Got That Thanksgiving Stress Yet?

Well, it's official.....schools are out and the grocery stores are packed with people grabbing the last package of dinner rolls.  Thanksgiving is here!

Oh, The Places You'll Go......On The Ropin' Road

Wow!  What a year it has been on the roping circuit here in Texas!  Bill ropes and I'm his biggest fan.  We have so much fun traveling with our friends at least 2 to 3 times every month to a roping through out the state of Texas.  If you are not familiar with the song "The Ropin' Pen" by Trent Willmon download it.  It sums up the roping way of life in less than 3 minutes.  It makes me proud to know that most ropings start with a prayer, someone singing the national anthem and then Cowboy Church before a roping on Sunday.  

Bill has been roping for over 25 years.  He started with his best friend, John McDonald.  We traveled all over the state of Texas in the 80's and 90's going from ropings to rodeos more times than I can remember.  We made so many fun memories that are truly priceless today!

Bill and John
Ft. Worth, Texas

We started this roping season back in January in Oklahoma with all of our roping friends.  I refer to our roping friends as the "Winner's Circle" because we all have horse trailers with living quarters and we all camp together at the ropings and usually someone in our "circle" goes home a winner!  The season ended this past weekend in Stephenville, Texas!  Not only did the "Winner's Circle" win...we won BIG!  Our friend, Chan Peters, won a horse trailer, saddle, a new pair of boots, a saddle blanket and some money!  We were all so happy and excited for him!  It couldn't have happened to a nicer and more deserving person.

Here are a few pictures from this year on the Ropin' Road!

January in Oklahoma...We start the Winner's Circle 

Summer time at the ropin' pen

Tracey doing her thing to make us all laugh....Don't be surprised if she has an afro next year!

Night Practice

You never know who you might find at a roping...Red Steagall with Bill and Chan.

We never go hungry in the Winner's Circle!

Thanks Rags for  doing the chutes....That's one job I don't like...you can't make ropers happy!

This is how we celebrate birthdays at the ropin' pen!

Sometimes we get so nervous...we just can't watch!

There's a lot of waiting for your turn at these ropings.

The big winner this weekend!  Way to go Chan!

The winner always buys dinner.....Thanks Chan....you're the best!

Need a Gift?

Recently,  mom and I were looking for appreciation gifts to give out at Michael and Leslie's rehearsal dinner. We found these cute little cream pitchers at Ross.  We filled them with black tissue paper and black and white mints.  The card read, "Thanks for "pitcher/ing" in to make this a special wedding."  I thought this idea might come in handy during the month of November if you need a special little gift to say thanks for something this holiday season!

Amish Fried Pies......Oh My!

A few years ago I headed up north to Ardmore, Oklahoma to attend an arts and crafts fair with my family.  Family as in the girls....not the guys!  We found lots of cute stuff and it was cute stuff at great prices.  But the best bargain of the day.....Amish Fried Pies....oh my!!!  Best $1.00 I have ever spent in my life and I learned a valuable lesson that day.  You have to buy the fried pies first thing or you won't get your choices of flavors.

I came home and was obsessed with finding this recipe.  As some of my friends know, I have been known to stalk the Amish and take their picture (without them knowing).  But I would never steal a recipe from them.  But I did find this recipe and I think it is an exact copy of the Amish Fried Pie I had that day.  I promise they are delish and you can't eat just one.

Pinterest Party

Girls just want to have fun...right?  That's the way my girlfriends think.  So we got together and had a Pinterest Party!  It was so easy and so much fun!  Everyone brought a finger food and craft they had pinned on Pinterest.  We ate, talked and worked on our crafts.  No pressure to buy anything... just fun girl time.  Check out all the fun we had!

Invitations

"Adcock" It

Have you ever met someone that inspires you?

 I'll never forget this one particular day.  It must have been on a Tuesday around 3:30 because I was sitting in a staff meeting at my school.  You know the kind of meeting that the whole staff must attend to hear more about the same thing you've heard at every Tuesday meeting.  "Do more....no money.... don't eat...don't drink...stand, don't sit....you can't wear leggings but you can wear tights.....you can't wear shoes with anything between the toes but you can wear tennis shoes," (yep, you read that right)....and on it goes.  I really was listening with one ear, but out of the other ear, three teachers down, I heard this comment, "Every girl deserves a blue box from Tiffany's."

