Monday Morning Music

Brooks & Dunn More CMT Music More CMT Music Videos

Okay, first please go to the end of my blog and hit the pause button on my music player. THANKS!!!!!!!

Now this past Thursday, February, 18, 2008, marks the second anniversary of my Moms' death. That we lost her to Alzheimers. Although the Doctors gave it the fancy name of "Muti-Infacted Dementia." To us it still was the same as Alzheimers. She fought it for 7 years. Believe me when I say it sure was not an easy thing watching my Mom go through it. Nor was it easy on the family. More so my older sister Brenda. She was the primary caregiver. That Lord bless her heart, Brenda always seems to be the one who takes care of us all when we get sick, hurt, or whatever. She just has such much love inside of her that she just can not help but take care of us all. So I know she has a special place in heaven when it is her time to go.

Anyway, back to this video. The first time I heard it, I just cried my eyes out.... That to me it was like the good Lord was trying to tell me something. Or show me something, seeing how I was raised on a farm/ranch! Not sure what, but I just felt like it was a sign of something to come. Or maybe about something I needed to do! See I kept hearing this song every time I cut on the radio. Plus seeing the video when I would trun on the TV! Well, you see it hit me like a ton of brick what the message was from it!

That this past Thursday, as I was wondering through the house doing some housework, I just all of a sudden just started crying. And for no reason. Or so I thought! Then as I went to get some tissues I noticed the date on the calender. Well it hit me, that the date was 2 years since I lost my Mom! Let me tell you it sure has not been an easy two years. We not only lost my Mom then. But also my cousin, within a month of her, as well as my brother-in-law, within 5 months of her passing. Then I was put into the hospital that August with kidney stones and Gallbladder trouble! Yes, it sure was not a good year! But somehow I made it through. As did the rest of my family along side of me. But this video got me to thinking that I never really grieved my Moms' death untill this past Thursday! And that for me is really sad.

So I guess the breakdown of it all is this. That when I started crying Thursday, it all just came gushing out of me. The anger, the "WHY," and everything else. That I know now why this song kept playing over and over again! It was doing so because I needed to let go of everything. Cause my Mom, use to tell me that "When you fall down, you simply get back up, and go at it again!" And Lord knows she was right!

So please enjoy the video, get your tissues out and know that I am alright now! Plus it is a beautiful sunshiny day here in North Carolina.

Exercising My Brain......

Good morning to you all! So where have I been hiding out lately? Well I have been exercising my brain this past week over at my favorite game web site! LOL Let me tell you it sure is addicting!

That I first discovered it back in 2001. It sort of was by accident. See I was bored and decided to search around for some games to play. Next thing I knew BAM this game site appeared out of no where and I got hooked! Needless to say by the next year I signed up as a member and have been one ever since.

Now the site is called POGO. And it truly has all kinds of cool games. Plus they are constantly adding new ones. There is a lot of different variations of Solitaire to play. Plus they have Jigsaw puzzles, find a word, Tri-Peaks, Yahtzee, Bowling, and Lottso. Not to forget Euchre, Canasta, Gin, Pinochle, Hearts, and Bridge too. And oh yeah tons of other ones you may like! I mean there are so many to choose from I just love them all! See what I mean about being addicted to it! LOL

Of course now all of this does come with a price.... But hey it is worth it to me. Because I have met a lot of crazy, wonderful people. Plus made some good friends on there too. And I even have what they call a "Mini." That is a person who I can style and profile like me. :-) Now they even have challenges each week where you get badges too! Right now I have 1006 badges. So see you can tell where I spend a lot of time.

Of course going back to the title of my post today leads me to this. That by playing these games it helps me to keep my brain active! Just by having to think before I make a move in Chess, or checkers I am having to do some serious thinking. Cause I do like to win. Though losing does not hurt either. Plus when you are trying to play and chat at the same time it takes alot of brain power to concentrate! So see I am still having to exercise my old brain too! All in all for me it just helps me to keep my mental status more alert and keen. That yes I do exercise it in other ways, but I get alot of enjoyment this way too! Plus have fun at the same time.

Well if any of you are looking for fun and excitement will you not join me? It is the least you could do for your brain. As well as your sanity! I know it sure does help mine at times! So look for the link over on my sidebar! Hope to see you soon.

