Another day in Ashland....it is

HOT! Hot, hot!! Today it is 104*, and it is warm!! Although, it is another beautiful day. And, they got all the fires out last night....turns out that there were actually 3 that started yesterday! It is so dry, and with the wind, it doesn't take long!

The car is still in........it looks like it will be tomorrow....he is having to rebuild it. The one he had wouldn't work.

We called the kids today.......oh, how hard that was. We won't be going to GA or FL. Max and I are heartbroken.....but, hopefully, we will get there sometime soon. It is just that it has been two years, and we need to see and hold those babies.....and meet Katie.........(she is Katie-did to me, in my thoughts....will be fun to see how she fits that tag I have given her!) The bright spot...(there's always got to be a bright spot, right?), is that the Postal Service will be making a small fortune from me.....lots of stuff to send on!

Now there is one thing that you probably don't know about me....okay, Brandi has it figured out...and I know that Deanna knows.......I cannot travel without junk food. I think that it is yet, another one of those unwritten laws.....(my Mom taught me......and she always follows the rules). Now, add to that the fact that I am a stress eater........(raising my right hand, here, and repeating solemnly...."my name is Jan....and I am a stress eater).....LOL...and Max is always up for junk food.....(he never gains a pound, how unfair is that?)...this is what we had....some of it left Florence with us yesterday, but in all honesty? The majority came from the Chevron Mart that was next to the motel last night......are you ready? REALLY ready? Look carefully.....

So, what is missing? A bag of popcorn......a pepsi, and some chocolate-chili bars...those are in the car.....melting, even as we speak. As are the ones that I got the girls....luckily, I stashed them in a freezer bag...so they won't be muckin' up the rest of the stuff!

Update on the car....no go.....seems the owner (who was the one who was doing all the work on the car...so please don't call, because it is so technical.....and he would just get confused? And it would slow him down? You know...that guy? Well, we got there when we were told too....he unfortunately chose to not be there.......so we waited and waited.....met the guy who was actually doing the work....who was young, but looked like he knew what he was doing...(well, he had blue surgeons' gloves on...and a headband...)....told us that the boss would be back in about 20 minutes......so, I felt good about him....you know...gloves and all?....welllllll, we went outside and sat on the bench to wait, and I admired Caroles Colors....lovely flower beds...I must say.....and then up came this cute little car, with this cute little girl.....who bounced up to the door, and we told her that the owner was gone, but was expected back...she had a lovely pout...so we sent her on in, around the corner and through the kitchen...and there was the "guy with the gloves".....who she quickly grabbed and out he came, in he went, back he came with a thingymajiggy to hook to something...he managed to honk the horn...(I am getting a bit nervous here...he had taken his gloves off...), and then he popped the hood, and looked up at the sky (looking for directions maybe?), and then he poked about on top.....(remember...no gloves.......), and the next thing I know...he is peeking out at the girl.....and then really looks.....(she is looking at him...)....and the next thing we know...his headband is off, and he is driving off with the girl....test drive, I guess.....all I know is we sat there for about 45 minutes more, when another guy shows up to tell us that the owner called and we should go home...it won't be ready until late tomorrow.......at the earliest.....HELLO, we knew that...the guy who was working on it is driving around town with the cute little blonde...no headband.......

What a day......

Well, what a day, indeed! As you can see......we had plans! Yesterday, we took Mom F. to Bandon to spend the month with her sisters.....and we loaded up and headed out this morning, bound for Georgia and Florida. This was the scene as we left town.

It was a lovely morning, and we enjoyed the sun...and well....we were HAPPY!! Going to see our babies.....we have been planning this for MONTHS!! As we hit the pass outside of Grants Pass, the car gave a couple little burps...but the road was horrible, and the wind was howling, and I hadn't given the car much gas to get up the hill......so we put it down to that.....we traveled on...no more problems. As we came to Ashland, our "fill-up" place before we hit California....we noticed the smoke coming from the hill behind Ashland. They had a fire start this morning....

It was so close to the road, and the town? Right behind some of the homes. We haven't heard whether anyone lost their home. Hopefully, they didn't. The fire was contained late this afternoon.
We headed on up the Siskiyou's, on our way to California.....and then it happened. The transmission went out. Thankfully, Max was driving by then, and he got us out of the road, and along the edge....pretty hairy, as the eighteen wheelers were flying by. Went to use the computer....looking for a tow company....(someone, who we won't mention by name, did NOT renew the Good Sam coverage..seems she thought she was too busy). Anyway, the computer couldn't do anything...we were in the extended coverage area, and the fee was $27.00 a Mb......so I called the 411 number and told the operater I needed a tow company...any two company, and she found us one...they came and got us, we dropped the car off at a Transmission fixer-upper, rented a car and found a motel...and now we wait. I have a feeling that the trip to GA and FL will not be happening, and I am sick. So is Max. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

Oh, and as we came back to Ashland, there was another fire...5 miles from where we left the car. It had started in the time we were waiting for the tow truck. Very scary!

Blessings From Heaven

A New Girlfriend for Max....a new project for Jan....

