Table for Two

Attention: All lovers of the color red…please enjoy this post.  Soon, the little caddy featured, will take on a new life.  Thank you for your understanding heart.  😉

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Sooooooo…..how are ya, Dirt Roaders?  We are good.  Okay….that’s done…now onto the table for two!

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Do you love Valentine’s Day?  Do you hate it?  Some people just don’t get into the celebration like others.  We’re okay with that.   We are going to be busy with school parties and such…so this is a tad early. I didn’t think that you would mind.  You are sweet like that.  😉

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The other day I was out junkin’.  I know that this is very shocking for you.  Try to grasp it.  Just keeding…just keeding!  Anywhooooo….I went into this great little store with the MIL and I happened upon the little red caddy.

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This was the kind of store where you could say…”Is this your bottom dollar?”  So… that is exactly what I said.  She then said “What would you give?”  and I said “What do you have to have?”  We settled on seven dollars and we were both pleased.

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Please enjoy it, in all of its red glory now.  Very soon I will be mixing some paint and painting it a grain sack color and adding  blue French stripes.  I don’t know…it’s just one of those things that I can see in my head…ya know?  I knew that you would understand. When it’s done…some of you will wish that it was still red.  It will be okay though…I promise.

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I hope that you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day.  I hope that you feel loved from the tip-top of your wind-blown hair…down to your dusty toes, Dirt Roadies! Enjoy your table for two. (Or more!)

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xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox,

Sig

p.s. Today my spell check suggested “toadies” for “Roadies.”  I would never call you toadies.  How rude.  😉

p.p.s. To my Valentine-Husband…who reads my blog, very faithfully:  I love you….indescribable.  I’m glad that we picked “us.”

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mmmMonday! How bout them chili powder cukes?

Hey Friends!  How in this crazy ol’ world are ya?  We are doing good…so of course…that is good.  🙂

So…I know this is probably way behind.  Sometimes I go about my merry little way, oblivious to what the rest of you guys are doing.  I think that it stems from being an only child for so long…(My brother was born right before my eighteenth b-day.)…and being able to entertain myself.  I kind of get into “hermit mode” and, well I don’t know….enough excuses. (Enough analyzing my childhood.)  I am just now asking the question “How bout them chili powder cukes?”

Is this all Greek to you?  They are basically just cucumbers drizzled with olive oil, a splash of lemon juice, salt, pepper and a sprinkle of chili powder on top.  I had heard of them…but never tried them.  So I decided to remedy that.

I tried them.

My question to you all is this:  What do you think about them?

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I seriously want some input.  Is this a delicacy that I have missed?  Is there anything else to add that would jazz them up a tad?  What is the big deal-e-o?  I want honest opinions here.  🙂

Even if you haven’t tried cukes this way…what is your favorite way to eat them?  We usually have them growing like crazy in the summer. I’m always up for new ideas.

Have a wonderful day, Dirt Roadikins!  Being healthy can be fun…right?  Okay then…go be healthy.  😉

Sig

Hang on, Dirt Roaders!

Do you ever have days where you feel like you are just toodling along in the frieze and the cops show up out of nowhere? Hang on, Dirt Roaders!

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Thank you Son…for leaving your Hot Wheels in the floor. They were very helpful today. 😉

Does that make any sense to you at all?  Do you see the symbolism there?  Just pluggin’ along in life and out of the blue…something unexpected comes along? Hang on, Dirt Roaders!

Did you know that it wasn’t unexpected to God?  Did you know that He was already at the situation…before you were ever conscious of it?  Did you know that He loves you a whole big bunch?  He does.  I promise. Hang on, Dirt Roaders!

Have you ever heard this old hymn?

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

I love the part that says “In his arms he’ll take and shield thee.”  I have so many friends and family members that are going through really hard things right now.  Sometimes life is just hard.  The thing to remember is…God is not surprised by where we are.  What a friend we have in Jesus!

Have a wonderful weekend and hang on,  Dirt Roaders!  Keep that precious chin up! I don’t want this post to bring you down…I want you to be encouraged!  You are important to me and most of all….important to Him!

Sig

Itchin’ for Spring!

Hey Guys!  I’m HERE!  I AM ALIVVVVVVVVE!  (Said in my best Frankenstein voice. 😉 )  I am not tipsy on NyQuil.  That is a good thing.  No…really, I only took what was recommended…but still.. even that throws me for a loop.  But…enough of that!  Are you guys itchin’ for Spring?  (Did you know that the seasons don’t require capital letters?  I find that a shame…because the seasons seem like a celebration to me.

I know…I know…you are saying “Hey Kel, it’s not even Valentine’s Day yet.”  I totally understand that…but it’s so “springy” here.  Is it nice down your stretch of the dirt?  It is beautiful here.  I know that in some parts of the country it is very snowy and wintry and in a way I feel a tad cheated.  (Don’t tell the Mr. a.k.a. the Snow Grinch that I said that.)  I do love snow…but with the temps that we are having…snow seems very far away.  (Watch it snow tomorrow…after all…we are talking Missouri.)

