Life with my sister

Peanut Butter Fudge I love to eat sweets. Who doesn't though. Anyway, I am particularly fond of peanut butter and peanut butter fudge is near perfect for satisfying my sweet tooth. I know when we think of fudge we think of the cold months and winter holidays. I think we need to shake it up and make it in this heat wave. We of course need to keep it in the fridge so we don't have peanut butter soup...but that might be good too...hmmm?! Randall loves peanut butter fudge also, so it is always a winner at our house. 1/2 cup butter 2 1/4 cups brown sugar 1/2 cup milk 3/4 cup peanut butter 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and milk. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla. Pour over confectioners' sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat until smooth; pour into an 8x8 inch dish. Chill until firm and cut ...

Henry and I headed to Memphis this week to see the fam and for me to shop my friend's fall/winter consignment sale at the Agricenter. She is such a peach and lets me in for the first preview sale each season. It is so good to know sweet people...I am blessed by her. I get the first pick with a handful of other parents and it is so much fun! Lots of my old work buddies/friends are there each time and it is like a social outing and a bargain hunt all at once. SCORE! Randall usually goes with me but he was in Indiana this week, so I ventured out alone....while Henry played and ate at the Piccadilly with the fam (I know Wilma ate her veggie plate in heaven smiling down on that meal. Sweet memories at that place). Preparing for this sale is like an all out mission. close family and friends are all wishing me luck...like I am competing in a championship or something. It is serious stuff. I get siked up for days, checking online for costs on things I will be looking for so I can compare...

We took Henry to see Randall's Grandad last weekend. He has a window unit in his home. It is one of the older homes in their town...in fact I believe it was Randall's great-grandparents home. He has a window unit. As a parent of a toddler I often fail to prepare and plan for new discoveries. They in turn catch me off guard. This was a discovery that resulted in great loud " AHHHHHH's " in the vent, lots of arm waves in front of the vent and lots of me going "NO! Do not touch the buttons, Henry!!". It was really cute how he spotted it, ran toward it and immediately went " AHHHHHH ". It made me laugh and almost cry. It took me back to Spradling Avenue when I was a little girl. At that time my grandparents lived in the home my mother grew up in and they had a window unit. While watching Henry discover the fun of a window unit, I remembered the smell of that air, it is not like any other smell. I remembered the " Ahhhhhh's ", trying ...

Ice cream. Who doesn't love ice cream?! When I say "ice cream" I include Popsicles, yogurt and sorbet. I don't know anyone who does not like ice cream. Last night turned into an ice cream night at our house and it was not planned....I love those kind of nights. This is Randall's favorite ice cream place. His favorite flavor is served in the fall and winter, so he usually gets a gift card from someone for his birthday or Christmas, since those happen at that time of year. Last night he used one of his cards and got cake batter. (Yes, it is July and he still has a balance on a gift card...you have to know him to understand!) He let me have a bite and it was yummy. I like the birthday cake flavor better though because I love the icing and sprinkles. I was not in the mood for any, so I just took a few bites of his. He was glad, I am sure...more savings on that gift card! Bruster's is a popular place and they have excellent ice cream. Ours also serves Nathan's...

It seems like its been forever since I've been on here. I've been busy but not busy enough not to blog. I think I have a case of writer's block! We've been swimming, swimming and swimming. I told Stephen the other day that our next house is going to have to have a pool in the backyard. I love it! My lips, however, not so much. I have had a fever blister (or 9) every week this summer. As much as I like to blame Samuel's leaving for camp on them, I know better. It's the sun. Samuel survived Boy Scout camp. He didn't want to go but did "just for you Mom". Gotta love the teenage years! He ended up having a great time and is even thinking of working there next year for a couple of weeks. His last night at camp he had to hike a couple of miles, fix his supper, find & construct his shelter, and sleep. BY HIMSELF! Oh my! He loved it! The next morning he woke up, hiked back down and swam a mile all before breakfast. I'm thinking of calling home ...

