Not My Farm

I got up early yesterday morning to make a long drive into Houston.
Driving in Big City rush hour traffic is NOT how I like to start my morning.

The morning started out in the Blue, "Green Room"

Why do they call it a green room anyway?
It was not green, It was a room.
Why not call it "the room"?
Some questions will never be answered.


Then I had a date with this delightful man who fixed my hair and make-up.
The poor guy had no idea how much work it was gonna take to make me look decent, but he sure tried!

I was shown around the studio, where I would spend 10 minutes under harsh lights being interviewed.

They neglected to tell me that they would be filming me from the side, thus showing each and every one of my fat rolls and all three of my chins!

I considered locking myself in the green room and refusing to come out until they found the "Pretty skinny girl" camera lens, but I didn't want to be a DIVA.

All in all I had fun.
Being on TV isn't nearly as scary as you would think.

Now the Houston traffic that I drove through while rushing back to the serenity of the farm?

THAT was scary!

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Alone Again... Kinda...

It's "that time" again.
After a wonderful month home, the Man-of-My-Dreams has left again for work in Kazakhstan.

We had a great month!
We spent almost every week-end at the lake, no TV, no phones (almost), No running, just enjoying our time together as a family.

These are the things that memories are made of!

Now it's back to a hectic month of running and rushing around getting 5 kids ready to go back to school, laundry, sleeping alone in our big bed, dirty dishes & hair pulling (mine!)

All alone...
(sigh)
well.... not alone... I'm NEVER alone!
Between 5 kids, 2 dogs, cows, chickens, turkeys, cats, pigs, in-laws.
Alone is not something I am familiar with.

I just wish I was not so "alone" while I am not at all "alone" this month.
I make the most sense ever when I whine!

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Not What Chevy Had in Mind....

When I first got the Malibu, I thought it was a cute car.
But never in a million years would it be something I would or could ever use in my daily life.

Keep Reading and see the pics!

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Thank You Malibu!

It is summer in Texas. Summer in Texas means it's HOT.
It's not warm...
It's not balmy...
It's melt-the-soles-of-your-boots, hair-bursting-into-flames, burn-the-flesh-off-your-butt, melt-your-face-off HOT!

Keep reading and see the video HERE.

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It's Just a Matter of Time...

I sit here in my living room.
The Little-Foreman-in-Pink is prancing around the room wearing nothing more than her twirly-skirt.
At the tender age of 6, she is so care-free.
She twirls, and jumps and struts without a second thought.
It makes me smile to see her innocence.
It makes my heart sing to see her so confident.
I am so proud.

But then, I start to think...
And, the thoughts in my head make me sad...

Sad because I know it's just a matter of time before she covers herself...
It's just a matter of time before she starts to care what other people think....
How she looks to other people...
It's just a matter of time before she first feels that pang of self-doubt...
It's just a matter of time before she stops prancing.
And that breaks my heart.

I don't remember a time when I felt that confident.
I don't remember a time when I didn't tug at my shirt.
I don't remember a time when I looked in the mirror and was anything close to satisfied with the image staring back at me.
I don't remember a time I truly felt beautiful.

When do we, as little girls, learn that what we are is not good enough?
But, more importantly...
How do we teach the little girls of today that they are perfect, just the way they are?


Someone please hurry and figure it out...
I'm running out of time.

Until then, I'm gonna watch her twirl...

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Pleasantly Surprised...

I've Been a Gotta Love Chevy Mom for a week now! I'm pleasantly surprised! ....
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Vacation...

We spent the last two weekends at the lake.
We enjoyed beautiful sunsets...

We relaxed....
We ate food cooked outdoors....
We went fishing...

We went swimming....
We took long walks...

...We tried to kill our children...

What more can ya ask for in a vacation?

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Once Upon a Time...

There was a girl.... This girl has some exciting things going on right now....
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Fearless.

See this sweet girl?...
She is my baby.
She is the end of the line.
She is my only girl.
She was my only chance at having something soft and sweet and "girl'ish".

From the day she was born, this little pink thing has never been afraid of anything.

She climbed before she walked.
She dove before she swam.
She ran fast into un-known places.
She has always been fearless.

Last week-end, we went to the lake.
We brought out the tube we use to pull the boys at gut-wrenching speeds across the water with the boat.


The tube that has made more than one male puke his guts out.
The tube that has made grown men scream like little school-girls.

