Quick getaway Memorial Weekend

We went to Monticello this past weekend.
If you can believe it, it was John's idea.
I was totally shocked.
Normally he avoids small towns like the plague.
But we went, and had a great time.

Though, I will say that John's enjoyment levels sunk when we ventured down to Bluff, Utah.
It was a horribly windy day,
and the town is surrounded by rock walls -
making it so that we were in a bowl being continually beaten by dust.

The kids of course didn't seem to mind,

as they were too pre-occupied with fighting over who's turn it was to "drive" the tractor
to notice.

And then we came home,
ate at Cafe Rio on the way back into the valley,
and were happy to be in our own beds,
and away from the crazy, dusty, wind.

A woman possessed by hunger

After two days of strenuous workouts,
I was starving.
I mean like to the bone starving.

While thinking of what I wanted to consume in order to fill the void growing increasingly larger in my stomach,
only one thing came to mind:
Macaroni & Cheese pizza.

I've never heard of one before,
but I was a woman possessed with the idea of it.

Carbs. . . Cheese . . . pizza topped by macaroni and cheese and baked to absolute perfection.

It made perfect sense,
So, I went home and made one,
complete with homemade mac & cheese,
and a garlic butter spread,
and you know what -
SUCCESS!
It was seriously amazing.

And I wasn't the only one completely delighting in the taste of it.
Just had to say it to give some street cred to this wonderful surprise.

Dinner, however was not so successful.
In making pancakes,
something went a-muck.
Instead of ending up with beautiful, fluffy, pancakes,
I ended up with these:

Buttock resembling. . . things.
luckily it was only the first two,
the rest turned out perfect.

But despite perfect pancakes,  I consider my Mac & Cheese pizza one of my great lifetime achievements.

Juice Box Hero

Its finally hit me,
this comrade of mine just isn't going anywhere.

Everywhere and anywhere I go,
all day long,
there she is,
like an inescapable shadow.

If she's always going to be tailing me,
she's at least going to look good.

Especially while sipping a juice box.
Yes, that is the most important moment to be looking good.

A picnic in the park with a new Baby

There's nothing better than a picnic in the park
with Kneaders and Whitney.

Whitney has a new baby.

His name is Rees.

I don't know what it is,
but I happen to be of the opinion, that
babies are SO MUCH better when they aren't your own.

Rees is so sweet. I snuggled him for hours while
Whitney and I gabbed
and my chilluns roamed free.
It was such a great day.

Birthday Recap

Yes, yes,yes, its the day of my birth.

26 years I've been on the planet so far, 

and really it hasn't been so bad.

Today I've been baking up a storm.

I guess I feel jilted by the fact I didn't get any pie while in Mississippi.

Its cruel actually.

We looked everywhere, and not a single place had any pie.

SO, since it is MY birthday, I'm having pie dang it. 

Sweet Potato and Pecan to be exact.

And, I'm sorely tempted to throw in a chocolate chiffon as well.

Seeing as how I have yet to report on my recent trip of a lifetime,

I thought it was perfectly appropriate day to share.

Last month I went with my Dad and dear Grand-mama to Corinth, Mississippi.

Its where my grandfather hailed from.

We even still have the old family farm.

It is beautiful there.

Really, really, really beautiful. 

I was instantly in love with the place - ticks and all.

This is an old house my dad affectionately calls, "The Cat House."

I guess some really, really wealthy woman left her beautiful granite mansion to her cats.

The last cat just died and its finally on the market.

Seriously, I wish I could talk to you about the details of this place - a mosaic patio for Pete's sake -

suffice it to say, it could make a girl who's into old homes very, very happy.

All that's needed is a couple hundred thou to buy the place and restore the damage from the years of neglect while the cats inhabited it.

In my dreams.

No trip to the near vicinity of Memphis could ever be complete without my first visit to my Second Great Love's (the first was my dad) house and grave - Graceland of Elvis Presley.

I don't think we could have gone on a better day. It was perfect, perfect weather. 

After we had meandered around "The King's" greatness, we were starving. 

The locals recommended we go to the best bbq place I've ever eaten in my life - ever. 

Interstate Barbecue. . . I'm still fantasizing about it. . . Its reason enough to go back.

If you happen to be in Memphis, go to Interstate BBQ immediately! 

 BBQ'd Spaghetti - my new favorite side dish. 

 Corinth happens to have this really cute old fashioned soda fountain.

Like where they make their sodas from scratch and stuff. 

My grandma was in heaven, "Oh, I haven't had a decent Coke like this in years!"

We couldn't tear her away from the place. 

 Personally, I thought the sodas were crap.

But Corinth has this other wonderful thing, which can only be found there,

called a "Slug Burger".

Now, before you gasp and gag,

its not what you think.

Though I had the same disgusted reaction myself. 

Anyway, a slug burger is made with ground pork, soy flour, and spices, and is absolutely Delicious!

 After three days away, we regrettably came home.

Not that we weren't happy to be back,

just that it was hard to leave a place where we were having such a good time.

John missed me,

I came home to bounteous gifts and hugs from everyone. 

I'm a lucky girl, and I look forward, anxiously, to going back some day soon.