Progress. I tell you, progress.

That’s what I’ve made today in my destashing event!

I’ve got my goodies for sale here:

http://hyenacart.com/Spots_corner/index.php?u=2016

I’ve sold about 1/3 to 1/2 of my wool yarn stash.  I just don’t use the wool yarn much anymore. I do ADORE wool, but it’s not practical at this point.  Felicity and I do crochet, but most of our projects use acrylic yarn…and I do have some of it on hand and it’s not going anywhere! It’s so nice to see the cash coming back in from all of my unnecessary purchases(aka “bad spending habit”), and all the “stuff” going out the door of our house

Next week, I’ll conquer the boxes and boxes of fabrics(mostly quilt fabrics). I don’t plan to totally destash my fabrics as I did with the wool yarn because I will be teaching Felicity to sew soon, so fabric is needed still.  I will just “thin out” in that department.

That’s all for tonight.

Have a great Thursday!

Today, since Mike was off from work, we decided to do something fun! We took a trip to Palo Duro Canyon.  It is only about a 30 minute drive from our house, so was something nice to do for the afternoon.

Palo Duro Canyon is called the “Grand Canyon of Texas” and rightfully so. It’s gorgeous!  We visited 2 years ago when we first moved here, but it was late in the summer, (a very hot, dry summer) and everything in the canyon was brown. We’ve had a few rainy days lately, so things are “greening up” nicely lately.

The kids were glad to get out for the day. Gregory just loves to “go”!

Margo, my poodle, we adopted through rescue nearly two years ago.  She’s very scared of men, but put her in a car, and you’d never know it! She spends most of her time riding nuzzled up next to Mike!

Felicity doesn’t remember our trip to the Canyon, so it was a new adventure for her today.

More gorgeous rock formations while in the bottom of the canyon.

This formation is called the Lighthouse and there is a hiking trail up to it. The trail is over 5 miles round trip, so needless to say, we haven’t been up to the Lighthouse yet.

Wild Turkey! After this guy saw me attempting to take his mug shot, he started running away and I just knew I missed the shot! To my surprise, I didn’t!

Prickly Pear Cactus are EVERYWHERE!

This handsome fellow was hanging out in the rocks outside of the gift shop. He’s a lizard, but I’ve never seen a lizard like him before.

After we returned from our drive, we all decided to just relax and take it easy for the rest of the evening.  We actually watched TV!!  We never have time to sit and watch TV, much less for 3 hours!!

Hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday weekend!

…the wagon, that is.

When I started this blog, I had a goal to be sure to post at least one post every day. Until yesterday, I was 100%.  Throw a baby into the mix and everything goes awry.

My 20yo daughter(Katie) is in a relationship with a man that has a 10 month old baby.  They asked me to babysit this weekend while they went to the lake. Of course, I said yes. BUT in keeping up with a baby and my own son, Gregory…I shut down the computer early yesterday evening and totally forgot to post.

Sorry.

More later today.

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I read a post today on one of the blogs that I read everyday, sometimes more than once a day, if she does more than one post.  Ree does FABULOUS things with food!

I plan to make this for breakfast for Saturday! I’d love to make it now for Friday, but don’t have enough eggs.

Sleepin’ in OmeletteEnjoy!

Felicity loves reading the book series by John R. Erickson,
The Original Adventures #1 (Hank the Cowdog)  She started the series about a year ago.

Well, last night, Mr. Erickson was at our Barnes and Noble store signing his newest release, #52!  It was the first day it was on sale, and only at OUR Barnes and Noble. It was also his first signing for that volume.

Sorry for the poor quality photo. I didn’t even think to take my camera, so I had to take the photo using my cell phone.

We waited in line 1 hour, and as we left, I noticed the line behind us was still another hour or so long!  We had a great time!

Today, we had to travel to Lubbock for Gregory to see a Pediactric Allergist.  He had the skin tests done on over 50 allergens. Most of what were tested were foods, and he was allergic to NONE.  He was also tested for “common” allergens such as dogs and cats and grasses. He is allergic to NOTHING!!  We are so thankful!  He does have asthma, but thank goodness no allergies to go along with it!

Felicity had an exciting event this evening. I’ll post about it tomorrow.

I’m exhausted!

And I don’t mean “French” :-), I mean French, as in the formal French language. 

Today, Felicity started on her French cirriculum!  She’s already got down the first words in her first lesson. There are five of them.  She’s pretty excited, as Mike and I will be learning right along with her.

Let’s face it. We all have them. Days where we just don’t want to do anything. Sundays are the worst, but with just cause.  Sunday is a day of rest.

I find, on Sunday especially, I do love to cook. Several weeks ago, I started cooking “big” on Sundays.  I prepare 3-4 days worth of meals at once, and it saves me time later in the week. PLUS it saves energy doing so! A huge plus(at least during summer months) in using your slow cooker is the fact that it doesn’t heat up your kitchen as when using your oven or cook top.

I think at this point, one of my favorite things in my kitchen is my slow cooker. AKA “Crock Pot”. I have several cookbooks with recipes only for slow cookers. MY OH MY! Slow cookers and recipes have come a long way!

Along with the convenience of the slow cooker, the food cooked inside has all it’s nutritional value kept intact and tastes fabulous!

I currently own this one, although because I’ve had it a few years, the outside design is a bit different.

Rival Crock Pot 6 Quart Buffet Slow Cooker And Server

This baby is on it’s way to me! I’ve wanted it since Christmas, but am finally able to get it.  Having this adjustable size one is going to be so handy. My 6 quart one is just too big for some recipes I make, thus creating a huge mess to clean up, or the recipe not turning out right.

Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 Slow Cooker with 2-, 4-, and 6-Quart Crocks

Having two slow cookers is going to double my efficency on my “big cooking” days!

Then there’s the hundreds of slow cooker cookbooks on the market! The sky’s the limit what you can make. I even “baked” cornbread in mine this week. I was a bit sceptial, but it turned out wonderfully!

Enjoy your Sunday, the entire week and get cookin’!

Around these parts, there are many feed yards for cattle. Feed yards are where cattle go to be fed and “fattened up” before slaughter.  There are LOTS of cows in a very small confined place. I HATE them. We’ve driven by a couple and it is just awful to see animals in such circumstances.  Don’t get me wrong, I eat beef, but to see cows like that, it just isn’t right. UGH. I won’t get on the soapbox of humane or not. Just won’t go there. At least not right now.

Anyway. Also around these parts, especially when it’s rained, our outdoor air has a special aroma.  The locals call it “the smell of money”. Blech….it just plain stinks!  Can’t open the windows or doors without the stinch of cow manure coming into your house.  Everyone told us we’d “get used to it”. Well THEY WERE WRONG.  We have never gotten used to walking outsite on a beautiful morning to get slapped in the face with that awful smell.

Yet another thing about Amarillo we will be glad to leave behind.

I’ve had several people, especially family members, ask me about books to read to help understand our son’s autism.

A dear friend of  mine had this book sent to Mike & I because we had not read it.

Louder Than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism

This book is fantastic!  It’s a pretty quick read, as well. Mike and I both read it through the course of one day. 

Jenny went through some of the same things we have with Gregory, so this book was an absolute page turner for us.

Jenny McCarthy is a super advocate of autism! I thoroughly enjoy listening to her TV interviews.

I’ll post more recommended reads on autism in the future.