Honey Mustard Barbecue Chicken

We have a special treat this week! We have a guest chef! And it's THEHUSBAND!! That's right, give it up for TheHusband!

At least once a week TheHusband takes over in the kitchen and whips up something delicious. It's usually some form of chicken and his Honey Mustard Barbecue chicken is one of my favorites.

I have to tell you, this is a recipe he's been using since before we met and was the first meal he cooked for me. I also have to be honest and tell you that his chicken is so tasty that I don't even like to make chicken anymore because my pales in comparison. I hope you enjoy his recipe as much as I do!

This is what happens . . .

. . . when TheAnnabelle does the ironing.

"Does it look like I'm finished with the ironing?"

It's her favorite place to hang out while waiting for TheHusband or me to come out of the office. It's high enough that she can stay away from the annoying little brother (aka: TheDexter), yet close enough to the upstairs bathroom so she'll never miss a chance at "drip drips".

Jackpot!!

At least for the kitties. . . 

On Saturday I decided we needed to take drastic measures so TheAnnabelle would let me get some sleep. This meant moving a dresser from the guest room into the master bedroom. When I pulled the dresser away from the wall, this is what I discovered. TheDexter & TheAnnabelle were in kitty heaven. What was included in this treasure? 

- 18 toy mice, in varying states of destruction.

- One pen (that should have been in my purse).

- One shiny fuzzy ball (which are obviously not as important to hide as the mice).

I tried to take a picture of TheDexter rolling around in this stockpile, but everytime I tried he'd run away with one of the mice and wouldn't come back until I put the camera down. I wonder where the new stockpile will be.

Macaroon Nests

This week I tried to think back to my childhood to see if I could come up with a "traditional" family recipe for Easter, but to tell the truth I couldn't think of a single one. Really, the only Easter tradition that I could think of from when I was growing up was that we would get up WELL before the Easter Bunny could have possible been done making his rounds so we could get to church in time to help make and serve the Sunrise Breakfast.

Ahhh, such fond memories of watching my older brothers mopping the floor of the church basement. But that was before the new church, that didn't have a basement, was built. But, I digress. Since I couldn't think of a traditional family recipe I decided to try a twist on an old favorite.

Life as a Dinosaur: Surprising Results

October 2009 - December 2010 - As I was weaned off the drug therapies, surprising things started to happen. I got lots of energy back (not all of it, but a significant amount). I didn't hurt as much and was able to control most flare ups with Celebrex (a prescription strength anti-inflammatory). And while certain joints (lower back, hands, and feet mostly) were still pretty stiff in the morning, most of the time a hot shower was enough to loosen me up and get me on my way.

This is what happens . . .

. . . when TheAnnabelle senses greenery in the house.

 

This demonstrates why we can't have plants in the house. TheAnnabelle would try to eat them all. The plant in the picture is a palm frond that we brought home from church and we only let her chew on it for a few seconds before putting it where she can't get it.

And, yes, the pictures are a little blurry, but it couldn't be helped because TheAnnabelle just moves that fast.

I guess the answer was "NO"

So the other day I kindly asked Winter if his little sister Spring could come out to play.

I guess the answer was "NO". Do you think begging would work? Because I would do it. No, really, I would.

The Easter Topiary

Spotted this on the way home from lunch yesterday afternoon.

And, yes, those are in fact bunny heads scattered through out the design.

I'm hoping the other part of the bunnies were put to good use.

Going Down Swinging

That's right, Old Man Winter is not going down without a fight. This is the beautiful April weather that TheHusband and I woke up to this morning. While most of this has melted off already, it's very disheartening to have lovely spring weather at the beginning of the week, only to wake up to November weather at the end of the week. 

Hey, wait a minute, I did only sleep for 7 to 8 hours right? I didn't sleep through the whole summer did I? No? Okay, I didn't really think so. I remember TheAnnabelle waking me up several times, so I had to ask, just in case.

So here is my plea to Old Man Winter. Can you please, oh, would you pleee-ase let your little sister, Spring, come out to play? We won't cross the street, and we won't talk to strangers. I'll make sure she's home by curfew and we'll stay away from stray dogs.

                                 Please??

Review: The Cheesecake Factory

Earlier this week was my mother-in-law's birthday (Happy Birthday, Mother-in-Law!) and to celebrate we met her for lunch at The Cheesecake Factory. TheHusband and I had never been there before, but we've been wanting to try it and TheMother-in-Law likes it so it gave us a great reason to go (Thanks for having a birthday Mother-in-Law).

Worth it

After several sunny days, yesterday was a bit gloomy. With overcast and drippy skies all day, it was a treat to glance out the window and see this last night. This is the view the kitties had from their perch in the guest room. Lucky cats.

In a couple weeks those tree branches will be filling in with all sorts of leaves, but I can live with the bare branches for now. As long as there are sunsets like these to watch.

This is what happens . . .

