Seven things about ME...

The “other Dawn” at P.S. He Loves You has tagged me to tell seven things about myself. So here goes…

1. I love kitchen “stuff” – dishes, glasses, gadgets, small appliances, major appliances… you name it. It borders on obsessive. Got a kitchen task? Guaranteed, I have a gadget, appliance or dish that’s perfect for the job!


2. I admire all things “beachy.” I long to see it, touch it, smell it, taste it, float on it, swim in it, and live it. One day, Bud and I will live there!


3. There’s not much I’d rather do than read. As much as I enjoy and need sleep, I will forfeit sleep for a good book any night! I’ve even been known to forfeit housekeeping for a good book.


4. Speaking of housekeeping. I don’t mind it and some days actually take pleasure in it! Except laundry. I despise laundry.


5. I need lists! I have a notebook that stores my current lists – shopping, needs, to-do’s, writing ideas, etc. For reoccurring lists, I keep them on my computer. Simple pushes of a button and out they print! Even my contacts are neatly arranged in Outlook.


6. I like paint! Paint on walls or furniture. Bud says some of the scariest moments in his life have been coming home to find me paint-spattered and saying, “Guess what I did today?” I’ve painted, faux finished, created borders and murals on any number of surfaces in every home we’ve owned. Get over it people… it is just paint!


7. I make friends everywhere I go! Checkout lines. Sales clerks. Auto repairmen. Floor installers. (That one was hard – they only spoke Spanish… me, not so much.) Postal carriers. School hallways. Restaurants. Seriously! If I just talk with someone for more than two sentences, I’m always certain to find something in common with them, even if it’s just the fact that we both ended up at the same place at that moment in time. I consider it more of a gift than an illness.

For more info about me… read my sidebar. Still want to know more? Leave your questions in the comments section and I’ll answer them in another post!

Want to play along? Here’s the rules:
Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
Tag 7 people linked at the end of your post.
Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Oh, and I tag you!

And the winner is...

"M"

Yes, I know who you are and your chocolate "Longhorns" will be on their way soon. And, as I promised... this is not any ordinary chocolate!

Lammes Candies is an Austin original. Now in its second century of candy making, Lammes (pronounced like "lamb's") was founded by William Wirt Lamme in 1878. Originally called the Red Front Candy Factory, the store was located in the 800 block of Congress Avenue - the main business street in Austin, Texas. Although William Lamme lost the business in a poker game in 1885, his son, David Turner Lamme, Sr., came to Austin to repay the gambling debt of $800 and reclaim the store as his own. On July 10, 1885, Lammes Candies officially opened and has been family owned and operated ever since.

The company's world famous "Texas Chewie Pecan Praline," was first produced by David Lamme, Sr., in 1892 after seven years of recipe tasting. The ingredients are still the same: pecans, corn syrup, sugar, mild butter, and salt. In the beginning, pecans from the trees along the Colorado River in Austin were used to produce the praline -- Lammes continues to follow this tradition today, using only Texas grown pecans. The "Texas Chewie" is still the number one selling product with over 2,000 pounds produced daily. People, you can't even imagine the butter, chewy, pecan-nutty goodness of this candy!

What can take the "Texas Chewie" over the top? Starting in the 1960's, the yummy pecans and chewy caramel of the "Texas Chewie" were coated in a premium chocolate to create the famous "Longhorns." Candy just doesn't get any better than this!

For those of you who didn't win and don't have the blessing of living in God's country (that would be Texas!)... Lammes Candies will ship any of their candies right to your door. Visit Lammes' website - I'm certain you'll find something you'll like!

Today's her birthday!!!

Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?
(Proverbs 20:6 NLT)

I did!!!

"Thank you, Lord, for blessing my life with Steph... a loyal, forever friend! Pour out your gifts upon her and bless her with a long life filled with love, joy and contentment."

In honor of my BFA&F's birthday and in celebration of my 50th post, leave a comment on this post with a birthday wish for Steph and I will do a random drawing from these comments. The winner will receive something that is a favorite of these two BFA&F's - chocolate!!! And this is no ordinary chocolate, I can promise you! Comments will close at 11:59 PM (Central Time) on Saturday, August 2nd. The winner will be announced on Monday, August 4th.

Happy Birthday, Steph!!!

Update: Comments are closed! Winner will be announced on Monday! If you'd like to wish Steph a happy belated birthday, go here.

On this day, I am thankful for...

• My favorite son and his sense of humor. I love that Burrito's humor sneaks up on me when I least expect it. (See the post below this one.)


• The beautiful, blue Texas sky... and for the (slight) possibility of desperately needed rain this afternoon.


• The joy of kind neighbors - just thinking of them makes me smile!


• Little glimpses into the future as I watch Kat "mother" some of the younger neighbor children.


• The blessing of teens who don't mind to be "seen" with their parents.
  
  
• The sound of Max purring. For his fluffy, soft fur and his sweet companionship when I'm home alone.


• The anticipation of a date with Bud this Saturday evening.


• Friends. I've been blessed with very special people in my life!

Hacked!

So... this blog just got hacked by my favorite child because I left the window open! oops. My favorite son who I love so much just wanted to tell me how special I am and how important it is to keep a blog secure.

Love you a bunch!

-your favorite of the two

(the good looking one)

I'm still hearing music...

"Everlasting God" sung by Lincoln Brewster

Have you never heard? Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31 (NLT)

Works for Me Wednesday - Mexican Crock Pot Chicken

I'm baaaaaaack!

Did you miss me?

What?! You didn't know I was gone? No? You can thank Blogger in draft for post scheduling!

Yep! We spent a glorious seven days on the West End of Galveston Island - the less populated area of the island. We had perfect beach weather every day. We enjoyed sitting on the beach, splashing in the waves, building sandcastles, horseback riding (right on the beach!) and fishing - surf fishing, fishing in the bay, fishing in the gulf, fishing in the canal, fishing from the piers. Did I mention the seafood? Oh, the wonderful seafood at Gaido's, our favorite restaurant! I'll be posting pictures of our adventures very soon.

Other than Gaido's, we ate all of our meals at home. I worked hard before our vacation to create menus for simple meals. Meals that we would all enjoy eating and that would also allow me to spend as little time in the kitchen as possible. Don't get me wrong. I love to cook but that's not what I want to do when there's sun, sand and saltwater right outside my door!

In honor of "Works for Me Wednesday" and due to my lack of creativity at the moment (I'm still on island time!), I'd like to share one of the meals I made. This is a recipe the Queen Mum made for us during our visit to Ohio this past June. (Thanks, Mum!) It's one of those "throw-it-in-the-crock-pot-and-leave-it-all-day" meals. I'm sure the recipe has a real name, but I just call it "Mexican Crock Pot Chicken."

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I used frozen and didn't even defrost them!)
• 1 package frozen corn (no need to defrost)
• 1 can black beans (rinsed and drained)
• 1 jar of salsa (use your favorite brand)

Place the chicken in the crock pot. Add the corn and black beans. Pour salsa over the top. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. Serve over rice (instant if you're really lazy like I was!) and garnish with grated cheese, sour cream and chopped cilantro. This recipe can be doubled, if needed.

Works for me!