Strawberries...yummm

Looking forward to going to the strawberry patch this season. Check out the monthly recipe. YUM!

My Idol Thoughts...

I'm thinking I like the boys better this year.

Girls:
Amanda creeps me out!!!! that hair and those pants last night!!! uggg - horrible
Kady cracks me up with her Briteny impersonations - she's quite good at that - but she's not one of my favorite singers
Brooke and her guitar....hmmm... not sure yet on her - not into that Carly Simon type
Kristy Lee - want to hear her sing some country.. I think that is probably her thing
Carly is good - but tired of all the hype - we'll see
the rest of the girls... well - just average I guess - nothing special to me

Guys:
Michael Johns!!!! - didn't do so well last night - but I really like him - he's a pro and comes across as best on stage to me (love the accent too!)
David Arch. - well he's gonna win so they might as well end it now - but he is quite awsome - although you can tell he's 17 most of the time which can get annoying
David Cook - EWWW - the hair....ewwww. and the first week he just looked like he needed a bath!
Danny - OMG - Hank and I cringe every time he's on screen - I don't have enough time to tell you all I think of him - just gross - but he can sing - but not as good as some others.
Chikezie - yep he's doing the Ruben thing - but not quite as good as Ruben in my opinion - but I like him
Jason C. - hmmm. John Travolta with dreads....maybe....he's not a favorite thus far
Jason Y. - just plain cheesy - don't know why he's there
Luke - well he's cute - but not so good a singer - and yes Ryan - he does look like Dawson (of Dawson's Creek if anyone remembers that show)
David Hernandez - I know David Arch. will beat him - but he's my own fav. I'm pulling for him to get better and better
I know he's off now - but that Garrett kid (Leaf Garrett look-a-like) - poor kid - needs the sunshine or something!
other thoughts....
The judges (ALL 3 OF THEM!!!) are driving me nuts this year. So far I don't think anything they've said has made any sense at all....Simon is crankier than ever and Paula - well I like her better when she's "altered" - she actually said she wanted to dangle one of the guys from her rear-view mirror and squish him - I get what she meant - but that's just plain weird....Randy says something accurate once in a while - but mostly same ole Randy - dawg!! -

Oh and have you noticed that at the end Ryan doesn't thank Simon as a judge - and then they show Simon rolling his eyes - this bit is getting old and is just silly

So - that's my early opinions - maybe I'll post another blog when we get to top 12.

AI

So, anyone watching Idol this year? Hank and I are ridiculous and have been watching it since the first season. thoughts.....

Spring Fever!

Ok, Karen - here ya go....After getting the shoes, I found this adorable green blouse and necklace to go with it. I think I spent a total of $30 for all of it and it all goes with so much I already have. Can you tell I have spring fever!!! The weather teases us. 3 days of 70's and then tonight back in the 20's with highs in the 50's tomorrow. After taking these pictures, I felt like I was doing a blog for Laura's boss. Melanie always has pictures of cool stuff that she has either bought or wants to buy. So - here's my version :)

New Blog

I call this "new blog" because it's a new blog - and that's about all that is new. February has been pretty quiet although we've had some crazy weather off and on. Today was absolutely beautiful and springlike. This past week Hank and the kids had a gig for the blessing/ground breaking of our new YMCA. Jacob and I went to hear the band. This week I am volunteering to work at the twice-a-year community children's consignment sale. A friend of mine runs it in the spring and fall and I always get good stuff for Jacob. Since I'm working the sale this time I'll get to shop before the public when the selection is the best. Saturday Hank has another community gig in town for an Art Festival. His Jazz band will play. Oh! (this is for you Karen) - I too found a great shoe deal. TJ Maxx is the best! Original price was $48 - TJ Maxx price was $25 - then down to $20 - then $15 and I got them for $10. Maybe I'll put a picutre on later. They are quite cute :) Hank is playing his X-Box and I'm off to do some scrapbooking. Have a great week everyone!

I haven't blogged in a while...

For those of you wondering if I'm still able to use a computer -- I'm still here! I haven't blogged in a while, mostly because I've been out of town. Over the past four weeks, I attended the January Honor Band Festival (aka "JanFest") at the University of Georgia, the Georgia Music Educators Association Clinic/Conference in Savannah, and the GMEA District 2 Honor Band in Norman Park, Georgia. This weekend I'm looking forward to spending the long weekend (no school Monday for President's Day) at home relaxing with Tammy and Jacob.

In other news -- just 4 weeks until festival! For the few non-band geeks who might be reading, "festival" (it's proper name in Georgia is Large Group Performance Evaluation, or LGPE for short) involves the band performing on stage in front of three judges. Each judge gives a rating; we are aiming for Superior ratings. Then the band goes into another room in front of another judge and performs a piece of music they have never seen. Once again, we are aiming for a Superior rating. I get to go through that routine on Thursday, March 13 with my Wind Ensemble (that's the top group) and Friday, March 14 with my Symphonic Band. So, the countdown is on!

For those who may not have heard, Mom was diagnosed with lymphoma a few weeks ago. We are trying to convince her to set up a blog to keep everyone updated. Meanwhile, keep checking your email for the latest.

I guess that's all for now. I'm sure you don't want to hear about my nasal rinse, but if you do, please feel free to comment and I'll blog about it later. (You thought the warts were gross....)

busy busy

Today I made some more cards for my mom's shop. I found the cutest papers! I will make some more over the next few days. Hank is out of town for a few days again. He'll be back on Saturday night so me and Jacob are holding down the fort.

T.

A day in the kitchen

What a day.... I have been in the kitchen pretty much all day (but it was so much fun!). Tomorrow night we're having friends over to watch the Super Bowl, so I have been doing as much prepwork as possible for my snack/meal. I'm making the yummy spinach dip in a bread bowl, crab/cheesy bites and some wings. But before I started all those dishes, I made a dish that I am brining to church tomorrow morning. I found the recipe in Paula Deen's magazine. It's not her recipe, but I figured any friends of hers who submitted recipes, had to be good! So - here it is and it's georgious if you want something that comes out pretty too :)

Strawberry Coffee Cake (makes 12 servings)

1 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
3 cups sliced fresh strawberries
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped almonds (I used pecans)

Prehead oven to 350. Lightly greast a 9x13 baking pan. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and sugar at medium speed till fluffy. Gradually beat in milk, eggs and vanilla. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add to cream cheese mixture, beating until smooth. Pour into prepared pan. Place strawberries evenly over batter. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and almonds (I used pecans). Sprinkle evenly over strawberries. Bake for 40 minutes. Let cool in pan on wire rack. Cut into squares and serve.

I haven't officially tried it yet as I have to wait till tomorrow - but the batter was sooo yummy and when it was done, it smelled up the house something fantastic!!! Enjoy