Good reson to be gone!

This is the reason I haven't been around my blog for a week.

 

Meet our grandson,

Gunner Cash

 

5 pounds 13 ounces

19 inches long.

 

He is just a little bundle of joy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I could just stare at this little face all day long!

 

Being a grandma is awesome!

 

Liz

Things on a Sunday

 

 

This is the view we enjoyed while working at the farmhouse today. Snowflakes floating down in huge, puffy, flakes.

So pretty!

 

We are working on the upstairs. The last 2 rooms that need to be done.

 

We removed a window when the new siding was installed. The hubby has been working hard to fill it in. I think it looks pretty good.

 

 

A few cracks around the drywall surrounding the chimney.

 

 

Its a funny room. You enter it as soon as you reach the top of the steps. We have decided to make it our sitting room. Our bedroom is in the far door opening.

 

 

This is our little bedroom. The last coat of paint went on today. The carpet has been ordered and will be installed on Tuesday!

 

 

 

 

I am so excited to get this room done! Probably more excited to start decorating it.

 

Tonight I am going to relax on the couch and work on this little cross stitch pattern. Its a July 4th pattern that I found in an old copy of Country Women magazine.

 

Tomorrow is back to the farmhouse for some more sanding and painting. Fingers crossed by the end of the week I can have both projects done!

 

Liz

Southwestern Lamb Chops

The pipeliner and I were lucky to find some great lamb chops marked down on New Years Day. Gosh those things have been so expensive lately! We grabbed them up and brought them home to make one of our favorite dishes.

Southwestern Lamb Chops!!

 First you make the tastey sauce that goes on top of the chops.

I even had all of the ingrediants in the fridge!

 

1 cup orange juice

2 jalapeno peppers seeded and finely chopped

1 tsp. cumin (or more)

1/2 tsp. salt

dash of pepper

3/4 cup sliced sweet onion (the pipeliner prefers red)

1 cup fresh orange sections

2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro

 

In a saucepan, combine the orange juice, jalapeno, cumin salt and pepper. Cook over medium high heat until mixture begins to simmer. Stir in onion.

 

 

I added a little more cumin when I added the onion!

 

 

Combine 4 teaspoons cornstarch and 1/4 cup cold water until smooth;add to the sauce

 

 Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Remove from the heat. Stir in oranges and cilantro; keep warm.

 

 

 

I like to let the sauce sit, and the flavors linger together while the chops go on the grill.

 

 Just season them with some salt, pepper and rosemary.

 

 

Grill the lamb chops, covered, over medium-hot heat for 12-14 minutes, turning once, or until a meat thermometer reads 140 F. rare; 160 F., medium-well or 170 F., well done.

 

Serve with the orange sauce.

 

We partnered ours with some grilled, cheese stuffed mushrooms.

 

The pipeliner likes his sauce a little spicier, so I don't always seed the jalapenos. The sauce is also great with porkchops.

Hope this will be one of your new favorites!

 

Liz

 

 

 

 

 

Happy 2013!

 

I came across this picture on pinterest.

 

I am going to have it framed and planted front an center at my computer desk. A daily reminder on how to do things in 2013!

 

I want to feel the joy of the wind blowing up my skirt and loving every minute of it!

 

Happy New Years!

A Few Finds

It is hard to believe December is almost over!  Usually we have quite a bit of snow covering the ground. We received a little yesterday. Just a dusting really. But enough to cover the pond out back.

I spent yesterday unpacking the last few boxes from the camper. I found a few more purchases that had been wrapped and tucked away.

I rewrapped these and put away for Christmas next year.

My turkeys and the leaves got stored away along with the other fall items I had out. The pink pyrex went with my other pinks I have in the dining room.

This lady caught my eye the minute I walked into one of my favorite shops.

I kept going back and forth if I should buy her or not. The last day we were there, my hubby was with me. He said just buy it, or you will be mad that you didn't. So he bought it for me at 20% off!

