Lots of Snow

This is what I woke up to yesterday. Between the wind and so much wet weight once things started melting, I’ll need a tree trimmer with a chainsaw. Soon after I got home from church  there was a big noise, it sounded like a rifle shot. One of the big limbs right in the middle of the tree snapped! There are at least 3 good-sized limbs that need to be cut down but that one is the worst it’s at least 6” wide and about 15’ long.

   Back yard left

  Front porch

  Back yard

  Looking north from the front porch

All together I think we got off pretty lucky with about 8-9 inches here, except of course where it drifted. Quite a bit has melted already but it froze  again last night and there’s a crust on it. Lucy can’t decide if she likes it or not. If she moves fast she can skim along the top. Once she stops she sinks like a stone and practically buries her entire self trying to dig out.

Best of all…..some kind person shoveled it all off the driveway and walk while I was at church.

I’m Becoming a Gleek

I totally love this show!! I hate that it’s on the same time as NCIS and Dancing With the Stars. Thank Goodness I have a DVR! I loved being in Swing Choir and Concert Choir in HS.

Due in a large part to Mr. David Wright the choir director. The poor guy was straight out of college about 23 and seriously cute. Like Matthew McConoughey cute! I was 15 and had a monster crush on him.

Our town wasn't much bigger than a pimple so there was the Pizza Bowl, Golden Harvest Lounge, Odom's Tavern or the truck stop to eat out at so he came to dinner at my house quite a few times. My dad taught at the Jr High with him so anytime we had a concert, dress rehearsal or play performance after school Mr. Wright came to dinner. Those dinners were a combination of the some of the coolest and most embarrassing moments of my life ever.

Ask your kids before having their teachers as friends. LOL

Who needs Pumpkin Pie??

Well I do for one. It’s definitely NOT Thanksgiving for me without Pumpkin pie.  Nothing makes me feel so deprived of good things to eat like missing out on the pies during the Holidays. I can live without rolls,  I can make great Gluten Free Cornbread Dressing but I miss pie.

Sooo what to do to get that much needed Holiday taste in my mouth? I invented

Super Cinchy Devilishly Delectable Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake

1 can of Libby’s Pumpkin (29 oz.)

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground ginger

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

4 large eggs, beaten

Mix together thoroughly then slowly add

2 cans evaporated milk (12 oz.)

Pour it into 2 9” Deep Dish pie pans and bake according to the directions on the can. Let cool completely or even overnight in the fridge before gently blotting the “sweat” off the cooled custard.

Let

1 big tub Philadelphia Cheesecake filling, divided(it’s either by the cream cheese or by the Cool Whip)

soften a bit to room temp (it will spread easier). Layer should be about 1 inch thick. Drizzle on

1 jar Caramel Ice Cream topping then

Decorate the top with

15-20 Candied Pecan halves

Chill til just before serving

This is so yummy and it looks great!

Warning Warning Warning

Continued refusal to behave in a manner that pleases me will result in my unhappiness. This warning applies to people I love, friends, neighbours, relatives, strangers who wander through my personal narrative and folks in faraway lands whose thoughtless actions cause me to become upset when I read the newspaper in the morning. As of this notice, all behavior will be required to pass a NWTAV test (“How will this affect Vicky?”). Failure to do so will result in me having a bad day. And nobody wants that right? Thank you for your consideration. You may now return to your regularly scheduled activities.
Brought to you by Chuck Lorre Productions,#313 (edited for content)
I LOVE Chuck Lorre!! He has the funniest, freakiest notes which they call Vanity Cards at the end of his television shows. They only appear for the briefest of moments so to read them you must be super quick with the pause button. He spouts off about some of the most hilarious things. His writing style is a lot like my BIL’s. I was so sad when he quit writing his blog but since his and Baby Sis’s kid wasn’t the demon spawn E had predicted he would be, I totally understand. Still I miss The Insensitive Father Blog…….
but I digress sooo back to Chuck…….
The quote from above was one of the Vanity Cards on the Mike & Molly show tonight which I didn’t watch but the DVR caught it when it tuned in to record Hawaii Five O. I’ve also caught them on The Big Bang Theory, those tend to be a little longer and sometimes are a little Blue language wise but they are always entertaining.

Sounds of the Seasons or the Short End of the Stick

One of my favourite radio stations is now playing Christmas music practically non-stop. Hello out there? We barely got done with Halloween and all of those Pumpkin Carols that you play for the Trickey Treaters. I of course am a traditionalist and only play the older stuff.....Shiverey Yells, There is a Graveyard Far Away, Sprits That We Heard On High, The Grim Reaper is Coming to Town and my personal favourite Trick or Treat. which sounds a little like Jingle Bells til you really listen to the words.
Last Friday stores were having Early Black Friday Sales.....WTH? As if one black Friday isn't enough for the Annual Crookston Great Christmas Shop.....which I've only done three times in all the years I've been a Crookston. All that shopping kicks some serious butt.
What happened to Thanksgiving? What happened to the only Holiday where the only decisions are how to time the meal, your nap and the football game you just have to watch? The menu is already planned for you Turkey, Stuffing, Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole,  Candied Yams and Pie and no gifts are exchanged other than the recipe for your world famous Kitchen Sink Casserole. Next thing you know there won't be a Macy's Thanksgiving Parade! Even worse, we'll have to start washing our own cars because the High School Marching Band isn't trying to raise the money to go and be in the parade.

So in no particular order here are my favourite hymns of Thanksgiving.

Do You Smell What I Smell?
All Come, Get a Plate Full
Dark the Drumstick, Neck and Wings
Angels Eat a Bird on High
Good King Applesauce
Carol of the Belch
and just for fun All I Want for Christmas is Mylanta, Please.

My Door is Open

About a month ago I got a bee in my bonnet and decided to freshen up the front door. Down came the grapevine, the Ivy garland and the Forsythia blossoms. I hosed down the entire front of the house and got rid of a multitude of spider webs dead leaves and DIRT. There was alot of Dirt. It hides in the weird texture of the siding in unexpected corners  and sticks to the house. Then I noticed that the door itself was looking pretty sad too. Off I went and bought some paint.
Red paint. Not a Burgundy or Old Barn colour but Fire Engine Red. Huge departure for me. We'll have to see how that's going to work. I didn't want to spend all day choosing then mixing paint. All that was fine when I worked there but not now.
One coat down.
2 to go.
I bought a cute Welcome Basket to hang on the door when I'm done. you'll probably get a look at it next spring at the rate my household projects are going.