Sophie misses her sister! April 8, 2009
Here is Sophie’s sister Chloe:
Don’t tell Sophie, but Chloe sits up there to get a break from her!!
Once Upon a Summer… April 6, 2009
Once upon a time, in a small village in North Dakota, my husband and I stayed in very old, old, old house with a coyote, some bugs, dead and alive, and 46 year old conditioner. Don’t believe me?? The evidence is presented below….
It looks charming, but then we all know there is a very thin line separating charming from nightmarish.
I wonder what is in those cans to the left…. I probably don’t want to know. Is that an old refrigerator to the left…?? It looks like an old appliance of some sort.
Speaking of old appliances…here are some that still in use:
The knick knacks were so old they were considered antiques and for sale should anyone want to take home a momento…
I assumed these momentos were free to take…
Wait….I promised a coyote.
Oh my!!! There are two coyotes…I under promised and over-delivered. Does the hubby look a little tired. Well that could be because we got the honeymoon suite featured below:
It was really called the the honeymoon suite, because the bed had a bouncy problem. At the slitest touch the bed would convulse with bouncing. I don’t know how else to describe it. It was unlike anything I have ever seen. It felt like I was being “bounced-to-sleep.”
Everything was within walking distance.
Try getting these three fellows to all look at the camera at the same time….
Another summer is right around the corner and, with it, more memories to be made.
PS. I don’t have a picture of the conditioner, but I have 7 eye-witnesses. Thank goodness I took my own.
Fresh Berry Rut April 1, 2009
I am in a Fresh Berry rut again!! They were so rude that I didn’t go for several months, but my mom got me going again. She always likes to go there when she is in Tulsa and remind me how wonderful it is. In this post that I wrote, I complained that the toppings weren’t fresh. Since going back, I haven’t had that problem again.
I have tried making it a home several more times, but I just couldn’t get it to taste exactly like Fresh Berry’s Tart flavor. My mom told me to try Sour Cream — that it could be their secret ingredient. Sounds weird — I know!! BUT–I made it with Sour Cream and it tasted exactly like Fresh Berry’s Tart. It makes sense in a way – Sour cream is white so it would not change the color, it is tart….
Here is the recipe:
1.5 cartons (48 ounces) Lowfat Plain Yogurt
1/8 – 1/4 C. Sugar (to your taste)
2-3 heaping spoonfuls of Sour Cream
Blend ingredients very well until the mixture is very smooth. You should not be able to feel any sugar granules. I usually blend it in my blender.
Pour mixture into yogurt maker/ice cream maker – whatever you have. I leave it in there until it looks like soft-serve consistency. It is probably 10-15mins.
Serve with your favorite toppings.
House is Bricked March 30, 2009
The house is bricked, has a garage door on it and has the walls up inside. We are getting close.
Spring Break – more video from my camera…. March 29, 2009
Here are two more videos of the Show Choir.
Guy Song from Petunia Bloom on Vimeo.
Below: Jazz Choir within the Show Choir.
Jazz Choir from Petunia Bloom on Vimeo.
Spring Break
We went to Branson, MO to see my sister sing during her Spring Break.
Here is my husband, me, my sister’s friend – Tanner, my sister, and my Mimi.
Their show choir performed two nights in a row as the opening act. The first night was great!! We got video of it. The second night was very good, but they all seemed tired. I’m sure they didn’t get a whole lot of sleep while they were there.
Same group….my Mom instead of Mimi at the right side.
I could have used a little more make-up!!!
Here is video of my sister and her partner singing and dancing to a song that I did when I was in Show Choir!!
Jump Jive from Petunia Bloom on Vimeo.
Free or Almost Free March 28, 2009
I have been couponing for several months now. There are good weeks and bad weeks. One Frugal Chick got me started. I read Money Saving Mom everyday and several other blogs that help me find good deals for things that I use. This week was a good week. Here is what I got for free or almost free:
The three baguettes were free. The Hunts tomato sauce was 15 cents/can, the ribeye steak was free and the two T-Bone steaks were $1 each.
I am off to make French Toast Bake with one of my baguettes.
Sophie enjoyed a chocolate-covered raisin!
Here is Sophie feeling tall on a mattress we had propped up on a wall!!
This week Sophie supposedly ate a chocolate covered raisin. I did not see it with my own eyes, but my neighbor children said they saw Sophie eat it! Raisins are very toxic to dogs. Some dogs are immune, but you should never give you dog raisins or grapes. And as you all know, dogs are not supposed to have chocolate. I didn’t want to alarm my neighbors, so I played it off like it was no big deal. When I got home, Sophie appeared fine but I decided to call the vet just in case. I called the vet, and he said she should be fine if it was just one. They told me to bring her in should she start vomiting, acting lathragic, or not acting like herself.
As you can tell, she survived…and enjoying life…a little too much…
Hallslatt, Austria
Wow!! Isn’t this beautiful? I have a travel images application on my igoogle and this popped up this week. 
Here are some more pictures of this beautiful place I didn’t know existed!!
Here is interesting information about Hallslatt and pronunciation.
