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...And They Call the Thing a Rodeo


"Well, it's bulls and blood
It's dust and mud
It's the roar of a Sunday crowd


It's the white in his knuckles
The gold in the buckle
He'll win the next go 'round


It's boots and chaps
It's cowboy hats
It's spurs and latigo


It's the ropes and the reins
And the joy and the pain


...And they call the thing rodeo."


We went to the Middle Georgia Rodeo with some friends and it was amazing! I wore my cowboy boots, but I don't think anybody was buying my act. These cowboys were legit.

Cowboys were being bucked off broncos and tossed in the air by bulls. There were pretty cowgirls on beautiful horses carrying American flags.

There was also a livestock exhibit, where David and I happened upon a sheep with the most unfortunate haircut that I've ever seen.


It reminds me of when I had bangs and a perm.

We loved the rodeo. I may buy a cowboy hat. The jury's still out.
I'll keep you posted.
Melissa

P.S. Dear Garth Brooks, I love you. Will you please bring back your NBC concert specials?

Oscar Night Party

The 83rd Academy Awards are just two short days away...do you care about that? I do. I like award shows. It reminds me of high school honors night...another time when I got to stay comfortably seated and watch other people receive awards.

Jack of all trades, master of none. That's me.


Anyway, I have great hopes that some of you will be having an Academy Awards party to watch the event with friends. I would TOTALLY be having one, except for one small problem-o. We don't have cable television.

Maybe I could get my hands on some bunny ears before Sunday?

YOU, however, should have a party [and invite me *wink*] I would be a good guest, because I would bring you these awesome 2011 Oscar Night Bingo Cards created by How About Orange. There are 12 different cards with fun Oscar themed happenings like "presenter flubs line" or "Gweneth Paltrow sings."  Anytime one of the things on your card happens, you get to mark your card. The first person to get BINGO wins a prize.

Aren't you glad I'm here to explain BINGO to you? Sheesh.

(Image: How About Orange)

I would like to play this...I really would.

Another awesome Oscar Night find are these Awards Night Sugar Cookies made by Bakerella. If you are ambitious, she provides a tutorial on how to make them and they would be the hit of your party!

Movie Award Cookies
(Image: Bakerella)

If you are only mildly ambitious, Bakerella also has a tutorial to make these super-cute Movie Popcorn Brownies that are much more simple, but still very festive.

Movie Popcorn Brownies
(Image: Bakerella)

If you are like me, you can just make some regular brownies and have popcorn. We would play BINGO like crazy people, though...like our lives depended on it! 
 
Are you having a party or even watching the Oscars? Do you want me to come? We could cross our fingers for The King's Speech together. I could bring Paper Dave and we could make him pose on the Red Carpet. I could also bring Real Dave, but I can't make any promises about his party tricks.

Think it over.
Mel

Paper Dave

The middle school art class, at the school where David teaches, was given an assignment to create a life size collage of a person of their choosing. They were to use colorful magazine pages to recreate a picture of that person.

In true middle school form, the groups made color collage projects of Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift...


and my Beloved.

They did a pretty good job, don't you think? It looks just like him. Except for the overalls...I'm not sure where that came from. Maybe they were trying to make some sort of artistic statement. Maybe the overalls represent hard work or personal growth.

Maybe they were just trying to be funny.
Who can understand the inner sanctums of the middle school mind. Not I.

All I know is that now I have two Dave's. Real Dave and Paper Dave. Two Dave's are more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Paper Dave is super funny and sometimes a little scary. I have waved at him TWICE, thinking that he was Real Dave. I walked into David's classroom the other day and was scared to death when I turned quickly and saw Paper Dave standing in the corner looking at me with his wonky eyes and Harry Potter spectacles.


In case your having trouble telling them apart, Paper Dave wears overalls and Real Dave wears bow ties.


Thank you, middle school artists, for bringing Paper Dave into my life.
Melissa

Happy Presidents' Day

Happy President' Day, from our family to yours...

This isn't a parade. It's my parents' front yard. We are nothing, if not patriotic.

