FALL..SOUP..AND PILLOWS

With the temps just a shade cooler today..(98 instead of 104)

SOUP came to mind...

POTATO SOUP.

So, while the potatoes were boiling..

I wanted to see how these cup towels would look as

PILLOWS..

I just have them wrapped around pillow forms,

TRYING to figure out how to do it the CUTEST   ♥

One has the GRAINS sign
and the other
is striped in the same colors.  ♥

....the potatoes are almost tender..

I like to mash mine just a bit...

just enuf to make the soup nice and thick...

and I love using my mom's olden potato masher.  ♥

It seems I make my soup different ways ...

I suppose it depends on what I have on hand..

sometimes, chopped onions

sometimes, chopped celery

THIS time, ROASTED ANAHEIM PEPPERS...

and a little HALF AND HALF...   ♥

grated EXTRA sharp Cheddar

Today, we had the BEST 

ITALIAN HEARTLAND GRAIN BREAD....

 I just peel and slice my potatoes,

cover them with water, add a little salt

and boil until tender.

I then drain some of the water..

add salt, pepper and a little butter (my middle name is NOT Paula Deen, either).

Milk or milk + a little half and half makes it smooth and creamy.

This time, I roasted my peppers while the potatoes cooked..

adding the peppers with the milk and letting the whole thing simmer..

We not only had it for lunch today...

there was enough left for two big generous bowls for our dinner tonight.

OK....back to the pillows..
Hope I can show the finished ones to you sometime this week.

I am joining in
FULL PLATE
TIME TRAVEL
OPEN HOUSE
VINTAGE THINGY

 Thanks so much for coming by...

End of Summer Bash.. 8/31/11 and a WINNER

Our sweet friend, LA, over at A MUSING POTPOURRI

is having a PARTY...

and we are ALL invited...
♥
Since I don't have a pretty outdoor space this summer 
DUE TO LACK OF RAIN,
I went back in time to another party I had outside,
when things were green and beautiful...  

End of Summer Celebration

TEXAS STYLE

LET'S HAVE A PARTY....

A TEXAS SIZED BAR-B-QUE...

abundant rains fell here in my part of WEST TEXAS the summer of 2010

Rains...how WONDERFUL they are for our lawns

....flowers....our souls..

We added a table...
added a few chairs....

...a bottle or TWO of BLACKBERRY WINE...
and a few bottles of icy cold BEER.
♥
Out here on the plains, if you're going to be OUTSIDE for very long...
you pretty much NEED to wear a hat, cap...something to shade the face...

I've put out a few hats for you to choose from..but...
.the "GOT WINE" cap....
  ALL MINE !!
Paper plate..
Paper napkins..
makes for an easy party....

You will notice that I changed the table settings throughout the party...
gotta keep things fresh and fun, ya know..  ♥

I LOVE THIS CAP of mine...

and I love this photo...:))

These little SALT & PEPPERS look just like REAL eggs, don't they...
♥
This is the vintage love♥ seat MR. SWEET bought for me 50 years ago...

It was in excellent shape when he bought it and.....it still is.  

My Rose of Sharons have just OUTDONE themselves this year..♥..the flowers are BIG...

MR. SWEET decided to grill for us...beef ribs of some sort...
...it won't be too long until he will
RING THE DINNER BELL...

so....I brought out the REAL plates...paper isn't too good with this kind of food....
we'll be having grilled meat, potato salad, baked beans with bacon...♥

I also have a pie cooling in the kitchen...

I seldom buy beer...we don't drink it simply for the reason that we aren't crazy about the taste...
but I was at the market the other day, and while buying our BLACKBERRY WINE,
I noticed these tiny, cutest BOTTLES of BEER and I just had to buy them...

.... just think how cute the empty bottles will be with wild ♥♥♥ flowers in them...
Can't wait... let's see...I can use beer in making bread...anything else ??
Is it BEER that's a good rinse for your hair ??

I've cleared the table somewhat...time to put the plates out...
The meat is almost done on the grill...
Did I mention that I am VERY proud of my pretty yard this summer ??
Well, I AM ! (remember, this is 2010)

tee-tiny little flowers on my CROWN OF THORNS plant... ♥

Did I ever tell you that MR. SWEET makes hot brands for horses and cattle ?

Every time he makes one, he "brands" an area of the backyard fence..

*
It looks pretty cool to us TEXANS....maybe kinda RED NECK to other parts of the country...:))

We don't care...we love our TEXAN traditions..
He makes SPURS, too....WHAT A MAN !

