Mailman…….Thy name is like Honey on my Lips.

Looky what I got in the mail yesterday! Kathy has a shop on Etsy and she sent me this beautiful print of a gouache collage. The colors are so brilliant and it will be perfect in my kitchen once I get it in a frame.

Kathy is a children’s book artist. Her illustrations are created using gouache on paper with a collage technique.

She has 3 great sales going this week.
1) Any 3 prints in her shop for $32.40 in the US. The image size will be either 7" x 10" or 8" x 10" depending on the originals dimensions.
2) Any 4 prints in her shop for $40.50 in the US. Same images sizes as above.
3) Any 10 prints for $81.00 in the US. Same image sizes as above.

Also, between Oct 20 through Oct 24, everything in the store is 19% off.

One thing I didn’t realize at first was that Kathy is in Australia and when I saw that I figured it would take forever to get my print but she sent it out immediately by Airmail and I had it within a week.

She also has note cards for sale and these are just so yummy and nice to have for every occasion.

 

Please don’t forget to check out her book also. It was written and illustrated by Kathy. Such talent. This would be a perfect baby shower gift.

Check out her Etsy Shop Here!
 

Thanks Again Kathy!

 

Holly

xxx-ooo

WrapMaster and Really Bad Beans

I thought I'd share with you a gift that my friends CJ and Pam recently gave me.  I had been to their house and saw this in action and knew I had to have it.  Now CJ, you must know, is a QVC maniac.  She won't admit it but she is.  I don't mind, I get loads of unopened boxes of goodies from her.  She buys stuff without realizing she already has two in her pantry, I love her for that.  Anyhoo, here's what I got!

It's a WrapMaster!  Actually, I got the set of three.  Have you seen these?  They are awesome.  I use a lot of cling wrap, saran wrap, plastic wrap, Satan's play thing, whatever you want to call it.  I hate the way it always clings to itself and folds over or tears wrong or cuts my finger on the cutter offer thingy.  The WrapMaster makes it so easy.  It never folds or gets stuck to itself any more.  Don't believe me?  Here see for yourself.

First you open the door doo-hickey thing.  Set your plate in front of the WrapMaster and pull the cling wrap over the plate.  (see that cute little red vintage spice rack?  Pam and CJ gave that to me too, I just need to print some labels for it)

With your other hand ( I assume you won't be holding a camera in that one like I am) close the door.

And just wrap the edges around your plate.  So much easier. 

What pray tell is on that plate?  Patience, for I shall tell you shortly since I have nothing better to do.  The WrapMaster comes in three different colors (at least it did on QVC) for $39.95.  I have plastic wrap in one, foil in one, and non-stick foil in the other.  I labeled the non-stick one so I could tell it apart from the other foil.

The drawers in my kitchen aren't very deep so I can't keep them in there but I do keep them on my little cart that I restored a while back.

And that's the story of the WrapMaster.  You can find out more about it on their website.

On to other stuff.  Last night I made Paula Deen's Italian Meatloaf which is so yummy!  Of course you have to have mashed potatoes with that cuz if you serve anything else with meatloaf you'd probably go to HE double hockey sticks.  And then......the best is coming.....can you tell by the way I put all those little periods in there?....Suspenseful! 

ALABAMA GREEN BEANS!!!!!

The recipe I found for these calls them Arkansas Green Beans but I like to call them Alabama Green Beans cuz...well, just cuz I do. 

 If you are looking for a healthy veggie side dish, go visit some skinny woman's blog, we don't do that here.  These are deliciously horrible for you.  Just the thought of them brings a tear to my husband's eye.  Beans, Bacon, Brown Sugar, OH MY! 

Hold on a minute folks while I speak directly to my health-nut sister for a moment.  "Kelly, stop reading now, there's nothing to see here, move along."

Alabama Green Beans

5 (15 ounce) cans green beans, drained

7 slices bacon

2/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
7 teaspoons soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder

1.Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place the drained green beans in a 9x13 inch baking pan.

2.Cook bacon in a microwave on microwave-safe plate for 2 minutes until slightly cooked. Lay the bacon on top of the green beans.
3.Combine the brown sugar, melted butter, soy sauce, and garlic powder in a small bowl. Pour the butter mixture over the green beans and bacon. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 40 minutes.

 Now, if you are fixing this for a small family and only want to use 2 cans of beans and 4 strips of bacon, this is very important, still use all of the other ingredients.  Trust me, you will want to drink this sauce.

And that's all I have.

Holly

xxx-ooo

And I Thought I was Strange

I’ve always known I was a little….shall we say ..off? However, there are some things that people do that I will never understand.

Ever since Bill retired he’s been able to spend a lot more time with Mitsy.

Serious commitment.

Bill mows his lawn twice a week and wonders why he still hasn't received the Neighborhood Pride of Ownership Award.

Having a corset implanted in her back to cinch her waist was much easier than having a rib removed.

Charles doesn’t worry about losing his hat anymore.

Takes care of that pesky task of running home to feed your pets before going out dancing.

Even though they had eight children in a two bedroom apartment, Shelly was lucky to have married a plumber.

Unfortunately, Tucker got his Aunt Millie’s knees.

Holly
xxx-ooo

It's okay...right? RIGHT??!!!

