Some things just remain the same...

From the beginning of time there have been famous duos. Cane and Able... Laurel and Hardy, Fred and Ginger, Fred and Barney, (yet I liked Wilma and Betty better... such better feet than Fred and Barney), Samson and Dalilah, Mickey and Donald, Romeo and Juliette, Milley and Vanilly... (BIG GRIN THERE) Tequila and Margarita mix, Coors Lite and Bloody Mary Mix, OOOOOOOPS... SHORRY... going to get back on track here...Sonny and Cher, Bonnie and Clyde, Abbott and Costello, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Jack and Jill, Dick and Jane, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Casper and Wendy, and who could forget Scooby Doo and Shaggy too?

When you think of one, you automatically think of the other... that simply is the way that it is? Why do we do that? Do we not see one as an individual? I have pondered that often. I have thought about why? Are they not important enough to be thought of on their own? Certainly that is not the case... as Jelly is flibbin fantastic on Blitz pancakes!!! Nothing compares... yet, when jelly is with peanut butter, it just is so good. It is just so fantastic. They just compliment each other so well... and well... they are familiar with each other... everything about each other. Jelly certainly knows that on days peanut butter wants to be smooth and creamy... to be able to impress all the jellies on the block. Other days, when feeling fiesty, peanut butter may want to be, a little chunky to add a spark into everything. Well... the same can be said for jelly. Somedays it would like to be raspberry with seeds, and so very good... yet, on days, a little marmalade to add some zest and zip into the picture... Ya know what I mean?

Khrystyn.... I am sure until the end of time, people will not spell her name correctly. That has always been and that will always be. Who needs change? Khrystyn is probably the sweetest woman of all times. Seriously she is kind and has no harsh words for or about ANYONE... EVER. That is just who she is. I met Khrystyn in high school my senior year and instantly loved her. Not sure how that came about as her first words to me were... You have a picture of Brent, how do you know Brent? Brent was my boyfriend who was then at college. After telling her, she let me know she had dated him as well. With that in mind, I am a tad bit on the jealous side with the people I love. Again, some things never change. Yet, within two or three days... Khrystyn Holmes and I were... Locker buddies. Yes, we became fast friends. She was funny. She made me laugh. She ironed my hair in singles living. We used field trips and school projects as our own personal time to have... girl time. We got into trouble by posting NAKED men in our locker. We felt if boys could have NAKED women in their lockers, we should show we were game with naked men. Somehow we got in trouble, yet they did not. Go figure. I was used to the principles office so it was OK! I just knew when I got home, there was hell to pay.

Kara Walker! She's got these eyes that shine. When she smiles, you can just see her soul... her heart is easy to read. She like KDAY has a wonderful and caring heart. In the last couple of years, she is... well... it is hard to describe. I have rocks in my life. Kerri is my rock for knowledge for my son. My kids are my rocks as they ARE my life. Yet, she is a rock in a way... yet, she is also more like... my light house. When I am treading water trying not to drown in memeories that are hurtful or when I try to swim for shore, and I am falling short, I know a text... a call a facebook in box to her is just what my soul needs. She gives me what I need at the time. Sometimes a kick in the butt... in a soft manner (my butt is big, it could take a swift kick...), or a gentle word that surrounds me to get me through the day. I didn't know Kara really well in school, other than I knew she was Khrystyn's best friend. Kara left the school in 84, while I got to hang with KDAY a year. It was evident however, that the friendship and love these two shared was something special. Something that many people will never experience.

All these years later, (we graduated four years ago)... OK OK OK.... we graduated 18 years ago... UHHHHHHHHH.... the truth? We graduated 26 years ago... and these ladies are still the best of friends. When they are together, they are so themselves. They haven't aged. They still laugh and giggle. They still support each other through lifes ups and downs. You know... I don't think Kara has ever once told me of a life down, other than her son leaving for the military and being deployed. She grabs life by the horns and she just rolls.

I sit in amazement at the love for each other that these girls have. I have a feeling someday they will live in double wides next to each other. Actually I think that they will live in one together... and have their John's live next door, so they can sit up laughing, painting their nails, drinking margaritas and making strawberry, jello and marshmallow kabobs until the wee hours of the morning not to disturb their Johns.

They are strong independant women. They each are fantastic mothers. They each love their kids and make a good life for them. They have the gift of laughing at life in the face when it hands them lemons. They are each one. They are singular. YET... when they are plural, they are so natural in a friendship that has faced so much in life, TOGETHER... as one.

I sit in amazement and am blessed that these women have taught me much in life on their own, yet, on a friendship that will reamain til the end of time.

I love you both... with all my heart, you both bless me in so many different ways...

So let it be known... there is another great duo in my book... Kday and Kara... Better than salt water and taffy together. INSIDE JOKE...

Do old friendships ever really die?

