GARDEN DREAMS...

Okay, so anyone else got garden ITCH going on? Ya know, this is February and this is when I start getting all excited about the garden! I have looked through all my seed catalogs, my eyes are all glazed over from looking at all the pictures of huge vegetables and gorgeous flowers. My little heart gets all pumped up for some dirt (oh yeah, not dirt,,,, it is SOIL) action.

To me a garden is kinda like childbirth. In childbirth, women forget about how much pain they went through and how miserable they might have been.

Well in a garden, a gardener forgets how many weeds they had to fight and how grassy it got; how miserable it got.

I am all excited because this year I may have a gardening partner. My husband always helps when he can, but this year his cousin wants to put in some vegetables. She is a master gardener, but lives in town. We always have a good time when we get together and have a lot in common. I know she loves to dig in the soil too. Should be fun!

So time to start planning, get that garden thinking going and pray the snow goes away soon!!!!

YAY......USA.....

I have been glued to my tv watching the Olympics and oh my, yesterday was a very good day for the USA teams, alpine downhill skier, Lindsey Vonn, gold; men's speed skater, Shani Davis, gold; snowboarder, Shaun White, gold. There were others receiving medals, but these are the three that I watched.

I was reading Yahoo Sports article and it was exciting all over again.

I think my perception of snowboarders has changed a bit! I used to see them as the young, hippy-like, carefree kids that have nothing else to do but spend their days on the mountains, spraying snow in the faces of people like me just trying to stay up on two skis.

Okay, okay,,,,, I haven't been on skis since,,,,, hmmm,,,, really,,,,, that long ago? and when we were out in Colorado that little skateboarder (not size little, he actually couldn't have been even.... 6!) about wiped me out!

Well, last night I was sitting there watching these snowboarders doing things that were AMAZING in a half pipe... I could not believe the courage these athletes have, to fly in the air as they did and then add flips and spins to their flights THEN land on solid ground (ice) only to go up the other side and do another death defying trick! UNREAL....

Way to go U S A!!!!!

Hey, go to Lovella's blog! She actually got to go to the Olympics yesterday. How exciting!!! To be there, feel the excitement, be amongst the amazing people. She posted some pics.

Oh and yes, I had to watch American Idol first, before the Olympics....
Wow! What a talented group of singers... This year is going to be EXCELLENT!!!
The 24 have been picked and I will be watching....

TIME TO BUCKLE DOWN.....

So we got home last Thursday and I have been real random in getting anything done, but yet I have been busy. How does that work????
So when I get this way... ya know,,,, random....
I tell myself I need to BUCKLE DOWN!!!!!

I will make...THE LIST....

surely I will be able to keep track of my duties with....THE LIST...

Wedding Stuff
Dentist appointment
a stained glass project
a spare bedroom to clean out
laundry

THEN.... I heard that clock again.... tick.... tick.... tick.... tick....

Oh gotta go, too many things to think about and all I REALLY WANT TO DO IS,,,,
read how my bloggy friends are doing.... so I am going to do what Colleen at Main Street Memories does....
She gets up REALLY EARLY, reads blogs (she says for about an hour in the morning)
then gets ready for work...

Okay, a timer, I need to get a timer....

Okay, gotta go for sure this time!!! Later everyone! Wish me luck!

Okay, Lori, stay on task....

TWO DAYS AGO ..... TODAY

TWO DAYS AGO....



TODAY....




TWO DAYS AGO....




TODAY.......

We came back from our vacation last night... Got out of Atlanta just in time too. Airtran just cancelled 62 flights out of Atlanta. Delta just cancelled 800 flights. Atlanta is calling for snow and everything just shuts down ...... wow!!! Glad we got out and glad to be home, despite the snow waiting for us!!!

TICK,,, TICK,,, TICK,,, TICK,,,

Do you ever hear this clock going off in your head and feel things aren't getting done as fast as you would like and this overwhelming feeling says there is not going to be enough time to do all that you want to do..... yep,,,,, I'm there. It is only the 1st of February and I feel I don't have enough time to plan a wedding in June. Now we all know, that is ridiculous. After all, my mom planned 2 weddings in 13 days! and everything was great!!!
This is on a bit bigger scale than mine though and it is an out-of-town wedding.


