My version of a freak accident.....here we go

I hate to wear socks or shoes which means that I prefer walking around barefoot most of the time. Why, you may ask?  Well, it's because my feet get hot.

It can be a hazard to not wear shoes and while we're at it, let's just say that I am an accident looking for a place to happen. 

Here is my story:  
I was cooking my breakfast of Egg Beaters and Canadian Bacon and was in the process of transferring it to my plate when a piece of the Canadian Bacon fell to the floor and landed on top of my foot.  It was hot!  Really hot!  I still had the skillet and spatula in my hands.  I tried to flick the bacon off of my foot, but it just stuck to it and kept burning.  I finally dropped the skillet and got the bacon off, but not before I burnt the heck out of the top of my foot.  Son-of-a-$#@!   

At least it was sugar-free bacon

I have been bandaging it and treating it for more than a week now.  It is finally starting to heal, but it has really put a crimp in my style.  I could only wear one pair of shoes and walking long distances caused PAIN.

 I am on the alert for any type of pain these days as it seems to crop up everywhere in my body.  

What the heck is with that?  

If you have the same issues, I recommend either wine or ibuprofen or both.  If that doesn't work, move on up to Jim Beam.

I am thinking that there should have been a warning on the package of Canadian Bacon.

Euchre anyone?

I am just like everyone else who is getting ready for the Thanksgiving Day dinner.  I am busy planning menus, shopping, cleaning house, decorating, etc.  

Retired Mountain Man and I are so excited to see all of our kids and grandchildren this next week.  We are looking forward to  listening to Dylan play the guitar, watching Ben be his latest superhero, enjoying Rylee's artistic creations for the dinner table, and hearing about how Collin destroyed his opponent in his favorite video game.  

My traditional centerpiece thanks to Mandolin Ann!

Last year JP taught us all how to play Euchre.  The rest of the family has never forgiven him for it.

Here's a little refresher course about how trump works.  

The Jack of the trump suit, called the right bower, is the highest card in the deck. The Jack of the same color suit is called the left bower and is the second highest card in the deck. After the right and left bower, the next highest ranking cards are the remaining cards of the trump suit (A, K, Q, 10, 9). For example, if spades are selected as trump, the Jack of spades (right bower) is the highest card followed by the Jack of clubs (left bower). The next highest are all of the remaining spades (A, K, Q, 10, 9).  I will explain how to declare trump in the next step.

If no trump cards are played, the highest card for the hand is the highest card of the suit led, and the rest of the cards are ranked in order.  For example, if spades are selected as trump, no one lays spades, and diamonds are led, the Ace of diamonds is the highest card followed by the K, Q, J, 10, and 9 of diamonds.

NOTE:  The left bower is considered to be the same suit as the trump suit.  For example, if hearts are trump and Player 1 leads with the Jack of diamonds (the left bower), this is considered a heart and anyone that has a heart must follow suit and play it.

Please take the time to look at the four pictures below to better understand the ranking of trump cards.  Do not worry if this seems somewhat confusing at first-- you will catch on!

Mind boggling isn't it? 

Global warming in Hope.

My new addiction.

What!  Another addiction?

In the past I had never understood how anyone could get addicted to coffee.  For several years we had Starbucks Coffee at work and I didn't think it tasted any better than Folgers.

Fast Forward seven years later.....

It hasn't been the same for me since the Ice Age Floods Field Trip last September.  They provided Evans Brothers Coffee on the field trip.  It tasted so good and here I am with my latest addiction.

Yes, it's really good.

It's expensive.

 I can't stop buying it.

I don't do latte's or anything like that.  I just want Evans Brothers coffee with a little cream.  Every morning.

I saw this quote on a Facebook share from Erin (SomeeCards) and it is definitely me.

There is no life without water, because without water, there is no coffee.  And without coffee, (Evans Brothers Coffee, that is), I'll kill you all.  

  

In honor of National Pomegranate Month....

At out band practice last night, our Little Drummer Girl, Julie, brought all of the ingredients for this cocktail.   We thoroughly enjoyed it although it was fortunate that we drank it after we practiced, as the alcohol content seemed very high.  The recipe might have called for a little more alcohol than necessary.

Pomegranate Cosmopolitan

Note: To make this as an individual cocktail, divide the quantities by 6 and chill in a cocktail shaker, strain, and pour.

EASE OF PREPARATION: A snap

Makes 6 cocktails

POMEGRANATE COSMOS

2/3 cup cup pomegranate (or cranberry) juice

16 ounces (2 cups) premium organic vodka, like Washington’s Dry Fly

4 ounces fresh lime juice

4 ounces Cointreau liqueur

GARNISH

Lime wheels,pomegranate seeds and/or raspberries

Pour the pomegranate juice into an ice cube tray and freeze.

Combine the vodka, lime juice, and Cointreau in a large bowl. Add 2 to 3 cups of ice and stir briefly to chill (5 to 10 seconds). Strain into a pretty, clear pitcher. Chill for at least half an hour. Chill 6 martini glasses.

TO SERVE

If you are going to serve everyone immediately, put 1 or 2 pomegranate ice cubes in the bottom of each glass and pour the vodka blend over it. If you want this to sit out on the buffet for a few minutes, add the pomegranate cubes to the pitcher and allow guests to serve themselves in the chilled, garnished glasses. 

Garnish each glass with a wheel of sliced lime, pomegranate seeds or raspberries.

They were delicious and beautiful!

We (all of the gals) enjoyed a lively conversation about which actor was the most  good looking, attractive, sexy, etc...
Robert Redford, ( Navy whites in the Way We Were), George Clooney, Gary Cooper, Tom Cruise......(nah, not Tom Cruise).