Today I was thinking about my friend Tammy. What is amazing to me about Tammy, is that we seem to be a lot alike. I read her posts on facebook and she seems so much to be like me in loving her kiddos and the people that are important to her. That can be said about many people in my life... right... that is how we work, we are attracted to people that we enjoy being around, which often times are a lot like us. Now, I do have some friends that are so different than I am, but they bring out a side of me that is not seen often... or not at all... but, they are always kind and caring people. I love kind... and I love... caring. That is what I like. I like people that I can laugh so hard with that I have tears running down my face. I NEED THAT.

What surprises me, however, is that Tammy... and I... have not been in the same room since fifth grade when we were in Ms. Berry's, or Ms. Barry's, or was her name Ms. Barry, as she was going to be getting married. I am not sure if her name was Barry and she was going to be getting married or if it was something else and Barry would be her married name. ykwim? She is the one teacher I did not make a connection with at that young age of my life... oh no... Mrs. Nick as well... she was unkind and really mean to the kids... but... Well... hmmmm... Mrs. Barry was her name at some point. We, were in the fifth grade. That summer, I moved to Spokane, so I have not seen her since.

Isn't it funny how people can touch our lives in a BIG way even when we are younger... can you imagine?

I was Seventh Day Adventist when I was best friends with Tammy in the 4th grade. I was in awwwwww of Tammy and I wanted to be her! SMILE. Her sister, I think her name was Lori, and Tammy were great friends. They were blond. They were pretty. They had horses. They got to wear lip gloss. They got to dance. They got to watch cartoons on Saturday mornings. TAMMY, had her ears pierced... insert large gasp here!!!! and a big wink to you Tammy. She had a collection of Bonnie Bell Lipglosses. She and Stephanie Stephens or Stephenson, (I forget the last name) bought me a butternut Bonnie Belle lipgloss. Then they were HUGE... not cute little ones. Kind of like how the cell phone had evolved... yeh... like that. AND....Tammy got to wear HASH JEANS... and STAR JEANS... and she got to also... carry one of those big ass combs in the back pocket... the ones that looked like one of the tropical swirl life savers. JEALOUSY from WENDY!!!!

Tammy got to spend the night at my house one night... and my dad was at work. Somehow... and God only knows how... but I talked my mom into letting Tammy teach me the HUSTLE! YOU GOT IT... the SDA girl learning how to dance... oh my... what a sinner I became that very night... no ands, ifs or buts about it... I was going to go to hell for sure.

I go to Tammy's page now... and... I love to look at the photos of her family... of her life... of her husband. I am so proud of her that she has turned into a wonderful woman, a great wife and the best mom.

I can't wait til we get to spend a great weekend together. I can't wait to make more memories with her and just laugh... the kind of laughs you do in the fifth grade where it is ok to be silly and not care who hears you laugh.

We can talk about banana seat bicycles, Mike Elliot's robot he made in the fourth grade... riding the bus with the red head we teased my brother about being in love with. We can talk about the peanut butter they served on the rolls at Davis Elementary School, and about Shawn Cassidy, as we both loved the guy with the best feathered hair.

To you Ms. Tammy... I don't tell you enough... but I love you... and you touched my life in ways you will never know....

Blessings on this journey....

Polynesian Breakfast

I am adding this onto a great blog called Don't Waste Your Homemaking (party 21). Check it out and stop by to see a lot of people sharing blogs there. Also check out her button on my side.

This is a dish that my whole family loves. It could be made in a more inexpensive way, but, they love the meat in it, so that is what they get. It is a good and hearty dinner that is filling. I hope you try it, as everyone that I have fed it to love it. Enjoy... This makes enough for about 8 people. We like left overs...

2 boneless pork chops
2 chicken breasts
olive oil
1 top sirloin steak
3 Tbls chopped garlic
2 medium sized onions sliced
3 red potatoes cubed
1 zucchini cut into ring sized pieces
6 large mushrooms sliced, stems included
6 eggs scrambled set aside
4 pkg top ramen noodles crushed in the package
1/2 c soy sauce
3 Tbls worcestershire sauce
5 green onions chopped

Scramble your eggs and set aside.

In large skillet, cook your pork chops and chicken, which should all be cubed, along with the onions, and red potatoes. I fry in olive oil, just a couple of Tbls. worth. These are the items that take the longest to cook. When they start to get closer to being cooked, add in the zucchini, and cubed up pieces of steak. Cook for about 3 minutes... not long at all. Now add the crushed up ramen noodles and their spice packets, along with the mushrooms. Don't add water. You want these like stir fry and not like soup or soggy noodles. Keep stiring for a few minutes. Add about 1/4 cup of water, the worsestershire and soy sauce. Put a lid on the pan and let cook for 5 minutes. keep stirring until the noodles are done. Add in the eggs at this point. When ready to serve add the green onions for garnish. This dish is similar to a lo mein.

