If It's Monday ~ It's John Barrowman Time ~!

Happy Monday people.

I hope everyone had a great weekend...we did.

Nothing notable , SU had to work and I cleaned the casa...stop yawning.....I can see you .

I did whip up a double batch of Grandma Engwalls cookie for the man....I have to make a double batch the way he goes through them...Grandma would be so proud.....especially since SU will down them with milk and not a beer..

Other than that, the NG's came over for dinner last night. It's become a regular Sunday thing and since SU and I have never really learned to cook for just the two of us, it's nice to sit and get caught up on the week.

I am really looking forward to a short week...I really need some time off and want to go hit the nursery but we shall see how the budget goes....we are usually of the " There is no budge in our budget " variety of life ..

So what's going on in your worlds ?

I guess I just assumed, but anyone who reads this can comment...yes besides you Miss Lisa, Miss Laurie, Miss Kanani , MissPG and MissAnne....I'm grateful anyone takes the time to comment about my drivel at all so feel free....I don't bite...and if someone is gonna flame me..well...done with the proper amount of sarcasm, I'm flattered as hell.....the rest...whatevs...and I say Miss to the above ladies because this is the South and that's how we roll....

Have a great week.

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

Spring Fever

The larger blue flowers in the top picture are Canterbury Bells and they would do nicely in a hanging pot. I am not quite sure what the smaller blue and yellow flowers are . This is pretty , but also strikes me as meh.

The blue petunias above are nice , and they would do well with they grey and red of the non brick part of the house , not to mention nicely with the hydrangea.....but even in a hanging container.....they just don't sing out ..plant me , plant me now. Perhaps in a pot all alone they would stand out more .

I want these to put in the hanging basket in the front entry...I love the colors together and I love verbena and petunia's. I specifically want petunia's because I love the way they cascade over the sides of planters. The verbena is named Vegas Violet and the petunia is named Forest Fire.

I really need some dirt time.

And no, I don't mean big dirt nap...LMAO.

Feel free to comment on the above pictures .

They are all from the current selection found at : www.annualflowerstore.com in the hanging basket section.

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

Sigh .

Bruce Of The Day ~ Happy Friday !

Am I ever glad it's Friday.

See the above expression ?

I know it well.

All too well.

" Yup...take your sorry ass small angry person attitude that you've had all week at work and shove it."

Yes, co-workers...this one's for you .

Y'all.

ALL y'all.

Yes, I know that Spring Break is over.

So is Rodeo.

But , Easter is in a week so hang in there.

Yes the weather has been super nice and this qualifies as our spring.

I understand spring fever, I really do.

What ?

You think I'd rather be in the concrete box we lovingly call 2 Allen rather than outside playing in the dirt ?

Have we met ?

At least I am not walking around with the snotty, snarky, mean ass GRRR's carping and sniping at anyone who crosses my path or line of vision.

YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE !

Get over it and yourself.

As I simply give you a gentle smile in what you hope is either empathy or understanding...

Understand this :

Mentally I am sitting with a beverage in one hand and a smoke in the other , gazing at you and thinking ...

Awwww....SAD PANDA !

I have had a pretty decent week as they go and am looking forward to my weekend.

And...this is not for any of the folks that follow this blog because they are not only too cool for school, they are too cool to act like shit to those around them....they really are.

Have a great weekend...I sure am.

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

Don't Kill Me Lisa ~ Wink !

SU has to work tomorrow so...

Creamy Lemon Crumb Squares


Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Cook Time: 25 Minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Servings: 12

Ingredients

1-⅓ cup All-purpose Flour
½ teaspoons Salt
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 stick (1/2 Cup) Butter, Slightly Softened
1 cup Brown Sugar (lightly Packed)
1 cup Oats
1 can (14 Ounce) Sweetened Condensed Milk
½ cups Lemon Juice
Zest Of 1 Lemon

Preparation Instructions

PREHEAT OVEN TO 350 DEGREES.

Mix butter and brown sugar until well combined.

Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder.

Add oats and flour to butter/sugar mixture and mix to combine.

Press half of crumb mixture into the bottom of an 8 x 11 inch pan.

Mix together condensed milk, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Spread onto the bottom layer of the crumb mixture. Top with the other half of the crumb mixture, but don’t press.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Allow pan to sit on counter for 30 minutes after baking. Cut into squares and refrigerate for a couple of hours or until cool.

