Injury, red mountains and Indian Fry bread. It's a saturday.

Today was such a gorgeous day we decided to take a trip up to the mountains for the day. I may complain a bunch about where I live and how I hate the desert and all that, but I love the close proximity to the mountains and trees and such. I like to make the most of our area so this is why we sometimes make a spur of the moment choice to pack up and go. Like today.

Originally we were going to go fishing, but because it was 'free fishing day' through out the state we decided to forgo the headache that is 'free fishing day' ( after all the hubby only needs to buy a $15 license for us to fish all year its not gonna kill us) and take a day drive.

Everything started out fine, we got up to battle ship rock got our stuff out and started having a picnic. First  one of the twins didn't feel good, she had a fever. Luckily I'm like a boy scout, always prepared, I have some tylenol ( grape flavored, that she hates, but oh well). 

The hubby, video game junkie, and stitch had already eaten ( if you count stitch slamming back lays chips and cheeto's puffs eating, which she does). Video game junkie is itching to go to the little stream, I offer to stay behind with the sick twin. ( just before anyone starts counting up peeps and see we are short a few, Teenage drama queen is on a trip and the other twin is at his mom's for the weekend so it was just us 5. it felt weird lol) 

I got bored so I snapped some pictures.

Stitch and the hubby headed down to the water

The twin crashed out on the bench

Battleship rock

The table next to us. Someone I guess decided to try and light it on fire.. I have no clue. It looked interesting so I took the picture.

I loved the way this stump looked I wanted to dig it out of the ground and bring it home.

Looks like some animals clawed this one on the side. *looks around nervously for bears*

Well that was a bust of a picture.

She always wears crazy socks..

We're eagles fans can't you tell.

I guess some smart person decided to leave charcoal ash next to some bushes. Yeah that was smart. thankfully they were dead cold.

Stitch in her element. a giant bathtub.

Everything was going great, the twin woke up and was feeling better ( tylenol had kicked in) so we all head down to the stream. Then injury struck. Me.  I biffed it on a rock. It was sad and my legs still hurt. Don't worry I have pictures. 

Because I have kids I'm always prepared. With princess band aids and scooby do ones. 

my camera biffed it too a little bit. mostly just dirt, but I almost panicked to think I had broken it. It was fine btw just dusty.

After my fall we left, everyone was tired and cranky and while I was tending to my wounds Stitch had fallen in the water as did Video game junkie. The spell had been broken. 

But wait there's more pictures....

The hubby couldn't resist the road side stand by the Red Mountains of Jemez and bought some Indian Fry bread and a loaf of Indian bread. Just itching for some taco fixin's isn't it??

on our way home

These are on one side of road, I couldn't get a good pic of the other side.

I love how red the dirt/clay is. The legend is that the clay/sand is red because the spanish threw the Jemez Indians off the cliffs, so their spirit is always in the sand. 

this was on the way up. For some reason my phone didn't get how red the mountains were. I love instagram for that reason.

Sorry for the intensely photo heavy post. I had to make a lot of cuts, because trust I wanted to just load this sucker up. So be thankful I held back. LOL.

How was your first saturday of June? Injury free I hope.

Blogging soundtrack: Adele 21

Summer...ish.

I'm tired. And I really need my flowers to start blooming so I can feel happy and have fresh cut flowers to put in my vases. I have one. Yes 1 flower blooming in my fairy meadow/grandma's cutting garden pot. ONE!!!! ugh its gonna be a long summer. I'm short on words today so on to the pictures.

 My one lone bloom....

 Just a close up. BECAUSE I CAN!!!

 See how sad the one bloom is in that big ole container. Sigh.

 I'm planting these in another container that housed my dead honeysuckle plant. 

Cilantro just kinda magically sprouted up here. Its only sad looking because I watered it, but its doing quite well and seeding already.  

 See. seeded.

Say that 5 times fast.

Blogging soundtrack: Tangled the movie. Again. =/

Adventures in canning.

Let me preface this by saying I don't can, ( or is it cann? see how little i know). I have never canned in my life.  So I figured tonight was the perfect night to try it.

This all started with a search for BBQ sauce recipes. And a quick trip to Jamie Oliver's epic bbq sauce recipe . He mentions at the bottom about essentially canning the remaining bbq sauce so it can keep. Whaaaa??  

Why have I never thought of this before... oh wait because I have never canned anything in my life.

The directions are fairly simple. Sterilize your jars and lids in boiling water for 10 min, fill your jar with sauce, close lid tightly, put back in boiling water for 10 min, let cool and bam homemade bbq sauce that will keep for 6 months.. hmmmm I could do this.

Since we all know I enjoy sharing through pictures, you won't be surprised there are pictures for this YAY!!!!

Ok sorry i have too much time on my hands finding these gif's. I apologize. kinda.