Easiest Ever Rhubarb Pound Cake

I know, I know, yet another Rhubarb recipe. I love it so very much... one of my favorite parts of the summer, and you, the readers are going to have to suffer with my obsession of the wonderful, very favorite thing. (my favorite thing today... it may change tomorrow of course)

This recipe was so good when a fellow banker, when I worked at the bank, brought for a potluck. Her name is Betty. Betty was always slower to learn the procedures at work, and had a difficult time dealing with irate customers over the phone. She was elderly. She had the most beautiful white to silver hair. She still is very pretty. Her husband, at the time was battling cancer... so she and I bonded right away. She is kind and she is caring... and she is anything but a banker. She is a listener, she is a nurturer, she is a mom and a grandma and a sweet lady, but banking wasn't her niche either. She would be the best volunteer at a hospital to visit sick people. She would be a wonderful woman to rock sick babies... she would be the best greeter at a church... as she makes people feel loved... it is just her way... but not a banker... she was lost in the industry. She and I were the cooks on the team. When she brought this dish in one day... she was reluctant to give me the recipe as it was... top secret. She pulled me into the corner as it was that much of a secret.

Here is what she told me...

Cut up rhubarb and put it into a 9x13 baking dish. Pour on sugar... when it looks like enough, pour an extra handful on top. Buy an instant pound cake, or short cake at the grocery store. Mix according to directions. Pour it on top of the rhubarb and bake as directed. When it is cooled, serve with either cream poured on top or whipped cream...

There you have it...

I used
9 stalks of rhubard
2 1/2 cups of sugar
PLUS...
and extra handful (for good measure as Betty told me to... remember rhubarb is sour...)

I then used the pound cake. I have used the shortcake as well. It is on the top shelf of the cake aisle at the grocery store. (Both the pound cake and short cake. I like the shortcake better, but both are excellent.)

I have also added strawberries to it in the past which is fantastic as well...

I cooked mine for 28 minutes. Keep an eye on it. I started at 20 minutes and added time.

ENJOY... Today I thought of Betty as I made this. Her husband died shortly before I exited the banking world. He was her world. I said a little prayer for her. She loved him so and she said this was one of his favorite dishes... Blessings on the journey Betty.

Polish Sausage Potato Salad

Potato salad is always a favorite in my house. I am impressed with all the new kinds of potato salads that there are not. Not just the typical mayonnaise, pickles and celery with onions. I love the version with fresh green beans, onions, red potatoes and garlic. So yummy... to follow another day.

For a recent gathering that I went to last week, I took this potato salad I played by ear. Again, Not exact measurements as I played around to get this taste, so please as you do this, play with it and make it your own... what you like.

What I used:

2 1/2 lbs red potatoes cut and boiled (not to long cooking as you don't want them soggy)
12 polish sausage cut into rings and fried
2 large onions cooked with the polish sausage
1 large tblsp minced garlic
Salt and pepper to taste

What I mixed as a dressing

1/4 cup creamy horseradish
5 Tbls horseradish mustard (I am assuming this amout, a huge squeeze)
1 Tbls minced garlic
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 cups of mayonnaise
2 Tbls fresh ground pepper
fresh ground salt to taste
5 Tblsp olive oil
1 Tbls powdered chinese mustard

I simply whisked this all together and folded into the potato salad. I must say I like a lot of dressing on my potato as if there is extra it soaks into the salad and it becomes too dry.

I hope you enjoy this recipe. It is good and hearty meal all on it's own with some fresh fruit. I garnished with green onions as I always do.

Lots to do today....

I have so much to accomplish today. I want to study up more on blogging!!! This takes time... SMILE.

I need to go through some of little sis's toys to get ready to have a garage sale. I want things out of here... I want to rid some of the extras that are not needed. (How do we accumulate so much STUFF?) EWWWWWW....

I have four recipes to post to my blog...

BUT TODAY... I want to really start thinking about Miss Bella Beans Birthday Party. I can't believe my Grandbaby is almost one. (Now I know why the call it GRAND... she is so grand). I think Mandie is planning on having it at Bush Park where we actually had her baby shower. She and Spencer are going to provide hamburgers and hot dogs. They want to buy the cake, but I am trying to convince them to let me make cupcakes and a mini cake for Miss Bella. Keep your fingers crossed... I would love it if I was able to do this for her. REALLY LOVE IT. I also said I would make a couple of salads for the party as well... so I need to figure out which ones I want to make... hmmmm..... decisions, decisions. I have over 5 weeks for this... so it is all good... I am just a planner and like knowing it is all under control. I also need to figure out what I am going to buy for her birthday... SMILE.... I love this part of it, as it is alway fun to see their expressions.

So, it is time to get my butt in gear. These are some funny photos of my little jelly bean. She closes her eyes most of the time when I take her photo as she knows the flash is coming. It makes me laugh... she giggles. She is my princess...

Something Swanky...

I love finding new blog sites. I found one called Something Swanky. It looks like she hosts a dessert blog hop on Thursdays, yet, I can't find the link to or button to post it here so I am a bit confused and am heading over to find out. But until now... go visit her. Her button is on my right side... and again, her blog is Something Swanky. I also added her link to my blog hop link on the bottom right side of the screen for links each day of the week. Since I am just getting back into the swing of things, it will take me a bit of time... but I will get the list up and running. Blessings on the journey.