Skyline Contest Winner

For the Superbowl, we made Skyline Frito pie. It took a bit of a hunt to find a can of Skyline in our area. A Kroger about 20 minutes away had this one can left. I forgot to take a before shot. The dish was yummy! I submitted this photo for a Skyline Superbowl contest.

Guess what? I won!

The prize was a four pack of Skyline. It came promptly in the mail.

Unfortunately, I looked at the nutritional information on the side of the can. Ugh! Ignorance was bliss. How can there be that much salt in one can?

Will You Play With Me?

We got him this rope for Christmas. I think it will last a lifetime.

At times, he'll just chew away. Other times, he's set up by two boys! Imagine that?!

He doesn't seem to mind trudging along wondering why there is a rope on his back.

Heading to Nashville for the Southeastern Championship Short Course swim meet. I'll get to see lots of swimming this weekend. I am crossing my fingers that Pumpkin swims well. We might even have to swim there. The weather prediction is for lots of heavy rain.

Fatty Tumor

A few months ago, we noticed a little bump near Buddy's rib cage. I guess I was in denial hoping that it might go away. I ended up taking him to the vet on Monday. The vet was impressed that we even discovered the lump. He did a needle aspiration of it and declared it an innocuous fatty tumor. Whew! Bud is okay. It may grow as he gets older, but we don't have to do anything right now.

Buddy was a great dog - just a little impatient waiting for the vet. His expression tells all!

Today he got groomed. He was shaking like a leaf when I left him at the groomer's. I bet he lost a few pounds with all the hair they trimmed off. He looks good and NOT exactly like a goat as The Big Guy keeps saying.

On a different note, I finished the book Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah. It was an interesting book. I read it in large print - how easy is that? Each time I picked up the book, I felt like I read a ton as there weren't too many words on each page. The book pulled me in as one of the main characters was exposed. She is a 40 something daughter and wondering about life. I ask myself some of the same questions, where have I been and where do I want to go? It is fiction, but the book opened my eyes to the suffering in WWII in Leningrad. The book offered closure in the end leaving the reader with hope. The idealist in me loved that. Thanks for the rec, Sara!

MRTC Cross Country Winter Series

The boys completed the winter series yesterday. The series consisted of a 3K, 5K, 8K, and 10K over the last month or so. There wasn't much winter-like about the run.

The run was at Shelby Farms. It was a bit mental as you made three loops running by the finish but not finishing until the last loop. I took Buddy and we went to the off-leash park first. He was in heaven. He about pulled me into the water. He was so excited to go for a swim.

This picture and this picture were on the first loop.

The course is pretty hilly and it was really, really windy!

Look at Peanut's hair as he crosses the finish line. The Big Guy was struggling a bit. But, he stuck with it and finished.

The Big Guy threw out those running shoes and announced that it is time to bring the bike down. He stuck with the running through the series and is yearning to get out on his two wheels.

I hope his motivation wears off on me. I've been a slug of sorts. I am thinking about investigating the couch to 5k app. We'll see!

Valentine via Email

I forgot to share what appeared in our inbox on Valentine's Day. Peanut used an app on his iPod to create this.

I was impressed that he took the initiative, created something and secretly sent it to us. Love it - and him! Now, that teenage brother that resides here - not quite sure!! Just joking!

What a Difference a Week Makes

Last week, we were under a winter storm warning.

As the day progressed, the view from YoLo's morphed into a winter wonderland.

The schools were dismissed early and a few folks actually braved the streets for some frozen yogurt. The shop's setting is one of the best. The Collierville Square is historic and quaint.

By the time I headed home, my car was covered. I got to use my snow scraper and I remembered to wear my Bogs!


The streets were horrible with the mix of snow and ice. I ended up being the last one home. What's up with that? I was the one with the treats, though. I brought yogurt for us all. As snow continued outside, we sat at the kitchen table giddy enjoying the late afternoon and our yogurt.

This week...we have a taste of spring. The highs are in the 60's and the winter coats are hanging on the hooks. I don't mind a bit!

Valentine's Day 2011

Pulling off the china, crystal, and silver was a bit harder this year as Valentine's Day fell on a Monday night.

The menu was very simple. The table was set and ready before I went to YoLo's. The boys liked coming home to something fancy.

After swim practice and time outdoors, the boys were ready to eat. They asked if they needed to change and we said no.

As in years past, a little something was hiding on their chairs. This year it was not "boring" book. Pumpkin got a new swim brief and Peanut got new tennis shoes. He really needed some running shoes. So, the gift was pretty practical.

While in Knoxville, Peanut and the Big Guy made some brownies using the heart-shaped pan. We added a dollop of Starbucks ice cream to 'em. Yummy!

The meal was great. We polished off our bottle of wine and I did not get a headache:) The Big Guy and I did the dishes. The boys ran upstairs to watch Cape. I watched some of the Westiminster dog show.

We are so grateful that we got to enjoy the evening with our Loved Family!



As a side note, I investigated completing our flatware. We have 12 of everything else but the Silver. Wow! Who knew the price of things. A 4pc place setting has really gone up! If I desire to complete it, I am going to have to do it one fork at a time.