Greasey Little Morsels From Heaven

I'm devastated.  Completely and totally.  I can't believe it.  Zaxby's has discontinued the fried pickles side/appetizer!

Don't look at me like that.  I'm Southern.  I live by the concept that pretty much anything tastes better fried.  And yes, in my opinion those corn meal battered, deep fried, little pickles were quite a tasty little treat.  Just thinking about them was enough to make my mouth start watering.  I think I may have actually dreamed about fried pickles. And I admit to having eaten more that is actually healthy.  And now they are gone.  (sigh)

I also confess, I have made The Man of the House drag out his deep fryer and attempt to recreate them at home.  His last attempt was close.  He'll just have to keep trying.  In the meantime, I'm crossing all my fingers (and toes) in hopes that someday they will reappear on the Zaxby's menu.

The Deal of the Week

Hello... My name is... and I'm addicted to couponing.

It's true!  I love seeing how much I can take off that total at the end of a shopping trip.  And while I'm not in league with those folks on "Extreme Couponing"  (yet), I love a good bargain!  This week it was Target.  I enjoy couponing at Target because you can use one Target coupon, and one manufacturer's coupon on the same item - therefore increasing your savings. 

What sort of bargains did I pick up this week?

1 Nivea body wash:
regular cost - $3.04
manufacturer's coupon - $3.00
my cost - $0.04!

1 Nivea body wash:
regular cost - $2.54
manufacturer's coupon - $3.00
my cost - -$0.46 (yes!  negative! I actually made money on this one!)

2 packages Skittles candy: (for the Easter baskets)
regular cost - $1.38 ($0.69 each)
manufacturer's coupon - $1.00 off 2
my cost- $.038 ($0.19 each)

4 packs Orbits gum:
regular cost:  $3.96 ($0.99 each)
2 manufacturer's coupons: $1.00 off 2 packs
Target coupon: $.075 off 1 pack
my cost: $1.21 (about $0.30 each)

Glade scented oil refill twin pack:
regular cost: $4.99
manufacturer's coupon: $1.00
Target Coupon: $1.00
my cost: $2.99

A Month of Reality in Pictures (Day 14 - 4/15/2011)

It was time.  Time to drag the clothesline out of storage and hang out the first load of laundry for the season.  I love it.  I get to save money by not running the dryer so much.  And the clothes have that fresh, outdoors, sunshiney smell!!

Little Mama

I knew this day would come.  It was inevitable from the time I realized I was looking up at the Princess.  I denied it.  I resisted it.  I pretended this would never happen.  But now the Little Man is officially taller than his mama.  At not quite 13 years old he now has about an inch to an inch and a half over me.  I guess that makes him the "Not So Little Man".  Which makes ME the shortest person in the house!

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised.  They inherited the height gene from their dad.  I should be pleased with that.  However, it is quite difficult to give someone a "good talking to" while he is busy being quite amused and pleased with his new found height advantage. 

Um... You're Dropping WHAT?

While in the car, listening to the radio today - I had to think my ears must have been deceiving me.  MUST have been.  I certainly couldn't have heard them advertising for an Easter Egg Drop.  Could I?

Oh yes.  Yes, I could.  That's just what they said.  An Easter Egg Drop.  Where helicopters will drop thousands of Easter eggs onto the baseball field for kids to collect.

Now, I admit I didn't pay the closest attention in high school science.  And I never took a physics class of any sort.  But in my experience (which involves dropping an egg from about waist high in the kitchen) when one drops an egg - it breaks.  And makes quite an eggy mess.  It seems to me that even a hard-boiled or those plastic eggs are sure to suffer some significant cracking when dropped from a helicopter!

But maybe I'm wrong.  It happens occasionally.

On a side-note:  This line of thinking very quickly brought me to the old WKRP in Cincinnati episode with the turkey drop.  "Oh, the humanity! The turkeys are hitting the ground like sacks of wet cement! Not since the Hindenburg tragedy has there been anything like this!"