Max is quite the man about town these days....he has followers from everywhere!!! Here is one of the girls...just look at the love and devotion in those beautiful brown eyes...

It is true love....for Max, and for the cookies that he carries in his pockets when he walks! This is Bebe, and she is always willing to visit!

A closer look...now, the sad thing is...she never got her cookie! She was a bad girl and ate a large portion of her Mama's rug. And it stayed in her stomach long enough to cause some ulcers...so she is on canned food until this weekend. Poor girl! She could not understand why she didn't get her goodies! So, Max promised her doubles next time.....now, if she just won't eat the rug...............

Now, my new project! We spent last Monday in the Valley at friend's. And we went out to Grandpa's Farm...

We bought corn, potatoes, fresh green beans, cucumbers...you'll notice I don't have a photo of those, but what I do have a photo of is a quilt that they had. It was gorgeous! And just what I had been looking for. I bought some beautiful fabric for a quilt for our Anna, and decided that I didn't like the quilt pattern I had bought to do it in. So, it has been sitting here for ages, waiting for a spark of inspiration...which hit on Monday, when Kathy and I went into the little shop that they have. So many fun things to see! And then, I saw this, my little heart pitter-pattered....out I rushed to the car to get my camera, and snap......this is what I will do for Anna - but instead of the white background, it will be black....like this: So, now the fabric has left the "what will I do with this" pile, and relocated to the "gotta get this done soon" pile. (I am ever the organizer....)!

Other than that, life has pretty much just cruised by, like it does, in a blur!! I have two penny rugs cut out...they are in my "what the heck have you been doing?" pile. They have to be done by the end of Sept. so they can travel to their new homes...along with several table mats, and a runner, and a reading pillow.....a rug, a dolly quilt.....(didn't like the first one I did), three dresses, some wall art, some snowballs.......candles and soaps......well, I just had a horrendous hot flash...I must be tired...couldn't possibly be stress? LOL! It will all get done, and I will be a solid, red, heating unit....those hot flashes could power New York City. And of course, had I managed to have started on some of this earlier, I wouldn't be stressing! But it seems that is how I live my life, and it must work......and in the winter? We never have to turn the heater on!

Well, I am sitting here, looking at Brandi's table mat, and thinking, if I got started on it tonight, it could be quilted by Monday, so think I had better do dinner, and get busy on that! 'Til later!!

Crab Lasagna

A couple of days ago, I mentioned that we had been to a friends' house for dinner....which was Fresh Crab!! I took a photo....it isn't the best...but the poor crab was naked.....and well, the other side just looked wrong!

We are so fortunate to live where we can actually get fresh crab, and most of the time, I don't think about it! Before Max went back to trucking, he was a Commercial Fisherman. Sadly, now, the fishing industry is about gone. It was slowing down in the early '80's, which is why we moved to Florence.

But there are times we can't get fresh crab.....and canned crab is all the crab we can get. We hate that! So, I have this wonderful recipe which I use whenever we have company coming from inland....and, I can't get anything but canned! It is easy, and it actually goes together fast....AND, it is a great make-ahead dinner!

CRAB LASAGNA

1/2 lb Lasagna Noodles, cooked

2 cans frozen Shrimp Soup...(I use Cream of Mushroom)

2 cans Crab Meat

1- 8oz package of Cream Cheese

2 cups Small Curd Cottage cheese

1 egg, beaten

1 tsp Basil

1 medium onion, chopped

1/4 tsp salt

dash of pepper

Tomato Slices

1 1/2 cups Cheddar Cheese, grated.

Cook noodles in boiling, salted water. Drain and rinse with cold water. Thaw the soup and heat (if using canned Cream of Mushroom soup...just open it and pop it into a bowl)

Add crab to soup, and mix it in.

Mix Cream Cheese until soft, in a separate bowl. Add Cottage Cheese, egg, basil, onion, salt and pepper.

In a buttered baking dish, place one layer of noodles, than a layer of half of the cheese mixture. Add the soup and crab. Cover with a layer of noodles, then the remaining cheese mixture, and top with tomato slices.

Bake uncovered for 15 minutes at 350*. Than add the grated cheese, and cook for 1/2 hour longer, until bubbly. Let set for 5 - 10 minutes before serving. Serves 8.

I serve this with a green salad, and garlic bread.....hmmmmmmmmmmm, it is looking good....might just make it one night this week!

Life here is just buzzing along! We are busy trying to get things settled around our trip to see our kids the end of September. Max is spending his time telling me that we "don't have that much room in the trunk"...but really, we will be gone for a month, and I have to have some something to do, and a good variety of it!

I am still sorting stuff that I took out of the fifth wheel....I am pretty sure that the "stuff fairy" has been paying regular visits, as I refuse to believe that I could actually have put that much stuff into the fifth wheel! The good thing is that I have found several things that I had been looking for! I swear, I need a Twelve-step program....one made especially for those that have to know how to do everything.....suppose they have one for that? I was talking to a friend last night, and telling her my sad tale, and then I said "maybe I'm a Hoarder"....but I don't think that fits, as I actually use everything I have. It has been mentioned that Max might possibly need a counseling session to maintain his sanity as he lives with my "stuff" all the time. I think he is doing fine....his eyes haven't rolled back in his head for several days.....and that foaming around his mouth isn't so noticable now....so I think he just might be coming to terms with it................