Looks like the beef is just about done, Mr. Sweet....
I'll bring out the barbecue sauce...ummmmm

SINCE I noticed many of you are wearing BOOTS...
Just wanted ya to know that I've set up a
BOOT PARKIN' SPOT...It's waaay too hot to wear sox and BOOTS !

We are going to head back INSIDE to eat our meal, under the comfort and wonderous
AIR CONDITIONING...
so TAKE OFF YOUR BOOTS, get comfy .... and stay a spell..

and, yep...MR. SWEET made that boot jack, too...he never
leaves home without it...
boots next to impossible to take off without one !
AND, of COURSE I have a place to HANG YOUR HAT !!  ♥

ONLY 45 CALORIES PER SLICE of this most delicious bread...
What a deal !!
TEXAS FARE....

 This pie has been coolin' since before we started the barbeque...

 XOXOXOXO  bj

Hope all of you will go by each party and visit a few sites..

I am also joining in with

OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY

REDNESDAY

GOOD LIFE

WOW ME WEDNESDAY 

LADIES and GENTLEMEN...

may I have your attention, PLEASE..

the LUCKY WINNER of the 
generous giveaway supplied by
GIRARDS DRESSINGS
IS........
EMILY at THE FRENCH HUTCH
Congratulations...
I will send you an email today with instructions to get your 
4 BOTTLES OF GIRARDS DRESSINGS.
xoxo bj 

CAN YA EVEN BELIEVE IT ?

THE FOLLOWING IS AN EMAIL 

I RECEIVED FROM A GOOD FRIEND.

SO SO CUTE..I HAD TO SHARE WITH YOU....

You  have GOT to see this..... 

The  perfect barbeque for your yard.

AMERICA'S  NO. 1 OUTDOOR GRILL !!

---- PRICELESS

This has to be the coolest thing I've ever seen !! Don't YOU want one ?  ♥ I'm joining RUBY TUESDAY 2ND TIME AROUND TUESDAY NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY TUESDAY TREASURES xoxo bj  IF YOU HAVEN'T LEFT A COMMENT HERE FOR MY GIVEAWAY, DON'T FORGET TO DO IT !! GOOD LUCK !

My Silly Mama

I saw this LUSCIOUS   ♥

HOMEMADE FROM SCRATCH

GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE
made by CATHY

at WIVES WITH KNIVES 

and just the words

"MADE FROM SCRATCH" linked with GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

sent me into memory mode and laughing my self silly...

...let me explain...

When Mr. Sweet and I married over 50 years ago,

his very favorite cake in the whole entire universe was

GERMAN CHOCOLATE..

..net..

He also thought NO one in the whole entire universe 

could make one like SHE did. ♥

OF COURSE, 

I wanted to learn to make one JUST AS GOOD AS HERS,♥

so we went to her house one day and I said,

"Mama, will you teach me to make a German Chocolate Cake like you..

FROM SCRATCH.?"

"He says NO one ♥makes them as good as you because you
MAKE THEM FROM SCRATCH..."

Her recipe is exactly the same
AS THIS ONE.

Of course, being the GOOD MAMA that she was, ♥
she took me by the hand...
into her warm and safe KITCHEN
and she TOLD me every step..
but made me do all the work...*so's I'd learn, ya know...
She had me to be sure and measure JUST right..
"Jeanie, sit your measuring cup ON THE COUNTER so that you
get EXACTLY the right amount...."
"...yes, ma'am..."

We dipped and measured,
we giggled and measured again..
I added the eggs and I added the milk...

I said, " Boy, no WONDER your cakes are so good, Mama. We've been at this over an hour."

She smiled sweetly and had me slide the 3 cake pans into the JUST RIGHT TEMP oven.
After the cake was all finished...♥....delicious icing..
I was so so proud !

THEN...she took me by the hand..
opened her pantry..
and there, IN PLAIN SIGHT..

 Again, she smiled sweetly and said..
"OH, and THIS is what I use MOST of the time...such a time saver !"
WELL...
KNOCK ME OVER WITH A FEATHER...!!
I could NOT believe it...
"Why, you rascal, you...!!"

"BUT"...she said, "I ALWAYS make my  homemade ICING!.."

50 years later, Mr. Sweet and I still laugh about this...
When I make him a
GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE,
he always wants to know if it's
MADE FROM SCRATCH   ♥
or did I use the
TIME SAVER...??!!

.....AND, I'M NOT TELLIN'

XOXOXO
bj 

Joining with:

 ON THE MENU MONDAY

RUBY TUESDAY

TEMPT MY TUMMY TUESDAY

TASTY TUESDAY

DON'T FORGET TO TOSS YOUR NAME IN THE HAT

FOR MY GIVEAWAY..

CLICK HERE TO LEAVE A COMMENT..