Now I have to share some family treasures I received the other day. My aunt passed in early November after a long and fulfilled life. Her and her husband, he passed last fall, were some what of hoarders. But their hoards were of things we collectors treasure now!

My parents have been helping my cousin clean their house out. A huge 2 day auction is set for January. I just saw a partial listing on- line last night. It is something!! Need to circle those dates on the calender.

I volunteered to help my parents the other day clear some left over clutter in my aunts house. Things the auctioner didn't take, stuff that needed to go out for the trash, and little odd and ends. But I did find some things to bring home.

Just a few things.

I spent last night reading thru the cookbooks. One has detailed menus for making a nightly dinner. It even includes a before dinner cocktail to serve. I might have to test these out on the pipeliner! We will have plenty of time because:

The pipeliner is officially on vacation!

He is taking off until March!

( I will believe that when I see it)

We have lots of things planned for his time off.

A new grandbaby coming next month, means a trip to North Carolina. We have plans for a long weekend in the city. Then a week or 2 in Key West.

Plus lots of time at the farmhouse. Still many projects to finish and start out there!

I am sure the 2 months of having him home will pass fast! But I am thrilled to finally spend some much needed time with him!

Liz

We made it home, safe and sound! Let me tell you how nice it is to be be at home!


There was a stack of mail to be sorted thru, but I couldn't wait to open the two packages that had come for me. I had purchased a couple of things on Ebay while we were gone.

What great Christmas presents from me to me!

This little putz house caught my eye.

I was thrilled when I won the Ebay auction. Even more excited when I opened the box and pulled it out!

The "pipeliner" couldn't imagine why I would want these old worn out lites when I bid on them.

They all work perfectly! Now I just need to find the right spot to display their twinkling beauty!

One of the best surprises when we arrived home was finding my Christmas cactus in full bloom!

This plant is very dear to my heart. It once belonged to my grandmother. I can't remember a time when she didn't have this displayed in full bloom for Christmas.

My grandmother passed 20 years ago.

I am so glad I have been able to keep the cactus happy and thriving for this many years.

Christmas is over for another year.

Time to put the reindeer antlers to rest.

I think the beagle will be happy about that!

The Countdown is On!

 The countdown is on! The end is in sight!  We are heading home this Saturday! Of course we will have to throw a winter storm in the mix before we leave. But I say, its just one more great story to tell about pipeliner living!

 
This is one thing I won't miss! The pipeliners muddy pants after the workday is over.

I took one last trip to the Amish bulk store yesterday.  There I picked up some seasonings and spices to take home. Would have loved to buy more ,but space is limited.  Found a jar of strawberry/rhubarb pie filling. Doesn't that sound wonderful on a cold winter night?

I am also trying to finish up some last minute craft ideas. I saw these big "clothspins" at the local craft store. How neat would they be  holding a recipe in the kitchen?

I have my modge-podge out, scraps of paper cut, and the little stickers ready. Now if the darn things would dry. I took them outside to spraypaint and they are still tacky.

While I was out I grabbed one last pic of pipeline camp. This is a view I don't see. The back end of all the campers.

By next week the lot will be empty. Most of the pipeliners will have traveled home for the holidays. Some will travel on to the next job. We will remember the time shared together in this little place we called home for the last couple of months.

This is the group of pipeline wives that I shared my time with. I don't know when I will see them again, or if we will ever meet again. But I do consider them my friends and so blessed we met!

Clockwise: Liz(me) Illinois, Amy-Arizona, Ellita-Mississippi, Maria-Minnesota

 

This was from our little Christmas party we thru for ourselves last Saturday.

 

 

With all of the packing and unpacking in the upcoming days, I am sure blogging will be taking a backseat until after Christmas.

 

So to all of my new blogging friends I have made on this site;

Merry Christmas to one and all.

May you have a very blessed Christmas!

 

Liz