Chatbug Karen

Happy Hump Day! I saw that phrase on Facebook and just had to say it! For some reason it cracks me up.

It is a beautiful sunny day here in Indiana. A little bit chilly but that makes it nice when working in the yard. Not much sweating when you have a cool breeze. I plan on getting a load of river rock to fill the flower beds. Where does rock go? We dumped a bunch on top of plastic ground cover a few years ago and now there are bare patches. I love to visit the rock place and look at all the pretty things they have to offer. I would love to have some pink rock and black rock to make a flower bed. Wouldn’t that be beautiful? For now, I will stick with my river rock plan. It is much cheaper.

I have also been thinking about getting one of those prepaid cell phones for my mother in-law so that is on my to do list. She really needs a cell phone but doesn’t think she does. I think she would be okay with a prepaid one. Every penny counts when you are retired.

My grocery list is getting longer. We are just about out of everything! I actually ate oatmeal for breakfast two days in a row! I much prefer a blueberry bagel. Who knows if I might find something in the meat case and decide to cook tonight! Maybe not after working with the river rock. I might not be able to walk much less stand at the stove.

One question for Four Foods on Friday this week and here it is!

1. Name four things you are planning on eating this weekend.

Since it is Superbowl weekend, I will be eating plenty of junk food.

I cannot keep from eating puppy chow. I also eat nachos with cheese, pretzels and hot dogs cooked in grape jelly.

My friend Val hosts Four Foods on Friday each week. The participants have fun answering her questions and learning about each other. If you’d like to join us click on the picture.

Val changed the meme a bit this week! She must have been heading out to a sale because it was short and sweet this week! Thanks Val.

Name four things you ate today.

blueberry bagel
leftover fried chicken
coleslaw
snickerdoodle cookie

1. Do you have any food related New Years resolutions?

I don’t make New Year’s resolutions.

2. What’s one thing you’d like to learn how to make from scratch this year?

I have always wanted to learn how to make big cinnamon rolls from scratch.

3. What’s the most unusual thing in your cabinet, refrigerator or freezer right now?

I cannot think of a thing that is unusual unless you count the multivitamin supplements I forget to take!

4. What kind of can opener do you have?

The good old fashioned crank kind. The electric one we received as a wedding gift 36 years ago, bit the dust. It was harvest gold and had lived a good life.

Here are this weeks questions for Four Foods on Friday
1. Chicken soup. Regular or creamy? I like to make homemade chicken soup with broth. It has to have lots of veggies in it.

2. Do you have a stew recipe?Not really. I just throw stuff together.

3. What’s your favorite hot comfort food? Definitely hot chocolate.

4. Do you like chicken fried steak? Yes I do. I love the white gravy that is usually served with it. I have never made it myself.

Would you like to meet great people who are interested in recipes, Syracuse italian restaurants, and interesting tidbits about cooking? Join us at Four Foods on Friday! Just click on the picture and you will be taken to Val’s blog, Fun, Crafts and Recipes.

Interesting questions for this weeks meme, Four Foods on Friday.
1. Name one bad habit you have in the kitchen.
I eat cookie dough when mixing up a batch of cookies.

2. Do you have a tv in the kitchen?
Yes

3. What’s one food you can’t stand cold?
Coffee I am not picky about my coffee. No need to get the water from rain barrels but I do like it hot!

4. What’s your favorite juice?
cranberry apple

Join us at Four Foods on Friday by clicking the icon above.

I think Val has Halloween on the brain! Here are the questions she asked for this weeks Four Foods on Friday meme:

1. Name something you like with pumpkin in it.
pumpkin bars with cream cheese icing
2. Name an orange food you like.
orange slice candies
3. What’s your favorite color/flavor of licorice?
red, I don’t like black licorice
4. What’s your favorite hot beverage at Halloween?
Fall is the time of year when I love to drink apple cider.

Join us for Four Foods on Friday! Simply click on the button.

I am back from an eventful weekend. I am glad to be back to work so I can rest! Just kidding. It was fun to get out with my friends to laugh, cry and eat until our tuxedo shirts were going to burst! I forget how much fun it is to get away. I need to do it more often.