And as for the cost ...it is only $39.99

Another "Tastier Tuesday # 3"

Todays' recipes are ones without meat! YEAH... That I do love to try and make these with fresh vegetables whenever possible. But if none are in season, then the canned ones will have to do. (sniff, sniff) Still though they are just as tasty! And so sorry, but my camera is out of commission. Therefore, no pictures today. All I can say is once I get a new camera, I will come back & edit this post and put some in. Till then just imagine how they would look! :-)

MaeMaw McNeely's Squash Casserole

INGREDIENTS:

Herb Seasoned Stuffing
5 - medium Squash (or 3 cups)
1 - medium Onion

1/2 - Cup of Milk
1 - Egg Beaten
1- 10 3/4 oz. Can of Cream of Chicken Soup
1/2 - Stick of Margarine
1 - Cup Grated Cheese


PREPARATION:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Next grease a 2 quart casserole dish. Then take your Squash and either slice it or dice it up into bite size pieces. Also do this for your Onions. Take your Herb Stuffing Mix and use enough of it to make an even layer across the bottom of the greased cassserole dish. Once you have done this, then add your Squash and Onions on top of it.
Now in a medium size or large mixing bowl mix together your 1/2 cup of Milk and 1 Beaten Egg. Next add your Cream of Chicken soup, and your 1/2 stick of Margarine. Mix it all together good.
Okay, now we take this mixture and pour it over the top of the stuff in the casserole dish. Then we take the 1 cup of Grated Cheese and spread it over all of this. Top it off with the rest of the herb Seasoning Mix. Make sure to spread it out as evenly as possible! Bake at 325 degrees for 35 minutes. This usually will feed anywhere from 4 to 6 people.


Nana Nets' Broccoli Casserole

INGREDIENTS:

1- Cup Rice
1- Small Jar Cheez-Wiz
1- 10 3/4 oz. Can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
1- 10 oz size package of frozen Broccoli (or larger)
1/2 - Cup Chopped Celery
1/2 - Cup Chopped Onion
1/2 - Cup Margarine

PREPARATION:

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Now cook your rice according to the directions on the box. While it is cooking you can grease a 2 or 3 quart casserole dish. Then saute your onions and celery in the margarine. Next you can either microwave or cook your frozen Broccoli. The choice is yours. Plus depending on how much time you have to cook it! Then you take all of the other ingredients and mix them together in a large mixing bowl. Now that the rice is done cooking add it to the other ingredients in the mixing bowl. Mix together thoroughly. Finally you take it and pour it into the greased casserole dish. Bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes. This usually serves 4 to 6 people.

Well there you have it. Two of my favorite family recipes. Enjoy, and let me know if you give them a try. Plus Jeanne, I want to know how you did with them! :-) Cause I know how you love the Broccoli Casserole!

Have fun and get outside and get your Vitamin D today from the sunshine!

Nana Net

Valentine Ideas For Hubbies

I just got through watching my local Morning News Rising Show and really got a good laugh from it. See there is this man on it that use to be the weather guy at night. But he got the boot due to his addiction to alcohol, etc. So after much needed rehab, and all they brought him back for the morning show. Anyway, he was talking about what to give your husbands, boyfriends, etc. for Valentines Day as gifts. Needless to say, by the tiome he was done I was rolling with laughter. Which is something I have not done in a while. And I truly did need it.

So here was his ideas and comments......

Buy them tickets to their favorite sporting event.
Send them off for a weekend of golfing.
A Spa package gift. (Cause they need to be pampered too) HaHa
Rent them a cabin in the woods to go fishing with their buddies.
Give them a pre-printed coupon (1 you made yourself) to go out with their friends. (Ya know a night of male bonding)

Now this was just a few things he said. But of course we ladies could come up with our own ideas! The main thing he was trying to say (which he did) is that "Men just want to get away from their wives/girlfriends!" Which is what got me to laughing so hard I about fell off of the couch. And to that point my husband looked at me and said, "Ya know he has a point!" Well, that is when I looked at him and replied, "Is it not time for you to go to work?" LOL

Oh well, just another day here in paradise! Enjoy this weekend and let me know some of your ideas!

It's Back----"Tastier Tuesdays"

Yes, you read right! My recipes are in order and ready to go. So let me get started. Todays recipe is one that my family just loves. They are for ever asking me to cook it all the time! To which I do not mind doing. But sometimes I do get tired of just eating Fried Chicken. Which is why I also sometimes add Chicken and Yellow Rice to the table too! It makes for something different to go along with the rest of the meal. So here you all go two recipes today! Hope you enjoy them.




