Monday, November 30, 2015

Monday, November 30, 2015

Monday, November 30, 2015


What the Beck???

Happy Birthday to my brother-in-law,
 Greg Lehman!

This is one of my favorite pictures of Greg with his daughter, Maddie, on her wedding day. 
I hope today is a great birthday, Greg.
You'll always be younger than I am.  Darn it!


My Microwave Died!!!  Drat!!

 During our power outages my 17 year old 
microwave ceased to heat, 
so I went to Sears and bought this new beautiful model.  
November has been an expensive month, 
partially due to my travel to Kentucky expenses
showing up on my credit card. 
Oh well, I love my new micro and my Kentucky trips.

Fun in the Snow
 I love to watch the Serpico kids shoveling.
For some reason the blurriness looks good.

 They are so good at posing for my pictures.
They always smile and never look annoyed 
with their crazy neighbor.

More winter photos...

 Sage looks annoyed at me again.

 I was driving out on Campton Hills Road in St. Charles,
 and had to take a photo of the snow-covered trees.
I love snow!!!

They are beautiful!

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Saturday, November 28, 2015


What the Beck???

Recipe Review
Today’s Recipe and Location: Pumpkin Sheet Cake
Found in: The Pioneer Woman blog


I figured out that there are 437 calories, if 18 servings are made OR 393 calories if 20 servings are made. . (Please note that the calorie counts vary depending on the specific brands of ingredients that you choose to use.)


         This is a wonderful recipe. The bars are thin and lightly frosted so they are not TOO MUCH.  Some bars that I have had have so much frosting and are so thick that it is overkill. Ree’s recipe is simple to make and exactly what I wanted – just a little bit of sweet to end the wonderful filling Thanksgiving dinner.


Here are the ingredients that  I used in this recipe.


I began by heating and mixing the butter, pumpkin and spices


The liquids were mixed and then set aside. 
I went on to combine the dry ingredients, 
and then mixed them all together,
including the pumpkin mixture.

I spread the mixture in a sprayed sheet pan.

Now, to make the frosting


The cake after it was baked


Mix the ingredients together

Use a spatula to put the frosting on the cake


I used an offset spatula to spread the frosting.
Ready to eat. 

Friday, November 27, 2015

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Thursday, November 26, 2015

What the Beck???

Happy Thanksgiving
I am so blessed to spend the holidays with the Dowd family. We always have a relaxed holiday filled with laughter and amazing food!


 Meghann Dowd 
Meggie is the sweetest!

 James Dowd
Quiet but funny - he named this blog

 Meggie and James 
mugging for the camera

 Donna, best friend and premier hostess

 The Colonel, Bill Dowd
To his left if Hudson, a very black dog
Creepy eyes here

 What is with my eyes???

 Donna always sets a beautiful table


 The Spread


 I love this stuffing!

The Dowds have three dogs:
Hudson the disappearing dog with the Colonel,
and Hallie (L) and Indy (r).
I love them all!






Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

What the Beck???


Blog Food Shopping 

 When I was shopping at Walmart, I thought I 
would pose with a sign that described me.  I was 
shopping and felt like a "holiday nut!"
The clerk who took the photo thought taking 
this was pretty funny. Why???


Let it Snow!


The first snow storm 
Sorry Sage - I know you wanted privacy 


I love the trees during a storm. 
They are so pretty. 
Notice the stake holding up the fence is working,
Yeah!


Poor Sage looked upset.


The Quote of the Day:
"Spread love everywhere you go...let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier."
                                                                                 Mother Theresa

Monday, November 23, 2015

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Sunday, November 22, 2015

What the Beck???

Recipe Review
Today’s Recipe and Location: Ginger Steak Salad
Found in: The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime
Pages: 36 - 37   Copyright:  2015 Harper Collins

                  Sirloin Steak       Strip Steak           Rib-Eye Steak
2 servings         744 calories          601 calories          799 calories
3 servings         496 calories        401 calories          533 calories
4 servings         372 calories        301 calories          400 calories

(Please note that the calorie counts vary depending on the specific brands of ingredients that you choose to use.)

    This marinade was so flavorful!  I love any type of steak, and I used sirloin when I tried this wonderful recipe. If you are a steak lover then this is the salad for you, If you make 4 servings the calories are not outrageous.


 The ingredients I used to make this fab salad

 The meat must be marinated 
the day before, or earlier in the same 
day. I did it overnight.
Here is the marinade. 


Both pictures are awful but this is how I marinated it. 

 This one shows the garlic and fresh 
ginger better than the other one. 


First, I prepared the grill pan with a 
little olive oil.  I love this pan.

 Just look at that wonderful sirloin steak!


 Just look at those amazing grill lines. 
Who needs a real grill?

 Of course I used iceberg lettuce - no 
dark green for this girl.


The final product
You should make this one!

 My fence broke due to high winds
The green post is what I bought at Home Depot
to fix the fence.


 I hammered the green post in to the 
ground (about two to three feet)

 Here they are just next to the fence, 
but pounded way into the ground.


 My neighbor, Vlad, came home and brought out 
a mallet to do the final hit or two. 
Why don't I own a mallet?

A ladder help, too.
Vlad drilled two holes around each post,
 and tied to green post to the fence.
It was very stable, but it also added a 
stake in my yard to prevent the wind 
from pulling against what we did.  Now, 
just have to wait for the fence 
company to replace the post. 

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Friday, November 20, 2015

Friday, November 20, 2015

What the Beck???


Today was my Dad's birthday
     My Dad was a very special man. He was always smiling and happy and brought great joy to everyone who knew him. I miss him so much!  

Dad in the Korean war years.

A thoughtful Dad - or was he evaluating 
which club to use on the golf course?

Quote of the Day

"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you."

Anne Lamott, in Salon (April 10, 2015
Real Simple (August 2015)

Dick Van Patten Died

I was sad to hear that the Dad on Eight is Enough passed away. He was one of those characters that stuck in my mind. He had diabetes complications.  Another blast from my past that is over.  It stinks to get old.

Did you know...
   that dryer sheets were invented in the 1960's.  I use them faithfully and was wondering when they were invented.  How do these people figure out and invent these new items?  Why don't I invent anything???