Alright here it goes. Canning my homemade bbq sauce for the first time ( and hopefully not the last time)

Step 1. Pick a good sized pot that will hold water AND cover a can fully. fill with water, set to boil.

Step 2. realize that it takes forever for water to boil, decide to make Fun in da middle cupcakes while you wait

Step 2b. water has reached boil, place jar, and lids in pot. Wait 10 min.

During your wait you can do many things, get a mini facial with all the steam coming off the pot, clean your dishes from your cupcake mess, eat leftover pizza from dinner. Lots of things to do during your wait.

Step 3. when your timer beeps take out your jars and lid pieces and place on a towel gather your canning items and start filling your jar(s)

Step 4. once your jar is filled close the lid tightly. I'm talking baby huey tight. At this point I was cursing that the baby had started to wake up and the hubby had to go in the room because I really really needed him to close the lid to this jar. Luckily he came out before too long and he baby huey'd that sucker closed.

Step 5. place jar back in boiling water and wait 10 min. During this time you can check on the cupcakes you made earlier.

mmm cupcakes. 

oh wait... here's the jar of sauce in water. ( i know exciting)

Step 6. take out the jar of sauce after 10 min and put back on towel to cool. Very important to allow the jar to cool before you put it in say your fridge. Last thing you want is an exploding jar of bbq sauce to clean up later. I'd put a picture up but it be the exact same picture of after I filled and closed the jar. Instead enjoy this gif of Ken modeling from Toy story 3

* wipes tear from eye* makes me laugh every time. lol

So now you know how to can your own bbq sauce. I 'spose I should put my base bbq recipe so you can get started.

BBQ sauce base

Ketchup 

Tomato paste

Liquid smoke

Worcestershire sauce ( for the record I had to google that because I STILL cannot spell it)

brown sugar

garlic powder

onion powder 

salt, pepper

dijon mustard

Ok notice I didn't put any measurements. This is because I suck. Ok no really its all about taste. So you if you want a more tomatoey taste you can use more ketchup and more tomato paste. If you like it sweeter try dark molasses and honey ( this makes a super awesome caramelized look on your meat when you grill) I usually start off with 1/4 cup of ketchup a small can of paste, 1/4 cup brown sugar and then just start piling on the other things. You can always omit the brown sugar if you want add Sriracha or chili paste if you want a spicy kick to it. Mix it up taste it, add something, taste it some more. You'll find what you like.  

Just in case you've been living under a rock this is Sriracha aka Rooster sauce

and this is chili paste

(just FYI not my pictures. I'm far to lazy to take any more pics right now. They are from a google search. much easier lol.)

Go forth and make your own bbq sauce you'll never want to buy pre made again!!!!

As a closing picture. my cupcakes are done. mmmm cupcakes.

Blogging soundtrack: Channel 7 news. 

How my garden grows

This year I'm starting off late... And I managed to kill some things along the way ( no surprise there). This year however I decided to not plant in ground. Only in pots, which limited what I would plant. I made a decision ( a horrible decision) to not plant tomatoes except for these jubilee seeds I had laying around from last year, that didn't make it either. In all honesty it really started because one of the twins brought home a cabbage plant from Bonnie's 3rd grade project..... 

Lemme just rant about this for a moment. Both my third graders brought this home this year the boy twin brought his home first ( because he goes to a different school). I planted it for him and watered it because lets be honest what 3rd grader has the interest to deal with a plant that takes forever to grow??? Anyway. The premise of this project is they give 3rd graders a cabbage plant, they grow it, take a pic, the teacher submits the class winner and then they get put into a running to win $1000 scholarship. Sounds easy right.... Except cabbage does best in fall, winter and early ( read cold) spring. Other wise it bolts and bye bye cabbage plant. So now I have 2 cabbage plants that are growing at the speed of drying paint. But what bugs me is they wait till its HOT to give these kids these plants. This sucker isn't gonna make it outside, it has to be inside, which means I have to find a big enough pot x2, and a place that Stitch ( aka the baby) won't decide its a sand box. Ugh. and did I mention I'm still the only one who cares about these plants.... /rant

I sort thru my seeds and decide that this year I want to mainly focus on herbs, since I'm only planting in pots. I get this super cute little green house and get busy planting. ( ftr my mother in law started a garden at her house, which is nice because she has like nearly a 1/4 acre of land to work with.. I'm so jelly, I gave her the rest of my seeds) 

I forgot to label, which was problem #1, then one set of seeds didn't sprout anything. *sad face* But I don't know what it was because I DIDN'T LABEL!!!!! anyway. I start trying to harden my plants off so I can get my pots out of my kitchen window... along with the gnats that popped out of nowhere. grrrr.