Serve Cool.

Yum.

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

Ask Dr. Baltar

Dear Dr. Baltar,

Lately I've been noticing that at times people around me seem to be whispering and glancing in my direction for no reason at all .

What would you suggest that I do in response .

Thank you ,

Perplexed.

Dear Perp,

It all depends. Are they admiring your attire ? Do you have reclaimed spinach in your teeth ? What do the voices in your mind recommend...oh..strike that...Six...not now dammit.

Good luck.

You need to cultivate the demeanor of someone who is important enough to be spoken of and admired. Pay no attention to what the people in steerage say...glide onward and upward.

Gaius Baltar

I finally made a command decision and went next door to get the do done. I can handle a bad hair day...I cannot abide a bad hair week..it had to go .

Either I they cut it or I do....with pinking sheers.

It got CUT !!!!

Huzzah.

Now I wonder how long it will take the SU to notice..and no , honey...a comment AFTER reading this does not count.

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

I Love Dress Up !

Laurie..You'r killing me .

Go To : http://www.theittybittykittycommittee.com/

Yes....Shameless Plug for Miss Laurie , Charlene, Drewy and everyone else at IBKC.

I love Tuxies.

We have one that lives across the street that likes to come over and have dinner with Gracie and Andy on the Fiesta Deck ..( the woven PVC wicker coffee table on the patio for the tourists) .

Gracie and Andy are tolerant/used to it and the SU knows he can't really stop me.

By the way....I got my copy of Paws...what a great picture of Miss Charlene .

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

Just Another Layer Of Crap For The Bloggage.

http://artefacts-antiqueimages.blogspot.com/

You have to check out Mr. Linky above.

I've been following a lot of blogs that have the most wonderful layouts in their design. Two that come to mind are Calamity Anne's :

http://www.calamityanne.com/

Between the design and the foods ( shrimp..you had me at boil in beer sweetie) and the crafts ...it's a visual treat.

The other is of course :

http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/

If I mention Ree's blog anymore , I might qualify as a stalker....kidding....I kid....I'm just that way.

I've not been doing this blog thing for very long, only a few years and anyone can tell...the first year or 2, I was finding my feet so to speak...

There is no theme, no topic , other than what amuses me or the things that I am passionate about...kitteh's , cooking , my friends and what I find clever in other peoples blogs or writing.

It's not meant to have a topic or a soapbox...I leave that to others who are more adept than Moi.

Every once and a while , I find something charming like the above pictures. It appears that the link above is a compilation of free digital art and some that is for sale. While I don't scrapbook and can't draw a straight line..even eyeliner can be a challenge...I know that some of y'all do that sort of thing so check it out.

I am not going to lecture on copyright issues even though I do try to be polite and mindful about it. I work for lawyers for Chrissake and hear that KREP all friggan day .

Anyhoo...enjoy ....and remember tomorrow is " Ask Dr. Baltar" day.

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

P.S.....Looky ! I finally figured out the add a badge thingy for the blog ...ain't I just friggian brilliant ?

If It's Monday ~ It's John Barrowman Time ~!

Well...as usual the weather is it's usual freaky springy self.

You think ( hope , pray, chant) that the weather will be nice on the weekend because you've gotten all of the nursery catalogs in .

The pages are either cat eared or so slobbered over as you drool that you know the skew numbers by heart.

The little guy on QVC pimpin for either Cottage Gardens or Roberta's suddenly seems worth watching and low and behold.

You're ready to dig in zee dirt.

Screw the nails...where are the yard shorts ?

As you wake up before 10 am , also known as either " O Dark Thirty " or " WHAT THE HELL ?"

am I doing up ????

Cloudy skies are okay. preferred actually.....and then the rain starts.

Buckets of it.

Barrels of it.

The streets are now filling up as is my patio with the solid color of all the pollen.

BLEECH !

The SU wasn't home because he had promised to repair a bathroom door at the IceHouse that had been busted the night before.

I didn't ask for details.

So I did laundry and played on Facebook and watched Poltergeist the Legacy on Fancast .

Exotic Saturdays R US.

Plan 2.

Sunday .

Anyhoo...

No rain.

Pollen everywhere...gummy crappy icky nasty ew.

It had dropped down in the temps overnight.

Yet again at 4: 15 a.m., the tribe decided I need to get my ass up !

