Finally Got Around to Making a Card

It has been so long since I've made a card and submitted it CPS that I almost forgot how to do it.  Well, not really.

Here was the sketch:

And here is my interpretation:

Best part about this card is that I was able to use some old stuff and some new stuff.  (I recently found a really great scrapbooking store not to far from my house.)  It also only took me about 15 minutes to make.  It's funny how new stuff is inspiring.

Spring...Has it Finally Sprung

It has been a very slow Spring here in the Northern Midwest, but the planting has finally begun.  So far I've planted three tomato plants (Grape, Early Girl & Beefsteak), basil, parsley, rosemary and thyme.  There is still more to come, but I've decide to spread it over the next couple weeks.

I purchased these plants a couple weeks ago and finally got around to being able to plant them last Saturday.   I had them all outside before I planted and it got so cold that I had to bring in the basil.  My tomato plants have some discoloration on the leaves, but I'm hoping that now that they are planted and the weather has improved,  they will overcome this.

I also bought three new BIG pots for my tomato plants.  Can't seem to quite figure out where my previous tomato pots went.  I'll probably find them at some point, but for now, these new pots are bigger and may allow for more growth.  Let's hope.

The greatest surprise this season has been the added assistance of my college boy, who is home for the summer.  He has been great help lugging pots and furniture and digging up weeds.  Thanks son. It's so nice to have you back.

And Joey wanted to say Hi.  He hasn't been on the blog in a long, long time.

Bridesmaids Movie Review

Bridesmaids


Grade:  B+

The recently released "Bridesmaids" proves that girls can create laughs and groans with the same uncomfortable and gross humor that guys do.

This is the story of Annie (Kristen Wiig) as she agrees to be the Maid of Honor for her best friend Lillian's (Maya Rudolph) wedding.  It's pretty clear from the opening scenes that Annie's life is not on an even keel.  Add a super competitive rival bridesmaid and things unravel pretty quickly.

There are some funny moments, along with a quite a few that make you groan and one where I had to cover my eyes.  (Puke humor has never been my thing.)

What really saves the film is Wiig's performance.  As Annie rushes head first into disaster...Wiig brings a sensitive touch to her character.  You can't help but root for Annie to finally get her life together.  This is helped along when she meets Police Officer Rhodes well played by Chris O'Dowd.  There is a real chemistry between the two characters and you can't help but hope that Annie doesn't sabotage this relationship as well.  (They don't really ever properly explain his Irish accent which made us scratch our heads a bit.)

Another very special part of this movie was seeing Jill Clayburgh pop up on screen.  In what I believe was her final role, Jill portrays Annie's mother.  It's not a big role, but just so nice to see her again.

Overall an enjoyable movie, although I think my daughters might find it much funnier than I did.  It's likely an age thing.

Chicken Pot Pie

I recently made a delicious Chicken Pot Pie, which more than made up for the my disastrous Boston Creme Pie.

I can't post the recipe quite yet cause it still needs some tweaking.  I had way to much sauce and it was much to thin.  I ended up having to scoop the filling out with a fine mesh strainer to put in in the pie shell.

Once I get the recipe fine tuned, I promise to post it.  For now, know that it was loaded with chicken, carrots, celery, onions, peas and a little bit of cream.  It was in my fridge and I just couldn't let it go to waste.  And to be honest...it took it over the top.

A Mother's Day Card

I didn't want to post this until I was sure the card was received.  Don't like to spoil the surprise.  Here is my Mother's Day card for this year.

We also celebrated Ryan and Austin's Birthday on Saturday.  Here are some photos of the party.

Actually opening and reading the cards.

So many presents...so little time.  (Please note the Tiger game on in the background for Verlander's no hitter!)

And Luke is so happy to help:

The boys are into the Disney Villains.  Don't ask my why, cause I don't understand.  It just must be a boy thing.  And believe it or not, they actually make a set of all the Villains.

And this is a Whompa rug.  (I sincerely doubt that I spelled that correctly.)  A Whompa was in Empire Stirkes Back (I think).  He was the Abominable Snowman thing that had captured Luke and had him hanging upside down in his cave.  Ring a bell with anyone.  I was of course, surprised that anyone actually makes a Whompa rug.  This was not a cute character.

I'll close with this picture of Ryan and Muma in the beautiful hat he made at school for Mother's Day.  I think they were very cleverly made and perfect to way to celebrate their Mothers.  Krissy was so proud.

OK...one more just cause it's so cute.  Luke loves swinging with Daddy.

Water for Elephants Movie Review

Water for Elephants


Grade:  A

Rarely does a movie live of to my expectations if I've read the book.  Especially, if I loved the book. The movie version of Water for Elephants really did a great job fulfilling my vision of the book.  They did a wonderful job capturing the times and the gritty reality of the traveling circus as they went from town to town struggling to survive during the depression years.

Brilliant casting was Christoph Waltz as August.  Perfect.  Other great casting was Rosie the elephant.  You truly do fall in love with her.  She really did convey her personality.

Did I really believe the relationship between Marlena (Reese Witherspoon) and Jacob (Robert Pattison)... no, not really, but that didn't hurt the story telling.  It was a very well done movie.

It was also great to see Hal Holbrook again.  Another great casting choice.

How Do I Look Oma?

Ryan had some fun with the Photo Booth app on my Apple.  He kills me.

I didn't notice him doing this until after he left.

Not Everything Turns Out as Planned

So I had the family over for Easter.  Decided to take the easy road and grill burgers.  That gave me all day Saturday to try out this Boston Creme Pie recipe that I found in March/April issue of Cook's Illustrated.  I love this publication (I hesitate to call it a magazine as there is no advertising).  Everything I've made from it has always turned out great.

I started early Saturday morning making the creme filling, giving it plenty of time to chill and set.  I then made the cake and after that cooled, I made the chocolate glaze.

It didn't take me too long to figure out that something wasn't right as the creme filling oozed out on all sides leaving the cake a lop-sided mess.  I didn't even bother putting on the chocolate glaze as that would have only made the mess worse.

My family was very gracious and ate some of it anyway.  I just heated up the glazed and used it like a chocolate sauce.

I seriously think I would have been better off making a yellow cake mix with vanilla pudding and then use the glaze...which was the only part of the recipe that turned out properly.




The Stinker was home for the week-end and I actually got a photo of him with his GMa.  (He had a good laugh watching me put the cake together.)

And finally...proof that Luke the wonder baby, actually does cry.  It was a surprise to me.

It was a great Easter, but I won't be making a Boston Creme Pie any time soon.