Another Chance Ranch

Morning Grasshopper!

This morning I got out of bed determined to start my day by cleaning the house, washing rugs, and mopping the floors.  I had already started the washing machine before I had even stepped foot in the kitchen to make my morning tea.  That's big for me by the way.

When I made it to the kitchen I found this little guy perched on an empty prescription bottle.  Why there is an empty prescription bottle on the counter and not in the trash I am not sure, but I am pretty glad I left the kitchen in such a mess last night.  If that bottle had been in the trash this little guy might not have stopped by. 

When you live in the country these things happen.  I think he is super cute. He was quite the model too.  In fact, he is still there waiting for more.  But I really must get busy.  I killed almost an 45 minutes taking his pictures and editing them for this post.  I took a lot of photos.  He may be asleep over there.  Just wore the little dude out.  Either that or the light I shined in his eyes blinded him temporarily.  Temporarily!

Notice the little turn he gave me?  I should have turned on some music for him.  At one point I did tell him to "work it, own it."  Yea, I talked to him.  You got a problem with that? 

I had to see what he would look like in black and white.  I think he looks much better in color.  Don't you?

Oh he even turned around on me.  I thought he was getting ready to leave me, but he didn't.  He likes the attention I'm telling ya.

Look at that pretty shade of blue on his leg.  I think that is what he was trying to show me.  Doesn't he have very nice legs. 

You can kind of see how small he is.  The lid to that prescription bottle is the size of a fifty cent piece.  He is a little dude. 

Now I am gonna just let him watch me sweep and mop the floors.  Won't that be exciting!

P.S.

I almost forgot.  The other day as McD and I were cruisin' around the ranch he told me a story about how his youngest brother is afraid of grasshoppers.  That made me laugh out loud, a man...afraid of grasshoppers.  hee hee

Spy Cam - Hilton Head

More photos from the recently discovered memory cards.  These are kind of fun!  Makes me wish I were back at the beach, but actually hanging out at the beach during the day.  All of these beach shots were taken at dusk. 

We will start off with some photos I took from the balcony.  While I was home alone one day I sat out on the balcony and read my nook.  This dude and his dogs were walking up and I thought it was super cute that the little dog was carrying his tennis ball.

See that cute little dog carrying the tennis ball?  Yea, that is the only thing I meant to take a photo of.  Honestly, I didn't realize that the big dog was doing his business until I looked at the photos again later. 

I wasn't even really paying much attention to the fact that they dude picked up the poo.  I just watched the little dog drop the ball.  Man, I must have been in LaLa land for sure.

This girl caught my eye as soon as Lisa and I walked on the beach.  At the time I didn't know it, but this lovely young lady was sitting on the beach reading her Bible.  What an amazing place to be able to sit and read your Bible.  Watching some of God's most magnificent work right before your eyes, and reading about it at the same time.  I have to put that on my To-Do List, or Bucket List whatever you want to call it.

There were couples walking on the beach, and it made me wish more than anything that McD could have been there with me.  Maybe one day.

Here's where some of the pics start getting a little dark.  We found sand castles that people had made that day.  They did a pretty good job I think.

Wow, look at the walls on this one.  What imaginations they had.  I love it. 

This was the next evening, and it seemed that every time I turned around there were people on bikes.  There were bike rental places on every corner, ok small exaggeration but there were a lot of them.  Doesn't this look fun!

Awww. How sweet is this.  Mom is wanting to capture the moment, and dad is just wanting to leave.  How typical is that?  LOL

Hope you enjoyed these fun little Spy Cam moments. 

She Wears Many Hats - Jalapeno Pie

Oh my heck!  You have to try this!

Jalapeno Pie

It is delish!  I robbed this photo from Amy over at She Wears Many Hats.  This woman has awesome stuff y'all!! 

Go check her out!  I mean the pie.  Go get the recipe and make it tonight!!

Aww Abby - Remember When

The other day I mentioned that I found a bunch of memory cards that I needed to go through.  Well, lookie what I found.  Pics from our first day with Ziva Abby.  She was so tiny.

She was so precious! 

She was going after Mia's legs even when she was 6 weeks old.  She is ruthless! 

Aww, look at how little she was.  I can't get over how much she has grown in such a short time.