Enjoy your long weekend. Celebrate America.
Melissa

Sweet Slipcover Success

Those of you who have been following our home renovation posts may remember that I had several unfinished projects in the dining room. One of those projects stood out like a sore thumb.


That un-slip covered yellow chair has been giving me the stink eye for over a year.  Nana gave us those chairs, when they were headed toward a certain death at the county dump. They are from circa 1967 and are really nice sturdy chairs, despite their dated look, which made them excellent candidates for slipcovers

They originally had a tufted back and some buttons on the arms. I removed the back cushions, all the buttons, and the skirts from the bottom of the chairs to give them a more modern and simple look. I originally wanted to have the chairs reupholstered, but it was going to be too pricey for me.

Necessity breeds invention, people.

I got brave and decided that I would slipcover them (and that Nana and Mama would help me.) We did the first chair at my parents' house and then I brought the pair home to do the second one by myself.

But the truth is that slip covering is not for the faint of heart. I left the chair alone for a year, hoping that someone would volunteer to come help or do it for me. I just couldn't bring myself to tackle the second one, which is very uncharacteristic of me...I really like to finish projects.

But this week I kicked it into high gear and decided that it was time to get this thing DONE!


I got out all of my supplies and patterns and started cutting and sewing like a crazy woman.

This second chair turned out to be a much more simple task than I had imagined. Since I had already made the pattern and had the experience of completing one slip cover tucked in my belt, I found this go round much easier.

For the record I made my pattern using an old sheet and I bought my slipcover fabric from Wal-Mart. It is a natural colored cotton-duck fabric that is inexpensive and available anywhere. I think I paid 4 dollars a yard for it...maybe less. I don't remember... it was so long ago.

I chose a durable inexpensive material, because I needed so much yardage-- this project was suppose to save me money, remember? I probably spent less than $65 to slipcover both chairs. Not bad, huh?


After some quality time spent with this old girl over several days (and after one year) here we are:
Two slip covered chairs. [Cue the Hallelujah Chorus]

 

Adios, mustard yellow velvet! Your time is up!

All I have left to do is hem the skirt. I just couldn't wait any longer to show you.
"See Mama! See Nana! I told you I was getting it done! Aren't you proud?"


This one actually looks much better than the first one that I sewed oh so long ago. It fits tighter and the seams are much more neat. I did some fiiiiine sewing right here, y'all.
Fine. Sewing. IfIdosaysomyself.


All the chairs need now is a pillow or two. I stole this one from the laundry room just to get the full effect.

Have you ever made a slipcover? Would you like to? If you have basic sewing skills, a little time and patience, as well as a heart full of courage, you could definitely slipcover!

Here are some resources that I highly recommend:
  • Kristi at Pink and Polka Dot is known as the "Slipcover Whisperer." She has an ebook tutorial for crafting your own custom slipcover. I didn't use this, but I've seen some amazing results from people using her instructions.


I also recommend a lot of chocolate cake and a can-do attitude. Maybe a helpful Mama and Nana, too.
Go forth and slipcover.
Melissa


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Valentine's Day: 14 on the 14th

Dear Dr. Darkness,
Today is for heart shaped sausages and pink pancakes and love letters. Check, check, check. Here are 14 reasons that I am happy to be a part of Team Dark. I will keep the other 946 in my hat for future Valentine's days.


1. You make up songs about me each day and sing them at the top of your lungs around our house. Sometimes you invite me to hit the harmonies with you.

2. There are no words to describe the cuteness of your daily bow ties, blazers, and Harry Potter spectacles. Few people could rock that look like you do.


3. Sometimes you call me during the day to ask if Jack and Lady have finished their chores. I always say no and then you ask to speak to them and tell them they are in big trouble when you get home if they don't help me around the house. I hope our real kids will not be as bad as our dogs...I have a strange feeling that they will be, though.

4. You are a bathroom cleaning super hero. Your help with all of our household chores blesses me immeasurably.


5. No one pushes a grocery buggy like you, my sweet Kroger compadre. Thank you for always going to the groc with me. I especially like your dancing in the aisles when no one is looking and the way you ride the buggy like a scooter when we go back to the car.

