Thanks, Kat

I needed to try a new salad and called Kat to ask her for one. She said make this BLT salad recipe I have, it is soooo good. So, I went to the store and bought the goods, called her and asked if it is really, really good. Then she tells me that she has never had it before, but some girls at work told her about it. Nice. So, I made it today anyway to see if it was good. And . . . it's a keeper. Here is the recipe.

BLT Salad

Toss1 lb. pasta bow tie, cooked and drained
2 T. olive oil

Add to pasta:
8 oz. bacon, cooked and crumbled
4 c. grape tomatoes cut in 1/21
1/2 c. arugula chopped
1 c. red onion

Dressing:
1/2 c. mayo
1/2 c. parmesan grated cheese
1 t. white wine vinegar
pepper

toss all together and add 1/2 c. parm. cheese to top.

Thanks Bree

Hooray for Bree. She set me up with a cute blog. Now, I have to find out how to do a slideshow and I should be a happy blogger.

garbage day revisited

All I have to say about yesterday is that it was garbage day. And all that you need to know is that yesterday was Pack Meeting for cub scouts and that should explain it all. It is not a good day and I warn anyone around that it is not a good idea to talk to me on garbage day. So, thankfully garbage day is over and we can all now move on . . . that is until next month.

This post was reworked to get rid of pictures that did not show.

cupcakes anyone?

It's after 11 o'clock and Casey just walked his little self out of bed asking to make pink cupcakes. How delightful. He must have his birthday on the brain. And, sadly for him, we are not making pink cupcakes in the middle of the night.

Remembering

Today is September 11th and a time to remember when terrorists attacked Americans on US soil. Like most other people, I can remember where I was when I heard about two planes hitting the World Trade Center towers. I was at our house in Gilbert when Ron called me from Walgreens at Higley and Southern. He told me to turn on the tv. It was one of the most unreal things that I have ever seen. It was amazing to see black smoke pouring from the tops of the towers. An overhead of New York showed smoke traveling far to the east above Long Island. It was amazing to see shots from Brooklyn and to see the tremendous amount of smoke that was produced from the fire. Then, I watched as the towers fell to the ground. It was unbelievable and shocking, yet I couldn't stop watching. I felt grief for everyone that lost someone they knew and loved.
Yet, there was some good that day. Stories were heard of heroes in fireman uniforms. Stories were heard of the ordinary men and women who became heroes on the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania. People around the country became united and prayed together. Even Congress seemed to forget their differences for a moment.
Years passed, and like so many others, when I traveled to New York I wanted to see Ground Zero. Kat and I went together and toured the church across the street. We walked and read and had a few tears and remembered the sadness as well as the heroism that prevailed that day. I will never forget pictures of firemen shoes on the fence posts left there after the owners never returned to claim them. My love and pride for my country grew as I reflected on the price that has been paid for our rights and freedom.
So, to remember that day, I made cupcakes today. Something that I love made in remembering a country that I love. A little, sweet goodness that reminds me of the simple things I take for granted because I live in America.

I love you google

Since Casey was old enough to say "I love you" he randomly will say, "Mama, (pause) I love you." It is so great. He will be playing with his cars, coloring, or looking for a missing toy and will look up and tell me he loves me. Then, last year, Zach introduced the word google to Casey. So, now, "Mama, I love you" has changed to, "Mama, I love you google." This morning I got a "Mama, I love you google" from Casey and it just reminds me that I love Casey google too.

football and dialogue don't mix

Have you ever been having a conversation with someone and then realized that you are having a conversation with yourself? That happened to me last night. Ron and I were talking and watching the end of the Monday Night Football game. I was talking and talking and then looked over at Ron only to see him paying no attention to what I was saying, but rather watching the game. I started to laugh which prompted him to ask what I was laughing about. I told him that I had been having a conversation with myself for the past 30 seconds. He responded by saying, "I wanted to watch that play." Duh, I should have known.