And here's the pic I took just a couple of days ago.  She is doing the exact same thing right now, except her head is actually on the pillow.  In a few minutes she will get tired of the pillow and knock it off onto the floor.  She is the only pup we have ever allowed on the couch, and I am still surprised we do.  Especially when she takes my spot.

Calling All Cooks!

Every cook has a wish list.  I am going to share mine, just because I have been watching a lot of the Food Network lately and I am adding to my list.

Do you have one of these?

You do?  Yea, well I'm a little jealous!  I've heard they are really nice to have. :)

And did you know that it is on sale at Chef's right now?  And if you buy today you get free shipping.  Well, the only reason you would get free shipping is because it is over $99 but there isn't much on my list that is under that. :)  I've got good taste!

So, do you have one of these?

Ya know, when you watch all the cooking shows those guys and gals always use a grill pan.  And the food looks SO good!  So I want one.  Then my food would look that good too!  Right?

When we built our house the contractor screwed up BIG TIME.  He was supposed to put a gas line to our kitchen island for my cook top.  But he didn't do it.  He put electric there.  Why?  WHY?  Because he just couldn't understand why the only thing I wanted to be gas in the house was the cook top and it just didn't make sense.  Well, Mr. Contractor Dude it DID make sense and I am still chapped about it. 

Now we have a glass cook top, and it works fine.  But here's my question. Can I use a grill pan on the glass top?

Oh goodness.  I have the same question about this product. 

Can I use this on my glass cook top?  I may be the only person I know that doesn't have a cast iron skillet.  And I want one!  At least one!

This would be fun to have when the kids are here.  What kid doesn't like waffles?

I could just see us all gathered around the kitchen island in the morning or evening waiting for our fresh made waffles to be done.  YUM!!

Not quite healthy diet food cause I would HAVE to put syrup on them, oh and butter.  You just can't have waffles without them.

I have always been a fan of Rachael Ray.  Yea, she fries stuff.  I like fried stuff.  She just has a great personality, a great smile, and great sense of humor.  Cause you know we are buds and all.  Just kidding!  I do not know Rachael Ray, but I'd like to cook with her.  Or just watch her cook.  Lucky me!  I get to watch her cook all the time! 

She has the cutest little bowls that hold her salt and pepper on her show 30 Minute Meal.  Have you ever noticed them?  Well, here's what they look like.  And they are on my wish list.  You can get them here.

Aren't they cute!

She also has these Moppines that I would like to have.

A towel and pot holder all in one.  I love it!

So, now you have an idea of the things on my wish list.  What's on yours

All items can be found for sale at Chef's Catalog except for the Rachael Ray stuff, and there are links for those items.

Spy Cam - Hats/Caps

Believe it or not, I am a little behind on editing photos.  Yesterday I found a few memory cards with several hundred photos on them, so I started editing.  These are some that I found from my trip to Tuscon, AZ.

This man, Bob, was kind enough to take my friend Ali and I to the baseball games with him. 

He is a great guy!  He was a lot of fun to hang out with, and talk baseball.  I think we shocked him when we actually knew something about the game, and the players (past & present).

I think this dude just bought this cap.  No big deal, I bought one there too.  :)  I have to have a cap from every ball park I visit.  Some people collect shot glasses, I collect ball caps. :)

This lady had the right idea.  She had the back of her neck covered, and that was a necessity.  Either that or sunscreen, and we didn't have either.  Oops!  But we survived!

There's quite an assortment of hats here at the ball park.  They just get better and better!

This man is stylin'!  Don't you think?  But what the heck is that line down the middle of this hat?  Is that the way it is supposed to be?  Maybe it's the light, let's get it from a different angle.

Nope, it is still there.  Interesting. 

Let's see what else we can find.

Nice!  With the collar up, they have their necks covered.  Smart people, prepared people.  Us, not so much.  We were kind of crisp.

Well, at least his neck is covered.  Yea, you know what your momma always told you.  If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.  So, let's pass.  This one makes me want to wash my hair.  WHAT?  That wasn't mean.

Even Dusty Baker has his neck covered.  Look at that smile.  Believe it or not, he was just getting ready to chew on an ump.  Well, he gave him a talking to anyway.

The wanna be cowboy hat with the raffia ribbon and bow is being worn by a gentleman.  A gentleman that is picking something out of his teeth, but it is indeed a man.

See, a man. 