THIS tube...
We couldn't take the begging any longer, so we decided to let her give "The Tube" a try.
She went with Daddy, and we decided we would tow her around and a nice slow fun pace...

"Faster Mommy!" she screamed...
So, I went a little faster...


"Bumpier Mommy!!" She screamed...
So, being a good mother, I made a few bigger waves...

Once I was able to regain my composure from laughing so hard at the fact that her Daddy almost flipped out of "The Tube" while our little girl held strong,
I decided they had enough.

She didn't want to stop.
She was furious when it got dark and we had to put away "The Tube".
She out-rode her daddy.
She out-lasted her brothers.
She would still be on that dang tube if I didn't force her to come in out of the water!

... I thought my boys were gonna be the ones who gave me the gray hairs and worry lines....
I may have underestimated Girl-Power.

... sigh...

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"Chill"

Ok, so the Man-of-My-Dreams is back home from Kazakhstan for 26 days...
Every time he comes home, I end up writing a post that starts something like this...

• Yes, I'm still alive...
• I know, I'm a terrible blogger...
• Sorry it's been so long, but...

Do we notice a trend here?
I would think that after a month of working 12 hour days 7 days a week, he would be tired, he would want to rest, he would want to stay home and chill.

The problem with that is that the Man-of-My-Dreams does NOT know the meaning of the word "chill"
"Chilling" to him means "Work" and "Running" to you and me.

In the 5 days that he has been back on Texas soil we have...

• Totally mowed, weed-eated, and raked the property.
• Moved, washed, vacuumed & sealed the travel trailer.
• Removed, repaired, and replaced an a/c unit.
• Driven to Lake Livingston to scout out vacation spots.
• Visited family.
• Attended a party and caught up with old High School friends.
• Taken the boat to be repaired.
• Gone fishing at the river.
• Gone out for Fajitas.
• Gone out for Burgers.
• Cleaned out the Mud/Laundry room.
• Cleaned the carport.
• Took down the fence around a big dog pen.
• Pruned the Catalpa Trees lining the driveway.
• Fixed the gray water line under the house.
• Shuttled kids back and forth to various family members houses.
• Hauled fallen tree-limbs to the woods.
• Cleaned the BBQ grills.
  

Whew! I'm tired just typing that list!
So... don't get mad when I don't post daily when he is here..
But you could say a little prayer for me...
Please?
Cause I'm not sure I'll make it through another three weeks of his "Chilling".

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Up-Side Down Lemon Meringue Pie (lemon clouds) Re-Do

Oh Dear.....
Here we go...
I'm gonna try to tell you about this recipe without drooling on my keyboard, drool just isn't good for electronics.


Wanna make something different than you've ever made before?
Wanna eat something lemony?
Wanna make something impressive?
Wanna eat something that is so rich it'll curl your toes?

A delightfully rich and Lemon filling nestled inside a melt-in-your-mouth crisp meringue shell.


Up-Side Down Lemon Meringue Pie (Lemon Clouds)
serves 8

Ingredients

Meringue Crust/Shell
4 egg whites (room temperature)
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

Lemon Filling
5 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
4 Tablespoons lemon juice
zest of 1 lemon
1 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions

meringue shell

1. Beat 4 eggs whites.
2. add cream of tartar. continue beating.
3. gradually add sugar 2 tablespoons at a time until 1 cup has been added.
4. Continue beating until you have fluffy stiff peaks.
5. Spread meringue into the bottom and up the sides of a 9 inch GREASED pie pan. (or use a greased cookie sheet and make individual sized "clouds" smoothing them bowl shape)
6. Bake at 275 degrees f for 1 hour. allow to cool in the oven with the door slightly ajar.

Lemon filling

1. whip 5 egg yolks with a fork or whisk until well combined.
2. stir in 1/2 cup sugar and 4 Tablespoons lemon juice.
3. pour into a small sauce pan, cool over low heat, stirring constantly until thickened (your looking for a nice kinda thick pancake consistency)
4. cool completely.
5. once your custard is cool.... Whip one cup heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
6. fold the cooled custard mixture and lemon zest into the whipped cream.
7. Pour into meringue shell/clouds
   
8. chill thoroughly, garnish with whipped cream dollops and lemon zest.
9. Enjoy!!
   

This is a VERY rich dessert....
Small slices and/or clouds are the way to go.

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