Four out of five kittys were manic, bouncing on the water bed in their rendition of " Help , Help , Timmy fell down the well."

The door to the garage from the kitchen had blown wide open.

After a head count is taken, I'm back to bed...

Just wind.

More wind

And wait for it.....wait......wait....wait......

More wind.

Off hisself goes to the Ice House because crafty lad that he is.. he is not above taking the frosty beverage in payment.
Bartering for beer honey ????
Good boy.
Anyhoo...

I putter with the paper and laundry and just drag my ass back and forth to Mt. Maytag.

More Wind.

Enough wind to make the power blink just enough that the DVR's have to re-set...a couple of times.

Then a bit longer...so I reset the clocks.

I figure that at this point I might as well get really motivated to get what I need to do done...before we lose power.

The NG's are coming over to dinner.....nothing fancy , just pork chops and rice and Parker house rolls....and y'all know your Aunty Pol.....

There will be a cake in the oven.

Nothing fancy..just a chocolate chip pound cake.

Slap that bad boy in the oven....chores done.......I can have a beverage since it's 3: 30 and the girls will be over at 6 .

And we lose power.

For 15 minutes.

And I have a cake in the oven.

So I figure out what needs to be done for the cake.

Okay.

I can't tell you the last time I haven't have a cake completely release from the pan.

One third of the cake could have taken 4 minutes more or so.

Or.

Screw it...ice cream hides a lot .

And so it did.

Have a great week.

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

Is That 15 or 20 % ?

This one is for you PG....I sure hope the foot really isn't broken.

Hugs,

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

This Might Just Be My Official Happy Place !

Thank you Miss Laurie.....My head just exploded from happy.

http://www.theittybittykittycommittee.com/2010/03/hello-lovejoys.html

Now that song will be stuck in my head...lol.

You have to watch the video.


Ciao,

Aunty Pol

Eureka

As stated in the previous post, I has such plans to get to the garden center this weekend....dammit !

Nee Nee and I had been discussing planting etc and I remembered that she had bought some stuff from QVC. She's quite pleased with the condition, shipping etc and while we were talking I got an e mail update from Spring Hill Nurseries.

As I opened it . I glanced at the photos and there they were.

Shasta Daisy's.

They evoke such a complete memory for me it's both sweet and more than a bit bizarre...even for me.

I can remember accurately almost every damn inch of the house and the yard on Mt. La Plata Drive in Clairmont , California.

I can remember every inch of my fathers landscaping,

We lived at the open end of the cul de sac...in other words when you turned right onto Mt. La Plata off the main drag...and went straight.....at the last corner , you either turned right or left. If you kept on going straight , you were coming over for dinner because you were damn sure to end up in our driveway....literally.

As you pulled into the driveway..the garage was on the left.

Hibiscus were planted along the side facing the street of the garage.

My parents bedroom was in the front of the house facing the street and Daddy had built a trellis in the corner of their window so that they could have night blooming jasmine growing up on it.

Even my youngest brother has vivid memories of the early mornings when the windows would be open in Mom and Daddy's room. the whole house was filled with the scent of jasmine.

On the other side of the front door was the kitchen window where Mom had planter boxes with red geraniums. Below on either side of the door were flower beds with a variety of annuals.

On the far side of the driveway, opposite the garage was the weeping willow that we all just loved to death. We'd cry every year when Daddy would prune it convinced that he had killed it only to have it magically heal just in time for the sprinklers to be turned on so we could yelp like banshee's under the cascading water.

Daddy had built the back patio and cover where he had then built the bar that we had up until 1976 ...with a solid brass rail and dolphin insignia.

It weighed a ton.

Under the patio cover , there were always hanging fuchsia's and gardenia's in the hand built redwood planter boxes that moved about as needed on their casters.

Along the back chain link fence were all the roses but most of all , I remember the Shasta Daisy's.

From the small side kitchen door there was a corner area where Daddy had built a round clay patio , edged all the way in brick. After he built the patio table and got benches, he's sit there and read the paper in the mornings when he was home with his cup of tea. All along the inside of the fence on that side of the house were Shasta daisy's with an occasional palm.

As much as I can remember the interior of that house , and I really can ( honey...it's the same size as the one we are in now BTW) ...it's the garden I remember him creating .

We have an area around the mail box where the Mexican Heather and Ixoria ( sp) died.

I'm planting Shasta Daisy's.

