We REALLY Need to Move Further South

SERIOUSLY SNOW IN OCTOBER!!! We haven't even had Halloween... Like I tweeted earlier, with this weather, I should be watching It's a Wonderful Life, not Hocus Pocus.. Geez.  I shot this video earlier to prove it was actually snowing.

I wish you would have told me you were taking a picture of me

Earlier this evening, Lo and I went and grabbed a drink before dinner. Unbenounced to her, I snapped this picture. My goodness, how strikingly beautiful is she?? I mean seriously, this is a photo that captures all of her beauty.

Eat, Drink, & Be Scary

Lauren and I found a nice package at our door yesterday, and when we opened it, goodies came crawlin' out. Just in time for All Hallow's Eve.  Just thought I would showcase the creative talent of my mother. If anyone needs to place orders, just comment, and I will put you in touch with her.

it is almost winter.... which can only mean...

we have mice again.

oh and didn't we have an exterminator come three times last year? yes.

and didn't we lay traps and try to warn the rest of the mice family not to mess with us this year? yes.

well, they are back which was evidenced by the hole in the stacy's pita chip bag and the half eaten brazil nuts in my pantry.

good thing we have a live-in exterminator this year................ stay tuned............ #mousewatch2012

 

weekend thru a lens

 

 Happy Weekend.

pancake party

I don't know when I suddenly started making pancakes like a mad woman, but since this summer I seem to wake up on Sunday mornings and want pancakes.  I have tried tons of recipes and ingredients - blueberry, chocolate chip, raspberry....... but since it is now fall, and I am obsessed with pumpkin, I had to try some pumpkin pancakes.  I have to say these are hands down the best pancakes I have made in a while, and they are healthy too.  They are super easy so you should definitely try them out. And get a griddle.  What did I do before my stovetop griddle?!  Happy Sunday.

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Pancakes 

 

1 cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
¼ teaspoons Salt
½ teaspoons Cinnamon
¼ teaspoons Nutmeg
2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar (or 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar and 1 Tablespoon Stevia)
⅓ cups Pumpkin Purée
1 whole Egg
1 cup Milk
½ teaspoons Vanilla
2 Tablespoons unsweetened apple sauce (Can also sub in 2 Tablespoons butter) 

Mix the dry ingredients together in one bowl (flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar). Whisk the rest of the ingredients together in another bowl (pumpkin, egg, milk, vanilla and applecause). Make a little well in the dry ingredients - add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.  Let the batter rest for a few minutes. Pour 1/3 cup of batter onto a pre-heated griddle on medium heat. Wait until the batter bubbles a bit around the edges and flip. Cook until both sides are lightly golden. Enjoy!

Back in the Day

I was a counselor at Camp Henry Pratt in Columbus. I have many memories of those fun days.  One of my campers, Ruby Jane, was deathly allergic to dairy.  To ease her mother's thoughts, I took it upon me to make sure Ruby Jane did not ingest anything that had the scent of cow. Since those days, she has become quite the artist.  In 2005, Ruby Jane became the youngest invited fiddler in history to play the Grand Ole Opry, sharing the stage with Opry legend Mike Snider.  Now 16, she plays 11 different instruments and has played at many other venues including another stint at the Grand Ole Opry and Lollapalooza.

Last night, she played at Hill Country in Chinatown, so Lo and I, along with our buddies, Jackson and MVB, went down to grab some bbq and listen to Ruby Jane. And boy did she rock it. Below are a couple of pics and videos of her performance.

Not sure what this anon couple is doing.....

 

A little singing.

Then a fiddle rock out.

Great night.

Happy Birthday Papacat

He's turning the big 4-0 this year. hahaha. Not so much, but I will agree with what he said this morning. "As long as the Good Lord keeps me on the earth, healthy and happy, I don't care about the age."  May his patience and OURS grow stronger with his age.

Cool hat. I think I may have on just like it right now.

Teleprompter

In light of the recent news that President Obama's beloved and over-used teleprompter was stolen, 

I will leave you with this funny. 

 

 

Saturday Morning Thought

Just a thought. What if Steve Jobs' mom would have aborted him when her father disapproved of her pregnancy? She chose to give the little life an opportunity to live. She chose to give him up for adoption so that he could thrive. Think about that while you play on your iPhone, your iPad, watch an animated movie in 3-D at home, and enjoy your music through an ipod.