A Month of Reality in Pictures (Day 13 - 4/14/2011)

The lump hiding under that blanket is the Little Man.  He was sent home from school yesterday with a fever of 102.5!  They did a strep test, which fortunately came back negative.  However, he was sick to his stomach last night.  Guess we have a lovely stomach virus in the house.  Ugh!   The bathroom has been disinfected and I'm hoping the rest of us avoid it.  His fever has come down some, but is still there.  Hoping it breaks soon so he doesn't have to miss the Math Fair at school tomorrow and a friend's birthday party this weekend.



A Month of Reality in Pictures (Day 12 - 4/13/2011)

My Lilacs are in bloom!!

And so are the weeds.

A Month of Reality in Pictures (Day 11 - 4/12/2011)

On Sunday while sitting out on the deck enjoying our morning coffee and reading the paper - and being buzzed by big bumble bee - The Man of the House made the observation that while we often find wasps and hornets inside the house during the summer.  But never any bumble bees.  This seemed odd given the number of bumbles that fly around our home.  As if hearing us, this was in the house on Monday!

A Month of Reality in Pictures (Day 10 - 4/11/2011)

Through The Branches

Standing in my backyard, looking up through the branches of the pear and peach tree.  I love the way the sun looks shining through the new leaves.

A Month of Reality in Pictures (The Missing Day)

The Missing Day...

Oops!  No photo for April 10th!  Picked up plants for the garden that day.  And had a home owner's association meeting.  Sometimes we get busy and things fall through the cracks.  That's reality...

A Month of Reality in Pictures (Day 9 - 4/9/2011)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY LITTLE SIS!!

A Month of Reality in Pictures (Day 8 - 4/8/2011)

Another older picture.  This one from January of this year.  Taken at the Biltmore Estate.  Can't wait to go see the Festival of Flowers this month!!

A Month of Reality in Pictures (Day 7 -4/7/11)

In the mood for an older picture today.  I took this one several years ago at the WNC State Fair

How Does Your Garden Grow?

It's that time of year.  Time to start the garden.  The ground had been cultivated.  Our first mix of homemade compost has been spread and mixed with the soil.  The early plants will start to go in the ground in the next week or two.  With more to be planted  next month.

In the mean while, the herbs have been potted.  Along with some spring greens.  Head lettuce, bibb lettuce, red leaf lettuce, and broccoli. 

I've wanted to plant some lettuce varieties and broccoli for a while, but our neighborhood has a big rabbit population.  After reading about growing them in containers, I decided to give it a go.  After all, unless we have Super Rabbits - I don't think they can make it up onto the deck!

Is This Thing On?

(tapping on blog screen)  Hello?  Is anyone out there?  Haven't seen any comments posted lately and I'm starting to feel a little alone in here.  I know there was an issue with my settings for comments for a short while, but I think I have it fixed now.  ("think" being the key word here)

A Month of Reality in Pictures (Day 6 - 4/6/2011)

Ah... um.... yeh.... YUMMY!!!

A Month of Reality in Pictures (Day 5 - 4/5/2011)

Yesterday afternoon as I was sitting and watching All My Children I looked over and started laughing.  This is what I saw...

Yes.  The dog is hugging a throw pillow while napping on the couch!  I had to grab the camera and capture that moment. Otherwise I'm not sure anyone would ever believe it!

A Month of Reality in Pictures (Day 4 - 4/4/2011)

More clouds.  This was Monday afternoon.  The clouds were moving in along with that crazy weather front that hit most of the south and eastern US this week.  I am one that loves a good storm.  The wind, the thunder, the lightening.  And I like watching a storm front coming as those big, dark, ominous clouds roll in.

A Month of Reality in Pictures (Day 3)

I wanted to post a picture of the Man of the House at his first softball practice of the season.  But I am still trying to figure out how to get the darn thing off my phone and onto the computer!  Grrrr...

So, in its place I am posting a picture of our very old cat enjoying a rest outside in the warm spring weather this past weekend.

A Month of Reality in Pictures (Day 2 - 4/2/2011)

I enjoy looking at clouds and the shapes they make in the sky. 

Anyone else see the running horse in this picture?

A Month of Reality in Pictures (Day 1 - 4/1/2011)

Peach blossoms in my backyard.