(Broke down and got a Broker.)

Its HOT!  (And that isn’t something I say too often…) One-oh-nine (109f/ 42.7c) in the shade today.  The prediction was for 104.  Tomorrow’s prediction is 105.  What does that mean?  110?  I’m scared.  Ugh!

We made our first trek up to Oly/Lacey this past weekend – trying to get a feel of the area,  looking around at houses, etc. It was a good weekend.  When I rounded the bend into the Gorge (my home for the past 12 years)...this song started playing over and over in my head and it ‘sealed the deal’ – I knew this wasn’t home any more..

We are putting the house on the market w/ an agent. Tomorrow.  It was either buy an MLS number or get someone to do it for us…  and since we have expenses of our home (mortgage, food, etc) and my man’s apartment, we just don’t have the $500 – $1000 to pay for it.  I want this to be over… get people to see this house and get me ‘home’.  My heart isn’t here, just my bod. 

And now for the good stuff, today’s recipe.   Last week, as I scoped out the menu, I realized that ALL my recipes (the tried, the true, the LOVES of my family) are packed away, in bins, in the garage.  A mountain of bins.  I wasn’t going to find my meatball recipe even if I wanted to.  So, I called up my good bud All Recipes and came up w/ an alternative.  As always the recipe is as written w/ my changes (and .02 worth) in red.

Sweet & Sour Meatballs (Rated – 8.5 by the kids)

Meatballs –
1 pound ground beef (2# gr turkey)
1 egg
1 onion, chopped (1/3 or so… I use massive Costco-sized sweet onions)
1 cup dry bread crumbs (1 cup ‘ish)
salt and pepper to taste

Sauce –
1 cup water   
1/2 cup cider vinegar (1/4 – 1/2 cup – white, or wine vinegar – your choice)
1/2 cup ketchup (1/2 – 1 cup)
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup brown sugar (1/2 – 1 cup)
2 tablespoons soy sauce (I used reduced sodium)

1. In a large bowl, combine beef, egg, onion, bread crumbs, salt and pepper. Roll into meatballs about 1 to 1 1/2 inches in size.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, saute the meatballs until browned on all sides.
3. In a separate medium bowl, mix together the water, vinegar, ketchup, cornstarch, sugar and soy sauce. Pour over the meatballs, and allow sauce to thicken. Continue to heat until the sauce just starts to bubble.

(Or just be a cool kid like me, mix it all up, roll the balls, and bake (9×13) in the oven on 350 for 30-45 min til done.)

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Outside the blog –

If you didn’t see it on my Facebook, or haven’t had your face in the computer for a few days – you haven’t seen this coolness.  I LOVE IT!  (Sorry Trace, I do, I LOVE it…I love, love, love it.)

Til tomorrow.  Stay cool.~G

ON MY BEDSIDE TABLE:  Hmmm…nothing at all.

ON MY TV:  Oceans 11, 12, & 13.  I was going for a marathon, but made it into the first few minutes of the first show before I fell asleep. 

ON THE MENU FOR TONIGHT: BLT sandwiches & soup (which is good, we are in for a HOT week!)

ON MY TO DO LIST: Grocery shopping.

NEW RECIPE I TRIED LAST WEEK: Sweet & Sour Meatballs.

IN THE CRAFT BASKET: finishing a dress for the girl.

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Getting this house on the MLS market (lady is coming on Tues).  We have tried doing it on our own, we just need to MOVE.

HOMEMAKING TIP OF THE WEEK:  Saving on your AC bill –

If you leave instructions for your child (while you are out of town) to close up the house and turn on the air in the mornings, be SURE there is complete understanding... and that you don’t come home in 90 degree weather with the AC on and the windows open. 

FAVORITE BLOGSPOT OF THE WEEK:  The Creative Crate  – GOOD stuff here!

FAVORITE PHOTO OF THE WEEK: 

This is the state capital building in Olympia, WA.  I went up to see my man this weekend (Thurs-Sun) and had a good time sight seeing. 

(I can’t wait to move and find my editing program and get GOOD results again!)

LESSON LEARNED FROM THE PAST FEW DAYS:  My heart resides in Lacey, but my body resides in the Gorge.

ON MY PRAYER LIST: to have it all figured out before school starts for M.

DEVOTIONS, SCRIPTURES, KEY VERSES or QUOTES:

It’s never too late to be who you might have been. - George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans)

I have an infatuation w/ antique, glass door knobs.  *sigh*  I do.  I admit it.  They make me swoon, my knees buckle, and my heart go pitter-pat.  And now, I have 2 of my very own.  Be still my heart!

A young guy (early 20s) bought a house across the road from us and has been working on it (when money allows) for the past 5-6 years.  He still hasn’t moved in.  He just works on it… and yesterday he propped this lovely against the tree w/ a free sign in front of it and I RAN for it.

It might not look like much now… but when I add a couple of wire baskets, a coat of paint, and a base to it… its going to be a mail center for my new house.  Ahhhh….

Sorry, I just couldn’t keep quiet over this one!

Happy “wordless Wed” everyone!~G

ON MY BEDSIDE TABLE:  Crumpled gum wrappers that have defied me all weekend long and not thrown themselves into the trash on their own.

ON MY TV:  Say Anything, Twilight, Extreme Days.

ON THE MENU FOR TONIGHT: Sweet and Sour Meatballs w/ rice.

