Saturday, October 29, 2011

Pet Halloween Parade

Today was the second annual Halloween pet costume parade at the local animal clinic, where my oldest son just happens to work : )  The kids were so excited, they had such a good time last year and they had a good time this year as well.  Twice as many folks showed up, word must be getting out : )  We didn't win but every kid got a candy bag and every pet got a goody bag, what more can you ask for on such a pretty fall day? 

 
Here are the twins, Eli went as a pirate and took Howard with him and Ely is a cat (black and white like her cat at home) but her cat couldn't be caught in time to go : ( 


Here is Howard the Pirate dog, his shirt says 'Shiver me timbers and rub me belly'.  LOL


Bre took Hobb the ferret and they both were dressed up like hippies.  I was surprised they didn't place at all.

Well that was the first of many Halloween festivities this week-end.  With Monday being the actual day, it seems like all week-end is one long Halloween party!  Next, heading over to the Church of Christ for Trunk or Treating.  Good times, good times.

Blessings, Beth Ann

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Aztec Chicken

Hey all.  I just wanted to share this slow cooker recipe I made for dinner tonight.  It was soooooo good!  Even the twins ate and had seconds : )

Aztec Chicken

1 can black beans
16 oz. frozen corn
16 oz. chunky salsa
4 boneless/skinless chicken breast
8 oz. cream cheese, cubed

1.  Combine beans, corn and half of salsa in slow cooker.
2.  Arrange chicken over top.  Pour remaining salsa over top of chicken.
3.  Cover.  Cook on high 2-3 hours or on low 4-6 hours.
4.  Shred chicken in pot, using a fork and knife
5.  Stir in cream cheese and cook until melted

Serves 6

I served mine over corn chips for the kids, but it is also great over brown rice.  Feel free to add more seasoning to make it hotter to your taste.  I used some frozen 15 bean I had left from a recipe, in place of the black and it was wonderful. 

Happy fall ya' ll and blessings, Beth Ann

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Never 'boo' late



Not sure why it took me so long to post these pic's but here are the kids with their pumpkins from last Saturday's p. patch/hay ride trip.

Welcome to my front door : )


None of the kids like to carve their pumpkins or get their hands in the 'guts'.  So I picked up some cut felt cut-outs from the Dollar General Market - love that place.  So after church last Sunday  we got to it!


Elysha made a cat and seems to be hiding behind something, huh (shrug).  Check out her missing tooth!


Here is Miss Halie with her creepy guy : )


And Miss Mika chose a bat face for hers.


Elijah went with a silly pumpkin, just like him : )


Boo-tiful Bre made a vamp pumpkin, of course right?  LOL

Last stop is my back door.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out our pumpkins.  Come back soon and stay for some coffee or green tea, and be sure to share your pumpkins with us too!

Blessings, Beth Ann

Friday, October 21, 2011

"Cat"ch up

Hi all, just doing a little 'cat'ch up  - LOL  I know!  Too funny : )  I wanted to share this pic of our cat Oliver, who's tongue seems to fall out of his mouth every time he is relaxed.  I know!  How odd!  LOL  This pic was taken on my desk and he is curled in a ball with his head upside down. 


Oliver also seems to have a penchant for getting hurt every time he goes outside.  I know!  How annoying and expensive : (    He has hurt himself 3 times in six weeks and we have only had him like 3 months!  We are under orders from our vet and our son (the vet tech) to never let him out again.  Do you know how hard that is when he wants to go out?  Frankly K and I were hopping he just wouldn't come back when we let him out.  No such luck.   This time he has a wound in his chest, son tells us to keep it clean and free of hair.  ???  Excuse me?  The cat is like made of 100% hair!!!!  Sigh.

In other news; B is off on her first week-end from home trip and K has the week=end off.  If it weren't for those pesky twins . . . LOL  Seriously, I am soooo excited for Bre and know she will have a great time in Gaitlinburg with the youth group from FBC.    In November it will be my turn for a get-away with the FBC ladies.  Now I just need a get-away with my hubby.  Camping?

Blessings, Beth Ann

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Bunny love

Well I meant to post this a couple days ago but you know how life gets in the way.  On Wed. one of our rescue rabbits passed away, always a sad thing but also a time to teach the children.

Here is Bre with Di Vinci right after we received him.  He had a long life and will be missed.

We have managed to place all my son's animals, it's a God thing, and we haven't replenished except for a cat (that's a husband thing).  We are down to just our two handicapped dogs, Howard my mini red doxin and Levi, my husbands pit bull.  They both have spinal issues and can't feel their hind ends, but have taught themselves to be 'spinal walkers' as the vet calls it.  Here are a couple new pic's of Levi:

This is my husbands favorite blue chair, and his dogs too : )


It's even better when the sun comes out from behind a cloud! LOL

And just in case your worried that only one of our chairs is being covered in dog hair . . .   the sofa is also fair game and it looks like he jacked the pillow as well!