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

Myron's Miracle

Check out mr. linky for the latest and most wonderfulest news about baby dude Myron....then go get kleenix.

http://pitterpatsofbabycats.blogspot.com/2010/03/late-breaking-miracle.html



Kissy Face , Love the Poo



Ciao,


Aunty Pol

Bruce Of The Day ~ Happy Friday ~

Happy Friday kids.

Yes, it's been one of those days where I could really rent a beer...lol.....old joke . I don't retain anything but the calories for more than 5 minutes, but hey at my age...I'm grateful the plumbing for the most part works.

We have had a wonderful week weather wise here , so of course it will change. I feel badly for the nephew and his family in Denver ...I hear they are getting their butts kicked with snow.

Better them than us .....sorry kiddo.

Nothing else going on really...

Have a great weekend.

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

Punjammies

I saw this in PW this morning and went to the website below.

http://www.punjammies.com/

Go and check it out.

It's a wonderful idea , giving women the tools to escape the kind of hell that you and I can only imagine.

I think I may have found my birthday prezzie.

As always when I post something like this, I an really not asking you to donate or buy or anything unless it is for Myron or another kit in need.

In that case, such as Myron, I will flat out tell you that it's a shakedown ...for a good cause n all but nevertheless , a shakedown.

I have always been fascinated how a small change can produce amazing results....like getting your roots retouched, so when I come across something ...you'll find it here.

All I can say is that the prints are gorgeous , and they appear to have a size that I can do...

It does appear that the tops and the pants are priced seperately...you can always use a tee that you already have or order the set.

Off to browse...

Namaste

Aunty Pol

New Feature For Wednesdays ~ " Ask Dr. Baltar."

Dear Dr. Baltar,

Is it every socially or professionally acceptable to reassign friends in the catagory of best friend and is it necessary to explain the title shift to them ?

Thank you ,

Why Are All My Friends Toasters In Disguise ?

Dear Toasty,

It would all depend in your level of intimacy with them and wether , more importantly they possess any thing that places you at risk of a one way walk in the air lock.

It is human nature to sort and label things.

Socks , dvds, friendships, spices ..you name it...we shall sort it. Part of this is an issue of insecurity. In extreme cases , it virtually guarentee a sure fire diagnosis of OCD. Others occasions , it is merely a matter of being neat, precise and carefully tending to the things that we accumulate in our lives .

It gets a bit dicey when it comes to people.

We tend to make exceptions as needed and modify our relations with those individuals as a result. This is not done , generally speaking to be hurtful, it is really a simple way that we as humans recognize the variables that make us who we are as individuals.

Case in point.

Up until recently , if you asked me who my best friend was, it would not be who you thought it was.

For no other reason than time itself, I would have answered C.

I have known her for 43 years.

She was the bridesmaid at my first wedding, holder of hand and the reason I moved down here.

It never occured to me until very recently how far we had drifted apart.

We disagree on almost everything , but it has always been from a place of love and friendship.

She and her husband moved back to the east coast a few years ago and while I don't hear from her ..really once in a blue moon , this never bothered me ...or so I thought until a recent e mail.

I know that you can't read tone into words ...and yet ...

" I don't do Facebook , but if you look up ( insert name here ) of my oldest son ( well NO SHIT SHERLOCK>>I was there when he was born) ..you can see pictures of our grandson.

OK.

Using the eldest spawns name,,,there are 119 of them.

Helpful....very helpful.

Then it occurred to me...best friend because why ?

43 Years ?

Um..Oh hell no.

MY best friend is the sister of my heart.

Mother of my Godson.

She knows without asking what is going on..good and bad.

She has ALWAYS been there for me,,,holding me up...kicking my ass as needed with no boundaries.

If we go more than a week without contact..there is a pre-discussed reason such as vacation..or we are tearing up the phone lines.

She has never judged me and never will.

She makes me a better woman , better friend and better human.

I know who my best friend is...she's the one that actively participates in our lives.

The other one is just my oldest friend.

Does this bother me...not in the least.

Sometimes , it is important to really know and accept the difference between the two.

Every one should be as lucky as I am to have a Sister of the Heart.

Love Ya Babe.

Slainte,

Aunty Pol

If It's Monday ~ It's John Barrowman Time ~!

OMG people..what was I thinking ?

I spaced out my Monday post ?????

Mea Cupla..Mea Culpa.

I blame the back issues that knocked me for a loop and kept me home yesterday.