I have a new online obsession...as though I needed another. Between this blog, Facebook , Linked In and just checking my email, my floors are always way past needing a good mopping! Pinterest . If you have not discovered it yet, you need to! Leave me a comment and I will invite you. You have to be invited, which I think is a bit cheesy, but they did not ask my opinion. I like browsing through it each day because it has an inspiring, happy, calming effect and one can never have to many of those quick moments! Due to this new obsession/site I have Henry's b-day party already planned...and it is 5 months away! Abby

This past week Henry went to B-I-B-L-E school at our church. Henry loves the "B-I-B-L-E" song that we play in the Tahoe over and over and over and over again, so when I would say "Bible School" he would say "B-I-E " (That is how he spells it and he drags the E out for a long time). I was the preschool "craft lady" (as I was quickly named by the preschoolers) and made the BAD mistake of going into Henry's room for crafts on the first night instead of sending one of my helpers. It is a wonder his teachers did not kill me with the craft scissors. He cried ALL NIGHT because he kept seeing me and hearing me. He is such a mess about going to church, I tell ya. He tunes up as soon as we turn into the parking lot. It is actually funny and I laugh at him now. He does not laugh though. Look at that face. He loves his church, he just plays hard to get so he can get special attention (which he has had great success. He is super-duper rotten with the n...

I love this dip. I got the recipe from a friend when I lived in Mississippi. It is ALWAYS a hit for parties/gatherings. I have been craving it lately and thought I would share it. 1 (14 ounce) can Rotel Tomatoes 1 (14 ounce) can black beans , drained and rinsed 1 (10 ounce) can white shoepeg corn , drained and rinsed 1 bunch green onion , chopped 1 (8 ounce) bottle Italian dressing (I like Kraft Zesty Italian) Drain all canned ingredients. Mix vegetables together in bowl. Coat with the Italian dressing. You may not need the entire bottle. Cover and chill overnight. Drain before serving. Serve with corn chips or crackers. (this is great with Fritos!) Eating out without children is such a treat. I never realized it until I had Henry. I always wondered why parents acted excited to go out to dinner without children and I truly get it now. Randall and I used to hang out in downtown Memphis in our single days. We enjoyed eating at all the local dives and observing the drunks on Beale...and ...

I love squash. Randall is not a huge fan so we eat very little of it. In our 8.5 years of marriage I can count the times I have prepared it. We took Henry to a local produce stand last weekend for the first time and I insisted we purchase squash. I make my hubs try things even though he does not particularly like them. He is a grown man in a house with other folks and can deal...just sayin ! ha. So, I made a squash casserole and sprinkled it with love, of course. He actually liked it and said it could a "do over"! He is a good man, I tell ya. Branching out is not so bad. This recipe is sort of like my Meemaw's , but tweaked a bit. She made a yummy squash casserole...she casseroled everything. I am a lot like Wilma, I too adore a casserole! 3 pounds yellow squash, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds 1 medium onion, diced 2 cups crushed buttery crackers, into coarse crumbs 2 tablespoons butter Coarse salt and ground pepper Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place squash in a large...

" You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north." Deuteronomy 2:3. I love this verse. I discovered it in a book I was reading one morning in May before a job interview. I wrote it on a note card and put it in my car. I glanced down at it on my way to the interview and laughed because I realized I was headed north of town. Well, I am now employed by that company and recite this verse with much praise to God's amazing provision for me. It sums up the last year of my life so beautifully. I am excited about putting my high heels back on and stepping up! I quit my job last June 15th. It was a sticky situation. I felt it was best I leave and find another job that I could feel good about it and not "icky" every day as I was forced to make decisions I did not agree with. I have learned in my short career that looking like you have it all together does not mean you do and lots of warts and scars come from wearing that mask. I decided to flee that path in li...

"Happy Birthday to Mawmaw. Happy Birthday to Mawmaw. Happy Birthday Queen Mawmaw, Happy Birthday to you!!" Today we are skipping Food Friday to wish our grandmother a very happy birthday! She is one sassy and classy woman. It is such a joy to have her as OUR grandmother. She has 6 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren who love her dearly. Many friends have "adopted" her over the years and we have learned to share her gracefully...yet we do smirk a little on the inside knowing those eyes really belong to us! Happy Day To YOU, Little Darling! Julia Kathryn and Abby Jo