Harvesting herbs-my passion

I have recently retired (4 months ago) I am amazed at how fast the weeks go by.  I have loved being able to start this blog with my best friend Diane.  We have different interest.  She was a school teacher, me a nurse.  You can probably tell by this post who is more talented, her of course!  

This blog will be on harvesting and drying herbs.

You don't need much room in your yard to grow herbs.  They are very hardy in Texas and require very little time.  

Sweet Basil, Oregano, Rosemary

State Fair of Texas Cookbooks

It's that time of year....The State Fair of Texas.  Awwww.....people from around here count down the days till the fair starts. Texans love Fletcher's Corny Dogs, fried cactus to fried butter, Belgium waffles covered in strawberries and cream, and the sound of Big Tex welcoming us with a "HOWDY."  The start of the State Fair symbolizes fall, felt cowboy hats and the Texas / OU football game.

Coconut Pecan Cream Pie

This pie is so delicious!  It will take you back to your Mamaw's kitchen.  It's really a coconut cream pie with a twist.  I'll give you the recipe first and then I'll tell you the story behind it!

Little Ricky's Coconut Pecan Cream Pie

1 c. sugar

1/2 c. all purpose flour

1/4 t. salt

1 1/2 c. milk

1 1/2 c. sweet condensed milk

4 eggs

3 T. butter

1 1/2 t. vanilla extract

1/3 c. flaked coconut

1/3 c.  pecan pieces

1- 9 inch baked pie crust

It's a Cowboy Halloween

It's fall and October has finally arrived! I've been pinning lots of pumpkin, soup and caramel recipes on Pinterest.  The weather has turned cooler here in Texas, and all  my friends on Facebook are posting pictures of how they are decorating for fall.

I have a sunroom that I decorate with vintage Halloween collectibles during the month of October.  I love old Halloween postcards, clickers, and books.  I have no problem finding vintage Halloween collectibles during all my trips to First Monday Trade Days in Canton, Texas every month!

These just put a smile on my face!

Jan Jo's Ham, Tater and Green Beans

This recipe has been handed down for five generations.  We call it Ham, Taters and Green Beans.  My grandmother Georgia Gunter Hirsch, affectionately known as "Jan Jo" made it at least once a week.  It was a family favorite.

                                                                 

Brady Bunch Pork Chops

Ok.....so this recipe is really called Easy Pork Chops but I always think of the Brady Bunch when we have pork chops.  Remember the episode when Peter said, "Pork chops and applesauce."  Those  words, for some strange reason, are embedded in my head forever!  

You only need four ingredients...

1 can of Cheddar Cheese Soup
1 can French Onion Soup
4-6 potatoes (peeled)
4-6 pork chops

Chop potatoes and place them in the bottom of a casserole dish.

Place pork chops on top of potatoes (Seriously, does it get any easier?)

Mix soups and pour over potatoes and pork chops.   Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Cover with foil and cook for about 1 1/2 hours @ 350 degrees......cook till potatoes are tender.

Serve with a little applesauce if you want to and watch some reruns of the Brady Bunch!  

Enjoy!

God Bless America

My Obsession

I love anything that is vintage rodeo/cowboy!  My heart is known to skip beats when I find antique cowboy treasures.  My friends and family will tell you my house is packed full of these unique finds.  I call it my obsession because I really don't have any more room for these treasures but I just can't resist the urge to buy more!  So here is my plan.....if I bring it home (and I will) I must find a purpose for it!

One Saturday, while out antiquing, I found four of these old children's cowboy holsters!

Oh the fun a little cowboy had with these back in the day!  As I stood there, thinking of the little cowpokes that had played with these, I knew I had to come up with a way to use them in my house.  And then it came to me....I would use them with my western dishes to hold the napkins and silverware at dinner time.

I already had some really cute napkins that would be perfect in each holster.

 Here is the holster with the western dishes I found in an antique store in Cheyenne, Wyoming!  So cute and so easy!

When I'm not using the holsters as napkin holders for a place setting they are used to display vintage cowboy pistols on my dining room table.

There will be more to come about these little holsters!  Wait till you see my idea for Christmas!

Retired candlesticks and dessert plates rewired into a dessert pedestal!

Dessert Pedestal

I found 4 dessert plates at Goodwill.  They were .69 each.  I then put them on top of different heights of crystal candlesticks and wallah a dessert pedestal!!!!