Weeding and planting on the first weekend is never a good thing for my back.

I knew/know better.

Stay tuned for a new weekly feature..."Ask Dr. Baltar ."

Hugs

Slainte,

Aunty Pol

I Wish It Were This Easy ~LOL

Sigh .

In the never ending battle to see what the child will eat, the above made me laugh my ass off.

It's a variation of what goes on at the Casa, especially with Gracie Marie. I swear that girl is the cat version of Goldilocks. Not happy with her own plate...the minute you dish up for the others she bounds over to check out their dinner..." Cause it might be different/better" than hers.

They of the faction who will actually deign to eat canned food have their own set places where they will eat...forget changing the place cards for any given meal.....they will stare you down until you realize the magnitude of your mistake and place their plates in the proper location.

I am not kidding here.

I was home ill yesterday ...nothing major but it gave me the chance to get Xena to eat more. She will eat for her mommy as long as I am next to her standing guard....see above with Gracie.

Two days ago it was pate style..now..nope ..no way to pate.....it's meaty bits....beef..not chicken.

Worse than a junkie needing a fix is my panic if we don't have the food of the day. I might as well just give SU my debit card....don't get your hopes up honey....just sayin.

The hard part is that for the MOST part the food is actually staying down..which lets me get my hopes all up...then the battle of the cans begins again.

Yes , we've been back and forth to the vet...but as we all know ...once a new eating pattern takes hold...it's hell to get it to stop .

She drinks her " sparkly clean", the plumbing so to speak works..she's alert , active...social with her sibs....she's just the Kate Moss of Catdom.

It's sad when you are relieved that the yak you hear in the tiny bit of time that you have left before you have to haul your fat ass out of bed is merely a hairball on the bathroom counter and not breakfast....true story...this morning....sorry if that grossed ya out...

Anyhoo....her father and I soldier on...she's our baby and we love her so it's how we roll.

She is in charge..now if we could just get the large part of that saying activated, I would be one happy mommy.

Have a safe St. Patricks Day.

Slainte

Aunty Pol

In Defense Of Cake Mixes

Any one who knows me , knows that I love to bake.

More often than not , I am a scratch baker...I love the process.

Then there are other times that I want a cake NAOW.

So I will use a CAKE MIX...preferably Duncan Hines.

Ask around.

Most of the time DH is the one most gals I know use.

Cake mixes are a hell of a lot better than they were in our mothers day.

Below is my Chocolate Orange Bundt Cake Recipe.

Enjoy.

Set oven to 350 degrees.

Grease and flour your bundt cake pan. I use cocoa powder instead of flour for all chocolate cakes and Kroger cocoa is just fine for this.

Mix together:

1 package ( 18,25 ounces ) Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Cake Mix

1 package ( 3.9 ounces ) Jello instant pudding -fudge flavor

4 large eggs - room temperature please

1 cup full fat sour cream

1/2 cup warm water

1/2 cup applesauce ( if you buy the Motts individual serving cups 4 ounces equals 1/2 cup.)

1 1/2 teaspoons orange extract.

Mix all of the above at low speed for one minute..then jack it up to medium and mix for 2 to 3 minutes more , scraping down the sides of the bowl as you go.

Do not freak out as this is a fairly thick batter.

Pour into the bundt pan and smooth the top....I usually smack the pan on the counter once or twice ...I have OLD Formica counter tops. You are on your own if you mess up your granite or marble cook surfaces...just sayin.

Bake 45 to 50 minutes until a tooth pick or metal kabob skewer comes out clean...it's what I use .

When completely cooled..yes..agony , I know....remove cake from pan.

Frosting by the way is optional.

Find Fork .

Find plate.

Find NCIS on tv.

Dig in.

Gotta go..the cake on the counter in the cake keeper is taunting me.

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

Sundays In The Garden

It finally feels like a normal Sunday here at the Casa.

Pruning was done by the SU yesterday for which I am grateful.

Thank you honey, it helps a lot.

Well....that and having the NG arrange with Eric to haul off the big limbs in his Chevy. This is one of those times that I do actually miss having a pickup .

SU surprised me with a few pots of Geranimo's so I got those in the pots on the patio. Empty pots are just too depressing for me to look at.

SU also said that Lowes has some Hydrangeas at a pretty decent price and I think that there are 3 in the front bed that are going to make it.