NANA NETS FRIED CHICKEN

INGREDIENTS:

2 1/2 - 3 pounds Chicken (or all Chicken Breasts 6 here)
2 - Cups Flour
4 - Eggs
3 - Cups Milk
2 to 3 inches of oil
Brown paper Bag or a Gallon Size Baggie
Garlic Salt
Pepper
Seasoning Mix
Deep Frying Pan (Either Cast Iron or Calphalon)
Cook on Medium to Medium High Heat


PREPARATION:

First you can take your chicken and either leave the skin on it or take it off. It is up to you. Either way, make sure to rinse off the chicken good. Take your eggs and break them open into a deep, big bowl. Next add your milk and mix this together real good. Next add your chicken to it. Then put it into the refrigerator and let it sit in there for 20 to 30 mintues. Then take your frying pan and add the 2 to 3 inches of oil to it. Heat until a drop of water sizzles in the pan when you drop it into it. Next take the flour, garlic salt, pepper, and seasoning mix and put it all together into the brown bag/plastic baggie. Shake it all up good. Then start adding your chicken pieces one at a time to it. Being sure to shake them up inside of it. Of course making sure to hold the bag closed! Now add the pieces (large ones first) one at a time. Put a lid onto the pan and let them cook for 8 to 12 minutes. Then turn them over with a thong or fork. Do this continually each side every 8 to 12 minutes, or untill both sides are crispy brown and the juices run clear. It usually takes me 45 to 60 minutes to cook the Fried Chicken!






Chicken & Yellow Rice

INGREDIENTS:

1 (2-3) pound Whole Chicken
1 - 10 oz Package Vigo Saffron Yellow Rice


PREPARATION:

First wash off your chicken good. Then take your whole chicken and put it into a large pot and boil it until it is done. That is when the juices are running clear! Next take it out of the pot and put it into a bowl and let it cool off. Next take the broth it was boiled in and drain some of it off. Checking for any bones that have come off in it. Be sure to get those out( I strain mine into another pot). Next debone the chicken. Then you take the pot of brioth and bring it to a boil. Add your yellow rice to it and stir. Then start adding your chicken to it. (I take my chicken and make it into little slices, etc) Be sure to cut the heat down to medium while doing this. Also, to keep stirring it. You do not want it sticking to the bottom of the pot. It should take about 20 to 30 minutes to cook now. Make sure the rice is completely cooked before taking it out of the pot. Walla, there you have it, a nice dish of Chicken and Yellow Rice.

You can also make this to go with Chicken and Dumplings. Which is something my late Mom did everytime she made the Chicken and Dumplings for us!

Hope you enjoy making these two recipes and good luck. Enjoy the week and blessings to you all.

Nana Net

Super Bowl Sunday

Ok, I got to admit that the game was one of the best ones I have watched in a long time. More so during the 4th quarter! I truly thought the Arizona Cardnials had it won. But yet, deep down inside knew they had left too much time on the clock for old Ben and his Steelers! Which proved to be true. UGH!!!!!!

That yes, I am a Football Junkie. Even though none of my favorite teams made it to the Super Bowl this year. And NO, one of them was not the Carolina Panthers. More about that another day. LOL That I grew up watching football, and baseball mainly. Plus playing it too. Mainly cause I was raised in the country. And was sort of what you would call a tom-boy. I preferred the blue jeans and t-shirts over the dresses and dress clothes!

Still though back to the game last night. It at first was sort of boring. Plus some bad calls were made. Especially when the one Steeler player (#92) did not get thrown out for the personal foul there towards the end of the game. Yet I really was more interested in seeing the commercials. Plus was all pumped up to see "Bruce Springsteen" and his band! Oh yeah, and he surely did not disappoint this here girl! He still can rock and roll....

As to the ads, there sure were some that had me shaking my head thinking "What the devil!" Especially the ones for "Godaddy.com!" I mean where was the decency and morals at when they decided to air those? I guess they went down the crapper on those! Now my favorite ones had to do with the clydesdale horse. More so when he decided to fetch! LOL Talk about creativity being put into play! And then the one of true love. Who would of thought of that type of ad? My hubby Mike said he like the one dealing with the Dorito ad. You know where the guy bites into the Dorito chip and the womans clothes rip off her body, etc. Leave it to a man to like that kind of commercial! ROFL I just gave him one of my you know what looks! To which he just gave me a grin. UGH!

Oh well, now that it is over I guess we can wait another year to see if Budweiser wins out again in the Super Bowl ads. Plus if the next game will be just as exciting or not! Let's hope so.