The Olympics......yeah baby!!

How cool are the Olympics? I just love it when they roll around....and I especially like the Summer Olympics. I have never been one to enjoy the snow and cold....maybe that's why...I think that's part of being a California girl too.
I find myself every night totally addicted to them and cannot turn off the television! I never have the television on during the day, it's too distracting (and that's the last thing I need....another distraction). But at night....I try to hang on to see the swimming results and then the gymnastic results.....and then see if I can catch a glimpse of the softball, or their results.

Speaking of softball......Monica Abbott who is one of the pitchers for the USA team grew up in Salinas, California and played ball with my youngest daughter. They played against each other in High School, and had quite a rivalry against each other (when they pitched against each other for the division championship......I am super duper proud to say that Cassie was the winning pitcher), even the local television stations and newspapers covered their game. They continued to play together on the same traveling team all through high school and we traveled throughout the state of California and went to the National Championships more than once near Chicago. They also had the same pitching coach....who I am sure is quite proud to have been a contributor to Monica's success. It's very exciting to have someone you know be a part of the Olympic team.....as a parent of an athlete...it's what everyone dreams for...and I know the time and money that is spent to accomplish that goal. GO MONICA and team USA !!

Oh and I have to say something about Michael Phelps.......isn't he just perfect?? What an athlete, what a body......whew.....ok....that's all I can say about that.....

How about a recipe??
Caramel Dumplings (a recipe from my Mom, who I miss dearly)
1 c. sugar (separated)
5 T. butter (separated)
1/ tsp. salt
2 c. hot water
1/2 c. milk
1 1/2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla

In a medium hot iron skillet (or heavy skillet) carmelize 1/2 c, sugar (stir with wooden spoon while heating until light brown in color), then add 1 c. sugar, 3 T. butter, 1/2 tsp. salt, 2 c. hot water. Stir together, and cook stirring constantly ntil most of the sugar is dissolved. This is the sauce
Mix the dumpling....in bowl mix 1/2 c. sugar and 2 T. butter to a creamy texture, add 1/2 c. milk, 1 1/2 c. flour, 2 tsp. baking powder and 1 tsp. vanilla. Mix well. Drop by heaping teaspoons into the hot sauce....cover and cook for exactly 12 minutes over low heat (do not raise lid while cooking).
Serve warm or cold with a sprinkling of chopped pecans.
Careful.....this dessert is very rich! Enjoy!!

Flowers and Food, what could be better??

Thank you.....I had some responses on my pet posting yesterday. So glad that someone is reading it. I recently read a saying -- I can only hope to be the kind of person that my pet thinks I am. (I am not sure who it came from...or if I quoted it exactly) But isn't that the truth. I love it!

Ok so...like I said the other day I got a new camera and I love it so far....haven't quite figured it out...but I love it nonetheless (is that one word??)
I love flowers. I think my true love of flowers came from my Mother in Law, Donna...whose yard looked like a park every year. She could make anything grow and there are still plants in her yard that are like 50 years old and still living....to me that is amazing. I can't imagine keeping anything for that long, even a plant.... But here are some pictures...let me know what you think.






These are from my yard....I think they turned out pretty good. BTW...these are straight out of the camera no editing, no photoshop, nothing..




Ok, now for some food......

First, do any one's tomatoes look like this??? This is the only one we have that is starting to turn red. We have quite a few green ones.....but nothing ripe yet.....darn it...luckily this recipe doesn't need 'em.Today's recipe is.......Chinese Chicken Salad

2 c. cooked chicken, shredded (don't cook-use a rotisserie chicken from the store)

1 head cabbage

1 bunch of green onions

1/2 c. sliced almonds

2 package Top Ramen (any flavor will do)

3 T. butter

1/4 c. chopped cilantro

Chop the cabbage,thinly slice the green onions, and rough chop the cilantro - combine in bowl and set aside. In a small skillet, melt the butter, take the noodles and throw away the seasoning pack (or if you are the thrifty type save it for something else....) smash the noodles and add to the melted butter along with the almonds. Cook until brown then set aside. Prepare the dressing.

Dressing:

3/4 c. vegetable oil

4 1/2 T. seasoned rice vinegar

4 1/2 T sugar

2 T. soy sauce

2 T. sesame seed oil

Salt and Pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients really well. Pour over the cabbage mixture, add the noodles and chicken, toss well.

One last thing.....I found this on another blog, click the link below....it is amazing....enjoy!
http://www.slide.com/r/aDT5KuKX7D-n8nq8PWLk0R5lGccCQS9k?current_view=TICKER&previous_view=TICKER_MENU_SHARE&previous_action=SHARE&cid=576460752328128176

My pets.....I love em!!