Unfortunately, the Bridal Wreath Spirea and the Lantana....not so much so out they came. I may just put more Hydrangeas in those empty spots...

The Roses are another thing altogether. One of them is doing really well on the fence line with the Crazy neighbor...she's not really....but she is a whole other story. There is a Texas AG extension variety of Roses that has been bred for the Gulf Coast heat so I am on the hunt for at least one of those.

I do hope that the Carnation of India and the Duranta make it...keeping paws crossed.

I'm still debating on the herbs and have decided that I do want an Esperanza somewhere in the beds.

SU is going to build me a gardening bench this spring so that I can get rid of all of the crap in the corner....yes sister...it will be finally gone.

Other than the continuing issue of Xena and food...all is well here.

Have a great week.....and be cool on St. Pat''s OK ?

I'd like to keep the readers I have around...we are small but mighty.

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

Bruce Of The Day ~ Happy Friday !

God I love it when Bruce does the " Chuck Finley" routine...LMAO.

Happy Friday kids.

It appears that it will be a fairly nice weekend here in the Big H. I'm hoping so because we really need to get into the yard thing...( Yes dear , I said we..if you help out in the am, you can go to the icehouse in the afternoon...no..I'm not giving you beer funds...I'm fair , not stupid...just sayin).

I sense that the retail gardening centers are really going to jack up the prices of stuff because they know that we've had a really sorry ass winter down here , snow even , ( Inserting Snagglepuss voice here )and most of us have lost 90 % of our gardens. And then as custom, even though Easter is somewhat later this year...you know the jack the prices of Hydrangeas up .

Oh yes they do too !

I need to get out there before we order the mulch...what can I say ? He asked me what I wanted for my birthday a few years ago and I said...." Mulch..delivered ".

Anyhoo......Lady L....FOOD WARNING......Danger... Jill Robinson....Danger.....

I'm sorry honey...I had to do that , I really did.

Anyone that knows me in RL or who reads this knows that I love cooking.

I especially love to bake.

Even before I discovered Ree, I followed a number of food/baking blogs because they were entertaining, informative and just flat out charming. I've collected various recipes from them and had a lot of luck with the majority I've selected. Some sites like the food network's and Ree's tasty kitchen have a recipe box feature that you can store selections in after you register with their sites. Trust me....if it's a free site..I'm apt to join. Other recipes , I've printed out and have in a folder that has taken on a life of it's own. Slowly, ...very slowly we are loading them on to the PC...(I know honey , I know...this is where you have yours and yes it was a good idea...)

Anyhoo.....I've linked to new sites from the list of blogs that I follow and have discovered that there really is a whole segment of the cooking world that devotes itself to cupcakes.

Now...Aunty Pol has always been a cupcake kinda gal.

Cupcakes are the perfect single serving size when you are jonsing for a whole lot of hoot and a little bit of nanny cakeage for the pie hole.

I'd read a few years ago that there were some bakeries that were strictly limited to cupcakes and so on...I thought..." How cute...nice gimmick...".

Man...was I wrong.

There's a ton of sites and retailers that have all sorts of goodies....

I've always wanted to learn to do the pretty decorations and so on so I ordered a set and so forth. SU took a Wilton class years ago but I doubt that he knows where any of his gear is...

And while I am thinking about it...to avoid a potential fight ...let me say right here....right now..

Honey...I know you took the Wilton class with your Momma. I'm just wanting to play with this stuff. I want to try it on my own with out you trying to help ( TAKE OVER)...so if I need some help or ask you to show me how to do something...fine....I will ask.....

Until then..

Let me play.

He means well, he really does...

Xena pounded down a whole can of kitten pate by herself for dinner last night and it stayed down. I'll worry about tonight....tonight.

Have a great weekend.

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

Pure Sunshine

Orange Yogurt Bread

2/3 cup butter, softened

1 1/4 cups sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1/2 cup orange juice

1 tablespoon grated orange peel

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Glaze:

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

2 to 3 teaspooons orange juice

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add yogurt, orange juice and peel. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well.

3. Pour into a greased 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pan. Bake at 350° for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean (cover loosely with foil if top browns too quickly). Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to wire rack to cool completely.

4. For glaze, combine confectioners’ sugar and enough orange juice to achieve desired consistency. Drizzle over cooled bread.

