Morning Glory Muffins

These muffins are by far the best muffins I have ever had.
Several years ago I had heard about Linda Fisher, a woman divorced and struggling to support her son and making muffins. She used her Mothers old pancake recipe and modified it into muffins, her and her son, went around to local businesses and sold them.

Luckily she eventually wrote a cook book "The Muffin Lady". I have made several of her recipes from it, but I think this one is my favorite. Along with her recipes comes a story that will amaze you with her strength and persistence.

Morning Glory Muffins

2 cups of flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon mace
2 carrots grated
1 apple grated
1 cup of oil
1 cup of sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup crushed pineapple
1/4 cup of chopped nuts

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Sift together the dry ingredients. Place the carrots, apples, oil, and sugar in a bowl and mix with an electric mixer until well blended. Add the eggs one at a time. Gradually add the dry mixture. Fold in the pineapple and nuts. Spoon into wax paper lined 12 unit muffin pan and bake for 30-35 minutes .

There is just a few things that I have changed up: first off I double the recipe for obvious reasons ( they are soooo good).
Second : I don't use wax paper I use cupcake liners
Other than that I stick with her recipe.

Hope you Enjoy them!

Sunset

My Beautiful Daughter-in-Law

Quite sometime ago My daughter-in-law Jenn and I decided we wanted to do a photo shoot of her and her horse. You know a cute girl , sundress, flowers and a horse. Then the wedding dress came into the picture and I couldn't have been more giddy.

We went out to her parents place and shot all evening until it was too dark to see anything else.
In the pasture and over at the pond it was a great time for all of us. Her Mom (Andi) was also shooting with her camera and all was good.
She and Glory (the horse) was quite the troopers, back and forth several times, it was all worth it.

Thanks Jenn for letting me shoot these!!

Cover Shot

Donna McSpadden is the most amazing woman. She has always been the woman behind the Man, but she is a legend of her own . It is sad to say that she lost the love of her life last year. She is a beautiful and strong Lady.

I met this wonderful woman when I was ask to do a shoot for a magazine cover. I walked into her house and immediately she made me feel like I had known her all my life. Honestly, I wish I had.

I went to this job with the attitude of yippee My First Cover and came away with WOW I met Donna McSpadden- one of the most remarkable human beings I have ever known. Not to say that I am not excited about the photo, because it did make the cover and Yes I am over the moon with excitement.

This is a magazine that is for all women not just cowgirls, so don't let the title fool you.

THE WEDDING

The Happy Couple

The wedding was a success. Busy, Busy, Busy. Friday was decorating all day then the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. We had BBQ brought in and boy was it good. Saturday is just a few hours away. Whew! Lots to do.

The actual ceremony was probably the shortest in history. Long enough for the ring bearer to give us all a show. Lil E was hilarious. What do you expect from a child that wasn't even two yet?

Got him in the palm of her hand!

They both looked amazing on their Day. Son in a Tux. What can I say, I am used to seeing him in wranglers and then to have him in a tuxedo. Handsome!

Jennys gown was beautiful. Her hair was beautiful. She was beautiful.


What a beautiful wedding
Their is nothing in the world that will compare to watching one of your Sons get married to the girl of his dreams. We couldn't be happier with the choice that he made. She is absolutely wonderful.

And They Lived Happily Ever After

(check out the boot she has on)

Photos by: Prickly Pair Photography

Hannah Wright

Thanks PPP you girls did an awesome job!!

BRIDALS

I had the pleasure of taking my future Daughter-in-laws Bridal pictures. It was a lot of fun and a lot of work. Of course we did pick the windiest day of the year. Of course we did, why wouldn't we?

We took most of them at Will Rogers Birthplace, and a few more in town. For those of you who do not know Jenny, She is a cowgirl and Rodeo was her life, all her life. So with that , these are not your typical Bridals. But they are fun and they are HER. I enjoyed taking them and still enjoy looking at them.

Is this not the Bomb?
I LOVE IT!!

This one is too cute also!