Show-n-Tell Tuesday!

Well....here I am again, a day late!! I thought that I would be able to post this last night, but.....we went to a friends house to eat....(fresh crab....yummmm), and then, I stayed and visited....and visited.....and dragged home at 10:00 last night. Max and Mom were home by 6:30.....so I guess you know.....(if you didn't already), that I can talk and talk and talk....LOL!

I had been junking the other day, and found some great goodies! I have a hard time finding goodies here, as we really have only 2 places to go, other than garage sales. But this is what I found at St. Vincent De Paul:
I was thrilled! I found the two Louet Carding Combs...I have been looking for them, and they are expensive new.....and there they were...just waiting for me to grab them up. Now, however, I am wondering...should I keep them or sell them...I don't have my wheel now....and well....no fleece now either...this will require some thought! And I LOVED the coffee cup and saucer....it is an old restaurant one. Basket? It was the perfect prim color, and I couldn't pass it up! AND, it won't need redoing..it is perfect as it is. The two boxes, will be makeovers this week, and see all those spools? Punch Needle threads...in PRIMITIVE colors! Where on earth did they come from? Florence is not a prim place! The baggie? It's full of little artificial apples, that have been dusted with clear glitter. They will be going in a glass jar for the new kitchen when it comes!

NOW, for the real prize!! See the wood paper towel holder in the back? Well, I found one just like it in Country Sampler...for the price of $39.95, plus $11.00 postage. My price, (and it is identical, I just need to paint it), ta daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa........I paid $6.99 for it! I danced all the way out to the car!!

I also found some tin molds..... this one being the coolest:
It is nice and heavy, and the design is incredible! Here's a close-up of the top:

I couldn't believe it! How could someone just not snatch it up? I can hardly wait to do some pantry cakes out of it....Now, if I could just figure out how to make the old-fashioned food screens.......there is always something, isn't there?!!!

Today is my Mom's birthday...Happy Birthday, Mom!!! (why aren't you answering the phone???? And where is the answering machine??????) Max was right, we should have called EARLY!!! Hope you and Dad are out having a good time!!

Well, that is about it for today! It is lunch time, and for once, I am hungry! Hope you all have a great day!! Check back tomorrow, as I have a wonderful recipe to post....Crab Lasagna!

So Long...Farewell....Auf Wiedersehen......

Well, it was time.....but it was sooooo hard......today was the day......


The truck was backed up......
Craig raises the jacks on this side, Max is on the other...then.....



Craig, the truck and the 5th wheel head out. We will miss them!! We had a LOT of fun with these rigs! Several trips to FL.....A LONGGGGG trip around the country in 2002, and 5 seasons in AZ. We certainly used them alot!! Now they have a new home! There is a BARE spot in the lot now! Sadly enough, that can't be said for the house.........turns out I had a lot of stuff in that 5th wheel. The couch is now hidden, not to mention the kitchen table and the kitchen floor....and well....let's just say that if we want to sleep in our bed? We will need to spend a bit of time clearing it off?

Craig is headed out today for a vacation......well, his idea of a vacation...he is headed to Eastern Oregon for a week or so of 10+ hour days of painting. We're not talking a vacation of painting canvas', or creating art...no, he will be painting dorm rooms before the kids come back to school. Now, I'm not sure, but maybe we all in the family should be, dare I say it? Offended?....is that the word I want? He was just HAPPY to be leaving us for a week or so.....In fact, last night, after working on Mom F's bathroom, and the neighbor's house....and then several hours of him and Max going over the ins and outs of the fifth wheel........he was positively giddy....and that was before the mojitos we had........and yes, he was still smiling this morning when he came over to hook up the 5th wheel.......my baby brother is just silly!! I will probably be calling him once a day to make sure that he remembers us.......

Other than that, things have been going on as usual. I have been going through fabric, and well, going through fabric.......I have decided to do more down-sizing! The Humane Society Thrift Shop will be receiving a LOT more bags and boxes of goodies. I have enough stuff, that even I am thinking that I need to downsize.....the thought of it just gives me the shivers~~I want to learn to do it ALL!! Of course, even if I lived until I was 500 years old? I would still be discovering different arts and crafts! Wouldn't that just be great?!!!!

This week, I will be matching the last of the fabric to patterns, and then fabric to the quilts I have planned...then the rest goes. I have already gone through my wools, and decided on the penny rugs, and I have gathered all the rughooking goodies..and they are all together......I will be stitching all the way to FL and GA next month!

Candles are on the list for Wednesday, then on Friday, soaps..........That will clear out a HUGE area of stuff!!!

Well, it is dinnertime......Blueberry Pancakes and Bacon..............I LOVE when we do breakfast for dinner!

Tomorrow? I will do a Show and Tell from my last trip to the TS...St. Vinnies...I do love them!!!

Have a great evening!!