About Me

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I would say that I am curious, vivacious, gregarious, sometimes funny, intelligent, easy going, very passionate about the things I love, caring, thoughtful, and kind. Maybe that is a little over the top, but I think you can count on me to be very honest. LOL

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Time for Breakfast


This morning we enjoyed our favorite biscuits and gravy breakfast.   So quick so easy!


Sausage Gravy
1 pound Breakfast Sausage (I use Honeysuckle Turkey Breakfast Sausage or Jimmy Dean Maple)
1/3 cup flour
4 cups whole milk – I never measure when making gravy and if I have half and half it use it!
1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
2 teaspoons black pepper (more/less, depending on your tastes)


Crumble and brown the sausage over medium-high heat until fully cooked. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Sprinkle half the flour and stir until the sausage soaks it all up and then add the rest of the flour. This meat will look very dry. Continue to stir and cook for another minute.
Turn up heat to medium-high and pour in the 4 cups of milk. Add in pepper and seasoning salt. Stir consistently until gravy is very thick. (Once the mixture starts to boil it will thicken very quickly.) It will take 10 minutes or so. If the gravy gets too thick, add a little more milk.
Add more seasoning if needed.


Biscuits
We use “Grands”

You bake 4 biscuits while you are making the sausage gravy.   After they are cooked about 15 minutes let them cool for just a few minute then cut them into 4 pieces each.   Put them in the bottom of a prepared(sprayed) oven proof dish(smaller than 9 X 13)!  When the gravy if thickened pour it over the cooked biscuits.  Now cut the remaining 4 biscuits into 4 pieces each and plop them on top of the biscuits and gravy.   Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minute or until biscuit look golden brown.   

Friday, May 29, 2015

Dinner with Friends


We enjoyed dinner last night with our friends Mike & Kathy Gallegos at Kamikazes in Ogden....and we'll do it again because it was delishhhh!
Peeps every Thursday they run a 5 dollar Souvlaki special (eat in only) and you can't beat it.   The recipes are close to the owner and his heart as they are his mother's and when you eat the Greek food you are tasting something handed down to him from a very special lady.  It is truly amazing!!!! 

I promise you will be back for more ....just like we will!




Of course I wanted the recipe for the .....
Lemon Rice Pilaf

Prep Time: 30 mins   Total Time: 30 mins  Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:

1/4 lb butter
2 cups uncooked rice (Uncle Ben's long grain converted rice works well)
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
5 cups hot chicken broth
salt & freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Heat butter in a heavy skillet. When it's hot, add the rice and, stirring constantly, sauté on medium heat until transparent but not brown.
Add the lemon juice, chicken broth, and salt.
Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat and let pilaf stand uncovered for 5 minutes before serving.

Here's hoping I can make it taste as good as theirs!

Thursday, May 28, 2015

V is for Volcano






















We loved making rice krispy treats into mini volcanoes and sharing them with friends at pre-school

Thursday, May 21, 2015

….A Storm

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listening to the rain and thunder….

this has happened so many times on my birthday!

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amazing that the birds are still singing…

that must be why we say “Dancing in the Rain” is possible

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and they certainly don’t have Fairy Wings…because they are flying in and out of the trees…Fairies just can’t fly with wet wings!

perhaps they don’t even notice it, pay it no mind.

there’s too much to sing about, too much to do,

too much living to be had in spite of this rain.

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the hail pours and the flowers simply nod

their heads soaking in all the moisture. 

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and K – Bear sits looking through the picture window…

praying that his mom and grandpa get home safely.

Kendry Speaks…


Kendry, “Grandma, where is Grandpa Buffo?”

Me, “He is with Jesus in Heaven.”

Kendry, “Well, why doesn’t Jesus have Life Flight?”

Me…..speechless!

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Monday, May 18, 2015

And The Rain Came

Hey….our bucket list said watch a rainstorm….

Not  BUCKETS of Rain!

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Sunday, May 17, 2015

I'm A Graduate

I'm a graduate.
Yes, It's true.
I'm a graduate
ooh ooh ooh
A little piece of paper is what I"ll get
You ought to be proud,
I'm a graduate

Friday, May 15, 2015

Saying Good-Bye to Preschool Friends

It’s time to say good-bye.
Our class has come to an end.
I’ve made more cherished memories
And many more friends.