I talk to myself.  There, I said it.  Lately, I've noticed that when I'm in the car alone I talk a lot!  So yesterday while I was out driving around looking for garage sales I decided that I wasn't going to talk at all.  (singing so doesn't count).  About a block later I heard myself say "Whoa!  What the heck are you wearing Lady?!". I fell off the "shut up" wagon and just had to start over.  About ten minutes later I heard myself say, "I hate this song."  but that really didn't count because I had been singing and it just kinda blended in.  Just before I got home, the voice was back.  "Hey there Puppy Wuppy!  Where's your Momma?".  Well, see I was concerned that a dog was alone on the street so really I was just showing my compassionate nature so that really didn't count either.

Is it wrong that I let my dog sleep on my husband's pillow?  I usually end up in bed about an hour before my husband does and watch some TV with my dog.  It’s our cuddle time.  She climbs up on the bed and gives me that sad face until I pull his pillow down and let her put her head on it.  When I hear him turning off the lights and coming down the hall, I pull the pillow out from under her head, move it back where it belongs and kick her off the bed.

That's okay, right?

holly

xxx-ooo

Time to get your "Yee Haw" on!

Yesterday was beautiful, a little humid but not too hot.  We decided to venture out and head over to Glendale for the Wild Western Festival in Sahuaro Ranch Park.  There was quite a bit to see and do.  There were Wild West performers.

Booths set up selling all types of westerny things like these old ammunition locks.  All old and rusty, and heavy as all get out.

And leather goods.

There was a Barney Fife impersonator who was actually very good!

But he wrote me this ticket for drinking hard cider!

Sahuaro Ranch is one of the oldest and best-preserved examples of ranches in the Salt River Valley.  The property was developed as a fruit ranch starting in 1886.  The city of Glendale purchased the property in 1977.  The main house and several out buildings still stand and they offer free self-guided tours.  The architecture and furnishings reflect the time period of the late 1920's and early 30's.  I had been wanting to get into the main house for years and I got my opportunity yesterday.

I was all "swoony" to get inside. 

Kitchen

Bedroom

Loved this fireplace in the main sitting room.

But my favorite thing about the house had to be this Butler's pantry.  Can't you just see my Fiestaware in there?

I don't think I'd want to take a bath in this galvanized tub, though.

We met Jon Locke who played in Gunsmoke, Highway Patrol,, and Bonanza.  Listening to him talk about his life was really fascinating and I could have sat there with him all day but my dear husband asked me why I kept doing that weird thing with my eyelashes and so we moved on.  (Yummy Cowboy candy!)

We talked to Don Collier who played the foreman on High Chaparral.  I didn't do the flirty eyelash thing with him but he did have a nice deep voice.

If you're in our near Glendale, it's worth your while to check it out.  They also had food booths with BBQ, cotton candy and ice cream.  Good place to take the kids.



I may have enjoyed myself a bit too much with Mr. Yummy Cowboy Candy but I think my husband sprained a chest muscle "puffing up" when we walked past her. 

Holly

xxx-ooo

Yeah, I Married A Redneck, So What?

I know that every woman out there thinks to themselves from time to time, “I wonder what it’s like it to be married to a redneck?” It’s okay, don’t be ashamed, that’s what I’m here for. Sit down on this here stump, pop open a Coors Light, open a bag of pork rinds and let me share my world with you.

I knew what I was getting into; I won’t try to sugar coat it. I met him at a country western bar. He was wearing Wranglers, a cowboy hat and boots. What can I say?
First of all, our lives growing up couldn’t have been more different. I spent my summers swimming at the Country Club. He grew up in a bar. I had a sister who was a cheer leader; he had three brothers who shot each other with BB guns. My mother stayed home and took care of her family. His mother once stabbed him with a fork when he reached across the table. My father sold insurance, his father was an over the road truck driver. At 13 years old I made “spending” money by babysitting; he made “cigarette” money shooting pool at various bars.


Here’s a glimpse into my life:


1) Every Sunday afternoon is spent in front of the TV watching Nascar. GO #48!

2) Fixing muck-a-muck at least once a week. This is a culinary delight! Cook 1 box of Kraft macaroni and cheese (the blue box) as directed, mix in 1 can of cream of mushroom soup and 1 can of tuna. Extry good vittles! (He says I make it just like Mama made it)

3) The only station we listen to in his Chevy 2500HD is Blue Collar Comedy.

4) On our honeymoon we went to Oatman to pet the donkeys.

5) Listening to my husband talk for hours about how he’s going to fix up his bass boat.

6) I collect Fiestaware and vintage aprons, he collects shot glasses and fishing lures. I display mine, he is not allowed chooses not to.

7) Every once in a while something comes out of his mouth that would make Larry the Cable Guy blush.

8) I’ve made emergency runs to the grocery store for bacon and bologna more times than I can count

9) Our DVR is overflowing with episodes of Walker Texas Ranger.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like we have a broken fridge on the front porch, a car parked on our lawn or have our house decorated with free beer or cigarette merchandise (although that’s not by his choice). But let me tell you something else about my husband, he is the kindest, sweetest man I’ve ever known. He would do anything in the world for me. He tells me I’m beautiful and that he loves me every day. He still holds my hand while we watch television. When his friends say something mean about their wives, he looks them straight in the eye and tells them how lucky he is to have me. I love my gentle giant!

My husband doesn’t read my blog. He doesn’t know what a blog is so I don’t have to worry about where I’m going to sleep tonight.

Holly

xxx-ooo

Busy, busy

It was such a busy weekend!  A dear sweet friend of mine got married and the the entire weekend was a blur.  I spent most of Saturday baking cupcakes for the wedding.  Her colors were lime green and chocolate brown so I made her a cupcake tree.

It was a wonderful day.  I am truly blessed to have such a sweet friend.

Holly

xxx-ooo