Author: Diana

Day 367 – The Day That Starts 2017!!

By Diana

I have such mixed emotions about 2016.  In some ways it was amazing for me and in some ways it was the most trying year of my life.  I got to start my own business and have so much encouragement from every one and shared so much with people who supported me.  I learned that I had way more real friends then I thought I did and found a couple I hope with be friend forever.  I learned what sadness truly is with the loss of my mom and how much I love all of my family.

I have not thought about what 2017 will bring, but I know I am a bit more prepared for it, if that is really possible.

There is a couple things I wish for myself this coming year.  I want to be happy.  I want to be nice above all.

Happy New Year!

Day 357 – The Day After My Mothers Birthday

By Diana

Today is the day after my mothers would be 76th birthday. For my memory of her I got a tattoo of a tortoise on my wrist. I am not super emotional lately – not super happy or super sad, but I did manage to cry yesterday evening. I am so very appreciative of people who care about me and I was talking to one of them and I just can’t get over how nice some people are!

Enough mushy stuff :)

I have been working this last couple weeks mostly at home and plan on finishing out the year here as well. So thankful that I have understanding employers who work with me in my situation with my dad being here alone.

I have some traveling to do early in January – need to go to Atlanta for the Construction’s Southern Region Safety Certification. I actually need to get certified this time so no teaching just doing :)

I think that I have basically decided to just make an “office” space in the dining / living room. That way we can all be together in the house and I am sure more comfy. My sister is here now, I think I am going to get her to help me take out the leaves in the table so I can leave my big huge white board out of my bathroom :)

I need to leave here to go get my packages – maybe hook the gate back up on my way out!!

For my mother - forever love
For my mother – forever love

For my Peanut - and all the other puppies
For my Peanut – and all the other puppies

Yummy Macaroni and Cheese Bake

Yummy Macaroni and Cheese Bake
Print Recipe
Really good southern style macaroni and cheese!!
Servings Prep Time
8 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
50 minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
50 minutes
Yummy Macaroni and Cheese Bake
Print Recipe
Really good southern style macaroni and cheese!!
Servings Prep Time
8 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
50 minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
50 minutes
Ingredients
Main
Topping
Servings: people
Instructions
Main
  1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
  2. Combine the first 8 ingredients and stir well. Place into 2 quart casserole dish coated in cooking spray.
Topping
  1. Combine last 2 ingredients and sprinkle on top of casserole.
Baking
  1. Bake for 50 minutes.
Yummy Armadillo Eggs

Yummy Armadillo Eggs

Yummy Armadillo Eggs
Print Recipe
My family loves these and they don't turn out too spicy!
Servings Prep Time
24 pieces 20 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Servings Prep Time
24 pieces 20 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Yummy Armadillo Eggs
Print Recipe
My family loves these and they don't turn out too spicy!
Servings Prep Time
24 pieces 20 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Servings Prep Time
24 pieces 20 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Ingredients
Servings: pieces
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
  2. Prepare a baking sheet with non-stick aluminum foil.
  3. Slice the jalapeno peppers in half and remove the core and seeds.
  4. Slice the pepper jack cheese into rectangles, smaller than the jalapeno halves.
  5. In a medium bowl, mix sausage, baking mix, and cheddar cheese.
  6. Stuff jalapeno with the pepper jack cheese slices and encase them in the sausage mix in the shape of an egg.
  7. Arrange the jalapeno eggs on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Yummy Mexican Goulash

Great alternative to tacos.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground sirloin
  • 1 finely chopped onion
  • 1 finely chopped small green pepper
  • 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with Chile peppers
  • 1 can sliced black olives
  • 1 (9 ounce) package frozen corn
  • 1 (8 ounce) package rotini pasta
  • 1/2 cup salsa
  • 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
  • Sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and additional salsa for topping

Directions

  1. Brown ground sirloin and drain.  In large skillet combine sirloin, pepper, onion, tomatoes, corn, salsa, and taco seasoning.  Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
  2. Cook pasta and combine with meat mixture.
  3. Simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
  4. Serve with topping of sour cream, salsa and shredded cheddar cheese.

Pictures

Yummy Mexican Goulash
Print Recipe
Yummy Mexican Goulash
Print Recipe
Yummy Praline Glaze

Yummy Praline Glaze

Yummy Praline Glaze
Print Recipe
For people who love pecans, this is an amazing glaze for a bundt cake.
Servings Prep Time
1 cake 2 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Servings Prep Time
1 cake 2 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Yummy Praline Glaze
Print Recipe
For people who love pecans, this is an amazing glaze for a bundt cake.
Servings Prep Time
1 cake 2 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Servings Prep Time
1 cake 2 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Ingredients
Servings: cake
Instructions
  1. Mix the white sugar, brown sugar, half and half, and salt into saucepan.
  2. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium continue to boil and still constantly until mixture thickens to a syrup, about 8 minutes. A candy thermometer should read 220° F.
  3. Stir in butter, pecans, and vanilla. Continue to cook until mixture reaches 234° F.
  4. Allow the glaze to cool for 5 minutes and pour over prepared bundt cake.