Jenny I cannot wait to take more, so be ready. Thank You!

ENGAGEMENT

In December my Oldest Son proposed to "Jenny". It was a shock and it wasn't. We all knew he would , we just didn't know when. He surprised all of us. Jenny had wanted to go see the Christmas lights at Rhema Bible College the year before and the big Ice Storm came in and destroyed it , so this last year He said he would take her. That's where he proposed to her. So sweet!!

So with that done the wedding plans were ON!!
Lots of planning and lots of pictures, starting with the Engagement Pics.
If any of you know my son, He hates having his picture taken, so this took all of 15 minutes and DONE!

Aren't they a cute couple!

This one was Jennys request. Cute!

Does anyone else notice those skinny little legs?

Maybe tomorrow I will have the Bridals posted.

I'M BACK!!!

Don't know where I've been, but I am back. So much has happened in the last couple of months, that I don't even know where to start. I/We have been so busy and I still for the life of me can't really tell you what we have gotten done.

Hopefully I will be a better blogger from now on. I don't promise ANYTHING. I know your life totally depends on this blog. I do promise that "I enjoy this".

OMG I just looked it has been 4 months. Where did that 4 months go?

I guess one of the last post I did was about the ring. Well I gave it back! Said I didn't want it that it was just not me! Yea Right BLING BLING I STILL GOT THE RING!!! That was in March and I guess shortly after that I ate the pancake bake and went into hiding.

April is a tough month -My Brother and Dads birthdays are in that month and that is the month that my brother(only sibling) passed away. Dads was four months later in August, same year. Then May came and that' s the month my Mom passed away. I know this has nothing to do with me not blogging but I now realize that my brain just went on break. Couldn't think and really just didn't want to think.

Then it was June the month of Brides. My oldest son got married and now I have a daughter. Yipee! And yes I will post some of the Bridals (which I took) and of the wedding (which I didn't take) The wedding was nice but Oh lord was I tired afterwards! I honestly cannot imagine being the Mother of the Bride! Whew! More on this later

Then it was July and that is the month of going to the lake every weekend, except this year The Husband went on a bike/fishing Trip for ten days and I got the brilliant idea of remodeling the downstairs bathroom. Well really it started out with Just painting and then BOOM it was the whole darn room. How do I get myself into this crap? I do not know! This is also the month of My birthday which I have a feeling that my wonderful husband FORGOT AGAIN. Not totally sure , but have a feeling. I think Melanie saved his little butt!

I have taken some pictures lately, one of which was for the cover of a magazine (and yes I was quite excited) and some newborns. But that is also something that I need to go full steam ahead on too.

I will break it all down a little later and put up pics and more detailed stories
I does feel good to be back!!!!!!!!

Pancakes and Sausage BAKED

Baked Pancakes and Sausage

One of the guys at work was telling me about this recipe that his wife makes and he loves, so I tried it and he's right (Don't tell him)

It sounded kinda weird at first but what the heck I'll try anything once.

This would be great if you have a large group for breakfast and don't want to flip pancakes for a hour. It is got to be the simplest recipe ever

one pound of ground sausage browned

one recipe of pancake mix (I used Bisquick)

Mix up the pancake mix per directions on side or back of box and brown sausage in a skillet. Mix the sausage in the batter and pour into a 9x13 glass baking dish. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes. Take out of oven and cut as if serving a cake pour warm syrup over the top and serve

EASY and GOOD

Diamonds ARE a Girls Best Friend

Yes maam He did good! He did real Good!

This is coming from the girl who doesn't really wear a lot of jewelry. During the week I wear your basic gold band and thats it. With my job its not practical to wear a lot of jewelry. I did wear it Monday though, the guys at work had to see it.

After 25 years and a few hints (not a lot), the Husband pulled it off. Saturday we were going out to eat at Flemings (a steak house)and before we left our house I decided to give him the gifts I had gotten for him (a motorcycle lift and seat, a digital camera for hunting and a Tom Tom GPS ) he loved them. He said it was like Christmas, then it was time to leave, we did have reservations at 7 pm.

