Dearest blog,
I know you must be feeling lonely, neglected, and about as empty as that blonde head of Paris Hilton’s. Please forgive my lack of attention as of late. I’ve been feeling uninspired. And, I’ve been working {gasp}. I know. Big girl hours make for a tired {gina}. Today, I am spending my lone day off cleaning up around here, making lunch/dinner and some good ole pumpkin pie. I will return soon full of adventurous stories of my life here in Ark. Please be well and let all my friends know that I appreciate them stopping by to check in on me.
yours, faithfully,
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…Vacay Update
Frightfully Good Fun Halloween Ideas
**shredded cheddar cheese**
**again, no measurements**
**chocolate chip cookie dough**
**chocolate chips for melting**
**white chocolate chips for drizzling**
Fruits: pineapple chunks, bananas, strawberries, hulled & cubed**
**slivered almonds**
4 extra large flour tortillas
1 (60z) bag baby spinach
8 ounces thinly sliced salami or ham
8 ounces thinly sliced cheese (swiss, provolone, white american}
1 (7oz) jar roasted red peppers, drained and sliced into strips
**using flavored, colorful tortillas such as basil-tomato or spinach wraps is fun too**
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon minced jalapeno
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
16 cherry tomatoes
8 pitted black olives, sliced in half
Mash avocado with a fork. Stir in lime juice and garlic salt. Cut off tops of tomatoes and scoop out the insides. Discard. Spoon in 1 rounded teaspoon of avocado mixture. Top with sliced olives to resemble the pupil of an eye. Watch what you eat watching you!
Caramel ice cream topping
crushed peanuts
On a serving platter, lay out apple slices. Drizzle with caramel sauce and sprinkle with crushed peanuts. Easy Peasy.
Marshmallows
pretzels
cinnamon cookies
Rice Krispy treats
….Friday Five
…Weekend Update
…More Memories from Home
I’d been away from Michigan a whole 4 months. It was the longest stretch since I’ve been here {almost 11 months now…can you believe how fast time flies?}. Each time I get ready for the trip back home I mentally begin to jot down all the things I want to do, things I want to see, tastes I want to experience again.
…Ode to Pumpkin Spice Latte
Let me count the ways.
I love your sweet, spicy scent.
Oh, Pumpkin Spice latte!
I bring you to my lips and pause before sipping.
…The Good and The Bad
The Good?
* Only one week til I’m flying north to see the fam & friends.
* It’s close to bedtime
* Weeds was new and good last night
* The weather has been good here. Only in the low 70’s today
* Accomplishing tasks at work in preparation for vacation
* Hardly any more baby shower prep to do
The Bad?
* I can’t get motivated to get everything together to ship home {supplies for party…not my stuff!}
* I can’t pack my bags a whole week ahead
* It’s been cloudy and gloomy
* I’m PMS-ing
* I feel yucky
* I feel blue
* I’ll have to leave Thom in a week
* I haven’t been sleeping well
* My stomach has been messed up. What’s with all the medical maladies since I’ve been in Ark?
* I feel tired right now
* I feel lazy right now
auuughhhhh…let’s hear more of THE GOOD!
* I’m breathing
* I’m reaching
* One week til I see fam
* One week til I meet new fam members: abby the boxer
* One week til I meet new friends: Lydia June
{sigh}
Night all..hope ya’all are well and fine!
…Countdown
Headed back to Petit Jean for a one night stay on Labor Day. It’s definitely becoming one of my favorite places to hang out with one my most favorite of people. It was a lovely evening and we took advantage of the nice weather to have dinner outside the cabin. It didn’t occur to us that evacuees from Louisiana would be this far north trying to escape Hurricane Gustav, but the lodge was full of them waiting for cabins to be cleaned. We were lucky enough to have a reservation yet we also felt sort of bad that we were possibly taking away a cabin from someone needing dry accommodations when we’re only a couple of hours from home.
We spent the rest of the day wandering around Little Rock. Made a quick stop at Scrapbook Corner. My name is Gina, and I’m a Scrapbook addict. Thom showed me around the historical district of LR…and we made a little stop at the Governor’s Mansion. I almost stood up and out of the sun roof to flash the Governor, but remembered just in time that Clinton no longer lives there.
Ms. Domestication
If my day was to be featured in a magazine, it surely would be entitled Ms. Domestication. It’s rainy and cooler here today; a good excuse to stay home and snuggle in. Cranking up the oven wasn’t so bad. Lisa says every time she stops by this ole blog-o’-mine, there’s “pictures of food.” Well, yeah..there are a lot of pics of food. Who would I be, now, without running for the camera as soon as freshly baked muffins come out of the oven, or reaching for it just as soon as the pasta is drained?
1 pound dry penne pasta or ziti
Directions:
My all-time fave muffin recipe is from none other than my all-time favorite Ms. Domestication herself, Martha Stewart. I do like to add the zest of one lemon to this recipe….love the flavor of lemon and blueberries.
For Thom, I like to add a sweet, crunchy streusel topping courtesy of Carole Walter.