ON MY TO DO LIST: Nada, it is too hot this week, survival of the fittest.

NEW RECIPE I TRIED LAST WEEK:

Kettle Corn

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup oil

1/2 cup popcorn 

(I will add 1/4 – 1/2 tsp salt to the mix next time)

Heat oil and sugar over low heat to blend well.  Turn up heat & add popcorn, cover, move continuously til corn is popped and you don’t hear any new kernels pop for a couple of seconds, remove from heat.  Allow to cool (in bowl or on waxed paper).  Break up pieces and enjoy.

Yes people, this is how I make popcorn, in a pot on top of the stove.  I gave up on the air popper years ago when I had dozens of teens over all the time (stupid air poppers just can’t keep up w/ teen appetites!).

IN THE CRAFT BASKET: this jacket for myself… isn’t it lovely!?!?!?  They call it a duster, but that sounds sooooooooooooooo senior citizen in a home to me.  I refuse to call it that.  LOL!   I am doing mine in ‘denim wash’ color.

 LOOKING FORWARD TO: Seeing my man!

HOMEMAKING TIP OF THE WEEK:  If it is going to be hot – don’t sweat the small stuff… it will make you sweat.  LOL.

FAVORITE BLOGSPOT OF THE WEEK: Tip Junkie – I love this site.

FAVORITE PHOTO OF THE WEEK:

My girl… while we were out geocaching.  Great photo – nope, but it is my fav. (Our geocaching nick-name is DeLooters.)

LESSON LEARNED FROM THE PAST FEW DAYS: There is a great wave of relief when your kids have done the right thing and paid for their past mistakes.  (Dylan is home and can walk around w/ his head held high, his fines are paid for and that part of his life is now behind him!)

ON MY PRAYER LIST: House selling  (I know, same song, next verse). 

DEVOTIONS, SCRIPTURES, KEY VERSES:

Teach me Your way, O Lord.  Ps. 27:11

Digital kit used – Foodies by Kristen CB.

Like always the written recipe is in black and my .02 is in red.

Chicken Casserole (was named Linda’s Chicken Casserole in the book, but I dropped the ‘Linda’ part)

2 c cooked chicken (3-4 pounds – it was a WM bag of chicken)
1.5 c sour cream (sm tub)
1 can cream of mushroom soup (2 cans cream of mush, 1 can cream of chicken)
1 pkg onion soup mix (1 sweet onion, sauteed, add base paste)
1/2 c mushrooms (opt)
1/2 c celery, chopped (3 – 4 stalks, sauteed w/ onion)
1 tsp salt (omitted)
1.5 c cheddar cheese (or more)
1/4 tsp pepper (30 turns fresh cracked)
1/2 c chopped carrot (lrg handful of baby carrots, chopped)
3 drops Tabasco (2)
10 oz noodles (20+ oz bow tie noodles)
1/2 c seasoned bread crumbs (Panko)
2 T marg, melted (1 cube)

Cook chicken.  Saute veggies.  Cook noodles.  Mix everything together minus Panko and melted margarine (for topping).  Place in 2 – 9×13 pans.  Top w/ Panko and marg.  Bake 350 for 30 min.

Family rated 8.5 – 9 out of 10.  Yeah, its worth taking note of! 

Have a great Tuesday!!!~G

ON MY BEDSIDE TABLE:  Books, a dvd remote, and a mason jar w/ water in it.

ON MY TV:  The Rainmaker.  Good book, good movie.

ON THE MENU FOR TONIGHT: Dirty Rice

ON MY TO DO LIST: Get a shower, some tea, and go do some geocaching w/ my man.

NEW RECIPE I TRIED LAST WEEK: Linda’s Chicken Casserole (this was SUCH a hit w/ my family!) – Recipe tomorrow, I promise!

IN THE CRAFT BASKET: sock yarn.

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Enjoying the day w/ my man – he has a 4 day weekend (because next weekend he doesn’t get to come home.)

HOMEMAKING TIP OF THE WEEK:  Putting your bar soap into a travel container in the shower keeps you from a LOT of shower cleaning later. 

FAVORITE BLOGSPOT OF THE WEEK: Nester

FAVORITE PHOTO OF THE WEEK:

 

This is my girl’s latest guy friend.  My man took the pic – you just do not get the jist of the 70-foot drop from cliff to water from this angle. 

 

LESSON LEARNED FROM THE PAST FEW DAYS:  Enjoy it all – even the little stuff.

ON MY PRAYER LIST:  house sale!

DEVOTIONS, SCRIPTURES, KEY VERSES:  

But He gives us more grace….

                                 James 4:6a

Yard sales have become a ‘date’ for my man and I.  He comes home for the weekend and we spend Fri morning together mosie-ing from one sale to another.  Some days we spend as little as .50 (like we did last weekend) and this weekend, we spent a bit more… its a fun ‘us time’ and I am growing to love the time, even if we are looking at other people’s junk. 

Today, a local town had their community-wide sales.  Ah!  Be still my heart!  Bunches and bunches of sales in one area?  Oh yeah, that’s the way we like it!  We hit all 47 of them.  Sales started at 9 and we were home by 12:30, including the 20 min drive home. 

I love to get a good deal, being all cheap frugal like I am.  But there are some things (like the planters today) that steal my heart and I don’t care the about the cost (within reason).

Here are some of our finds from today.

What are your frugal finds for the day?  Do tell!~G