I got this recipe originally from http://www.pinchmysalt.com/ and it is a favorite of mine. The only change that I made is that instead of making the sugar glaze , I brushed good marmalade over the bread while it was still hot in the pan and then waited..oh the agony...the agony...once the bread is cooled , you can remove it. Yes..you might smudge the yumminess that is the glaze..but do what I do...either say ...what the hell...or touch it up like y0u touch up your nails when you are Aunty Pol and can't wait...another story in itself. I also added a drop of 2 or orange flavoring to the batter because I am insane for all things orange....trust me....it didn't mess it up at all.

Anyhoo...go check out Nicole's blog.

She has a new recipe up for Madelines...yes Miss Lisa...Madelines...wheeeeee.

I read her blog every day along with PW's so check her out.

And I wonder why I am starvin Marvin now....LMAO.

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

Recipe notes: I

These Are So Cute !

http://www.calamityanne.com/

Ok Anne..I want to win these..so here's the link in my blog.

Hugs.

Ciao,
Aunty Pol

Set Me Free

I want to go play in the dirt.

It's 74 degrees of so here , off and on rainy which is perfect for weeding.....

I WANNA PLAY IN THE DIRT WITH MY HELPER SGT. ANDY PANDA PANTS.

My son and I need some mommy and me time .

I want to trim and prune and dig and clean and oh Lord...

Please Lord,

Let me stop from getting to the point that I fubar my back....just once ?

M'kay ?

I wanna play in the dirt with the worms.

Sigh,

Aunty Pol who has a CLASSIC Case of SPRING FEVER !

P.S. The picture is of an item from Jackson Perkins .......I love the photo.

If It's Monday ~ It's John Barrowman Time ~!

Happy Monday !

As usual with the Rodeo and Spring Break next week, it's all lovely and rainy and icky.

But....it's good for the yards and I have to say that I am quite the happy camper as it would appear that I may be able to save one or two of the hydrangeas and more than a couple of the roses.

Yes...I did the walk through the garden.

It really was a lovely weekend so Sgt . Panda Pants and I had some quality Mommy and me time as I pulled all of the dead soldiers out of the pots on the patio,...it's not much but it is a start.

Other than that, quite the dull weekend....burgers, baking and cleaning the Casa.

I know....alert the Media.

Remember to re-set the clocks on the 14'th...for what that's worth.

Have a wonderful week.

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

Bruce Of The Day ~ Happy Friday

Happy Friday Kids.

Been a weird sort of week..nothing bad per se , just a ripple in the Force I guess.

SU and I have exciting plans....LMAO !

Errands ( him) and then the first walk through in the garden to assess the damage.

I know....Sad Panda !

It's going to be a long and frankly expensive process but hopefully we have both turned the corner on this bronchial crap that kicked our respective asses for the last 2 weeks so there ya go.

All I want to do is go home and kick back and wait for a new ep of " Numbers"....it's making me crazy because I know my boy Charlie couldn't have killed anyone so I fully expect my FedCakes ( David and Colby) and if necessary Larry to clear it up.

Don't forget to pop over to Space Paws and click on Myrons picture on the upper right side to vote for Purrfect Pals....

Have a great weekend and remember March 6 'th is " Day Of The Dude"...so hang loose and just Abide.

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

Let's Get Our Dude On ~ !

Had to share .

Yes...I actually am a Dudeist.

Enjoy the link.

http://dudespaper.com/the-day-of-the-dude.html/

Ever Abiding

Aunty Pol

Homesick Texan

This child is a long lost sister, you have to read her blog to get it . With her permission I am posting her mr. linky for Tacos El Carbon. My way of giving a shout out to her and the late , great Ninfa Laurenzo. It's Ninfa's on Navigation or nothing baby.

http://homesicktexan.blogspot.com/2010/03/tacos-al-carbon-recipe.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HomesickTexan+%28Homesick+Texan%29

It's so good , you wanna slap yo Mama...just sayin.

Oh , and hit the green sauce linky while you're at it.


Ciao,

Aunty Pol Who Is Now Jonesin For A Hita al Carbon

I Think I Really Need To Get Back Into The Garden ~ !

I know it's a tiny shot...but anyone who plays "Farmville " on Facebook will understand how obsessive a player gets about all the bits and bobs you can pimp your farm out with....

Or is it just me ?

Any Farmville Freaks out there ?

Ciao.

Aunty Pol

I Am Sooo Ready For Spring !!!

