Laundry Detergent

1 bar grated Fels Naptha Soap (or use homemade lye soap)
1/2 c washing soda
1/2 c borax

Mix well. Use 2 T. per large load.

Overnight Sweet Rolls

1 package frozen rolls (I used about 15 out of package)
1 cup pecans
1 package Butterscotch pudding (not instant)
1 stick butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 t cinnamon

Butter 9 x 13 pan and put nuts on bottom. Put frozen rolls on top of nuts, then sprinkle with dry pudding. Melt butter, brown sugar and cinnamon in microwave stirring until well blended. Drizzle over top of rolls. Cover with a piece of waxed paper that has been well greased.

Next morning-bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Oreo Truffles

36 Oreo Cookies-finely crushed-about 3 cups
1-8 ounce package cream cheese
2 pkgs (8 squares each) Bakers Semi Sweet Chocolate, melted

Mix cream cheese and cookie crumbs until well blended. Shape into 58-1 inch balls. Freeze 10 minutes. Dip balls in melted chocolate, place in single layer in shallow waxed paper lined pan. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.

It's Been A Very Long Time

It has been such a very long time since I wrote a post that I feel horribly guilty!! Wanted to wait until a great project (like socks) were finished-but am still working on last winter's pair. That creates more guilt doesn't it? Have learned the love of Facebook games.. and if you need another Farmville neighbor you can just ask, lol. Maybe that is why there are no blog posts.. or finished projects.

It has been a busy time. Bill and I went to Spokane for Laura's graduation. She now has her Master's in Social Work. We are so very proud of her.. she knows what she wants and works hard to get it!

Lucas, Bill and I went to Charlotte to The Richard Petty Driving Experience. The kids purchased this for Bill for his birthday.. and what an awesome gift it was. The morning of, we did a quick visit to Hendricks Motorsports. Glad that we did, they helpful young lady told us to go to the Speedway early and do the "ride-a-long" first. We all did-ride with an experienced driver at speed up to 165. Fortunately, I did not have a heart attack.. Made myself open my eyes just because you have to see what you paid for, lol.. and it was a blast!! Bill did great on the "drive-a-long".. but he is still waiting for his contract to come in the mail.




My wonderful absolutely positively awesome husband that isn't very computer savvy-managed to go online and buy tickets to Kid Rock in Burgettstown,PA (center stage, row 14) for our anniversary. My friends and family think I am Kid Rock obsessed.. well they are sort of right. I love the guys music, he is great performer... and I love the way he walks the walk-the things he does for the troops is beyond belief, his community, Bad Ass beer... and on and on. Should we all be as decent and compassionate as he is!! Ohhh, and just wait till you see what Bill got me for Christmas .








Lucas left the Air Force after 8 years. He got his undergrad degree and Master's in Environmental Management while in the military. It is nice to have him living closer to home!!

We all went back to Spokane in August. Laura and Geoff were married at Sweitzer Mountain Resort, ID. It was a gorgeous ceremony! It is awesome that they are happy.. Laura so deserves this! Bill and I just love Geoff (and his wonderful family) and look forward to spending a lot more time with them over the years. Laura and Geoff have a beautiful home... and they are just a perfect couple.





Alas, Jason and Danielle visited Memphis.. and Jason proposed. We will have another new addition to our family in June. She is truly a gem and we are thrilled to have her in our family!




Ahhh, and I can't forget.. I got a tattoo!! Had wanted one when I was much younger... and who says I am too old, lol!! Now, I have a few more picked out.. we'll have more on that later 8-)

2012 Reading Challenge

Woo Hoo!!! It's time to sign up for 2012 reading challenge. Again, it is being hosted by My Overstuffed Bookshelf but she has upped the ante a little bit... from 100 books to 150. Not a problem, I like to read... just have to remember to keep track of them!



January 2012

1. Set Sail For Murder-Carolyn Hart
2. Holy Terrors-Mary Daheim
3. O Little Town-Don Reid
4. Scottish Rite-Stephen Penner
5. Highland Sanctuary-Jennifer Hudson Taylor
6. The Trouble With Magic-Madelyn Alt




February 2012

7. Tara Road-Maeve Binchy
8. Gold In Trib 1-Douglas Anderson
9. Mystery In Trib 2-Douglas Anderson



March

10. One For The Money-Janet Evanovich
11. Two For The Dough-Janet Evanovich
12. Three To Get Deadly-Janet Evanovich
13. Volcano Watch-Toni Dwiggins
14. The Merlot Murders-Ellen Crosby
15. Capitol Offense-Mike Doogan
16. Skeleton Lake-Mike Doogan


April

17. Four To Score-Janet Evanovich
18. One Door Away From Heaven-Dean Koontz
19. An End-Paul Hughes
20. Blame It On Texas-Tori Scott
21. The Wings Of Merlin-T.A. Barron
22. High Five-Janet Evanovich
23. Hot Six-Janet Evanovich
24. Artic Quest-Chad Kister


May

25. Seven Up-Janet Evanovich
26. Hard Eight-Janet Evanovich
27. To The Nines-Janet Evanovich
28. Cupcake-Mariah Jones
29. Finders Keepers-Catherine Palmer
30. Dare to Die-Carolyn Hart



