I can always use a little laugh...

I can always use a little laugh to give me a boost. Thought maybe I'd share some thoughts that make me laugh.

* I think part of a best friends job should be to clean out your closet and clear your computer history when you die.

* Map Quest really needs to start the directions at #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my own neighborhood.

* Bad decisions make good stories.

* Can we just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to restart my collection... again.

* "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means: I will never wash this - ever.

* I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Dammit!) but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

* I keep peoples phone numbers in my phone so I know not to answer when they call.

* I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

* I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I bet on any giving Friday or Saturday night begin with Bud Light than with Kay.

* Sometimes, I'll watch a movie I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no clue what the heck was going on.

* I would rather try to carry 10 oversized grocery bags in than take 2 trips. 

* I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

* How many times is it appropriate to say "what?" before you just nod and smile because you didn't hear or understand a word they said?

* There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you're going to die after you realize you tipped you chair just a little too far back.

* Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a purse or pocket, finding their cell phone, and pinning the tail on the donkey, but I'd bet my ass everyone can push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 second, eyes closed, first time, every time.

Smile. :)

- From a post on pinterst:)

mmm, mmm... food!

I'm in love with these cookbooks. I got one as a gift from my Aunt Carolyn and scored the other one at Barnes and Noble for like 90% off. I'm still trying a bunch of new things and most of them are all successful and delicious meals. 

One of our favorites is the Roast Pork Tenderloin w/ Black Cherry Sauce. It's A-mazing! I've made it a couple times and my sister requests it when she's over. ;)

I know fruit and meat scare some people. It shouldn't. And some people just don't like it. I don't understand them at all. This is some dang good stuff!

2 trimmed pork tenderloin (about 1-1.5 lbs each)

salt to taste

1/4 cup coarsely ground black pepper

2 tbsp vegetable oil

1-2 gloves garlic, crushed

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar 

1/2 cup black cherry preserves

1 cup chicken stock

2 tbsp cold unsalted butter

(I've always used 2 cloves garlic because I love garlic, but one could be enough for some. Oh, and 1/4 cup sounds like a LOT of pepper... I've never actually measured I just know that it's essential you have the tenderloins coated. Trust me, it wouldn't taste as good w/out it.)

1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Trim tenderloin and coat all sides with black pepper, add to taste. (YES, it really says you can add more! I thought it was funny, but Ben always adds more when it's done...) Heat vegetable oil in a large ovenproof frying pan over med-high heat, until it begins to smoke. Sear the pork on all sides about 2 minutes per side. Turn off the heat; place the pan in venter of preheated oven.

3. Roast pork for about 25 minutes, or until the internal temp reaches 150 degrees. When the pork is cooked, remove it from the pan to warm plate and tent with foil while sauce is made.

4. Place pan over high heat. Add garlic and cook for 15 seconds, then add vinegar, cherry preserves, and chicken stock. Cook, scraping the bottom of the pan the deglaze pan drippings.

5. Boil until the sauce reduces by about half, about 6-7 minutes. Turn off heat and whisk in the cold butter, stirring constantly until the butter disappears. Taste for salt and adjust the seasoning. Slice pork and serve with sauce spooned over personal servings.

:)

I've been making this w/ cream cheese mashed potatoes and baked lemon asparagus. 

I use smuckers Orchard's Finest: Michigan Red Tart Cherry Preserves. I didn't use the black cherry. Oh, and I added some craisins the last time too and it was good, be careful not to add too many though or you'll make the sauce too sweet. Next time I might add some cherries. And once, I added beef stock instead of chicken and it was still wonderful. I don't think there are many ways you could mess this one up.

I'll probably add more recipes because there isn't a lot to blog about lately.

Oh, it snowed... a lot! It didn't stick though. Ugh, I'm not ready for winter!

It's a boy

Kitty is a boy and his name is Hitler. He loves to play. When I lose him, I look in my closet and he is always there, sleeping in my clothes basket.

 Shelby and Hitler love each other now.

Shelby is a little rough occasionally so sometimes Hitler runs away from his wanna-be mommy. She doesn't realize that her paw is as big as he is. She means well.

Why we have men around...

Because it's harder than it looks!

Seriously??! 

 

Sheena and I were here visiting last night while Matt and Ben were chasing combines in Ben's tractor when I thought we could handle this project. Nooop. I wish I could have set a recorder out so you could see the pathetic excuse it was for Sheena and I to assemble this 289732 piece console table. It was pitiful. However, we did get the drawer figured out!! :D

Lesson learned.

Then there's kitty

Yup, we got a cute, little, innocent, lovable, squeezable, feisty, playful, fun kitty. Okay so that's not why we got it. It's going to be our mouser, and outside cat. Up until about a month ago, we never had mice in the house, then over night, they moved right in on us. It will be a little while before it's catching mice but it can just be cute until then. If you couldn't tell, it's an it. We don't know what the sex is... Ben thinks it's a girl, and I think it's a boy. It is so hard to tell on a cat, especially because it's only 5-6 weeks old. We haven't named it either, it's just Titty for now. Shelby and Titty don't like each other just yet, but they had better get use to each other before too long. For those of you questioning Ben, he's handling it just fine. :) Actually, seems to even like it a little bit.

Buy it a toy and it plays with the box.

Curious about the sound the camera makes.

And then after it realizes the toys aren't real, it'll find something that is.

Ben and Titty playing.

Did ya notice the hitler mustache? Love it.
These pictures are showing up a bit dark, it's actually grey and white.

Hair hair hair

We put some foils in Aunna's hair last week. You can hardly tell there there is anything in there so nothing too drastic and not quite the blue and red that she wanted. I can't believe my sister is 9 and in fourth grade. Time flies. I love hanging out with my sister. And I love my job. What a fun day. :)

Wasn't a fan of the pictures when I put the bag on her head and made her look like a "hippy". 

It's wabbit season!

No, just kidding, it's chicken season! :) Actually, is it chicken season? We don't know either. Ben has had TWO days off.... in a row! Wow, we didn't know what to think about it. On Saturday, we went with the family to see uncle Lyle & aunt Trixie on the four wheelers and then had some burgers and hot dogs. We're still gettin everything we can out of these last few weeks of summer. Yesterday, we went out to shoot some chickens... and bottles and cans and cups. We got us 2 chickens that I actually shot! Ben got his fishing pole out once but didn't catch anything. It's been an awesome weekend, now to start the workweek.

 We still have a lot of grain to cut. Ben was saying most of the crop this year is really good.

We find this silly dog sitting, sleeping and hanging out in the weirdest positions. She loves to sit on this box like this. She'll scoot her butt as close as she can and push herself on to it. She also enjoyed our weekend together. She loved fetching the chicken wings.