The scenery is here. Wish you were beautiful.

I'm kidding. You are. And thanks for waiting around [or maybe not] for me this summer. Where have I been? With the kids celebrating summer hard-core at the pool, the ball fields, in the backyard throwing water balloons. Oh, and hanging out here over the weekend...

[i (heart) belgium ales - and the airstream trailers that contain them - so i guess that's why i'm thrusting. humor me - this was post-tour & tasting]

Tom & I took a road trip to Ft. Collins this weekend. To celebrate 2 pretty neat-o things: his 40th [which arrives at the end of this month] and the wedding of a dear family friend. Without those kiddos I've been spending so much time with. We just rolled back into town. I wish we rolled into town pulling this swell trailer behind us...

[yep. i was stalking trailers in the parking lot. but not people, so it's cool.]

...but our sedan has no hitch. Damn. Shoulda brought the Jeep [and about $15k].

Hope you are all enjoying your summers! What have you been up to? I'll be back asap with pics of some cool atomic-ranch style homes we cruised by in Hays, KS on the way back. Thanks for forgiving me and not forgetting the feast!

WTF?!? Friday: For the Children

WTF?! is this nutrient-laden, body-building dish for children...
...that you wouldn't even feed to your dog?

Have a hella Friday!

Ring-a-Ling!

Betty Crocker's Merry Makings cook book is full of festive "Fun Foods for Happy Entertaining!" Like these cheater kolaches that offer a lot less labor and just as much love as the real deal to today's busy hostess. Well, almost.

Ring-a-Ling Ringers
a shortcake brunch dessert
2 cups Bisquick
2 tbsp sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup melted butter

Heat over to 425 degrees (hot). Mix all ingredients with fork. Beat 15 strokes. Knead gently 8 to 10 times on board lightly dusted with Bisquick. Roll dough 1/2" thick. cut out six 3" shortcakes. Dip fingers in Bisquick; press deep indentation (about 2" across) in center of each shortcake; fill with a heaping tablespoonful of Prune Filling (below) or apricot or raspberry jam. Bake about 10 min, or until lightly browned. Serve warm with whipped cream, commerical sour cream or sweet cream.

Don't beat yourself up about this lazy-ass pastry making process. Proceed to prune filling.

Prune filling: Simmer 1/2 lb. (a little over 1 cup) prunes in water to cover for 30 min., or until tender. Drain. CHop finely. Add 1/4 tsp. spice, 1/4 cup sugar, grated rind of 1 lemon and 1tbsp lemon juice. Cool.
Uh, yeah, I skipped the whole prune filling. I consider myself a pretty regular gal - on all levels - so I tossed some pitted bing cherries and fresh blueberries in a small saucepan with some sugar, water and a pinch of cornstarch. Much more palate pleasing, and my gut is happy, too.

Tipsy Tuesday: Bite the Bullet

[pic by Alphafish]

Silver Bullet
1 1/2 oz gin
splash of scotch

Pour over ice OR shake and strain - get yourself loaded however you like!

A Hoot.

This weekend I treated myself to some fresh ink. I had secretly been wanting this smart, kitschy image so badly that I found myself trying to talk my friends into getting one so I could live vicariously through their tattoo.

But I got wise.
Whooo else has a tattoo out there? What's it of?

WTF?!? Friday: Sweets for the WHO?

WTF is this dessert? And WHO TF is it for? If you ask me, it looks like it's for the birds...

All[most] Grown Up

I'm feeling embarrassingly selfish today. You see, it's my birthday. So it's okay. I've got quite the weekend planned. 36 hours of hanging out with my bestie. No kids. No husbands. Befriending people at the watering hole, getting ink done, putting cucumbers on our eyes. Hell, who knows what could happen.
Here's a repeat pic of a favorite birthday memory. Celebrating on the lawn of the titty pink house circa, methinks, 1980. How 'bout that dress?

Today, I've officially been an "adult" for half of my life. Where did the time go? Hell if I know.

Have a great day, yourselves. The ice cream cake's on me.