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Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Ready for Backyard Guests

This afternoon we checked off ~ Get our backyard ready for our feathered friends. 

Hummingbird feeders filled ~ after extensive research ~ we learned that the sugar water we offer hummingbirds should be of a sweetness comparable to that of natural nectar, which averages about ¼ strength, or a quarter cup of sugar per cup of water. We also know that we must change the feeder frequently to keep in fresh and insect free.   We purchased a couple of wasp/bee traps to hang as soon as we see the pesky stingers!

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We also filled our wild bird feeders with seed we found in Grandpa Buffo’s garage.   We sure do miss him every day.  We will keep his tradition going…he loved to feed his birds!

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So now we have checked off Make a Bird Feeder on our Spring into Summer Bucket List!

Here is the rest of our garden planting ……

Tomatoes….we love fresh grown tomatoes all summer!

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Thyme ~ Lavender ~ Oregano

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Parsley

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Basil ~ Cilantro

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Our favorite Rosemary Bush made it through the mild winter ~ Isn’t she beautiful nestled there with the Purple Iris (starts from Grandpa many years ago) and pansies thriving in spite of  their farmers neglect since early spring!

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We always look forward to this time of year… we love the fresh green of new leaves and young grass… pops of color around every corner… warm breezes and birds singing. even the neighborhood dogs know that this is the time for awakening, for running and playing. And K-Bear knows that it also means SPRINKLERS….after we soaked the plants….he was soaked as well!

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Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Spring into Summer

Pinterest…our go to idea home…had this great Spring and Summer Bucket List!

We changed just a few and got started on our list today!

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This list suggested Planting Sunflowers…we planted several different flowers in our wooden train planter!  K-Bear is in charge of watering the train and does a mighty fine job!

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Aunt Julie gave us these beautiful flower for Mother’s Day…….love them!

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We added some basil and cilantro to our planters on the patio and tomorrow the garden will be filled with tomatoes!

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We always do really great at the beginning of the summer…by August our plants just don’t look the same. 

This year we are committed to doing it right!   We’ll post at the end of August!

Monday, May 11, 2015

Dinner & A Movie “Lady & the Tramp”

Lady & The Tramp is  one of those classic movies and  Little Man told me the whole store….start to finish on the way to school.   So tonight when we started our dinner in style our Italian heritage came through again…

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Here is the break down of our spread…

Plates arranged before the food was added!

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The Menu…and Little Man wanting just one more piece of watermelon before dinner starts!

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The Fresh Cut Lawn Salad

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The Bread Sticks

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Spaghetti and Meat Balls

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Italian Soda and Watermelon

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The Movie treats….served in individual dog dishes! Popcorn, Milk Duds and Scooby Dog Biscuits. 

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Stray dogs everywhere tonight!

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Oh This Is The Night….it’s a Beautiful Sight and we call it BELLA NOTTE

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The real fun for everyone began when the movie started. Lady and the Tramp tells the beautiful story of a lovely young pedigreed cocker spaniel named Lady, who lives a pampered life, finds herself falling romantically for Tramp, an amorous street-smart pooch without prospects. Although they have fun together on several dates, including a sentimental spaghetti dinner by moonlight at Tony’s restaurant, their relationship is strained not only by Lady’s loyalty to her human family and their newborn baby, but by Tramp’s devil-may-care attitude that eventually gets Lady in trouble and tossed into the dog pound. However, good-hearted Tramp redeems himself by saving the baby from potential harm and thus wins Lady’s love and the affection of her human family.

So lucky we own this movie…#hard to find #Very pricey!

Thursday, May 7, 2015

It’s Mother’s Day Weekend

M ay your weekend be filled with relaxation and anxiety free.

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May you know that nature doesn’t hurry….slow down and take deep breaths…...don’t be a servant to time.

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May you listen long and linger longer.

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May you find joy and happiness in each moment.

William May 2015

 May your burdens be light and your chocolate dark!

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Enjoy your Mother’s Day weekend my friends.