. . . when certain kitties find they simply must be in the same window.

TheDexter and TheAnnabelle L.O.V.E. to sit in the windows and watch the neighborhood, especially now that the weather has gotten nice. While they do have a kitchen window seat designed just for them, they really prefer to sit in the upstairs windows (TheDexter finds he can be both brave and safe at the same time). And while there are three different windows they can sit in, this is the favorite and is worth being fought over.

Luckily, the screen is screwed into the frame on the outside. Not so luckily, it's not screwed in across the bottom. Now the two little miscreants aren't allowed to sit in this window until we can figure out a "fix" for the bent screen frame. It's way to tempting for TheAnnabelle, who actually did try to squeeze through there while I was taking the picture. It's also way to tempting for the bugs who want to come into the house.

Sunny Days

Sunny Days

Sweepin' the clouds away

On my way to where the air is sweet

And oh, how sweet it was yesterday! The above picture was taken around 6:00PM last night. I managed to find the "secret" short cut to the walking trails behind our little townhome community and took a short little walk to the nearby  creek. What a blessing to be able to see the blue skies and listen to the running water. Now I anxiously wait while the leaves start to bud and turn all these trees green.

ICE CREAM TRUCK!!!

The neighborhood ice cream truck.

errr, I mean ICE CREAM MINI VAN!!

Every year I await the sounds of carnival music in the neighborhood to announce that spring/summer has truly arrived. Today was that special day. While brushing TheDexter this evening I thought I heard the much anticipated sound, but I was certain it was just wishful thinking. Besides, that cat was purring pretty loud (he LOVES to be brushed) and I was certain I was wrong.

But, no, there it was again! So I turned to TheHusband and said "Is that what I think it is?"

He, being the excitable guy he is, merely replied, "What? The ice cream truck? I think it's a bit optimistic."

But optimistic or not, there it was with 15+ kids gathered around. By the time I got outside to snap this picture it was down to about 8-9, but all were eagerly waiting their turn for that oh so sweet summer treat of ice cream (or push ups, or popsicles, or . . . ohh, you get the picture).

And so begins another six months of TheHusband having to put up with me screaming "ICE CREAM TRUCK!!!!" every time I hear the sound tinny carnival music rolling down the street. Yeah, he loves me.

A Crabby Day

Have you ever had one of those days? Where, from the moment you wake up and for no reason at all, you are just crabby? Well, that's my day today.

Breakfast Sandwich

I've been craving something different for breakfast recently because my standard oatmeal or fiber one bar have been getting kind of boring. And then my Rise 'n Shine post yesterday made me think of breakfast sandwiches from McD's. (weird I know). Well, I need something with a little more staying power than the ones from the fast food place (even though I LOVE that fast food place - it's evil I know, but we can't help what we love) so I made my own at home.

Rise 'n Shine!

Rise and shine
And give God the glory, glory
Rise and shine
And give God the glory, glory
Rise and shine
And give God the glory, glory
Children of the Lord

From: Rise and Shine/Children of the Lord/The Arky Ark Song

author unknown/copyright unknown

This is what happens . . .

When TheHusband says "You can't take a picture of me."

Yup, I take a picture of his feet, which were moving at the time.

I'm sneaky like that. =)

Life As a Dinosaur: Failing the Drug Therapies

January 2009 - September 2009 - Want to know how to stress out a people pleasing, perfectionist, worrier? Tell her that she's failed the drug therapies that are supposed to be making her feel better, that's how. Yup, if a drug doesn't work for you, you fail it, instead of the other way around. Talk about depressing someone even more than they already are.

My Peep Project

So, I finally got around to finishing that Peep Project I teased you all with about a week and a half ago. I'm trying to decide whether or not I should submit the project to craftfail.com or not. The project didn't turn out exactly the way I wanted it to, but it's still cute as all things Peep are. I'll let you all be the judge of the finished product.

He Never Said It Would Be Easy

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed." - 1 Peter 4:12-13 (ESV)

Recently, I was speaking with a friend who mentioned that she was struggling with why God allows his faithful subjects to suffer. She specifically mentioned a family in her church. The father has been undergoing treatment for a brain tumor. Although he is currently in remission, he is still unable to work. His wife works and goes to school and takes care of him and their five children. He does as much as he can, but his treatments have left him weakened and unable to do all that he could before. And, even though he is in remission, the family knows that if/when the cancer returns it will be much more aggressive and it will be only a matter of time before he gets to meet Jesus face to face. Throughout these trials the family has remained faithful to God and His plan for them even though they do not understand it. They rejoice in the time they have together and give thanks for the relationships that they would not have otherwise had.

Sucking it up, er, out!

Vacuum Sealer

I love my vacuum sealer, and not just because TheHusband got it for me as a gift. (Yes, it was on the pre-approved list of "appliances" I would be thrilled to get. He learned his lesson the hard way.)