As most people know I love my animals. When my girls were younger, in that ugly teenage, talkin' back, Miss attitude age I used to say I should have had more animals and less kids. But of course I love my children and really wouldn't trade them for more pets........Cassie, I know what you're thinkin......honest I wouldn't!! And since I am now a Grandmother....or Ammie as I am called by the little monkeys......I am blessed everyday to be a mom.

But I do love my pets......let me introduce you to them...

This is Kitters - Isn't she beautiful? But don't let that beautiful face fool you.....she will bite your ankle when you walk by. She will dip her paw in your bowl of cereal if you aren't watching. And she keeps the two dogs on their toes at all times.....NOBODY messes with her. She is 15 years old, we almost lost her about 12 years ago when a large dog attacked her...if it wasn't for Dr. Wilson, she would have died. Thank you doc....
Our lives would not have been the same without her. And Allie and Layne thank you....they have been taught a thing or two by her also.




Next up is Lola, my slightly compulsive dachshund. She has an obsession with socks and rubber bands. If she finds one, she will drive you crazy wanting you to throw if for her. She will also spend endless hours balancing it on the end of her nose......throwing it up in the air and catching it......she can do it for hours. And if it ends up in the swimming pool, she will patiently wait by the side of the pool until she can reach it and start all over again. Lola is 3 and my little shadow....she follows me everywhere.







And last but certainly not least.....Bodey the Beagle. He is 2 years old, a totally kick back, don't bug me I'm sleepin' kind of guy. He is very skittish about noises...any little noise throughout the day will send him running upstairs into my bedroom to hide under the covers! I'm not kidding......he makes several trips a day up there to see if he can get under the covers (if I haven't made the bed yet). He would never ever, ever, I repeat EVER be a hunting dog. You could probably never pry him out of the truck if you tried. He has a weird compulsion with socks also......he eats them. Yep, swallows them whole.....and he throws them up whole. Very strange! And have you heard....he's a runner! If he happens to get out of the front door for any reason, or out of the back gate....he's a goner....he will run for days. A few months ago he was missing for 2 full days and was found a few miles from our house.....his feet were so sore that he cried for 2 days every time he walked up the stairs.....but did that stop him from running?? Duh....NO Here is the little bugger is

He lifted his head long enough off the pillow for me to snap this shot.....BRAT

These three boogers are the reason I am usually sleeped deprived.....Kitters insists on sleeping on my head. Lola is under the covers at my feet. And Bodey is under the covers at my side and he circles and circles and then collapses as close to me as possible. If he gets up in the middle of the night and wants to get back under the covers he runs his nose along the small of my back....HELLLOOOOO, that will wake you up everytime! And everytime I move he groans........and my hubby is way over on the other side of the bed. Ahhhhh my pets...I love em

A funny story to share......a few months ago my hubby and I decided to go fishing and had taken both of the dogs with us. I got out by the boat ramp and waited while my husband backed the boat down getting ready to launch it....I had the rope and was ready to do my job....he jumped out of the truck to unlatch the front of the boat......with the truck running.....and both dogs still in the truck.......and YEP....they stepped on the automatic door lock. Of course we didn't have another key with us.....so we had to direct all the other people waiting to launch their boat around us. While a kind Ranger helped us break into our truck.....after about an hour we finally got in and got our boat on the water. Needless to say....we have a hide a key now....and we never leave the truck running with the dogs in there.

Back to reality

Whew....what a crazy couple of weeks I have had. So sorry I haven't posted in a while, but I went to Vegas for a few days, came home then my daughter came to visit....my granddaughter stayed for a few days (and nights).....ok enough with the excuses!!



Had a great time in Vegas and even won some money....woo hoo!!! I love the penny slots....my husband just cannot believe how I can win money on them (sometimes!). I won over $500.00 the first night and hit a $1,000.00 jackpot the next night. It was awesome...paid for my trip and then some....yippee!!!



When I got home I got to buy the camera I have been dreaming of......the Nikon d80. So far I love it....but haven't been able to completely read thru the manual yet.......I haven't been able to figure out how I got pictures like this picture of Layne with owl eyes....does anyone have any ideas??





But I have taken some awesome pictures like these pictures of flowers in my yard....which are straight out of the camera.....awesome. I love it, but have alot to learn about it.

Over the weekend my granddaughter Allie broke her arm.....poor baby is in a temporary cast and will see the doctor tomorrow to see if they want to put her in a hard cast. She is taking it pretty well for now, but next weekend we are visiting family and she was looking forward to swimming with her cousins.....hopefully the doctor can give her a waterproof cast. Darn kids!

Well I don't have room for a recipe today, but I promise one tomorrow. I have alot of catching up to do.

And if anyone is reading out there.......let me know (is there an echo in here??)