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The other day I was at this wonderful store and I found these little thingys.  I’m not sure what they are….some sort of weed maybe…but I LOVE….LOVITY…LOVE the pop of chartreuse that they bring.  Low and behold…that same day, I went to the thrift store, looking for something to put them in and I ran across this little pitcher.  How cool is that?  I know, pretty cool.

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I think that originally I was looking for white but when I saw this one…..DING…DING!  Just typing this has me not only itchin’ for spring but itchin’ to go back to the thrift store.  I just love little “treasures” that only cost about three American dollahs!

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I hope that your THURSDAY (my fav) is wondermous, Dirt Road People.  I hope that you find some little “treasure” that makes you smile from ear to ear.  I hope that you feel God’s love… warm you….way down deep…like the sun warms the ground in the spring.

Sig

I’m still here…

There you are, my friends.  I hope that your day is going well.  We are having a hard time getting over the winter-time crud on our leg of the dirt road.  I’m still here…I’m just going in slow motion.  As I type this….my eyelids feel heavy….and I’m needing another dose of meds…but I’m still here.

I will try to bring you excitement…as soon as I get my legs underneath me. For now…all I can promise you is…I’m still here.  🙂

Just for your viewing pleasure though…and since you took time out of your precious day to stop by…I will show you something that makes me very happy.  I had been wanting to take some shots like this one, for a long time.  I finally got around to it.  I hope that you enjoy.

Some of the precious things that you find along our dirt road.  :)

Some of the precious things that you find along our dirt road. 🙂

Have a wonderful day, Dirt Roaders.  Cheers!  (I shall hold up my cup of NyQuil.)  😉

Sig

mmmMonday! Ritz Cracker Crumb Chicken

Hey Friends!  Happy mmmMonday!  I hope that it got off to a great start.  I thought that I would post a wonderful supper time treat for this mmmMonday! I tried this last week at the suggestion of a fb friend and it was great!  I only made a couple of little adjustments.  Ritz Cracker Crumb Chicken…is a keeper now in our family.

Thank you to Leigha...for this yummy recipe!

Thank you to Leigha…for this yummy recipe!

If you want the Ritz recipe you can find it here. The couple of things that I did different were this:

1.  I used olive oil to dip my chicken in, instead of butter.

2.  I added a little Parmesan cheese to my cracker crumbs.

Other than that…everything was the same, pretty much.  Do you guys cook like I do?  Add your own signature to almost every dish.  Of course you do.  It’s your kitchen, doctor it up!  😉

Have a wonderful Monday, Dirt Roadies.  May you and your family lap up the Ritz Cracker Crumb Chicken.

Sig

Smell-o-rama!

Happy Saturday to you!  I hope that you are doing things that you love.  We are.  We are enjoying our home.  The smell of bacon is permeating the air.  (The Mr. is an addict.) That really fits with our subject matter today.  What a wonderful day for Smell-o-rama!

You know….I realized the other day that I have not shared something very important with you:

SMELL!  You know…in Blogland…we share all kinds of things that we can SEE but we cannot let your smell our homes.  That would just be weird.

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Sweet little warmer for the bathroom.

Smell..is a very important part of my life.  I know…I know.  You are saying to yourself…”Well…join the club Kel.  Isn’t it a big part of life for us all?” Granted, you are right, but I come from a family of people with…um…”healthy” sized noses.  I don’t know if that is why we have such sensitive sniffers or not but we can smell a “stank” or something good, seemingly miles away.

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My favorite plug-in warmer. It hangs out in the laundry room.

I love to smell of my family.  I know this sounds weird…but it’s true. I love to snuggle my kids close and bury my face in their hair and smell them.  I love to hug my husband and breathe in the scent of his laundered shirt and his cologne.  When you hug my dad…you smell like his cologne when you walk away.  My mom can wear musk in a way like no other.  It smells go good on her.

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This one is the Celtic Love Knot from Scentsy.

How about when you are cooking?  I can tell more by sniffing than by tasting.  Do you agree?  These noses…they are amazing little tools in the kitchen.  😉

So my big question for you today is this:  What is your favorite scent for your home?

Our girls have a pretty one.

Our girls have a pretty one.

We have several warmers around our house for Scentsy.  I LOVE scentsy.  I like the scents in our home to reflect the seasons but I also like for it to just smell good and like “home.”

This one is from Wal-Mart.  They have pretty ones too.

This one is from Wal-Mart. They have pretty ones too.

I am a fan of light smells.   I like citrus…in a major way.  I like summery citrus smells and fall citrus smells and Christmas citrus smells.  I have good memories of peach too.  My friend’s mom always kept peach flavored potpourri in their home.  (Late 80’s ) and it smelled so good.  Scentsy makes a good pomegranate too.  I like it because it doesn’t smell seasonal to me.  It just smells amazing.  (Did I mention that we have a Scentsy dealer in our church? YAY!)