So we got the venue, check....


and we found the dress, check.....


and I am just going to keep going down the list! There is a wonderful site, The Knot, that helps you get completely organized.
I did make Tracy a notebook to keep all info in...



and WE started to think about all the parts and pieces of the reception. Now we just have to find an officiant. Since the wedding is in the ballroom of a convention center, we need someone that will come there instead of an actual church.... Hmmmmm..... I will have to think about this one.... Got a few ideas though...
So on with the planning and with God's help, I will stay calm and collected....
Oh so her colors are black, purple, silver and white... I said okay???? as I thought this could be VERY ELEGANT orrrrrr...... HALLOWEEN DRAG,,,,, HMMMM.... LET'S STICK WITH ELEGANT!!!

TRAVELING COMPANION.....

As I was reading blogs this morning and came across Keetha's (I just love reading her blog) about her laptop, I decided to let you in on how wonderful it was to have a new travel companion with me. We go everywhere together anymore. I can be in touch with the world at a moment's notice all because of one little teeny tiny gadget. Prepaid Mobile Broadband.... you heard me right, see the box! No long term contract!



Sure there is a start up cost,,,,, there always is, but I now can take this baby anywhere and I don't have to rely on anyone else to provide me with service. And as long as you have a firewall installed, I think it is safe to use anywhere. (of course, I don't keep vital info on my lappy anyway). I know this isn't new to some of you, but the idea of no contract might be.






Oh glory days!!!!

LIGHT N' CREAMY CHOCOLATE CAKE ROLL

I haven't done a post regarding any type of food for quite a while. So, since I was having a craving for chocolate, but I am trying really hard to stay half-way away from large quantities of calories, I chose this recipe from Cooking Light.

FYI: I honestly would much rather have homemade Angel Food Cake and make my own whipped topping but for the sake of this recipe, I purchased the products that the recipe called for. It actually did taste just fine.



LIGHT N' CREAMY CHOCOLATE CAKE ROLL



Cake:
3 TB.unsweetened cocoa
1 pkg. angel food cake mix
Cooking spray
1/2 C. powdered sugar

Filling:
2 (1 ounce) bars unsweetened baking chocolate
1 (8 ounce)block 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
1 C. powdered sugar
1 (8 ounce) container frozen fat free whipped topping, thawed
1 ts. unsweetened cocoa



To prepare the cake, combine 3 tablespoons cocoa and cake mix in a large bowl. Prepare the cake mix with added cocoa according to package directions. Coat a 15 x 10 inch jelly roll pan with cooking spray; line bottom with wax paper. Pour batter into pan.


Ladies, if you haven't purchased one of these new beater blades for your Kitchenaid,,, oh you must! It is quite the treat when mixing. It is like a new best friend!!

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center. Cool the cake in pan 5 minutes.




Loosen cake from sides of pan, and turn out onto a dish towel dusted with 1/2 cup powdered sugar; carefully peel off wax paper. Cool the cake 1 minute.


Starting at narrow end, roll up cake and towel together. Place, seam side down, on a wire rack, and cool completely (about 15 minutes).


To prepare the filling, place baking chocolate in a glass bowl; microwave at high 2 minutes or until almost melted, stirring after 1 minute. Cool. Place the cream cheese in a medium bowl, and beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Gradually add the melted chocolate and 1 cup powdered sugar, beating mixture well (mixture will be very thick). Gently stir 1/2 cup whipped topping into the filling, and gently fold in the remaining whipped topping.


Carefully unroll cake; remove towel. Spread filling over the cake, leaving a 1/2 inch border around outside edges. Re-roll cake, and place, seam side down, on a platter.


(this was my idea.. I rolled a plastic cutting sheet around this roll, put rubber bands around it, then chilled).
Cover and chill for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon cocoa. Cut the cake into 10 slices. Garnish with chocolate curls, if desired.

Yield: 10 servings



O.H. S.O. G.O.O.D!!!!! chocolate crave cured!!!