The wind decides to whip back up.... * waves goodbye to seedlings*  My dill died out, and I lost 2 mystery plants, and my chives look sad and pathetic.  So much for a lovely herb garden. My cilantro is looking rather pathetic as well.  I just don't think I'm cut out for lots of seed starting, at least with food.

With these set backs I get a bug that I really should get tomatoes. Off to the store I go. I get 3 plants and a topsy turvy because I just. can't. help. myself. I get Black Heirlooms ( which are a gorgeous dark purple tomato) cherry tomatoes because I love those, and an early girl for the topsy turvy. Then I may have also bought some sweet basil because it smelled amazing. 

Now its time for some pictures... 

These are my cutting garden flowers/fairy meadow flowers. As you can see the mystery plant next to it has died. thank you wind.

my 2 new tomato plants, sweet basil ( in the red container) and I believe that is lupin in the small container.

The topsy turvy I couldn't resist getting. I should have bought the larger hook but The husband said nah that one will be fine... riiiiight sure it will. Back to lowes tomorrow.

Mystery plants. Could be lavender, could be tarragon, who knows. Its a mystery.

Not pictured apple mint (now planted in) this adorable Donkey lawn ornament.. Isn't he adorable???

My cilantro, zinnias and ONE chinese lantern are also doing meh ok. I'm still pissed I only managed to get one chinese lantern plant to sprout. what a rip off.

To be continued....

Flower gleam and glow, Let your powers shine....

If I hear this song one more time I'm going to explode.

Ok so that doesn't really rhyme, but its pretty much my exact sentiment. Right now bebe is addicted to Tangled. As in its the one movie that calms her down when she's acting crazy. She watches it so much I could probably recite dialogue in my sleep. Who am I kidding I'm pretty sure I do recite the dialogue in my sleep.

This post has absolutely no point other than I need to complain that at some point today I will watch Tangled at least 3x. If not more.

Carry on

Blogging soundtrack: Tangled

I'm a slacker

I admit this freely as I see my last blog post was in November.

*hangs head in deep shame*

I always have super grand hopes of blogging regularly and actually keeping up with it... But alas real life seems to sneak in and my fantasy life, i.e. this blog, falls to the wayside.

I won't bore you with all the apologies and the what I have been doing since ( we all know, sitting around watching reality tv and Tangled 50 bajillion times). I'll just jump right in like I never left you hanging, its the least I could do.

Its what April something or other... I'm sitting here waiting for my nails to 'dry' as in I can go to bed without waking up with sheet creases on my nails. Lots of things happening soon. I'm making my confirmation ( we won't talk about why I'm doing it now in my 30's * sighs thru pursed lips*) and the kids make their first holy communion at the end of May. This means partay happening. Which also leads me to my next project.

My cousin ( who I don't actually talk to a whole lot) had these adorable rosaries at her baby's baptism.

Cute huh? And it smells like roses.... Of course a futile attempt at finding these online ensued, followed by a frantic text to another cousin asking her to please ask first cousin where she got these super cute rosaries.... Days later I find out what I already knew in my heart.. handmade from a friend of a friends best sister, brother's girlfriend's mother... Ok not that crazy, but it might as well be. Hell they might as well be made in Juarez that is how unattainable me buying these rosaries are.

I decide that I can no doubt make these. I probably only need like 30 rosaries. No problem right? I head out to Hobby Lobby pick up some clay to test with and see how my skillz are. Here is my test cross, rose and leaves...

In relation to the other cross

At this point I realize I need gloves and learn to make my leaves and rosette smaller for the cross.

Then I decide to actually write out what all I need to make..... A basic rosary has 55 regular 'beads' if you will ( hail mary's) and 5 our fathers. Ok cool.... lemme just type that into my calcu.... whoa whoa whoa... That can't be right?? but alas it is. For 30 rosaries I need to make 1,650 Hail Mary beads. say wha?? plus 150 Our Fathers.. *faints* not to mention the mini roses and leaves and crosses. *starts to cry silent tears*

Yes you read that write I need to make nearly 1,900 clay pieces.... Not including, baking and glossing and shimmering these pieces.... W.T.F was I thinking??? Clearly I wasn't. Maybe taking a trip to Juarez wasn't that big of a deal right??

Ok not an option, but what can I do I want these as party favors for this communion party. This means I need to suck it up and make the friggen rosettes.

To be continued....

its been awhile

this is my fault. I kept meaning to update everyone and write every few days. Ahh good intentions. Then Thanksgiving hit. Then I lost my internet at home. Have you ever been without internet? Its pretty much as if my life no longer has meaning.. Ok that's a bit dramatic, however I am alternating between this

and this

Then I realized it had only been a few days since I was unable to access internet at home. *hangs head in shame* I still have my phone but its not the same. le sigh. Soon enough though I will be *hopefully* able to catch everyone up.

Hugs and kisses

~me