Back in the Saddle again!

I have to say, Em really got her in nice shape this summer (these photos are last spring). I know she just took photos last week- she's submitting Axe as a candidate for the Secretariat movie. I hope she'll share!

As for me, I made myself stay on for 30 minutes, about half of it posting trot, alternating with walking. Tomorrow, I'll be "time to make the donuts" guy. But I SHALL persevere!

Finished This...

                      

Snapperland "Barn Yard" on 26 ct. unknown evenweave w/ recommended WDW threads

And started that:

Prairie Schooler "Christmas Eve" on 32 ct. Jobelan "Lambswool" w/ DMC threads

Looked What Popped Out of the Weeds...

Garden Grew! I decide to adjust the scrolls up so I wouldn't have to swap out my 30+ colors per page twice by not finishing each page as I go from left to right.

Here's a close up of what I got done today:

The bottoms of these 2 lower flowers are in the bottom half of the chart.

AAHHHHHH!!!!!!

38% humidity, 73 degrees. Can you say "happy girl"?

Wonderful Wednesday Wrecipes...

In honor of the daughter unit moving her shit stuff back to Boston: one Ford Escape load (THANK YOU Joanne!!!!!!) and one Corolla load- yes- 2 trips in and out of Boston in one day! 100 miles of driving! Hot weather! No food until 4:00 at Ikea:

( I got the Swedish Meatballs)

here's today's recipe:

Macaroni & Cheese

• 1-2 cups dry pasta
• 3 TBSP butter
• 3 TBSP flour
• 1-1/2 cups milk
• 1 cup grated or shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• 6-8 Ritz crackers or 1/3 cup panko crumbs
• 1 TBSP butter
• Pam baking spray

Fill dry baking dish halfway with dry pasta to measure, set aside.

Preheat oven to 375 deg.

Set large pot of water to boil, and add dry pasta. Cook according to package directions (about 10-13 minutes) just until done, but not mushy.

While pasta cooks make cheese sauce:

Melt 3 TBSP butter in medium saucepan and add 3 TBSP flour. Stir with whisk over medium heat about 3 minutes, until flour is cooked and slightly turning golden and smells “nutty”.

Whisk in 1-1/2 cups milk until smooth. Continue whisking until sauce bubbles and starts to thicken. Simmer, whisking often, about 3-5 minutes more, until sauce is smooth & thick. Stir in salt & both types of pepper.

Remove from heat and stir in cheese. Whisk until smooth. Set aside until pasta is cooked.

Drain pasta thoroughly, and turn into large mixing bowl or back into cooking pot.

Spray baking dish with Pam spray.

Add cheese sauce to pasta- enough to taste to seem very cheesy & gooey. You may not need all the sauce. (Refrigerate any leftovers.)

Pour pasta & sauce into prepared baking dish. Sometimes I'll layer in a slice of American cheese, torn into strips. Top with crushed cracker or panko crumbs. Take 1 TBSP butter; break into bits and dot top of crumbs.

Bake at 375 degrees for about 15-18 minutes or crumbs are browned & pasta is bubbly.

Yay!

That's a lot of Food!

I was looking back trying to find when I baked a Lemon Meringue pie. I found it in 2007. I think I comment about food at least every other post!
Any way, Anna at Cookie Madness is experimenting with Lemon Meringue pie recipes. Check it out! (You may have to scroll back several posts) ((Don't even LOOK at those peanut butter streusel brownies!!!))

No End in Site...

I won't go into the insanity that reigns my life at the moment between heat, humidity, ill BF, itchy dog, PMS, bad horsey feet, and the utter destruction of any perception of cleanliness in my house due to the move back to college. However, a small spot of calm was revealed on the interwebs this morning at Stitch Bitch's blog. Take a look at this one!

Now I have to retreat to my rubber room.