You have to understand that for the last 24 years we haven't exchanged anniversary gifts, maybe a card, but thats it. I will say he was surprised, and then so was I when he didn't say "Honey I have something for you too". No he just said thanks and we better get on the road to make those reservations. OK well so much for that. I still had hope.

We got to the steak house and was seated and of course I was starving and was going on and on about which steak I wanted and which appetizer to get. When he shut his menu and said "I have something for you", and "I Love You" blah blah blah get on with it PLEASE!!!!!

Then he laid the box on the table. HOLY COW!!! Not only was it a ring, it was THE ring. The one I had wanted but hadn't told or showed him yet (hadn't had the chance)(and really didn't think it would do any good anyways) Now what are the odds of that. Husband actually getting it and getting it right!!

It was hard to eat (i am left handed) and look at my ring at the same time but I managed somehow.

It is beautiful and it fits perfectly and its all mine baby!

Thank You Husband of 25 years!!!!

More than half my LIFE

I have been married to the same man for more than HALF. OF. MY. LIFE. Yesiree!



Some days it seems like 50 years and some days it seems like maybe 5 (more of the 50 and less of the 5 LOL). Some have been good and if your married you know that some have been bad.



We have been through alot in these last 25 years, just learning to be married was quite an adjustment (and me learning to make gravy). Most of the time I think we are still learning that process. (Husband would probably say that I am a slow learner) We have enjoyed raising two wonderful sons (21 months apart) and all the joys and tears that they brought. The tough times, the good times, happy and sad, they all came and went in phases. Made it through most of them without much tribulation. I said without much, not without any. Raising kids is not always easy and carefree, but the good times sure do outweigh the tough ones.



I was a stay at home Mom in the beginning, until the boys were both in school. That was the hardest and most fulfilling JOB I have ever had. I was lucky, Husband had a good job (he is a workaholic) and we could afford for me to be at home with my sons in the beginning. Both boys are now grown and have moved on with their lives and now it's back to the Husband and ME. That presents a whole new learning process for us.



We have been through 25 count'em 25 years of hunting seasons and yes he is still alive. In the beginning of this marriage I dreaded bow season and being left at home every weekend for three months every single winter. Now to be honest I look forward to it. I look at it as MY TIME. My time to do what I want, to watch what I want, to eat what and when I want and I enjoy that some of the time ( OK I enjoy it alot).



In those 25 years we each have lost loved ones, both of Husbands parents and both of my parents , also my only brother. It was the hardest times of our lives. At one point I felt like the Funeral Planner and that's not what I want to be when I grow up.



In those same 25 years we have also gained some wonderful friends, some have came and went, and some will always be there. We have become close to them and their kids, and grand kids ( We don't have any yet so I claim theirs as mine, She shares)



Most of all in these 25 years we have loved each other, fought with each other, raised two kids together, cried and laughed together. But in the end we made it 25 years, more than half my life.

HAPPY 25TH ANNIVERSARY HUSBAND!!!!

Here's to the next 25!!!!!!!!!

P.S. WAIT TILL YOU HEAR WHAT I GOT FOR TWENTY FIVE YEARS

O.K. I'll tell you

For those of you who have thick, bouncy, full of life hair STOP READING. This does not concern you! You won't get it, you can't even start to understand. For those of you who have fine, limp, stringy, lifeless hair, You my dear can continue to read.

For most of my younger years my Mother would give me a "at-home-perm" which I hated, but had no choice, she was my Mother. So several years ago I made the decision to never perm my locks again. Well I am now tired of the fight. I have no fight left in me for this mess of hair that I have been given.

So a few weeks ago Midlife Slices posted that she got a perm/body wave and it made me start to think maybe just maybe that would work for me. All I could think of was my younger years and those curly curly perms. So I waited. Then last week I said what the heck "I want a body wave"
Friday at 4:30 I did it, ok so it stunk for two days, but now I love it. I can fix it and it will last all day or at least most of the day verses an hour maybe two without it.