6. Thank you for making me take my vitamins and making sure I'm healthy. Now also seems like a good time to apologize for all the times that I hide them in house plants. Sorry. Like so many things that are good for you, they are hard to swallow. Thanks for daily laying them out though, for realzies.


7. I love that we have our own mini flash raves at our house. Here's to keeping Club 286 pumpin round the clock. Music was made for dancing.

8. Your cooking skills are astounding. You are always going rogue in the kitchen, like Jack Bauer. No recipes for you...just cooking from the heart. You can cook me that chicken and yellow rice from your heart any time you want. I'll be the girl with her nose in a cookbook.


9. Thank you for making the coffee every morning. And for making the doughnuts every day...figuratively, of course.

10. You are such a hard worker and I'm super proud of what you do everyday. Teaching kids ain't easy, yo.


11. I think you are cute. Do you want to go to Prom?

12. I like going on walks and playing outside with you. Our 3 mile-er yesterday was the perfect cure for my case of the winter yuckies. (fresh air + good talks = happy mel ) Jack and I apologize for our lack of motivation toward the end of mile three. We are easily distracted. I am grateful for your laser-like focus on accomplishing a task.


13. You let me put my cold feet on you so that I might benefit from your always skyrocketing body temperature. You bring me more blankies just when I think I might freeze to death. Thank you for your concern.


14. You come up with the best adventures. So glad that I get to be your wing man.

You are the best.
Happy Valen-times.
Love,
melly vanelly

Wednesday Weekend Wrap Up

This weekend was full to the brim with fun and excitement, even in addition to the assumed awesome Super Bowl party with snacks abounding and Black Eyed Peas entering from the ceiling. 


I realize it is Wednesday and the weekend is nothing more than a distant memory to most of us at this point, but that's not going to stop me from telling you about it. It's worth talking about, for goodness sake...it was that good. So here's the play by play (football pun. word.):

First, we went to the movies and saw The King's Speech. It was fantastic. Hearty fist pumps to Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush for an amazing performance. It is a lovely movie in every way. Even the musical score...totally download worthy.

"A rousing story of redemption and a visual delight..." say Ebert and Dark

Check it out.

The movie, which included popcorn and a coke (heyoh), was immediately followed by Chinese Food.
Best. Friday. Night. EVER!
I'm obsessed with Chinese take-out. Dave, not so much.

The next day, we slept really really late and then my parents and Nana came to visit on Saturday afternoon. We went out to eat at this great local restaurant on the lake, called The Fish and Pig. It serves barbecue and seafood. Weird? Yes, but oh so good.

Daddy and I dominated some crab claws. Yum. Is there anything less attractive for a woman to eat than crab claws? Cracking, and pulling, and dipping until her arms are covered with seafood and she smells like a bait shack? I submit there is not.

Good thing I was with my family. I feel like you need to be in a fairly committed relationship before you order the claws at a restaurant. Rule of Thumb: Always think twice before ordering an entree that requires a hinged tool or a bib.

On Sunday afternoon we went to take the dogs for a walk and go on a little hike. For the first time in about two weeks, it was a beautiful day. We were thankful for a chance to get out of the house and into the sunshine.



We found a log that had fallen across a large gully. Daring Dave decided to walk across it, tightrope style...


His partner in crime, black dog, decided she would do it, too. She's a nimble one.


I stayed on solid ground to take pictures. My compadre, Jack, chewed on a plastic water bottle beside me.

We had to traverse some very yucky territory. All the rain has left the trails a muddy mess. My socks were all wet and gross by the time we got home, but it was worth it. We all needed a little fresh air.


We capped the weekend off by eating ice cream and watching  movies, via computer, in bed under all our blankies.


Pardon my "fall leaves" sprinkles. I don't have any "freezing nasty rain" sprinkles in my pantry.

Hooray for good weekends. Are you still recovering from what you did last weekend or are you daydreaming about what you're going to do come this Friday?

Living the dream,
mel


The Best Part of My Day


Everybody loves getting good mail. It's a sad day when there are only bills in the mailbox. Good mail is a real day brightener.

