Simple Sundays

Let's Make A Deal!

Let me just say that there can't be 

too many things

more exciting

than welcoming

Baby Princess Lucas

into the world in the middle of March.

And have we ever been preparing!

The after-Christmas sales were 

wonderful......for first time grandparents,

first time aunts and first time uncles.

Between all of us, before we knew it,

we had accumulated quite a 

stash for the sweet baby.

Even though because of the sales,

I had not spent a tremendous amount,

I was beginning to feel a little bit guilty

at all the cute new outfits and other items

that would be waiting for Sweet Baby.

I kept that "guilty feeling" to myself.

I didn't want anyone misinterpreting it.

But THANK GOODNESS for children....

no matter HOW old they are.

One of my children came to me with the stack on the right

in the above picture.

Oh, this same child had added plenty to

Sweet Baby's pile, 

but the pile on the right was special too.

She decided to also buy

for a women's shelter 

she knew about through her work.

I told her I had begun to feel guilty

myself

at the fact 

Sweet Baby Lucas is coming into a world

where love has no limits.

Her every move will be cooed over.

Her every milestone documented by many.

What a wonderful world for her!

Then reality hits home and we realize

it is not even close to that for so many children.

So my giving child bought a whole 

sack full of goodies

for a child

that will not

know the same love.

I know I have shared on here before

about how 

compassionate

my children are.

(And they truly are!)

They would bring home

every stray animal,

every down and out person,

every sad child,

if there were any way possible.

They show their kindnesses

over and over

to people.

Sometimes it is done 

with the recipient knowing,

other times it is done anonymously.

All times

it is done out of love.

So we made a little deal

in our family.

Each time we buy something for

Sweet Baby Lucas,

we must also come home with something

for some other 

sweet baby

that will never know us.

We 

have made it our mission.

We 

have made it a ministry.

We 

have already begun.

Anyone else want to get on board?

Friday Night Date With the Diva

I love Friday nights. I love them to the tips of my toes. I love them as much as I love sunshine.

I love ballgame Friday nights...

and non-ballgame Friday nights.

I love Friday nights when I can just be lazy.

And lazy is just what I am on this Friday night.

I have absolutely nothing to write about.

So I will just show you pictures....

and continue my lazy ways!

Remember this little Dumpster Diva?

Well here she is in her winter-wear.

I used my turquoise plates again.

They were just sitting there...

and I like winter-white and turquoise together.

Love the galvanized snowflakes that are

left-over from my cold Kansas winters decor.

Don't let Diva's winter-wear fool you.

We are still sporting 50's, 60's and low 70's here.

Even this warm-weather-lover knows 

we need some kind of

moisture.

I would prefer the non-snow kind,

but at this point we will take 

whatever we can get.

And in the meantime

Miss Diva 

will continue thinking

she looks 

pretty cute!

Yes, those are some of my birthday presents in the background. Oh well!

I'll go to bed 

and refresh my energy levels

and be ready to go

again tomorrow morning!

Have a very good weekend yourself....

Seeing Double

There are MANY great reasons to have five children. Among those reasons would be when Mama has a birthday.

(That Mama would be me!)

Not only that, it seems like they made sure to get 

me double---or more--

of each present.

A set of giant plaid pillows

bought (proudly) on clearance at Target.

We have a plaid bedroom upstairs

where they can stay out all year.

Right now they look cute on

my sofa in the computer room.

Then not one, but two

complete seasons of 

Modern Family.

I do not watch much TV other 

than Food Network and college football,

but I never, ever, ever,

miss an episode of 

Modern Family.

I have already watched on complete DVD

and plan on watching them over and over.

Another pillow twosome.

This one the oh-so-popular

script pillows.

Love them!

They have already been in

a couple of different rooms!

I was also 

sweetly given

two new CD's.

Adele and Toby Keith.

What a twosome!

Both are great CD's.

I put them on and listened 

as I cleaned the house last weekend.

And finally,

another set of Christmas plates.

(Giant eye roll from the Hubby)

But, as was pointed out to me....

I did NOT have any 

square

Christmas plates.

Ah ha!!

Not only that(!!) but,

I got EIGHT of them.

Dinner size.

And (again proudly) they were only $3 

a piece....

down from the regular

price of

$16.oo a piece!

They are Food Network plates too.

What a super great deal.

Those are just a few of the reasons

I had such a

great birthday

with my family!

Smothered Steak

It might be hard to tell from this picture,

but this is one of the most

delicious meals

you can make.

Not only that,

it is ULTRA easy to make.

You begin with

what we call (in Oklahoma)

"round steak".

It is like an upgrade to a 

cube steak (which would also work),

or a tenderized sirloin.

Maybe even a tenderized flank 

would work.

Simply cut it into individual portions.

Dredge it in flour.

Melt enough Crisco to cover the bottom

of your skillet.

When the Crisco is melted,

put your steak in to lightly brown.

You can see from the picture above

that I pile it in the skillet.

I take it out of the skillet when it is 

only lightly browned on each side.

As you can see in the picture above....and yes 

I realize it is not a very appetizing picture,

but just hang with me!

I usually have at least two or three

skillets full to brown.

I just pile the semi-browned steak

on a plate

until I have it all browned.

Then.....

I pile all the steak I am cooking 

into the skillet

I just used to brown the meat.

(By this time there should be no Crisco left).

I will have at two layers

(or a little more)

of meat.

Before I put on the second layer of meat,

I spice the meat up.

Personally I use pepper, garlic salt and onion salt.

I also put one can of Cream of Mushroom

on top of the first layer.

I then put on the second layer of meat

and do the exact same thing.

Then the last step is to add

a soup can full (or even a little more)

of milk.

OR you can use water and get the same results. 

Really.

Put it on a burner at medium heat.

Cover it (as in the picture above this),

and let it slowly cook.

Make sure it does not do a slow burn.

Watch the bottom layer.

You might have to move it around.

I have even turned it over on occasion.

You know your own stove.

Just watch it to make sure it does not burn.

It should begin to look like the picture above

as it makes its own gravy.

Depending on your stove 

and the amount of meat you are cooking,

it should take from 35-45 minutes.

If you have cooked it slowly,

you honestly do not even need a knife.

I realize that it does not look 

very appetizing in the pictures,

but I promise it is delicious.

My family loves it with mashed potatoes,

as it makes such a good rich gravy.

Not only that, but you can prepare

the steak exactly as described,

and put it in the oven to bake

with the same results.

Watch your steak in the oven as well

and make sure you do not run out of liquid 

and burn it!

And, just to cover every single base....

yes, you can prepare it just as described

but put it in a crock pot.

No matter which way you cook it

the results are the same. 

Delicious.

I am linking this to Designs by Gollum.