Now this picture brings back some memories.  At first glance it reminds me of a man we call Doc Easley.  He is the father of a dear friend of ours.  That is the first thing that comes to mind when I see this pic. 

The real story behind this hat is that it was a little old man there to enjoy the game with his son.  This gentleman had to be in his 80s at least.  He stood up during the seven inning stretch, he clapped, and he enjoyed the game.  It warmed our hearts to see him there. 

One more.  Does everyone know the difference between Hat & Cap?

This is a cap, and the previous photo is a hat.  Now that we are all straight on that I feel like I can get on with my day. :)

I can't wait to go through the rest of my memory cards.  It will be an interesting couple of weeks. :)

Roast Update

Oopsie!

I meant to take a photo of the finished roast, but I was starving so I scarfed it down in nothing flat! :)

But I did want everyone to know that it was the best roast I've ever made.  It was so very tender.  It was falling apart as I took it out of the crock pot. 

Delicious!  You must try it, if you haven't already!

What the Heck is This?

While McD and I were working outside one day this thing kept buzzing around.  Okay, it might not have been THIS one, but there were several buzzing around.  When I saw the first one land I kind of got the heebie jeebies.  What the heck is it?

What you can't see here is that he has a long stinger like thing on his nose.  Here he has it stuck in a grasshopper.

I think it is some sort of vampire bug.  I think it is sucking the blood/life out of this poor grasshopper.

One more view.

See what I mean, I think the grasshopper is losing his coloring.  It's the Circle of Life.

Come on everybody!  It's a sing-a-long!

From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking, step into the sun
There's more to see than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
There's far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round

It's the Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life

It's the Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle

The Circle of Life

Ya gotta love Disney & Elton John!

Now, what the heck is that thing?

Miscellaneous Monday

Hmmm, did I spell that right?  I know if I didn't someone will let me know.  :)  It looks right.  :)

I didn't feel like doing a regular post.  I felt very list like, so here goes.

1.  Spent some time with friends this weekend, and it was very enjoyable.  She is launching her redesign sometime today, so please go check it out.  She could use a little encouragement.  If you could find at least one positive thing about her new design and leave it in her comments that would be FABULOUS!

2.  Today I am trying something new.  I am cooking a frozen roast in the Crock Pot.  I've never done the frozen thing before.  I started it extra early so it would have a little longer to cook.  We'll see how this works out.

3.  I'm trying to decide whether to paint my fingernails or not.  Hmm, decisions decisions.

4.  We will have some company tomorrow and I am looking forward to getting new photos of my nephews.  We don't get to see them near enough.

5.  I'm trying to decide what to have on the menu for tomorrow. 

6.  Just got a call from my sister and they may not come tomorrow.  Darn it.

7.  Went to see Eclipse with my girl Stef, and LOVED it!  Her hiney fell asleep while we were there, and I was a popsicle when we left but it was great!

8.  I am reading The Girl That Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Steig Larsson.  It has been a good trilogy. So if you need something to read, check it out.

9.  Been thinking of trying my hand at making Fried Pickles.  I love fried pickles.

10.  Think I need to go fishing with my dad.  I miss them both, fishing and my dad.  Not it that order, but I do miss them both.

11.  Am looking forward to this evening.  McD will be home.  That's why.

12.  Wonders if I could make a healthy version of the Marlboro Man sandwich, and if it would still taste good. :)

13.  Loves homegrown vegetables.

14.  Wishes it would rain.

15.  Wonders why I have so many random thoughts.

16.  How funny would it be if weather people wore green suits and blended in with the weather screens?  There would just be floating hands and head.  LOL

Think I better close on that one.  I have deeper thoughts, but I didn't feel like having a really deep post today.  I will leave that one for later.

Oh another thought, how many people will actually read this worthless list?

Sunday Shout Out: Anti-Supermom

You may or may not have noticed on my side-bar that I am a member of SITS, you really need to check it out.  Being a member of SITS has led me to some really cool blogs.

This just happens to be one of them.

Anti-Supermom

She has some really funny posts.  She has helpful posts and she has good photos.  Please head over and check her out, and when you do tell her Julie at Another Chance Ranch sent you!

_______________________________________________________

If you would like to be our next Shout Out please let me know by emailing me your info to anotherchanceranch (at) gmail (dot) com