Every once in a while, Mr. McFeely brings me one of these gems. Nana records shows on TV that she thinks I would like to watch and then mails them to me. How fun is that?! We don't have cable television, so she'll record all the Martha Stewart Specials, Hallmark Movies, or reality TV show finales that I would be missing. Sometimes she even edits out the commercials.

And check out how innovative she is with her mailer! Nice work, Ba-Nana. Thanks for the DVD. I haven't watched it yet, but I can't wait to get to it.

Nana's are the best.
mel

French Toast Casserole

I have a great recipe for you today, friends. It's one that marries decadent deliciousness with make-ahead ease. If you were to come spend the night at my house, odds are that I would feed you this for breakfast.

Then you would never want to leave in hopes I would feed you more. It's. that. good.

Nana and I developed this French Toast Casserole in our test kitchens after I went to the beach with some friends and one of them made a lip-smacking French Toast Strata. Yum. It was inspirational. So we made this simple version of French Toast Yumminess that  men, women, children, and dogs alike will all love. Trust me.

It's really easy and quick. Shall we make French Toast Casserole?  Yes. Yes, we shall.

Here's what you need:


1 stick of butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 lb. Loaf of French Bread, day old bread is best
(most loaves are 16 oz. or 1 pound, so you may have to buy 2 loaves)
8 eggs
1 cup milk
1 Tablespoon Vanilla
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
Powdered Sugar
(Not pictured and Optional is 1/2 cup Pecans...me no likey the nuts)

Alright, let's get crack-a-lackin.
First melt one stick of butter in the microwave.

"That really melts my butter" - Dolly Parton, Steel Magnolias

Now measure 3/4 cup of brown sugar. When you measure brown sugar, proper procedure is to pack the brown sugar into your measuring cup very tightly, smashing it with a spoon. Just thought you might be interested.

Then combine the brown sugar and butter.


Brown Sugar Island.

Mix the sugar and butter together so that they are well combined. The butter will slightly melt the brown sugar and you'll end up with a syrupy mixture of goodness.


Pour the mixture into the bottom of greased 9x13 glass baking dish.


Next is the fun part. Cut your loaf of bread into 2 inch-ish cubes. I always just tear the bread. I think it looks rustic and charming. And I'm too lazy to get out my cutting board. Tear or cut, it's your choice. Put the bread in the baking dish on top of the brown sugar mixture.


When you get all the bread in the baking dish, you may have to smush it down a little to make it all fit. That's fine. It'll be better for it.

By the way, this recipe works best with day old bread, but if your loaf is fresh that's fine. Try to leave it out on the counter an hour or two uncovered so it will get just a little harder.


Next, crack 8 eggs in a bowl and lightly beat them with a whisk or fork.
Add 1 cup of milk to the eggs.


Now for the good stuff. I'm using my awesome Spice House Cinnamon and Double Strength Vanilla, from Sha and Smatty. Any Vanilla and Cinnamon will do, but these special spices  really brought a great flavor to the French Toast.


Add a Tablespoon of Vanilla.


And 1/2 teaspoon of Cinnamon. I add more like a whole teaspoon. I sprinkle Cinnamon with reckless abandon and apologize to no one.


Lastly, add a dash of salt. How much is a dash, you say? Check out my cutesy cool measuring spoons. Dash, Smidge, and Pinch.
I think that's what I'm going to name my kids.


If you don't have cutesy measuring spoons, use about an 1/8 of a teaspoon of salt.


Whisk. Whisk. Whisk.
Until well blended.


Pour your egg and milk mixture over the bread.



(If you wanted to add the Pecans, now would be the time to sprinkle them over the top of the bread.)

Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 24. This gives the bread time to soak up the yummy sugar on the bottom of the dish and the rich eggs and milk that you poured over the top. Good things come to those who wait.

(I was making mine for supper, so you'll see that these next pictures are a little dark. Don't be alarmed. It's just night time. Who's ready for some longer sunny days? Me too.)

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. When it's ready, the top should be brown and a bit crunchy.


The inside will be soft and delicious.
Sprinkle liberally with powdered sugar and serve piping hot.


I like to serve French Toast Casserole with sausage or bacon and fruit. This recipe serves 6-8 happy people.

Love you. Mean it.
Mel Belle

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