Yummy Candied Sweet Potatoes

Yummy Candied Sweet Potatoes
Print Recipe
Very sweet potatoes!
Servings Prep Time
8 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
70 minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
70 minutes
Yummy Candied Sweet Potatoes
Print Recipe
Very sweet potatoes!
Servings Prep Time
8 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
70 minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
70 minutes
Ingredients
Servings: people
Instructions
  1. In a small bowl, mix the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt together.
  2. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add sweet potatoes, and stir to coat. Sprinkle sugar mixture over the sweet potatoes, and stir. Cover skillet, and reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour, or until the sauce is dark and the potatoes are candied. They should be tender, but a little hard around the edges.
  3. Stir in vanilla, and serve.

Yummy Creamy Corn Casserole

Yummy Creamy Corn Casserole
Print Recipe
This is a yummy version of this Thanksgiving Day favorite!!
Servings Prep Time
8 people 5 minutes
Cook Time
45 minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 people 5 minutes
Cook Time
45 minutes
Yummy Creamy Corn Casserole
Print Recipe
This is a yummy version of this Thanksgiving Day favorite!!
Servings Prep Time
8 people 5 minutes
Cook Time
45 minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 people 5 minutes
Cook Time
45 minutes
Ingredients
Servings: people
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and lightly grease a 9x9 inch baking dish.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine butter, eggs, corn bread mix, whole and creamed corn and sour cream. Spoon mixture into prepared dish.
  3. Bake for 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the top is golden brown.

Day 324 – The Day I had ANOTHER Desk Setup

By Diana

I went yesterday and picked up my desktop from the wood place and today I will get it put on the frame and hopefully be able to move all the stuff off the table and onto that.  We are running out of space and I really need to get something done about it.  I have a giant white board in my bathroom, 3 desk chairs in there and too much crap on my real desk in the bedroom!

Not to mention all the clothes I really need to go through to clean out my closet and drawers.  Samantha has been trying to get me to do that for months now – guess I better do something at sometime – she may just get rid of everything :)

I also need to figure out what all will be made for Thanksgiving – which happens to be dad’s birthday.  Now last year he asked for beenie weenies.  I am not going to say that I refuse to cook that for Thanksgiving, but it isn’t  really going to go well with the hens…

I am sitting here and Nickel is being like a cat.  He just hates when I am at a computer.  Now I have Dime doing the same thing – she is less calm than him though.

Paul is coming over today and we will get good stuff done I hope.  I may have threatened him to either bring me a donut or sandwich.  I hope he does :)

OK, going to get started this morning and will get back to this later I hope.

New desk space - is that the kitchen table, maybe...
New desk space – is that the kitchen table, maybe…

Day 322 – The Day I Came Home!

By Diana

I am headed home today from a long trip.  We had long days every day on this cutover, but it was still a great time.  I got to sit with the person running the cutover and he was answering some question and I was really getting into it.  I got to see several people who I have worked with on different occasions – always good!

We were in Richmond Virginia and even if it was a bit cold it was so pretty here with the leaves changing colors.  Ariel, the person who I was with, took me all over looking at stuff which was so great.  We even had some time to catch a movie.

I really hope I will be able to spend more time in the field next year like we did this one.  It was satisfying to be able to help people with real work rather than just making up fake stuff to show.  I like to leave people feeling a little bit better about the tool and I think that I succeeded on this trip.

I can not wait to get back to Dad and the puppies.  I hope they haven’t forgotten me 😉  I will be so happy to get back to work!

Here are some pics.

Chicken in front of the BBQ place we ate.
Chicken in front of the BBQ place we ate.
LEGO ART just schooled the new truck on how to park :)
LEGO ART just schooled the new truck on how to park :)
Burger joint sign looks like the Las Vegas sign :)
Burger joint sign looks like the Las Vegas sign :)
The Markel Building - this is an office building.
The Markel Building – this is an office building.
This is an old Lucky Strike building where you can see the man crawling out of the roof.
This is an old Lucky Strike building where you can see the man crawling out of the roof.
Same Lucky Strike building but these are apartments.
Same Lucky Strike building but these are apartments.
Train station - I think it is going to be Amtrak.
Train station – I think it is going to be Amtrak.
This is the original Seaboard train station.
This is the original Seaboard train station.
This is called a double stop :)
This is called a double stop :)
Such pretty colors.
Such pretty colors.
This is the same train station just another view.
This is the same train station just another view.
I thought this was funny - ladies and gentleman's club.
I thought this was funny – ladies and gentleman’s club.
Looking north at Lakeside. I spent most of my time here.
Looking north at Lakeside. I spent most of my time here.

Looking south from Lakeside - I was in this trailer on the right all of the cutover.
Looking south from Lakeside – I was in this trailer on the right all of the cutover.