I didn’t sleep very well Thursday night for fear I would not hear the alarm go off. I was correct in my fear because it didn’t buzz at the set time. Luckily, hubby’s alarm worked and up I jumped. I was ready early enough that hubby and I had time to go out to breakfast. I wasn’t sure how a big breakfast would settle with me and if I would have to demand the bus driver to pull over at the next potty stop! It worked out fine.

We arrived at the Conseco Center in Indianapolis and waited for the doors to open. Our seats were not reserved for the first session so we hurried in so that we wouldn’t be seated in the nosebleed section. We found seats on the ground floor! I discovered that seats on the ground floor cause me to obtain a stiff neck. All that looking up to the stage was not good. I survived though because all of the speakers were excellent. I really didn’t think about my comfort until the breaks. LOL

Anna Trent was the emcee for the entire weekend. She was good at her task and made me feel as if I’d known her forever. She is Sandi Patty’s daughter and it was fun to listen to their banter and teasing.

We received advice from Steve Arterburn, the founder of Women of Faith, Marilyn Maberg and of course Patsy Clairmont. They each gave great insight on how to lead fulfilled lives.

Sandi Patty sang her heart out and was cued by the audiences applause to invite her husband onstage to sing a duet. It was breathtaking to say the least. They can certainly belt out a tune. It is wonderful to see Sandi at a peaceful place in her life. She recently underwent lapband surgery and has already lost more than 60 pounds.

Steven Curtis Chapman performed Friday evening and had two of his sons in the band. His wife was in the audience which, we were told, was a first. She had two of their daughters with her. Steven sang “Cinderella” after explaining how God helped him sing in honor of his little daughter, Maria, who tragically passed away in May 2008.

Friday night we took a harried bus trip to our hotel. Our friend drove the bus and, bless her heart, took directions from too many women. It was not pretty. We made it without any dents to the bus nor to anyone’s feelings. The La Quinta was set up for tall women and we laughed at how many of my short friends had trouble crawling into bed. Some had to take a running leap and hope they landed where they needed to be!

Saturday was another day full of fun filled lectures from Sheila Walsh, Lisa Harper and Lisa Whelchel of Facts of Life fame. We were treated to an awesome stage production from Allison Allen that dealt with bulimia. I am sure that her drama touched the hearts of many.

American Idol contestant, Mandisa, (she was the ninth-place finalist in the fifth season (2006) of American Idol), gave a spirit filled show that began with songs from her favorite divas. We heard her belt out tunes from Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston. Not only can she sing but, let me tell you: she can boogie too! Fun!

It was a fun time and I hope everyone has a chance to experience a Women of Faith conference. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes!

#1. Mashed potatoes. Do you usually buy the boxes, the frozen or make from scratch?
I make them from scratch.

#2. Cottage cheese. What kind do you like? (large curd, small curd, 2%, 4%, no salt, etc) I like large curd, regular cottage cheese but I eat lowfat small curd.
I like to mix fruit or a small container of fat free yogurt in it for a healthy snack.

#3. Is there a food that you are brand loyal to?
I tend to always buy Campbells when I buy soup.

#4. When cooking do you usually use fresh onions or the ones from the spice aisle that are chopped or powdered? both

One more traditional gathering to attend and it will be time to relax. We enjoy getting together with friends we have known since BK (before kids). They didn’t have a party last year and we didn’t know what to do with ourselves!

I have a problem though. I need ideas for what to take to this New Years Eve party. What do you like or better yet what do you look forward to eating at a New Years Eve party?

Besides good food, we play games and watch movies. Mostly we catch up on what each of us has been doing. It seems we don’t get together enough to just sit and talk.

It gets harder each year to stay up until midnight. We do it to be polite. LOL We stay a little bit longer once the clock strikes midnight. We don’t want to zip out at the stroke of the clock. Some day we may have to bring our pajamas and stay the night. Now, that would be a hoot.

Happy New Year everyone.