Thank You Midlife Slices for letting me get in on a little of your courage. Cuz now I have big controllable bouncy full of life curls that match the rest of me (the bouncy part, as in my butt, not the controllable part)

So if you have fine, limp, lifeless crap hair like mine, put on your big girl panties and go get a body wave (If you want to)

I AM GONNA DO IT!!!!

Hopefully things will get back to normal around here, soon. I can't figure out if things are really crazy or is my mind just making me think its really crazy around here. Getting over Christmas and then the Ice Storm, having a bug and then SINUSES uck! Can't even see out of my right eye. Work sucks and I'm getting a new boss Monday yippeee I can't wait NOT



Regardless I am gonna do it, been thinking about it awhile, and haven't done it for years. Today is the day.



I'll tell you how it turns out .........Later



I bet Midlife Slices knows what it is

Ice Again

this has been one of those months, you know, when you just don't want to do anything cause its too darn cold. I can't seem to get warm, at all, and I'm not sure I ever will.

Monday I went to work with the mind set that this won't be a real bad storm, WRONG. I finally left work at 3:30, an hour early. I should've left about 12:30. I have a 35 mile drive home that usually takes about 45 minutes with traffic and all. NOT MONDAY! Monday it took me 3 HOURS and I still didn't make it home.

Bumper to bumper and 3 to 5 mph for 3 frickin hours. Semis sliding (backwards downhill), trucks fishtailin, and cars spinning out of control, and I had had enough. I couldn't do anymore, so when The Husband called and told me to take it real easy down our hill and tap the brakes easy so I won't end up going sideways, I gave up. Only a couple of miles from Melanies I called and begged "Can I spend the night at your house, PLEASE?" I knew she would say yes, she couldn't believe I was driving in this crap anyway.

Three blocks from Mels house and I hear a loud crash. Not me but Right next to me going the other way was a nice pretty blue car spinning in circles. So with my stomach in knots and having to pee for the last 2 hours, blood shot eyes from squinting for three hours and only one breakdown where the tears and sobbing were out of control, I got off the Highway. I made it the two blocks to her drive way and as I was turning right somehow my SUV went left into her neighbors yard, OMG I finally made into the drive and I couldn't wait to get in the house

By the look on her face I could tell that I probably had a wild look on mine. But I made it there safe and sound and a little (lot) frazzled. Tried again the next day to make it the last ten miles to my house, and then I was truly safe at home for the next two days. I hate Ice!!!

Hope everyone else driving in this crap is safe too!

The LIST

Its January 1 again and once again I am making out a list of things I want to accomplish this year. (this time I mean it)

Every year I make out a list , in my mind, and every year I let it go by the wayside. I have come to the conclusion that the problem is I am not writing it down, therefore I do not hold myself accountable. There I said it.

THE LIST

1. LOSE weight (not going to say a number but any would be good)

2. Be nice to everyone including myself

3. Lose weight

4. Get organized ( house and mind)

5. ???

I'm thinking 4 is a good number, I don't want to overwhelm myself (remember #2) and make this long unachievable list that I wont' even look at let alone try to do.

PLAN

As far as a plan to carry this crap through, I don't really have one. I guess I need to start somewhere.

The weight loss plan, that one kinda messes with me cuz I love My Food, I love to go out to eat and so that leaves me with plan B "EXERCISE" (Nordic track and/or Wii)

The Be Nice thing, I try to be nice and probably I am a lot nicer to other people than I am to myself , so I need to work on that ( being nicer to myself, not being meaner to others ~ I just want to make that clear)

The organize deal I'm not sure how to get my mind organized, but the house needs it just as bad. I have good intentions all year and good ideas, I just never follow through with it. Lord only know how much organizational contraptions I have purchased throughout the years and yet there is Always an excuse (I think that falls in the mind category) Get over it!!

Wish me luck!

this is my list what is yours?

I better eat a lot of black-eyed peas so I can get busy on this list.