Field Trip to the Zoo

I got to chaperone the Pre-K trip to the Henry Vilas Zoo yesterday. It was perfect weather and everyone had a ball. I was in charge of S and his best friend, T. They are two peas in a pod, full of giggles and mischief. We had a picnic afterward and then the kids played on the playground for about an hour. Everyone went home tired from sun, fresh air and all the running around. If you are ever in Madison, check out the zoo. It's free, parkings free and it's a very laid back environment. www.vilaszoo.org

Gotta Have It!

I have to have this bracelet, how cute is this? I think it would be perfect for summer, with t-shirt and shorts. This company, Faith Garland, is owned by my next door neighbor. I love her things. She is a stay at home mom of three, and this is her new adventure. Check it out: www.faithgarland.com .

Thinking Happy Thoughts

I have just sent J to bed (it's 6pm) because he is driving me CRAZY! He normally goes to bed at 7:30, so God only knows what time he will get up. But at this point, I can't deal with him. He "forgot" his homework at school, had an "accident" because he waited to long, he decided to destroy several huge hostas with a stick, and refused to eat any dinner. So now I will think happy thoughts, and think about him like he was last Saturday morning, sweet and darling, working on excavating his dinosaur. As Scarlet said, "Tomorrow is another day."

What I'm Reading

I picked this book up at Target today, as I was ironically wearing a green and pink argyle sweater. It is a look at the authors life and the clothes she was wearing at the time. Jen writes about the importance of the "first day of school" outfit. I clearly remember mine for the first day of 8th grade, Fall 1982. The entire ensemble was from The Stoughton Store, a downtown apparel store in Stoughton, Wisconsin. Plaid wool knickers, with a matching vest, cream blouse with a string ribbon tie, in the matching plaid. Cream colored knee socks and tassel loafers. I had been babysitting for a family who owned a shoe store, and they paid me in shoes. I wish I could have that job back! What was the outfit you remember most from you childhood?

I Won an Award, a Major Award!

Thank you, Entertaining House,( http://doodlebuglounge.blogspot.com) , for this honor! I haven't won anything since a ham at the parish festival in 1977! I know, pathetic! I will work on who to pass this onto.

Low Country Boil Part One

The first of the Low Country Boils was last night. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and no one left with an empty stomach. We started with cheese straws, pimento cheese spread, Vidalia Onion dip, and BBQ pulled pork sliders. Then came the boil, plus sides of corn bread, mac and cheese and baked beans, I also had cole slaw, that I forgot to take out of the fridge, (Oops!).

Then dessert were choices of Red Velvet cake, coconut cake, pecan pie and banana pudding. We had to have the dinner inside, since it was in the 50's and quite windy. People enjoyed the garden for a while, then came in to get warm. I'm sure the brandy slush helped a lot.

Here is the recipe for the best baked beans ever! Thank you Kelly, for sharing this gem with me!

Badger State Beans

1/2 lb ground beef or 1 lb ground turkey

1/2 lb bacon, diced

1 small onion, diced

1- 16 0z. can pork and beans

1- 16 oz. can kidney beans, drained

1- 16 oz. can yellow butter beans, drained

1- 16 oz. can black beans, drained

1/2 cup ketchup

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1/4 cup white sugar

2 tbsp. molasses

1/2 tsp. dry mustard

Preheat oven to 350.

Brown ground beef (or turkey), bacon and onion. Drain excess fat.

In a 2 quart casserole dish, combine remaining ingredients. Add meat mixture.

Bake uncovered 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Those were the Days

I miss the days when my boys spent their time in these classic john-johns. I love the smocking and sweet embroidery. They got matching ones, john- john for J and bubble for S, for Easter, Fourth of July. They had diggers, lobsters, lizards, and I have all of them still hanging in a closet because I can't bear to part with them. They wore leather "Christopher Robin" shoes with turned down cotton socks. All of which I had to order from down South. Every trip we made to South Carolina and Georgia, I stocked up on beautiful children's clothes. I have such a problem finding appropriate clothing. They are not allowed to wear sleeveless shirts, nothing with crass phrases on it, no sweats in public, shorts have to be above the knee, shirts start out tucked in, no hats or hoods in a building. The older they get, the harder time I have finding nice clothing for them. Everything ends up being Polo and Lands' End.