Aren't you a pretty little thing?!

Aren’t you a pretty little thing?!

I would love to hear all about your favs!  Your comments make me smile.  Don’t be shy, Dirt Roaders.  Let’s visit! Smell-o-rama…is my “thang.”  😉

Sig

DIY Chalkboard Tags

Hey all!  Are you ready to have some fun today?  😉 Are you ready for some DIY chalkboard tags?  I have been to the land of the Puny…and now I am trying to make it back.  You might be saying…”Hey Kel…we could tell by your posts…..a tad on the weak side.”  I sure hope not…but well…it’s kinda true.  I really struggled this week.  How is that for real?  We shall keep it real over here at AtDR!

This is the reason that I originally bought the labels.  (Notice: Momma gets the end...she has the biggest purse! )

This is the reason that I originally bought the labels. (Notice: Momma gets the end…she has the biggest purse! )

Sooooooooooo (sounds like: Sewwwwwwww) do ya wanna make some super easy chalkboard tags with me?  These are wonderful!  They are crazy-easy.  I have actually made little hanging tags before with the lids from canning jars.  Now where I’m from…those are called “flats.”  But…I want you to know what I’m talking about.  They are cute…and I don’t have a picture…but you can imagine.  You just pop that little lid out of the ring…and spray paint it.  Oh yeah…you also have your husband drill a hole in it…to hang it.  😉 Alas, this is not the super easy way.

THIS IS:

Do you guys love Staples?  You know…don’t laugh…but I have only been in there once.  The only reason that I went was to buy these chalkboard labels.  I had a coupon out of a decorating magazine…and I was zeroed in on the reason that I was there.

So…I got this bright idea.  What if you just left the paper on the backs to keep the sticky covered, trimmed them like you wanted them and punched a hole in the top?( Of course they need a dab of garden twine…that…. I swiped from my husband’s shelf in the garage.)  That sounds so much easier than the “flat” tags.  No spray painting…no drilling.

I haven't tried the chalk markers or pencils yet.  You guys need to fill me in!

I haven’t tried the chalk markers or pencils yet. You guys need to fill me in!

Be sure and be lazy at first and grab the closest scissors...that don't cut very well.  ;)

Be sure and be lazy at first and grab the closest scissors…that don’t cut very well. 😉

Then....you go down to your craft room and get your scapbooking scissors.  They give you the cleanest edge.

Then….you go down to your craft room and get your scapbooking scissors. They give you the cleanest edge. If you want…have an oatmeal pie…for…um… strength. 😉

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Because we wouldn't know that they were oats without the tag. ;)

Because we wouldn’t know that they were oats without the tag. 😉

They are adorable.  Okay…so it’s not rocket science…but it makes us happy..right?  Right.  There ya have it.  DIY chalkboard tags….in a snap.

And...this last one dear friends...is what your great grandparents would have seen...when everything was still in black and white.  (permission for eye roll granted. )

And…this last one dear friends…is what your great grandparents would have seen…when everything was still in black and white. (permission for eye roll granted.)

🙂 🙂 🙂

Have a wonderful weekend, Dirt Roaders.  You deserve it!

Sig

Signs of spring…

Hey my friends.  How are ya?  Are you living in the midst of Spring vs. Winter like us?  I should be used to it by now…after living my whole life in the Ozarks.  That is just the way we roll.  One day balmy, one day sleet.  Seriously.  Just this week.  It’s a little crazy.  My tulips are trying to come up.  Signs of spring?  Maybe so.

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Have a happy Thursday…and if winter isn’t your thing, just hang on.  There are signs of spring…everywhere.

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Love,

Sig

Laundry today please!

(This post is actually for Tuesday…but I’m posting late Monday night.) 🙂

Hey Friends! I hope that all is going well in your part of the planet. We are trying to feel better. Sometimes it’s a job. Even when you are sick though….laundry goes on…..and…on…and…on…and…well you now. So, even though I have been a tad under the weather, laundry is still on my agenda. I have to keep my family clothed and in their right minds.

I think that this sign from our laundry room pretty much says it all.

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I love this little canvas.  It reminds me of a simple time.  It reminds me of the era in which my parents were born.  It reminds me that I would have never cleaned my house in high heels.  Even back then…I would have kicked them off and “ripped a bone out.”  (That is my mother’s term for really getting with it when you clean. 😉 ) When I clean our home…I have my hair clamped up on top of my head…and when I ever pause to glance in a mirror…I have been known to have a dust bunny stuck in it.

I know that we ladies tend to complain a little about household chores, but I really do find it an honor…down deep inside.  I feel honored that I get to be the one that makes sure that the laundry is smelling good to put on precious little (and big) bodies.  So…even though sometimes it’s a little frustrating when I have all of the laundry done…and someone finds another pile stashed away somewhere…if they say “Laundry today please!”  I will try to oblige.  After all…..naked is only acceptable on some beaches.  😉

Have a marvelous day, Dirt Roaders.  Sniff some good smellin’ detergent for me.

Sig