Sforza horse was commissioned for this special exhibit at the High Museum. If you click on the photo you will see me in my pink hat and scarf standing next to this 26 foot massive statue. Ah, I look so teeny tiny next to this magnificent animal.

If you would like to see read & see more information about the Sforza horse please go HERE.

To see other Outdoor Wednesday please visit our wonderful Hostess Susan HERE.

Snow in Georgia...

Snow in South Georgia?

Not a snowball's chance in Hell!

Temperatures were at the freezing mark of mid 30s this morning so it could be snow.

Let's take a closer look and see what this is.

C O T T O N

A sea of cotton for as far as the eye can see.

A beautiful site.

I had to stop the car and take a few photos to share with you.

I was sad to see the Land For Sale sign.

With so many synthetic fibers and the shmata/textile/garment trade now being manufactured in other countries this sign did not surprise me. It makes me sad to think that farmers have to sell their land resulting in less jobs in the USA.
The fabric of our lives is changing and I hope it is not too late to do something about it.

Georgia ranks 3rd in the production of cotton.

If you would like to know more about cotton in Georgia please go HERE.

Let's ring in the New Year...

Happy & Healthy New Year
to all my wonderful blog friends!