With a few less animals life around here is a bit less like a zoo and a little more like . . . a circus!  Can you hear the calliope ?

Blessings, Beth Ann

Saturday, October 08, 2011

P.Patch

Every year we go to the best pumpkin patch in the world!  We have gone every year since we moved down here, so ten long years and the twins haven't missed a one : )  The kids look forward to it so much!  Twin son starts a count down weeks, heck, months in advance.  Since oldest son isn't living home I was surprised, and excited, when he announced that he was joining us too.  He has called home three times in the past week to confirm the time and date LOL.  We will be adventuring there a week from today, which also happens to be my birthday.  We didn't plan it that way, just happened and we go different times every year.  Well twin son was doing his count down out loud and when I mentioned it was also my b-day, he paused, looked at me and exclaimed; 'you are the luckiest mommy in the whole world, you were born on pumpkin patch day'!  There you go, 'nough said.  I AM the luckiest mommy in the whole world!

Blessings, Beth Ann

Thursday, October 06, 2011

Curry in a hurry ~

Whats for dinner?  The ten million dollar question, every night!  LOL  Tonight I am making one of my hubby's fave's, since he is feeling so poorly; curry.  Thought I would share the recipe, let me know what you think.

Beef Curry:
1 lb. beef sirloin or roast, diced
1 c. beef broth
1 Tbs. curry powder
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and diced
1 cup dried cranberries
1/2 tsp.. ground allspice
Quick cooking brown rice
frozen broccoli

First; start steaming the frozen broccoli for 20 min.  Next, In large skillet add beef, broth, apple and curry powder, allspice and cranberries.  Bring to boil and then simmer for 10 minutes. 

Now make rice per package directions.

Just before serving; fluff rice and drain broccoli.

Serve Beef Curry over rice and broccoli.  You may garnish with shredded coconut, sour cream or plain yogurt.

Blessings, Beth Ann

Wednesday, October 05, 2011

Knitting

Been some time since I have given an knitting update.  I have finished many hats and some bags on commission as well.  Got so busy I forgot to take pic's : )  Here is a look at some recent items and what I am working on now:

Sometimes I walk past my yarn stash and see two colors next to each other and . . . wham, an idea is born.  Here is a scarf created from just that sort of event.

I call this my green rag
Russian tea scarf.


This too was born from colors just lying around LOL.  Standard blue, red sparkle and white mohair.


When I finish this will be a bag, my Red, White and Blue bag : )


Last but not least, starting a new pair of socks.  Hand made knitted socks are like sleeping bags for my feet.  Great for winter.

I am still working on Bre's Hufflepuff scarf, been working on it for like 9 months now : (  I keep stopping to do paid work, and now I am out of yarn ~ double : (  I do vow to finish by the end of this year however!

Blessings, Beth Ann

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

cats

I mentioned awhile back that a new cat adopted us and looked exactly like the last one, except for a black nose.  Chester (formerly known as Nala) with a white nose, moved in last fall.  Oliver, with the black nose, showed up about 2 months ago but appears to be the same age as Chester.  Makes us wonder if they were litter mates and if so where has he been?

When we took Oliver to the vet we learned he was already neutered.  Curiouser and curiouser.


Here they both are on twin dd bed, she has laid claim to them and they seem ok with that.


Here is Oliver sleeping on the sofa, goofy cat.  Well I guess his brother is too . . .



Remember this silly pic of Chester sleeping on the oven?  LOL 

We have a few less dogs with Z not living home, but we still seem to be running a pet ministry.  Somethings never change.
Blessings, Beth Ann

Monday, October 03, 2011

Back in the saddle again! or Happy Birthday Bre!

I'm back and I intend to do better with blogging.  It was a long HOT summer with not to much going on.  A few things were too personal to share, but you know how it goes : )  My oldest son (18) graduated and is now working full time at the animal clinic.  He just bought a new car and is saving money for school.   The twins are 7 1/2 and will start 2nd. grade the first of the year.  My middle dd just started 10th grade and turned 15 yesterday!  Oh, and during my hiatus my oldest dd turned 27!  This is getting sticky since I am only 29 LOL  I also want to send a shout out to my mom who is 'mmmmm' today!  LOL  Happy Birthday mom : )

Here is the birthday girl.  We took all our kids and there friends roller skating Sat.  Sssssh.  Don't tell anyone we had 9 in the car and only 7 seat belts!

Here is B with little sis E right behind her.  Sorry so blurry, but these kids were moving LOL


Son E was not enamoured of this but let big bro Z take him around a few times.

It was a great day and the kids had a wonderful time.  It was the first time the twins had ever been on skates, but it won't be the last according to them : )
The fun didn't stop there.  Back to our house for pizza, cake and ice cream (choc. chip cookie dough).  Then one of the ladies from church took the older girls out to the movies.  They saw the new christian movie, 'Couragous'.  Then they hit Sonic on the way home for milk shakes.  B said it was an excellent movie and an excellent birthday.

Blessings, Beth Ann