I am soo taken with this picture...it's composition, it's irony..it's f'd -uppidness in a way ...I just like it.

I am soooo ready for Spring I can't stand it .

Our weather is getting a bit warmer which is good. It means that the outskieboutskie twins will be happier to be out and about surveying their domain.

Their Momma will also be happy because Miss Gracie Marie almost got her SORRY ASS killed by her Momma last night.

GRRRRR.

I am still pissed at her trying to beat up on Xena...not once...not twice....but three times.

I popped her on the ass...yelled at her and then threw her SORRY ASS out the door.

She is 4 times the size of Xena.

She is the one we call Hoover because we have to stand over Xena's plate....literally or Gracie will move in on it.

It's still a challenge to get Xena to eat but she will eat for me.

I do not need her all stressed out again.

Sigh.

Yes....I still love Gracie Marie...but dammit cat....!

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

Creatures Of Habit R Us

We are such creatures of habit here at Casa de Swamp.

WE get home on a time line dictated by whether Sgt. Andy Panda Pants in insky or outskiebouskjy boy.

Raus Mause.

WE being the parents .

Add into that Little Ones dietary habits for the day.

To Urp Or Not To Urp...That Is The Question.

Long ago and far away.....we had lives.

Tuesday night is NCIS.

I am an expert at the DVR thingy.

My office still sux.

Gods above spare me from the passive gressive 29 years old twinks.

I have turned into my worst nightmare.

I AM RINDA.

Sigh.

Don't get me wrong here.

Given the option of being the twink or coming home to the SU who as usual makes me nuts...the dishes....the laundry...the cat urping.....the mayhem....

Yeah.

I vote for my life tonight.

Could be worse.

It most certainly has been.

Night all.

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

Wheeeeee....Happy Happy Joy Joy !

Amazon has the 2 disk Special Edition DVD on sale for $8.99...


AND I GOT MY COPY TODAY !!!!!!!!!!


And...hisself is going to be at the Crazy Cajuns for cards tonight....so....


Now..If I could score a 2 piece and a biscuit ...LOL


Ciao,


Aunty Pol...Who Is Completely Comfortable With The Idea She Might Burn In Hell At This Rate.....now don't freak out m'kay ?

If It's Monday ~ It's John Barrowman Time ~!

Well , I hope everyone had a fab weekend...we sure did .

Paws crossed , I think that I have turned a corner with all of this bronchial crap tho it is still hard to sleep. Only time will tell , the coughing up a lung is getting a bit old , but as we ( SU and I ) are more than fond of saying :

" It is what it is ....till it ain't"

Hisself went up to a classic car rally north of us which was fine...he had been veering towards a case of Cabin Fever , as is his habit ....so being smarter than the average bear I replied:

" Be off with ye knave...here is some beer money...begone."

Actually it was more like :

" Meh..whatevs...and of course you need beer money....here ya go."

Sorry gang...love the man to death , but after 2 weeks of being sick, the Casa needed cleaning and I can just get more done alone.

Anyhoo...chores all got done just as my brother pulled up to the curb.

You see...he had called the night before and spoke to SU.

SU : Hello ?

B ( Brother ) : ..Hi it's me.

SU : What's up ?

B : Ummmmm ( Insert Ruh Roh here )...Is there any way that I can borrow $100.00 ?

SU : What's going on ?

B : Well...I'm moving and I need money for Buster ( B's cat). It's been 3 weeks since we've had any hot water here and I can't take it any more so I am moving.

SU : Okay......

B : See here's the thing. At the new place, I let it slip about Buster and now I need to pay the pet deposit. I can pay $100.00 down and then the balance off every month . Man , .......I really don't want to board him in a kennel if I can help it and I think my track record is pretty good here.

SU : Well...let me talk to your sister ( Moi ) and she will call you back.

So ...I get the story and said ok. Then I got the bit about the kennel.

I called my brother back and right off the bat said that my nephew was NOT going to be boarded.

I quote:

" I' M NOT HAVING IT ."

So he came by Saturday and got the loot and hung out for a bit.

He knows that if I have it for a valid reason, of course he can borrow it.

He prides himself on paying me back.

As he should.

I told him to wait to pay me back until Buster is out of hock so to speak because that's how I roll.

All in all....good weekend...clean casa....paws and claws done....helped the Brother .

All is good.

Have a great week.

Ciao,

Aunty Pol....Defender of Cats everywhere.