I love having a lot of vacay time that I can just take whenever I feel like it. I’m taking this afternoon off to relax. I could really use a mani-pedi-massage, but instead, I’ll have lunch with friends and go home to enjoy some quiet time.
I really need some quiet time. I would prefer it to be on the beach, but I’ll take it at Cheers in the Heights and then continue in my hammock at Compound de MelJefe.
Hey Don’t Judge Me business:
Life:
Have a great weekend everyone!
I’ve been fighting a cold. Or something. Actually I have no idea what it is. My chest and throat hurt–but they are DRY, not congested. And I still can’t talk (really? you can stop with the cheering already.) I’ve been doing the hot toddy thing at night which means I’m sleeping really well (who needs nyquil when you have hot tea, honey and scotch?) but I’m still not healed.
So tonight, I’m trying another solution: Antonio Banderas La Bandera
This margarita always cures what ails me. And if I still can’t talk after happy hour, I’m quite certain I won’t give a crap. BECAUSE HONEY BADGER DON’T CARE.
Speaking of booze, this made me LOL. Like for real out loud.
as did this: (which isn’t booze related but whatever)
I’m hungry. I have lunch plans with Laura. It should hurry up and get here before I start looking for condiment packages and crackers. What? Surely I’m not the only one who’s eaten mustard and saltines in a fit of desperation?
Why do you think my titles should have anything to do with my actual blog post?
There was a new review of BITE ME! posted last week that made me smile. I love it when someone picks up my book reluctantly and then ends up thinking it kicks Twilight in the ass pleasantly surprised. Makes my day.
I painted some metal outdoor furniture this weekend. My hands are all cramped up now, but it makes it easier to hold a soda can. No effort at all now. So if holding a soda can (or beer bottle) has been a problem for you in the past, just spray paint furniture for several hours at a time and that problem will fix itself!
I was going for beachy colors, but wound up with Easter Egg colors instead. But it’s an easy fix. Gonna repaint the blue table — Orange(originally I had wanted to be more of an aquamarine than pastel.)
El Jefe and I also split time on the John Deere. Lots of mowing occurred on Saturday, thanks to the massive amounts of rain we’ve had (finally) over the past 2 weeks.
Sunday, we made our way to Birdrunner’s new place where El Jefe worked on electronic stuff while we talked about putting boxed stuff in the attic. It was a planning session, you see. No actual boxes were put in the corner, because nobody puts boxes in a corner! (or an attic) I also enjoyed her new deck and water feature. As well as the Bud Light Lime.
I also ate nachos.
Oh and for the recent visitors to my blog who are looking for Melissa Francis from CNBC …Let me answer what I can for you: Yes she has great legs. Yes she’s married (to Wray Thorn, I believe)–at least she was this time last year when she had a baby. I have no idea how her tits look, but from the number of searches looking for them, they must be fabulous. You can find her on twitter @MelissaCNBC and if you work your google-fu properly, you can find an awesome Frosted Flakes commercial she did when she was a kid. And in that commercial, her eyebrows are amazing. Wait, here’s a fun interview I did with her in 2009 and I posted the commercial at the end…it’s pretty fantastic.
I’m so witty.
Sometimes blog titles are hard especially when you have a lot of nothing to talk about.
First things first: My recap of The Bachelorette Episode 2 is live! Go forth and read all about the sad + awesome = sawesome Douchebaggery. Be sure and bring your cheesy-poofs for a snack.
Okay, so no hammer was involved yesterday but I kinda feel like I was beaten by one in my sleep.
You see, my driveway is gravel and it has pretty much just washed away. It’s full of potholes and bumps and when it rains, is a muddy mess. So we’re having a load of gravel brought in…unfortunately, my giant tree over the driveway would prevent a dumptruck from entering, so limbs would have to be removed.
Enter El Jefe and his saw.
And me and the John Deere (btw, I will never, ever write my John Deere a Deere Dear John letter because I love him sooooooo. Our love will not be denied!)
Jefe battled the tree, and the tree tried to battle back. It was like it knew…and wanted to wound its attacker. But this world evolves on the survival of the fittest–or at least the person with the better tools. And I’m pretty sure Saw beats Branch every time. (Does Tarp cover Saw? Hmmmm)
Our burn pile is about 10+ feet tall now. That’s gonna be a helluva fire. Woot! Can’t wait! Bring on the marshmallows!
Anyway, dragging all those limbs around is a lot of work, so this morning we both feel a bit like warmed over death. And I’m figuring once we finish with the gravel portion of this project, we’ll feel like reheated warmed over death. The boys were feeling a little worse for the wear as well, even though their idea of “helping” is not the same as mine. heh.
But at least soon I won’t be bottoming out on my driveway anymore.
Today is National Cherry Cobbler Day!
So let’s all pop our cobbler cherries together! How awesome would it be if we all ate cherry cobbler today? I’m pretty sure no matter how bad your day is, if you have a slice of cherry cobbler, it’s gonna get better. (admittedly, cherry cobbler is no apple pie, but it’s a good runner up…)
Here’s a tried and true cherry cobbler recipe from Southern Living (printed in 1999). Yes, this is a recipe that I have in my possession from my Southern Living days. It’s a good one. Enjoy.
Ingredients
- 6 cups pitted fresh cherries (about 2 1/2 pounds)*
- 1 1/2 cups sugar, divided
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon red liquid food coloring (optional)
- 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- Ice cream
Preparation
- Bring cherries, 3/4 cup sugar, cornstarch, 1/2 cup water, and, if desired, food coloring to a boil ina medium saucepan, stirring constantly. Boil, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in 3 tablespoons butter, lemon rind, and almond extract. Pour into a lightly greased 11- x 7-inch baking dish.
- Combine remaining 3/4 cup sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add milk, 1/4 cup butter, and vanilla, and beat at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes. Add egg, and beat 2 more minutes. Spoon batter evenly over cherry mixture.
- Bake at 350° for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden, shielding with aluminum foil during the last 10 minutes to prevent excessive browning, if necessary. Cool in dish on a wire rack 15 to 20 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream.
*3 (14.5 ounce) cans pitted tart red cherries can be substituted. Drain cherries, reserving 1/2 cup juice. Substitute reserved juice for 1/2 cup water.
In the world of irony (where I tend to live most of my life) in Ireland, today is National Famine Memorial Day. Not sure if they celebrate by fasting or not, but I say let’s change tradition just in case and celebrate with COBBLER!
Bitchin' Fiction: Musings by author Melissa McKenzie / Melissa Francis 