June     31. Ten Big Ones-Janet Evanovich
32. Eleven On Top-Janet Evanovich
33. Twelve Sharp-Janet Evanovich
34. Lean Mean Thirteen-Janet Evanovich
35. Fearless Fourteen-Janet Evanovich
36. Finger Lickin Fifteen-Janet Evanovich
37. Sizzling Sixteen-Janet Evanovich


July   38.  Small Town Girl-LaVyrle Spencer
39.  Secondhand Spirits-Juliet Blackwell
40.  Candy Apple Dead-Sammi Carter
41.  Through A Glass, Deadly-Sarah Atwell
42.  Smokin Seventeen-Janet Evanovich
43.  Explosive Eighteen-Janet Evanovich
44. Rising Phoenix-Kyle Mills
45. The Chocolate Bridal Bash-JoAnna Carl
46.  A Wizardry Abroad-Diane Duane
47.  One Bad Apple-Sheila Connoly
48.  Fire And Ice-Dana Stabenow
August 49.  Whiskey Rebellion-Lillian Hart
50.  Life Love And A Polar Bear Tattoo-Heather Wardell
51.  Fifty Shades of Grey-E L James
52.  Fifty Shades Darker-E L James
53.  Fifty Shades Freed-E L James
54.  Secrets & Lies-Tracy James Jones
55.  The Do-Over-Kathy Dunnehoff

September

56.  Sugarland-Joni Rodgers 

57.  South Beach Cinderella-Sharon Potts
58.   I Think I Love You-Stephanie Bond
59.  Bad Vibrations-Christina Pope

Oct-Nov-Dec 60.  No Easy Day-Mark Owen
61.  Whole Latte Life-Joanne DeMaio
62.  Forty Shades of Pearl-Arianne Richmonde
63.  Frugal Gourmet Ideas-Charmaine Gerber
64.  Patchwork Dreams-Laura Hilton
65.  Falling For You-Julie Ortolon
66.  For Love And Vengeance-Johnny Ray
67.  Reflected In You-Sylvia Day
68.  1225 Christmas Tree Lane-Debbie MaComber
69.  The Marketplace-Laura Antoniou
70.  Artic Exposure-Hazel Hunter
71.  Forever Christmas-Christine Lynxiolier
72.  The Slave-Laura Antonio
73.  Mine At Midnight-Jacquie D'Alessandro
74.  The Secret Christmas Ciphers-Carolyn Corey
75.  Patchwork Dreams-Laura Hilton
76.  Christmas In High Heels-Gemma Halliday
77.  Marilyns Christmas Surprise-Alyssa Lindsey
78.  All I Want For Christmas Is You-Lisa Mondello
79.  Quinns Christmas Wish-Lawna Mackie
80.  Secret Santa-Kathleen Brookes
81.  Jingle This-Stephanie Rowe
82.  Christmas Bells-Beverly Nault
83.  The Gift of Christmas Present-Melody Carlson
84.  Must Love Santa-Nena Bruhns

Cinnamon Struesel Cake

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
FOR THE CINNAMON FILLING:
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
for the Cake Batter:
1 (18.25-ounce) package plain yellow cake mix
1 (3.4-ounce) package vanilla instant pudding mix
3/4 cup vegetable oil, such as canola, corn, safflower, soybean or sunflower
3/4 cup water
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
FOR THE VANILLA GLAZE:
1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Lightly mist a 12-cup Bundt pan with no-stick cooking spray, then dust with flour. Shake out the excess flour. Sprinkle pecans in bottom of prepared pan. Set pan aside.

TO MAKE THE FILLING:
Place brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and stir until well combined. Set bowl aside.

TO MAKE THE CAKE BATTER:
Place cake mix, pudding mix, oil, 3/4 cup water, eggs and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed 1 minute. Stop machine and scrape down side of bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase mixer speed to medium and beat 2 minutes more, scraping side down again if needed. The batter should look thick and smooth.

Pour one third of the batter into the prepared pan. Scatter half of the filling evenly over the batter. Pour another third of the batter evenly over the filling. Scatter remaining filling over the batter. Pour remaining batter evenly over the top, smoothing it out with the rubber spatula. Place pan on center rack of preheated 350-degree oven.

Bake 58 to 60 minutes until cake is golden brown and springs back when lightly pressed with your finger. Remove pan from oven and place it on a wire rack to cool 20 minutes. Run a long, sharp knife around edge of cake and invert it onto a rack. Allow it to cool 30 minutes more until completely cool.

TO MAKE THE VANILLA GLAZE:
Place confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla in a small bowl and stir until smooth.

Yellow Squash Casserole

4 cups sliced yellow squash
1/2 cup chopped onion
35 buttery round crackers, crushed
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon salt
ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons butter


Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place squash and onion in a large skillet over medium heat. Pour in a small amount of water. Cover, and cook until squash is tender, about 5 minutes. Drain well, and place in a large bowl. In a medium bowl, mix together cracker crumbs and cheese. Stir half of the cracker mixture into the cooked squash and onions. In a small bowl, mix together eggs and milk, then add to squash mixture. Stir in 1/4 cup melted butter, and season with salt and pepper. Spread into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining cracker mixture, and dot with 2 tablespoons butter. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until lightly browned.