A very special Man in my life has a Birthday!

Yep....My Dad/Papa/Father has a birthday Today
and he turned 80!

This is a pic of My Dad (Paul) and his Lady Friend Joyce from 2010.

He met her about 1 1/2 years after my Mother passed away and they've been thick as thieves ever since! I tease him that we're sure glad she came around to keep him
 out of our hair!

Tonight we are headed to Red Lobster for a Birthday Supper Celebration!

Afterwards, we will enjoy the Spice Cake with Maple Frosting

 I lovingly whipped up for him.

Without My Dad's neverending Love, Support, Wisdom and occassional cash (LOL ;-)

lord knows where I'd be right now.

Hoping we have many more years together! I love you Dad.......

with all my Heart and then some. 

It's SUPERBOWL Time and I"m just sayin it IS all about "FOOD"

Invited my Big Brother over for the Game on Sunday.


Here's the Menu~Keepin it "Simple"


My Ex Mother In Law's Broiled "SPAM" and Velveeta Buns

Deviled Eggs

Strawberry Jello with Bananas and Cool Whip

Asstd Veggies and Dip

**Heavenly Warm Corn Dip with Scoop Fritos

Lemon Bars
**Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cookies

** Indicates new recipes for me-

see Pic's and recipes below

My Brother will be the Guinea Pig once again LOL

The Recipe for " Heavenly Warm Corn Dip" is in the Gooseberry Patch

Cookbook "Homemade in a Hurry."

Heavenly Warm Corn Dip

from Gooseberry Patch's Homestyle in a Hurry

8 oz. package cream cheese, softened

10 oz. can diced tomatoes with chilies, drained

15 1/4 oz. can yellow corn, drained

15 oz. can shoepeg corn, drained

2 t. ground cumin

2 t. chili powder

1 t. garlic powder

salt to taste

Mix all ingredients together in a microwave-safe bowl.  Microwave on high until heated through and cheese is melted, 2 to 3 minutes.  Stir to blend; serve warm.  Makes 8 to 12 servings.

I give credit to a new blog I discovered called

"Taste and Tell"

for the recipe for Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cookies

o    8-oz cream cheese, at room temperature

o    1/2 cup butter, at room temperature

o    1 egg

o    1 teaspoon vanilla extract

o    1 box red velvet cake mix

o    confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Instructions

o    In the bowl of a mixer, cream together the cream cheese and the butter. Beat in the egg, then the vanilla. Beat in the cake mix until completely combined. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

o    Preheat the oven to 350°F.

o    Roll the chilled dough into tablespoon sized balls. Roll in confectioners' sugar, and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 12 minutes.

Remove to a wire rack to cool.

Yields 2 dozen

o    Adapted from Pauladeen.com

I'm all about trying new recipes and

these two got rave reviews so I can wait to try them!!

Can you say "PIG OUT??";-)

I'm still Alive and Kickin ;-)

Lesson One:
It totally "Sucks" not having a home computer hooked up!

Getting no Internet time other than work is making me
CrAzY!!

Wow! I swear it was just Christmas and here we are ...February 1st!

Minne"Snowta" Winter has been very kind to us this year. I can't wrap my head around the fact that this past week we have been in the 40's and just may hit 50! January like no other I've ever lived thru. There is literally almost NONE of the "White Stuff" hanging around and you can see grass almost everywhere you look. Unbelievable but I'll take it!! The biggest Snowfall we've had this season is 3 inches! We haven't even had any bitter cold this year. Makes me wonder what Summer will have in store. I'm thinkin it's going to be miserably hot.....time will tell.

I do know that my Perrenials are suffering with no ground cover though.....I planted some new Hyacinth last Fall....I'm hoping they survive and come up in the Spring. The ground is gonna be Thirsty that I know for sure.

I've been dealing with the normal Seasonal Disorder of depression and it sucks. I never used to get this way....I blame it on the last few years of my life. I admit it.....I've been through hell....I'm broke.....I'm lonely. Oh sure Miss Shelby is always wonderful to come home to but I so miss a companion
in my life.

But to Quote Gloria Gaynor....."I WILL SURVIVE"
and have so far.....I keep telling myself life will get better....I do have a small pittance of "Hope" left in me.

Don't really know if I even had any readers...but in case I do...I'm Here in my little corner of the world being selfish and staying to myself mostly.
Most of all.........I miss "Me". Sometimes I think I may never see her again and that makes me so sad.

Trying to *Smile*