Mmm

Sean and I made something really awesome and I'm working on a blog post to tell you all about it. Here's some hints as to what it involves:

Have I piqued your interest?

P-Dub

A few days ago I received this Amazon order in the mail:
As a faithful Pioneer Woman follower, I've been anticipating this cookbook for months! No longer will I have to rifle through messy wrinkled printouts to find my favorite mashed potato recipe (yes, I even look at a recipe for that basic dish) or run back and forth between the kitchen and computer to compare sauce consistency. I'm a recipe girl and this is the book for me!


And these are all the recipes I'm ready to try. I wonder how long it will take me. Months? Years? Decades? At least it will be a yummy journey.

The first recipe I tried?

Potato Skins. Healthy.

And you can bet your bottom dollar that I'm stoked for her book tour stop in Houston. On December 5th, I'll meet my cooking and photography (and let's face it, my all around ideal of an awesome woman) hero! Check out when she's coming to your neck of the woods.

boo

Introducing: Dr. Pumpkinyll and Mr. Hyde
A seemingly innocuous little pumpkin head.


From one angle, he looks like such a sweet little guy. Wouldn't hurt a flea.


But upon another look, watch out- he's gonna tear off some limbs!

Alright alright, enough of the pumpkin side-show, let's get to the star.

What to carve, what to carve?


Plans are set, time to pull out the Leatherman. Too fancy for pumpkin carving? Not by a long shot.


A surgeon in the making?


In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room...

Have you ever seen a more awesome jack-o-lantern? I'm beyond impressed.

We took our pumpkins along when we went Trunk or Treating at church. Everyone liked them but we had something else that outshone our masterful creations:

Well, hot dawg, that's a costume. Happy Halloweanie!

Buh buh buh burthday

Who doesn't love birthdays? I do! Even the ones that aren't mine.

Earlier this month, Darren's eldest celebrated hers and we got to join in the party. It's great living by family!


It was just a casual affair- opening presents, eating cake and treats, giggling with my friends.

Well, I didn't really do that last part, that was the birthday girl's job.


They even painted little ceramic figurines. Lovely!

Fun was had by all. See:

I told you.

You know who else had a birthday? Pogo! She's 10! I can't believe it. People still mistake her for a puppy.

We don't know exactly when her birthday is, so we decided, long ago, to celebrate on my Aunt's birthday. Doesn't that make you feel honored, Aunt Kay?


We did lots of fun Pogo things to make her feel special. Like taking her on a walk. Pogo loooves her walks!


We take turns being the leashman, because we looove her walks too!


On this walk, we gave her extra long sniff breaks.


And extra chances to be cute.


AND she got to leap through the icky, mosquito-infested standing water on the sidewalk. Whee!


Then at home, I'd say "Happy birthdaaaaaay!" and she'd howl and howl. And then I'd howl too. What a couple of hound dogs.


And Sean made a Pogo blanket basket. She liked it for about 8 seconds.


And of course, we played tug of war with her ball. How she loves that ball and only her ball. Try any other toy and she'll turn away in disgust. She has very elite taste. But that's okay, because it's her birthday.

Happy Birthdaaaaay Pogo! Arooooo!